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“When one door “Don’t be a lady, be a “We do not need legend” magic to change the of happiness closes, – Stevie Nicks world, we carry all another opens; but ‘We rise and shine by the power we need often we look so long lifting others’ inside ourselves at the closed door – Annoymous already: we have the that we do not see the Make the most of power to imagine one which has been yourself by fanning better.” opened for us.” the tiny, inner – J.K. Rowling – Helen Keller sparks of possibility into flames of achievement.” – Golda Meir “Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.” – Oprah Winfrey “And the trouble is, if “One of the most you don’t risk anything, “Nothing is courageous things you risk more.” impossible, the – Erica Jong you can do is identify word itself says “I’m possible!” yourself, know who “A lot of people are – Audrey Hepburn afraid to say what they you are, what you want. That’s why they “Courage is like a believe in and where muscle. We strengthen don’t get what they you want to go.” want.” it by use.” – Madonna – Sheila Murray Bethel – Ruth Gordon
2020
“The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.” – Alice Walker “The most effective way to do it, is to do it.” – Amelia Earhart “Everyone has inside of her a piece of good news. The good news is that you don’t know how great you can be, how much you can love, what you can accomplish, and what your potential is.” – Anne Frank “Doubt is a killer. You just have to know who you are and what you stand for.” – Jennifer Lopez
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“No matter what happens in life, be good to people. Being good to people is a wonderful legacy to leave behind.” —Taylor Swift
Springfield: Lori Smith By Austin Plourde Staff Writer The Springfield community can see the Springfield Business Association in two segments. Up until around two years ago the SBA was not highly active but then it was resurrected by a group of business people in town. Laura Osbron, president of the board for the SBA contacted Lori Smith to strategically plan on how to move the organization forward even more. Smith would go on to be highly instrumental in the revitalization of the SBA and helped create a clear purpose of the group. “We really had a couple of different objectives, one is we wanted to clarify and articulate the purpose of the Springfield Business Association, which we did in the planning process,” Smith said. She said she generally facilitates conversations for clients and credits the 10 people in the room for crafting the purpose statement and goals for the next three years. “We spent time really just kind of articulating as we look at the next three years, what is it that we really want to accomplish as a business association, kind of above and beyond some of the things
Happiness Delivered Give the Gift that keeps GivinG, ask about our floral oral subscriptions
that we do on a normal basis,” Smith said. She said it’s essentially important to any organization to have clarity about why they exist and what they can bring to their members and in this case to the community. “It allows people to really get behind the work and actually engage in the process of becoming a part of that organization and helping them to truly fulfill their purpose and goals,” Smith said, “I think it’s the motivating energy behind purposeful focused work and action.” She said the other benefit of being clear on purpose is that the purpose is shared and that it is not just one person’s idea of what would be great. “It’s shared among a group of people who can then engage other people in the process of pursuing the purpose or the goals or whatever it is that they’re working to pursue,” Smith said. Smith said her goal was to propel the SBA forward. “Springfield is a small community, but in the next 10 to 15 years, we’re going to be growing significantly and so it’s exciting to have a group of business people who really want to serve the community and really want to help create a great environment for businesses in the area,” Smith said.
Photo by Rachel George
Lori Smith, Springfield’s 2020 Woman of Distinction.
