From Classroom to Farm-to-Fork: How Bellevue University Alums Tony and Amber Ellsworth are Building a Thriving Business
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Bellevue University alumni Tony and Amber Ellsworth transformed a small pandemic-era farm store into Ellsworth Crossing, a thriving farm-to-fork marketplace connecting customers with products from more than 100 local farmers and producers.
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Balancing military service, demanding careers, family responsibilities, and entrepreneurship, both Tony and Amber earned multiple Bellevue University degrees, equipping them with practical business, project management, and leadership skills.
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Their story illustrates how flexible, career-focused education can prepare students for both professional advancement and unexpected opportunities to build, grow, and lead successful businesses.
Stepping Into a Business Filled With Possibility and Complexity
When Tony and Amber Ellsworth took ownership of a beloved farm-to-fork store, they entered a business brimming with potential and complexities. Today, Ellsworth Crossing is a bustling, seven-day marketplace, offering a diverse range of locally produced foods, from pasture-raised meats to fresh produce, sourdough bread, and baked goods. Customers can shop in person, order for pickup, or have deliveries made throughout the Greater Omaha area.
The business has flourished since its acquisition during the COVID-19 pandemic, but its success builds on years of personal and educational experiences.
An Education That Worked with Real Life
Tony, having joined the U.S. Navy at 17, learned discipline, responsibility, and resilience during his service. Upon returning to Nebraska, he juggled pursuing a college degree, working full-time, and raising children. Finding suitable classes proved challenging until a coworker recommended Bellevue University.
Enrolling in an accelerated bachelor’s degree program in business, Tony valued the diverse cohort, including professionals with real-world experience. His instructor, also a business owner, challenged him to grow. Tony later earned his MBA with a concentration in Information Technology and his Master of Project Management at Bellevue.
His educational journey supported a successful corporate career, including positions at Offutt Air Force Base, First Data, Kiewit, and Charles Schwab. As an IT Scrum Master, he excelled in Agile methodologies.
Two Educational Journeys Come Together
When Tony and Amber met, Amber had established a nursing career and was raising two children as a single mother. Tony was drawn to her strength and resilience, qualities he had witnessed in both his military service and his own educational journey. Their shared experience at Bellevue University, though separated by years, became a foundation for their future together.