Tribute to Women

Tribute to Women culminated in a beautiful celebration of support for women in our region. On April 18, 2019, we added nine more people to the rolls of Tribute honorees, bringing the 46 year total to 328, with more than 1,500 people nominated in the past decades.

Highlighting achievement and giving back, compassion and skill, this group of 74 nominees represents all that is wonderful in Sioux Falls. Our emcees, Karla Santi of Blend Interactive and Cory Myers of the Argus Leader, shared both personal connections with EmBe and built excitement as nominees were introduced and winners were named. Connections were also evident as people met friends old and new throughout the event.

The winners for 2019 are:
• Sylvia Henkin Mentoring Award: Nancy Wahlstrom, Senior Vice President and Trust Officer with The First National Bank in Sioux Falls
• Banking & Finance: Carrie Wilson, Chief Financial Officer at First Bank & Trust
• Business Achievement: Jess Jasso, Network Office Principal and Chief Development Officer at Northwestern Mutual
• Community Service: Beth Jensen, KELO News Director
• EmBeliever : Chelsea Tracy, Chelsea’s Boutique and Underneath the Clothes owner
• Government and Law: Michelle Boyd, Chief Deputy of the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office
• Healthcare & STEM: Dr. Amy Elliott, Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center.
• Humanities & Education: Pam Hilber, Director of Workforce Planning for Avera Health
• Young Women of Achievement: Maggie Sweets, owner of Maggie Sweets Photography

Stay tuned for 2020 event details!

2019 WINNERS

Congratulations to our 2019 Tribute to Women winners!
• Sylvia Henkin Mentoring Award: Nancy Wahlstrom, Senior Vice President and Trust Officer with The First National Bank in Sioux Falls
• Banking & Finance: Carrie Wilson, Chief Financial Officer at First Bank & Trust
• Business Achievement: Jess Jasso, Network Office Principal and Chief Development Officer at Northwestern Mutual
• Community Service: Beth Jensen, KELO News Director
• EmBeliever : Chelsea Tracy, Chelsea’s Boutique and Underneath the Clothes owner
• Government and Law: Michelle Boyd, Chief Deputy of the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office
• Healthcare & STEM: Dr. Amy Elliott, Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center.
• Humanities & Education: Pam Hilber, Director of Workforce Planning for Avera Health
• Young Women of Achievement: Maggie Sweets, owner of Maggie Sweets Photography

2019 NOMINEES

Congratulations to our 2019 nominees!

Banking & Finance
Angela Shaw, The First National Bank in Sioux Falls
Carrie Wilson, First Bank & Trust
LaRay Behrens, Citi
Sadie Bell, First Bank & Trust

Business Achievement
Gloria Kolbeck, Vanessen’s Hair Design
Jess Jasso, Northwestern Mutual
Katie Pohlson, Sanford Health
Korena Keys, KeyMedia Solutions
Melanie Hammer, Priceless Priorities
Nikki Gronli, SDN Communications
Rebecca Wiener-McGregor, Heal with Hypnosis & Whole Life Happy
Robin K. Kleine, Focus Marketing Group Inc.
Tori Marco, Key Staffing

Community Service
Anelis Coscioni, Toy Lending Library of South Dakota
Beth Jensen, KELOLAND Media Group
Gayle Ver Hey, VOLT
Harriet Yocum, Community Volunteer Leader
Julie Ward, Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center
Nicole Griese, Griese Law Firm, P.C.
Tatiana Chance, Help 4 Huhas
Teresa Nold, SD Parent Connection

EmBeliever (open to women, men and organizations)
Becky Rasmussen, Call to Freedom
Chelsea Tracy, Chelsea’s Boutique & Underneath the Clothes
Christopher Schenkel, Northwestern Mutual
Debbie Stadley Augustad, Core Soul Pilates Studio
Jeana Goosmann, Goosmann Law Firm
Jim Roddel, Auto Body Specialties
Kennen Barber-Ensz, barre3
Kira Kimball, Howalt+McDowell Insurance, a Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC company
Lori Dykstra, Girl Scouts – Dakota Horizons
Matthew A. Barker, MD, Avera Medical Group Urogynecology
Micah Aberson, Sanford Health
Sarah Waltner, Raven Industries
Scott Lawrence, Lawrence & Schiller
Sioux Falls Women Run
Tami Skorczewski, Scarbrough Center at Southeast Technical Institute

Government & Law
Candi Gearman, Sioux Falls Police Department
Connie Larson, United States Attorney’s Office
Erica Beck, City of Sioux Falls
Josephine Dunn-Junius, MD, Sanford Health
Liz Fullenkamp, Avera Health
Meghann Joyce, Goosmann Law Firm
Michelle Abraham, Sioux Falls VA Health Care System
Michelle Boyd, Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office
Nicole Tupman, Midco
Pamela Reiter, Johnson, Janklow, Abdallah, & Reiter, LLP
Shantel Krebs, Avera McKennan
Shellie Slattery, Sioux Falls Police Department

