July/August 2020 Chamber News

Chamber News Vol. 55, No. 9

July/August 2020

A PUBLICATION OF THE GREATER SIOUX FALLS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Spark

SIOUX FALLS

Rekindling the regional economy

In this issue Feature

Spark Sioux Falls Rekindling the regional economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20-25

Chamber News Publisher

Top stories Chamber establishes BIZPAC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Meet Dr. Jane Stavem. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32-33 In this issue Message from the Chair. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Event Calendars. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-9 Economic Indicators. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Faces & Places. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-16 Community Appeals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Headlines. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29-33 Business Sense. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Member Voice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Member Anniversaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 New Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 From the Archive. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40-41 Five Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce Chamber News Ad Sales

For advertising information, call Steven Herman at (605) 351-1960 or email chambernews@siouxfalls.com

Chamber News Layout/Design Jill Blom

Chamber News Editor Jennie Doyen

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.

Communicate WITH THE

CHAMBER

.com/siouxfallschamber @GreaterSFCC @SF_Advocate Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce Read online or find archived issues: issuu.com/siouxfallschamber

Thank you to the following members for supporting the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce by being premium sponsors of the Chamber News magazine.

chambernews.com | Chamber News 3

The connection that connects you to more.

Internet + Networking

Phone

Data Center

Thanks for letting us be a part of the Sioux Falls community.

Midco.com/Business

Cable TV

Advertising

Message from the Chair

Message from the Chair The Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce is a powerful voice for business. We are constantly finding new ways to provide value to members, serve our community and advocate for a healthy business environment. Just as you need to “Get Stuff Done” (GSD) in your business and life, we know we need to GSD, too.

Bobbi Thury 2019-20 Chair of the Board

Let’s stay diligent… and provide the experience Sioux Falls is known for that of being a safe and welcoming place.

As the world navigates the impacts of coronavirus and the ongoing social unrest, the Chamber is focusing on what we can do in our own community. The Chamber is collaborating with a number of partners to spark growth and rekindle our strong economy in the region through the Spark Sioux Falls initiative.

We need everyone to help! If we want people to shop and experience Sioux Falls, we need to make them feel safe and comfortable in our businesses. When a visitor consistently sees responsible precautions being taken by each store they visit, their confidence grows. Let’s stay diligent in the fight against the coronavirus and provide the experience Sioux Falls is known for - that of being a safe and welcoming place. Check out our website for resources or give the Chamber a call if you want any tips on what you can do to help or how we can help you.

We need to be diligent in our efforts to be a community that welcomes everyone, regardless of color or gender, new American or sixth generation South Dakotan. We want all residents to engage in our community, participate in our workforce and ultimately help us build a stronger place to call home.

Recently, Chamber member leaders volunteered to help step up our efforts to make sure business owners feel welcome and promote inclusion. These Chamber members have committed to personally mentor and connect other business owners to help promote inclusivity in our business community.

Another exciting opportunity to promote inclusion is The Big Table event that will take place in late July. Chamber President & CEO Jeff Griffin brought this concept from Peoria to Sioux Falls. We are working with several community partners to make it happen and we believe it will help promote a welcoming environment where we can all thrive. The Big Table fosters regional community-building designed to connect and strengthen our relationships and opportunities in finding and improving ways we can promote our economy and quality of life for all in our region. Stay tuned for more information!

Let’s build on the momentum that already exists in our business community! I encourage you to look for ways to support each other – whether it is patronizing a business or spreading kindness to a neighbor.

When we lift each other up, we all win. Let’s GSD! Proud to be a Chamber member,

2019-20 GREATER SIOUX FALLS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE LEADERSHIP AND STAFF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Chair Bobbi Thury, Legacy Law Firm, P.C. Chair-Elect Dan Doyle, Cutler Law Firm Vice Chair Alex Ramirez, USA Media TV Treasurer Paul Hanson, Sanford Health Immediate Past Chair Tim Sturdevant, Sturdevant’s Auto Parts Chamber President & CEO Jeff Griffin BOARD OF DIRECTORS Miles Beacom, PREMIER Bankcard Tom Biegler, Regency Hotel Management Martin DesLauriers, UBS Financial Services, Inc. Natalie Eisenberg, Click Rain, Inc. David Flicek, Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center Pam Homan, Augustana University Chris Houwman, Malloy Randy Knecht, Journey Group Angela Lammers, Cetera Services Scott Lawrence, Lawrence & Schiller, Inc. Valerie Loudenback, Grand Prairie Foods Karla Santi, Blend Interactive Claire Santos, Zoup! and Wingstop Tony Venhuizen, Office of Governor Kristi Noem

EX-OFFICIO Jean Bender, Minnehaha County Commission Carrie Dragt, American Cancer Society Kyle Groos, Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools Cynthia Mickelson, Sioux Falls School Board Jim Schmidt, Lincoln County Commission Jay Soukup, Great Western Bank Dr. Jane Stavem, Sioux Falls Public School System Mayor Paul TenHaken, City of Sioux Falls CHAMBER & ESF STAFF Jeff Griffin, President & CEO Diane Balk, Accounting Manager Thane Barnier, Web Development & IT Manager Matt Barthel, ESF Communications Manager Joan Bartling, Finance & Accounting Director Justin Bentaas, Public Affairs & Research Manager Jill Blom, Graphics & Communications Manager Patrick Daschel, ESF Sales Manager Erin DeWitt, ESF Sales Manager Jennie Doyen, Marketing & Communications Director Anna Eliason, ESF Sales Manager

Jami Gates, Membership Director Elizabeth Heidinger, First Impressions/Administrative Assistant Mary Hublou, ESF First Impressions Manager/Project Assistant Kayla Huizing, Young Professionals Network Manager Jay Kaltenbach, ESF Services/Resale Manager Alexandra LeBlanc, ESF Sales Director Pat Lund, Membership Engagement Manager Mike Lynch, Forward Sioux Falls Director of Investor Relations Jill Niedringhaus, ESF Sales Manager Krista Orsack, ESF Director of Marketing Debra Owen, Public Policy Director Kathie Puthoff, ESF Administrative Assistant Holly Rader, Agribusiness & Professional Development Director Emily Schaffer, ESF Creative Development Manager Teri Schmidt, ESF Executive Director Teresa Schreier, Public Affairs & Communications Assistant Susan Seachris, Administrative/Accounting Assistant Jackie Wentworth, ESF Sales Manager Valerie Willson, Membership Events Manager

chambernews.com | Chamber News 5

Calendars

CHAMBER

Events Calendar

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.

Save the Date Ag Appreciation Day Wednesday, Aug. 5 11 a.m.–1 p.m.

W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds 100 N. Lyon Blvd.

DETAILS: Celebrate the agriculture industry and enjoy lunch with the agriculturalists that make feeding the world their lifestyle at the Chamber’s annual Ag Appreciation Day at the Sioux Empire Fair.

Tuesday, July 14 4 – 5 p.m.

When thrown a curveball, Chamber members adjust. We can’t network in person right now, so join us online to catch up with colleagues and form new connections. Bring your own drink!

VIRTUAL

YPN Golf Tournament Thursday, Aug. 20

Brandon Golf Course 2100 E. Aspen Blvd., Brandon DETAILS: Join fellow young professionals for an afternoon of fun, sun and 18 holes of golf at Brandon Golf Course for the 11th Annual YPN Golf Tournament! No need to be a pro – all young professionals are welcome to play and spend the afternoon networking with one another.

RSVP: siouxfallsypn.com

Wednesday, July 29 • 9-10 a.m.

Start your day by forming a new connection! Meet other Chamber members online during our virtual Morning Mingle.

Leadership Sioux Falls Graduation Thursday, Sept. 3 5:30–8:30 p.m.

Holiday Inn City Centre 100 W. 8th St.

DETAILS: The 34th class of Leadership Sioux Falls will celebrate their graduation with a social hour, dinner and keynote speech from former Governor Dennis Daugaard.

Cybersecurity Conference Wednesday, Sept. 30 7 a.m.–2 p.m.

Sioux Falls Convention Center 1201 N. West Ave.

DETAILS: Businesses of every size need a cybersecurity plan.

Learn from experts in the cybersecurity field what you can be doing to protect your business at the 2020 Sioux Falls Cybersecurity Conference.

114th Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting Tuesday, Oct. 20 Sioux Falls Convention Center 1201 N. West Ave.

See page 29 for more information.

6 Chamber News | JULY/AUGUST 2020

BUSINESS SENSE

WORKSHOPS

Business Sense Workshops are held online every Tuesday at 11 a.m. The workshops are $10 for Chamber member employees, and advance registration is required. Visit siouxfallschamber.com for details and to register.

YOU. US. THAT’S WHAT WE CALL COMMUNITY.

Our commitment to this community is about more than putting energy into transmission lines. We’re into buying local.

Investing here. Supporting carbon-free initiatives.

Delivering energy you can count on to be cleaner, safer and less expensive. We’re here to keep living room lamps lit.

And futures as bright as we can make them. Because doing our part for the places we live and work is good energy.

© 2020 Xcel Energy

Collaboration

you can bank on.

JULY

This calendar is a sampling of local events, concerts, fundraisers, seminars and more compiled from siouxfallsevents.com and experiencesiouxfalls.com/events. Visit these websites for a complete listing of events happening in the Sioux Falls area, or for more details on the events listed here.

