November 2022 Chamber News

A ROADMAP FOR THE NEXT

In this issue

Chamber

Publisher

Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce

Chamber News

advertising information, call Steven Herman at (605) 373-2013 or email chambernews@siouxfalls.com

Chamber News Layout/Design

Jill Blom

News

For editorial information, call: (605) 336-1620

Chamber News is published by the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce, 200 N Phillips Ave , Suite 200, Sioux Falls, SD 57104

Postmaster please send address changes to: Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce 200 N Phillips Ave , Suite 200, Sioux Falls, SD 57104 Phone: (605) 336-1620 • Email: gsfcc@siouxfalls com

Chamber Mission

As the leading Sioux Falls area business advocate, the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce represents its members by advancing and promoting the economic health and quality of life of the region.

TWO VACCINES IN ONE VISIT

Getting vaccinated is your best defense against the flu and COVID-19. It’s recommended that everyone ages 6 months and older get an annual flu vaccine. Everyone should also stay up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines, including boosters, when eligible.

Visit sanfordhealth.org to learn more or find a location near you.

Message from the Chair

When the calendar flips to November, we receive a visual reminder that Thanksgiving will be here shortly. It reminds us of the value of gratitude in the midst of the hustle and stresses of daily life.

I would bet that your “thankful for” list—like mine—could get lengthy. One of the things at the top of my list is Sioux Falls. I am thankful that I live here—in a community of people that take care of each other, work together, and invest for the future.

Paul Hanson 2022-23 Chair of the Board

It is important that we take the time to think about what we want our community to look like a decade from now . . .

In this issue, we’ll introduce you to the new long-term strategic planning project that is just getting started. Vision Sioux Falls is being driven by multiple community organizations and is possible thanks to funding from Forward Sioux Falls. It is important that we take the time to think about what we want our community to look like a decade from now, and then to plan for how we can make that vision a reality.

Over the course of the next several months, Vision Sioux Falls will be seeking input from the community at large. I hope you will take the time to participate where you can, and encourage your colleagues to do the same. Hearing many voices from a variety of perspectives is critical to making this plan the best it can be.

As we enter the holiday shopping season, I encourage you to look to local retailers first for your gift-buying. Dollars that are spent in our community are more likely to stay in our community. Plus, when you patronize a store that is a Chamber member, you are supporting a business that also invests in the future of our community. You can find a directory of Chamber members online at siouxfallschamber.com.

Finally, the annual Veterans Day Ceremony is scheduled for Friday, November 11 at 10:30 a.m. at the South Dakota Military Heritage Alliance. This event is organized by members of the Chamber’s Military & Veterans Affairs Committee, in conjunction with other local veterans’ groups. It is a powerful and moving event that reminds us of the service and sacrifice demonstrated by our nation’s veterans…one more thing to add to that gratitude list!

Jacob Quasney, Lloyd Companies

Nancy Savage, Child’s Play Toys

Nathan Stallinga, DakotAbilities

Amy Stockberger, Amy Stockberger Real Estate

Vicki Stewart, Business Resource Network

Bob Sutton, Avera Health

EX-OFFICIO

Kyle Groos, Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools

Joe Bunkers, Gage Brothers

Kim Burma, Midco

Kayla Eitreim, Junior Achievement of South Dakota

Dr. José-Marie Griffiths, Dakota State University

Jason Herrboldt, First Bank & Trust

Derrick Larson, Eide Bailly LLP

Jeff Lautt, POET

Tolcha Mesele, Smithfield Foods

Cindy Heiberger, Minnehaha County Commission

Jim Schmidt, Lincoln County Commission

Kate Serenbetz, Sioux Falls School Board

Dr. Jane Stavem, Sioux Falls Public School System

Mayor Paul TenHaken, City of Sioux Falls

Jeff Griffin, President & CEO

Diane Balk, Accounting Manager

Joan Bartling, Vice President of Finance & Accounting

Justin Bentaas, Public Affairs & Research Manager

Jill Blom, Graphics & Communications Manager

Casey Boerger, Young Professionals Network Manager

Kyle Davis, Member Services Specialist

Jennie Doyen, Vice President of Member Services

Becky Griebel, Administrative Assistant

Elizabeth Heidinger, Member Services Specialist

Brooke Hendrickx, Agribusiness Manager

Steven Herman, Sales Manager

Pat Lund, Member Relations Manager

Mike Lynch, Executive Director of Investor Relations, Forward Sioux Falls

Debra Owen, Vice President of Government Relations

Holly Rader, Vice President of Member Relations

Teresa Schreier, Events Coordinator

Susan Seachris, Administrative/Accounting Assistant

Events Calendar CHAMBER

Dates, times and locations are subject to change .

For a current listing of all Chamber events, visit siouxfallschamber com, read the weekly edition of Quickly, or call (605) 336-1620

You can register and pay for events online at siouxfallschamber com

FEATURED EVENTS

MEMBERSHIP

MIXER

HOLIDAY FAIR

Tuesday, Nov. 22

4:30–7 p m

The DISTRICT 4521 W Empire Place

SPONSORED BY:

DETAILS: This Holiday Fair features more than 30 Chamber members promoting their goods and services Hosted by The DISTRICT and Pinnacle Productions

d’oeuvres

2022 Veterans Day Program

Friday, Nov. 11

10:30 a m South Dakota Military Heritage Alliance, Inc 1600 W Russell St

DETAILS: Recognize and honor those who have served in our nation’s military Sponsored by the Chamber’s Military & Veterans Affairs Committee and other veterans’ organizations

COST: Free and open to the public

Morning Mingle

Wednesday, Nov. 9 7:30–9 a m McCrossan Boys Ranch 47135 260th St .

DETAILS: Start your day by making a new connection Drop by for a cup of coffee and conversation with other members of the business community

COST: Free

Morning Mingle

Tuesday, Dec. 6 7:30–9 a m South Dakota Military Heritage Alliance, Inc . 1600 W Russell St

DETAILS: Start your day by making a new connection The December Morning Mingle is hosted by Associated Builders & Contractors

COST: Free

Membership Mixer

Tuesday, Dec. 13 4:30–6:30 p m First Interstate Bank 225 S Main Ave

COST: $5 or use your Mixer Pass Complimentary hors d’oeuvres and cash bar

Good Morning Sioux Falls Legislative Preview Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023 7–9 a m

Hilton Garden Inn Downtown 201 E . 8th St .

DETAILS: Hear from Sioux Falls area legislators about their goals for the upcoming 2023 legislative session New executives in the community will also be introduced Breakfast will be served COST: $30

Sioux Empire Livestock Show

Tuesday, Jan. 24-Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023

W H Lyon Fairgrounds Expo Building 100 N Lyon Blvd

DETAILS: Celebrate the impact of agriculture on the Sioux Empire! Livestock shows and sales take place throughout the week and commercial exhibits are open for the duration of the show For more information, visit siouxempirelivestockshow com

Mayor’s Round-Up and Sale of Champions

Friday, Jan. 27, 2023

W H Lyon Fairgrounds Expo Building 100 N Lyon Blvd

DETAILS: Join area business leaders in supporting agriculture by participating in this auction of the best market livestock from the Sioux Empire Livestock Show The evening includes a steak dinner and a silent auction to fund scholarships for students

COST: $50 per ticket, $400 for a table of 8 RSVP: siouxfallschamber com

UPCOMING EVENTS

GREATER SIOUX FALLS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

To RSVP to any of these events, visit siouxfallsypn com or call (605) 373-2002 Visit siouxfallsypn com for a full list of events

Morning Buzz Thursday, Nov. 3

7:30–9 a m .

Caribou Coffee 2501 W . 12th St

DETAILS: Join other YPN members for networking while getting your morning buzz (coffee) Morning-minded young professionals are invited to come enjoy coffee and conversation with other YPN members at our Morning Buzz

COST: Free YPs Read Monday, Nov. 7

5–6 p m

Remedy Brewing Company 401 E 8th St

DETAILS: YPs Read is a book club for members of the Sioux Falls Young Professionals Network We focus on reading Personal and Professional  development books

COST: Free

Power Lunch

Tuesday, Nov. 8

Noon–1 p m Camille’s Sidewalk Cafe 1216 W 41st St

DETAILS: Research says one of the best ways to improve your productivity at work is to take a lunch break So, check out of the office (or your home office) for the noon hour and enjoy lunch with us! Please RSVP so we can monitor space requirements .

