Chamber News June 2021
Vol. 56, No. 8
A PUBLICATION OF THE GREATER SIOUX FALLS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Start with
Startup Sioux Falls Organization evolves to meet changing ecosystem needs
In this issue Feature
Start with Startup Sioux Falls Zeal Center for Entrepreneurship evolves to meet changing ecosystem needs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22-27 Top stories Legislative Scorecard. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28-29 Nominations sought for 4 under 40 Awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 In this issue
Chamber News Publisher
Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce Chamber News Ad Sales
For advertising information, call Steven Herman at (605) 373-2013 or email chambernews@siouxfalls.com
Chamber News Layout/Design Jill Blom
Message from the Chair. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Chamber News Editor
Event Calendars. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-9
For editorial information, call: (605) 336-1620
Economic Indicators. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Faces & Places. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-20 Community Appeals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Business Advocacy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28-29 Headlines. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30-32
Jennie Doyen
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
Member Voice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Chamber Mission
Chamber Partner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
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.
Ribbon Cuttings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38-42 New Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Member Anniversaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44-45 Five Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA OR VISIT siouxfallschamber.com /siouxfallschamber Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce @GreaterSFCC @SF_Advocate 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.
Read online or find archived issues: issuu.com/siouxfallschamber
chambernews.com | Chamber News 3
Message from the Chair
Message from the Chair The old adage is “in South Dakota there are two seasons, winter and construction season.” This year is no different. Construction can be seen all over town right now. There are healthcare, education, social services, infrastructure, single-family and multifamily projects going on in every corner of the community. In the world of the Chamber and Development Foundation, three ground breakings took place in May–Children’s Inn, Augustana University, and Highest Health Chiropractic. On top of this, we have a full slate of ribbon cuttings to celebrate many new members, as well as growth and significant milestones for existing members. Yes, Sioux Falls is open for business! Dan Doyle
2020-21 Chair of the Board
It requires intentional, ongoing effort to make our city a better place to live and work.
Anyone who has been paying attention to the housing market knows that we have high demand and low supply in our area. This is due in part to new residents moving to our community. They are attracted here by the great employment options, strong economy and an outstanding quality of life. Folks from across the country always ask what the secret is in Sioux Falls. Quality of life doesn’t just happen. It requires intentional, ongoing effort to make our city a better place to live and work. The answer is easy, it’s the people. We have leaders and businesses that are willing to give of their time, talent and treasure to lift up Sioux Falls.
This can be best illustrated through Forward Sioux Falls. We are in the final push of our eighth Forward Sioux Falls campaign, with a goal to raise $15 million. These are dollars that will be used to build quality of life projects, promote the city to businesses and tourists, support our airport and international trade, and develop, attract and retain our workforce. As a group of leaders and businesses, we have chosen to set aside our competitive differences and contribute to a common cause that supports the greater Sioux Falls area. If you haven’t yet contributed to the campaign, please let us know and we would be happy to tell you more about how Forward Sioux Falls will improve Sioux Falls and support the business community. Any amount that you can afford helps. To those that have given in the campaign and others in the past, THANK YOU! In addition, I am encouraged by the news I’ve seen this spring about a variety of other partnerships, projects and initiatives that keep us moving forward. The DE&I Activator Series was launched in May, a partnership between the Chamber and Pathways to Inclusive & Equitable Workplaces. It is an 11-month webinar series that will equip participants with the knowledge and skills to implement diversity, equity and inclusion programming in their workplaces. The response to the program has been overwhelmingly positive. We have twice the number of participants we had projected. If we want to continue to progress and grow, we need to be a welcoming community for everybody. With the arrival of warmer weather and positive vaccination numbers, in addition to ribbon cuttings, ground breakings and other activities, we are excited to announce we are returning to in-person mixers this month! I am looking forward to seeing old friends and making new acquaintances at our June Mixer at First PREMIER Bank’s new downtown building. It is an incredible facility that you need to see. I hope to meet you there!
2020-21 GREATER SIOUX FALLS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE LEADERSHIP AND STAFF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Chair Dan Doyle, Lloyd Companies Chair-Elect Alex Ramirez, USA Media TV Vice Chair Paul Hanson, Sanford Health Treasurer Scott Lawrence, Lawrence & Schiller, Inc. Immediate Past Chair Bobbi Thury, Legacy Law Firm, P.C. Chamber President & CEO Jeff Griffin BOARD OF DIRECTORS Miles Beacom, PREMIER Bankcard Kim Burma, Midco Martin DesLauriers, UBS Financial Services, Inc. Tamien Dysart, Think 3D Solutions Natalie Eisenberg, Click Rain, Inc. Kayla Eitreim, Junior Achievement of South Dakota David Flicek, Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center Pam Homan, Augustana University Chris Houwman, Malloy Angela Lammers, Cetera Services Valerie Loudenback, Grand Prairie Foods Tolcha Mesele, Smithfield Foods Nathan Stallinga, DakotAbilities Tony Venhuizen
EX-OFFICIO Kyle Groos, Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools Dean Karsky, Minnehaha County Commission Derrick Karsky, Farmers Insurance Group - Karsky Agency Cynthia Mickelson, Sioux Falls School Board Jay Rasmussen, Journey Group Companies Jim Schmidt, Lincoln County Commission 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 Matt Barthel, ESF Communications Manager Joan Bartling, Finance & Accounting Director Justin Bentaas, Public Affairs & Research Manager Jill Blom, Graphics & Communications Manager Casey Boerger, Events Coordinator Patrick Daschel, ESF Sales Manager Anna Derry, ESF Sales Manager Erin DeWitt, ESF Sales Manager Jennie Doyen, Marketing & Communications Director
Becky Griebel, First Impressions/Administrative Assistant Melea Harris, ESF Host City Manager Elizabeth Heidinger, Membership Services Specialist Steven Herman, Membership Development Manager Mary Hublou, ESF First Impressions Manager/Project Assistant Kayla Huizing, Young Professionals Network Manager Jay Kaltenbach, ESF Services/Resale Manager Pat Lund, Membership Engagement Manager Mike Lynch, Forward Sioux Falls Director of Investor Relations 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
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.
FEATURED EVENT
MIXER JUNE MEMBERSHIP
Tuesday, June 8
SPONSORED BY:
4:30–6:30 p.m. First PREMIER Bank, 500 S. Minnesota Ave.
Complimentary hors d’oeuvres & cash bar $5 admission or use your Mixer Pass
Midwest Energy Summit Tuesday, June 8 8-11 a.m. 4351 17th Ave. S., Fargo, ND or available via livestream
DETAILS: Speakers from across the energy industry and with varying beliefs on long-term energy approaches will have a robust discussion about energy in the Midwest. The morning features dynamic speakers giving TED-style talks and several panel discussions made up of diverse perspectives on various trending topics in the world of energy. The Midwest Energy Summit livestream is $20 or $35 to attend in person at the Hilton Garden Inn, Fargo, ND. Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce members use promo code: Sioux Falls at checkout.
DE&I Activator Series: Foundations of DE&I: History and language Wednesday, June 9 8:30-9:30 a.m. Zoom
DETAILS: The DE&I Activator Series is an introduction to key concepts, strategies, mindsets and skill sets to support participant’s knowledge of how to activate a diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) workplace culture shift. The series offers concrete application strategies to help a workplace envision its DE&I goals and identify steps for implementation. Continuing education credit opportunities are pending with SHRM and HRCI. COST: Free RSVP: siouxfallschamber.com
Business Sense Workshop: How to use the Membership Portal Tuesday, June 15 11 a.m.–Noon Zoom
DETAILS: You can maximize your membership benefits by accessing the Chamber’s Membership Portal. During this how-to session, Chamber staff will walk you through the various features and benefits of using the portal and will provide step-by-step demonstrations of the platform so that you can feel confident using it. COST: Free
Unmuted Friday, June 25 9–10 a.m. Zoom
DETAILS: Make a new connection virtually when you attend Unmuted. Participants will break out into small groups for conversation – so unlike most of your virtual meetings, you won’t need your “mute” button. The June Unmuted is hosted by Junior Achievement of South Dakota. COST: Free RSVP: siouxfallschamber.com
COST: $20-$35 MORE INFORMATION: siouxfallschamber.com
Business Sense Workshop: How new laws may affect your business Tuesday, June 8 11 a.m.–Noon Zoom
DETAILS: Many changes will be coming when new bills signed into law take effect on July 1, 2021. Justin Smith, Woods, Fuller, Schultz & Smith P.C., will provide an overview on how new state laws may impact your business. COST: $10 RSVP: siouxfallschamber.com
6 Chamber News | JUNE 2021
Membership Mixer Tuesday, July 13
4:30–6:30 p.m. South Dakota Military Heritage Alliance, Inc. 1600 W. Russell St.