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“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much” – Helen Keller
Papillion: Diane Knicky & Tonee Gay Jon Leu For Suburban Newspapers Inc. Started as a private community based foundation in 1994 with its focus to assist with community development by improving and enhancing the quality of life for residents of Sarpy and Cass counties, the Midlands Community Foundation, which now manages more than 125 charitable funds, transitioned into a public charity in 2009. In 2019, MCF was named Nonprofit of the Year by the Bellevue and Sarpy County Chambers of Commerce. Although they came from widely divergent backgrounds, Tonee Gay and Diane Knicky share a passion for the communities and organizations they serve through their work at the Midlands Community Foundation. Gay currently serves the organization as executive director, a position she’s held since 2005. Knicky is director of operations and public relations. A native of Omaha, Gay and her husband moved to Papillion in 1992 to raise their family after she had worked for many years, both full-time and part-time, in the accounting field. A friend introduced her to the Midlands Community Foundation in 1994, and she began volunteering on the Reflection Ball and Golf committees in that year. “As I volunteered on the MCF committees for more than 10 years, I watched the foundation improve the lives of others and make direct positive impact within our two communities of Sarpy and Cass counties,” Gay said. “I was incredibly blessed to have met so many wonderful people on my journey, many of whom are no longer with us, that shaped my life. The wisdom, the kindness and
Diane Knicky, one of Papillion’s two 2020 Women of Distinction. the values they taught me along the way have always influenced my decisions in life.” Like Gay, Knicky’s work with the Midlands Community Foundation began as a volunteer on the Reflections Ball Committee. After 19 years, she left her full-time position with a local advertising firm where she had risen to vice president
to spend more time with her children and focus on her family. “I quickly learned that staying home full-time was not right for me,” Knicky said. “A part-time position was available at MCF, and it sounded like a great opportunity for me to work and also to continue to concentrate on my family. Based on my experience with MCF’s Reflection
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Ball Committee, I was familiar with the organization and all the good work it does for Sarpy and Cass counties; and I knew I wanted to be part of it.” Hired initially as a part-time receptionist and clerical employee in 2007, Knicky progressed through the organization to
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Papillion: Tonee Gay & Diane Knicky Continued from Page 4 become director of operations and public relations. She utilizes her background in public relations and special event experience in handling the details for MCF’s special events, including the annual Reflection Ball and Golf Tournament. MCF’s grants program has been in existence for more than 30 years to provide an opportunity for notfor-profit chartable organizations to secure needed financial assistance. MCF awards grants – more than $9 million to date – to non-profits that provide programs and services to Sarpy and Cass counties in the areas of arts, community and economic development, education, health and human services.
“In an attempt to lessen the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic in our community, The Midlands Community Foundation established a charitable fund named the Coronavirus Response Fund in March of 2020,” Gay said. “The fund was created so the community could donate to the fund, and donation would be pooled to provide emergency food, supplies, utility assistance and other financial help for the hardest-hit households within Sarpy and Cass counties. As a community foundation, we collectively work together with the counties, cities and chambers to identify those in most need during this unprecedented time. Since March, the fund has distributed more than $150,000 to nonprofit organizations providing relief.”
Tonee Gay, one of Papillion’s two 2020 Women of Distinction.
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“Where there is discord, may we bring harmony. Where there is error, may we bring truth. Where there is doubt, may we bring faith. And where there is despair, may we bring hope.” – Margaret Thatcher
Offutt Air Force Base: Dr. Elaina Wild Jon Leu For Suburban Newspapers Inc. As is the case with so many health care professionals who make up the first line of defense in the ongoing battle against the coronavirus pandemic, Dr. Elaina Wild, a major in the United States Air Force, is seeing multiple duties at Offutt Air Force Base. Born and raised in Zimbabwe, Africa, Wild received her pre-college education there. She qualified for the military Health Professions Scholarship Program and was commissioned a member of the U.S. Air Force in 2005. She completed her first year of pre-med training in South Korea before being transferred to Texas where she finished her premed training at the University of Mary
Hardin-Baylor, graduating with honors in chemistry and biology. Wild then attended medical school at the University of Texas Health Center in San Antonio. Wild was family medicine residency trained at the David Grant Medical Center in California with a fellowship in medical acupuncture and a focus on non-invasive gynecology. She then spent two years in Turkey and three years in the United Kingdom before being transferred back to the United States and Offutt AFB. Wild currently serves as a faculty and staff member at the residency training program at UNMC and Offutt AFB, a combined family medicine residency program with both civilian and military See OFFUTT: Page 7
Dr. Elaina Wild, Offutt Air Force Base’s 2020 Woman of Distinction.
