March 21, 2022
Sixty-three women, men and businesses have been nominated for the 49th annual EmBe Tribute to Women awards.
“To all of the nominees and nominators, thank you for your outstanding contribution to the empowerment, development and advancement of our community,” said Susanne Gale, EmBe chief development officer. “These awards allow us to honor the impact made by incredible individuals and sustain our mission to empower the women and families of our community. We truly appreciate all that you do.”
The awards will be presented at the 2022 Tribute to Women event April 21 at the Sioux Falls Convention Center.
Here are the nominees and their employers:
Banking and Finance
Joan Bartling, Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce
Patti Brands, The Bancorp
Heather Hofer, Woltman Group
Kristina Schaefer, First Bank & Trust
Heather Schelling, Northwestern Mutual
Lindsey Swenson, Northwestern Mutual
Business Achievement
Jessica Arend, Ronald McDonald House of South Dakota
Katie Ashmore, Schemmer Associates
Katie Bartling, Sammons Financial Group
Kyriel Clark, Hurdle Life and Inner Child Circle
Tiffany Hansen, 3 Degrees Sauna Studio
Sara Henderson, Avera Health
Kristin Hoefert-Redlinger, Northwestern Mutual
Adeline Reiman, Gallagher
Nancy Savage, Child’s Play Toys
Becky Word, Lloyd Cos.
Nicole Freesemann, Raven Industries
Community Service
Abby Bischoff, Stockyards Ag Experience
Sierra Broussard, Cracker Barrel
Irina Goubanova, Translators of Cultures/Minority Youth Advocacy
Stephanie Marty, Peace Lutheran Sioux Falls/The Transformation Project
Jadyn Kay Ramazani, Jadyn Kay’s Spritz Cookies
Angela Schoffelman, Avera
Serene Thin Elk, South Dakota Urban Indian Health
Stacy Wrighstman, Sanford Health
Tana Zwart, TZ Media Management
Jennifer Rothenbuehler, Presentations Sisters
EmBeliever (open to women, men, and organizations)
Matt Gassen, Feeding South Dakota retired CEO
Andy Howes, Howes Oil Co.
Melanie Keegan, Thrivent
Mary Kolsrud, Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation
Becky Rasmussen, Call to Freedom
Nancy Reynoza, ¿Que Pasa? Sioux Falls and Reynoza Real Estate
Dr. David Basel, Avera Health
Raven Industries
Sammons Financial Group
Government and Law
Shannon Ausen, city of Sioux Falls
Jennifer Disburg, Sioux Falls Police Department
Sue Lucas-Peterson, state of South Dakota
Cynthia Mickelson, Sioux Falls School Board
Healthcare and STEM
Lora Black, Sanford Health
Joni Ekstrum, South Dakota Biotech
Christa Friedrich, Avera
Christina Lankhorst, Sanford
Ashley Leuthold, Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center
Emily Van Klompenburg, South Dakota State University/Allied Health Professions
Emily Wegner, Raven Industries
Wendy White, Face It Together
Gesine Ziebarth, Lost&Found
Humanities and Education
Dawn Marie Johnson, Sioux Falls School District – Joe Foss at Axtell Park
Shantel Krebs, Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center
Wendy Mamer, Augustana University
Molly O’Connor, Lemonly
Sylvia Henkin Mentoring Award
Sandy Case, Case by Case Coaching
Dr. Nancy Free, Child’s Voice/Sanford Health
Young Woman of Achievement
Carly Hegstad, Lawrence & Schiller
Shannon Huether, Central Payments
Morgan Larson, South Dakota Manufacturing & Technology Solutions
Sydney Meza, The Empowerment Center
Janean Michalov, Furniture Mission of South Dakota
Madeline Miller, The Link
Rachel Polan, Sioux Falls Pride
Sara Romeo, Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center
Seating at the event is limited but open to the public. Tickets for individual seats and tables of eight are available for purchase here.