S u m m i t Ar e n a l D a v i d Lu s t Tr i b u t e
l P r o p e r t y Me l d
SEPTEMBER 2021
Volume 2. Issue No. 9
A S C E N T I N N O VAT I O N C A M P U S
CHARAN MUNGARA, M.D. Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery
KALYAN VUNNAMADALA, M.D. Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery
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2 ELEVATE • SEPTEMBER 2021
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4 ELEVATE • SEPTEMBER 2021
SEPT. 2021 Volume 2 // Issue No. 9
8
LUST FOR LIFE
Honoring the legacy of David Lust.
12
POW WOW!
The Black Hills Powwow will mark the inaugural event at the Summit Arena.
20
ELEVATING THE REGION
28
TECH COMPANY INVESTS IN DOWNTOWN
Bright new downtown building to foster future innovation in the Black Hills.
Property Meld expects to have over a hundred employees when they move into their new digs in 2022.
SMASHING PUMPKINS
32
Pumpkins take flight at The Great Downtown Pumpkin Festival.
ELEVATE RAPID CITY A U G U S T 2 0 2 1 E C O N O M I C I N D I C AT O R S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 3.4%
AVERAGE WEEKLY WAGES $ 877
ECONOMY RAPID CITY GROSS SALES $ 836,644,024
AIRPORT PASSENGERS 100,223
BUILDING PERMITS 387
BUILDING VALUATION $24.9M
REAL ESTATE
Rapid City metro statistics
ACTIVE LISTINGS 197
Month-over-month increase
MEDIAN LISTING PRICE $ 384,900
Month-over-month decrease
Monthly comparisons, industry analysis and additional economic indicators available on exclusive investor report. elevaterapidcity.com 5
Peanut Butter Oreo ice cream, please come back to me Change. It’s really the only thing that doesn’t change. Take you, for instance. You’re not the person you were last year; you’re not even the person you were five minutes ago. You’re literally, up to the minute, a culmination of the books you’ve read, the people you’ve met, the conversations you’ve had, the breaths you‘ve taken, and the vast ocean of cells constantly changing in your body. We humans aren’t so good at accepting change. And yet, it’s our ability to adapt to change (and our giant, carbohydrate-fueled brains) that has us at the top of the food pyramid for thousands of years. Rapid City and the Black Hills are changing too. This isn’t the same place as it was during the 1972 Flood or during the 2008 financial crisis. It’s not even the same town as it was last week. If you doubt me, drop into The Silver Lining Creamery and tell me if you can get the same ice cream flavor as you had last week (Peanut Butter Oreo, come back to me, please). Welcome to this issue of Elevate, where we focus on some of the changes that are happening to downtown, from our own Ascent Innovation Campus to the new, soon-to-be-open Summit Arena. Let's not forget innovators like Ray Hespen, co-founder of Property Meld and the up and coming leaders of the inaugural Elevate Leadership Institute class. There’s even a pumpkin festival somewhere in between. On a more somber note, we’ve also included a tribute to our former Chairman, David Lust, who passed away last month suddenly and unexpectedly at the age of 53. It’s an understatement to say it, but we feel the loss of David in our marrow, so deep that words can’t really describe it. But I can leave you with some paraphrased words of advice David once gave me when I was tired and feeling defeated from the long days of trying to Elevate the region for everyone. When making change happen was feeling particularly hard. “Tom,” he said, “no one said the job was going to be easy. If it were easy, anyone could do it. But you’re the one doing it. So, get up and get back in the game and let’s get something done.” No truer words were ever spoken.