DETAILS: Join other Chamber members for networking, food, and refreshments at the July Membership Mixer, hosted by South Dakota Military Heritage Alliance, Inc. COST: $5 or use your mixer pass
GREATER SIOUX FALLS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
UPCOMING EVENTS
To RSVP to any of these events, visit siouxfallsypn.com, email khuizing@siouxfalls.com or call (605) 373-2002. Visit siouxfallsypn.com for a full list of events.
Morning Buzz Thursday, June 3
7:30–9 a.m. Yakkity Yak Coffee Shack 7321 S. Grasslands Place DETAILS: Join other YPN members at Yakkity Yak Coffee Shack for networking while getting your morning (coffee) buzz. We want to know what’s affecting you personally and professionally. Coffee and treats will be provided by Yakkity Yak. COST: Free
So You Wanna Talk About Mental Health? Wednesday, June 9 5:30–6:30 p.m. Remedy Brewing Company 401 E. 8th St. #120
DETAILS: Join us for an opportunity to hear from YPN Members opening up about their own mental health journeys. A Q&A session will follow. COST: Free
A Seat at the Table with Derek Fernholz & Blake Thompson Thursday, June 10 Noon–1 PM Fernson Brewing Company 1400 E. Robur Dr.
Find us on social media or visit siouxfallsypn.com
Reservations for Six Thursday, June 17 Noon - 1 p.m. Grille 26 1716 S. Western Ave.
DETAILS: Get to know Derek Fernholz and Blake Thompson, owners of Fernson Brewing Company, at this Seat at the Table event. Fernson Brewing Company will host the event. Advanced registration required.
DETAILS: Are you looking to get to know other young professionals in the community in a small, intimate setting while supporting Chamber member restaurants? If so, join us for a networking lunch. No agenda, just a lunch out with your peers. Limited to the first six to register!
COST: Free
COST: Free, food & drink on your own.
Off the Clock Thursday, June 24
4–7 p.m. The Sandbar & Grill 2310 S. Marion Road, Suite 100 DETAILS: Join us at The Sandbar for our June Off the Clock. In true YPN fashion, you will have a chance to make new friends and business connections by networking in a relaxed setting. No registration required—just show up and encourage other young professionals or colleagues to join you. COST: Free, food & drinks on your own.
Action Team Meetings You can help shape key areas of YPN programming by joining an Action Team. All team meetings are held at the Chamber office and are open to any YPN member who would like to get involved. Volunteering with an Action Team is a great way to strengthen professional connections and exercise your skills in collaboration, facilitation and project management. For more details on the responsibilities of each team, visit siouxfallsypn.com.
Social Action Team
Tuesday, June 1, 4–5 p.m.
Personal & Professional Action Team
Thursday, June 3, 4–5 p.m.
chambernews.com | Chamber News 7
Collaboration
you can bank on. JUNE
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
Summer Porch Series at Strawbale Winery
4-5
PorkPalooza at USD Discovery District
6
Sangria Sunday at Strawbale Winery
8
Summer Snowball Tour - Cosmic Casino at The District
11
Ranky Tanky at Levitt at the Falls
12
Sioux Falls Snow Leopards vs. Minnesota Vixen
12
Lucas Hoge at Levitt at the Falls
12
Festival of Cultures at Falls Park
15
Summer Snowball Tour - 80’s Flashback at The Atrium at Blue Haven Barn
18
Dallas Chief Eagle at Levitt at the Falls
Raise Expectations 18 Your Bo DePena at Levitt at the Falls
All events are subject to change. 19 Mae Simpson Band at Levitt at the Falls Please check the online events 25 Goodroad at Levitt at the Falls calendars for the most recent updates. Jennifer Johnson 21 VCDC Annual Golf Social 22 Vice President Branch Manager 26 NMLS 47075826
(605) 444-4058 29
8 Chamber News | JUNE 2021
Summer Snowball Tour - Roaring 20’s at The Country Club of Sioux Falls The Two Tracks at Levitt at the Falls Falls Art Market at BronzeAge Art Casting Summer SnowballID Tour - Cirque et Comedie at 405612 Sioux Falls Convention Center
JULY
11
Tab Benoit at The District
1
Sioux Falls Sunfish vs. Spearfish Sasquatch
16
Wiley’s Block Party: Jordan Davis
2
Sioux Falls Sunfish vs. Pierre Trappers
17
Shop & Stroll on Phillips Ave.
The Reminders at Levitt at the Falls
17
Sioux Empire On Tap at W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds
2
Eastbank Block Party
23
Swing FORE Seniors
3
East of Westreville at Levitt at the Falls
24
Falls Art Market at BronzeAge Art Casting
4
Sangria Sunday at Strawbale Winery
24
Nyberg’s Ace 4th Annual Hot Classics Night
4
Sunday in the Vineyard at Wilde Prairie Winery
28
Mo Pitney at Washington Pavilion
6-8
Sioux Falls Canaries vs. Kansas City Monarchs
31
Old Crow Medicine Show at The District
8
Summer Porch Series at Strawbale Winery
31
Sioux Falls Storm vs. Frisco Fighters
8
Yoga & Wine at Wilde Prairie Winery
8
Diali Cissokho & Kaira Ba at Levitt at the Falls
AUGUST
9
Rhythm Collective at Levitt at the Falls
9-11
Sioux Falls Canaries vs. Chicago Dogs
9-11
Hot Harley Nights at W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds
10
Moonlight Movies at Fawick Park
10
Dreamfest Midwest at 8th & Railroad Center
10
Chastity Brown at Levitt at the Falls
10
Rodney Atkins at W.H. Lyon Fairground
11
Wagon Wheel: Feat. Darius Rucker at W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds
2
5-14
82nd Annual Sioux Empire Fair
6
Eastbank Block Party
14
Cheese & Ice Cream Festival at Strawbale Winery
14-15
Great Plains Balloon Race
21
Riverfest in downtown Sioux Falls
28
Sioux Falls Taco & Margarita Festival
28
605 Made Night Market
28
That Sounds Decent at 8th & Railroad Center
29
Sioux Falls Marathon
S O UT H DAKOTA ROC K & ROLL MU SIC ASSOCIAT ION — p re s e nt s —
RAMKOTA EXHIBI T H A L L — SI OU X FA L L S Fr iday, Se pte m be r 2 4 t h @ 7 P M — Yo u t h Batt l e Of Th e Ba n d s Sat u rd ay, Se pte m be r 2 5 t h @ 6PM — Ro c k a n d Ro l l Ha l l Of Fa m e In d u c ti o n Res er ve d Ti c ket s a n d V I P Ta b l e s o n Sa l e Now at S D R R M A . co m
chambernews.com | Chamber News 9
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
April 2021
March 2021
CUMULATIVE YEAR TO DATE
1,668 permits
2019
1,599 permits
2020
BISMARCK
4.4%
2,160 permits
2021 0
500
1000
1500
2000
FARGO
3.8%
2500
MINNEAPOLIS/ ST. PAUL
Source: City of Sioux Falls
4.3%
RAPID CITY
3.4%
City of Sioux Falls Total Construction Value April 2021
SIOUX FALLS
ROCHESTER
4.0%
3.0%
CEDAR RAPIDS
CUMULATIVE YEAR TO DATE
5.2%
350
OMAHA
DES MOINES
3.9%
4.3%
LINCOLN
2.9%
300
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 250
Note: figures represent Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA), not just city; rates are not seasonally-adjusted
Agriculture Trends
200
March 2021 15
150
$13.20
100
0
$207.1 million $91.6 million
$13.10
12
(IN MILLIONS)
50
$12.70
$318.5 million $99.2 million
$12.30
$158.7 million $43.9 million
Soybeans 2020
2019
Source: City of Sioux Falls
Total Construction Value
2021
(per bushel) U.S. South Dakota
$8.47
9
New Non-Residential Construction Value
Corn
$8.13
(per bushel) U.S. South Dakota
Sioux Falls Region Housing Overview April 2021
6 $4.75
New Listings: 594 Days on the Market Until Sale: 83 Median Sales Price: $249,350 Inventory of Homes for Sale: 1,004 Source: RASE (Realtor Association of the Sioux Empire)
$3.68
$4.63
$4.89 $4.76
$3.42
3
March February
2020
2021
March
2021
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.
