Energy, Mining, and Utilities

The Wyoming Business Report has been honoring influential women across the state of Wyoming since 2013. Join us as we continue to navigate through changing times in Wyoming and nominate a deserving female leader for a 2022 Women of Influence honor.

We have established 18 categories, covering all major industries. Do you know a woman who exemplifies leadership, creativity, ethical business practice, innovative thinking, unquestionable character, and more?

We encourage nominators to share a detailed entry. Include professional accomplishments, personal interests, & volunteerism. This contributes greatly during the selection process.

Nominations open on Monday, June 27th and close on Friday, July 22nd at midnight.

Use the on-line nomination process and we will take it from there!

Lifetime Achievement

2021 – Bernadine Craft, Executive Director; Priest, Sweetwater BOCES; Holy Communion Episcopal Church
2020 – Bobbie Frank, Executive Director, Wyoming Association of Conservation Districts
2019 - Elizabeth “Betty” Kail, District Judge, 9th Judicial District Court, Wyoming [awarded posthumously]
2018 – Susan McMurry Samuelson, Owner, Warren Livestock Ranch
2017 – Ann Redman, founder of the Wyoming Latina Youth Conference and a trustee for the Wyoming Women’s Foundation, Cheyenne
2016 – Ray Fleming Dinneen, Psy. D., Founder and Executive Director, Climb Wyoming
2015 – Clarene Law, CEO, Elk Country Hotels; former state legislator
2014 – Linda Fabian, Executive Secretary, Wyoming Historical Society
2013 – Lynne Birleffi, President, Wyoming Associations and Government Affairs Network

Arts

2021 – Adrianna True, Founder/Artistic Director, True Troupe
2020 – Natalia Johnson, Owner/Director, Abundance Creative Arts
2019 - Dr. Lindsey Reynolds, Executive Director, Cheyenne Symphony

Banking/Finance

2021 - Jessica Uresk, Vice President, Pinnacle Bank
2020 – Ann Nelson, Wyoming and Colorado Market President, Western States Bank
2019 - Judy Lane, Senior Vice President, Wyoming Bank and Trust
2018 – Amber Hestla-Barnhart, Owner, Chief Options Strategist, Hestla Research
2017 – Kay Jones, Chairman, First Western Trust, Jackson
2016 – Stephanie Teubner, CEO, Blue Federal Credit Union
2015 – Kim DeVore, Director and Chief Finance Officer, Jonah Bank of Wyoming, Casper
2014 – Karen Saunders, President, Laramie Mortgage, Laramie
2013 – Kim Withers, President and CEO, Meridian Trust FCU, Cheyenne

Business/Business Services

2018 – Laura Morrow, Owner, Laura M. Gallery
2017 – Jill Kline, State Director, Wyoming Small Business Development Center, Laramie
2016 – Angie Guyon, General Manager, Wyoming Dinosaur Center, Thermopolis
2015 – Cheryl Harrelson, President/Owner, Steady Stream Hydrology Inc., Sheridan
2014 – Jennifer Merrill, President, VCN/Merrill Inc., Cheyenne
2013 – Merrie Elsberry, President, A thru Z Document Destruction, Cheyenne

Education

2021 – Dr. Michelle Aldrich, State Career & Technical Education Director, State of Wyoming
2020 – Laura Capasso, Behavioral Scientist, University of Wyoming Family Medicine
2019 - Lynette St. Clair, Native American Education Coordinator, Fremont County School District 21, Fort Washakie School
2018 – Wendy Smith, Assistant VP of Strategic Communications and Public Relations, Northern Wyoming Community College District
2017 – Peg Monteith, Director of Student Services, Park County Schools, Cody
2016 – Kim Byrd, Vice President for Student Services, Casper College
2015 – Stacy Broda, State Advisor, Wyoming FFA Association, Cheyenne
2014 – Brenda Creel, Principal, Alta Vista Elementary School, Cheyenne
2013 – Glenda Reynolds, Delta Kappa Gamma International, Convention Chairperson for the Northwest Region, Cheyenne

