May 2022 Chamber News by Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce

Chamber News Vol. 57, No. 7

May 2022

A PUBLICATION OF THE GREATER SIOUX FALLS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The impact of the arts Artistic and cultural elements enhance community and economy

Living life on your terms With dreams to chase As you find a path By paving it yourself

Sanford Health connects you to the providers you trust with locations, hours and online options that fit whatever your day holds. Because no matter what comes your way:

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658-828-719 REV 1/22

In this issue Feature

The impact of the arts Artistic and cultural elements enhance community and economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22-27 Top stories Leadership Sioux Falls graduates 36th class . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30-31 Chamber purchases Commerce Center building . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 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 Headlines. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29-32

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

Using Your Membership. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Chamber Mission

Chamber Partner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34-35

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.

DE&I Feature Series. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36-37 Ribbon Cuttings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38-42 New Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Member Anniversaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44-45 Five Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 ON THE COVER

Jami Lynn and JAS Quintet perform at the Levitt at the Falls. Photo by Christian Begeman.

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 As an artist, I value the importance and the impact the arts have on the character of our community. Our city is a very vibrant place where so many artists express their talents through performance and visual art.

Alex Ramirez 2021-22 Chair of the Board

...it is vital that we continue to support our artistic community

People come to Sioux Falls from other towns and surrounding states to enjoy the arts. There are those who travel to attend large events like the annual Sidewalk Arts Festival or a major concert at the PREMIER Center. Some come to simply spend a weekend listening to local musicians and enjoying the works of local artists that hang on the walls of our coffee shops. Some people will take the opportunity to purchase a handmade gift. All of this activity impacts our economy. And not just from visitors’ spending, but residents as well. I believe it is vital that we continue to support our artistic community. It contributes so much to the high quality of life that we enjoy here. Our growing city and region benefit greatly from investments made by many organizations in all sectors. I am very proud of a recent investment made by the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce, in the form of the acquisition of the Commerce Center building. There was very careful consideration from the Chamber’s Executive Committee and input from some of our past board chairs. I would like to thank them for their help and dedication. This investment is an example of the commitment from our chamber to grow and invest in our downtown and our community as a whole. This decision was made with our membership in mind, and it will serve us all for years and years to come. Our Chamber’s signature professional development program, Leadership Sioux Falls, will graduate 37 leaders from its 36th class this month. The class has spent the past eight months learning about opportunities and challenges within our community. They’ve had the chance to form new relationships and stretch themselves personally and professionally. These are leaders of tomorrow and there is no better way to maintain a strong community than to invest in the development of leaders. This month, we will celebrate Armed Forces Day with a program at The Alliance. I invite you all to join me there to show our thanks to all military active duty and veterans for their service!

2021-22 GREATER SIOUX FALLS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE LEADERSHIP

CHAMBER STAFF

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Jeff Griffin, President & CEO Diane Balk, Accounting Manager Joan Bartling, Vice President of Finance & Accounting Justin Bentaas, Public Affairs & Research Manager Jill Blom, Graphics & Communications Manager Casey Boerger, Young Professionals Network Manager Kyle Davis, Member Services Specialist Peyton DeJong, Agribusiness Manager Jennie Doyen, Vice President of Member Services Becky Griebel, Administrative Assistant Elizabeth Heidinger, Member Services Specialist Steven Herman, Sales Manager Pat Lund, Member Relations Manager Mike Lynch, Executive Director of Investor Relations, Forward Sioux Falls Debra Owen, Vice President of Government Relations Holly Rader, Vice President of Member Relations Teresa Schreier, Events Coordinator Susan Seachris, Administrative/Accounting Assistant