3

East Bank Block Party at 8th & Railroad Center

3-5

Sioux Falls Canaries vs St. Paul Saints at Sioux Falls Stadium

7-9

Sioux Falls Canaries vs St. Paul Saints at Sioux Falls Stadium

10-12

PBR Monster Energy Team Challenge Championship at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center

12

SuFu Circuit Relay

14-16

St. Paul Saints vs Winnipeg Goldeyes at Sioux Falls Stadium

16-19

SECT Presents: Disney’s Beauty and the Beast

17

Art & Wine Walk in downtown Sioux Falls

17-18

Summer Crazy Days in downtown Sioux Falls

17-19

St. Paul Saints vs Milwaukee Milkmen at Sioux Falls Stadium

18

Downtown Loft Tour

Raise Expectations 18 Your Hy-Vee Day at the Zoo

All events are subject to change.

19 Impractical Jokers at Denny Sanford PREMIER Center Please check the online events 20 Drive-By Truckers at The District calendars for the most recent updates.

21-26 Jennifer JohnsonSioux Falls Canaries vs St. Paul Saints at Sioux Falls Stadium 24-25 Vice President 25 Branch Manager 25 NMLS 47075825

SECT Youth presents: Disney’s Aladdin Jr.

(605) 444-4058

Sioux Falls Canaries vs Milwaukee Milkmen ID 405612 at Sioux Falls Stadium

28-30

Folk Off & Rib Challenge at Strawbale Winery Nyberg’s Ace 3rd Annual Hot Classics Night Familyfest at W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds

Our business is

understanding yours.

Raise Your Expectations

Casey Tomac Vice President NMLS 591693

(605) 335-1400 8 Chamber News | JULY/AUGUST 2020

ID 405612

30

The Big Table Community Event

30

Sioux Falls Stage Awards

30

An Evening with Leo Kotke

31

Sioux Falls Canaries vs Chicago Dogs at Sioux Falls Stadium

AUGUST 1

Party with a Purpose Gala Fundraiser

1-2

Sioux Falls Canaries vs Chicago Dogs at Sioux Falls Stadium

1-8 81st Annual Sioux Empire Fair at W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds 3

17th Annual Fore the Kids YMCA Golf Classic

3

Big & Rich at W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds

4-6

St. Paul Saints vs Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks at Sioux Falls Stadium

5

Cody Johnson at W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds

6

Old Dominion at W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds

7

Fozzy at The District

7

East Bank Block Party at 8th & Railroad Center

7-9

Great Plains Balloon Race

8

605 Summer Classic

9-10

Evening For The Kids and Orion Classic Golf Benefit for Children’s Home Society

11-13

Sioux Falls Canaries vs St. Paul Saints at Sioux Falls Stadium

13

The Big Table Virtual Event

14-15

SECT Youth presents: The Tale of Snow White

14-16

Sioux Falls Canaries vs Winnipeg Goldeyes at Sioux Falls Stadium

15

8th Annual Riverfest

18-20

St. Paul Saints vs Chicago Dogs at Sioux Falls Stadium

18-25

Cheers to 100 Years statewide celebration of women’s suffrage

21-22

DAPA Presents: The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley Jr.

21-23

Sioux Falls Canaries vs Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks at Sioux Falls Stadium

21-23

SECT prsents Alice@Wonderland

22

605 Made Night Market

22

Great Plains Cheese & Ice Cream Festival at Strawbale Winery

25-30

Sioux Falls Canaries vs St. Paul Saints at Sioux Falls Stadium

29

The Magic of Hope Gala for American Cancer Society

30

Sioux Falls Marathon

SEPTEMBER 1-3

St. Paul Saints vs Milwaukee Milkmen at Sioux Falls Stadium

4

East Bank Block Party at 8th & Railroad

8-10

St. Paul Saints vs Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks at Sioux Falls Stadium

11-13

Sanford International PGA TOUR Champions

11-13 SiouxperCon 12

57th Annual Sidewalk Arts Festival

12 Germanfest

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Economic Indicators

Tracking trends in business is just one way that the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce is looking out for our members. Sioux Falls is a great place to do business, in part because of its diverse economy. Check here for economic indicators that help show growth and development.

City of Sioux Falls Building Permit Data

Regional Unemployment Rates

May 2020

April 2020

CUMULATIVE YEAR TO DATE

2,337 permits

2018

2,608 permits

2019

BISMARCK

9.5%

2,451 permits

2020 0

500

1000

1500

FARGO

8.3%

2000

MINNEAPOLIS/ ST. PAUL

Source: City of Sioux Falls

9.2%

RAPID CITY

13.8%

City of Sioux Falls Total Construction Value May 2020

SIOUX FALLS

ROCHESTER

6.9%

10.6%

CEDAR RAPIDS

CUMULATIVE YEAR TO DATE

12.2%

350 OMAHA

10.0%

DES MOINES

11.5%

LINCOLN

300

9.3%

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

250

Note: figures represent Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA), not just city; rates are not seasonally-adjusted

Agriculture Trends

200

April 2020 150

10

$306.0 million $146.2 million

$274.6 million $101.2 million

100

$8.52

50

0

(IN MILLIONS)

$233.3 million $78.9 million

8 $8.10

$8.59

$8.26

$8.46

$8.13

Soybeans 2019

2018

Source: City of Sioux Falls

Total Construction Value

2020

(per bushel) U.S. South Dakota

6

New Non-Residential Construction Value

Corn

(per bushel) U.S. South Dakota

Sioux Falls Region Housing Overview May 2020

4

New Listings: 678 Days on the Market Until Sale: 90 Median Sales Price: $228,000 Inventory of Homes for Sale: 1,501 Source: RASE (Realtor Association of the Sioux Empire)

$3.61

$3.34

$3.78 $3.68 $3.52 $3.42

2

April March

2019

2020

April

2020

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture

chambernews.com | Chamber News 11

Faces & Places

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.

Corey Weide

Lucas Fiegen

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management

Fiegen Construction

Damon Punt

Brian Sittig

Central Bank

CNA Surety

Carrie Dragt American Cancer Society

Dino DePerno Crew Construction and Restoration

Bernie DeWald

Recognition of Chamber Volunteers Featured ambassadors and diplomats this month are: Corey Weide, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, 10 years as an ambassador; Lucas Fiegen, Fiegen Construction, two years as an ambassador; Carrie Dragt, American Cancer Society, eight years as a diplomat; Dino DePerno, Crew Construction and Restoration, one year as a diplomat;

Damon Punt, Central Bank, two years as a diplomat; and Brian Sittig, CNA Surety, two years as a diplomat.

The Ace Award is given monthly to one ambassador in recognition of their sales efforts.

Bernie DeWald was the May Ace Award winner.

Professional portraits of Chamber volunteers are courtesy Chad Phillips Photography, chadphillipsphotography.com.

12 Chamber News | JULY/AUGUST 2020

New Faces & Promotions Amy Gackstetter joined AmesburyTruth as a financial analyst. In this role, she will play a critical role in driving pricing success while maintaining the pricing systems, databases and tools to meet profit goals. Gacksetter has a Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics from the University of Sioux Falls.

Claims Associates, Inc., locally owned independent adjusting and third-party administrator, has hired Wade Eastman as a multi-line property and casualty claims adjuster. Eastman has obtained his Minnesota and Wyoming Adjuster licenses, completed three Vale Training Solutions courses, three of the Associates in Claims courses and will soon receive his Haag Certified Inspector designation for both residential and commercial roofs.

Four law students are participating in the summer associate program at Davenport, Evans, Hurwitz & Smith, LLP. Kalen N. Frericks attends the University of Nebraska College of Law in Lincoln, NE, and will graduate in May 2021. Kalen received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with minors in Political Science and Criminology from the University of Nebraska- Lincoln. Michael J.

Mabee attends the University of South Dakota School of Law and will graduate in May 2021.

Michael earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology Health Professions from Northwestern College in Orange City, IA. Thomas P. Schartz attends the University of South Dakota School of Law and will graduate in May 2021.

Thomas earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agronomy and a minor in Business from South Dakota State University. Caleb M. Vukovich attends the University of Iowa College of Law in Iowa City, IA, and just completed his 1L year. Caleb received his Bachelor of Science in Economics with a minor in Legal Studies from South Dakota State University.

Dr. Peter Folliard was named the inaugural Dean of the School of Music at Augustana University. Folliard joined Augustana in 2017 as the conductor of the Augustana Orchestra.

He holds undergraduate degrees in music education and instrumental performance from the University of North Texas; master’s degrees in instrumental performance and conducting from the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University; and a doctor of musical arts degree in orchestral conducting from the Eastman

School of Music. Folliard conducted several units with the U.S. Air Force Bands program.

He studied at the Eastman School of Music with master pedagogue Neil Varon, where he also held the position of Eastman conducting fellow with the Rochester Philharmonic. Before coming to Augustana, he served at the Crane School of Music at the State University of New York at Potsdam, where he served as interim director of orchestras.

Redstone Law Firm has added T.J. Nelson to the firm’s Sioux Falls office. Nelson will focus on government relations, public affairs, political consulting, and lobbying during the South Dakota Legislative Session. Prior to joining Redstone, Nelson served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Mayor Paul TenHaken. He has also worked in campaign and official office capacities for U.S. Senators John Thune and Mike Rounds. His public relations and communications background includes focus areas in health care, human resources, transportation, railroads and crisis communications.

Honors & Awards Mickey Metcalf, owner of MD Engraving, was awarded the Gold Obelisk Award for Small Business Retailer of the Year by the national Awards and Personalization Association. The Awards and Personalization Association is an organization for retailers and suppliers of personalized and customized items that provides education, meetings, and access to a vibrant network of professionals to ensure the growth of members talent, business, and professional community.

Mud Mile + Adrenaline Sports won eight Telly Awards, including a Gold Telly, for clients in higher education. Less than one-percent of

the 12,000 international submissions receive the award. Mud Mile + Adrenaline Sports is the most honored agency in the Midwest.