6 ELEVATE • SEPTEMBER 2021
Tom Johnson, President & CEO
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 PRESIDENT & CEO Tom Johnson
FINANCE & OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Dana Borowski
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Matt Brunner
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR Shiloh Francis PUBLIC POLICY DIRECTOR Anna Hays
SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & INVESTOR RELATIONS DIRECTOR Brandis Knudsen WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT & TALENT ATTRACTION DIRECTOR Samantha McGrath
ECOSYSTEM DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Mitch Nachtigall EVENTS & TRAINING MANAGER Rachel Day CREATIVE SERVICES MANAGER Andy Greenman BUSINESS RETENTION & EXPANSION MANAGER Garth Wadsworth
OFFICE MANAGER & HR COORDINATOR Liz Highland FINANCE MANAGER & INVESTOR COORDINATOR Debbie Leber
DATA ANALYST & PROGRAM SUPPORT COORDINATOR Loni Reichert EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Becky Knox
DOD SKILLBRIDGE INTERN Brian Rugg DESIGN AND LAYOUT Andy Greenman
PUBLISHED BY THE RAPID CITY JOURNAL Bill Masterson, Publisher, bill.masterson@bhmginc.com ADVERTISING Eddie Hebron, 605.394.8354 ehebron@amplifieddigitalagency.com PRINTED BY SIMPSONS PRINTING
#ELEVATERAPIDCITY
HOW DO YOU #ELEVATERAPIDCITY
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CALENDAR Aug. 25-29
Kool Deadwood Nites
Kool Deadwood Nites brings car lovers together for five days of classic cars, music and fun. View schedule at deadwood.com.
Aug. 28-29
Fall River Hot Air Balloon Festival
The Hot Springs Municipal Airport field offers plenty of space to physically distance. You can also view the launches from your vehicle. Learn more at fallriverballoonfest.com.
Aug. 29 dapperjacksbarbershop Who else is ready for that hot towel head massage, finished off with a warm lather straight razor neck shave? That's barbering... #elevaterapidcity Tag your social media posts with #elevaterapidcity for your chance to be featured in the next magazine!
COMMENTS STAPLE & SPICE MARKET
Nice article! Love this store and its owners! - Dayna Bodensteiner
THRIVE FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC
Your city is lucky to have a great doctor like you. Let the healing begin. - Joe Edwards Impressive article for an impressive young man! - Doreen Rech
CONNECT W I T H U S!
Rushmore Outlaw Showdown
The stars of the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series are poised to put on an epic show at Black Hills Speedway. Learn more at blackhillsspeedwaybhs.com.
Sept. 10-12
Stratobowl Historic Hot Air Balloon Launch
Annually, the event hosts approximately 10 balloons during this ‘sunrise only’ three day event. Spectators are welcome! Learn more at blackhillsballoons.com
Sept. 11
Harvest Festival
Come visit the gardens, orchard, and beehives at Youth & Family Services Fullerton Farm in Box Elder. Learn more atyouthandfamilyservices.org.
Sept. 11
AgriCulture on the Square
The annual event bridges the gap between producers and consumers and gives urban neighbors an opportunity to learn about the important role agriculture plays.
Sept. 18
Black Hills Heart Walk
The American Heart Association and Monument Health are returning to Main Street Square to join with friends, family and colleagues to get moving while helping to defeat heart disease and stroke. Register at westcentralsdheartwalk.org.
Sept. 23
Buffalo Roundup and Arts Festival Follow us on Facebook (facebook.com/ElevateRapidCity), Instagram (@elevaterapidcity), LinkedIn (/company/elevate-rapid-city) Twitter (@Elevate_RC), and YouTube (youtube.com/elevaterapidcity). Share your thoughts and help us Elevate Rapid City together!
magazine@elevaterapidcity.com
Watch cowboys and cowgirls as they roundup and drive the herd of approximately 1,300 buffalo at Custer State Park. learn more at gfp.sd.gov/buffalo-roundup.
