INFORMATION
For more information or questions regarding sponsorship, please contact Anna Wiederrich at awiederrich@embe.org or 605-681-8341.
The EMBES- A Tribute to Women Celebrating the Extraordinary Contributions of Individuals in Our Community.
The EMBES
October 9, 2025
6:00pm: Social hour with cash bar* and hors d’oeuvres
7:00 pm: Award show
*Cash bar will be available until 9 pm following the event
Banking & Finance
Angela Beilke, First Premier Bank
Melissa Fossell, American Bank & Trust
Debby Gruhn, Brady Martz & Associates, PC
Richelle Hofer, Impact Wealth Management
Shawna Kleinwolterink, Plains Commerce Bank
Kimberly Muñoz, First Premier Bank
Business Achievement
Kristin Catlett, Ulta Beauty
Kendra Cersosimo, Two54 Creative
Angela Drake, Two Men and A Truck
Jill Holt, Weller Brothers Landscape Professionals
Abby Johnson-Youngquist, Auto Body Specialties
Andrea Smith, Advise to Build
Nejla Smith, Compass Tax Accounting
Sadie Swier, SD CEO East Women’s Business Center
Dawn Van Nieuwenhuyzen, Plains Commerce Bank
Community & Public Service
Ashley Ballou-Bonnema, Breathe Bravely
Erica Beck, City of Sioux Falls
Erin Bertram, Sioux Falls Police Department
Robin Burley, Sanford Health
Dr. Melissa Dittberner, USD, Midwest Street Medicine
Allison Dvorak, Let’s Skate
Angie Iverson, SD CEO East Women’s Business Center
Dawn Marie Johnson, Self-Employed
Heather Krause, Mayo Clinic
Debora Natareno, Albertos Concrete
Elisha Nelson, Sanford Health
EmBeliever Award
Community Health Workers, Avera Community Health Resource Center
Clay Hoffman, Boys & Girls Club of the Sioux Empire
Randi Van Der Sloot (c/o Marty Van Der Sloot), Sioux Falls School District
Bob Wendland, Washington Pavilion
Healthcare & STEM
Dr. Michelle Baack, Sanford Health
Margaret Kropuenske, Sanford Health
Kelsey Kruse, The Compass Center
Heidi McKean, MD, Avera Medical Group
Dr. Lauren Skattum, Britthaus
Natasha Margarita Smith, Sanford Health
Jenifer Wollman, PharmD, Avera Pharmacy Services
Outstanding Educator
Kristine Bjorum, Boys & Girls Club of the Sioux Empire
Allison Hutchinson, Sanford Health
Jamie Juhl, University of Sioux Falls
Kiersta Machacek, Sioux Falls School District
Marcella Prokop, Southeast Technical College
Jamie Stucky, Sanford Health
Laura Tjaden, Sioux Falls School District
Performing & Visual Arts
Janet Brown, Janet Brown and Associates
Katie Critzer, South Dakota Aerial and Arts
Madison Elliott, Headlights Theater
Nancy Halverson, Levitt at the Falls
Sarah Larson, hART Studio, Good Night Theatre, Washington Pavilion, Arts South Dakota
Ivy Oland Dandar, Self-Employed
Jessie Park, Sanford Health
Andrea Ross, Self-employed and Augustana University
Regina Ruhberg, Washington Pavilion
Alexondrea Thong Vanh, Self-Employed
Sylvia Henkin Mentoring Award
Kim Bartling, Humanity Launch
Cindi Johnson, Grand Falls Casino and Golf Resort
Faith Minnich-Kjesbo, Avera
Margaret Sumption, Sumption and Wyland
Young Woman of Achievement
Isabella Barbee, Plains Commerce Bank
Taylnn Smykle, Midwest Street Medicine
Bekah Van Maanen, MarketBeat
Brittany Walz, Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center
Loghin Welch, Serendipitous Events & Uncovered Sugaring Studio
Kadyn Wittman, YMCA–Sioux Falls
AWARD CATEGORY SPONSOR | $10,000
Up to nine Opportunities
As an Award Category Sponsor, your company will have the opportunity to sponsor one of the following categories of awards presented during the event:
Banking & Finance, Business Achievement, Community & Public Service, EmBeliever Award, Healthcare & STEM, Outstanding Educator, Performing & Visual Arts, Sylvia Henkin Mentoring Award and Young Woman of Achievement.
