NOMINATIONS

About Us

Who We Are

Inspire – Celebrating Women Leadership awards was created in 2015 as an avenue to honor influential and deserving women in our community, serving in fields such as business, government, philanthropy, education, health care and more. It’s a chance to recognize women having huge positive impacts on Lincoln and young women who are preparing to be the next such leaders. Since the inception of Inspire, we have had the honor of celebrating over 300 such Lincoln female leaders.

Since then, it has grown into an entire community with regular events, a monthly newsletter and videos to connect women leaders and their supporters. Along with our scholarship sponsor, Union Bank & Trust, we have been able to offer $50,000 to local high school students to pursue their educational goals.

Videos

Inspire Awards 2021 - Full Ceremony

Inspire Awards 2021 - Full Ceremony

2020 Excellence in Government Service Winner - Senator Patty Pansing Brooks

2020 Excellence in Government Service Winner - Senator Patty Pansing Brooks

Inspiring Interviews - Karen McGivney Liechti - 2020 Excellence in Healthcare

Inspiring Interviews - Karen McGivney Liechti - 2020 Excellence in Healthcare

2020 Inspire Founders Award Winner, Zainab Funnah

2020 Inspire Founders Award Winner, Zainab Funnah

Inspire Interview with 2020's Inspire Excellence in Entrepreneurship, Susan Larson Rodenburg

Inspire Interview with 2020's Inspire Excellence in Entrepreneurship, Susan Larson Rodenburg

2020's Excellence in Education Winner Dr. Helen Fagan

2020's Excellence in Education Winner Dr. Helen Fagan

2020's Excellence in Business (Large) Winner - Diane Temme Stinton

2020's Excellence in Business (Large) Winner - Diane Temme Stinton

Inspire Excellence in Nonprofit Winner, Alynn Sampson

Inspire Excellence in Nonprofit Winner, Alynn Sampson

2020 Inspire Future Business Leader & Scholarship Winner, Evada Palmer

2020 Inspire Future Business Leader & Scholarship Winner, Evada Palmer

2020's Excellence in Business (Small) Inspire Award Winner Aletta McClendon

2020's Excellence in Business (Small) Inspire Award Winner Aletta McClendon

Inspire Awards 2020 - Keynote Speaker, Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird

Inspire Awards 2020 - Keynote Speaker, Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird

2020 Inspire Excellence in Business - Large Winner: Diane Temme, TMCO

2020 Inspire Excellence in Business - Large Winner: Diane Temme, TMCO

2020 Excellence in Business Small/Medium Award Winner: Aletta McClendon of Zen Salon

2020 Excellence in Business Small/Medium Award Winner: Aletta McClendon of Zen Salon

2020 Excellence in Entrepreneurship Winner - Susan Larson Rodenburg, SLR Communications

2020 Excellence in Entrepreneurship Winner - Susan Larson Rodenburg, SLR Communications

2020 Excellence in Education Winner: Dr. Helen Abdali Soosan Fagan

2020 Excellence in Education Winner: Dr. Helen Abdali Soosan Fagan

2020 Excellence in Government Service Award Winner - Patty Pansing Brooks

2020 Excellence in Government Service Award Winner - Patty Pansing Brooks

2020 Excellence in Nonprofit Winner - Alynn Sampson, Food Bank of Lincoln

2020 Excellence in Nonprofit Winner - Alynn Sampson, Food Bank of Lincoln

Inspire Interviews video frame

2020 Excellence in Healthcare Winner: Karen McGivney-Liechti

2020 Inspire Excellence in Philanthropy Winner: Holly Ostergard

2020 Inspire Excellence in Philanthropy Winner: Holly Ostergard

2020 Founders Award Winner - Zainab Funnah

2020 Founders Award Winner - Zainab Funnah

Podcast

Sponsored by 

Inspired Interviews Episode 1 - Introduction Ava Thomas

Inspired Interviews Episode 2 - Staci Hass

Inspired Interviews Episode 3 - Alaa Ismail

Inspired Interviews Episode 4 - Katherine Warren

Inspired Interviews Episode 5 - Dr. Margaret Kontras Sutton

Inspired Interviews Episode 6 - Cathy Martinez

Advisory Board

Connie Edmond, Managing Partner, WRL CPA

Connie Edmond

Managing Partner
WRL CPA

Robin Eschliman

Robin Eschliman

Owner
Eschliman Commercial Real Estate

Peter Ferguson, Youth Development Coordinator, Lincoln Public Schools

Peter Ferguson

Youth Development Coordinator
Lincoln Public Schools

Ava Thomas, President and Publisher, Lincoln Journal Star

Ava Thomas

President West Region
Lee Enterprises

Natalia Wiita

Natalia Wiita

President
Lincoln Journal Star

Sarah Wischhof

Sarah Wischhof

Assistant Vice President – Marketing
Union Bank & Trust

Ashley Abramson, Director of Marketing, Hausmann Construction

Ashley Abramson

Director of Marketing
Hausmann Construction

Aakriti Agrawal, Senior Data Governance Specialist at Ameritas/Co-Founder of Girls Code Lincoln

Aakriti Agrawal

Senior Data Governance Specialist at Ameritas
Co-Founder of Girls Code Lincoln

Charlie Foster, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Inclusive Student Excellence, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Charlie Foster

Assistant Vice Chancellor for Inclusive Student Excellence
University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Staci Haas, Director of Product – Consumer Services, Nelnet

Staci Haas

Director of Product – Consumer Services
Nelnet

Jen Landis

Jen Landis

Assistant Professor of Practice
University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Meagan Liesveld

Meagan Liesveld

Executive Director
United Way of Lincoln and Lancaster County

James Overcash, Partner, Woods Aitken,

James Overcash

Partner
Woods Aitken

Diane Temme Stinton, Chief Executive Officer, TMCO, Inc.

Diane Temme Stinton

Chief Executive Officer
TMCO, Inc.

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