Sept. 25
The Great Downtown Pumpkin Festival
Main Street Square hosts The Great Downtown Pumpkin Festival. Events include pumpkin catapult, scarecrow decorating and pumpkin weigh-off. Learn more on page 32. elevaterapidcity.com 7
DAVID LUST 1968-2021
Rarely do you meet someone that you instantly recognize there is something different about them. In 2005, while serving as Chairman of the Rapid City Area Chamber of Commerce, David was a member of the Board. Our first conversation felt like catching up with an old friend. The following week, I received a card from him that was so inspiring and authentic. He always managed to say the right thing at the right time in very few words. I knew then what was different about him. David embodied a set of characteristics that made him exceptional. He was sincere, genuine, brilliant, loyal, reliable, and visionary. We met regularly for lunch at Murphy's to “solve the world’s problems." We would often run into people who want to talk to him about a project they are working on or just say hi. David had the natural ability to bring the conversation to a level easily understood by all. Our loss, as a community, can’t be overstated. I can speak for many of us who are fortunate enough to be David’s friends that his departure leaves a void in our hearts that can never be filled. Qusi Al-Haj Sen. Thune's office 8 ELEVATE • SEPTEMBER 2021
Most people know there are three topics that make for terrible conversation: Politics, Religion and Money. Most people…but not David! I recall a short road trip I had with David and two other colleagues towards the end of 2020. We were barely out of town and David went right into the issue of politics. We bantered back and forth on past and upcoming legislation, and what it meant to be an effective legislator. We no sooner finished the topic of politics and went right into religion! As you might expect, no one was willing to give an inch on that topic. We debated back and forth for likely an hour. Oh boy, I thought, now on to money, but we were arriving at our destination. I guess two out of three ain’t bad! I’m going to miss the talks, bantering, and debating with David, but most of all I will miss his humor, his support and his friendship. ALAN SOLANO
JOHN T. VUCUREVICH FOUNDATION
David was a leader with so many initiatives to better our region. He loved the Black Hills and South Dakota. When we were considering engaging someone to take the lead for housing efforts, David was the only choice. David Lust could walk into any room, be instantly respected, and clearly communicate a message with both diplomacy and humor. He will be dearly missed but remembered and revered as we all work to move forward. LIZ HAMBURG
BLACK HILLS AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
When I think about the past, I think about all of the amazing things that David did for our community and the legacy that he leaves. When I think about the future, I think about how much I will miss my friend; but I also think about the amazing things David would want us to do for our community and the legacy he would want us to leave. DARREN HAAR
One of my fondest memories of Dave was coaching alongside him at Canyon Lake Little League. We coached together for 2 seasons and I really got to know Dave as a person. Those two years showed me his commitment to his family, the community, and how deeply he valued integrity in his decision making. I also quickly realized you better bring your ‘A’ game to combat his quick-wit and dry sense of humor! Through this experience we forged a solid friendship. As anyone who had the privilege of getting to know Dave at a personal level would consider him a friend. I’ll miss you my friend! - TOM WEAVER
COMPLETE PROPERTY SOLUTIONS
David brought sparkle or insight to every conversation and he often simultaneously mastered both. The result was to disarm you, make you laugh, and think. You considered ideas you didn’t intend to pursue but were fascinated to follow. This brilliance was to meet common ground, find value in others, and plant collaborative seeds of growth. His legacy will endure, and our sorrow will subside as we cultivate what he gave us. JENNIFER TRUCANO
RAPID CITY MEDICAL CENTER
FIRST INTERSTATE BANK
elevaterapidcity.com 9
DAVID
LUST 1968-2021
