Kylie Gana is the Co-Owner at Venue 5 Twenty-Two (venue5twenty-two.com)
Tell us a little about your business. – Venue 5 Twenty-Two is where elegance and versatility come together to create unforgettable events. Our luxury venue is designed to host weddings, corporate gatherings, showers, graduation celebrations, holiday parties and more. With a modern aesthetic and a thoughtfully crafted space, we provide the perfect backdrop for your special occasion. While our venue sets the stage, your vision brings it to life.
How did you get started in the business? – I had always dreamed of owning my own business. Growing up, I was surrounded by entrepreneurship—my parents, Craig and Lori Gana, are the owners of Gana Trucking and Excavating. That environment sparked my ambition early on. When it came time for college, I chose to major in Hospitality, Restaurant, and Tourism Management, with minors in the Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship. It was during college that I truly discovered her love for events—being involved in event planning groups through Engler and interning at Embassy Suites in Lincoln helped shape my vision.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? – One of the biggest challenges so far has been selling the vision of our space while it was still under construction. We were fortunate to average 5–7 tours a week during construction, but it’s definitely tough to help couples and clients fully picture the finished space when all we had were renderings and in-progress walk throughs. It required a lot of trust on their end, and a lot of imagination.
What has been your most important achievement professionally? – The greatest achievement has been bringing the vision to life. I remember, my parents and I walked into the architect’s office with a dream and a distinct aesthetic, and after nearly four years in the making, we’re beyond excited to finally open our doors and share it with others.
Tell us a little about your family. – My parents are Craig and Lori Gana, and I’m the oldest of three kids. I have two younger brothers, Kyson and Kaden, who are both currently in high school at Norris. My family is very close-knit—we love spending time together at the lake, going on trips, shopping with my mom, or just hanging out at home. I’m also incredibly lucky to be gaining another amazing family as I’m engaged to Chase DeVries. We’re getting married in July 2025 at Venue 5 Twenty-Two, and we’re so excited to celebrate with all of our loved ones in a space that already means so much to us.
What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know? – I’ve always had a love for living in the country and for agriculture as a whole. Growing up, I was actively involved in showing livestock through 4-H and FFA, and it was a big part of my upbringing. My family raises around 2,000 head of cattle, so livestock has always been a huge part of my life.
If you could choose any other profession to be successful in, what would it be? – Cosmetologist and Hair Stylist
If you could have dinner with one famous person from the past or present, who would it be? – Kelsea Ballerini
If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? – For more information, please visit our website at venue5twenty-two.com, give us a call at (531) 350-5784, or reach out via email at kylie@venue5twentytwo.com, lori@venue5twentytwo.com, or brianna@venue5twentytwo.com.