Energy, Mining and Utilities

2021 – Janice Sanders, Journeyman Fitter, Black Hills Energy
2020 – Lori Neibauer, Gas Operations Supervisor, Black Hills Energy
2019 - Brenda Morgan, Training Director, Wyoming Electrical Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee
2018 – Deby Forry, Sr. VP of Risk Management, Trihydro Corp.
2017 – Wendy Holly Lowe, Owner/Government Relations Consultant, Wendy Lowe Consulting
2016 – Alison Ochs Gee, Manager, Specialty Sales and Business Development, Cloud Peak Energy
2015 – Laurel Vicklund, Senior Environmental Scientist, Peabody Energy, Gillette
2014 – Brenda Schladweiler, President, BKS Environmental, Gillette
2013 – Carol Macy, CFO, High West Energy, Pine Bluffs

Entrepreneur

2021 – Megan Grassell, Founder/ CEO, Yellowberry
2020- Jen Simon, CEO/Founder, Wyoming Women’s Action Network/Principal Consultant, JM Simon Consulting
2020 – Rachel Leger, Co-Owner, The Prairie Rose
2019 - Caroline Shanor, Owner and Founder, The Shanor Group LLC

Government and Economic Development

2021 – Jennifer Zygmunt, Water Quality Administrator, Wyoming Dept. of Environmental Quality
2021 – Natalia Macker, Chairwoman/ County Commissioner, Teton County Board of County Commissioners
2020 – Korin Schmidt, Director, Wyoming Department of Family Services
2020 – Rebecca Reid, Laramie County Coroner

Government/Law/Economic Development

2019 - Erin Campbell, Wyoming State Geologist, Wyoming State Geological Survey
2018 – Lynn Budd, Chief Security Division, Wyoming Office of Homeland Security
2017 – Wyoming Senator Affie Ellis, Principal, Ellis Public Affairs LLC
2016 – Gay Woodhouse, Woodhouse Roden Nethercott LLC
2015 – Ella Kubicz, Drug Chemistry Unit Supervisor, Wyoming State Crime Lab, Cheyenne
2014 – Marilyn Kite, Wyoming Supreme Court Justice, Jackson
2013 – Deborah Baumer, Director, Office of Administrative Hearings, State of Wyoming, Cheyenne

Lifetime Achievement

2021 – Bernadine Craft, Executive Director; Priest, Sweetwater BOCES; Holy Communion Episcopal Church
2020 – Bobbie Frank, Executive Director, Wyoming Association of Conservation Districts
2019 - Elizabeth “Betty” Kail, District Judge, 9th Judicial District Court, Wyoming [awarded posthumously]
2018 – Susan McMurry Samuelson, Owner, Warren Livestock Ranch
2017 – Ann Redman, founder of the Wyoming Latina Youth Conference and a trustee for the Wyoming Women’s Foundation, Cheyenne
2016 – Ray Fleming Dinneen, Psy. D., Founder and Executive Director, Climb Wyoming
2015 – Clarene Law, CEO, Elk Country Hotels; former state legislator
2014 – Linda Fabian, Executive Secretary, Wyoming Historical Society
2013 – Lynne Birleffi, President, Wyoming Associations and Government Affairs Network

Arts

2021 – Adrianna True, Founder/Artistic Director, True Troupe
2020 – Natalia Johnson, Owner/Director, Abundance Creative Arts
2019 - Dr. Lindsey Reynolds, Executive Director, Cheyenne Symphony

Banking/Finance

2021 - Jessica Uresk, Vice President, Pinnacle Bank
2020 – Ann Nelson, Wyoming and Colorado Market President, Western States Bank
2019 - Judy Lane, Senior Vice President, Wyoming Bank and Trust
2018 – Amber Hestla-Barnhart, Owner, Chief Options Strategist, Hestla Research
2017 – Kay Jones, Chairman, First Western Trust, Jackson
2016 – Stephanie Teubner, CEO, Blue Federal Credit Union
2015 – Kim DeVore, Director and Chief Finance Officer, Jonah Bank of Wyoming, Casper
2014 – Karen Saunders, President, Laramie Mortgage, Laramie
2013 – Kim Withers, President and CEO, Meridian Trust FCU, Cheyenne

Business/Business Services

2018 – Laura Morrow, Owner, Laura M. Gallery
2017 – Jill Kline, State Director, Wyoming Small Business Development Center, Laramie
2016 – Angie Guyon, General Manager, Wyoming Dinosaur Center, Thermopolis
2015 – Cheryl Harrelson, President/Owner, Steady Stream Hydrology Inc., Sheridan
2014 – Jennifer Merrill, President, VCN/Merrill Inc., Cheyenne
2013 – Merrie Elsberry, President, A thru Z Document Destruction, Cheyenne