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“The most difficult thing is the decision to act. The rest is merely tenacity.” – Amelia Earhart
Offutt AFB: Dr. Elaina Wild Continued from Page 6 residents. One of only two civilian-military combined programs in the Air Force, residents train at the 55th Offutt AFB medical treatment facility and at the UNMC and Bellevue hospitals. In addition to her day-to-day medical activities at Offutt’s Ehrling Bergquist Clinic, she is also the public health emergency officer for the 55th Wing assigned directly to the group commander, directing the medical and public health response to the pandemic for the wing. Wild’s role is to provide guidance and help base leadership draft policies to ensure the health and safety of Offutt’s airmen, soldiers, sailors, Marines and their families so they can continue their worldwide military mission. As a trained sexual assault forensic examiner, Wild is, in addition, the director for the Sexual Assault Medical Response Program. She is also an al-
lergy extender trained and qualified in Allergy/immunology extender certification for family medicine providers. “I have a team of wing officers in an organization named the Public Health Emergency Working Group who assist in providing the medical and public health response,” Wild said. “I have been working daily with the wing and our patients and members since the start of the pandemic. “Our team has been leading the way with the pandemic, from programs to policy. We are one of the first to set up a COVID task force, COVID drivethrough testing clinics, upper respiratory clinics outside the mainstream facility, remote pharmacy operations with runners and now one of the first to be spearheading the returned to activity screening for our active duty population after having COVID-19 to prevent adverse impact of post viral cardiac sequelae,” Wild said. “We were among the first to start
drive-through testing clinics at the 55th Offutt AFB medical treatment facility. Upper respiratory clinics were established in Alaska tents outside the facility for those that needed a physical exam and not just a COVID test,” Wild said. “We now have a dedicated facility assigned to evaluate upper respiratory virus symptoms that is separate from all our other clinics,” she added. “Studies are showing that people can have significantly notable longterm cardiac and pulmonary problems after being sick with COVID. For our active duty members who require a certain level of fitness, we are pushing forward with the recommendations to do a cardiac screening for patients who meet the criteria to include labs, EKG, and Echocardiogram to clear them to return to duty without risk of any cardiac impact,” Wild said. While the structure nature of the military allows a more structured response to the pandemic, “We are also a
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family that look out for each other at a personal and an institutional level with built-in safety nets that make pandemic response so much more manageable,” Wild said. “For example, I set aside isolation and quarantine rooms early in the pandemic. We had in place the unit chain of command ensuring those people had food, meds, laundry and anything they needed. Our spouses club, at my request, even got an army of spouses cooking and supplying home-cooked meals, cookies, etc., to those who wanted or needed it. “Our base community is a family, and they come together always. This crisis has shown that over and over again.” Speaking of her team, Wild said, “This team is dedicated, motivated and has incredible ingenuity and initiative, and I am so proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with them in this fight. They are COVID-19 warriors!”
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December 16, 2020
“If your actions create a legacy that inspires others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, then, you are an excellent leader.” – Dolly Parton
Gretna: Lori Blum By Rachel George Editor Lori Blum has proven her dedication to the youth of her community, for which she was selected as one of seven women, representing Gretna among this year’s 2020 Women of Distinction honorees. “ I just feel very honored and gracious,” Blum said. “There’s a lot of people that work side by side with me. I can’t do this alone.” Originally from the Lincoln area, where at the time there were no openings through her job as an Edward Jones financial advisor, Blum was asked to open a much-needed second Edward Jones office in Gretna in 2007. “I came and checked out the commu-
nity and fell in love with it,” she said. “That first basically nine months with the firm is when we’re out getting to know the community, learning about it and making sure you’re a fit with the community.” She and her husband made the move to Gretna in September 2008. “We knew we wanted to move into the community,” she said. “As a business owner, I’m a strong believer that you need to live in the community you’re working for. It’s just been a dynamic fit.” Blum “immediately” got involved, she said, first with the Gretna Area Chamber of Commerce. “What I was most impressed with our Chamber, is that it is focused on giving back to the community,” Blum said.