Healthcare & STEM
Amanda Van Aartsen, Midco
Amy Elliot, Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center
Karla Nygren, Avera McKennan Hospital
Katie Shuck, CybHER
Mona Hohman, Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society

Humanities & Education
Nancy Halverson, Levitt at the Falls
Pam Hilber, Avera Health
Rebecca Wimmer, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sioux Empire
Roberta Bennett, Sioux Falls School District – Washington
Susan Foster, Brandon Valley School District
Tanja Pederson, Freedom Elementary

Sylvia Henkin Mentoring Award
Diana VanderWoude, Sanford Human Resources: LEAD
Kim Jensen, Avera Health
Micki Lundin, Avera Health
Nancy Wahlstrom, The First National Bank in Sioux Falls
Rita Trager, South Dakota Department of Social Services
Sister JoAnn Sturzl, Presentation Sisters and PRH International

Young Woman of Achievement
Alicia Schumacher, Avera Health
Amy Tulson, Sioux Falls School District
Ashley Nelson, Sanford Health
Courtney Place, SEE US Movement
Holly Rader, Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce
Jamie Hegge, Lawrence & Schiller
Janean Michalov, The Furniture Mission
Maggie Sweets, Maggie Sweets Photography
Megan Raposa, Argus Leader

AUCTION

If you would like to donate an item or package to the Tribute to Women auction, please contact Special Events Coordinator, Samantha Bucknell, at 605.681.8346 or sbucknell@embe.org

Donated items will receive exposure at the event and on the online mobile bidding platform prior to the event.

EVENT DETAILS

46th Annual Tribute to Women Celebration
Thursday, April 18, 2019
Sioux Falls Convention Center
5:00pm-8:30pm

Social & Silent Auction 5:00pm-7:00pm
Awards Program 7:00pm-8:30pm

VOLUNTEER

For more information or questions about volunteering or sitting on the Empowerment Committee, please contact Special Events Coordinator, Samantha Bucknell, at 605.681.8346 or sbucknell@embe.org

NOMINATIONS

Nominations for the 2019 Tribute to Women event are now closed.

NOMINATION CATEGORIES

BUSINESS ACHIEVEMENT – Business leader or leader in a professional trade – includes sales and marketing, entrepreneurs and leaders in innovative endeavors.

BANKING & FINANCE – Banking, accounting, financial planning, investors, other finance-related business and those who contribute to the success of the financial industry.

COMMUNITY SERVICE – An outstanding individual who gives freely of their time and talents to a nonprofit entity, human or social service.

EMBELIEVER AWARD – A man, woman, or business that demonstrates the mission of EmBe to enrich our community by empowering women and families

GOVERNMENT & LAW – Individuals serving local, state, or federal government, law, politics or military service.

HEALTHCARE & STEM – Leader in the fields of healthcare, science, technology, engineering or math.

HUMANITIES & EDUCATION – Leader in any level of education, culture, arts, music, literature, philosophy or religion.

SYLVIA HENKIN MENTORING AWARD – Woman who has dedicated herself to mentoring other women in their personal/professional lives. Women aged 50+ are eligible for the Sylvia Henkin award.

YOUNG WOMAN OF ACHIEVEMENT – Woman between the ages of 21 and 35 with community service and professional success to indicate both current leadership and her potential for extraordinary leadership and service.

SAMPLE NOMINATION

Your nomination is the most important part of Tribute to Women! 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. Please see the sample nomination form for what a great nomination looks like. As always, contact us with any questions!

Sample Nomination Form

INFORMATION

For more information or questions regarding a sponsorship, please contact Samantha Bucknell at 605.681.8346 or sbucknell@embe.org.

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EmBe 2019 Tribute to Women Honorees

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Sponsor Spotlight: The Convention Center

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EmBe Announces Nominees for 46th Annual Tribute to Women

Seventy-four women, men and businesses have been nominated for the 46th Tribute to Women celebration. The event, which serves as EmBe’s premier fundraiser, honors the achievements of women in the [...]