Nine honorees were selected from fifty nominations at EmBe’s 47th Tribute to Women awards. This year’s winners are: Banking & Finance - Dawn Duerksen, Citi; Business Achievement - Kimberly Erickson, Continuity Business Service; Community Service - Micki Lundin, Avera Health; EmBeliever Award - Ashley Briggs, MD, Sanford Health OBGYN; Government & Law - Jill Franken, City of Sioux Falls; Healthcare & STEM - Jyoti Angal, Avera McKennan

Hospital & University Health Center; Humanities & Education - Wendy Otheim, Brookings School District; Young Woman of Achievement - Del’Inkka Beaudoin, Swamp Daddy’s Cajun Kitchen; and Sylvia Henkin Mentoring Award - Mary Sand, Avera Health.

chambernews.com | Chamber News 13

Faces & Places

Expansions

Leadership The Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society announced its 2020 Light The Night® Executive Leadership Committee.

Led by Corporate Chair Tom Bosch, Avera Health, the committee includes: Kris Gaster, Avera Health; Doug Tribble, American Bank & Trust; Ryan Brown, American Bank & Trust; Jim Berman, Dakota News Now; Sharese Ihnen, Hegg Realtors; Abbey Vanderwerf, Marsh & McLennan Agency; Karen Van De Steeg, Sanford Health; Brent Tjeerdsma, Trane; Doug Thesenvitz, Thompson Law, Prof., LLC; Ryan Martin,

14 Chamber News | JULY/AUGUST 2020

U.S. Bank; and Susan Wiebesiek, Wiebesiek Family Farms. Light The Night is a fundraising campaign benefiting patient financial support and funding of research to find blood cancer cures.

Jeff Thomas has been named President/ Chief Executive Officer of Cornerstone Bank.

Thomas will work side by side with current President/Chief Executive Officer Pete Fullerton until his retirement at the end of March 2021.

Secure Enterprise Asset Management, Inc. (SEAM) has joined TERRA’s Done with IT program to provide a simple and safe electronics recycling mail-in option for businesses and individuals across South Dakota, North Dakota and surrounding states. This partnership makes it more convenient for rural and remote locations to recycle technology equipment while proactively providing immediate relief to clients and communities impacted by the coronavirus.

Devices such as laptops, desktops, cell phones, hard drives and telecom equipment can be shipped directly to SEAM’s certified facility through Done with IT’s mail-in program. All data stored on retired devices will be completely destroyed and all equipment will be responsibly recycled or refurbished for reuse.

Be Seen

1

3 2 1-4 Members of Leadership Sioux Falls class 34 organized

and hosted a Courtyard Concert at Good Samaritan Society Sioux Falls Village. The facility had been particularly hard hit by the impacts of COVID-19 and class members saw an opportunity to serve by bringing joy to the staff and residents, who could watch the concert outdoors and from a distance.

Musicians included Goodroad, the Sioux Falls Christian School Chamber Choir, Rich Rislov, and Mogen’s Heroes. In addition to the concert, LSF participants completed landscaping projects at the property and provided a lunch for staff. The Courtyard Concert was made possible by Pinnacle Productions, Midco, SDN Communications, Xcel Energy, and Chef Dominique’s Catering and Banquet Facility.

4 chambernews.com | Chamber News 15

Faces & Places

Be Seen 5 Golfing is a great way to stay

active and socialize while still maintaining safe distances from others.

The YPN Golf League launched its 2020 season in late June and will run for 8 weeks.

5

16 Chamber News | JULY/AUGUST 2020

Community Appeals

GREATER SIOUX FALLS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

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 encourage every business to carefully consider such requests. However, we also acknowledge that many businesses have limited resources for capital fund drives, both in an ability to properly evaluate them and a sufficient budget to contribute. Our Community Appeals process is intended

to provide our members with assurance that a Community Appeals campaign Is worthy of investment.

The Chamber will continue to closely monitor the economic environment and how it may further impact the viability of future campaigns; therefore, modifications to the Community Appeals campaign calendar may occur.

For more information on the Community Appeals Committee, call Mike Lynch at (605) 373-2008.

FORWARD SIOUX FALLS NOV. 1, 2020–MARCH 31, 2021

To provide programs that result in an improved economy and quality of life for those in our region.

ACTIVE GENERATIONS APRIL 1, 2021–JULY 31, 2021

To build a new facility to accommodate the organization’s growing client base and expansive programming opportunities.

SIOUX FALLS SKATEPARK ASSOCIATION NOV. 1, 2021–MARCH 31, 2022

To create a high-quality, multi-purpose, concrete skatepark/plaza in the core of Sioux Falls at Nelson Park. Once built, the skatepark will become part of the Sioux Falls Parks and Recreation Department.

chambernews.com | Chamber News 17

Spark

SIOUX FALLS

Rekindling the regional economy In early May, even as the nation was still dealing with many of the immediate challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, leaders in Sioux Falls came together to plan for the future.

downturn. The steering committee will build upon task force findings to shape a plan for future economic resiliency.

An initiative was launched to support long-term community and regional economic recovery. Called Spark Sioux Falls, the effort engages business leaders from a variety of industries to share insights, identify challenges and build actionable strategies to restore the local economy.

Early data indicates the Sioux Falls area is emerging from the economic downturn triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic slightly quicker than anticipated.

According to the City of Sioux Falls, the May sales tax numbers (which reflect April transactions) were down 13% over 2019. While this is a daunting number, it is better than the 20% decline that had been projected by city administrators and a positive indicator of the community’s position for recovery.

Guided by a steering committee, three task forces focus on recovery for specific sectors. They are: 1. Reviving local business, retail and restaurants 2. Recharging hospitality, entertainment, the arts and tourism 3. Assessing key industry clusters Each task force is charged with developing recommendations that can assist the economy and labor force in Sioux Falls and surrounding counties to emerge from the economic

Resiliency and optimism

Unemployment claims in South Dakota peaked in early May. Since then, claims flattened and began to decrease in June, according to data from the U.S. Department of Labor.

Hotel occupancy rates, which saw a sudden and dramatic drop in late March, were showing a slow but steady increase.

Story contributors: Scott Carbonneau, First PREMIER Bank; Courtney Drenth, Sioux Empire Fair; Stephen Thurman, Showplace Cabinetry; Mason Van Essen, Bender Commercial Real Estate; and Jennie Doyen and Holly Rader, Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce.

18 Chamber News | JULY/AUGUST 2020

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Spark Sioux Falls is supported by Forward Sioux Falls and was initiated by the City of Sioux Falls, Downtown Sioux Falls, Experience Sioux Falls, the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce and the Sioux Falls Development Foundation. Paid marketing efforts were made possible in part thanks to the support of the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center.

From the end of April to the end of May occupancy rates averaged an 8.6% increase. During the first week of June the occupancy high was 43.8% and by the third week it had reached 71% - a gain that gave encouragement to everyone in the hospitality industry.

Other positive signs of recovery are harder to quantify but no less valuable. The Empire Mall, after being closed for 50 days, reopened on May 8 and by mid-June was reporting that 90% of its tenants had reopened their stores. In downtown Sioux Falls, pedestrian traffic was up and metered parking spaces that had sat empty during April were once again occupied at levels close to pre-pandemic.

Local businesses are demonstrating their ability to adapt to rapid change – such as a local manufacturer that found creative ways to keep its entire workforce employed and as a result is well-positioned to meet pent-up demand in their industry.

While commercial real estate transactions have slowed in other locations around the country, Sioux Falls continues to

experience an active market. Local banks have worked overtime to support both business and consumer loan customers, embracing a mindset that we are all in this together.

The regulatory approach taken by local and state governments created an environment that attracted the attention of major events from around the country. Sioux Falls is capitalizing on that opportunity – securing a large agriculture event that was displaced from another state and leading the way for a global company in implementing new event venue safety protocols.

Stories of incredible resiliency can be found the Sioux Falls region. Spark Sioux Falls is sharing these stories and searching for opportunities to build on the successes.

Get out there Empire Mall Manager Dan Gies serves on the Spark Sioux Falls steering committee and also chairs the Reviving Local Business task force. Gies said the collaborative nature of the Spark initiative compelled him to participate.

chambernews.com | Chamber News 19

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“All the business leaders from our community have one common goal: How can we come together and get the word out to customers that it’s safe to return to our your favorite local place to dine and shop?” said Gies. “We need our customers to feel safe, and businesses need to determine what customers expect and how we should engage them when they are ready to return to our businesses.”

While many recommended action steps are aimed at longterm recovery, there was a clear need for immediate action to boost public confidence that it is safe to get out and patronize local businesses, restaurants and attractions. Marketing messages were crafted to communicate to consumers the many measures that businesses have implemented to keep people safe and to encourage them to be active in whatever manner they feel comfortable.

Sioux Falls area residents are being encouraged to “Get Out There” and enjoy their local favorites again – whether it is dining out at a favorite restaurant, visiting a local business to purchase items for a home improvement project, or planning a staycation at a local hotel. The public awareness campaign is running on television, billboards, print and digital platforms.

A landing page at getouttheresf.com provides safety information and connects residents to staycation package options.

In conjunction with the local campaign, ads are being run in regional markets to encourage travel to Sioux Falls and overnight hotel stays. The visitor campaign is running in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Des Moines, Sioux City and Omaha.

Darrin Smith, Washington Pavilion, is the chair of the hospitality, entertainment, arts and tourism task force. Smith said, “The top priorities for our task force are to see government restrictions lifted and the execution of a public confidence campaign, and I believe we will be successful on both fronts.”

Staying open to future growth When the pandemic hit the American economy, the Showplace Cabinetry management team knew they would have some big decisions to make.

