SME announces Women of Excellence nominees

March 15, 2022

More than 50 women have been nominated for the Sales and Marketing Executives Inc. Women of Excellence Awards. They will be presented March 22 as part of the SME Women in Business event at the Sioux Falls Convention Center in the categories of Excellence in Marketing, Excellence in Sales, Supporting Excellence, Entrepreneurial Excellence and Excellence in Leadership. Here are the nominees:

• Lora Black, Sanford Health

• Erin Bosch, Sanford Health

• Patti Brands, The Bancorp

• Terri Carlson, Sanford Health

• Kim Coats, Northwestern Mutual

• Suzy Collignon Hodgen, Sanford Health

• AshLeigh Cook, Ignite Infrared Fitness Studio

• Leslie Cooper, Avera Institute for Human Genetics

• Christina Cota, Cota Coaching and Consulting

• Nancy Davidson, Augustana University

• Jennie Doyen, Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce

• Tammy Eichacker, Sanford Health

• Lexie Frankman, Midco

• Addie Graham Kramer, The Event Company

• Taylor Hanson, 605 Magazine and 605 Creative Co.

• Jamie Hegge, Lawrence & Schiller

• Katie Herrmann, Cirka Performance Arts

• Taneeza Islam, South Dakota Voices for Peace

• Melissa Johnson, Oh My Cupcakes

• Laurie Knutson, The Interim CEO

• Cami Koehn, Northwestern Mutual

• Connie Kramer, The Birth Place, Sanford Health

• Julie Lautt, Avera Health

• Domanique Lokken, Great Shots and Blue Rock Bar & Grill

• Linda Maeschen, Sanford Health

• Wendy Mamer, Augustana University

• Brienne Maner, Startup Sioux Falls

• Melissa Matlock, Prairie View Event Hall

• Peggy McGuire, Holiday Inn City Centre

• Diane McKee, Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center

• Amy Moore, Lemonly

• Katie Mouw, Stewart Title

• Kara Nelson, Good Samaritan Society

• Vicki Neve, Kusek Family & Implant Dentistry

• Jackie Payne, FranklinCovey

• Maddie Peschong, Maddie Peschong — Photographer, White Space Studio

• Cindy Peterson, Maximizing Excellence LLC

• Melany Pravecek, Holiday Inn City Centre

• Addie Reiman, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

• Nikkee Rhody, Central Payments and Falls Fintech

• Karla Santi, Blend Interactive

• Heather Schelling, Northwestern Mutual

• Carissa Schoffelman, Click Rain

• Jodi Schwan, SiouxFalls.Business, 605 Made, Pigeon605, Align Content Studio

• Holly Shane, Avera Health

• Jennifer Sherman, Stifel

• Katie Studer, Avera Health

• Lindsey Swenson, Northwestern Mutual

• Ashley Thompson, Keloland Living

• Heather VanderHelm, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sioux Empire

• Dawn VanNieuwenhuyzen, Plains Commerce Bank

• Terra Vennard, Silencer Central

• Jackie Wentworth, Experience Sioux Falls

• Wendy Wills, First International Bank & Trust

The full event schedule includes:

• Six educational breakout sessions from local leaders Kira Kimball, Tara Allen, Tim Schut, Maddie Peschong, Brienne Maner and Amber Reints.

• From Dreaming to Doing entrepreneurial panel moderated by Jodi Schwan featuring local business owners Ngoc Thach, Lindsey Swenson, Sanaa Abourezk and Alana Snyder.

• Experience Rooms with opportunities to get a professional headshot, practice a growth mindset exercise or participate in a service project.

• Trade fair of local vendors highlighting health care, personal and professional development, retail, travel resources and more.

• Presentation of the Women of Excellence Awards.

• Keynote from Cheryl Strayed, New York Times bestselling author of “Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail,” and known for having been portrayed by Reese Witherspoon in the movie adaptation.

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