Jay Soukup
Lynda Billars
Great Western Bank
The Lynda B. Advantage Corp - Lynda Billars KW
Brian Sittig
Brian Spader
CNA Surety
New York Life
Sandy Case
Sheila Hoff
Keller Williams Realty
April Meyerink Black Hills Federal Credit Union
Recognition of Chamber Volunteers & Staff The Ambassador Committee promotes the Chamber and assists in bringing new members into the organization. The Diplomat Committee works to maintain membership strength in the Chamber and provide outstanding customer service to members. Their volunteer service helps to keep the Chamber strong. Jay Soukup, Great Western Bank, seven years as an ambassador; Lynda Billars, The Lynda B. Advantage Corp. – Lynda Billars
KW, 20 years as an ambassador; Sandy Case, 30 years as a diplomat; Sheila Hoff, Keller Williams Realty, 12 years as a diplomat; Brian Sittig, CNA Surety, three years as a diplomat; and Brian Spader, New York Life, five years as a diplomat. The ACE Award is given monthly to one ambassador in recognition of their sales efforts. April Meyerink, Black Hills Federal Credit Union, received the ACE Award for April.
Professional portraits of Chamber volunteers are courtesy Chad Phillips Photography, chadphillipsphotography.com.
12 Chamber News | JUNE 2021
New Faces & Promotions RSA has expanded its leadership and has promoted three employees to vice president. Keith Neuharth, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, has been promoted to vice president of operations. He has been with RSA for over 20 years and has practiced architecture for over 30 years. Justin Oleson, AIA, has been promoted to vice president of talent and technology. Oleson has been with RSA for 15 years and is a current board member for AIA South Dakota. Jeremy Christopherson, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP, has
been promoted to vice president of business development. Christopherson has been a designer with RSA team for 17 years. Davenport, Evans, Hurwitz & Smith, LLP welcomed two summer associates for 2021. Dillon D. Kober attends the University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law and just completed his 2nd year. He competes nationally as a member of the Moot Court Board at USD. He also serves as a graduate
assistant at the USD McKusick Law Library on campus. Kiera L. Leddy attends Drake Law and will graduate in May 2022. She serves as the Drake Agricultural and Environmental Law Association president and works part-time as the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation law clerk. She was a finalist for the C. Edwin Moore Moot Court Competition and served as the Drake Agricultural and Environmental Law Association vice president.
Honors & Awards The Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce was recognized by the Mid-America Chamber Executives (MACE) with an award for Public Policy of the Year. The award recognizes chambers of commerce that achieve a significant victory in public policy, whether as a part of a partnership with others or as the only organization championing a cause. The Chamber was honored for leading a statewide coalition of organizations to pass Senate Bill 70, which authorized Spanish to be used in the process of issuing non-commercial drivers licenses in South Dakota. MACE represents chambers of commerce in the six-state region of Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Avera has been named as one of IMB Watson Health Top 15 Health Systems in the nation. The IBM Watson Health study used performance indicators such as: lower inpatient mortality rates and fewer patient complications, lower 30-day readmission rates, faster emergency care and higher patient ratings of their overall hospital experience. Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center in Sioux Falls was also named as one of the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals by IBM Watson Health.
Aaron Clayton, Eide Bailly LLP, was recognized for his career accomplishments and outstanding service to the accounting and finance division of the Beacom School of Business at The University of South Dakota. Clayton joined Eide Bailly after completing his master’s in professional accountancy in 2006 and was promoted to partner in 2015. He leads the audit department of the Sioux Falls office and serves as the partner-in-charge of the Telecommunications & Electric Utility Industry Practice for Eide Bailly. Candice Menke, mortgage loan originator at Black Hills Federal Credit Union, was inducted to the Home Builders Association of the Sioux Empire’s Hall of Fame. Menke has been involved with the Home Builders Association of the Sioux Empire throughout her 20+ year career. Roger Heacock, former CEO of Black Hills Federal Credit Union, was inducted into the Dakota Credit Union Association (DakCU) Hall of Fame during the association’s recent Annual Summit. Heacock served the credit union industry for 45 years before retiring earlier this year. Throughout his career, Heacock has been a dedicated champion for
serving the underserved and those in need of access to financial services in some of South Dakota’s most impoverished areas. Under his leadership, Black Hills FCU grew from $23 million in assets to over $1.5 billion, expanded from 5 branches to 15, and tripled membership to more than 77,000 members. Insight Marketing Design received six awards from the Horizon Interactive Awards. The agency was honored with two gold awards and four silver awards in the worldwide competition. Goosmann Law Firm CEO and Managing Partner Jeana Goosmann was selected as a 2021 Enterprising Women of the Year Award Winner. The Enterprising Women of the Year Awards are widely considered one of the most prestigious recognition programs for women business owners in the U.S. and globally. Winners of this award must demonstrate that they have fast-growing businesses, mentor or actively support other women and girls involved in entrepreneurship, and stand out as leaders in their communities.
Good Deeds Last year, First Dakota National Bank partnered with the State Theatre in downtown Sioux Falls to purchase its historic tax credits, a move that provided over $1 million in funding to help reopen the 95-year-old theater. This partnership is the first major investment of its kind through First Dakota National Bank
to preserve and rehabilitate one of our city’s historic mainstays. The federal historic rehabilitation tax credit (HTC) program is an indirect federal subsidy to finance the rehabilitation of historic buildings with a 20 percent tax credit for qualified expenditures.
chambernews.com | Chamber News 13
Faces & Places
Be Seen
1
2
1-3 Chamber members returned to
in-person networking events in May. OsteoStrong hosted a Morning Mingle at their office on South Louise Avenue and about 40 guests enjoyed coffee and networking to start their day.
3
14 Chamber News | JUNE 2021
4
5 4-6 The Chamber’s Military & Veterans Affairs Committee hosted the
annual Armed Forces Day program on May 15 at South Dakota Military Heritage Alliance. Maj. Gen. Jeffrey P. Marlette gave the keynote address and an oath of enlistment ceremony was held to induct new members into the U.S. Armed Forces.
6 chambernews.com | Chamber News 15
Faces & Places
Be Seen
7
8
7-8 The spring edition of Good Morning Sioux Falls brought chamber members together to
learn about the future of public safety in our community. Sioux Falls Police Chief Matt Burns, Metro Communications Deputy Director Aimee Chase and Sioux Falls Fire Rescue Chief Matt McAreavey previewed the new Public Safety Training facility and 9-1-1 dispatch center that will be constructed in north Sioux Falls. 9 Reservations for Six is a lunchtime networking event that is kept intentionally small to allow for deeper conversation. A group of YPN members recently met for lunch at LaliBela Restaurant.
16 Chamber News | JUNE 2021
9
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
Faces & Places
Be Seen
11 10
13
10-13 Members of Leadership Sioux Falls class 35 graduated from the program on May 5. Dr. Pam Homan, Augustana University, addressed the graduates.
12
18 Chamber News | JUNE 2021
14 14 Josiah’s Coffeehouse & Café hosted
young professionals for coffee and networking at the May Morning Buzz. 15 YPN members met at McNally’s Irish Pub in May for an Off the Clock networking event.
15
chambernews.com | Chamber News 19
Faces & Places
Be Seen
16
17 18 16-19 The 2021 Hey Sioux Falls awards program
19 20 Chamber News | JUNE 2021
celebrated entrepreneurship by recognizing local individuals and companies that are building great businesses or pushing the entrepreneurial community forward. Award recipients were selected from 18 finalists and more than 100 nominees. Photos courtesy Pinnacle Productions
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.
Applications for the 2021 review cycle are now available and will be accepted until Aug. 1, 2021. Contact Mike Lynch at (605) 373-2008 or email mlynch@siouxfalls.com for more information and to apply.
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.
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FORWARD SIOUX FALLS FEB. 1, 2021–JUNE 30, 2021
To provide programs that result in an improved economy and quality of life for those in our region.
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.
THE FURNITURE MISSION OF SOUTH DAKOTA APRIL 1, 2022-JULY 31, 2022
To build a new and larger Furniture Mission facility on the Empower Sioux Falls Campus (previously the School for the Deaf Campus).
We really encourage the empowerment of our markets, and the team in those markets, fully understanding that we need to meet the needs and expectations of
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our customers and community no matter where that community is.
- Gary Petersen, Chairman
www.cornerstonebanks.net | 605-305-3400
chambernews.com | Chamber News 21
Cover Story
Start with
Startup Sioux Falls
Zeal Center for Entrepreneurship evolves to meet changing ecosystem needs By Andrea Van Essen The Zeal Center for Entrepreneurship will now be known as Startup Sioux Falls, a change that represents its continued commitment to serve the city’s rapidly evolving entrepreneurial space. The organization announced the rebrand on May 20 at the Hey Sioux Falls awards celebration. Since opening in 2002 as the South Dakota Technology Business Center (SDTBC), the organization has existed to support entrepreneurs. Early on, that meant programming and physical space to incubate and accelerate high-growth technology businesses. As time went on, it became clear that innovation and inspiration weren’t exclusive to a specific type of business. The 2016 rebrand to the Zeal Center for Entrepreneurship represented a shift that aimed to support entrepreneurs at all stages.