“We saw the sales decline coming. We knew the faucet was being turned off, and yet we remained busy,” Showplace CEO Paul Sova said. “To me it felt like we were falling off the cliff in slow motion. In reality, once the crash came, it was sudden and very steep.”

Dealers in kitchen and bath showrooms across North America had customer orders that kept Showplace going during March and April.

20 Chamber News | JULY/AUGUST 2020

“Until the national shutdown prevented showroom shopping, we maintained our production schedules,” Sova said.

“When the time came that no one shopped anywhere, we faced the question—would we need to shut down?”

The answer, for Showplace, was an emphatic “NO!” to a company closure. With 300,000 square feet of production space, maintaining a safe work environment was possible.

Meticulous cleaning, social distancing, closing the cafeteria to reduce contact and encouraging office workers to telecommute kept Showplace cabinets flowing from the Harrisburg plant throughout the worst of the national response to COVID-19.

“Despite an eventual 30% drop in orders, our decision to remain open was a good one,” Sova said. “While many

Showplace Cabinetry found creative ways to maintain a safe environment and keep employees working throughout the pandemic. Image courtesy Showplace Cabinetry.

of our competitors were closed down, we were able to keep our workforce intact with no furloughs or layoffs, and that allowed us to continue filling the orders we received. Our dealers and consumers saw Showplace as a reliable manufacturer that stayed in production and delivered on time.”

Showplace had an advantage with its South Dakota location. While other states required manufacturing shutdowns, our state enabled companies to remain open and provide necessary services during the pandemic response.

“We did everything we could to stay open for our dealers and maintain full paychecks for our employee-owners,” Sova said. “Even with some reduced hours, we did all we could to keep people busy and on the job—our business was always ready to fill orders as they came.”

As a result of keeping the Showplace manufacturing production running, the company’s drop in sales was less dramatic, Sova said, and the company is now positioned more strongly for recovery. During the pandemic’s slow time Showplace strategically focused its resources on product innovation; along with a lengthy list of new designs and products, the company fast-tracked the development of a new cabinet line which will be introduced to dealers and consumers nationwide this summer.

“We’re seeing customers coming back to the marketplace,” he said. “The trend for American homebuilding and

“There’s a pent-up demand, and because we maintained production, kept our workforce active and strengthened our reputation for reliability, we’re ready to meet that Paul Sova demand.”

CEO, Showplace Cabinetry

remodeling is up. July looks to be a full month for us, and we’re starting to hire again—we have openings in production.”

Sova said that economic fundamentals in his industry are good; mortgage rates are at historic lows, available housing inventory is low, consumer confidence has been bruised but not battered, and the demographics of young adults forming new households is growing. This all points to an increasing demand for cabinetry.

“We’re seeing more people coming into kitchen and bath showrooms again nationwide,” he said. “There’s a pent-up demand, and because we maintained production, kept our workforce active and strengthened our reputation for reliability, we’re ready to meet that demand.”

chambernews.com | Chamber News 21

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Banks invest in customers and community Dave Rozenboom receives a lot of mail. As president of First PREMIER Bank and Chairman of the Forward Sioux Falls Management Committee, Rozenboom receives a daily stack of invoices, solicitations and industry journals. During the past three months, however, many of those envelopes have contained heart-felt letters from the bank’s customers.

“Banking is a very personal business,” Rozenboom said.

“It’s built upon trust and personal relationships. So, when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in March, our bankers proactively reached out to our customers and others in our communities. Sometimes it was simply to ask how they were doing and provide reassurance.”

Since that time, Rozenboom has received numerous letters from appreciative customers. Letters from business owners who received Payment Protection Program (PPP) loans. Letters from young parents who received loan payment extensions.

And letters from community leaders who were grateful for the donations PREMIER made to relief organizations.

“The stories are powerful and some of them really touch your emotions,” Rozenboom said. “It was a great reminder for everyone at First PREMIER, as well as other financial institutions, that we do play an essential role in the well-being of our customers and communities. It’s quite humbling.”

Rozenboom said the past three months have reinforced the importance of having a disaster plan in place. When state and federal leaders issued disaster proclamations in March, First PREMIER Bank and PREMIER Bankcard implemented a plan to address the needs and concerns of their customers, communities and employees. Bankers made personal calls to their customers and a number of initiatives were launched including a two-month payment deferral for its consumer loan customers, a minimum payment and late fee waiver for its credit card customers and a team of 80 banking professionals were assembled to process federal PPP loans for local businesses.

“Our business bankers literally worked around the clock and through the weekends to process PPP loans” Rozenboom said. “I don’t know that you would find that type of dedication anywhere else. It’s a testament to the way we look out for one another in South Dakota and come together for the common good.”

During just a few short weeks, First PREMIER Bank processed more than 1,200 PPP loans totaling more than $113 million. This infusion, along with PPP loans from other banks, will ensure many Sioux Falls area businesses are open in the coming months and years. It will also help accelerate

22 Chamber News | JULY/AUGUST 2020

“I don’t know that you would find that type of dedication anywhere else. It’s a testament to the way we look out for one another in South Dakota and come together for the common good.”

Dave Rozenboom President, First PREMIER Bank

the region’s economic recovery as consumers return to stores, workers continue to receive their paychecks and families enjoy community events and activities.

While being prepared is important, companies like First PREMIER Bank and PREMIER Bankcard continued to look forward throughout the crisis. Rozenboom said construction of its new main office and corporate headquarters in Sioux Falls continued as planned at the corner of 14th Street and Minnesota Avenue. The bank also opened a new branch in Madison and launched a new children’s savings account.

Despite the cancellation of many charitable events, PREMIER honored its commitments to more than 600 non-profit organizations throughout the region. It also invested in its customers who owned restaurants by purchasing $50 gift cards and distributing them to PREMIER’s nearly 2,300 employees.

“We’re all in this together and we need to continue looking forward and seeking new ways we can help one another,” Rozenboom said. “A small thing like providing gift cards to employees has a dual impact. It helps our families who might simply need a night out; and it helps our business customers who were negatively impacted by COVID-19. We hope others will follow this example if they are able.”

Rozenboom said the Sioux Falls area is poised for a strong recovery. In the meantime, he will continue to appreciate notes like the one from a consumer loan customer who accepted the bank’s two-month payment deferral: “When I opened the letter you sent me, tears came to my eyes. You have no idea what your compassion means to me and other customers. I want to thank you so much. God bless all of you and your families. Stay safe.”

ASM Global, which manages the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center, is pioneering its Venue Shield safety protocols at the Sioux Falls facility. The protocols are expected to be used at facilities around the world. Image courtesy Denny Sanford PREMIER Center.

Leading the way in event safety protocols The PBR Monster Energy Team Challenge will crown its champion in Sioux Falls at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center the weekend of July 10-12. The event, featuring 48 of the world’s top professional bull riders competing in a 12-team tournament, will be one of the first major events in the country following the COVID-19 pandemic to have fans in attendance.

The eyes of an entire industry are on Sioux Falls and the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center while hosting the PBR Monster Energy Team Challenge, said General Manager Mike Krewson. “We are the tip of the spear on this, and the protocols we’re implementing will be used around the world.

It’s very exciting.”

PBR selected Sioux Falls to host its first in-person attended event thanks to its successful track record for hosting the event in the past and its ability to quickly implement new safety measures. PBR CMO Kosha Irby said, “The team in Sioux Falls have shown unwavering support for PBR and immediately got on board and developed a comprehensive fan safety plan that we’re combining with PBR’s protocols. We’re very excited to wrap up our new Monster Energy Team Challenge, inviting fans back to the arena at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center, in an environment in which they can feel safe and comfortable.”

Fans will notice changes at every point in the experience – from the parking lot to the concession stands and the

“We are the tip of the spear on this, and the protocols we’re implementing will be used around the world.”

Mike Krewson General Manager, Denny Sanford PREMIER Center

new pod style seating. Krewson said that mitigating risk has always been a large part of what his team does. “Prior to the pandemic, that meant keeping sidewalks clean and cleaning up spills promptly. This is risk mitigation on larger scale. We are erring on the side of caution as much as possible.”

Krewson credits strong community support and progressive state and local governments as key to the PREMIER Center’s ability to attract events. Multi-day events like PBR have a significant impact on the local economy. In addition to the riders and staff, there are many fans who will travel to Sioux Falls and stay one or more nights in a hotel room, eat at local restaurants and patronize local businesses.

Irby stated “We’ve found the perfect place for championship weekend of the PBR Monster Energy Team Challenge.

In speaking with experts and working with ASM Global and Denny Sanford PREMIER Center, we’re giving fans a safe and responsible environment to enjoy a great weekend of bull riding.”

chambernews.com | Chamber News 23

Youth exhibitors show their livestock at a previous Maine-Anjou/Chianina Junior Nationals Show. The event was held in Sioux Falls for the first time this year after being displaced from Ohio due to COVID-19. Image courtesy of American Maine-Anjou Association.

Sioux Falls welcomes events displaced from other states There are multiple cattle breed associations in the U.S. that each traditionally host a summer event for youth exhibitors. Cattle showing families often plan family vacations and summer travel around their breed’s annual junior nationals show.

The 2020 Maine-Anjou/Chianina Junior National Show was scheduled to take place in Lima, Ohio. When COVID-19 hit, Ohio’s restrictions on gatherings sent the show organizers searching for a new location.

“When we received the unfortunate news that our event could not go on in Ohio, our immediate plan of attack was to put our heads together and come up with places we were familiar with, places that had certain amenities that would prove helpful in moving a large event,” said Lindsey Broek, Voice Editor/Director of Show, Communication & Events for the American Maine-Anjou Association. “Sioux Falls seemed like a logical choice when we started weighing out our options.”