I first met David when I interviewed for the Elevate CEO position. Lust wasn’t the type to take it easy on anyone, so he went right after my background of working two years at a university. “Tom,” he said, “are you sure your time as an academic won’t hurt you in a fast-paced job like this?” Are you kidding me? I thought. Twenty-plus years managing economic development organizations and two years at a university makes me an academic? But instead, I searched for an answer...and searched... and had nothing. Then I looked back at Lust. "I swear to you," I said as he sat with his wry little grin. And then a few more seconds passed… Lust knew he had me, and I knew it too. Just as we were nearing the ten-second rule (as if it were a basketball game), I pulled out my best jujitsu move: “No,” I said. “It will only enhance my ability because I understand better how we can work with the School of Mines.” A week later I had the job, but Lust never lost that grin. I realized it was his superpower. It got him in and out of hard conversations the way a motorcycle weaves in and out of traffic. You could never stay mad at him, no matter what he said, what he did, or how many lists he had for me as CEO (and he had a lot of lists!). A week before David’s passing, we met to talk about the future of Elevate. I complained about our funding (which I did no matter how much we had). He flashed the grin as he teased me for wearing a vest in 90-degree weather. “It’s going to be okay,” he said as he kept grinning. “No one ever said this job was going to be easy.” Somehow, I knew he was right. If I just kept smiling, somehow things would work out. And that is the lesson I give to you now: Keep smiling. Life is too short. Have a little fun while you’re here. Things are going to work themselves out in the end. Until then, rest assured, David Lust is somewhere flashing his wry grin, getting himself (or someone else) in and out of some trouble. - TOM JOHNSON ELEVATE RAPID CITY
10 ELEVATE • SEPTEMBER 2021
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Summit Arena to become an economic engine for decades BY MICHELLE PAWELSKI
12 ELEVATE • SEPTEMBER 2021
C
onstruction is on schedule with a goal of turning over Summit Arena to officials at the end of September. Just in time to prepare for the Arena's inaugural event: the Black Hills Powwow. “As one of our founding events, we are really excited about having them (as the first event),” said Priscilla Dominguez,
director of corporate sales and marketing for The Monument. “Their objective was to be No. 1 in ‘21 being the biggest powwow in the states, and I think they are on target for that.” When doors open, the new facility will feature seating for more than 11,000, a 75foot concert grid, a loading dock that can handle 15 – 20 semis, upgraded sound and
lighting technology, open socializing areas, and four elevators along with a drop off at the main level, and more. Dominguez said the goal of the new arena is to make The Monument a bigger economic engine for the area by expanding yearly events and attracting new, bigger acts. “We already see a great economic impact from our elevaterapidcity.com 13
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Internet. Phone. TV. Advertising.
Photo by Grace Pritchett, Rapid City Journal
"If they spend their money in our community, it only helps our community. It allows us to have a Vision Fund.” - Priscilla Dominguez Director of Corporate Sales and Marketing, The Monument
events like the Powwow, Stock Show, Rodeo Rapid City and LNI. All those annual events are what we consider founding events. We want those to grow and bring more people in. Then we have the flashy events, major concerts, and big stage shows. Those typically bring in an audience that is not from the region.” People traveling for an event will likely stay in hotels, eat at restaurants, and buy gas along with other shopping, she said. “If they spend their money in our community, it only helps our community. It allows us to have a Vision Fund.” The $130 million for the new arena is funded completely from the city’s Vision Fund, a half-cent sales tax that helped build the original civic center and Barnett Arena in 1975. In 2018, voters approved using Vision Funds for the new arena. “There had been a look to the future to find a replacement for what we have and how to make it the most cost effective,” Dominguez
said. While the Barnett Arena provided a tremendous economic stimulus for more than 40 years, the outdated design, lack of compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and limited flexibility with seating began to cause attendance to drop and hurt the city’s ability to book artists that other nearby cities attracted. “It has been a need on the horizon,” she said. “We are prime routing between Sioux Falls and Billings and needed a building that could seat 10,000 or more and have the rigging capabilities to do those large shows.” While the arena has the capacity for large shows, its telescopic seating allows flexibility in sizing down to smaller events, something the Barnett did not provide. Craig Baltzer, executive director of The Monument, said the 17,000-square-foot floor can be pushed back to 31,000-square-feet providing more floor space than Denver's Ball Arena. Baltzer also said
elevaterapidcity.com 15
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"We are prime routing between Sioux Falls and Billings and needed a building that could seat 10,000 or more and have the rigging capabilities to do those large shows."