Chair Alex Ramirez, USA Media TV Chair-Elect Paul Hanson, Sanford Health Vice Chair Scott Lawrence, Lawrence & Schiller, Inc. Treasurer Miles Beacom, PREMIER Bankcard Immediate Past Chair Dan Doyle, Lloyd Companies Chamber President & CEO Jeff Griffin BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Joe Bunkers, Gage Brothers Kim Burma, Midco Tamien Dysart, Think 3D Solutions Natalie Eisenberg, Click Rain, Inc. Kayla Eitreim, Junior Achievement of South Dakota Dr. José-Marie Griffiths, Dakota State University Jason Herrboldt, First Bank & Trust Angela Lammers, Cetera Services, LLC

Valerie Loudenback, Grand Prairie Foods Tolcha Mesele, Smithfield Foods Nancy Savage, Child’s Play Toys Nathan Stallinga, DakotAbilities Bob Sutton, Avera Health Tony Venhuizen, Standard Services, LLC EX-OFFICIO

Kyle Groos, Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools Cindy Heiberger, Minnehaha County Commission Cynthia Mickelson, Sioux Falls School Board Jim Schmidt, Lincoln County Commission Dr. Jane Stavem, Sioux Falls Public School System Mayor Paul TenHaken, City of Sioux Falls

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 EVENTS

MIXER

Business Sense Workshop: Networking 101—The Basics Tuesday, May 10 Noon Chamber of Commerce 200 N. Phillips Ave, Suite 200

DETAILS: Jackie Payne, FranklinCovey, will share the basics of networking and some of the best, time-tested strategies. You’ll learn how to begin with the end in mind, how to master introductions, how to listen empathetically and how to most effectively share your own story. COST: $10, bring your own lunch

MEMBERSHIP

RSVP: siouxfallschamber.com

SPONSORED BY:

Tuesday, May 10

4:30–6:30 p.m. Dave & Buster’s 2690 S. Lorraine Place Complimentary hors d’oeuvres and cash bar $5 admission or use your Mixer Pass

New Member Lunch Wednesday, May 18

11:30 a.m. Chamber of Commerce 200 N. Phillips Ave, Suite 200 DETAILS: Newer chamber members or anyone who would like to learn more about the benefits and tools to help maximize the membership experience are invited to attend the New Member Lunch. Topics include programs and events, communication processes and how to promote your business through the Members Only online portal. COST $10 (includes lunch) RSVP: siouxfallschamber.com

Armed Forces Day Ceremonies Saturday, May 21

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

Thursday, May 12

7–8:30 a.m. Best Western Plus Ramkota Hotel and Conference Center 3200 W. Maple St. DETAILS: Post-secondary programs play a critical role in our state’s workforce development strategies. Join us for a conversation with Dr. Brian Maher, Executive Director of the South Dakota Board of Regents, and Nick Wendell, Executive Director of the South Dakota Board of Technical Education, on how their institutions are preparing your future employees. New executives and leaders in the business community will also be introduced. COST: $30 RSVP: siouxfallschamber.com

DETAILS: This annual event recognizes members of the armed forces for their service. Hosted by the Chamber’s Military & Veterans Affairs Committee. COST: Free and open to the public

Morning Mingle Thursday, May 26

7:30–9 a.m. 4Front Studios 600 N. Main Ave., #109 DETAILS: Join the Chamber for a fun and energetic morning networking opportunity. Drop by for a cup of coffee and great conversation with other members of the business community. COST: Free

Membership Mixer & Business Fair Tuesday, June 7

4:30–7 p.m. Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort 1415 Grand Falls Blvd., Larchwood, IA 51241 DETAILS: The annual Membership Mixer & Business Fair combines our traditional networking event with the opportunity to view the products and services of other Chamber members. Visit each of the vendor booths and bring plenty of business cards for door prizes. COST: $5 or use your Mixer Pass

6 Chamber News | MAY 2022

GREATER SIOUX FALLS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

UPCOMING EVENTS

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

YPs Read Monday, May 2 5–6 p.m.