COST: Free, food & drink on your own .

Community Connections TourMillennium Recycling, Inc. Wednesday, Nov. 9

4–5 p m

Millennium Recycling, Inc 305 E 50th St N

DETAILS: YPN Community Connections Tours provide the opportunity to get an inside look at a local business Go behind the scenes at Millennium Recycling, Inc COST: Free, registration required

Our Sioux Falls: Project Car

Thursday, Nov. 17

Noon–1 p m Chamber of Commerce 200 N Phillips Ave

DETAILS: Project CAR is a nonprofit, coor dinated transportation service for people in Sioux Falls who have trouble finding rides to improve their wellbeing because of financial or physical limitations They provide rides at little or no cost for persons to medical appointments, religious activities, employment for persons with developmental disabilities, healthcare education for low-income students, and seniors for adult care and companionship – all powered by volunteers

COST: Registration required

Find us on social media or visit siouxfallsypn com

Meet Me at the Mixer Tuesday, Nov. 22

4:30–7 p m

The DISTRICT 4521 W Empire Place

DETAILS: Meet up with other YPN members to expand your network at the Chamber’s November Mixer This event features the annual Holiday Fair with Chamber member businesses show casing their products and services If you’ve never been to a Chamber Mixer before, just look for the YPN booth and we’ll help you get connected!

COST: $5

Action Team Meetings

You can help shape key areas of YPN programming by joining an Action Team All team meetings are open to any YPN member who would like to get involved Volunteering with an Action Team is a great way to strengthen professional connections and exercise your skills in collaboration, facilitation and project management

For more details on the responsibilities of each team, visit siouxfallsypn com .

Social Action Team

Tuesday, Nov. 1, 4–5 p.m. Wiley’s 330 N Main Ave

Personal & Professional Development/Civic Engagement Action Team

Thursday, Nov. 3, 4–5 p.m. Chamber of Commerce 200 N Phillips Ave

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Events listed on these pages are curated from entries submitted to siouxfallsevents com and experiencesiouxfalls com/events Visit these websites for details on the events listed here and more events happening in the Sioux Falls area

All events are subject to change. Please check the online events calendars for the most recent updates.

NOVEMBER

2-3 Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story at Washington Pavilion

3 Dakota Masterworks Art Show

3-5 The Good Night Theatre Collective presents: Salem

4 Kevin Gates & Fetty Wap at Sioux Falls Arena

5 St. Michael Fall Bazaar and Bake Sale

5 Yogafest at Sioux Falls Convention Center

5 Casting Crowns: The Healer Tour at Denny Sanford PREMIER Center

5-6 NAIA Basketball Classic at Sanford Pentagon

7 Sanford PROMISE Community Lecture series

8 Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical Stage Adaptation

10 Sioux Falls Skyforce season home opener

11 Veterans Day Ceremony at South Dakota Military Heritage Alliance

11 Cirque Musica: Holiday Wonderland at Washington Pavilion

11 Nike Cross Regionals Heartland at Yankton Trail Park

11-13 Dakota Angler Ice Institute

12 Darci Lynne at Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort

Legally Blonde - The Musical

Autumn Festival, An Arts and Crafts Affair

Winter Wonderland at Falls Park begins

19 Orion Weiss Plays Grieg at Washington Pavilion

Gobble Wobble 10k at Sertoma Park

21 Steve Vai: Inviolate Tour at The District

Hairball at The District

Parade of Lights in downtown Sioux Falls

Jingle Bell Run at Fawick Park

Pentatonix: A Christmas Spectacular

Wheel of Fortune Live! at Washington Pavilion

1-4 Disney On Ice: Find Your Hero

2 Men’s Basketball: Gonzaga vs Baylor at Sanford Pentagon

2 Shaun Johnson and the Big Band Experience

2 605 Made Holiday Market at Cherapa Place

2-3 South Dakota Symphony Orchestra: Handel’s Messiah at First Lutheran Church

Christmas with C.S. Lewis at Washington Pavilion

3 Tonic Sol-Fa at Washington Pavilion

4 Rocky Mountain High Experience at The Alliance

7 A Charlie Bown Christmas Live On Stage

Twas the Week After Christmas

10 Five Finger Death Punch & Brantley Gilbert at PREMIER Center

10-11

Christmas with the Symphony: ‘Tis the Season!

11 Jim Brickman: A Very Merry Christmas

15 Women’s Basketball: South Carolina vs South Dakota State at Sanford Pentagon

The Good Night Theatre Collective Presents: Little Women

Christmas at the Cathedral at Cathedral of St. Joseph

16 CoComelon Live! JJ’s Journey

Holiday Jam with the Hegg Brothers

An Intimate Christmas with Lorie Line

Christmas with Michael W. Smith, special guest Michael Tait

Bear Grillz at The District

FALLS

Faces & Places

Our members do more than follow the news. They make the news. Job promotions and hirings. New projects. New partnerships. Awards. Every day we hear about exciting accomplishments, historic milestones and other positive aspects of our member businesses that deserve to be shared. Submit news to jdoyen@siouxfalls.com.

Recognition of Chamber Volunteers

The Ambassador Committee promotes the Chamber and assists in bringing new members into the organization. The Diplomat Committee works to maintain membership strength in the Chamber and provide outstanding customer service to members. Their volunteer service helps to keep the Chamber strong.

The Ambassador Committee honored Lynda Billars, Lynda B. Advantage–Berkshire Hathaway, as the Ambassador of the Year for 2021-22.

The Diplomat Committee honored Dino DePerno, Keller Williams Realty of Sioux Falls, as the 2021-22 Diplomat of the Year. The Diplomat Rookie of the Year award was given to Nicole Garber, PREMIER Bankcard

Three long-term Chamber volunteers have been granted emeritus status on their respective

committees. Nathan Stallinga, DakotAbilities, has served as an ambassador for 10 years. Corey Weide, Morgan Stanley, has served as an ambassador for 12 years. Julie Nelson, American Bank & Trust, has served as a diplomat for 30 years.

This month’s featured diplomat is Derrick Karsky, Farmers Insurance Group/Karsky Agency, eight years as a diplomat.

The diplomat of the month for October was Cindi Johnson, Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort Dino DePerno, Keller Williams Realty of Sioux Falls, was honored as the Event Champ for October.

The diplomat team of the month for October was Team Papke: Captain Cody Papke, City of Sioux Falls; Brent Van Aartsen, Dakota State University; Brady Smidt,

Swenson Wealth Management; Tammy Beintema, American Heart Association; and Deb Peterson

Jim Woster received the Spirit of DeWald Award at the Chamber’s 116th Annual Meeting on October 18. The award recognizes an indi vidual who has achieved professional distinc tion and made significant service contributions to the Chamber and the broader community. Woster is a long-time volunteer with the Chamber’s Agribusiness Division and served a term on the Chamber’s Board of Directors. Among his many community volunteer roles, he is the visionary behind the Stockyards Ag Experience project.

Lynda Billars

Lynda B. Advantage–Berkshire Hathaway

Nicole Garber PREMIER Bankcard

Nathan Stallinga DakotAbilities

Dino DePerno Keller Williams Realty of Sioux Falls

Cindi Johnson Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort

Corey Weide Morgan Stanley

Derrick Karsky Farmers Insurance Group/Karsky Agency

Jim Woster

The 2021-22 Diplomat Committee team captains were recognized for sharing their leadership skills at the diplomat year end celebration. Pictured left to right: James Payer II, Empire Mall; Andrea Carstensen, Minnwest Bank; Brad Nelson, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Sioux Falls Real Estate; Christy Menning Vastenhout, McCrossan Boys Ranch; Brian Sittig, CNA Surety; Diplomat Chair Cindi Johnson, Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort; Deb Peterson; and Dino DePerno, Keller Williams Realty of Sioux Falls.

Team Peterson was honored as the Diplomat Team of the Year for 2021-22. The team includes (left to right) Captain Deb Peterson; Darci Hustrulid, Girl Scouts-Dakota Horizons; Blake Chesley, The First National Bank in Sioux Falls; Rachael Powell, Goosman Law Firm; and Sandy Case.

