FROM THE EDITOR
There’s been good news for female CEOs in America in the last couple of years. Since 2023, the number of female CEOs at Fortune 500 companies has been over 10%, according to Forbes. That’s up from 8% in 2022.
It's encouraging to see women at the top. Beth Whited has led multiple departments across Union Pacific over the past 35 years. Now the president, she has been at the forefront of helping create great benefits at this company, securing outstanding maternity/paternity leave agreements.
The women on the following pages have pushed businesses forward in incredible ways, as all are incredible leaders—whether their title is CEO, executive director, or board chair. Jeana Goosmann created a law firm that now employs over 50 people, including several women leaders. Grow Nebraska Women’s Business Center has helped innovative women produce businesses from a mobile nail salon to an in-home care business, and Emsick Architects has banded together with other female architects around the nation to support each other in a field traditionally dominated by men.
In the department stories, Melanie Clark discusses why it has been important that she has been president of the board on several charitable organziations over the years. Monique Farmer is certainly On the Rise—the public relations professional was the 2023 president of Public Relations Society of Nebraska while writing a book and running her own PR firm.
Teri Shepherd, this magazine’s OmAHA! subject, is a humble, yet strong businesswoman who is passionate about lifting others and creating opportunities for more women in her profession. That thread is one that runs throughout many of the articles in this magazine—our annual Women in Business edition.
Along with these articles, you’ll also find the Best of B2B Ballot. This is your chance to tell us what you think is the best in business around Omaha. Voting takes place now through Dec. 31.
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