DETAILS: YPs Read is a book club for members of YPN, focused on reading personal and professional development books. The May meeting will discuss the book Never Split the Difference. Watch for a location to be announced closer to the date. COST: Free

Morning Buzz Thursday, May 5

7:30–9 a.m. ChiroFamily 5048 E. 57th St., Suite A DETAILS: Join other YPN members for networking while getting your morning buzz (coffee). Morning-minded young professionals are invited to come enjoy coffee and conversation with other YPN members at our Morning Buzz. COST: Free

Power Lunch Wednesday, May 11

Noon–1 p.m. Crisp & Green 2101 W. 41st St., Unit 52 DETAILS: Research says one of the best ways to improve your productivity at work is to take a lunch break. So check out of the office (or your home office) for the noon hour and enjoy lunch with us at Crisp & Green! Please rsvp so we can monitor space requirements. COST: Free, food and drink on your own.

Community Connections Tour: Ag United for South Dakota Tuesday, May 17 4–5:30 p.m. Boadwine Farms, Inc. 25130 470 Ave., Baltic SD, 57003

DETAILS: YPN Community Connections Tours provide the opportunity to get an inside look at a local business. On this tour of Boadwine Farms, Inc. you’ll learn about the work of Ag United for South Dakota. COST: Free, registration required.

Reservations for Six Wednesday, May 25

Noon–1 p.m. Roundhouse Brew Pub 1515 E. 69th St. DETAILS: Get to know other young professionals in the community in a small setting and support a Chamber member restaurant at the same time! Reservations for Six is a networking lunch with no agenda, just a meal out with your peers. Limited to the first six to register!

Find us on social media or visit siouxfallsypn.com

Action Team Meetings You can help shape key areas of YPN programming by joining an Action Team. All team meetings are open to any YPN member who would like to get involved. Volunteering with an Action Team is a great way to strengthen professional connections and exercise your skills in collaboration, facilitation and project management. For more details on the responsibilities of each team, visit siouxfallsypn.com.

Social Action Team

Tuesday, May 3, 4-5 p.m. Chamber of Commerce

Personal & Professional Development Action Team Thursday, May 5, 4-5 p.m. Chamber of Commerce

COST: Free, food & drink on your own.

Off the Clock Thursday, May 26 4–7 p.m. SIR by Vanessens 430 E. 8th St.

DETAILS: Join us for May’s 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

chambernews.com | Chamber News 7

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

South Dakota Team Hope Walk

Cinco de Mayo Fiesta at Falls Park West

Sioux Falls Polar Plunge

Cory Asbury: Songs and Stories Tour 2022

Avera Race Against Cancer

Iration: Zen Island World Tour at The District

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

12-15

The Premiere Playhouse presents: Cabaret

Rage Against The Machine at Denny Sanford PREMIER Center

Love Sioux Falls City Wide Worship at Levitt at the Falls

Indigenous Artists of the Prairie Festival

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

16-17

14th Annual Knickers Fore Knockers golf tournament

Mark Kingswood at Washington Pavilion

Nebula w/ Year of the Cobra at Bigs Bar

Wizard of OZ - Young Performers Edition at Washington Pavilion

19-22

The Premiere Playhouse presents: Cabaret

Kenny Wayne Shepherd at The District

Plant Sale & Swap festival at McCrossan Boys Ranch

3-8

Come From Away at Washington Pavilion

Amy Grant Live at the Washington Pavilion

Spring Art & Wine Walk in downtown Sioux Falls

South Dakota Symphony Youth Orchestra at Washington Pavilion

6-7

Howard Wood Dakota Relays

Cruisin’ for Critters Poker Run 2022

MAY 1

8 Chamber News | MAY 2022

JUNE 2-3 3

Ranch Golf Classic at McCrossan Boys Ranch

The Good Night Theatre Collective Presents: A Culinary Cabaret

Evening in the Vineyard at Wilde Prairie Winery

Zippity Zoo Day at the Great Plains Zoo

Opening Night Levitt 2022 Season at Levitt at the Falls

13th Annual 605 Summer Classic Event

The Dinner Detective at Sheraton Sioux Falls

25-26

South Dakota Peach Festival

Eastbank Block Party at 8th & Railroad Center

Sertoma Shine and Show (Car Show)