The 2021-22 Ambassador Committee Team of the Year was honored for their outstanding efforts to recruit new members to the Chamber. Pictured left to right: Chamber Sales Manager Steve Herman; Jay Soukup, Black Hills Federal Credit Union; Monica Huether, Peska Construction; Lynda Billars, Lynda B. Advantage–Berkshire Hathaway; and Ambassador Committee Chair Kristin HoefertRedlinger, Northwestern Mutual.

Leadership

Becka Burger has been named president of HenkinSchultz. Agency founder Kirby Schultz remains on board as CEO. Burger is a partner and the agency’s director of client services. She has been with HenkinSchultz for more than 20 years. Most recently, she has lead the team to substantial nationwide client growth while leading an expanding marketing and digital team of employees.

Good Deeds

RAS held its Annual Golf Classic Benefitting Kids’ Chance of South Dakota on Tuesday, August 9 at Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort. The fundraiser raised $45,000 for Kids’ Chance of South Dakota, which surpassed last year’s donation of $30,000. There were 132 golfers who came from 13 states to participate. Kids’ Chance of South Dakota is a non-profit

organization that provides post-secondary and trade school scholarships to the children of South Dakota workers who have been severely or fatally injured in a workplace accident. The children of these workers often lose opportuni ties for secondary education.

New Faces & Promotions

Levo Credit Union has named Jen McKeown as vice president of marketing and business development. McKeown will rely on more than 20 years of experience as she oversees marketing, public and media relations, business development and the Levo Cares Foundation. She serves several community organizations, including as member of Brandon Valley Bands Board of Directors, as Brandon Valley Cross Country Boosters Class Representative, and as a classroom volunteer for Junior Achievement.

First PREMIER Bank has welcomed two new employees. Ryan Schneider is a senior business banker. He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Dakota and has more than 14 years of experience in the financial industry. Schneider also volunteers with the Sioux Empire United Way. Barry Hoogland is vice president business banker. Hoogland holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of South Dakota and has more than 16 years of experience in banking. Hoogland volunteers with Junior Achievement and coaches youth basketball and baseball.

Honors & Awards

Secure Enterprise Asset Management, Inc. (SEAM) has become one of only two providers in the country to successfully upgrade to both accredited certifications, R2v3 and e-Stewards Version 4.1, the only standards that exist to ensure secure and responsible resale and recycling of retired electronics. Currently, only fourteen companies in the country are certified to both standards, and this accomplishment places the Sioux Falls-based company at the forefront of this elite group. SEAM also earned recertification for ISO 45001 and ISO 14001, along with certification for ISO 9001 and NAID AAA, the most recognized verification of data destruction qualifications in the world. Certified companies must demonstrate a con trolled facility to protect the sensitivity of data on all storage devices, confirm complete data sanitization or destruction, and verify employee

Anna Suckow has joined First PREMIER Bank/PREMIER Bankcard as AVP, Benefits, Wellness and HRIS. Suckow has a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Sioux Falls. She has 18 years of professional experience. Suckow is a board member with Bishop Dudley Hospitality House and a volunteer for Junior Achievement.

Melissa Tordoff has joined Alternative HR, LLC as a human resources consultant. Tordoff served as a nursing home administra tor for the past 20 years. In that position, she was responsible for human resources, finances, facilities and patient care, as well as assuring compliance of all federal and state regulations applicable to nursing homes. Tordorff’s exper tise is in recruiting, retention, performance management, conflict resolution, coaching and mentoring. She will work with small and medium sized businesses, helping them with both strategic and tactical human resource issues.

MarketBeat has hired Melissa Brock as an associate editor. Brock joins MarketBeat’s growing editorial and content team that produces original stock-related content for their 3 million subscribers. She brings several years of expertise in writing and publishing; she most recently served as a freelance writer and as the money editor at Benzinga.

KLJ Engineering welcomed Sam Pellinen and Rachel Attema to their Sioux Falls office. Pellinen joins as an engineer in training within the aviation division. He is a recent graduate of Michigan State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering with a concentration in aerospace. He was part of the MSU rocketry team where he led the structures group. Attema will serve as a project assistant for the group. She comes to KLJ with over 20 years of experience. Attema earned her bachelor’s degree in biology from Dordt College.

competency through extensive background checks, drug screenings, and logged hours of training. A documented chain of custody including a no-landfill policy and scrupulous downstream audit trails must be proven to ensure all equipment is handled in compliance with the standards from beginning to end. Once certified, continual oversight and unan nounced audits maintain accountability.

JLG Architects has earned a total of five AIA awards in 2022. These include an Honor Award from the South Dakota Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) for Dakota State University Cyber Lab in Madison, SD; a Merit Award from AIA Minneapolis for the renovation of the White Bear Lake Sports Center in White Bear Lake, MN; and one Honor Award and two Merit Awards from AIA

North Dakota. JLG’s design for the Ed Robson Arena at Colorado College was also recently selected as the 2022 ENR Regional Best Projects Winner for the Sports/Entertainment Category.

Insight Marketing Design was named as a Top Agency in the Summit International Awards competition for outstanding advertising and marketing work. In addition, competing against creative agencies from 19 countries, Insight won five awards for creative work: three gold, one silver and one bronze.

Be Seen

1-4 The October Membership Mixer was hosted by Montgomery’s. Chamber members enjoyed refreshments and networking while they explored the showroom. Guests were welcomed by company president Eric Sinclair.

5 Young professionals gathered at Face Foundrie for coffee and networking at Morning Buzz.

6 Leadership Sioux Falls class 37 met for the first time in October. Class members heard from a panel of LSF graduates that include Tony Nour, First PREMIER Bank (class 27); Carol Woltjer, Family Visitation Center (class 17); and Paul Bruflat, CNA Surety (class 7). Class 37 will spend the next 8 months learning about our leadership and our community.

Be Seen

7-15 The 116th Meeting of the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce was held Oct. 18, 2022. It was a night of celebration and laughter, as attendees enjoyed the comedy of featured guest Charlie Berens. Paul Hanson, Sanford Health, was introduced at the new Chair of the Board of Directors and Chamber President & CEO Jeff Griffin addressed the audience. April Meyerink, Black Hills Federal Credit Union, served as emcee for the evening. The program featured musical performances from Andrea Ross, the Hegg Brothers, and Brian and Kaija Bonde.

Images by Lisa Aust Photos

Be Seen

16-18 Chamber members had the opportunity to tour two local manufacturers during National Manufacturing Week in October. Participants got an inside look at pre cast concrete at Gage Brothers and how wind turbine towers are made at Marmen Energy.

Be Seen

19-20 The Chamber welcomed members to our office for an Open House and Ribbon Cutting. The event was held to celebrate the Chamber’s purchase of the Commerce Center building, which we have occupied for 30 years.

22-23 YPN’s Off the Clock networking event was held at Remedy Brewing Company. Members enjoyed networking on the patio on one of the last warm days of the season.

Be Seen

24 The Chamber’s Agribusiness Divi sion hosted the fifth annual National Farmer’s Day at the Barn on Oct. 7. Guests at the family-friendly events learned about agriculture and could select a free pumpkin to take home.

25 Participants in the Networking 101 Business Sense Workshop practiced networking skills. The workshop was led by Jackie Payne, FranklinCovey.

Community Appeals Scheduled Fund Drives

The purpose of the Community Appeals Committee is to qualify and provide orderly scheduling of capital fund drives to the business community.

By vetting capital fund drives, the objective of Community Appeals is to affirm the project is a sound community investment and worthy of donor consideration.

It is the intent of the Chamber to encour age every business to carefully consider such requests. However, we also ac knowledge that many businesses have limited resources for capital fund drives, both in an ability to properly evaluate them and a sufficient budget to contrib ute. Our Community Appeals process is intended to provide our members with assurance that a Community Appeals campaign is worthy of investment.

MCCROSSAN BOYS RANCH

NOV. 1, 2022–MARCH 31, 2023

To expand/renovate the McCrossan School and construct an outdoor athletic complex.

ACTIVE GENERATIONS

APRIL 1, 2023–JULY 31, 2023

To add a second Active Generations location on the east side of Sioux Falls.

VETERANS COMMUNITY PROJECT

NOV. 1, 2023-MARCH 31, 2024

To build a village of 25 tiny homes for homeless veterans in the Sioux Falls area. A Village Center will also be constructed to facilitate behavioral/physical wellness, serving to link to other services.