22 Chamber News | JUNE 2021
Five years later, the switch to Startup Sioux Falls reframes the organization as a community that empowers founders, rather than a specific facility or building. Startup Sioux Falls aims to provide resources and tools that can make entrepreneurship less overwhelming by helping founders network, launch and grow their ventures. Part of that shift involves a planned relocation to the heart of the city—downtown Sioux Falls. The current facility on the northwest corner of town has served its purpose for this stage of Sioux Falls’ entrepreneurial development, but it has become clear to ecosystem leaders that founders’ needs have changed, and the buzz of entrepreneurship is strongest in downtown.
The building at 2329 N. Career Ave. has housed Startup Sioux Falls since it was launched in 2002 as the South Dakota Technology Business Center. The organization was renamed the Zeal Center for Entrepreneurship in 2016 and will now be known as Startup Sioux Falls.
The move will cement the organization’s transformation from a state-of-the-art incubation facility for high-tech and high-growth startups to an ecosystem organization that meets entrepreneurs where they are, in order to offer support and cultivate an even stronger community. Brienne Maner is Startup Sioux Falls’ executive director, and she believes the organization is ready to serve the community as more than just a physical space. Still, founders can expect many of the facility’s high-value amenities to remain, such as space for coworking and collaboration, a network of mentorship and resources, and of course, blazing fast internet. Additionally, the plan for a new location will include improved space for large gatherings and events. “Obviously there’s a discussion happening about what a physical space looks like for Startup Sioux Falls, but we are more than the four walls around us,” Maner said. “Beyond just the physical space that we’re offering, it’s important that we’re providing support and a strong foundation for anyone who wants to start a new venture in Sioux Falls.” Part of that support will be manifested in the relocation to downtown.
Brienne Maner Startup Sioux Falls
“There’s a certain type of entrepreneurial spirit that you can feel when you’re in the downtown community that I think will
bode well for us both in a physical space but also to help infuse new energy into our community,” she said. Driving the team at Startup Sioux Falls forward is their belief that acting on an idea has the potential to change an individual, our community and the world. As they advance under this new brand, they will affirm their place as the ultimate starting point for Sioux Falls’ small business owners and startups. Why support entrepreneurship? Cultivating a supportive environment for entrepreneurs in Sioux Falls is undeniably a critical element of the city’s growth. Back in the late 1990s, there wasn’t much in the way of a startup ecosystem in Sioux Falls, but leaders at the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce, the Sioux Falls Development Foundation and their joint venture partnership, Forward Sioux Falls, saw activity bubbling at the surface, and they stepped up to the task. In 1999, a technology committee was formed to explore ideas that could diversify the economy. Among other local tech industry and business leaders, the committee included Dave Link, formerly with Sanford Health and now program manager for Dakota State University, and Rich Naser, Forward Sioux Falls’ staff representative who would go on to serve as Zeal’s executive director until 2018. The committee created a technology development plan for the region—a plank of which was to develop the SDTBC.
chambernews.com | Chamber News 23
Startup Graduates In the nearly 20 years since Startup Sioux Falls first opened its doors as the South Dakota Technology Business Center, several companies have used the space as a launchpad to future growth. Among them are: 9 Clouds Alumend Datasync DocuTap (now Experity) Maximizing Excellence Meta Payment Systems McGowan Capital Group Prairie Gold Ventures Think 3D Throne Publishing Well 365
Funding sources included grants from Governor Bill Janklow and Senator Tom Daschle that allowed them to establish the SDTBC and build that first facility. “It was designed to be more than a building—that was just part of the equation, that we wanted to make sure we had the support and services to offer to startup companies growing in the community. So we worked to put together a whole menu of services and activities in addition to the space there,” said Link. At the time, the facility was more targeted than it is today, focusing primarily on entrepreneurs and companies that were innovative, scalable and extremely high-growth. According to Naser, it was an interesting time to be in the startup world. “Back when we were planning in the late 90s and early 2000s, we were told by other incubators, ‘Hey, if your company can’t go public in 18 months or so, you don’t want them.’ That’s how frothy the marketplace was around the country before the dotcom bubble. It was an unusual time,” he said.
Rich Naser
McGough Construction
Naturally, the SDTBC followed the opportunities in the marketplace at the time, focusing on those innovative companies which were often in the biotechnology space. Today, that market has expanded and become more inclusive of other business models—a shift that demands a new and improved ecosystem organization. “I think it’s just an evolution of the types of opportunities that are available to create a scalable business,” Naser said. “There are lots of ways to disrupt markets and come up with something beyond just the technology of your business. It’s just a natural progression of what’s going on in the economy on a larger scale.” Staying up-to-speed with that progression and the startups that grow out of it is the role of an ecosystem organization like Startup Sioux Falls, and it’s one that community organizations like the Chamber, Development Foundation and Forward Sioux Falls are happy to support. Keith Severson is a former Zeal board member and remains on the organization’s finance
24 Chamber News | JUNE 2021
Cover Story
Chamber members receive a tour of the Zeal Center for Entrepreneurship from former executive director Rich Naser shortly after the building was remodeled in 2016.
committee. He emphasizes the economic impact of an organization like Startup Sioux Falls.
committee and the leadership at the Chamber of Commerce and the Sioux Falls Development Foundation,” she said.
“It has created hundreds of high-wage jobs. If you look at the statistics from Forward Sioux Falls, the average employment wage is well over $77k per year,” he said. “As a result, that’s cultivating those higher paying jobs that are advancing opportunity in Sioux Falls. When you can add good, highpaying jobs in Sioux Falls, it allows other businesses to develop as well.”
“I’m so grateful that our community had the foresight to recognize the importance and value of a startup community and mechanism to be able to support founders, so for that I’ll forever be grateful.”
By supporting the work of Startup Sioux Falls, these city organizations are contributing significantly to job creation in the region. Local entrepreneur and MarketBeat founder, Matt Paulson, highlights the symbiotic relationship between these organizations. “It’s easy to think of Startup Sioux Falls, the Chamber and the Development Foundation as standalone organizations with differing interests and goals, but we’re all really on the same team. We all want to make Sioux Falls the best community and have the most vibrant business environment possible and each organization has a role to play in making that possible,” he said. Maner also emphasizes the impact that these city organizations have had on the startup community. “This organization wouldn’t exist if not for the vision of the Forward Sioux Falls
The evolution of Startup Sioux Falls In spring 2019, Paulson started working on a project he hoped would bring founders together. He dubbed the community “Startup Sioux Falls.” “I started working on [it] after hosting the first ever entrepreneurship day on March 6, 2019. I was inspired by Andy Traub’s words at 1 Million Cups and felt our community really needed to offer more support to its founders,” Paulson said. Paulson created a Facebook group for founders where they could network and Matt Paulson MarketBeat benefit from each other’s wisdom. He also built a website that featured an ecosystem guide with information about all of the organizations in Sioux Falls that supported entrepreneurs, as well as news stories and podcasts about the burgeoning startup community.
chambernews.com | Chamber News 25
Additionally, Paulson began facilitating a steady stream of events where those founders could have in-person touch points with one another. Later that year, Paulson merged his community with the Zeal Center for Entrepreneurship in an effort to provide consistency and focus on their shared mission. Now, the organization will fully adopt the Startup Sioux Falls name, as well as new branding, to further clarify and solidify that mission. “In the last two years, Zeal and Startup Sioux Falls have realized that Sioux Falls needs a startup ecosystem organization more than it does a dedicated accelerator facility,” Paulson said. Karla Santi, the founder of Blend Interactive, has served on the Zeal board for four years and played an active role in the rebranding effort. “When I think of Startup Sioux Falls, I think about the engaged community of passionate entrepreneurs willing to help each other and be involved in the success of others,” Santi said. “The Zeal Center for Entrepreneurship has been a wonderful asset to our community, but the word ‘center’ in the name can be interpreted as being restricting or contained within
26 Chamber News | JUNE 2021
Karla Santi
Blend Interactive
those walls. What the organization provides goes well beyond what a facility can offer.” Santi believes that the community was ripe for this transformation. “The organization has evolved from a facility housing a collection of tech startups to an entire community of entrepreneurs that extend well beyond the walls of the Zeal Center. Pair that with an increase in new businesses launching during and post-Covid, and the timing couldn’t be better,” she said. What to expect from the new brand As previously noted, much of what the Zeal Center for Entrepreneurship previously offered will remain available to the startup community. However, the rebrand allows Startup Sioux Falls to lean more deeply into its mission of empowering founders. By simplifying and clarifying the brand, its mission, its vision and its values, Startup Sioux Falls becomes the clear destination for founders, regardless of the stage of their business. The CO.STARTERS accelerator program that was launched in January of this year is a prime example of the open and inclusive support the organization has to offer. CO.STARTERS is a program that allows ecosystem organizations to host 10-week cohorts of startup founders, guiding them through a crash course in
Cover Story
Left: YPN members listen to an entrepreneur describe his company’s work during a tour of the incubator space managed by the Zeal Center for Entrepreneurship, now known as Startup Sioux Falls. Right: Members of a Growth Accelerator program heard success stories and lessons learned from other entrepreneurs during a group meeting in 2017.
entrepreneurship. By the end of the ten weeks, founders have a clear picture of how to move forward with their business.
is committed to finding new ways to serve Sioux Falls’ evergrowing and diverse community.