She quickly joined the Chamber’s events committee, something she felt truly fit her talents and offered her a way to thank the community while promoting active involvement in the Chamber. “It is part of the Edward Jones culture for you to be active in your community,” Blum said. “I think it’s also part of my innate culture to want to always help and assist.” That sense of altruism also prompted Blum to get involved with the Gretna Optimist Club, which meets regularly before business hours. “The Optimists really stood out to me because the purpose of the club is to help promote the youth of our community and develop them into being contributing members of our society, something really near and dear to our hearts,” she said. Often serving in officer roles over the years, Blum is now heavily involved with the Optimists’ scholarship program, as well as sponsorships of the Boy Scouts
and Venture Crew projects. “We provide 50% of the monthly rent for Troop 363’s storage of camping gear,” Blum said. “In turn, they have worked the circus, baked for our bake sale, etc. It’s just a really good partnership that the community has with the Optimists through the school district and with different youth organizations.” In addition to her involvement with the Optimists, Blum serves on the Metro Area Youth Foundation board, working closely with both organizations to raise funds for childhood cancer research and provide for family needs for people whose children receive treatment in Omaha. “Emil and Barb Beyer took me to my first fundraiser,” Blum said. “It pulled at my heartstrings and I know I wanted to be a part of them, to help raise funds and give back to families in need.” In fact, her work with both organizaSee GRETNA: Page 9
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“Be the last one out. Do your homework. Choose your battles. Don’t whine and don’t be the one who complains about everything. Fight the BIG Fights.” — Barbara Walters
Gretna: Lori Blum Continued from Page 8 Blum said. “They had lost their young son, Knox, to childhood cancer. “I remember reading this email and thinking, ‘I’m just one person, how can I help this young mom help build a legacy for her son?’”
From there, Blum and Alexa Lewis were able to coordinate the Knox Out Childhood Cancer Run, hosting numerous events and donating to childhood cancer research in his memory. “It’s just that within me,” Blum said. “I like to help others succeed in their goals. It
is the intrinsic award that is so powerful.” She said there is nothing more rewarding than, for example, seeing a student excited to receive a scholarship for college or hear the Venture Crew’s stories from their trip. “You know you’re making a meaning-
ful difference for the community and for our youth,” Blum said. “That’s really the best part. Just the feeling that you were a part of this and that you helped make some of these dreams come true, and without that help, it might never have happened.”
Congratulations Courtney Kline Hays
Lori Blum
Dr. Major Elaina Wild
Sue Foehlinger
Diane Knicky
Tonee Gay
Debra Joy Groesser
Lori Smith
(Bellevue)
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(Gretna)
(Papillion)
(Offutt AFB)
(Ralston)
(La Vista)
(Springfield)
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December 16, 2020
“Real integrity is doing for the right thing, knowing that nobody’s going to know whether you did or not” – Oprah Winfrey
Bellevue: Courtney Kline-Hays By Sam Pimper Staff Writer Courtney Kline-Hays is a firm believer that a community should reflect all of its members, especially those who one their own may be overlooked or marginalized. For about 28 years, Kline-Hays has owned and operated Hands of Heartland, an organization dedicated to serving and advocating for individuals with physical and intellectual disabilities by providing hands-on assistance, teaching life skills and ensuring clients are properly integrated into the communities they call home, among other things. Because of her impact on local residents through her work, as well her continual push to revitalize the Olde Towne area through business and personal undertakings, Kline-Hays has been named one of this year’s Suburban Newspaper’s Women of Distinction. The award is presented annually to women showcasing excellence and going above and beyond to serve their communities. Kline-Hays during an interview with the Leader said she was humbled and grateful to be selected as this year’s Bellevue recipient. “It’s a wonderful honor, especially when you have such a small community that we have here in Bellevue and you’re able to see the work that you create and the benefits that it makes in other people’s lives,” Kline-Hays said. “And it has really made me happy along the way to see the things – whether I helped create it or develop it, how it just enhances everyone’s overall well-being.” Kline-Hays, her husband and three children, have planted firm roots in Bellevue. Since the establishment of Hands of Heartland’s first location nearly 30 years past, three additional sites have been added in town, as well as a west Omaha location and ones in Lincoln and Grand Island, Nebraska. “And we also have several independent living situations for individuals with developmental disabilities who live within the community in their own homes,” she said. “And they are staffed based upon their needs.” Kline-Hays said she felt a calling to beeline into her career, saying “when God opens one door you walk through it.” She said she believes people with de-