24 Chamber News | JULY/AUGUST 2020

“Additionally, the city, hotels and facility have rolled out the red carpet in making our event happen in a year when most people have just Lindsey Broek, said no.”

Voice Editor/Director of Show,

Communication & Events, American Maine-Anjou Association

Broek and her team worked with staff to quickly make arrangements to move the show to Sioux Falls. By mid-May, Maine-Anjou/Chianina Junior National Show exhibitors were informed that the show would go on. Instead of traveling to Ohio in late June, Sioux Falls became the new destination for over 500 youth exhibitors and their families.

The 2019 Maine-Anjou/Chianina Junior National Show took place in Des Moines, Iowa, where the six-day cattle event was credited with a $1.5 million impact to the local economy.

While this year’s show might be a bit smaller due to COVID19, it is expected to have a big impact on the Sioux Falls economy, at a time when it is needed more than ever.

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Sioux Falls is not often in the running to host a national agricultural event of this size, primarily due to the age and size of its facilities. Broek, who is a graduate of SDSU, stated that the size of the community, its excellent amenities and its strong ties to agriculture all make it an appealing location.

In light of the pandemic, all of Sioux Falls’s positive factors outweighed the facilities. “The state of South Dakota has been a leader in making the COVID-19 pandemic bearable. They took on a reasonable and responsible approach and that is what we were after,” said Broek. “Additionally, the city, hotels

and facility have rolled out the red carpet in making our event happen in a year when most people have just said no.”

In a time of chaos for many, Sioux Falls is capturing an opportunity in a sector that is alive and thriving. Hosting this show allows Sioux Falls genuine hospitality to shine and should encourage facility updates needed to attract more shows in the future. If appropriate steps are taken to maximize the city’s presence in this arena, Sioux Falls could become competitive in the livestock show industry for years to come.

Real estate industry weathers the storm After weathering the COVID19 storm, the Sioux Falls real estate landscape looks primed to move forward.

“Each Bender company has felt the impacts of COVID-19 differently, but all three are in a good position moving forward,” said Michael Bender, Bender Companies’ founder.

Bender Commercial Real Estate Services saw several major transactions take place during the height of the pandemic, a time when the narrative in the business community was to take a wait-and-see approach.

New offers and transactions, many of them more than $1 million, continued to materialize after Sioux Falls lifted many of its social distancing suggestions last month.

“Many of our clients are seeing business pick up,” said Bender Commercial partner, Nick Gustafson. “The fact that Sioux Falls was doing business amid COVID illustrates the resilience of our businesses and individuals.”

Bender Commercial’s sister property management company, Bender Midwest Properties, saw its multifamily portfolio’s vacancy rate decrease during the pandemic.

In January, Bender Midwest Properties’ portfolio was at 93% occupancy. By May, the monthly average was up to 95%—an unexpected result given the team anticipated vacancy would increase during the pandemic.

“Housing is an essential need. People still need a place to live whether it’s a pandemic or not.” said Jill Madsen, Bender Midwest Properties’ President. “One thing to note is the One Sioux Falls Fund worked to help those in need during a crisis.

A handful of our residents impacted by COVID-19 utilized the fund to pay rent in April and May.”

“The fact that Sioux Falls was doing business amid COVID illustrates the resilience of our businesses and individuals.”

Nick Gustafson Partner, Bender Commercial

On the other hand, Bender Midwest Properties’ commercial tenants have had difficulties paying rent as many businesses in the city, state and country have struggled to fully replace in-person sales with online services or curbside orders.

However, many landlords have been flexible with their tenants. Many of Bender Midwest Properties’ clients have been flexible with their lease terms and have worked with tenants to create realistic payment plans to help keep them in business.

Additionally, other economic stimulus efforts, such as the Paycheck Protection Plan, seem to be working for commercial tenants. By bridging the gap in lost sales and being flexible with the terms of the lease, many businesses have not been forced to close.

As Sioux Falls continues to adapt to the new normal, the real estate market—like the Sioux Falls community—remains resilient.

chambernews.com | Chamber News 25

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Fairgoers enjoy the carnival at a past Sioux Empire Fair. Image courtesy Sioux Empire Fair.

Sioux Empire Fair to be held Aug. 1-8 A much-anticipated family event will take place this summer, just as it does every year. The 81st annual Sioux Empire Fair is scheduled for Aug. 1-8 at the W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds.

Fair organizers carefully considered whether or not to hold the fair, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The fact that the W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds is a large, open area and much of the event takes place outdoors was a big factor in the decision to proceed with this year’s fair.

A small number of features that are typically at the fair will not be available this year, but attendees can still expect to experience many of their favorites – including livestock shows, arts center, the carnival and food vendors. There will also be free concerts in the grandstand on Runnings Main Stage with paid fair admission.

“People have had to miss out on so much this year and the fair is a place where we celebrate as one,” said Fair CEO Scott Wick. “We believe it is important to provide this opportunity to the Sioux Empire and surrounding communities.”

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“We welcome all who choose to attend and experience this year’s fair. We also recognize and respect those individuals and families who choose not to participate in this year’s event and we hope to see you all next year.”

Scott Wick CEO, Sioux Empire Fair

Staff are working closely with city and county leadership to implement health and safety measures for fair attendees and vendors.

The Sioux Empire Fair is one of the largest events in South Dakota, second only to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. It typically draws about 300,000 people to Sioux Falls over the course of its 9-day run.

Wick said he understands that some people may not feel comfortable attending this year but hopes they will return in future years. “We welcome all who choose to attend and experience this year’s fair. We also recognize and respect those individuals and families who choose not to participate in this year’s event and we hope to see you all next year. We look forward to serving the community from this great historic location for many years to come.”

Spark Sioux Falls Task Force Members Local Business, Restaurants and Retail Task Force Joe Batcheller*

Melissa Johnson

Downtown Sioux Falls

Oh My Cupcakes!

DeAnn Echols*

Valerie Loudenback

The Great Outdoor Store

Grand Prairie Foods

Julio Espino

Alex Ramirez*

Inca Mexican Restaurant

USA Media TV

Dan Gies*

Lindsey Schliemann

The Empire Mall

Nestle Toll House Café by Chip

Mike Grigsby

Tom Slattery

City of Sioux Falls

JJ’s Wine, Spirits & Cigars

Jeff Griffin*

Riccardo Tarabelsi

Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce

R Wine Bar

Mitch Jackson

Queen City Bakery

Hospitality, Entertainment, Arts and Tourism Task Force Troy Giegling

Tom Morris

Frank Gurnick*

Suzie O’Meara Hernes

Sanford Health Dakota Alliance Soccer Club

Nancy Halverson Levitt at the Falls

Brandon Hanson

Washington Pavilion

Jered Johnson

Pepper Entertainment, Inc.

Mike Krewson

Denny Sanford PREMIER Center

Thomas Lee* Sioux Falls Sports Authority

Sarah Maag

Hilton Garden Inn Downtown

Kelly Inns, LTD. Great Plains Zoo & Delbridge Museum of Natural History

Krista Orsack

Experience Sioux Falls

Audrey Otto-Willard

Butterfly House and Aquarium

Teri Schmidt*

Experience Sioux Falls

Darrin Smith*

Washington Pavilion

Stu Webber

Denny Sanford PREMIER Center and Sioux Falls Convention Center

Key Industry Task Force Jay Rasmussen*

Tony Nour*

Christine Erickson*

Bob Mundt*

Chris Houwman*

Mike Gray*

Journey Group Companies Sioux Falls City Council Malloy

First PREMIER Bank Sioux Falls Development Foundation Sioux Falls Development Foundation

Special thanks to the following leaders for serving as panelists for Key Industry task force panels.

Food, Ag & Manufacturing Panel: Jeff Lautt, POET; Clark Meyer, Concrete Materials; Dan Rykhus, Raven Industries, Inc.; Paul Sova, Showplace Cabinetry; and Mark Wiggs, Smithfield Foods. Banking, Development & Real Estate Panel: Michael Bender, Bender Commercial Real Estate Services; Dana Dykhouse, First PREMIER Bank; Stacy Erdmann, Eide Bailly LLP; Mark Mickelson, Mickelson & Company; and Randy Knecht, Journey Group Companies. Medical, Health Care & Biotech Panel: Dr. David Basel, Avera Health; Scott Cross, Lewis Drug, Inc.; Dr. Daniel Heinemann, Sanford Health; Joni Johnson, South Dakota Biotech Association; and Bill Ladwig, Lewis Drug, Inc. Technology & Information Services Panel: Natalie Eisenberg, Click Rain, Inc.*; Dr. Jose-Marie Griffiths, Dakota State University; Mike Grigsby, City of Sioux Falls; Matt Paulson, MarketBeat; and Michael Zuercher, Prismatic.

*Denotes member of Spark Sioux Falls Steering Committee chambernews.com | Chamber News 27

Business Advocacy

Chamber establishes BIZPAC As the adage goes, elections have consequences. The Chamber needs a way to participate with elected officials and thus has created BIZPAC. As a member driven organization, the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce continually evaluates our programs to ensure that our outcomes are delivering a positive impact for members. It was this process of program evaluation and guidance from the Chamber’s Issues Management Council and Board of Directors that led us to form a political action committee called BIZPAC.

Debra Owen

Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce

It is imperative that the business community’s interests and concerns are well represented within our elected officials.

The purpose of BIZPAC is to support candidates seeking state or local office who understand the issues vital to our business community and who are committed to working with the business community to develop sound policies that support economic and job growth.

It’s time for BIZPAC. It is imperative that the business community’s interests and concerns are well represented within our elected officials. Over the last decade, our community has watched the introduction of legislative bills that would negatively impact our business environment, hinder our workforce development and education efforts, and more. Often this legislation seeks to disrupt and divide our communities rather than focusing on being inclusive. Sometimes legislation is introduced that relates to a national agenda promoted by organizations experimenting with ideas that are being tested in multiple states including South Dakota.