Dakotah Jordan is a graduate of Startup Sioux Falls’ inaugural CO.STARTERS cohort (the second cohort is wrapping up as this goes to print), and she is also a Chamber member. Her business, Dakotah Yoga, offers a unique, non-studio approach to yoga, as well as other wellness practices like meditation, breath work, and reiki.
“When we did our market research to determine what the right program would be, [CO.STARTERS] was the clear choice. That being said, we don’t know the future. We may have to get more creative with the types of cohorts that we’re offering. We may need to get more niche, and provide more opportunities for students, women entrepreneurs and new Americans,” Maner said.
In the midst of her CO.STARTERS experience, Jordan found the clarity necessary to quit her day job and go full-time with Dakotah Yoga. “CO.STARTERS allowed me dedicated and focused ‘How are we going to get this to work?’ time. My goal was to have a plan to launch Dakotah Yoga to full-time by the end of the ten weeks, Dakotah Jordan but I put my notice in at my full-time job in week eight. That dedicated work time paid off,” Jordan said. “It gave me a community to test ideas with, get feedback and be encouraged when things were difficult. The resources and information during the course also gave me the confidence in areas I felt completely lost in prior to CO.STARTERS.” Startup Sioux Falls plans to host one more cohort this year, graduating an estimated 40 founders in 2021. Additionally, Maner
“We want to break down barriers, whether that’s resources, language or location, so more community members can take advantage of what we’re offering.” Regularly recognized as a top place to start a business, Sioux Falls is experiencing rapid population growth and a burgeoning entrepreneurial ecosystem. It’s an exciting time to live here. Whether it’s through accelerator programs like CO.STARTERS, networking events like 1 Million Cups or Startup Socials, or individualized resources like mentorship or coworking, Startup Sioux Falls is primed and prepared to support that growth and the entrepreneurs who are driving it. Whether you’re looking to tap into resources, find ways to get involved or simply learn more about what’s happening in the Startup Sioux Falls community, you can plug in by visiting their recently-updated website at startupsiouxfalls.com and clicking “Get Started.”
chambernews.com | Chamber News 27
Business Advocacy
2021 Legislative Scorecard A key piece of the Chamber’s annual Legislative Report is the Legislative Scorecard. The scorecard tracks how all 30 legislators from the greater Sioux Falls area voted on the issues that are important to the Chamber’s membership. The Chamber’s advocacy efforts are member led and conversations with our membership begin in September of every year through the work of our Issues Management Council (IMC). The Board of Directors then considers the IMC’s recommendations on the Chamber’s guiding public policy documents which ultimately guide the Chamber’s advocacy efforts in Pierre. Lawmakers earned a “Sioux Falls Community Champion” designation if they voted with the Chamber on 100% of the bills on the scorecard and a “Sioux Falls Supporter” designation if they voted in line the Chamber on more than 80% of the bills.
Scorecard Key Opposed Chamber’s position Supported Chamber’s position Did not vote* Community Champion Supporter
The full 2021 Legislative Scorecard includes how legislators voted on nearly 30 bills. The version presented here is a summary version, showing only the 10 bills that were of highest priority to the Chamber. The Champion and Supporter designations are based on the scores from the full scorecard. The complete 2021 scorecard, along with the 2021 Legislative Report, can be found at siouxfallschamber.com.
SUMMARY OF KEY BILLS HB 1046
COVID liability protections: Employers and business protections against legal claims unless exposure was intentional and negligent.
HB 1061
Prohibits use of marijuana while driving: No person may occupy, operate or be in physical control of a motor vehicle while smoking or ingesting marijuana or any derivative thereof.
HB 1217
Fairness in women’s sports: the language of the bill would have prohibited both transgender and cisgender females from playing women’s sports if they had taken any performance enhancing drugs for the 12 months prior to applying for a sport at public schools and postsecondary public schools.
SB 71
Juneteenth: Recognize Juneteenth as a working holiday in recognition of the June 19, 1865 freeing of the slaves in Texas after the Civil War was over and slavery in the U.S. was abolished.
SB 155
Workforce housing: Expands workforce housing for development, retention and recruitment that is accessible for low and moderate income individuals.
28 Chamber News | JUNE 2021
SB 162
Airport economic development: Provided dollars to Sioux Falls and Rapid City airports for recruitment and restoration of flights in a post-COVID world. The bill also appropriated dollars to help market the Aberdeen, Pierre and Watertown airports.
SB 171
Freedom Scholarship: Bill appropriates $50 million for the purposes of funding a South Dakota needs-based scholarship endowment. Sioux Falls community leaders T. Denny Sanford, Dana Dykhouse and Miles Beacom committed to giving/raising $150 million to fund the trust.
SB 181
SD State Veterans Cemetery: This bill appropriates $1.5 million for making road improvements for the main entry road to the Cemetery.
SB 185
Southeast Technical College (STC): This bill was amended to support STC efforts to expand their programs. Currently STC turns away more than twice the number of applicants who want to attend medical related programs because there is not capacity to accommodate all of students who would like to attend STC.
SB 186
Funding The Link: Bill appropriates $3 million in grants to the City of Sioux Falls for behavioral and mental health services in crisis stabilization.
18 6
SB
18 5
SB
18 1
SB
17 1
SB
16 2
SB
15 5
SB
71
SB
12 17
H B
10 61
10 46
H B
H B
Name (District)
2021
Rep. Richard Thomason (13)
100%
Rep. Erin Healy (14)
96%
Rep. Doug Barthel (10)
95%
Rep. Jamie Smith (15)
95%
Rep. Taylor Rehfeldt (14)
95%
Sen. Herman Otten (6)
95%
Rep. Linda Duba (15)
92%
Rep. Greg Jamison (12)
91%
Rep. David Anderson (16)
91%
Sen. Jack Kolbeck (13)
91%
Sen. Wayne Steinhauer (9)
91%
Rep. Mark Willadsen (11)
91%
Sen. Blake Curd (12)
90%
Sen. Larry Zikmund (14)
90%
Sen. Jim Bolin (16)
85%
Sen. Marsha Symens (25)
85%
Sen. Reynold Nesiba (15)
82%
Rep. Ernie Otten (6)
78%
Sen. Maggie Sutton (10)
76%
Rep. Kevin Jensen (16)
75%
Sen. Jim Stalzer (11)
75%
Rep. Arch Beal (12)
74%
Rep. Sue Peterson (13)
74%
Rep. Jon Hansen (25)
64%
Rep. Rhonda Milstead (9)
59%
Rep. Steve Haugaard (10)
54%
Rep. Chris Karr (11)
52%
Rep. Bethany Soye (9)
45%
Rep. Tom Pischke (25)
43%
Rep. Aaron Aylward (6)
36%
Notes: *If an elected official did not vote on an issue, the issue is not counted when tabulating the annual score.
chambernews.com | Chamber News 29
Headlines
Winners of the 2021 Hey Sioux Falls awards received bronze flashlights–a nod to the role they play in shining a light on entrepreneurship in our community. Above, Eric Weisser poses for a photo with his family after winning Startup Champion of the Year. Photos courtesy Pinnacle Productions
Six recognized with Hey Sioux Falls awards Six local entrepreneurs and companies were recognized for building great businesses or pushing the Sioux Falls entrepreneurial community forward at the 2021 Hey Sioux Falls awards program on Thursday. Recipients were selected from eighteen finalists and more than 100 nominees. The 2021 Hey Sioux Falls award recipients are: New Startup of the Year: Prismatic Startup Champion of the Year: Eric Weisser Small Business of the Year: Terra Shepherd Boutique & Apothecary Corporate Innovator of the Year: Midco Social Impact of the Year: South Dakota Voices for Peace Best Pivot of the Year: Good Night Theatre Collective
30 Chamber News | JUNE 2021
Each Hey Sioux Falls award recipient received a bronze flashlight – a nod to the role they play in shining a light on entrepreneurship. Hey Sioux Falls is a collaborative effort of the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce, Startup Sioux Falls and 1 Million Cups. It is a celebration of the trials and triumphs of local entrepreneurs, and seeks to bring together everyone from established business leaders to early-stage entrepreneurs to celebrate the vibrant entrepreneur community in Sioux Falls. The 2021 Hey Sioux Falls awards program was sponsored by The First National Bank in Sioux Falls; MarketBeat; SCORE South Dakota; Eide Bailly LLP; Midco; and Boyce Law Firm, L.L.P.
