The Lincoln Chamber of Commerce is mourning the loss of longtime tourism and community leader. Derek Feyerherm died July 17 after a nearly two-year battle with cancer. Chamber President and CEO Jason Ball says Feyerherm.
He spent nearly 20 years with Visit Lincoln and the Lincoln Chamber, where he helped recruit new Chamber members, led tourism initiatives and played a key role in bringing major events to the city.
“He made Lincoln a better place. A better place to visit, to work in and to live in. A better place for all its residents and those just here for a few days. A better place for everyone.” Ball says Feyerherm was instrumental in organizing the 2023 Guardians of Freedom Airshow featuring the Blue Angels.
The event drew a record 350,000 people over two days, and helped strengthen Lincoln’s reputation as a destination for sporting events, conventions and tourism. At the beginning of Monday afternoon’s Lincoln City Council meeting, Councilman Tom Beckius paid tribute to Feyerherm.
“We knew him as someone who worked diligently to improve the Lincoln community” Beckius says. “Derek was someone that I’ve worked with over the past couple of decades in this community, specifically with Visit Lincoln and his work with that entity and he will be missed.”
The Lincoln Chamber will close Wednesday, July 29, to allow staff to attend Feyerherm’s remembrance services.
(Photo: Lincoln Chamber of Commerce)