LIFESCAPE HOSPITAL & SCHOOL

APRIL 1, 2024-JULY 31, 2024

To construct a new campus to increase residential service capacity, specialty school capacity and outpatient services.

A ROADMAP FOR THE NEXT DECADE

By Amy Smolik, For the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce

Sioux Falls is no stranger to developing broad-based com munity plans — they’ve been conducted approximately every decade since 1994. Past efforts have focused on community challenges from workforce to childcare, with various commu nity groups and organizations tackling parts of the plan.

A new planning process that launched this fall — Vision Sioux Falls — aspires for broader inclusivity across the com munity, undertaking even more diverse issues than previous efforts.

“We want to make sure that this is a very holistic, quality of life plan and blueprint for the next 10 years,” said Forward Sioux Falls Executive Director Mike Lynch, who is serving as project director.

The Vision Sioux Falls Steering Committee is made up of representatives from the City of Sioux Falls, Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce, Sioux Empire United Way, Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation, Sioux Falls Development

Foundation and Sioux Falls School District. The role of the Steering Committee is to extend and expand the project’s reach throughout the community, Lynch said. While they represent key stakeholders in the final plan, the Steering Committee members are not driving the initiatives but rather are champions of the process.

“This plan aims to be inclusive for all residents. Therefore, we will provide opportunities to participate in a multitude of community engagement activities over the next few months,” Lynch said. “It’s essential to have a steering committee devoted to maximizing that message.”

Consultants RDG Planning & Design are leading the process. They have a range of experience and have completed plans for communities across the globe. Their past work includes Midwest communities similar in size to Sioux Falls, including Des Moines, Iowa; Lincoln, Nebraska; and Yankton and Brookings, South Dakota.

“Cities cannot remain static and are living environments that evolve over time. The most successful cities plan for these evolutions and establish visions for the direction they wish to evolve. Those that don’t, struggle to remain relevant and vibrant. The leaders of Sioux Falls have clearly done this over the past two decades, as the city is as vibrant as ever. This work never stops; therefore, it is exciting to see the community dedicated to looking to the future and what will sustain and grow this vibrancy for the next generation.”

—RDG’s proposal to Sioux Falls

The RDG approach is to create a plan designed and drafted to inspire the community and provide guidance on achieving the vision. Their methodology is broken down into three core elements: Where are we now? Where do we want to go? How do we get there?

“Sioux Falls isn’t unique in the sense that it’s becoming a more diverse community. The next generation will look a little different, will prioritize things differently. Even coming out of the pandemic, we’ve learned how people work continues to evolve. Our challenge and opportunity are how do we acknowledge the history and look to the future and design what that’s going to look like?” said Amy Haase, a principal at RDG and Sioux Falls project lead.

Where we are now

Previous Sioux Falls community planning efforts have taken different iterations depending on what was needed within the community at the time, Lynch said. Forward Sioux

Steering Committee Members

Mike Lynch, Forward Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken, City of Sioux Falls

Jeff Griffin, Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce

Alan Turner II, Sioux Empire United Way

Andy Patterson, Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation

Bob Mundt, Sioux Falls Development Foundation Dr. Jane Stavem, Sioux Falls School District

Falls has often spearheaded the processes. As a joint venture between the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce and the Sioux Falls Development Foundation, Forward Sioux Falls has successfully raised funds for strategic initiatives since 1987. Perhaps more importantly, through its public-private approach, Forward Sioux Falls brings community leaders and businesses together to spearhead initiatives and expand success to all corners of the community.

Community planning is another way Forward Sioux Falls brings people together. The most recent Forward Sioux Falls program, which runs from 2021-26, included a community planning process as part of its strategic plan. The current program raised funds during the pandemic, exceeding its $15 million goal. Rather than put off a community planning pro cess, Forward Sioux Falls volunteer management was adamant about moving forward with planning.

“We have a lot of great momentum right now within the city. There are several other strategic plans that have recently

taken place or currently taking place — and that’s great,” Lynch said. “The timing is vital because of that momentum. We want to make sure we’re out ahead of things. If the plan ning is right and the preparation is right, our stakeholders are put in positions to carry out what ultimately will be outcomes that collectively, we can all benefit.”

For the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation (SFACF), a strong community plan provides direction for their board of directors to know the community’s priorities, said Andy Patterson, President & CEO of the SFACF.

“Largely we work with donors with their goals and what they want to do with their funds,” Patterson said. “When we understand what the community needs, it helps us help donors in shaping plans on how they want to give back.”

Patterson has directly participated in past community plan ning projects as a project director and stakeholder representa tive. He’s a believer in the value of the process and excited about the opportunities ahead.

“It’s getting a perspective from community members on a broad range of issues,” he said. “To bring about change takes a lot of effort. Plans like this continue to the drum beat for things that are important,” he said.

Patterson was satisfied with responses from past iterations; however, he’s encouraged by RDG’s efforts to drill down even deeper into the community and expanding participation.

“We’re leaning on our professional facilitators to develop tools to reach out to different parts of the community. We’re doing things beyond meetings. We’re going out to where people are at. We’re using our connections to get to know people who may not have been included in the past,” he said.

Where do we want to go?

Like many other communities, Sioux Falls has evergreen challenges like building a workforce and developing affordable housing. This time community leaders are asking for more input on quality of life topics, from arts and entertainment to public safety and health and human services.

“We want to make sure we’re out ahead of things. If the planning is right and the preparation is right, our stakeholders are put in positions to carry out what ultimately will be outcomes that collectively, we can all benefit.”

—Mike Lynch, Forward Sioux Falls

“We’re leaning on our professional facilitators to develop tools to reach out to different parts of the community. We’re doing things beyond meetings. We’re going out to where people are at. We’re using our connections to get to know people who may not have been included in the past.”

It’s not that economic development issues aren’t pressing, Haase said; there are several factors that also impact the economy. While salaries and benefits are part of workforce recruitment, people can live and work anywhere they want. The question then becomes, “what in our community is help ing us be competitive in keeping and attracting workforce to our community?” Haase said.

“So workforce is on the list, just in a more subtle way than it used to be,” she said. “These pieces are all about how we make a vibrant community and at the end of the day, that vibrant community supports our business community.”

In the next few months, the RDG team will be out in the community asking for input through both in-person and electronic methods. Representatives of different community sectors will be invited to participate in targeted meetings, like listening sessions, as well as larger, facilitated roundtable discussions. In addition, RDG will hold “pop-up” events at a variety of locations, with a goal of meeting people where

they’re at and really drilling down into the community. In addition, a group of “community allies” will be utilized to reach out to community members who may not traditionally engage in public meetings or online surveys.

“My sense is that this process is different. Previously, they were very focused on business community and economic development, and this is taking on a bigger, broader picture. We’re more focused on quality of life to make our businesses stronger, to make people want to be here in Sioux Falls,” Haase said. “They’re broadening the conversation and empha sizing talking to that next generation who is going to help make Sioux Falls thrive and be a vibrant community.”

In addition to a Steering Committee, a Strategic Council made up of a broad base of community representatives is key to evaluating information gathered from surveys, meet ings, roundtable discussions and pop-up events. They will meet three to four times throughout the process and provide

—Andy Patterson, Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation

feedback, guidance and reactions — about what may be missing, what gaps or trends they see that will impact Sioux Falls, Haase said.

“We’re going to hear a basketful of ideas and we need to narrow it down,” Haase said. “When we come to the end, we can’t have a 20-page list of goals and strategies. So, it’s how do you narrow it down from things that are highest priority and build momentum for other things — how do they cascade down to the other ideas and set us up to be well-positioned for the future.”

How do we get there?

RDG will deliver several documents to the Steering Committee throughout the project. When the process is complete in late spring 2023, a “basketful of ideas” will be winnowed down into a draft plan delivered to the Steering Committee. From there, the stakeholders will take ownership.

“As an outsider, I’m really impressed with what Sioux Falls has accomplished in previous processes,” Haase said. “That also made it appealing for us to work with Sioux Falls because we look at that and know this plan won’t collect dust on a shelf, our efforts won’t be in vain.”

But getting to that plan takes participation and engagement, she said.

“It goes back to the history of implementation. Everyone’s voice really does matter,” Haase said. “We may not be able to give everyone what they want, but our goal is to incorporate what we can and at the end of the day that people see things that improve the quality of life for themselves and their neighbors.”

How can you participate or stay in the know?