Thank you. Being in business is never easy. But it seems even more difficult these days. Thank you for doing business in our community. It matters.
SNBSD.com
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Headlines
Nominations sought for 4 under 40 Awards
Recipients will be named at the YPN Crossroads Summit
Nominations are now being accepted for the 4 under 40 Awards, a program that honors young professionals who are changemakers in their business, industry and community. The 4 under 40 Awards will name four individuals under 40 years of age AWARDS who have demonstrated commitment to their industry, successful collaboration, leadership by example and/or a willingness to mentor and motivate others. Past winners from the 2019 inaugural 4 Under 40 Awards include Katie Ashmore, Schemmer; Andy Cahoy, Farmers Business Network; Andrew Eitreim, Architecture Incorporated; and Matt Paulson, MarketBeat. The awards are organized by the Chamber’s Young Professionals Network (YPN). An online nomination form can be found at rebrand.ly/CrossroadsSummit. All nominations must be received by 5 p.m. on June 25. A panel of YPN members will review nominations and select the individuals to be honored. All nominees and the four award winners will be recognized on August 12 at the Crossroads Summit. The event is a one-day, professional development conference that encourages people from all
The 4 under 40 awards program was launched in 2019 to recognize young professionals who are changemakers in their business, industry or community.
industries around the region to network, learn and build relationships. For more information on the 4 under 40 Awards and the Crossroads Summit, visit rebrand.ly/CrossroadsSummit.
Apply for Leadership Sioux Falls The Evan C. Nolte Leadership Sioux Falls program will begin accepting applications for the 36th class on June 9, 2021. 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.
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.
Leadership Sioux Falls identifies current and future leaders of Sioux Falls and educates them on the different aspects that tie the community together, with the goal of inspiring program 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.
The program application, as well as a complete schedule for Class 36 is available at siouxfallschamber.com. Applications will be accepted until July 30. Tuition is $600 and is non-refundable. For more information, contact Holly Rader at (605) 373-2016 or hrader@siouxfalls.com.
32 Chamber News | JUNE 2021
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Member Voice
A Shot of Hope: The COVID-19 Vaccine Vaccines are one of the greatest public health achievements of all time. As someone who has spent the last six years advocating for patients who can benefit from being vaccinated, I feel an added responsibility to help educate in uncertain times amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Andrea Polkinghorn Sanford Health
As business leaders in this community, I’m confident we can inspire each other to lead the way.
Because vaccines have worked so well, some people may wonder if they are really needed. The answer is yes, they are absolutely needed and this pandemic is an example of what vaccine preventable diseases can do and look like when we do not have a safe and effective vaccine. Vaccines prevent hospitalization and mortality. Vaccines are safe and while vaccination is an individual choice, it is a choice that impacts our friends, family and communities. The COVID-19 vaccines were developed in record time but with all the same safety checks in place. Scientists began working on the COVID-19 vaccine in January 2020. One year later, we were putting shots in arms. This feat is a sign of what can be accomplished with a singular goal. Safety continues to be paramount. The temporary pause in the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine is a great example. This pause should be seen as a check and balance on our vaccine safety system. It meant that our reporting systems were working as designed. I’ve been encouraged by our early progress in vaccine distribution, yet today we are seeing a slowdown in shots. A little over 50% of South Dakotans are currently vaccinated. Experts believe we need at least 70-80% of the population vaccinated to reach herd immunity. When we coin the phrase “herd immunity” we don’t mean this to be a magic number or even an ending. What it means is it’s a target to keep the pandemic from returning once it is over. Realizing the importance of getting everyone vaccinated, the CDC recently endorsed the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine for 12-to 15-year-olds and I consider this a giant step in the fight against the pandemic. This will pave the way for millions of young people to get the shots along with their parents and make it so much easier for our local and state officials and business owners to return to a way of life pre-COVID. Part of our responsibility as leaders in this community is to help bust myths and instead provide the facts on important topics that affect all of us. I have heard some repeat the myth that the COVID-19 vaccine will alter our DNA. This is 100% false. The COVID-19 vaccines use messenger RNA (mRNA) to elicit an immune response. mRNA isn’t the same as DNA and it cannot combine with our DNA to change our genetic code. Pregnant moms should also feel comfortable knowing that the COVID-19 vaccines are safe. The latest medical data confirms this. What’s more, several studies have shown that vaccinated pregnant women can pass antibodies to their babies in utero and through breastmilk. So, the vaccine is not only safe for mom but also adds a layer of protection for her unborn baby.
34 Chamber News | JUNE 2021
Getting back to normal is a goal for all of us. We all want to attend weddings, concerts, graduation open houses and soccer matches. We all have loved ones with questions or concerns, so let’s do our part to help steer people in the right direction. As business leaders in this community, I’m confident we can inspire each other to lead the way. We need you now more than ever as community partners and influencers to promote and encourage vaccination. We all want to get back to normal when it comes to our families, our businesses and our shared way of life. Encourage those around you to get the shot so we can move on together as a community. My hope is for all communities across South Dakota to be safe and get back to normal. The safest and most efficient way to accomplish that is through vaccination. Visitvaccines.gov to find the closest vaccine available for you and your employees. Andrea Polkinghorn, BSN, RN-BC, serves as the Immunization Strategy Leader for Sanford Health, providing oversight and consultation to 46 medical centers and 210 clinics. She coordinates efforts to improve vaccination rates and standardize immunization practices, in addition to educating staff on preventable diseases and the vaccines available for them. She currently leads Sanford Health’s COVID-19 vaccination efforts, attending planning meetings with the state Department of Health and advocating for patients who would most benefit from being vaccinated. Andrea is the president of the Immunize South Dakota immunization coalition and provides her expertise to national organizations such as the National HPV Roundtable and the National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit. She holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from South Dakota State University.
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Offices also in Mitchell, Pierre, Watertown and Rapid City chambernews.com | Chamber News 35
Chamber Partner
Poised for success in 2021 There’s no question that the pandemic required individuals and business owners to lean into resiliency and innovation this past year in order to succeed. Across Sioux Falls, businesses adapted to find a path forward. Just look at Grand Prairie Foods, whose owners adjusted their product line after the hospitality industry was upended last year—moving from entrees geared for hotel buffets to individually wrapped sandwiches—and found success.
Mayor Paul TenHaken City of Sioux Falls
...we continue to focus on taking care of residents and being attentive to the sustainable growth of Sioux Falls.
As a City team, we also found opportunities to innovate and continue delivering high-quality services to residents. For example, last year we saw a record-setting year for building permit activity, and our City team didn’t miss a beat in continuing to support that economic development growth with our internal permit process even during the height of the pandemic. We moved to virtual inspections in April 2020 and expanded the use of our online permit review system. As a result, our online users increased by 86 percent, and we issued more than 7,200 building permits and performed more than 51,000 inspections. These statistics showcase not only our customer-focused approach but also the widespread appeal of Sioux Falls to businesses, entrepreneurs and residents. And that’s not going away in the months and years ahead. As I shared in May during the 2021 State of the City address, my administration and our City team not only adapted to a new way of doing business but also continued to move Sioux Falls forward throughout the challenges of the pandemic. Guided by the One Sioux Falls framework, we progressed on many key projects to strengthen and enrich residents’ quality of life. These investments are allowing us to build on a strong foundation to make Sioux Falls even better for generations to come. In 2020, we moved forward with milestone infrastructure improvements, such as completion of the Eighth Street Bridge rehabilitation; 26th Street and Interstate 229 Interchange; and securing the partnership agreement with the State of South Dakota for funding the 8.5 additional miles of Veteran’s Parkway. Additionally, the City received unanimous Council support to move forward with a $50 million bond for a premier Public Safety Training Facility and a 9-1-1 Metro dispatch center. Thanks to the City’s strong economic foundation prior to the pandemic, we were able to make additional investments to benefit residents. That included retiring $25.2 million in debt—leading to a debt per capita of $1,475—and using $11 million of local government assistance funding to advance Phase I of the Sioux Falls for All initiative to support quality of life improvement projects. As we look forward, we continue to focus on taking care of residents and being attentive to the sustainable growth of Sioux Falls. I continually hear from residents about the needs of our community in the areas of workforce, safety and housing, and we’ll have focused efforts within those areas in the year ahead. That will include being proactive in workforce through key partnerships and continuing a multi-faceted housing plan to include a new City neighborhood revitalization division to deliver services more efficiently to residents. Looking ahead, investments in safety and health, including the Link community triage center, are moving forward, along with investments in Sioux Falls’ roadway network. I’m also looking forward to investments in downtown Sioux Falls, including the planned launch of the River Greenway Project Phase III and reconstruction of the Sixth Street Bridge and Seventh Street cul-de-sac. These investments will provide additional opportunity for private sector and philanthropic investments. I’m excited to see how downtown’s vibrancy will only continue to grow. Within the tenant of “Engaging People,” we will focus additional efforts on the youth of Sioux Falls in 2021. Those initiatives include continued support for the Sioux 52 Mentoring Initiative and establishing a Mayor’s Youth Council to allow our youth the opportunity to weigh in on community issues and become more engaged in City government. Our future as a community is bright, and it’s going to be a busy next few years ahead of us as a city. Together, we will continue building upon our past successes and moving forward with a growth mindset to preserve and expand our great quality of life. As 32nd Mayor of Sioux Falls, Paul TenHaken leads with a focus on public entrepreneurship, innovation, employee culture and fiscal responsibility. He has taken strategic steps to ensure South Dakota’s largest city continues its success by investing in critical infrastructure projects, fostering accessible housing opportunities across all income levels, and making sure Sioux Falls has a strong foundation to be the best community to live, work, raise a family and retire.