most concert venues require 65 feet floor to ceiling. The 75 feet at the Summit will provide adequate accommodations for the next 30 years, he said. Improvements have been made over the four decades since the building of the original Barnett Arena including the addition of Rushmore Hall, the food court and the ice arena, however, the Summit Arena is by far the largest project Rapid City has seen, nearly doubling the square footage of the entire complex, Dominquez said. “I think the community has done a great job in expanding over the years, however, nothing to this extent.” On June 21, 1977, Elvis Presley played to a sold-out crowd becoming the first artist of many to play at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. In the years since, the civic center and Barnett Arena have exceeded expectations attracting tournaments, sports teams, musicians and many other events. Just as the Barnett Arena did 40 years ago, officials believe the Summit Arena will exceed expectations, becoming an economic engine and adding to the quality of life of the Rapid City region for decades to come.
- Priscilla Dominguez
elevaterapidcity.com 17
ready to grow. Behind every business and bold move were those who believed it was possible to do more. We’re proud to support and energize our community’s dreams. Visit blackhillsenergy.com/growing to learn more.
18 ELEVATE • SEPTEMBER 2021
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New downtown building ignites innovative growth for Rapid City and Black Hills
BY MICHELLE PAWELSKI
20 ELEVATE • SEPTEMBER 2021
elevaterapidcity.com 21
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"When people come to downtown now, they won’t just do so because they are tourists, but because they are creating companies." - Tom Johnson,
President & CEO, Elevate Rapid City
arly in the 2000s, community leaders realized the need for a collaborative workspace for young entrepreneurs that would not only help them grow their business but also promote Rapid City as a regional leader in innovation, technology, and diversity. In response to that need, Rapid City launched the Black Hills Business Development Center in 2006. Located on the campus of South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, the business incubator provided cost-effective office space, mentoring, resources, and a platform for growth. The incubator, renamed Ascent Innovation, was an immediate success, housing more than 30 companies and creating hundreds of new jobs throughout the years. With the incubator at maximum capacity and entrepreneurs waiting to secure a spot, talks started on the need for a second building. “We’ve been maxed out over there for several years,” explained Mitch Nachtigall, Ecosystem Development Director with Elevate Rapid City. “It definitely was something where we needed more space to foster that start-up community.” In late 2017, after unanimous approval from the Rapid City Council, work began on a location and design of the new Ascent Innovation Campus. “The top criteria was to stay downtown and to stay in close proximity to the School of Mines,” Nachtigall said. The 4.3-acre lot on East Main Street provided an ideal location connecting the University to downtown, students with industry, and creating a corridor of innovation. “This expansion shows downtown is the place to be in Rapid City,” said Tom Johnson, President and CEO of Elevate. “Downtowns are the heartbeat of any community, so this facility is part of the community’s long-term revitalization strategy for downtown. When people come to downtown now, they won’t just do so because they are tourists, but because they are creating companies.” City officials broke ground on Oct. 9, 2019, declaring Oct. 9 Innovation Day, and work began on a 40,000-square-foot iconic building. During the same time, the Rapid City Chamber of Commerce and economic development organizations merged to form Elevate Rapid City. With a unified voice and mission, the organization works to lead the economic development and small business elevaterapidcity.com 23
"We had a place that gave us flexibility to grow, ready access to interns at the School of Mines... plugged us in to what is now Elevate, and the Governor’s Office of Economic Development – those combinations were a tailwind to our growth." - Shon Anderson
CEO, B9 Creations
24 ELEVATE • SEPTEMBER 2021