Courtney Kline-Hayes is Bellevue’s Woman of Distinction. velopmental disabilities are God’s gift to earth, noting their overall fervor for life. “They have so much passion and love; so much understanding of life,” she said. “And so I try to get others in the community to recognize them.” During her time operating the organization, Kline-Hays estimated that she and her cohorts have helped upward of 600 individuals with varying disabilities find their footing, enabling them to achieve levels of success that would have been
highly improbable without a boost from a nonprofit like Hands of Heartland. Currently, she added that there are 180-200 clients being assisted. Kline-Hays said she knows the impact that Hands of Heartland plays in Bellevue and far beyond. Reflecting on her award, she said she hopes that her perseverance and dedication to her craft might inspire other girls, and women, to take a leap of faith and be bold in their actions. “My daughter is the one that sees me
every day, and I think that she’s just as strong as I am,” Kline-Hays said. “So I hope that a lot of little girls know today that if they take one step forward, and then you take another one, you may never know the direction you’re going to go, but it’s up to you to make that choice. “And you hope that there are girls today that know that with all the women being elected into offices and being able to contribute to this great country that we live in, that they really matter.”
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December 16, 2020
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“When life seems hard, the courageous do not lie down and accept defeat; instead they are all the more determined to struggle for a better future” — Queen ‘Elizabeth II
Ralston: Deb Groesser By Austin Plourde Staff Writer Deb Groesser, owner of Debra Grosser’s Fine Art Gallery in downtown Ralston has always had a passion for art that she has wanted to share with others. “I just don’t even remember a time in my life where I didn’t draw and shortly before my mother passed away, she told me that my very first public art display was on ‘Romper Room’ and when I was three years old, I had drawn a picture of a little baby deer that they had up on the TV screen,” Groesser said. She took her passion for art seriously and would proceed to copy illustrations she would see in books and even entered into a coloring contest in which she won $25. Groesser would eventually spread her love of art further by opening up the art studio in Ralston where several generations of artists have learned from her. Typically, Groesser would hold in person classes at the art studio but due to the coronavirus the in person instruction was paused. After some encouragement from her daughter, Erin Gonzalez who is the Principal at Harvey Oaks Middle School in Millard, Groesser decided to take her art instruction online and did not charge anything for the experience.
Groesser said initially she was going to do the virtual art lessons for her grandkids when they transitioned to remote learning but Gonzalez told her mother that parents and staff would love to have Groesser as a resource during remote learning. Groesser did a total of 25 free online art instructions via Facebook live and as of this writing her art instructions videos have garnered a combined 20,338 views. During these Facebook live art sessions the audience could follow along with Groesser as she went live or watch the video later on. Groesser said she initially intended the video to be for children but found that people of all ages would tune in to learn how to draw. “At the beginning of my videos I would say this is a lesson such and such of my free video sessions for kids and kids at heart,” Groesser said. Groesser said she is glad she decided to take her art instruction online. “It’s been such a rewarding thing and a couple of those videos got over a thousand views, it just blew me away,” Groesser said, “It was kind of originally intended just for my grandkids and for little ones and it just ended up being such a great thing.” All of Groesser’s video can still be viewed online on her art gallery’s Facebook page at ‘Debra Joy Groesser Fine Art.’