36 Chamber News | JUNE 2021
scholars Davenport Evans Law Firm is proud to announce our 2021 scholarship recipients. For over 30 years, Davenport Evans has awarded eight annual scholarships totaling $20,000. Scholarships are awarded through the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation to seniors headed to institutions of higher learning in South Dakota.
Kinsey Capaldo Lincoln High School Planning to attend South Dakota State University
Erena Jain O’Gorman High School Planning to attend University of South Dakota
Rachel Johnson Sioux Falls Christian High School Planning to attend Augustana University
Andrew Moen O’Gorman High School Planning to attend University of South Dakota
Alaina Murphy West Central High School Planning to attend South Dakota State University
Seth Peterson Canton High School Planning to attend South Dakota State University
Sydney Schultz Washington High School Planning to attend South Dakota State University
Katlyn VerMeer Washington High School Planning to attend South Dakota State University
Contact a lawyer: (605) 336-2880 info@dehs.com Davenport, Evans, Hurwitz & Smith, LLP
davenportevans.com
Ribbon Cuttings
Ribbon Cuttings
The Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce offers a ribbon cutting ceremony or member spotlight video for members to celebrate joining the Chamber, milestone anniversaries, expansions or remodelings. The public and all Chamber members are invited to share in the celebration. Call (605) 336-1620 for more information or to schedule your event. Groundbreaking ceremonies are coordinated by the Sioux Falls Development Foundation. Call (605) 339-0103 for more information or to schedule your event.
Children’s Inn
GROUNDBREAKING
chssd.org/childrensinn Children’s Inn broke ground on a new 48,000 sq. ft. building that will contain 38 bedrooms and 96 beds. This expansion will be a safe shelter and offer support services for victims of domestic violence, child abuse and neglect. L to R: Amy Carter, Pastor Rich Merkouris, Laurie Gill, Dan Doyle, Pat Costello, Mayor Paul TenHaken, Governor Kristi Noem, Michelle Lavallee, Julie Anderson-Friesen, Carolynn J. Stavenger, Tom Hamel, John Rozell, Chris Torkelson, Stacey McMahan, Sara Kindvall and Rick Weber.
Faith Through Frames
218 W. 13th St., Suite 109 faiththroughframes.com Faith Through Frames provides free portrait photography services to those who cannot afford a photographer. L to R: Dave Strande, Jay Soukup, Pastor Rebel Hurd, James Gaspar, Steve Johnson (president), Becky Johnson, Jay Rasmussen, Nolan Johnson, Nathan Stallinga, Cindi Johnson and Dan Van Roekel. NEW MEMBER
Farmers Insurance Wade C. Thomas Agency
NEW MEMBER
817 S. Marion Road farmersagent.com/wthomas1 The Wade C. Thomas Agency is a local Farmers® agent in Sioux Falls that helps customers identify the insurance coverage that best fits their needs. They offer auto, home, renters, business insurance and more. L to R: Wyatt Thomas, Tammy Beintema, Josh Muckenhirn, Wade Thomas (owner), Beth Thomas, Jay Rasmussen, Amy O’ConnorHoback, Nathan Stallinga and Veronica Thomas.
Fit Body Boot Camp
NEW LOCATION
38 Chamber News | JUNE 2021
3324 S. Duluth Ave. siouxfallsfitbody.com Over the last five years Fit Body Boot Camp has helped hundreds of clients and they are excited to announce their new and latest location. L To R: Vicky Geiman, Josh Muckenhirn, Lynda Billars, Amy O’ConnorHoback, Kristin Hoefert-Redlinger, Mel Wehrkamp, CJ Wehrkamp (owner), Cindi Johnson, Tim Wehrkamp and Denise Wehrkamp.
The Link
132 N. Dakota Ave. linksf.org The Link connects people to appropriate care for mental health and substance abuse challenges. L to R: Dave Flicek, Kristin HoefertRedlinger, Dean Karsky, Dan Doyle, Mayor Paul TenHaken, Jay Rasmussen, Scott Johnson, Josh Muckenhirn, Karlie Solum and Paul Hanson. NEW MEMBER
Pathways to Inclusive & Equitable Workplaces
NEW MEMBER
pathwaysdei.org Pathways educates businesses on the development of inclusive and equitable workplaces. L to R: Heather Growth, Jan Ritter, Cody Ingle, Willette Capers, Natasha Smith, Jennifer Hoesing, Vicki Stewart, Dakotah Jordan, Kristin Hoefer-Redlinger, Dawn Ingalls, Colleen Moran, Katy Morris, Kira Kimball (founder), Jay Soukup, Julie Ward, Terry Liggins, Julie Waage, Dan Doyle, Harriet Yocum, Mark Niemeyer and Nancy Walker.
chambernews.com | Chamber News 39
Ribbon Cuttings
Revitalize Massage by GreatLIFE
4600 S. Tennis Lane joingreatlife.com Revitalize Massage by GreatLIFE is a therapeutic massage business specializing in deep tissue massage. L to R: Kaitlyn Swartz, Jen Johnson, Tom Walsh Jr., Randall Hill (vice president), Barry Owen, Nick Ovenden, Jay Rasmussen, Derrick Karsky, Carrie Sack, Kayla Eitreim , Lynda Billars, Tammy Hansen and Josh Muckenhirn. EXPANSION
Simply Perfect
401 E. 8th St., #108 simplyperfectshop.com Simply Perfect has an expanded interior design workroom and showroom floor. L to R: Penny Klinedinst (owner), Lucas Fiegen, Brian Sittig, Norilee Schmidt, Anna Jankord, Hailey Schmidt, Amy O’Connor-Hoback and Dan Doyle.
NEW MEMBER
Share your message with the business community
Advertise in Chamber News Chamber News is a direct business-to-business 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. 40 Chamber News | JUNE 2021
Promote your business in Chamber News. Contact Steven Herman at (605) 373-2013 or chambernews@siouxfalls.com.
Ribbon Cuttings
The Thrift Shop
3209 S. Summit Ave. facebook.com/thethriftshopsf The Thrift Shop is a local consignment store that directs all profits toward helping individuals recover from addictions. L to R: Denny McCoy, April Meyerink, Jami Gates, Doug Winzetl, Craig Nichols (founder), Nathan Kasselder, Janet Bellman, JoAnne Kasselder and Diane Nichols. NEW MEMBER
Tri State Nursing Occupational Health and Therapy Services
NEW MEMBER
42 Chamber News | JUNE 2021
3410 S. Western Ave. siouxlandphysicaltherapy.com Tri State Nursing Occupational Health and Therapy Services is a new outpatient physical and occupational therapy clinic. They specialize in work comp and occupational health services. L to R: Kelsey Zenk, Alexis Konstant, Nathan Stallinga, John Stollberg, Jay Rasmussen, Bridget Hoefling (CEO), Anna Henney, Lynda Billars and Cassandra Feske.
Membership
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.
15th Round Boxing
Faith Through Frames
Northwestern Mutual – Mike Tuch
Alpha Brilliance LLC
Fareway Stores
Papa Woody’s Wood Fired Pizza
Federated Insurance
Pendar Properties
Hot Harley Nights
Priority Dental Care
The Link
Standard Services, LLC
Fitness Health and Recreation George Giovanis, (605) 941-8200 5403 W. 41st St., 57106 15throundboxing.com
Cleaning Services Alex Hixon, (605) 413-6664 facebook.com/AlphabrillianceLLC
Amazon Delivery Station Mail Services & Shipping Sara Meyer 820 E. 60th St. North, 57104 amazon.com
Boss’ Pizzeria & Sports Bar
Restaurants Dallas Wilkinson, (605) 275-2716 1301 W. Russell Ave., 57106 bosspizzaandchicken.com
Cannabis ChemLab Inc.