Tribute to Women Winners from 1974 to 2019

2003 Karla Abbott
2002 Janice Alberg
1985 Debra Anderson
2002 Argus Leader
2011 Elizabeth Augustine
2000 Avera McKennan
1981 Linda Barker
2006 Shannon Barnes
2001 Stephanie Becker
1975 Val Beckman
2008 Dr. Maria Bell
1986 Julie Haas Benz
2004 Diana Berkland
2014 Diana Berkland
1982 Lois Berry
1993 Susan Billings
2018 Carrie Biondi
2007 Judy Blauwet
1991 Melanie Bliss
2016 Kellen Boice
1999 Pam Bollinger
2013 Dr. Annette Bosworth
2019 Michelle Boyd
2007 Kristin Breitag
2011 Lisa Brouwer
1997 Carol Brown
1992 Sue Brown
1985 Lee Burd
2013 Kim Burma
1995 Sharon Busch
1982 Lynn Byrne
2012 Terryl Cadwell
1977 Betty Cahill
2002 Mary Beth Carrell
1974 Margaret Cashman
2013 Julie Choudek
2005 Sue Christensen
2003 Ruth Christopherson
2001 Citibank
1992 Cathy Clark
2008 Cathy Clark
2017 Suzy Collignon-Hodgen
2018 Marcy Crawford
1976 Jerry Cunningham
2008 Joni Cutler
1998 Barbara Day
1992 Bette Day
2016 Polly Dean
1996 Shawn DeGroot
1982 Gertrude Dekker
1995 Carol Denotter
1989 Elaine Dertien
1994 Carol Deschepper
1985 Virginia Dettman
1983 Mary Ellen Dock
1994 Eve Dooyema
2001 Julie Doss
1994 Carolyn Downs
1987 Norma Doyle
1981 Patricia Eggers
2006 Paula Eichman
1979 Jean Eidy
2019 Amy Elliott
2007 Teri Ellis-Schmidt
1978 Deloris Erickson
1984 Gloria Evans
2015 Barb Everist
1975 Kathy Everist
1991 Cheryl Farmer
1977 Jeanne Perry Farrell
2011 Jan Feterl
2007 Deb Fischer-Clemens
2005 Deborah Ford
2013 Allene Flora
2017 Laurie Fluit
1976 Lolly Forseth
2018 Sandy Frentz
1990 Bea Friesth
1995 Jeanne Fullenkamp
1998 Shelly Gardner
1979 Leslee Garvey
2011 Kris Gaster
2013 Nancy Geffre
1995 Lucy Green
1993 Carol Greenfield
1986 Joan Gross
2010 Kris Gross
1992 Dawn Gunn
1981 Lenore Haber
2013 Anne Hajek
2001 Sue Halbritter
1978 Shirley Halleen
2002 Tricia Halling
2000 Linda Hallstrom
1978 Dawn Halvorson
1990 Judy Hamilton
2013 Shelley Hanisch
1978 Eileen Hanneman
1987 Candis Hanson
1988 Jocelyn Hanson
2007 Clara Hart
1974 Eugenia Hartig
2018 Jan Haugen-Rogers
2006 Yvonne Hawkins
2013 Kim Hayes
2015 Erin Hayes
2010 Jean Healy
1996 Catherine Heinemann
1975 Sylvia Henkin
2007 Sylvia Henkin
2019 Sylvia Henkin
1984 Beverly J. Henning
2011 Stephanie Herseth Sandlin
2008 Dr. Marice Highstreet
2019 Pam Hilber
1976 Inola Hill
2005 Rebecka Hinker
1991 Lois Hoffman
2015 Pam Homan
1986 Margot Hood-Rogers
2014 Arlene Horner
2010 Jamie Horter
1978 Gloria Houle
2003 Howalt-McDowell Insurance Inc.
2017 Mary Howard
2000 Monica Huber
1984 Maurine Hult
1980 Loila Hunking
1978 Doris Huseboe
2017 Taneeza Islam
2009 Dr. Meena Jaggi
1993 Mary Jo Jaqua
2012 Lesa Jarding
1980 Judy Jasper
2019 Jess Jasso
2009 Della Jeffries
2019 Beth Jensen
2004 Char Jensen
1990 Beth Jernberg
1982 Sandy Jerstad
1994 Clara Johnson
1994 Doris Johnson
2004 Jane Johnson
2013 Melissa Johnson
1995 Sheryl Johnson
1976 Signie Johnson
2014 Stacy Jones
1991 Cora Kalb
1978 Dorothy Kalns
2008 Aida Karic Brasnic
2017 Cathy Kellogg
2012 Jaciel Keltgen
1979 Peggy Kirby
2005 Kaia Kloster
2011 Jacquie Kluck
1987 Maureen Knight
1988 Suzanne Knudson
1988 Carol Knudtson
1990 Laurie Knutson
1992 Joellen Koerner
1993 Karen Kovar
2015 Brandi Kowalczyk
2003 Carol Kreager
2009 Ruth Krystopolski
2007 Peg Lambert
2012 Dr. Laurie Landeen
2015 Megan Landsverk
