Quelbin Izaguirre

Quelbin Izaguirre calls Central Community College “a launch pad.” When you look at his life story, it’s clear that CCC was one of several defining launch points along the way.

A native of Honduras, Izaguirre’s journey began with a challenge few could imagine. At the age of three, he contracted kidney disease. His parents were told he would only live until age six. Determined to find health care for their son, his father walked more than 2,500 miles to California in search of opportunity and treatment.

Eventually, Izaguirre and two of his brothers reunited with their father and settled in Los Angeles at a time when the city was facing significant crime. After the death of an aunt who lived in Columbus, Neb., the family made the decision to relocate there. Although Izaguirre admits he initially felt “dragged” to Columbus as a teenager, he now calls it one of the greatest decisions his father ever made and proudly considers Columbus his hometown.

Izaguirre’s plan once seemed straightforward: graduate from high school and take a job at Cargill, following the path other family members had taken. But he began to wonder if there might be other paths. While serving in the Nebraska National Guard, he enrolled at CCC-Columbus. That decision didn’t just adjust his plan; it completely changed it.

“I got into psychology, biology and I became a fanatic of history,” Izaguirre said. “I thought, ‘If I can get a two-year degree, could I get a four-year degree?’ After that, I was like, ‘Can I get my master’s?’ ”

With a lot of support from his wife’s family, Doug and Liana Holt, Izaguirre continued his education and ultimately earned a master’s degree in economics from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Izaguirre has long dreamed of returning to Honduras to help strengthen its economy and potentially support economic development efforts across Central and South America to reduce poverty. While that dream remains ahead of him, he is gaining meaningful experience in his current role as chief operating officer of NeighborWorks Northeast Nebraska.

“We focus on rural housing,” Izaguirre said. “We try to understand what each community needs and then figure out how to create housing solutions that fit those needs. That’s challenging when you’re working with villages of 100 people and cities of 25,000.”

He said NeighborWorks Northeast Nebraska focuses heavily on the current housing market, where affordability is possible. The idea is helping long-time homeowners transition into newer homes, opening opportunities for younger families to purchase existing houses. During the process, staff members work closely with potential homebuyers, guiding them through the inspection process, repairs, financing and down payment assistance.

“A lot of people come in and have never created a budget before, so we help them build one,” Izaguirre said. “Some expect to have a home the next day, but it’s not like driving a car off the lot. There are lenders, title companies, inspections, appraisals and many additional steps, each requiring time and coordination.”

Through education, preparation and patience, NeighborWorks Northeast Nebraska serves as its own launch pad, helping families step confidently into homeownership and a new chapter of opportunity. In many ways, Izaguirre says, it now does for families what Central Community College once did for him.

“We all have potential and a lot of times, that potential goes unused,” he said. “I think NeighborWorks Northeast Nebraska and CCC help people tap into that potential. That’s what they did for me.”