The Chamber’s chief concern for all these bills is the potential economic harm to our region and state.

We have watched the fallout in North Carolina from HB2, the bathroom bill. There was an immediate economic loss of millions of dollars due to the cancelling of conventions, tournaments, business recruitment and entertainers who chose to boycott their state. But the dark cloud of discrimination still lingers over North Carolina long after HB2, especially with business recruitment efforts.

Here in South Dakota the Chamber’s advocacy efforts include stopping legislation to reduce funding and access to the high school dual credit program. One bill would have reduced access to the program for lower income students. That’s a swing and a miss by any standard. The dual credit program is a pathway to work by learning skills while still in high school that translate to employment when they graduate. A successful workforce dual credit pilot program between the Development Foundation and a local health system is providing pathways to skilled workforce jobs for kids of immigrant families.

In addition, SB 70, the bill to allow driver’s license tests to be given in Spanish was finally passed this year. South Dakota is the 48th state to offer driver’s license exams in Spanish. North Dakota offers exams in 13 languages. SB 70 is a workforce bill and affects all sectors across our state, not just Sioux Falls.

Supporters of the bill included over 30 organizations who represent thousands of businesses. Yet, there were Sioux Falls area legislators who voted against the bill.

As stated earlier, elections have consequences. The Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce is the Voice of Business and has actively strengthened the economic viability of the greater Sioux Falls area for more than 100 years. The legacy of our innovative partnership between the business community and the Chamber is key to our region’s success and growth.

BIZPAC will be another tool in our toolbelt to keep Sioux Falls moving forward, just like our Legislative Scorecard that was discussed in last month’s column.

Your Chamber remains vigilant to ensure your priorities prevail.

Before I close, I wanted to leave you with some important takeaways: •

BIZPAC is a political action committee that receives voluntary contributions from our members.

•

BIZPAC is not funded by Chamber membership dues.

•

BIZPAC is not affiliated with any political party. Rather, it’s organized to support those state and local candidates who have taken responsible positions on issues involving business and the economic well-being of the region and state.

•

BIZPAC helps elect business-friendly policymakers.

•

BIZPAC works to pass laws that protect business.

•

BIZPAC ensures your interests are kept in front of elected officials.

28 Chamber News | JULY/AUGUST 2020

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Community leaders discuss history and the factors that shaped Sioux Falls during a Leadership Sioux Falls session.

Apply for Leadership Sioux Falls The Evan C. Nolte Leadership Sioux Falls program will begin accepting applications for the 35th class on July 15. More than 1,000 people have gone through the signature leadership program of the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce since it launched in 1986.

Leadership Sioux Falls identifies current and future leaders of Sioux Falls and educates them Brooke White on the different aspects that tie the community South Dakota Department together, with the goal of inspiring program of Transportation participants to take action to make a positive impact on the future of Sioux Falls. The program is built around providing educational experiences; thereby helping participants identify ways they can serve and engage in active citizenship of the community in alignment with their individual strengths, talents and purpose.

Brooke White, an engineer with the South Dakota Department of Transportation, is a graduate of Leadership Sioux Falls Class 25.

She says the program connected her to many new aspects of the

community and she gained a deeper knowledge about the place she calls home. “I am so proud of the opportunities Leadership Sioux Falls has given me,”said White.

In addition to knowledge growth, White also gained a network of well-connected people whom she remains connected with today. “I am a person who really strives to maintain connections. By organizing the alumni gatherings, I’ve been able to stay connected to the LSF Class of 25 as well as a whole host of other alumni from other classes.”

The Leadership Sioux Falls program runs October through April and concludes with a graduation in May. Each session of the program focuses on different facets of the Sioux Falls community and include topics such as education, local and state government, public safety, business and industry, and service.

The program application, as well as a complete schedule for Class 35, is available at siouxfallschamber.com under the Programs tab.

Applications will be accepted until August 21. Tuition is $600 and is non-refundable. For more information, contact Kayla Huizing at (605) 373-2002 or khuizing@siouxfalls.com.

chambernews.com | Chamber News 29

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Jim Woster entertains the crowd at the 2019 Ag Appreciation Day.

Ag Appreciation Day to be held August 5 The 37th annual Ag Appreciation Day will be held in conjunction with the Sioux Empire Fair on Wednesday, August 5. Ag producers from around the region are invited to visit the fair and enjoy a free lunch. The event is organized by the Agribusiness Division of the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce.

Event chair Nick Langerock, Raven Industries, Inc., describes the day as a chance to recognize the role area farmers and ranchers play in the Sioux Falls economy.

“In times like this, I think we are all thankful to live in a community that is surrounded by agriculture and the hard-working and moral ethics it has instilled in us. The world keeps throwing challenges at our farming communities, and we can learn a lot from their resiliency to succeed,” said Langerock. “Ag Appreciation Day is a platform for the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber and its members to thank the farming community and a way to show that we stand behind them. We are so thankful for the many ways our state’s farmers contribute to our livelihoods.”

30 Chamber News | JULY/AUGUST 2020

About 3,000 local farmers attended the Ag Appreciation Day lunch in 2019. More than 125 area businesses support the event financially and more than 300 volunteers participate in serving the meal.

In light of COVID-19, Agribusiness Division leadership has implemented additional guidelines to encourage attendee confidence and volunteer safety. Servers will be required to wear a mask and gloves, and the layout of the outside event will be more spacious than in years past. A notable change is that this year there will not be meal tickets. In the past, paper tickets were required for each meal but these will not be used this year in order to avoid direct contact between attendees and volunteers.

Lunch will consist of pork sandwiches, chips and drinks. Smithfield Foods is supplying the pork for the meal. There will be live music, sponsored in part by the Tri-State Neighbor, and free gate admission until 1 p.m. on Wednesday, August 5 is made possible by Touchstone Energy Cooperatives.

Chamber Annual Meeting to be held Oct. 20 The Greater Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce will hold its 114th Annual Meeting on Tuesday, October 20.

Adjustments will be made to the format to allow for both in-person and virtual attendance. More details on the format and the program will be announced at a later date.

The Chamber’s Annual Meeting launches the one-year term of the incoming chair, Dan Doyle, Cutler Law Firm, LLP. Doyle will take over the Chamber’s top volunteer position Oct. 1, following 2019-20 Chair of the Board Bobbi Thury. Also at the meeting, the Chamber will share the priorities for the upcoming year and acknowledge the contributions of retiring directors. Jay Rasmussen, Journey Group Companies, is chairing the event. Invitations will be mailed to Chamber members after Labor Day and ticket sales will begin September 1.

Save the Date Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce 114th Annual Meeting Tuesday, October 20, 2020

chambernews.com | Chamber News 31

Headlines

Dr. Jane Stavem

Get to know the new Superintendent of the Sioux Falls School District Dr. Jane Stavem became the superintendent of Sioux Falls public schools on July 1, 2020.

In her 31 years working in education, she has served in a variety of roles including elementary teacher, principal, curriculum director, assistant superintendent and superintendent. Much of her career has been spent at schools in Minnesota and Nebraska. Most recently, she was the superintendent of Lake Washington School District in Redmond, Washington.

Stavem knew from a young age that education was the career for her. She recalls spending her childhood playing ‘school’ with her cousins and an elementary teacher who allowed her to keep an outdated teacher’s manual. “It was all these small, cumulative acts that set my direction,” she said. “Throughout my education and career, I have been fortunate to have people who have offered encouragement and opportunities to allow me to grow.”

As an administrator, Stavem strives to bring that same support to others. She said her favorite part of educational administration is developing people. “Sioux Falls has several early-career administrators. I want to help give them the foundation and tools to help them maintain a strong career,” she said. “I enjoy activating leadership, activating people – helping others discover what feeds them as leaders and see where they want to grow.”

Stavem was raised in rural Nebraska and while she enjoyed her time on the west coast, she and her husband are excited to return to the Midwest. “When you see something that fits, you go for it. Washington has been fun, but we belong in the Midwest,” she said.

“When we visited Sioux Falls, we saw how thriving the business community is here. I’m a big believer in partnerships between education, business and community,” said Stavem. “So that was a big factor in recognizing a good fit for the position.”

Q: What is one of your goals for your first year on the job?

separation is not good for human beings. So, it is really import for schools to resume with some sense of normalcy.

Right now there are layers of opportunity and layers of healing. We had COVID-19 and we have people voicing their hopes and concerns.

We have an opportunity as a community to listen and find new ways to look at things. We need to really focus on connections on multiple levels. My biggest goal is to seek to understand and listen more than ever before. Education is what shapes the future. It is a huge responsibility, and a huge privilege to have that platform. I hope to be part of the conversations that move us forward.

Finally, we realized that school is intertwined with all the community factors. The district needs to make good decisions in partnership with public health leaders, heath care systems and others. I know Sioux Falls did that well the first time around and I’m confident we’ll keep navigating this together.

Q: Following the COVID-19 pandemic, what do you anticipate will be the biggest challenge for the district as students return to the school buildings?

Q: Enrollment in the Sioux Falls School district continues to grow steadily, and we currently have two new schools under construction and boundary changes on the horizon. Tell us a little about your experience in leading and navigating through growth and change in other districts.

There are so many layers to this! Every district is planning for a fall where we aren’t sure of many variables. I was able to be in a few of the planning meetings prior to my official start date and I’m really pleased with how well the Sioux Falls staff is covering all the bases. It is probably the most complex planning school districts have ever had to do, and we’re doing it in a very short amount of time.

