Lincoln Arts Festival

Wendy Birdsall, president of the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce and Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development, was named Woman of the Year at the 2016 Inspire – Celebrating Women’s Leadership Awards.

Watch Birdsall share her thoughts on leadership, work ethic and the need for female role models.

Lincoln Community Foundation President Barbara Bartle was named Woman of the Year on Wednesday at the third annual Inspire — Celebrating Women’s Leadership Awards.

Watch Barbara share her thoughts on leadership, the need for female role models, and what inspires her.

Martin was honored Wednesday during the fourth annual Inspire — Celebrating Women’s Leadership Awards.

Martin, who has been with Ameritas since 1984 and has served as the insurance company’s CEO since 2009, was one of 11 women honored for both their professional achievements and their contributions to the community.

Watch her Inspire video.

Donde Plowman, dean of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Business, was named Woman of the Year. She was honored for her efforts in raising $80 million in private donations to construct a new College of Business Administration building, which broke ground earlier this year. As dean of the College of Business, she has developed a lecture series for female students to learn from successful women in the community. She endorses and supports mentoring programs for women and freely gives her time to attend and speak at RISE and Women in Philanthropy events as well as sits on many boards that affect the community.

Dittman received her honor Wednesday during the fifth annual Inspire — Celebrating Women’s Leadership Awards at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Dittman worked at the bank her family owned for nearly 40 years, serving as president from 1975-92 and then serving another 21 years on its board of directors.

In 2011, she started a $1 million micro-lending program for entrepreneurs that’s administered through the Lincoln Community Foundation.