• Take the online survey at forwardsiouxfalls.com. The survey is open to everyone in Sioux Falls to provide input.

• Attend Community Roundtables, which are larger public events that share information along the way and seek input on priorities through facilitated, smaller roundtable conversations.

• Pay attention to news about the project. Part of the role of the Steering Committee stakeholders is to share information with their various constituency groups. Chamber members will be updated throughout the process.

• To meet people where they’re at, the RDG team will create several “pop-up” events across Sioux Falls at both scheduled events and unscheduled locations. If you’re there, share your feedback.

• Listening sessions are small group sharing sessions with invited representatives from various community factors (i.e., social services or recreation). If you’re invited to attend a listening session, bring your ideas.

Workforce…It does an economy good

Every day we hear from Chamber member companies—of every size and industry—that they are facing unprecedented challenges in finding enough workers to fill open jobs. Most of the people who live here are working. South Dakota unemployment1 is at 2.3%. In the greater Sioux Falls region the unemployment rate is even lower: Minnehaha County is at 2% and Lincoln County is at 1.9%.

South Dakota’s workforce needs reflect national trends. Right now, the latest data indicates there are over 10 million job openings in the U.S., but only around 6 million unemployed workers.2 The U.S. has a lot of jobs, but not enough workers to fill them. If every unemployed person in the country found a job, we would still have five million open jobs.

... it is a mistake to let those concerns impede a solution.

Keeping in mind that today’s babies are tomorrow’s workers, the U.S. birth rate is declining and is now at a record low. Between 2007 and 2020, the total fertility rate in the United States declined from 2.12 to 1.64.3 Another population measure is the “replacement rate.” This theoretical measure focuses on the number/ratio that is required to maintain a populations’ current size, disregarding any potential migration effects. The fertil ity rate of 1.64 was the lowest in nearly 100 years and well below the replacement rate, which may or may not be related to the decline in drive-in theatres.

This problem of worker shortages didn’t get here overnight; it’s been cooking for years. Automation has helped lessen the load and work/temporary visas have helped certain industries, but there is more we can do and should be doing. The irony is the current politics in our country has not been constructive in helping to solve the immigration problem. Heck, just bringing the subject up can get you temporarily kicked out of your breakfast club. There are strong feelings on both sides and there is merit in the concerns of both sides, but it is a mistake to let those concerns impede a solution.

On a recent trip to Washington, D.C., Chamber members asked our congressional delegation questions about immigration and the Differed Action of Childhood Arrivals (DACA). We learned immigration issues are too polarized right now for Congress to find workable solutions but there may be a willingness to work across the aisle later this year. We all understand the challenges of Congress and we will seek to support sen sible legislation that is good for America. We understand the importance of finding a resolution to ensure our borders are secure, but we also must also find pathways to provide legal status to workers.

Many people who live in South Dakota now are here because members of our family-tree boarded a boat and came to America. In the late 1800’s, the Dakota Territory, like much of the nation, was comprised mostly of immigrants. Early settlers included people of Scandinavian, British, Scottish, Cornish, Irish, German, Polish, Chinese, Czech, and African American heritage. It is a good reminder that our generous mix of lan guages and cultures were here before this territory became a state.

When South Dakota voted to adopt the state constitution, copies of the document were printed in several languages so the voters could read the document. This little-known fact became helpful three years ago when the state legislature debated the merits of providing driver’s license exams in Spanish. The idea of providing the test in Spanish was a tough sell at first, but the idea caught on eventually and passed the legislature with votes to spare.

This leads back to the premise of the column. Workforce: it does an economy good. The motto used by the coalition working to pass the driver’s exam bill was “Let’s get to work!” Seems like a good idea. Like days of old, let’s find an agreed pathway to legal status and welcome those immigrants who are looking for work. We need them, our economy needs them, and they need jobs. Heck, most of us are an immigrant’s kid…just a few generations ahead of those who are arriving here now.

We all have work to do to keep our economy moving forward; Let’s get to work South Dakota!

1 https://dlr.sd.gov/lmic/overview.aspx. (https://dlr.sd.gov/lmic/overview.aspx (August 2022).

2 https://www.uschamber.com/workforce/understanding-americas-labor-shortage (August 2022).

3 https://www.prb.org/resources/why-is-the-u-s-birth-rate-declining/ (May 2021).

Debra Owen

Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce

Anyone can get the job done, but doing it right is a different matter entirely. That’s why, at Security National Bank, we’ll dot the i’s and cross the t’s and take care of all the little things that impact your bigger picture. The details matter around here because you matter to us.

Spur success

McCrossan launches Community Appeal campaign

By Mike Lynch

For nearly seven decades, McCrossan Boys Ranch has been enrich ing the lives of individuals ages nine to twenty, helping youth that oftentimes are greatly challenged at home and school.

With the kickoff of the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce Community Appeals Committee-endorsed campaign “Spur Success,” educational opportunities will be expanded and lives will continue to be positively impacted well into the future.

Campaign proceeds will be used to add classroom space, as well as renovate existing areas including a science lab/CTE Hub, art room, special education room, staff lounge/office area, multi-purpose room, conference room. The campaign will also result in an expansion of the current social studies, language arts and math classrooms, and on-campus library.

McCrossan Boys Ranch is accredited through the South Dakota State Department of Education, coordinated by Teachwell Solutions and can issue high school diplomas. Approximately 250 students are served annually with 15-18 students graduating from the on-campus school each year.

“Education is the key to success and it is especially crucial with the vulnerable population of boys we work with at McCrossan. The school expansion will keep classrooms less cramped, which will help students who deal with ADHD, academic learning and behavioral problems,” said Christy Menning Vastenhout, McCrossan’s Director

of Development. “On average, up to 60 percent of our youth need special education classes. In the current space, teachers across academic disci plines are sharing classroom space and other buildings on campus are being utilized for academic activities.”

Menning Vastenhout noted that the new and expanded spaces will improve ways for staff to connect with the boys, many whom have experienced extremely challenging situations.

“We have kids who have grown up in meth labs, kids who have come from abusive homes filled with drugs and alcohol. We have kids who have experimented with drugs and alcohol themselves. Helping these kids that can’t be helped anywhere else is a big job. Our kids learn in different environments and can be more overstimulated than other kids,” she said.

McCrossan also plans to construct a South Dakota High School Activities Association (SDHAA) sanctioned track. The McCrossan “Wranglers” currently compete in track and field and cross country. The hope is to add other sports in the future. Currently, boys train on a dirt track. With the addition of a SDHAA sanctioned track, the McCrossan Wranglers will have a home track to train and the ability to host meets.

An artist’s rendering depicts the proposed addition to the school building at McCrossan Boys Ranch.

Menning Vastenhout said the impact of the new track will extend beyond the fun of running fast or meeting kids from other schools. “Sports positively impact our mentally, physically and emotionallytroubled youth and show them they are capable of great things with hard work and discipline. This further enhances McCrossan’s focus on being a fit and healthy campus.”

Beyond on-campus education and sanctioned high school sports, McCrossan provides therapy and counseling, group sessions, equine therapy and livestock programming, an on-campus church with worship services, Bible studies and even employs a part-time chaplain. Residents augment workforce efforts with nearly half employed in Sioux Falls in industries including retail, food, manufacturing and construction.

“After what the young men that come to McCrossan Boys Ranch have been through prior to admission, there are few things more important than learning to adapt, grow and thrive in their new environment,” said executive director Brian Roegiers. “It is equally important to receive a good education and to attain building blocks for long term physical fitness. The school addition and running track at the Ranch will help build strong minds and bodies that will be equipped to face the challenges of the future.”

Campaign co-chair Pam Hanneman is excited that the project will give boys the education they deserve to be successful in life. “By giving them a track, it will help them continue to develop the skills a person learns by being part of a team as well as achieving individual goals for life. The achievements at McCrossan Boys Ranch speak for themselves,” Hanneman said.

Co-chair Jim Wiederrich is impressed by McCrossan’s approach in changing the lives of young boys and men. “They work at the ranch as well as throughout the community while finishing school. These individuals learn trades, learn how to support themselves as adults, and learn responsibility for their own futures. This is an organization that truly gives a hand up.”

A $1.25 million Community Appeals goal has been established toward the overall goal of $3 million. The campaign runs November 1, 2022 through March 31, 2023 with a kick-off event being held at 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 2 at the McCrossan Visitor Center.