Education

2021 – Dr. Michelle Aldrich, State Career & Technical Education Director, State of Wyoming
2020 – Laura Capasso, Behavioral Scientist, University of Wyoming Family Medicine
2019 - Lynette St. Clair, Native American Education Coordinator, Fremont County School District 21, Fort Washakie School
2018 – Wendy Smith, Assistant VP of Strategic Communications and Public Relations, Northern Wyoming Community College District
2017 – Peg Monteith, Director of Student Services, Park County Schools, Cody
2016 – Kim Byrd, Vice President for Student Services, Casper College
2015 – Stacy Broda, State Advisor, Wyoming FFA Association, Cheyenne
2014 – Brenda Creel, Principal, Alta Vista Elementary School, Cheyenne
2013 – Glenda Reynolds, Delta Kappa Gamma International, Convention Chairperson for the Northwest Region, Cheyenne

Energy, Mining and Utilities

2021 – Janice Sanders, Journeyman Fitter, Black Hills Energy
2020 – Lori Neibauer, Gas Operations Supervisor, Black Hills Energy
2019 - Brenda Morgan, Training Director, Wyoming Electrical Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee
2018 – Deby Forry, Sr. VP of Risk Management, Trihydro Corp.
2017 – Wendy Holly Lowe, Owner/Government Relations Consultant, Wendy Lowe Consulting
2016 – Alison Ochs Gee, Manager, Specialty Sales and Business Development, Cloud Peak Energy
2015 – Laurel Vicklund, Senior Environmental Scientist, Peabody Energy, Gillette
2014 – Brenda Schladweiler, President, BKS Environmental, Gillette
2013 – Carol Macy, CFO, High West Energy, Pine Bluffs

Entrepreneur

2021 – Megan Grassell, Founder/ CEO, Yellowberry
2020- Jen Simon, CEO/Founder, Wyoming Women’s Action Network/Principal Consultant, JM Simon Consulting
2020 – Rachel Leger, Co-Owner, The Prairie Rose
2019 - Caroline Shanor, Owner and Founder, The Shanor Group LLC

Government and Economic Development

2021 – Jennifer Zygmunt, Water Quality Administrator, Wyoming Dept. of Environmental Quality
2021 – Natalia Macker, Chairwoman/ County Commissioner, Teton County Board of County Commissioners
2020 – Korin Schmidt, Director, Wyoming Department of Family Services
2020 – Rebecca Reid, Laramie County Coroner

Government/Law/Economic Development

2019 - Erin Campbell, Wyoming State Geologist, Wyoming State Geological Survey
2018 – Lynn Budd, Chief Security Division, Wyoming Office of Homeland Security
2017 – Wyoming Senator Affie Ellis, Principal, Ellis Public Affairs LLC
2016 – Gay Woodhouse, Woodhouse Roden Nethercott LLC
2015 – Ella Kubicz, Drug Chemistry Unit Supervisor, Wyoming State Crime Lab, Cheyenne
2014 – Marilyn Kite, Wyoming Supreme Court Justice, Jackson
2013 – Deborah Baumer, Director, Office of Administrative Hearings, State of Wyoming, Cheyenne

Health Care

2021 – Dr. Jamie Everett, CEO, Doctor of Physical Therapy, American Physical Therapy Association Wyoming Chapter President
2021 – Anna Kinder, Executive Director, Casper Natrona County Health Department
2020 – Amy Surdam, FNP/Chief Operating Officer, Stitches Acute Care Center
2020 - Beth Robitaille, Chief Medical Officer, Educational Health Center of Wyoming/Designated Institutional Officer, University of Wyoming
2019 – Mary Burman, Professor, University of Wyoming
2018 – Tracy Garcia, Chief Nursing Officer, Cheyenne Regional Medical Center
2017 – Stacey Cook, Practice Administrator, Stitches Acute Care Center
2016 – J’Laine “Jill” Proctor, FNP, PMHNP, DNP, UW Pathways, Downtown Clinic
2015 – Phyllis Sherard, Chief Strategy Officer /VP, Population Health Cheyenne Regional Medical Center, Cheyenne
2014 – Wendy Curran, Senior Director, Care Delivery and Coordination, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cheyenne
2013 – Vickie Diamond, President and CEO, Wyoming Medical Center, Casper