efforts of the region. The team moved into the building in March 2020, making them the first tenants to occupy the new building. “This facility’s expansion is a big part of Elevate’s strategic plan,” Johnson said. “So often, business attraction gets all the headlines, but with Rapid City being an amenity-driven area, entrepreneurship is a big part of our foundation. Quality of life attracts entrepreneurs. This provides a state-of-theart facility to help them grow.” The new building, which opened its doors in March, includes 25,000 square feet of flexible tenant space and administrative offices along with spaces for meetings, events, and collaboration – all with a goal of bringing the community together. Aside from Elevate Rapid City, current tenants include the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and the South Dakota Ellsworth Development Authority, however, Nachtigall said 90 percent of the building is committed to tenants with design and construction continuing on those spaces. He said they are excited to continue the longstanding reputation of mentoring young, successful companies who make an impact on the community. Several graduates of the incubator are now national and global companies with their headquarters remaining in Rapid City. While the incubator initially focused on start-up companies, it began to expand its tenants to include satellite and now even has some second-generation companies. “These are startups that grew up and graduated and now have a spin off company,” Nachtigall said. Black Hills Information Security, a cybersecurity company specializing in penetration testing, red teaming, and threat hunting, will have its spin-off business in the new building. Other graduates include 7400 circuits, Property Meld, who are building a new corporate headquarters in Rapid City, VRC Metal Systems, and B9Creations, a global 3D manufacturer. B9Creations moved into the incubator in 2014. Its founder Michael Joyce, a pilot in the U.S. Air Force, was stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base and fell in love with the area. After retiring, he moved back bringing with him his passion for technology and desire to start his own company. Joyce started in the incubator with three employees. The company, located off Deadwood Ave.,
now has 40 employees, and ships its products to 70 different countries, said CEO Shon Anderson. “We had a place that gave us flexibility to grow, ready access to interns at the School of Mines, which was a tremendous advantage, plugged us in to what is now Elevate, and the Governor’s Office of Economic Development – those combinations were a tailwind to our growth,” Anderson said. Elevate’s goal is to begin recruiting companies and talent that have connections to the area whether they are former graduates or people like Joyce who spent time in the Black Hills and want to return. Founders of 7400 Circuits and Property Meld graduated from the School of Mines and found jobs outside the area. “They wanted to be in Rapid so much that they came back and started their own companies.” Nachtigall said. “We are working that angle hard. We want people to come back, look at the facilities we have; look at this great entity of Elevate Rapid City and everything it is doing.” Officials hope the new incubator will be a catalyst for continued innovation
"They wanted to be in Rapid so much that they came back and started their own companies." - Mitch Nachtigall
Ecosystem Development Director, Elevate Rapid City
elevaterapidcity.com 25
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and growth in Rapid City and set the stage for a future with diverse tech and manufacturing jobs, higher wages and a progressive business climate that leaves a lasting impact on Western South Dakota. “Rapid is going to grow by about 30,000 in the next 10 years,” Johnson said. “The Ascent Innovation Campus and this center will provide space and services for the next generation of entrepreneurs in the Black Hills.” An official grand opening and ribbon cutting is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 12 at the monthly Elevate Networking Mixer.
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"We needed a team and a community that could grow with us." - Ray Hespen
Future corporate headquarters of Property Meld at 406 St. Joseph St.
Tech company constructing downtown headquarters
O
BY ELEVATE RAPID CITY
ne afternoon in the late winter of 2014 in Baltimore, Ray Hespen and his friend David Kingman, located in Albuquerque, were on yet another one of their work zoom calls. Except this time, they weren’t talking about work, but rather, living in an apartment. Both were lifetime renters. And both had grown frustrated with what thousands of renters find the first time their hot-water
28 ELEVATE • SEPTEMBER 2021
heater goes out. “You put in a maintenance request, and it goes into a black hole,” says Hespen. “It’s cumbersome. There’s way too many touch points. You get calls from numbers you don’t recognize. It’s just a mess.” They came up with an idea: starting a tech company to fix the mess. By May of 2015, the duo had done enough research with property maintenance companies to find out the companies didn’t