BENEFITS
- Opportunity to present the selected award
- Video of EmBe’s impact on your organization, shared during the event
- Company recognition on stage
- Company logo featured on select marketing materials
- Company website link on EmBe website Tribute to Women page
- Eligible to claim complimentary tickets
- Social media recognition
ACHIEVEMENT SPONSOR | $5,000
As an Achievement Sponsor for the event, your organization will be recognized as a key supporter of the many programs EmBe offers to achieve success.
BENEFITS
- Company logo on select event materials
- Company logo on EmBe website Tribute to Women page
- Eligible to claim complimentary tickets
- Social media recognition
COMMUNITY SPONSOR | $1,000
Attend the event and support EmBe, as well as the hundreds of women who have been nominated throughout the years.
BENEFITS
- Company logo on select event materials
- Eligible to claim complimentary tickets
- Social media recognition
Nominations for The EMBES – A Tribute to Women are currently closed.
Help us find the best of Sioux Falls
Have someone in mind? Nominate them today.
The best nominations showcase the personal and professional side of the nominee, enhanced by accomplishments in every aspect of their lives. With community impact at the heart of every category, this can be reflected by dedication to others in volunteer work, mentoring, workplace, and community support of all kinds.
- Banking & Finance – This award recognizes women for their remarkable achievements in the banking and finance sectors. It honors their dedication to fostering positive change, enhancing financial literacy, and making vital contributions to the growth and success of these industries.
- Business Achievement – A woman who demonstrates extraordinary leadership, innovation, and success across various business sectors, including sales, marketing, professional trades, and entrepreneurship. Recipients are industry pioneers who have left a significant mark, leading with vision, creativity, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.
- Community & Public Service – This award honors women for their significant contributions to public service and community involvement. Individuals are acknowledged for their dedication to civic engagement, leadership in public service initiatives, and generosity of time and talent to create impactful change within their communities.
- EmBeliever Award – A man, woman, or business recognized for embodying the mission of EmBe by empowering children, women, and families through opportunities that uplift and enhance their potential.
- Healthcare & STEM – A woman recognized for her excellence in the fields of healthcare and STEM. This award highlights their commitment to pushing the boundaries in their disciplines and advancing the well-being of individuals and communities through their groundbreaking work.
- Outstanding Educator – Any woman who is celebrated for her exceptional skill, dedication, and influence across all levels of education, from early childhood to higher education. This award honors those who showcase innovative teaching methods, demonstrate unwavering commitment to student success, and significantly impact the educational community and the lives of learners.
- Performing & Visual Arts – This award acknowledges women who have made outstanding achievements in the performing and visual arts. It celebrates the individual’s dedication to advancing the arts, enriching cultural experiences, and inspiring audiences with their artistic vision and performances.
- Sylvia Henkin Mentoring Award – This award recognizes an individual’s commitment to mentoring women in their personal and professional lives. Eligible women have actively mentored for five or more years and are over the age of 40, demonstrating a long-standing dedication to supporting and guiding others.
- Young Woman of Achievement – A woman aged 21 to 39 recognized for exemplifying leadership and professional success. Recipients are honored for their ability to drive positive change and their potential for continued excellence in their careers and community contributions. The award acknowledges her current successes and her capacity to inspire and lead future progress.
Your nomination is the most important part of The EMBES! Without you investing your time in the process, we wouldn’t be able to celebrate the incredible individuals and organizations that make a difference in our community. Your nomination form is what nominees are judged on – nothing else.
The EMBES Nomination FAQs
- Who can submit a Tribute nomination?