I have pretty extensive experience with both of those factors. In Lincoln, we opened a new facility just about every year that I was there, so I’ve gone through getting both a middle school and multiple elementary schools and special program sites up and running. Growth was a regular part of my world as the person who allocated the staffing for all schools, hired principals and managed a budget of just under $500 million for my division.

There are all the logistics – the protocols you use to keep people as safe as possible. But then it is also about tuning into the feelings of students and families. It's about their sense of safety and security – the unknowns of how people will respond. We know that long term

Lake Washington is also growing rapidly, which includes multiple jurisdictions. During my first year, we opened two new schools, and this past year we opened five new schools with multiple renovation projects happening simultaneously. We work with three city councils,

32 Chamber News | JULY/AUGUST 2020

Dr. Jane Stavem Superintendent, Sioux Falls School District Education: Doctor of Education, Educational Administration, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE Education Specialist, Educational Administration, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE Educational Administration Licensure Degree, St. Mary’s University, Minneapolis, MN Master of Education, Educational Leadership, Bethel University, St. Paul, MN Bachelor of Arts, Elementary Education, Bethel University, St. Paul, MN

three mayors and King County, so there are a lot of moving pieces when you deal with them separately on construction projects. I’m looking forward to going back to a single city.

We just finished work with a facilities task force that shapes our long-range planning, and the district has grown about 31% over the last 11 years. So, I’m very used to fast-growing school districts and fast-growing communities.

Q. In the past few years, the South Dakota State Legislature has considered and ultimately defeated bills addressing pre-K education. What are your opinions on pre-K education and, if you are supportive, how do would you work with our State Legislators to find a solution?

I’m a believer in pre-K education. I also believe there is a parental choice aspect to it. It comes back to access – do parents who need or want pre-K education for their children have access?

The funding mechanism has to be in place to make it accessible to all. For example, in Nebraska, state-level funding is built into the state formula for educating 4 year olds. So there is free public pre-K education in that state. That being said, the reality is that budgets are taking a hit. So one option is to look to partnership opportunities to make this happen. There are also partnerships that can work really well.

University, Foundation and school district (Nebraska example.)

There are plenty of studies demonstrating the lasting effects of pre-K. We know that kids who have had a pre-k experience are more likely to be successful readers and successful speakers by the time they reach 3rd grade. I would never go so far as to say every child must have pre-K. But I believe that every family and every child that would benefit from pre-K should have access to that.

I know this issue is on the radar in Sioux Falls and I’m anxious to see what is in place and explore what is possible in terms of partnerships, funding and space availability.

Q: Hiring teachers is always a priority, and will be even more so in the coming years with two new schools opening. What can you do to help attract highly qualified teachers to our school district?

There is a lot you can do with recruiting techniques, but what seems to pay off the most is a “grow your own” approach. First, we need to create pathways for other people who are interested in teaching to pursue that career. So, it might mean making sure the district is supportive of paraprofessionals or other staff members who wish to become teachers. High school pathways are another opportunity – create a path for credit that exposes students to education, leads them to higher education training and then back to the school district they attended. A lot of it is that people need to hear that you want them to be part of your district, that you value them and want them to stay.

Second, it is important to look at the aspects of how you encourage people to stay. How do you network teachers with each other? How do you support them in their professional growth? This sends a message that we want you to stay and we want you to succeed.

Many school districts – even highly diverse districts – struggle to hire a staff that reflects the diversity of their student body. It is a neverending challenge. But I am interested to learn what has already been done in Sioux Falls and what can be done to enhance it. We need to find ways to demonstrate that we are a community that says ‘we value diversity and we want you to come and be part of us.’

Q: Workforce development is a topic that is constantly on the minds of local business owners and managers. How will you work to ensure that students have the tools to succeed in the workforce post-graduation? What kind of partnerships or programs could support student achievement during or outside of school?

The Sioux Falls School District is already on a good path in terms of developing career pathways and partnerships, and I would like to see those continue to grow.

One strategy I’ve used in the past is to make sure that career exposure is available not only for students but also for our teachers. How are we helping our teachers understand what is required in today’s workplace? Teachers don’t always have the opportunity to understand what that looks like – so applied learning for teachers can be a great way to equip them to guide students.

Finding ways to interact and keep people crossing paths is critical.

Junior Achievement is one great way to do this – having business professionals in the schools interacting with the students and teachers.

Another possibility is a program called Natural Leaders that offers parents leadership training, resume building, networking and more. This often engages parents from under-represented group who may have had access barriers in the past. It is a fantastic partnership between parents, schools and businesses that ultimately benefits students.

A lot of people view separate entities – its business/industry and its education. I see these as blended opportunities. There are great partners in business and industry who are willing to step up and make things happen, and we all benefit from those partnerships. chambernews.com | Chamber News 33

Business Sense

Make your virtual event a stand-out While virtual events can’t replace side-by-side conversations and social bonding when guests are meeting in-person, virtual and hybrid events will be part of our new normal. It’s time to embrace it. This means stepping out of your comfort zone to be in front of your clients and to do so in a format that you may not be familiar with. But, what are virtual and hybrid events? Let’s first define what both of these event types are:

3. Content is King.

Addie Graham-Kramer

The Event Company A virtual event is one that takes shape solely online rather than in-person at a venue. Virtual events combine the use of technology and various re-streaming platforms to communicate the message of the event to guests via laptop, desktop or mobile device. In-person conferences, break-out sessions, trade shows, educational seminars, fundraising galas and more can all make the move to virtual.

A hybrid event is a combination of a live and in-person event that is married with virtual options – the best of both worlds. According to the Event Marketing 2020: Benchmarks and Trends report, the majority (85%) of leaders and executives have identified in-person events as critical for their company’s success. If there are barriers as to why some guests can’t attend in-person or if you want to reach a wider audience, hybrid events are one to consider.

Now, let’s talk about what steps should be taken to make your new event a stand-out!

1. Just Breathe.

It is time to step back, spend time evaluating your next steps and just breathe. Virtual events take time to design, require thoughtful planning and research into understanding the best digital platform for your needs. With how quickly technology is changing, connecting with local event professionals to discuss those details would be a good first step to take. Surrounding yourself with those that understand the dynamic world of events will save you time and resources.

2. Don’t Pull Back on Your Budget.

Even though you may not be getting all of your guests together in-person to enjoy your hors d’oeuvres at the social hour, now is not the time to make cuts in your budget, even if you are lowering the headcount to the chef. Those funds may be “eaten-up” by enhanced technology, event and production teams to assist in the planning stages and fulfilment of external communication plans. See where you can minimize items in your budget while enhancing areas that you need to so that your event can still be stellar.

34 Chamber News | JULY/AUGUST 2020

Keeping your guests engaged throughout your virtual or hybrid event is incredibly important. This could mean that you will need to change-up your agenda a bit to be more visual as you keep in mind your guests streaming from home. Building in interactive moments throughout such as on-screen polls, live Q&A with speakers, virtual scavenger hunts and wellness breaks are ways to keep your event fresh. You will also want to incorporate shorter main-stage speaking segments or breakout sessions that are only 45-minutes. Guests lose interest more easily when they are in a virtual setting and can become distracted. Also, keep in mind that your virtual guests may be in different time zones – don’t start too early!

4. Promote. Prepare. Practice.

Building out a detailed event communication plan is imperative to not only your brand and message, but also to build your guest list.

Increased promotion of virtual and hybrid events requires communications to be more frequent. The more you talk about the event, the more people will show up. Promotion should start at least 3.5 weeks prior to the launch of the event. Within that communication plan, schedule three separate rehearsals to include time with your event and production team, your speakers and then bringing both together for a dry-run of the event. With technology, there’s bound to be falters; therefore, you will want to get those kinks worked out prior to launching.

5. Post-Event Stewardship.

Just as you would do for a live and in-person event, don’t forget to push “send” on that survey within 24-hours of your event. Be sure to build into your communication plans, ways to not only thank your guests, but also how to continue engaging them until your next event.

All in all, instead of focusing on what you can’t do, shift that mindset to what you can do. Nothing will replace conversations that you have with the person sitting next to you at a conference or shaking hands with those that you know. The value of face-to-face events is part of the success of so many organizations; however, finding innovative ways to reach clients is essential as we engage virtually.

Party hats, cocktail glasses and sequin gowns are just a few things that you can find plenty of in this entrepreneur’s home. Life is always a party with Addie Graham-Kramer. Literally. Graham-Kramer, founder and CEO of The Event Company, is an award-winning event designer that has been nationally recognized for her leadership and work throughout the industry for nearly two decades. Since launching The Event Company in 2013, she and her talented team have designed and planned over 245 corporate, non-profit and social events in 16 states across the country.

Share your message with the business community Advertise in Chamber News Chamber News is a direct business-tobusiness publication that reaches the decision-makers in Sioux Falls area businesses. It is mailed directly to more than 5,000 Chamber members and distributed free at select locations around Sioux Falls.

Promote your business in Chamber News.

Contact Steven Herman at (605) 351-1960 or chambernews@siouxfalls.com.

Member Voice

Cash is king

Surviving any crisis or economic downturn My career in business lending began in 1990 with a large, publicly traded company. Four years later, that career transferred to a local bank with an additional career path of wealth management.

That economic time period was challenging as the United States entered a recession in 1990. I sure learned a lot during that time, and it prepared me for the many economic cycles that followed. Although we are not formally in a recession now, history repeats itself.

COVID-19 shutdown – A random shock to businesses and individuals Randy Osterloo First PREMIER Bank

Although we are not formally in a recession now, history repeats itself.

We are now three months into the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been widespread and affected many businesses and individuals, but not all companies and individuals. The hard truth is that some businesses and individuals are doing quite well during this time. Those same businesses and individuals likely have a history that contains periods of a variety of random shocks where business and living was not so good.

