Exploring the toughest jobs My father was an over-the-road truck driver for most of his career. For him, getting up at 3 a.m. for work was normal. Driving through every major city in the US was common. And unloading tens of thousands of pounds of furniture, pianos, and washers each day was standard practice. When I was a teenager, he took me with him a few summers, just to show me how hard the work could be. His secret wish was to make sure I went to college. Falling asleep at a truck stop each night in my own sweat in the deep south, blisters on my feet and hands from lifting objects all day, I knew I couldn’t hack it. I knew my father was tougher than I would ever be. Some jobs are like that. They require a certain grit. And for that reason, these jobs require tough people. Nursing, trucking, childcare providers, the trades—have you noticed that no matter how much they talk about automation, these are the jobs that continue to be in demand? Welcome to this issue of Elevate, where we explore some of the toughest jobs around. You’ll learn about successful graduates of Western Dakota Tech’s truck driver training program (something that would have made my father proud). You’ll also get some insight into the Black Hills Stock show, which really is another way for us to talk about agriculture, one of the toughest industries around. And you’ll see what’s going on with one of our newest childcare providers in town, Every Child Is Special, which was one of the recipients of Elevate Rapid City’s Childcare Loan Program. Starting a childcare business in the middle of a pandemic? That is as tough as it gets. The best part about these stories is the people and their humility. My father would appreciate that. I remember once, sitting next to him in the cab of his truck, complaining about how hard the work was, he told me, “There are two kinds of people in the world. Those that are humble and those that are about to be. Which one are you?” Tougher words were never spoken. Stay safe and god-speed.
6 ELEVATE • FEB. 2021
Tom Johnson President & CEO
Tom Johnson, President & CEO Dana Borowski, Director of Finance and Operations Matt Brunner, Economic Development Director Shiloh Francis, Communications Director Anna Hays, Public Policy Director Brandis Knudsen, Dir. Of Small Business Development and Investor Relations Mitch Nachtigall, Director of Innovation & Entrepreneurship Rachel Day, Events & Training Manager Andy Greenman, Creative Services Manager Liz Highland, HR Coordinator/Office Manager Becky Knox, Executive Assistant Debbie Leber, Finance Manager & Investor Coordinator Samantha McGrath, Workforce Development & Talent Attraction Manager Loni Reichert, Data Analyst & Program Support Coordinator Design and layout: Andy Greenman Published by the Rapid City Journal Matt Tranquill, Publisher Advertising: mtranquill@gmail.com, 605.394.8301 Printed by Simpson Printing Elevate is a monthly publication produced by Elevate Rapid City. It is the premier business magazine for the Black Hills region telling the stories that make our area unique and vibrant. PO Box 747, Rapid City, SD 57709 605.343.1744 // elevaterapidcity.com
On the cover Winona Raney graduated from the Western Dakota Tech Professional Truck Driving program in 2019. Photo by Grace Pritchett