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December 16, 2020
“You have to have confidence in your ability, and then be tough enough to follow through.”- Rosalynn Carter
La Vista: Sue Foehlinger By Jon Leu For Suburban Newspapers Inc. Poised for the start of its 48th year serving the residents of the La Vista, Ralston and Papillion communities and beyond, Sue’s Stepper-ettes continues as the life-long vocation of Sue Foehlinger. “The Stepper-ettes began in 1973 when I was 15 years old,” Foehlinger said. “At the time I was the baton twirler and drum majorette for the Ralston High School marching band.” That summer, 12 little girls wanted to learn how to twirl for the Fourth of July parade. They loved their experience so much that they wanted to continue lessons. “Soon after, the La Vista Recreation Center contacted me to teach lessons,” she continued. “I agreed to host a registration for baton-twirling classes. In one day, 80 students signed up.” The rest, as they say, is history. From 1974 to 1997, Foehlinger taught baton twirling and dance at various schools and churches through the La Vista Recreation program. She recalls that one of the Stepper-ettes primary locations was the G. Stanley Hall Elementary School. During those early years, Foehlinger’s students performed as part of many local parades and other events. She points with pride to the fact that the Stepper-ettes have marched in both the La Vista and Papillion Days parades for 45 straight years until this year when the celebrations were interrupted because of the COVID-19 pandemic. “In 1997, my husband, Bob, and I decided to lease a space for a more permanent Stepper-ette home,” Foehlinger said. “It had become more and more difficult to find places to teach. Stepper-ette Studios was located in La Vista near 112th and Harrison. It served us well, and the business continue to grow. “In 2018, we took a big leap and built our own larger location from the ground up. The Steppe Center, located off of 118th and Harrison, opened in February of that year. It was a dream come true and the culmination of many years of hard work. Currently we offer not only baton twirling but also ballet, hip hop, cheer, tumbling and preschool classes. Those original 80 students have grown
Sue Foehlinger, La Vista’s 2020 Woman of Distinction. to over 400, and we are now one of the largest studios of its kind in the country,” Foehlinger said. She was quick to note that what began as a teenager’s efforts to help younger
girls learn to twirl grew into a family affair. Two of Foehlinger’s three daughters, Tami and Rachel, now teach baton twirling and dance at the Steppe Center full time. Her third daughter, Tina, recently
started her own baton-twirling program in Castle Rock, Colorado. Husband Bob manages all the “ins and outs” of building ownership in La Vista. Foehlinger’s son, Ryan, manages the latest evolution of the family enterprise, wedding and event rentals at the 14,000-square-foot Steppe Center. “Over the years, the Stepper-ettes have been a part of many life-changing and exciting experiences,” Foehlinger said. “In 1990, we traveled to Russia, the first of our many international travels, as part of a cultural exchange program. Since then the Stepper-ettes have won three World Championship titles – in 2009, 2012 and 2015 – while competing in Belgium, Switzerland and Italy, respectively. The Stepper-ettes have also won numerous national championship titles and have enjoyed performing at Walt Disney World and, closer to home, at the College World Series opening ceremonies.” Every July, the Stepper-ette national team competes at Notre Dame University. The team has won titles in Junior, Senior and College Pom Pon, Halftime Show, Dance Twirl and Twirling Corp divisions. In November 2010, the Stepper-ettes were chosen to march in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and perform on national television. In the summer of 2017, the Stepper-ettes “Batman vs Joker” routine went viral on Facebook with over 100,000 views. In 2018, 62 Stepper-ettes traveled to Dublin, Ireland, to march in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. All in all, the past 47 years have chronicled a remarkable series of accomplishments for a local girl who began baton and dance lessons at the age of seven, was teaching those skills at the age of 15 and went on to complete seven additional years of dance training as an adult. “The most rewarding part of my job is helping to shape so many young lives,” Foehlinger said. “My goal is that student learn valuable lessons in teamwork, sportsmanship, performance skills, problem solving, self confidence and the value of hard work. Another important part of being a Stepper-ette is the feeling of being part of a family and the lifelong friendships that come along with that. “The city of La Vista has always been supportive of the Stepper-ettes, and for that I am extremely grateful,” Foehlinger said.
December 16, 2020
SUBURBAN NEWSPAPERS INC.