Success in year one leads to a second set of workshops

DE&I Activator Series returns DE

The DE&I Activator Series, which trained participants on implementing diversity, equity and inclusion practices within the workplace, will return in November with seven new sessions featuring all new content.

Changing demographics in the Sioux Falls area, coupled with aspi rations for continued economic growth for our region, lead employ ers to recognize DE&I practices as a success driver. A commitment to DE&I is a workforce development solution, economic development strategy and community brand differentiator.

In the spring of 2021, the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Pathways to Inclusive and Equitable Workplaces, launched the DE&I Activator series. The first set of 11 sessions deepened participants understanding of the value of DE&I in the workplace and offered concrete application strategies to help a workplace envision and implement goals.

The first series drew participation from 266 companies and 372 individuals. Demand for ongoing training led the Chamber and Pathways to offer a follow-up series.

The second year of the DE&I Activator Series will be seven sessions running from November 2022 through May 2023. All sessions are free and open to all Chamber members. The topic of the first session is inclusive recruitment, retention and engagement strategies. This will be an in-person training on November 9 at the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce.

Each session will take place on the second Wednesday of the month at 8:15 a.m. Sessions will alternate between in-person 90 minute workshops and virtual 60 minute learning sessions. Attendees at the in-person workshops can expect to learn from other businesses, build community and participate in interactive exercises.

Those who plan to attend all seven sessions can complete a single registration online through November 8. Registration for single sessions will be made available on a rolling basis at siouxfallschamber. com.

It is recommended that participants watch the first Activator series webinar, though it is not a requirement. SHRM CEUs will be available for participants.

Nov. 9

DE&I Activator Series schedule and topics

Inclusive recruitment, retention & engagement strategies

In-person 90 minute workshop

Dec. 14

Multi-generational workforce dynamics Virtual 60 minute learning session

Jan. 11 Empathy building, psychological safety & cultural humility

In-person 90 minute workshop

Feb. 8

Understanding gender identity & sexuality Virtual 60 minute learning session

Mar. 8 Language matters: Responding to micro-aggressions

In-person 90 minute workshop

Apr. 12

Mental health & well-being through a DE&I lens Virtual 60 minute learning session

May 10 Strategies for disrupting unconscious bias at work

In-person 90 minute workshop

Program planned for Veterans Day

Among the great days of national remembrance, none is more deeply moving to Americans than Veterans Day.

The Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce’s Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, in partnership with local veterans’ organizations, will host a Veterans Day program on Friday, Nov. 11, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. The event will take place at South Dakota Military Heritage Alliance, Inc., located at 1600 W. Russell Street in Sioux Falls.

The program will feature a keynote speaker, a mass colors presenta tion of flags from various military, veterans, and service and civic club organizations in Sioux Falls, along with a performance by the Legion Chorus of American Legion Post 15.

The Veterans Day program is free and open to the public.

Veterans Day

Friday, Nov. 11 10:30 a.m.

South Dakota Military Heritage Alliance 1600 W. Russell St.

Development Foundation Annual Meeting to be held Nov. 17

The Sioux Falls Development Foundation will hold its Annual Meeting at the South Dakota Military Heritage Alliance on Thursday, Nov. 17, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., with a brief business meeting beginning at 5:15 p.m. The event will include the distribu tion of this year’s annual report of developments throughout the Sioux Falls area.

The meeting is free and open to the public and provides an oppor tunity for business leaders and community residents to be updated on economic development activities during 2022 in a relaxed, informal setting. An important part of the agenda is the presentation of the Spirit of Sioux Falls Award, given annually to a person who

has demonstrated excellence in leadership and commitment to the economic development of our area.

The gala event features complimentary hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar, plus a chance to network with others who care about Sioux Falls and its future.

The 2021 Veterans Day Ceremony.

Keep the Cheer Here when you buy locally

When you shop local, you do far more than get the items that you want quickly and conveniently. Buying local stimulates the economy in our community, helps benefit local schools and charities, and it can even help the environment.

It keeps money in our community

When you buy from locally owned companies, the small business you’re making your purchase from certainly benefits, but the benefits keep growing. A small business that does well is likely to hire more people, who then spend more money in the community.

Buying locally also pours money into the local institutions who need it. Taxes are paid locally, boosting the community’s libraries, schools and infrastructure. Local businesses are also more likely to donate to charities in the local community, helping make improve ments that all can enjoy.

When independent think tank The New Economics Foundation compared similar purchases made at chain stores versus those made with local businesses, the experts determined that buying locally puts double the money into the community than occurs when you make a purchase at a chain store.

It is better for the environment

When you buy online, it typically requires some major effort to get your item to you. Trucks have to haul products across the country, burning up fossil fuel and contributing to pollution.

In addition, products that have to be packaged for shipping typi cally end up requiring extra packaging to survive the journey intact. For example, compare buying a pre-packaged set of nails from an online retailer to picking out just the nails you need at your local hardware store, with the friendly local owner popping them into a simple paper bag. All that extra packaging typically ends up in land fills or the ocean, adding to environmental damage.

It results in more choices for customers

If you shop exclusively at big box stores, you’ll see the same product choices, over and over. The only real difference is in price, and often that difference is a matter of pennies. Buying locally is a whole dif ferent experience. Each small business in our community is unique, offering a true connection with customers and a real understanding of

their visitors’ needs. Local artisans and craftspeople can show off their wares and build a following when you shop locally.

In addition, local businesses are typically far more flexible, adjusting to meet the immediate needs of customers much more quickly than giant national chains can do. They can also do a better job of stocking the products our community members want, since they’re part of the community.

Keep our community strong

By supporting local businesses, we can also help entrepreneurship thrive, which adds to local prosperity and innovation. Every local retailer is one of our neighbors who has taken a risk to try to make our region a better, stronger place, boosting the economy and helping lift friends and neighbors.

Look for ways buy locally this holiday season – and help us keep the cheer here! You can start by finding retailers that are members of the Chamber by searching our online directory at siouxfallschamber.com.

Preventing the pile up

Best practices for document retention and destruction

While most businesses rely heavily on digital data, it’s nearly impossible to eliminate the use of hard copies. From firewalls and antivirus, to passwords and encryption, rigor ous controls are often in place to protect the digital side of things, but the same standards may not be in place for physical documents.

If hard copies pile up, businesses leave themselves open to significant risks, including data theft and compliance issues.

Before purging all of your documents to help maintain security, it’s important to understand what retention requirements your company may need to adhere to. Unfortunately, there is no blanket retention rule that applies across all documents.

From federal regulations like the IRS’s tax audit procedures and HIPAA’s medical record requirements, to state and local provisions like South Dakota’s Bureau of Administration records management program, businesses are required to keep up with numerous laws and regulations to ensure proper document retention and destruction. You can check with your accountant, lawyer or state record-keeping agency for guidance if you’re unsure what regulations apply to you.

Scheduled document retention

Best practices for document retention typically require businesses to store records for one, three or seven years. However, in some cases, records should be kept indefinitely. Common retention guidelines include:

• Legal documents: Business formation records, contracts, property appraisals, deeds, trademark registrations, bill of sale documents and other ownership records should be kept indefinitely.

• Business federal tax returns: Federal tax returns should be kept for three to seven years, depending on the circumstances. However, if a return is not filed, the IRS recommends keeping records indefinitely.

• Accounting documents: Accounting records applicable to taxes, including depreciation schedules and year-end financial statements, should be kept for at least seven years. Many certi fied public accountants (CPA) recommend keeping account ing records indefinitely.

• Bank statements: All business banking, credit card and investment statements, as well as canceled checks, should be kept for a minimum of seven years.

• Insurance, permits and licenses: Permits, licenses and insur ance policy documents should be kept until replacements for expired ones are received.

• Payroll, tax and benefits records: Employers should keep payroll records for at least three years. If covered by federal anti-discrimination laws, businesses must also retain records showing the reasoning for paying different wages to employees of opposite sexes. Employee tax records should be maintained for four years, and benefits records such as plan documents and termination records should be kept for six years after an employee has left the organization.

• Hiring records: Job advertisements, applications and resumes should be kept on file for at least one year.

If there are records you’re unsure about, the Uniform Preservation of Private Business Records Act (UPPBRA) states that whenever a law does not specify a retention period, businesses should keep their records for at least three years.