- Any individual, corporation, agency, civic organization, school, or place of worship should lift up a deserving woman. In addition, the Embeliever award is open to ANY individual or organization that fits the Tribute criteria. EmBe staff and their families may not submit a nomination.
- Can multiple people nominate someone?
- Yes. We suggest you work together to submit a single nomination form rather than submit multiple nomination forms. If EmBe receives multiple nominations for the same individual, we will reach out and facilitate consolidation.
- Can I nominate someone outside of Sioux Falls?
- Tribute to Women is intended to highlight contributions to the Sioux Falls area. Most winners reside in Minnehaha, Lincoln, Turner and McCook counties.
- How long does it take to complete a nomination?
- Nominating is simple, and the online form can be completed in as little as 20-30 minutes. Preparing the best nomination may take more time. We suggest you review the nomination form and ask others for input, including the nominee if that is appropriate. You may find it helpful to create and edit your nomination in a word processing program, then cut and paste it into the online form.
- Can I nominate someone who has been nominated in the past?
- Yes, though no individual is eligible to win in the same category more than once.
- Who is ineligible for nomination?
- You cannot nominate a relative, EmBe staff member or their families, or a current EmBe board member. Previous winners may not be re-nominated in the same category.
- Do nominees pay for their ticket to Tribute?
- All nominees receive a complimentary ticket to the event.
- Where can I find a list of past winners?
- See the full listing of winners since Tribute’s inception in 1974 in the drop-down section below.
- When do you announce winners?
- Winners are announced live at the Tribute to Women event and are shared on social media and with local media outlets throughout the evening.
- When do you announce nominees?
- Nominees are announced in mid-September, following the conclusion of the judging process.
- How are nominations judged? What are the criteria?
- Nominations forms are reviewed to ensure anonymity by removing names and identifying references. Each category is judged by a group of volunteer judges using a 40-point scoring rubric with four categories: leadership, growth, achievement and contribution to the community. Each category has a maximum value of 10 points. Judges resolve tied scores before submitting their scores to EmBe. Then, scores are averaged to determine the category winner and scoring is audited.
- Leadership: What attributes does the nominee have that contribute to their effectiveness as a leader in their field?
- Growth: In what ways has the nominee showcased their progression and skill development in the specific category they have been nominated for?
- Achievement: What notable accomplishments, both personally and/or professionally, highlight the nominee’s eligibility for the EmBe Tribute to Women Award?
- Contribution to Community: How is the nominee actively contributing to the improvement of our community?
- Nominations forms are reviewed to ensure anonymity by removing names and identifying references. Each category is judged by a group of volunteer judges using a 40-point scoring rubric with four categories: leadership, growth, achievement and contribution to the community. Each category has a maximum value of 10 points. Judges resolve tied scores before submitting their scores to EmBe. Then, scores are averaged to determine the category winner and scoring is audited.
- How do you select judges?
- EmBe staff and volunteers nominate community leaders to serve as judges. Judges are then assigned categories with an eye to matching their expertise without assigning a category that would make impartiality difficult. For example, someone working in finance would review Healthcare & STEM nominations.