Laboratories & Imaging Jared Nieuwenhuis, (605) 633-0005 48598 234th St., Flandreau, SD 57028 cannabischemlab.com
D&K Lawn Care and Landscaping LLC Lawn & Snow Dan Pyle, (605) 201-0991 P.O. Box 84606, 57118 dklawncaresf.com
Energy Transfer Partners
Trucking & Transit Herbert Shilstone, (713) 989-2152 1300 Main St., Houston, TX 77002 energytransfer.com
eXp Realty – Andrew Theesen Affiliate–Real Estate Andrew Theesen, (605) 838-6779 searchsiouxfallshomesnow.com
Faith & Family First, Inc.
Associate Member Steve Johnson, (605) 212-4397 218 W. 13th Street, Suite 109, 57104 faiththroughframes.com
Grocery Stores Joel Hermanson, (605) 361-3166 3005 S. Hidden Place, 57106 farewaystores.com
Insurance & Benefits Ryan Bagheri, (316) 210-0267 304 Splitrock Blvd., Suite 202, Brandon, SD 57005 federatedinsurance.com
Associate Member Jimmy Enteman, (605) 334-2721 2601 W. 60th St. North, 57107 hotharleynights.com
Associate Member Steve Lindquist, (605) 275-1000 132 N. Dakota Ave., 57104 linksf.org
Lost & Found
Associate Member Erik Muckey, (605) 999-5036 5015 S. Crossing Place, Suite 110, 57108 resilienttoday.org
Affiliate–Insurance Mike Tuch, (605) 361-9788 2307 W. 57th St., 57108 mikdetuch.nm.com
Restaurants Lisa Esser, (605) 271-0519 421 N. Phillips Ave., Suite 119, 57104 papawoodyspizza.com
Real Estate–Developer Anne Haber, (605) 339-3874 221 S. Phillips Ave., #205, 57104 pendarproperties.com
Dental Care & Orthodontics Dr. Clint Wilson, (605) 305-4141 6301 W. 41st St., 57106 prioritydentalcare.com
Financial Services Tony Venhuizen, (605) 496-7760 1601 E. 69th St., Suite 308, 57108
Summit Funding
Mortgage Lending Amber Fluit, (605) 595-8700
Mark & Nancy Wahlstrom Associate Member
The Lot LLC
Auto Sales Scott Johnson, (605) 213-3400 2524 S. Minnesota Ave., 57105 thelotllc.com
Mammoth Sports Construction
Construction Management Derik Budig, (605) 271-3555 2210 W. Pentagon Place, Suite 2109, 57107 mammothbuilt.com
Associate Member Gary Jerke, (605) 505-1233 29125 416th Ave., Tripp, SD 57376 experiencethefarm.com
chambernews.com | Chamber News 43
Membership
Member Anniversaries Congratulations to the following members who are celebrating their milestone membership anniversaries this month. They are part of a continued commitment to our community through their investment in the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce. To learn more about Chamber membership, contact (605) 336-1620 or gsfcc@siouxfalls.com. Find a complete Membership Directory online at siouxfallschamber.com.
Founding Members AAA South Dakota Insurance & Benefits AAA.com Member since 1933
Augustana University Education-Post Secondary augie.edu Member since 1918
Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center Hospitals avera.org Member since 1911
Boyce Law Firm, L.L.P. Attorneys boycelaw.com Member since 1907
44 Chamber News | JUNE 2021
Cadwell Sanford Deibert & Garry LLP
Journey Group Companies
Electric Construction Company
Land O’Lakes/Prairie Farms
Gage Brothers
McKinneyOlson Insurance
Girton Adams Company
Results Radio - Townsquare Media KSOO 1000/KMXC 97.3/KYBB 102.7/ KXRB 1140/KKLS 104.7/KIKN 100.5
Attorneys cadlaw.com Member since 1907
Electricians & Electrical Contractors electricconstructionfsd.com Member since 1907
Concrete gagebrothers.com Member since 1918
Heating & Cooling girtonadams.com Member since 1909
Contractors journeyconstruction.com Member since 1907
Food Production/Distribution deanfoods.com Member since 1917
Insurance & Benefits mckinneyolson.com Member since 1907
Television, Radio & Outdoor townsquaresiouxfalls.com Member since 1926
Sanford Health
Hospitals sanfordhealth.org Member since 1907
Sioux Falls Seminary Education-Post Secondary sfseminary.edu Member since 1907
Smithfield Foods
Food Production/Distribution smithfieldfoods.com Member since 1909
TSP, Inc.
Architecture teamtsp.com Member since 1930
University of Sioux Falls Education-Post Secondary usiouxfalls.edu Member since 1907
75 Years
Egger Steel Co.
Industrial Equipment & Supply eggersteel.com
Marsh & McLennan Agency Insurance & Benefits marshmma.com
70 Years
RSM US LLP
Certified Public Accountants rsmus.com
65 Years
Home Builders Association of the Sioux Empire (HBASE) Associate Member hbasiouxempire.com
Raven Industries, Inc.
Manufacturing & Production ravenind.com
60 Years
5 Years
Architecture kochhazard.com
Attorneys ehhlawyers.com
Koch Hazard Architects
35 Years
Cole Papers
Specialty Retail colepapers.com
Evans Haigh & Hinton, LLP Fernson Downtown Bars & Breweries fernson.com
Highest Health Chiropractic
20 Years
Chiropractor highesthealthchiropractic.com
Security fredthefixer.com
Legacy Law Firm, P.C.
Fred the Fixer, Inc. LIVE ON STAGE - Sioux Falls Concerts Association Associate Member siouxfallsconcerts.org
Michels Communications Publications michelscom.com
Tea Economic Development Corp. Associate Member teasd.com
Walgreens
Drug & Convenience Stores walgreens.com
15 Years
DFS Insurance
Investing dakotafinancialservices.com
Monsanto Co.
Attorneys legacylawfirmpc.com
First Year Reinvestors Anne Rieck McFarland Consulting, LLC Business Consulting
Flyboy Donuts & Coffee Bakery/Sweets flyboydonuts.com
HD Detailing
Auto Repair & Services hddetailingservices.com
Redders, LLC Restaurants reddersllc.com
Richland Loan Processing Center LLC Financial Planning rlpcenter.com
Agriculture monsanto.com
10 Years
South Dakota National Guard Enlisted Association (SDNGEA) Associate Member sdngea.com
chambernews.com | Chamber News 45
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 Greg Koch Greg Koch studied health, physical education and recreation at SDSU before graduating from USF with a degree in business management. He put his education to work as co-owner and general manager of 605 Running Company. Founded in 2014 and located in downtown Sioux Falls, 605 Running Company is a running specialty outfitter and experts at shoe fitting. Greg and his wife Chelsea are parents to two-year-old Violet.
Why do you choose to invest in a Chamber membership? I got my start at my parents’ business, The Cookie Jar Eatery, and learned some of my most important business lessons while working there. Glen and Elaine Koch have been chamber members for almost 20 years and I have gotten to benefit from lunch and learns, various committee opportunities and networking events hosted by the Chamber. Now as a business owner I’m able to open those same opportunities up to my employees. I’ve had staff participate in the Young Professionals Network and we routinely utilize tools offered by the Chamber.
Share a lesson that you’ve learned as an entrepreneur.
Greg Koch
605 Running Company
You have to know when to ask for help. This is especially critical for entrepreneurs. It is in our nature to be self-starters and problem solvers. It took me a long time to learn that asking for help doesn’t mean that you failed at something. I have often described myself as knowing just enough about any given subject to be dangerous. Understanding when a YouTube video and some ingenuity will get a specific job done versus when it might be better to ask an expert for help and to pay for a service is an important lesson to learn. You have to understand your personal value to your company and where your time is best served. This is a lesson that you don’t just learn once. Once you commit to asking for help your life gets a lot easier and you become more successful.
Describe your favorite run. My all-time favorite run is a long gravel run. When I am marathon training most of my long runs take place on a gravel road. I generally prefer running in the mornings and I’m famous for a nice frozen beard photo or two on Instagram. Truly a good day is a day that I get to run and I’m not too picky about when or where. Lately, running with others has been extra special considering the impact the last year has had on running events. Just being able to share some miles with a friend or two is wonderful.
What is the best piece of advice you have received? My friend and owner of Spoke-N-Sport, Chad Pickard, has given me plenty of advice over the years, but the best advice was to use wooden hangers for our apparel.
If you could witness any event of the past, present or future, what would it be? This is such a challenging question, but I’d like to keep it running specific. As a local South Dakotan it would be incredible to go back to the 1964 Tokyo Olympics to see Billy Mills win the gold medal in the 10,000 meter run.
Visit chambernews.com to see five more questions with Greg Koch!
46 Chamber News | JUNE 2021
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