Safe document storage

Once you understand how long records need to be retained, you must decide how they will be stored. If documents are kept in their physical form, make sure they are kept in a secure and monitored location. Implementing a clean desk policy that requires employees to safely store documents before leaving the office each day can also help to keep documents secured. As an added benefit, such policies tend to reduce clutter and increase productivity.

When documents are ready to be archived, digital scanning is a good option for electronic retention, however, before destroying the original physical document, consider if the document is potentially relevant to a complaint or claim that might result in litigation. If so, you’ll want to keep the original copy safely stored as well.

Secure document disposal

Whether you are shredding documents after the digital conversion process, or disposing of hard copies that have reached their expira tion date, it’s important to ensure all sensitive documents are securely destroyed.

Choose a reputable shredding company that will guarantee all papers and media are securely shredded and recycled if possible. Many companies offer convenient locking bins for secure, in-office collection with routine shredding services to prevent build-up or data breaches. Onsite shredding can also provide complete transparency, so you can watch as your documents are shredded before they even leave your location, providing you with peace of mind to know the job was done right.

As director of business development at SEAM (Secure Enterprise Asset Management, Inc.), Levi Hentges helps clients build and manage their data destruction programs to comply with legal, corporate and environmental requirements surrounding their physical documents, media and technology devices.

Levi Hentges

SEAM (Secure Enterprise Asset Management, Inc.)

TOGETHER, WE PUT GOOD ENERGY INTO THE COMMUNITY

.

For us, serving this community doesn’t stop at supplying energy. It’s so much bigger. That’s why we buy locally. That’s why we invest here. That’s why we put in the work to make your energy safer, more reliable and more affordable. Energy you can trust to keep your home warm all winter and bright all summer long. We give back to this community like we live here. Because we do.

Visit xcelenergy.com to learn more.

Ribbon Cuttings

The Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce offers a ribbon cutting ceremony or member spotlight video for members to celebrate joining the Chamber, milestone anniversaries, expansions or remodels. The public and all Chamber members are invited to share in the celebration. Call (605) 336-1620 for more information or to schedule your event.

Groundbreaking ceremonies are coordinated by the Sioux Falls Development Foundation. Call (605) 339-0103 for more information or to schedule your event.

Augustana University

2101 S. Summit Ave.

augie.edu

Augustana University celebrated the completion of a new residence hall and held a ceremony dedicating it as Ralph H. Wagoner Hall. L to R: Shannan Nelson, Troy Blizzard, Jill Aanenson, Josh Muckenhirn, Andrea Carstensen, President Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, Dr. Ralph Wagoner, Kristin HoefertRedlinger, Kayla Eitreim and Mark Blackburn.

Bender Companies

305 W. 57th St.

benderco.com/bendermidwestproperties.com

Bender Companies renovated and expanded their building. It houses both Bender

Commercial Real Estate and Bender Midwest Properties. L to R: Michael Bender, James Gasper, Kayla Eitreim, Jill Madsen (president), Reggie Kuipers (president), Kristin HoefertRedlinger, April Meyerink, Cindi Johnson and Andi Anderson.

Circle K

1737 S. Cliff Ave.

holidaystationstores.com

Circle K is dedicated to providing great customer service and making their customers lives a little easier. L to R: Matt Whelan, Jennifer Hoesing, Jay Soukup, Jeff Griffin, Tammy Beintema, Dan Friemuth, Brent Johnson, Kristin Hoefert-Redlinger, Anthony Harbo and Mikayla Redenius.

First State Bank Southwest

4400 E. 57th St.

firststatebanksw.com

First State Bank Southwest celebrated the grand opening of the bank’s first full-service branch in the Sioux Falls market. L to R: Suvie Inthirath, Megan Kjose, Kim Burma, Jordan Huisken (market president), Matt Albert, Greg Raymo (CEO), Tammy Beintema and MacKenzie Jueneman.

Flynn Wright

223 S. Phillips Ave. flynnwright.com

Flynn Wright is a full-service advertising agency offering marketing, public relations, research and video services. L to R: Andy Ireland, Carrie Dragt, Jennifer Hoesing, Kim Burma, Jeff White (senior vice president), Laura Arnett, Anna Jankord and Sara Schuler.

Levo Credit Union

6101 S. Cliff Ave. levo.org

Levo has opened a new location at 69th and Cliff to better serve members on the south side of Sioux Falls. L to R: Jen Walsh, Mallory Kloucek, Ron VanZanten, Fran Sommerfeld (President/CEO), James Payer II, James Nord, Jay Rasmussen, Nathan Stallinga and Preston Meline.

NEW MEMBER

LOCATION

MEMBER

Maguire Iron

2001 E. Robur Dr. maguireiron.com

Maguire Iron broke ground on a new head quarters being constructed in northeast Sioux Falls. L to R: Brian Cooper, Scott Jones (presi dent), Gene Jones, Jr. (CEO), Troy Werdel, Dan Engelsman, Diep Doan, Jamie Mays and Mike Farnsworth.

The Spa on Phillips

224 N. Phillips Ave., #110 thespaonphillips.com

Formerly known as Spa 2000, The Spa on Phillips has a new name but still carries out the mission of providing a luxurious experience that allows their visitors to feel good from the inside out. L to R: Alexis Mahlen, Kristen Hoefert-Redlinger, Mark Lounsbery, Jennifer Hoesing, Michelle Lounsbery (owner), Nathan Stallinga and Sheila Hoff.

St. Croix Hospice

6330 S. Western Ave. stcroixhospice.com

St. Croix Hospice proudly serves the greater Sioux Falls community with expert hospice care. L to R: Jacqueline Haan, Clayton Hoberman, Andrew Mayo, Kailyn Johnson, Kameron Nelson, Amanda Thedens, Brad Nelson, Bill Billings, Justin Zandstra, Jaclyn Matthes, Susanne Merrigan, Britany Sundall, Josie Kronaizl, Devon Comp, Sabrina Susanen and Lynda Billars.

Sunnycrest Village

3900 S. Terry Ave.

sunnycrestvillage.com

Sunnycrest Village added a four-story, 60-unit building with independent living apartments and services for seniors. L to R: Elton Byre, Tammy Beintema, Derrick Karsky, Lynda Billars, Ron Dorsman, Kent Cutler, Sue Lund, Megan Jansick and Tom Chap.

NEW MEMBER

REMODEL

Viaflex

821 W. Algonquin St. viaflex.com

Viaflex exists to find solutions to complex challenges in earth industries, using engineered geomembrane products to protect the earth and promote industry. L to R: Joe Beck, Julie Laufenberg, Holly Rader, Karlie Solum, Chris Wagner, Tim Hart, Scott Wickersham (CEO), Kristin Hoefert-Redlinger, Mayor Paul TenHanken, Senator John Thune, Craig Schelske, Sherri Robert and Steven Tims.

Wahlburgers at Hy-Vee

1601 S. Sycamore Ave. hy-vee.com

Sycamore Avenue Hy-Vee introduced Wahlburgers at Hy-Vee to the Sioux Falls community. L to R: Paula Lechner, Jay Soukup, Amie King, Tammy Beintema, Chad Dyhrkopp (district store director), Megan Jansick, Dan Rost, Jennifer Tolk and Ken Cumberland.

Member Anniversaries

Congratulations to the following members who are celebrating their milestone membership anniversaries this month. They are part of a continued commitment to our community through their investment in the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce. To learn more about Chamber membership, contact (605) 336-1620 or gsfcc@siouxfalls.com. Find a complete Membership Directory online at siouxfallschamber.com.