RAY
like things any more than the renters. Kingman quit his job. A few months later, after raising a little money, Hespen followed suit and became a co-founder and CEO. Suddenly, it hit them. There was no going back. “It was the day we decided to be poor,” Hespen says with a laugh. “That’s the day we started Property Meld.” The first ten customers were difficult, or as Hespen put it, “an absolute grind or even a battle.” But he knew if Property Meld could get ten customers, they could get one hundred. Enter Rapid City, South Dakota in 2017. Hespen, a former School of Mines graduate, had always loved the Black Hills. And there was a part of him that always wanted to come back. After a few calls, he was put in touch with the team at the Ascent Innovation Center, and within a few short months, was renting flexible space on the east side of downtown. “We knew we needed a partner who could be flexible. We weren’t going to be able to sign a 10-year lease or pay market rents. Really, we needed a team and a community that could grow with us.” Within a year and a half, the company had six employees. Then ten. Then twelve. Growth was coming quickly. So they graduated out of the incubator into downtown right next to the MudHole. By 2022, the company expects to have over a hundred employees and is constructing its corporate headquarters
near Harriet and Oak, right next to The Garage on Saint Joseph Street. “Downtown is critical for us,” says Hespen. “You have to have the right ecosystem where talent can go for a cup of coffee and soak up all of the amenities that exist in a few miles of the city core. The stuff that’s happening in downtown, the growth, the lofts and the restaurants, that’s all a part of that.” Also critical to Property Meld’s growth is access to capital and access to mentors, a task that now falls on Mitch Nachtigall, also a former graduate of the School of Mines and Ecosystem Development Director for Elevate Rapid City. He’s also the guy who now manages two incubators in downtown. “Starting a business or disrupting an industry is difficult, really difficult,” says Nachtigall. “It shouldn’t be made harder because you didn’t know the right people to talk to at the right time.” Nachtigall regularly meets with companies to assess their business plans, fit for either one of Elevate’s incubators, and makes referrals to mentors and to capital resources. “There’s no reason anyone looking for them should slip through the cracks,” he says. Hespen agrees. “If we weren’t introduced to the right mentor, like Todd Gagne, and couldn’t find the capital we needed, which we were able to do right here in Rapid City, we wouldn’t be here today. I’d probably still be on that zoom call in Baltimore.” elevaterapidcity.com 29
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The 13th Annual Great Downtown Pumpkin Festival is being held on Saturday, September 25, from 10:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M. and will feature some of the region’s best vendors, kids activities and fun for all ages.
The Great Downtown Pumpkin Festival returns BY MAIN STREET SQUARE
32 ELEVATE • SEPTEMBER 2021
A
griculture has long been South Dakota’s number one industry and embodies the hard working, Midwestern values that South Dakota residents have lived by for generations. Fall is celebrated as farmers in the region get to enjoy the fruits of their labor and share them with their neighbors. Those same values and
neighborly acts were the premise of creating The Great Downtown Pumpkin Festival 13 years ago. Since its inception, the Great Downtown Pumpkin Festival has offered several events to help usher Rapid City into fall. Some of those included a scarecrow decorating contest, pumpkin themed cooking contests and cooking demonstrations by
downtown chefs. “Because we have families that look forward to coming every year, we try to find ways to add to the event. Some of them worked and some didn’t, but we are always trying to find ways to enhance the event,” stated Megan Whitman, Executive Director from 2011–2017. Over the years, the event has kept traditions such elevaterapidcity.com 33
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"One thing that came out of COVID-19 was that we could take our events down to the bare bones and rebuild them." - Maja Marsh
Marketing Director, Main Street Square
DID YOU KNOW? Two Buck Chuck, a large slingshot to shoot a pumpkin, was added last year. Pumpkin Fest is the largest annual event hosted by Main Street Square bringing upwards of 10,000 people downtown. The record pumpkin at this event was 1,569 pounds in 2015. The pumpkin was grown by Kevin Marsh from Parker, SD.