1974
Eugenia Hartig
Hazel O’Connor
Libby Rogers
Margaret Cashman
Melvina Newman
1975
Kathy Everist
Phyllis Montis
Sylvia Henkin
Val Beckman
Lauretta Mundt
1976
Inola Hill
Jerry Cunningham
Lolly Forseth
Mary Sommervold
Mary Turner
Signie Johnson
1977
Betty Cahill
Betty I. O’Donnell
Carol Twedt
Clara Chilson Lee
Jeanne Perry Farrell
Judy Regan
1978
Dawn Halvorson
Deloris Erickson
Doris Huseboe
Dorothy Kalns
Eileen Hanneman
Gloria Houle
Shirley Halleen
1979
Alice Penticoff
Bertie Vandemark
Jean Eidy
Judith Szakats
Leslee Garvey
Lorraine Smith
Peggy Kirby
1980
Catherine Piersol
Dorothy Shultz
Ethel Oyan
Judy Jasper
Judy Northrop
Loila Hunking
Rose Ryan
1981
Fayola Muchow
Lenore Haber
Linda Barker
Marjorie Richards
Mary Lynn Myers
Patricia Eggers
1982
Gertrude Dekker
Jan Nicolay
Lois Berry
Lynn Byrne
Marianne Larsen
Sandy Jerstad
1983
Colman Oakley
Doris Larson
Lenore Richards
Mary Ellen Dock
Mary Jo Wegner
Rae Unzicker
1984
Beverly J. Henning
Gloria Evans
Judy Rost
Dr. Maize Solem
Maurine Hult
Ruth Parry
1985
Anne Zabel
Debra Anderson
Diana Miller
Ella Reagan
Lee Burd
Virginia Dettman
1986
Ann Lewis
Joan Gross
Julie Haas Benz
Margot Hood-Rogers
Pat Pilcher
Trudy Peckham
1987
Candis Hanson
Judith Meierhenry
Kim Overby
Maureen Knight
Nancy Veglahn
Norma Doyle
1988
Carol Knudtson
Jocelyn Hanson
Kay Torney
Margaret Sumption
Mary Vanderlinde
Pamela Moser
Suzanne Knudson
1989
Carol Mashek
Elaine Dertien
Karen Pearson
Lorraine Norman
Marvelene Looby
Nancy White
Sarah Richardson Larson
1990
Bea Friesth
Dr. Beth Jernberg
Judy Hamilton
Laurie Knutson
Linda Stensland
Susan Wagner
1991
Carol Oakland
Cheryl Farmer
Cora Kalb
Lois Hoffman
Melanie Bliss
Ronelle Thompson
1992
Bette Day
Cathy Clark
Dawn Gunn
Diane Thompson
Joellen Koerner
Sue Brown
1993
Carol Greenfield
Charline Smith
Karen Kovar
Dr. Mary Jo Jaqua
Mary Tidwell
Susan Billings
1994
Carol Deschepper
Carolyn Downs
Clara Johnson
Doris Johnson
Eve Dooyema
Vicki Rowenhorst
1995
Carol Denotter
Jeanne Fullenkamp
Lucy Green
Dr. Patricia Peters
Sharon Busch
Sheryl Johnson
1996
Catherine Heinemann
Cheryl Pederson
Pam Sessier
Shawn DeGroot
Susan Scott
Val Putman
1997
Carol Brown
Diane Larsen
Edie Weiss-Holzbauer
Evie Meier
Heidi Wenande
Patricia Reipel
1998
Barbara Day
Barbara Stork
Betty Meyer
Grace Wellman
Katherine Schnabel
Shelly Gardner
1999
Anita Sekora Kealey
Ann Marie Rossing
Nancy Olson
Pam Bollinger
Tammy Otten
Trudee-Schur-Marsh
2000
Avera McKennan
Catherine Schiltz
Charisse Oland
June Thormodsgard
Linda Hallstrom
Monica Huber
2001
Citibank
Julie Doss
Lorrie Papka
Stephanie Becker
Sue Halbritter
Wells Fargo
2002
Argus Leader
Carla Middlen
Janice Alberg
Mary Beth Carrell
Roxie Loftesness
Tricia Halling
2003
Carol Kreager
Howalt-McDowell Insurance Inc.