Personal Training & Wellness

2021 – Julie Guttormson, Owner, VIM

Hospitality

2021 – Amanda Disney, Revenue Manager, Timberline Hospitalities
2020 – Claudia Wade, Executive Director, Park County Travel Council
2019 - Diane Shober, Executive Director, Wyoming Office of Tourism
2018 – Renee Penton-Jones, General Manager, Ramkota Hotel
2017 – Harmony Savoia, Director of Sales and Marketing, Hilton Garden Inn of Laramie
2016 – Debbie Disney-Pummel, General Manager, Timberline Hospitalities LLC
2015 – Judith Blair, Vice President, Blair Hotels, Cody
2014 – Paula McCormick, President, McCormick Marketing, Lander
2013 – Christine Hill, Director of Revenue, Timberline Hospitalities LLC, Casper

Law

2021 - Traci Lacock, Partner, Hirst Applegate, LLP
2020 – Nancy Freudenthal, U. S. District Court Judge, District of Wyoming
2019 - Megan Overmann Goetz, Member/Owner of Pence and MacMillan LLC

Manufacturing/Science and Technology

2021 – Melissia Amick, Warehouse Support Manager, Magpul Industries Corp
2020 – Traci Kubasti, Senior Vice President, Global Services Center at Green House Data
2019 - Sara Spann, Machine Tool Technology Instructor, Sheridan College
2018 – Erin Moore, CEO/Partner, Gannet Peak Technical Services
2017 – Becky Heyward Cooper, Vice President of Production, Kennon Products Inc.
2016– Cindy Johnson, President and CEO, Mobilitat, Green River
2015 – Dena Mills, Owner, Bearlodge Forest Products, Hulett
2014 – Mona Gamboa, CEO, Happy Jack Software, Laramie
2013 – Karen Hostetler and Valerie Spanos, Owners, Mountain Meadow Wool Mill, Buffalo

Marketing and Public Relations

2021 – Mira Miller, Community Relations, City of Rawlins, Wyoming

Media & Journalism

2021 – Ellen Fike, Reporter, Cowboy State Daily
2020 – Lindsay Malicoate, Marketing and Social Media Specialist, SweetwaterNOW
2019 - Melissa Cassutt, Deputy Editor, JH News and Guide

Nonprofit

2021 – Jennie Gordon, First Lady of Wyoming, Wyoming Hunger Initiative
2021 – Jody Shields, Executive Director, Wyoming Nonprofit Network
2020 – Robin Bocanerga, Executive Director, COMEA House and Resource Center
2020 – Deneica Barrett, Co-founder, Wind River Grow Our Own 307
2019 – Kate Wright, Executive Director, Habitat for Humanity of Laramie
2018 – Donna Sheen, Director, The Wyoming Children’s Law Center
2017 – Britney Wallesch, Founder/Executive Director, Black Dog Animal Rescue
2016 – Samin Dadelahi, COO, Wyoming Community Foundation, Laramie
2015 – Pip Coe, Alumni and Development Director, National Outdoor Leadership School, Lander
2014 – Connie Sloan Cathcart, Executive Director, United Way of Laramie County, Cheyenne
2013 – Erin Taylor, Director, Wyoming Taxpayer’s Association, Cheyenne

Real Estate, Construction and Land Development

2021 – Devon Viehman, Associate Broker, Viehman Group, Engel, and Volkers
2020 – Kim Sutherland, Associate Broker/Owner, #1 Properties
2019 - Lindsey Norman, Project Manager, Merrill, Inc.

Best Mentor

2021 – Elissa Ruckle, Owner Elevate Wyoming
2020 – Christina Hiegel, Senior Engineer, Trihydro Corporation
2019 - Kristy Nielson, Chief Nursing Officer, Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County, Rock Springs
2018 – Marjorie Bedessem, Senior Engineer, Trihydro Corporation
2017 – Liza Millet, Founder/Board Member, Silicon Couloir

Best Company to Work For

2018 – Hirst Applegate, LLP
2017 – Wyoming Community Foundation

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We encourage nominators to share a detailed entry. Include professional accomplishments, personal interests, & volunteerism. This contributes greatly during the selection process.

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