by Jason Ball, President & CEO of the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce

Last fall, the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce proudly announced the significant expansion of our programming for the women of Lincoln’s business community through the addition of RISE Lincoln to our ongoing event lineup and financial support from the JoAnn Martin Leadership Legacy Fund.

We welcomed the new year with a sold out RISE networking event and launched two of our RISE coaching communities, both offering women a unique and impactful platform to connect and grow. Three additional RISE events will be hosted throughout 2023, each at a different location with varying themes to offer valuable insight and resources specific to women. New coaching communities will also open with engaging sessions scattered throughout the year, focusing on uncovering what inspires the participants to grow. Each coaching community is comprised of 10 – 12 women with important discussions, led by our certified RISE professional coaches.

And now, as we conclude Women’s History Month, we are excited to announce plans for our annual Women in Business half-day conference in partnership with the University of Nebraska – Lincoln College of Business. On April 20, we will convene Lincoln’s business community to hear a presentation from this year’s featured speaker, Cassandra Worthy. Cassandra is the founder & CEO of Change Enthusiasm® Global, which helps organizations focus on transforming their workplace cultures from merely surviving change to growing through change. She is a dynamic speaker who will encourage and motivate our Women in Business audience.

This year’s keynote address is made possible through the support of the JoAnn Martin Leadership Legacy Fund. This new fund was established to connect women to new pathways to leadership roles in Lincoln and we are incredibly honored to have been selected by the family of JoAnn Martin to receive funding through this Lincoln Community Foundation endowment for our Women in Business programming. JoAnn was such an important part of the Lincoln community for many years and this fund will ensure that her legacy lives on in a tremendously impactful way for years to come.

It is an exciting time for both our Women in Business and RISE programs, as we continue to explore new avenues for expanded engagement. This year, in addition to presenting an exceptional keynote speaker and an impressive panel of local business leaders, our program will also include an elevated focus on engaging college students and young professionals. It is our hope that through our programming, the future leaders of Lincoln will have a platform to connect with mentors and peers to help position them for rewarding career and leadership opportunities in Lincoln.

The Lincoln Chamber of Commerce remains dedicated to continuing our investment in the future of women in Lincoln’s business community. Through strong partnerships with respected institutions like the University of Nebraska – Lincoln College of Business and with incredible support from our investors, members and the JoAnn Martin Leadership Legacy Fund, we look forward to further connecting and celebrating the outstanding women of Lincoln.

For more information about RISE Lincoln and our RISE Coaching Communities, visit riselincoln.org. To register for our upcoming Women in Business event, visit lcoc.com/events.