• Follow

Nominations Begin Spring 2026

Inspire logo
  • Home
  • About
  • Inspiring Women
  • Previous Winners
    • 2025
    • 2024
    • 2023
    • 2022
  • Events
  • Contact Us

Inspiring Women

brought to you by Liberty First Credit Union

Liberty First Credit Union Logo (White)
Q&A with an inspiring woman: Racquel Henderson

Q&A with an inspiring woman: Racquel Henderson

Want More Information?

Have questions?
Contact us today for more information about Inspire!

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

InSpire logo

402-444-1205
Email us here »

  • Follow
Omaha World Herald logo
Affiliated with the Omaha World-Herald

Omaha World-Herald
2301 N 117th Avenue, Suite 201
Omaha, NE 68164

Presented by:

UBT logo
  • Home
  • About
  • Nominate
  • Blog / Podcast
  • Events
  • Contact Us
Powered By Lee EnterprisesPowered by Lee Enterprises | Copyright © 2026 Inspire Omaha. All Rights Reserved. | Site Map | Privacy Policy
Loading...
Award Categories

Excellence in Business

(Sm/Med: 100 or less employees)

An Omaha area female employee who works for a small/medium size business and makes a difference in the lives of her colleagues in the business or in her networking groups, who contributes to nonprofits, the local community or women’s/girls’ groups.

Excellence in Business

(Large: 100+ employees)

An Omaha area female employee who works for a large size business and makes a difference in the lives of her colleagues in the business or in her networking groups, who contributes to nonprofits, the local community or women’s/girls’ groups.

Emerging Leader Award

This award recognizes a young Omaha metro-area woman under 30 years old who has contributed exceptionally in school activities, her local community and philanthropy or girls groups over the past year. She has a strong sense of self, a success-driven work ethic and great career aspirations.

Community Volunteer

(Philanthropy, time, talent, financial contribution)

This award recognizes an Omaha metro-area woman volunteer or philanthropist who has made a major difference to local charities or nonprofits through a donation of volunteer time, talent or financial contribution.

Excellence in Education

An Omaha metro-area female educator or administrator who has made a difference in the lives of other women or girls. She contributes to the local community and nonprofits, encourages colleagues, and shares her skills for the benefit of others.

Excellence in Healthcare

An Omaha metro-area female who excels in the healthcare industry. She contributes to the local community and nonprofits, helps her colleagues to develop, and shares her skills for the benefit of others.

Excellence in Public Service

(Government, non-profit)

An Omaha area female that works in government, the arts, journalism or for a nonprofit organization. She goes above and beyond in her role and empowers her colleagues, and collaborates with other groups for the greater good to help improve the lives of others in the community.

Excellence in Women's Athletics

This award honors either female athletes, coaches, or individuals who have made significant contributions to women's athletics in the Omaha area. It celebrates their achievements, leadership, and impact on the development and promotion of women's athletics.

Visionary

(Entrepreneur, founder)

This award recognizes a woman who is an entrepreneur, a founder. Someone who built a dream into a successful venture that benefits and improves the lives of others in the Omaha community. This could be a small business or fundraising event.

Inspire Scholarship

An Omaha area female high school or college student who has contributed to her community, excels in the classroom, and has great career aspirations.

2016 Woman of the Year: Wendy Birdsall

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.

2017 Woman of the Year: Barbara Bartle

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.

2018 Woman of the Year: JoAnn Martin

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.

2015 Woman of the Year: Donde Plowman

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.

2019 Woman of the Year: Alice Dittman

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.

Sign up for our Newsletter!
Skip to content
Open toolbar Accessibility Tools

Accessibility Tools

  • Increase TextIncrease Text
  • Decrease TextDecrease Text
  • GrayscaleGrayscale
  • High ContrastHigh Contrast
  • Negative ContrastNegative Contrast
  • Light BackgroundLight Background
  • Links UnderlineLinks Underline
  • Readable FontReadable Font
  • Reset Reset