Founding Member

Sioux Falls Regional Livestock Associate Member sfrlinc.com Member since 1930

50 Years

Ditch Witch UnderCon Contractors dwundercon.com

45 Years

Plains Builders Exchange, Inc. Building Materials plainsbuilders.com

35 Years

Associated Consulting Engineering, Inc. Engineering aceinet.com

Michaels Fence & Supply Landscape & Garden michaelsfencecompany.com

Northwestern Mutual Investing northwesternmutual.com/office/sd/ sioux-falls/20692043/

30 Years

Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools Education-Post Secondary ogknights.org

Construction Products & Consultants Contractors constructionproductssd.com

Dockendorf Equipment Automotive Parts & Supplies

Meierhenry Sargent LLP

Attorneys meierhenrylaw.com

Minnehaha Conservation District Associate Member minnehahacd.org

Sioux Falls School District 49-5 Education-Post Secondary sf.k12.sd.us

25 Years

Sheraton Sioux Falls & Convention Center Hotels & Motels marriott.com/FSDSI

All Animal Pet Hospital Veterinary Services allanimalpethospital.com

Frontier Bank Banks frontierbank.com

MD Engraving Promotional Products mdengravinggifts.com

Midwest Shows, Inc./ Farm Shows USA Festivals and Special Events farmshowsusa.com

Minnehaha County Sheriff Associate Member

Murray Property Management, LLC / Murray Properties, LLC Property Management murraypropertiesllc.com

Naatjes Concrete, Inc. Contractors naatjesconcreteinc.com/

Stewart Title Title Companies stewart.com/sioux-falls

The Compass Center Associate Member thecompasscenter.org

Thurman Construction Co. Contractors builtbythurman.com

Williamson Management Group, Inc. Business Consulting

Winsupply W Sioux Falls SD Co. Plumbing

20 Years

First Dakota National Bank Banks firstdakota.com

Midwest Employee Benefits Employee Benefits midwestemployeebenefits.com

Pro Tree Service, Inc. Landscape & Garden protreesd.com

Sands Wall Systems Contractors sandswallsystems.com

Sioux Falls Downtown Lions Club Associate Member

Sioux Falls Morning Optimists Club Associate Member sfmoc.org

15 Years

Crescent Electric Supply Co Electricians & Electrical Contractors cesco.com

The Dance Line, Inc. Specialty Retail thedancelineinc.com

F & S Medical Consulting, Inc. Medical Services & Supplies

Keller Williams Realty of Sioux FallsMarshall Selberg Affiliate-Real Estate marshallselberg.kw.com

Lord Of Life Lutheran Church Associate Member lordoflifelutheran.org

Lunch Is Served, Inc. Associate Member lunchisserved.org

Nelson Commercial Real Estate Real Estate-Commercial ncommercial.com

The University of SD Beacom School of Business Associate Member usd.edu/business

10 Years

AVI Systems, Inc. Technology Services avisystems.com

Brandon Golf Course Associate Member brandongc.com

Hibachi Grill & Supreme Buffet Restaurants hibachigrillsiouxfalls.com

Pipestone Vet Clinic

Associate Member pipevet.com

Stone Group Architects Architecture stonegrouparchitects.com

5 Years

Branch Creative Co. Associate Member branchcreativeco.com

De Neui Properties & Construction, LLC Building & Remodeling

Edward JonesFinancial Advisor: Anthony Siemonsma Associate Member edwardjones.com

New Members

Aerostar Manufacturing & Production

Anastasia Quanbeck, (605) 360-9863 3901 W. 59th St., 57108 aerostar.com

American Petroleum Institute Government Relations/Public Relations

Michael Karbo, (952) 220-9164 445 Minnesota St., Suite 1500, St. Paul, MN 55101 api.org

Andrea Simunek Real Estate

Real Estate–Residential

Andrea Simunek, (605) 310-9140 601 W. 49th St., 57105 andrea.findahomeinsiouxfalls.com

Charlie’s Pizza Restaurants

Chuck Rezac, (605) 275-2212 6213 S. Old Village Place, 57108 charliespizzahouse.com

Circle K

Convenience Stores

Brent Johnson, (605) 339-3548 1737 S. Cliff Ave., 57105 circlek.com

Journey Orthodontics Dental Care & Orthodontics journeyorthodontics.com

Keller Williams Realty Sioux Falls - Cody Strom Affiliate-Real Estate codystrom.com

Paws Pet Resort Pet Boarding pawspetresort.com

PBR: Professional Bull Riders, Inc. Entertainment Services pbr.com

RISE Structural Associates Engineering riseincorp.com

Sioux Falls Pride Associate Member siouxfallspride.org

FIRST YEAR

REINVESTORS

Mortenson Construction Management mortenson.com/north-dakota

Talon LLC

Real Estate-Developer talon-llc.com

Arts South Dakota Associate Member artssouthdakota.org

Raztech LLC IT Consulting raztech.sd.com

First Western Bank & Trust Banks firstwestern.bank

Creator’s Kids Childcare creatorskids.com

Perspective Insurance Insurance & Benefits perspectiveinsurance.com

New members are printed in each issue of Chamber News. Following is a list of businesses or individuals who have invested in the greater community by joining the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce. An online Membership Directory can be found at siouxfallschamber.com. Want to become a member? Call (605) 336-1620.

Dakota State University Foundation Associate Member

Emily Wollmann, (605) 256-5693 820 N. Washington Ave., Madison, SD 57042 dsu.edu

Defend Pest Solutions

Pest Control Gordon Dotson, (605) 360-5305 defendpestsolutions

I-29 RV Supercenter Recreational Vehicles

Amy Midbruget, (605) 305-4747 2415 N. Bakker Landing Ave., Tea, SD 57064 i29rv.com

LifeSource Organ, Eye & Tissue Donations

Associate Member

Laurie Timmer, (612) 499-1357 911 E. 20th St., Suite 503, 57105 life-source.org

Northwestern MutualZachary Motl Affiliate–Insurance

Zachary Motl, (605) 361-9788 2307 W. 57th St., 57108 zacharwmotl.nm.com

Payroll Vault Bookkeeping

Paula Johnson, (605) 799-4884 108 N. Main Ave., Hartford, SD 57033 payrollvault.com/sioux-falls-sd-145

Rudy’s Landscaping

Landscape & Garden

Jennifer Zavala, (605) 728-9399 27107 476th Ave., Harrisburg, SD 57032 facebook.com/rudyslandscapingsd

SoDak Soda

Restaurants

Katy Rees, (605) 212-0197 2305 W. Trevi Place, 57108

Sunbelt Business Advisors Business Consulting

Jill TenHaken, (605) 307-6732 101 S. Phillips Ave., #205 57104 sunbeltsd.com

Universal Pediatrics Medical Services & Supplies

Braden De Boer, (605) 331-7997 4300 S. Technology Drive, 57106 universalpediatrics.com

Viaflex Manufacturing & Production

Deb Johnson, (605) 335-0174 821 W. Algonquin St., 57104 viaflex.com

Visit chambernews.com for more questions with Erin

Five questions with Erin Brown

Erin Brown earned a bachelor’s degree in commercial recreation and a master’s degree in sports management. But it was her military service in the Minnesota Army National Guard that determined her career path. She served from 20012010, including deployment to Iraq from 2005-2007. Erin is now the Cemetery Director of the State Veterans Cemetery in Sioux Falls. Erin and her husband live in Brandon with their three children, ages 9, 6 and 3.

What is your favorite way to spend a day in Sioux Falls?

Getting to spend a day enjoying Sioux Falls is rare. Days are normally spent running errands or chasing after kids’ events all around town. One ‘tradition’ we like to do is go to the Falls the day after Thanksgiving to see the lights. My family and I look forward to this every year and end up there more than once throughout the holiday season.

What is the best piece of advice you have received?

I have a few and they all tie together. The first is: ‘it isn’t a lot or a little, just something to get done.” This reminds me that we all have long lists of tasks/ goals/projects to complete and each one has steps. If you break it down, it really isn’t one huge task, but many small tasks that are completely manageable and possible to accomplish. This leads me to the next advice. “Win the day” is written next to my computer. This one reminds me to get out there every day and complete all the tasks that need my attention and then do more.

How did you choose your career path?

I don’t think I chose my career path; it chose me. Each job pushed me to the next challenge. I started working with veterans as a County Veterans Service Officer in Minnesota before moving to the South Dakota Department of Veterans. Within the SDDVA I have held four different positions. As the new state Veterans Cemetery development progressed, I continued to have interest in it. Applying for the cemetery director position was the next big step in my career. In this role, I am able to continue serving veterans and their families on a daily basis. Rewarding is the word I would use to describe what I get to do each day.

What is a skill that you’d like to learn and why?

Boxing! Learning this skill would be a physical and mental challenge that would take time, patience and discipline. Hopefully in the near future there will be time to learn how to box.

If you could witness any event of the past, present or future, what would it be?

I would like to be a fly on the wall when the first conversations about the government of our country started. How did they come up with those beginning laws? What was it like sitting in a room with only candles for light? This may not be the only event that I would want to witness but there are so many to choose from.

Erin Brown South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs