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 2023 - Full Ceremony

Inspire Awards 2023 - Full Ceremony

Inspire Awards 2022 - Full Ceremony

Inspire Awards 2022 - Full Ceremony

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

2020 Inspire Founders Award Winner, Zainab Funnah

2020 Inspire Founders Award Winner, Zainab Funnah

Inspiring Interviews - Karen McGivney Liechti - 2020 Excellence in Healthcare

Inspiring Interviews - Karen McGivney Liechti - 2020 Excellence in Healthcare

2020's Excellence in Education Winner Dr. Helen Fagan

2020's Excellence in Education Winner Dr. Helen Fagan

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

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

Inspire Excellence in Nonprofit Winner, Alynn Sampson

Inspire Excellence in Nonprofit Winner, Alynn Sampson

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

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

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

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

2020 Inspire Future Business Leader & Scholarship Winner, Evada Palmer

2020 Inspire Future Business Leader & Scholarship Winner, Evada Palmer

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

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

Inspire Awards 2020 - Keynote Speaker, Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird

Inspire Awards 2020 - Keynote Speaker, Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird

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

 

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

Inspired Interviews Episode 7 - Charlie Foster

Inspired Interviews Episode 8 - Betsy Grindlay

Inspired Interviews Episode 9 - Alice Murphy & Michaella Kumke

Inspired Interviews Episode 10 - Barbara Bartle

Inspired Interviews Episode 11 - Toni Jensen

Inspired Interviews Episode 12 - Sarah Wischhof

Inspired Interviews Episode 13 - Brooke Mullen

Inspired Interviews Episode 14 - Betsy Tonniges

Inspired Interviews Episode 15 - Rhonda Revelle

Inspired Interviews Episode 16 - LaCresha Brooks

Inspired Interviews Episode 17 - Susanne Blue

Inspired Interviews Episode 17 - Susanne Blue

Inspired Interviews Episode 18 - Nancy Johner

Inspired Interviews Episode 19 - Leigh Esau

Inspired Interviews Episode 20 - Sara Brown

Inspired Interviews Episode 20 - Sara Brown

Advisory Board

Connie Edmond, Managing Partner, WRL CPA

Mia Wilken

Event & Program Manager
Lincoln Chamber of Commerce

Robin Eschliman

Robin Eschliman

Owner
Eschliman Commercial Real Estate

Ava Thomas, President and Publisher, Lincoln Journal Star

Ava Thomas

President West Region
Lee Enterprises

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

Diane Temme Stinton

Chief Executive Officer
TMCO, Inc.

Natalia Wiita

Natalia Wiita

Co-Owner
TW Investments/Major League lawns

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

James Overcash, Partner, Woods Aitken,

James Overcash

Partner
Woods Aitken

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 Hass

Director, Product Owner Management
Lincoln Financial Group

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

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