Wishing you the happiest holiday season. Fromyour your friends friends atat From Suburban Newspapers Inc. Belleuve Leader Gretna Breeze Papillion Times Ralston Recorder nonpareilonline.com Air Pulse
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hank you for your outstanding dedication and contributions to your community Women of Distinction Honorees
WOMEN OF DISTINCTION HONOREES 2008-PRESENT 2008 Megan Lucas - Bellevue Barby Beyer - Gretna Enid Schonewisc - La Vista Deb Aragon - Offutt Karla Rupiper - Papillion MaryLou Smith - Ralston Diane Sullivan - Springfield
2009 Rita Sanders - Bellevue Carole Carraher - Gretna Terrilyn Quick - La Vista Kelly Marz - Offutt Jean Brown - Papillion Kim Kathol - Plattsmouth Sue Foehlinger - Ralston Sharon Shaw - Springfield
2010 Betty Swanson - Bellevue Ginny DeBates - Gretna Nancy Thompson - La Vista Dana McCown - Offutt Trish Suponchick - Papillion Lisa Davis - Plattsmouth Linda Richards - Ralston Marge Volpert - Springfield
2011 Barb Slavin - Bellevue Elenor Pratt - Gretna Carol McGuire - La Vista Msgt Sue Sangster - Offutt Georgie Scurfield - Papillion Annette Wiles - Plattsmouth Jan Gorman - Ralston Dorothy Fogee - Springfield
2012 Gwen Sinclair – Bellevue Emily Pottebaum – Gretna Monika Peters – La Vista Diane Bowley – Papillion Ruth Wassinger – Plattsmouth Dee Huff – Ralston Rhonda Post - Springfield Cathy Johnson – Bellevue
2013 Vanessa Wheeler – Bellevue Chris Tucker – Gretna Sherry Slater – Papillion Twila Stuhr – Plattsmouth Terri Alberhasky – Ralston Tammy Kleymann – Springfield
2014 Eileen Boslaugh - Bellevue Martha Todd - Bellevue Gina Simon - La Vista Kristi Miskimins - Papillion Shannon Falkinberg - Papillion Tamala Gast - Papillion Kay Burggraff - Ralston
2015 Kristi Cornish - Bellevue Shirley Williams - Bellevue Kathy Smith - Papillion Leola Eisner - Papillion Debbie Shortino - Ralston Becky Pribil - Springfield Diane Sullivan - Springfield
2016 Erin McCormick – Bellevue Rachel Spurgeon – Gretna Jamie Brown – La Vista Jacqueline Marquez – Offutt Michele Patterson – Papillion Carrie Wagner – Ralston Susie Engberg – Springfield
2017 Doris Urwin – Bellevue Angie Lauritzen – Gretna Rose Barcal – La Vista Destinie White - Offutt Dee Iske – Papillion Deb Gerch – Ralston Connie Manzer - Springfield
2018 Dorene Sherman - Bellevue Kara Alexander - Gretna Pam Buethe - La Vista Msgt. Amanda McDowell - Offutt Lois Erickson - Papillion Pr. Lynette Janssen - Ralston Dr Dr. Ellen Weiss - Springfield
2019 Tonya Wilkinson - Bellevue Amber Mero - Gretna Jean Hurst - La Vista Lt Col Naviere Walkewicz - Offutt Patricia Harrol - Papillion Dr. Niki Pearson - Ralston JoAnn Ostransky - Springfield
This marks our 12th year for honoring women from each community,and myy final yyear.I have had the greatest pleasure in having the opportunity to meet with so many caring individuals with theWomen of Distinction promotion. From the Honorees,with their drive to grace their city with compassion,dedication and grit to the many individuals (men and women) that brought this promotion to what it is today.I can honestly say this has been one of my favorite projects in my fifteen years. In today’s world,we are all busy with our own lives:family,work,school etc.Yet,when we truly believe in something we hold so close to our heart,we make the time and the effort to make it real. So,“ThankYou”to our honorees,and may we look within to find a bit of a“Women in Distinction”in each of us. ~ Echo Bronk