Scott Cordes, SCC Alumnus, Receives NCCA’s 2021 Distinguished Alumni Award
Scott Cordes was selected as the NCCA’s 2021 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient from Southeast Community College (SCC, www.southeast.edu) for his many accomplishments. He graduated from the Fire Protection Technology program at SCC in 1986. Since then, he has spent many years as a firefighter and continues to build his resume. He is now Norfolk’s Public Safety Director/Assistant City Administrator.
Cordes became a firefighter because his grandfather, uncles, cousins, and brothers all served as volunteer firefighters in his hometown of Scribner. He began his career at the Nebraska State Fire Marshal’s office in Scribner as a fire investigator and inspector. He became the Norfolk Fire Marshal in 1996, and then was promoted to Assistant Chief in charge of the Prevention Bureau, which included supervision of all code enforcement for the city. He was promoted to Norfolk Fire Chief in 2011.
Cordes returned to school and earned his Bachelor of Science in Business from Bellevue University. He also recently finished his master’s degree in leadership and executive coaching, also from Bellevue University. Cordes said he tends to work hard and play hard and enjoys life in every way he can. He and his wife Lora have been married 37 years and have four children and six grandchildren.
Southeast Community College is committed to providing accessible, dynamic, and responsive education in more than 50 programs to a diverse variety of students. They also have degree, diploma, and certificate options. To learn more, go to www.southeast.edu or contact Andrea Gallagher, communications specialist, at agallagher@southeast.edu / (402) 323-3395.