Jean Reed
Jenny Pohlman
Karla Abbott
Ruth Christopherson
2004
Char Jensen
Diana Berkland
Jane Johnson
Nancy Olsen
Rhea Staniaszewski
2005
Deborah Ford
Eileen Van Soest
Francie Miller
Dr. Kaia Kloster
Meredith Wipf
Rebecka Hinker
Sue Christensen
2006
Cara Wynia
Doreen Miller
Kimberly Roe
Mila Surkalovic
Paula Eichman
Ruth Metcalf
Shannon Barnes
Yvonne Hawkins
2007
Clara Hart
Deb Fischer-Clemens
Harriet Scott
Judy Blauwet
Kristin Breitag
Kristina Schaap
Peg Lambert
Sarah Swenson
Sylvia Henkin
Teri Ellis-Schmidt
2008
Aida Karic Brasnic
Cathy Clark
Darcy Sherman-Justice
Dr. Maria Bell
Dr. Marice Highstreet
Joni Cutler
Keila Smith
Michelle Lavallee
Pamela Moser
Sharon Wartenbee
Sue Williams
2009
Amy Sumner
Becky Nelson
Carole Pagones
Deana Larson
Della Jeffries
Doreen Pospisil
Dr. Meena Jaggi
June Larson
Kristine O’Connell
Ruth Krystopolski
2010
Ann McKay Thompson
Carol Muller
Jamie Horter
Jean Healy
Kris Gross
Lindsey Meyers
Mary Leedom
Pat Nadolski
Sr. Lynn Marie Welbig
2011
Donna Magnuson
Elizabeth Augustine
Jacquie Kluck
Jan Feterl
Jolene Loetscher
Kris Gaster
Lisa Brouwer
Lynnda Schoen
Mary Oyos
Stephanie Herseth Sandlin
2012
Anita Wetsch
Dr. Laurie Landeen
Jaciel Keltgen
Jennifer Sherman
Lesa Jarding
Mary Olinger
Mary Thoen
Mary Wolf
Susan Omanson
Terryl Cadwell
2013
Allene Flora
Anne Hajek
Brittany Montecuollo
Dr. Annette Bosworth
Julie Choudek
Kim Burma
Kim Hayes
Melissa Johnson
Nancy Geffre
Shelley Hanisch
2014
Arlene Horner
Betty Ordal
Cindy Walsh
Diana Berkland
Kathy Thorson
Megan Myers
Pam Tiede
Sharon Schueler
Stacey McMahan
Stacy Jones
2015
Barb Everist
Brandi Kowalczyk
Brooke Nicholson Grote
Erin Hayes
Erin Srstka
Julie Norton
Megan Landsverk
Pam Homan
Paul Ten Haken, Click Rain
2016
Bill Townsend, Howalt-McDowell Insurance Inc
Elizabeth Overmoe
Dr. Jill Weimer
Julie Nelson
Karla Santi
Kellen Boice
Polly Dean
Trish McCann
Twila Perkinson
2017
Amber Schwiesow
Carol Rogers
Cathy Kellogg
Dr. Ashley Podhradsky
Jim Woster, Avera Health
Laurie Fluit
Mary Howard
Suzy Collignon-Hodgen
Taneeza Islam
2018
Dr. Allison Suttle
Carrie Biondi
Jan Haugen-Rogers
Lori Murray
Marcy Crawford
Pat McAdaragh, Midco
Sandy Frentz
Sarah McGuire
Tina Lenz
2019
Amy Elliott
Beth Jensen
Carrie Wilson
Chelsea Tracy
Jess Jasso
Maggie Sweets
Michelle Boyd
Nancy Wahlstrom
Pam Hilber
2020
Ashley Briggs
Dawn Duerksen
Del’Inkka Beaudion
Jill Franken
Jyoti Angal
Kim Erickson
Mary Sand
Micki Lundin
Wendy Otheim
2021
Andrea Polkinghorn
Amy Moore
Cindy Heidelberger Larson
Erin Healy
Kira Kimball
Nikkee Rhody
Taneeza Islam
Valerie Hearns
2022
Angela Schoffelman
Dr. Nancy Free
Kristina Schaefer
Kristin Hoefert-Redlinger
Lora Black
Nancy Reynoza
Shannon Ausen
Shannon Huether
Wendy Mamer
2023
Arin Gonseth
Sarah Waltner
Susan Williams
Sheri Fischer
Erica Schipper, MD
Jen Canton
Willette A. Capers
Julie Ward
Angelica Mercado-Ford
2024
Marcella Prokop
Kimberly Muñoz
Jill Holt
Heather Krause
Community Health Workers
Jenifer M. Wollman, PharmD
Nancy Halverson
Kadyn Wittman
Kim Bartling