1997 Diane Larsen
1982 Marianne Larsen
2009 Deana Larson
1983 Doris Larson
2009 June Larson
2008 Michelle Lavallee
1977 Clara Chilson Lee
2010 Mary Leedom
2018 Tina Lenz
1986 Ann Lewis
2011 Jolene Loetscher
2002 Roxie Loftesness
1989 Marvelene Looby
2011 Donna Magnuson
1989 Carol Mashek
2018 Pat McAdaragh, Midco
2016 Trish McCann
2018 Sarah McGuire
2014 Stacey McMahan
1997 Evie Meier
1987 Judith Meierhenry
2006 Ruth Metcalf
1998 Betty Meyer
2010 Lindsey Meyers
2014 Megan Myers
2002 Carla Middlen
1985 Diana Miller
2006 Doreen Miller
2005 Francie Miller
2013 Brittany Montecuollo
1975 Phyllis Montis
1988 Pamela Moser
2008 Pamela Moser
1981 Fayola Muchow
1975 Carol Muller
1981 Lauretta Mundt
2018 Lori Murray
1981 Mary Lynn Myers
2010 Pat Nadolski
2009 Becky Nelson
2016 Julie Nelson
1974 Melvina Newman
2015 Brooke Nicholson Grote
1982 Jan Nicolay
1989 Lorraine Norman
1980 Judy Northrop
2015 Julie Norton
1991 Carol Oakland
1983 Colman Oakley
2009 Kristine O’Connell
1974 Hazel O’Connor
1977 Betty I. O’Donnell
2000 Charisse Oland
2012 Mary Olinger
2004 Nancy Olsen
1999 Nancy Olson
2012 Susan Omanson
2014 Betty Ordal
1999 Tammy Otten
1987 Kim Overby
2016 Elizabeth Overmoe
1980 Ethel Oyan
2011 Mary Oyos
2009 Carole Pagans
2001 Lorrie Papka
1984 Ruth Parry
1989 Karen Pearson
1986 Trudy Peckham
1996 Cheryl Pederson
1979 Alice Penticoff
2016 Twila Parkinson
1995 Patricia Peters
1980 Catherine Piersol
1986 Pat Pilcher
2017 Dr. Ashley Podhradsky
2003 Jenny Pohlman
2009 Doreen Pospisil
1996 Val Putman
1985 Ella Reagan
2003 Jean Reed
1977 Judy Regan
1997 Patricia Reipel
1983 Lenore Richards
1981 Marjorie Richards
1989 Sarah Richardson Larson
2006 Kimberly Roe
2017 Carol Rogers
1974 Libby Rogers
1999 Ann Marie Rossing
1984 Judy Rost
1994 Vicki Rowenhorst
1980 Rose Ryan
2016 Karla Santi
2007 Kristina Schaap
2000 Catherine Schiltz
1998 Katherine Schnabel
2011 Lynnda Schoen
2014 Sharon Schueler
1999 Trudee-Schur-Marsh
2017 Amber Schwiesow
2007 Harriet Scott
1996 Susan Scott
1996 Pam Sessier
1999 Anita Sekora Kealey
2012 Jennifer Sherman
2008 Darcy Sherman-Justice
1980 Dorothy Shultz
1993 Charline Smith
2008 Keila Smith
1979 Lorraine Smith
1984 Maize Solem
1976 Mary Sommervold
2015 Erin Srstka
2004 Rhea Staniaszewski
1990 Linda Stensland
1998 Barbara Stork
2009 Amy Sumner
1988 Margaret Sumption
2006 Mila Surkalovic
2018 Allison Suttle, MD
2019 Maggie Sweets
2007 Sarah Swenson
1979 Judith Szakats
2015 Paul Ten Haken, Click Rain
2010 Ann McKay Thompson
1992 Diane Thompson
1991 Ronelle Thompson
2012 Mary Thoen
2000 June Thormodsgard
2014 Kathy Thorson
1993 Mary Tidwell
2014 Pam Tiede
1988 Kay Torney
2016 Bill Townsend, Howalt-McDowell Insurance Inc.
2019 Chelsea Tracy
1976 Mary Turner
1977 Carol Twedt
1983 Rae Unzicker
2005 Eileen Van Soest
1979 Bertie Vandemark
1988 Mary Vanderlinde
1987 Nancy Veglahn
1990 Susan Wagner
2014 Cindy Walsh
2008 Sharon Wartenbee
1983 Mary Jo Wegner
2016 Jill Weimer
1997 Edie Weiss-Holzbauer
2010 Sr. Lynn Marie Welbig
1998 Grace Wellman
2001 Wells Fargo
1997 Heidi Wenande
2012 Anita Wetsch
1989 Nancy White
2008 Sue Williams
2019 Carrie Wilson
2005 Meredith Wipf
2012 Mary Wolf
2017 Jim Woster, Avera Health
2006 Cara Wynia
1985 Anne Zabel

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