as the pumpkin weigh-off and the pumpkin catapult. Matt Whiney, a local grower, partners with Main Street Square to run the pumpkin weigh-off. This event is registered by the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth, the governing body for growing enthusiasts around the world. The pumpkin catapult is a partnership with South Dakota School of Mines and Technology as students showcase their engineering talents for the entire region. Events like Pumpkin Fest and other downtown events have changed since the pandemic, and these changes have allowed staff to revisit and keep them relevant. “One thing that came out of COVID-19 was that we could take our events down to the bare bones and rebuild them. We never want to take away from what the event is but some things are different now, people are looking at everything differently and we need to adapt,” stated Maja Marsh, Marketing Director for Main Street Square. “The biggest adjustment has been staffing and volunteers,” added Domico Rodriguez, President and CEO for Main
Street Square. “Pre-COVID, we had a lot of part-time workers and getting volunteers was easy. Like the rest of the community, we have to figure out how to host events with less people,” added Rodriguez. The Great Downtown Pumpkin Festival was one of a handful of events that were in the original plans for Main Street Square and Destination Rapid City prior to being built. Other Main Street Square events such as Bierborse and the Golden Hour Concert Series were outlined as reoccurring events that should be held in Downtown Rapid City by Venue Works out of Ames, Iowa. “We have had some extremely successful events here over the years and now the next phase for Main Street Square is working on what’s next. Downtown looks a lot different than it did in 2010 and it will look even more different in 2031. Pumpkin Fest is a great example of evolution. Keep an eye out for more events coming from Main Street Square in the future,” stated Rodriguez.
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Elevate Rapid City is a merged organization of the Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development, and Innovation center. Since its launch in 2019 Elevate has been working hard to elevate the region for everyone.
ELEVATE RAPID CITY ANNOUNCES THE INAUGURAL CLASS OF ELEVATE LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE Elevate Rapid City knows that in order to elevate the region for all, an investment must be made in growing and developing leaders. That is why they have created the Elevate Leadership Institute (ELI). Set to begin September 9, this nine-month program provides participants with the background, unique experiences, and insights necessary to assume leadership positions in the community. By the end of the program an ELI graduate will advance their natural desire to serve, engage, lead, and inspire others to join them to achieve even greater success. Together, the class will discover the vision and continue to develop partnerships with a purpose to elevate the region for all. “To be a leader in today’s challenging, multicultural, and fast-paced environment takes courage, communication, and sometimes a little bit of grit. This year’s class looks to have a lot of all three,” says Tom Johnson, President & CEO of Elevate Rapid City. “We are confident that once they have graduated from ELI, the community can expect great things. We know they will be ready to elevate the region for years to come.”
ELEVATE RAPID CIT Y Left to right: Linda Rabe, Carrie Bond, Samantha McGrath 38 ELEVATE • SEPTEMBER 2021
Elevate Leadership Institute Class of 2022 Stephanie Anderson, Security First Bank Tommy Barbour, Northwest Pipe Fittings Laura Bellisle, Black Hills Basecamp Carrie Bond, Rapid City Public Library Rebecca Bradley, Monument Health Jordan Burbach, Architecture Incorporated Justin DiBona, Gunderson, Palmer, Nelson & Ashmore, LLP Tim Doyle, Rapid City Police Department Austin Eichacker, Ketel Thorstenson, LLP Ben Ganje, City of Rapid City Holli Hennies, Pennington County Mark Jobman, Jobman STUDIO Adam Kaemingk, United States Senator Mike Rounds’ Office Kalie Kjerstad, Rancher - Self-employed Jacob Losett, Scull Construction Service Brian Maruska, SoDak Marketing Katie Murray, United States Representative Dusty Johnson’s Office Jeremy Muth, Select Construction Inc. Luke Neely, Lloyd Companies Eric Nelson, Black Hills Energy Devin Pfaff, Casey Peterson, LTD Ryan Phillips, Rapid City Police Department Daniel Sandvig, Rapid City Fire Department Jennifer Schmaltz, Monument Health
Carrie Bond with the Rapid City Public Library is also the recipient of the Linda Rabe Women in Leadership Scholarship. Rabe spent more than thirty years with the Chamber, was the first female to serve as its chief executive, and broke barriers for other women in leadership throughout her career. Bond was selected for this full-ride scholarship to ELI for her passion, integrity and commitment to the mission: Elevating the Rapid City region for all.
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