So how did they survive these prior random shocks? They understood the fundamental concept of having cash on hand personally and in their business.

Cash – part of a solid financial foundation

If you were panicking two weeks into this crisis, it is likely you did not have enough cash. Many businesses have grown over the years with debt and individuals have purchased material possessions with debt. Throughout my career, I have challenged businesses and individuals about their lack of cash on their balance sheets. The business owner would answer my question with statements such as, “I can sell inventory to raise cash” or “I can get a business line of credit from the bank.” Those statements are true if the economy is doing well, inventory is selling and if banks have not changed their underwriting and risk appetite. Individuals would reference back to their credit cards or personal lines of credit. Cash is a crucial component of a proper financial foundation.

How much cash is needed?

This question has been asked many times in my office and our loan committee. I am known to be a wise guy, so my simple answer to lighten the mood is, “More cash is better than less cash.” The serious answer takes some basic calculating. The first step is to calculate your monthly operating expenses in your business or your monthly personal living expenses. Multiply that number by three to six months as a rule of thumb for cash on hand. Initially, that number appears to be daunting. I promise you that closer business expense monitoring, retained profits with lower personal distributions and slower growth will naturally build your cash position. Individuals need to review monthly expenses and reduce their discretionary spending. Many successful businesses and individuals continue to increase that cash multiple over time.

Cash is needed now

Truthfully assess your situation and develop an action plan to raise cash. If your business grew too fast, consider downsizing, which may include selling certain assets. Develop a relationship with a business banker from a local bank. That business banker can help you map out a step-by-step course of action to raise cash, hold you accountable to your plan and prevent you from migrating back to your old ways. If interim or permanent financing is needed, the business banker can help you navigate and sort through the various loan options that became available during this pandemic. Individuals or families should consider adjusting their lifestyle, which may include disposing excess personal assets. They should also develop a relationship with a personal banking officer from a local bank.

A positive ending to COVID-19 economic shutdown

In the future, I believe this economic time period will be summarized as follows: The United States entered a formal recession in 2020 which lasted into the latter half of 2021. This recession was unlike other recessions. The immediate cause of the recession was a temporary loss of consumer and business confidence as a result of the 2020 COVID-19 economic shutdown. Business owners and individuals adjusted their business models and personal lifestyles to survive and accumulate cash in preparation for measured future growth and to survive the next economic challenge that was guaranteed to happen.

Randy Osterloo has more than 25 years of experience at First PREMIER Bank in Sioux Falls. As Vice President Business Banking, Randy works with companies of all sizes, helping them find financial solutions. First PREMIER Bank.

Member FDIC.

chambernews.com | Chamber News 37

Membership

Member Anniversaries 40 Years

Electronic Systems, Inc. Industrial Electronics Mfg. electronicsi.com

35 Years

Sioux Falls Specialty Hospital Hospitals sfsurgical.com

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.

Caliber Creative

Keller Williams Realty of Sioux Falls Codi Nincehelser

Advertising Agencies thinkcaliber.com

Affiliate-Real Estate myhomemyharrisburg.com

Dr. Ashley Family Chiropractic

Preferred Printing, Inc.

Chiropractors, DC pfaffchiro.com

Printing preferredsd.com

HR Green, Inc.

KBR

Regency Commercial Real Estate

Consulting Engineers hrgreen.com

IT Consulting kbr.com

Real Estate

25 Years

Keller Williams Realty Sioux Falls Larry Luetke

Hotels & Motels towneplacesuitessiouxfalls.com

State Steel of South Dakota, Inc. Steel Distributors & Warehouses statesteel.com

Thurman, Comes, Foley & Co., LLP Accountants-Certified Public tcfllp.com

30 Years

Costello Property Management Property Management costelloco.com

20 Years

Culver’s - Minnesota Ave.

10 Years

Affiliate-Real Estate luetketeam.com

Larry Fuller dba Insight Builders, LLC Associate Member

Restaurant-Fast Food culvers.com

Postma Excavation, Inc.

MetaBank & Meta Financial Group

South Dakota Junior Football

Sioux Falls Arts Council

Steffes Group, Inc.

Banks metabank.com

Associate Member artssiouxfalls.org

Titze’s Auto Repair, Inc.

Automobile Repairing & Service titzesautorepair.com

Excavating

Associate Member sdjuniorfootball.com

Auctions-eAuction steffesgroup.com

WestRock

Boxes, Corrugated rocktenn.com

15 Years

5 Years

Associate Member alphacenter.org

Sharpening Service

Alpha Center

Phillips Avenue Diner Restaurants wrrestaurants.com

Piper Custom Framing & Fine Art Gallery Framing Galleries-Retail pipercustomframing.com

RedRossa

Restaurants redrossa.com

38 Chamber News | JULY/AUGUST 2020

Dakota Tool & Sharpening Service, LLC Dan’s Drugstore Pharmacies dansdrugstore.com

Grand Living at Lake Lorraine Retirement Community grandliving.com

TownePlace Suites Sioux Falls South Transport For Christ Associate Member transportforchrist.org

First Year Reinvestors ConvergeOne

Computer Networking convergeone.com

Edward Jones - Financial Advisor: Travis Schuring Financial Planning edwardjones.com/travis-schuring

The Interim CEO

Leadership & Personal Development

Launch Servicing, LLC Financial Planning launchservicing.com

Sweeney Sanitation Garbage & Recycling sweeneysanitation.com

New Members

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.

Books N Brewz Pizzeria LLC

Limitless Male Medical Clinic

Reinhart Foodservice

Concordia Mind Health

Northwestern Mutual - Siouxland District

Symphony Solutions, LLC

Kevin Doyle

Office of Governor Kristi Noem

Restaurants-Bar Angela Kull, (605) 212-5030 201 N. Weber Ave., 57103 booksnbrewzsf.com

Mental Health Cassi Heuer, (605) 400-9975 5000 S. Minnesota Ave., Suite 300, 57108 concordiamindhealth.com

Associate Member

Medical Clinics Traci Grummert, (605) 499-7477 5919 S. Remington Place, 57108 limitlessmale.com

Associate Member Jess Jasso, (605) 940-4169 501 Pierce St.,Suite 400, Sioux City, IA 51101 siouxland.nm.com

Associate Member Tony Venhuizen, (605) 773-3212 500 E. Capital, Pierre, SD 57501

Kids R Kids

Food Distributor Ellen Griebel, (800) 999-5256 702 W. Fairview Road, Marshall, MN 56258 rfsdelivers.com

Real Estate-Relocation John Pagone, (605) 366-9967 symphonysolutions.homes

Zamorano Business Management, LLC Business Consulting Selene Zamorano, (605) 370-0736 2219 W. Russell St., 57104

Child Care Michael Smith, (712) 540-3528

SERVICE MATTERS

In banking, as in life, we think treating people well matters.

That’s why we get to know you and listen for opportunities to meet needs, make life more convenient, or simply brighten your day. It all matters.

SNBSD.com

Member FDIC

chambernews.com | Chamber News 39

From the Archive

Pioneering nuclear power In the early years of nuclear power, Sioux Falls was at the forefront of new technology with the Pathfinder Nuclear Generating Station. Located south of I-90 between Sioux Falls and Brandon, the power plant was completed in 1964. Northern States Power Co. (NSP) was attempting to build a new kind of reactor with Pathfinder.

Nuclear power plants heat water into steam through a process of splitting atoms called nuclear fission. That steam then spins turbines that create electricity. By superheating the steam to more than 800 degrees Fahrenheit, the power plant can be made 40 Chamber News | JULY/AUGUST 2020

much more efficient. However, there were major technical challenges to overcome.

Most nuclear power plants at the time used an oil or coal fired superheater to eliminate problems with fuel temperature that arose when superheating steam in the reactor. This is a safer and less complex approach, but greater efficiency could be achieved by superheating the steam with nuclear power. Pathfinder was an attempt to pioneer this new technology.

Pathfinder achieved near peak output for 30 minutes in the fall of 1967. However, its

glory was short lived, as extensive damage was found in the inspections following the test. NSP deemed the repairs too costly and decommissioned the reactor that November.

The facility was converted to a fossil fuel-powered peaking plant (a power plant that only operates when there is high, or peak, demand for electricity) until its cooling tower collapsed in the summer of 2000. It was then completely shutdown. Nearby, Xcel Energy built the Angus Anson Generating Station, which is still operational today.

chambernews.com | Chamber News 41

Five Questions

Five questions is a monthly feature on a Chamber volunteer, Chamber member or staff member. Want to be featured here? Call (605) 336-1620.

Five questions with Vaney Hariri Vaney Hariri is the Co-Founder of Think 3D Solutions. Born in Buffalo, New York, he is proud to call Sioux Falls his hometown. Vaney volunteers his time coaching youth football and serves on the board of directors for six local organizations. He is optimistic about the future for Sioux Falls, for South Dakota and for all of Flyover Country.

Why does your business choose to be a member of the Chamber?

We know that the Chamber is a huge part of the success of our city from creating networks to lobbying for policy and we want to be where the growth and the change is.

What is the best part about running your own company? What is the hardest part?

The best part of owning your own business is having the ability to make decisions with your head and your heart. The hardest part is being responsible for those decisions.

Vaney Hariri

Think 3D Solutions

What is your favorite thing about Sioux Falls?

Opportunity. We have the ability and the runway to make our community whatever we like, and I love having the chance to be a part of making it great.

What is the best piece of advice you have received?

Stop trying to sound smart and be smart.

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

I want to be witness to the day that our country truly steps beyond the things that divide us like race and socioeconomic status.

42 Chamber News | JULY/AUGUST 2020