4-5

21st Annual Siouxland Renaissance Festival

JULY

25th Annual Festival of Cultures

Eastbank Block Party

Spring Open House at Wilde Prairie Winery

Three Dog Night at Washington Pavilion

Good Earth Summer Concert Series presents Commonground

7-9

The Good Night Theatre Collective presents: You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown

YMCA Fore the Kids Golf Classic

Wagon Wheel at W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds

Trace Adkins at South Dakota Military Heritage Alliance

Tommy Howell at Washington Pavilion

Good Earth Summer Concert Series presents Mogen’s Heroes

Steve-O: The Bucket List Tour at The District

17-18

Anastasia at Washington Pavilion

15-16

Summer Downtown Crazy Days

Sioux Falls Pride Festival & Parade

15-17

Soo Foo Moto Show at J&L Harley-Davidson

605 Summer Classic

7th Annual Wiley’s Block Party featuring Kip Moore

Hank Williams Jr at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center

5th Annual Hot Classics Night at Nyberg’s Ace Downtown

Sunday in the Vineyard at Wilde Prairie Winery

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

March 2022

February 2022

CUMULATIVE YEAR TO DATE

1,067 permits

2020

1,284 permits

2021

BISMARCK

3.0%

1,320 permits

2022 0

300

600

900

1200

FARGO

2.4%

1500

MINNEAPOLIS/ ST. PAUL

Source: City of Sioux Falls

2.4%

RAPID CITY

2.8%

City of Sioux Falls Total Construction Value March 2022

SIOUX FALLS

ROCHESTER

2.3%

2.7%

CEDAR RAPIDS

CUMULATIVE YEAR TO DATE

4.0%

400

OMAHA

DES MOINES

2.7%

3.4%

LINCOLN

350

2.1%

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

300 $376.3 million $275.2 million

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

250

Agriculture Trends February 2022

200

$12.70

$12.30 $213 million $66.6 million

(IN MILLIONS)

$13.00 $12.90

100

$14.80

14.0

150

$14.80

10.5

Soybeans

$103.6 million $28 million

2021

2020 Source: City of Sioux Falls

Total Construction Value

(per bushel) U.S. South Dakota

2022 New Non-Residential Construction Value

7.0 $5.69 $4.75

Sioux Falls Region Housing Overview March 2022

$6.10 $5.57

$4.63

Corn

3.5

New Listings: 470 Days on the Market Until Sale: 78 Median Sales Price: $265,575 Inventory of Homes for Sale: 756 Source: RASE (Realtor Association of the Sioux Empire)

0.0

$6.11

(per bushel) U.S. South Dakota

February

2021

January

2022

February

2022

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.

Jennifer Tolk

Lynda Billars

Edward Jones

The Lynda B. Advantage Corp-Lynda Billars KW

Dino DePerno

Darci Hustrulid

Keller Williams Realty

Girl Scouts Dakota Horizons

Kristin HoefertRedlinger Northwestern Mutual

Andrea Carstensen Minnwest Bank

Recognition of Chamber Volunteers The Ambassador Committee promotes the Chamber and assists in bringing new members into the organization. The Diplomat Committee works to maintain membership strength in the Chamber and provide outstanding customer service to members. Their volunteer service helps to keep the Chamber strong. Featured ambassadors this month are Jennifer Tolk and Lynda Billars. Tolk is a financial advisor for Edward Jones and a new volunteer with the ambassador committee. Billars operates The Lynda B. Advantage Corp-Lynda Billars KW and has served as an ambassador for 21 years. The ACE Award is presented monthly to one ambassador in recognition of their efforts to bring new members into the Chamber. The March ACE Award went to Kristin HoefertRedlinger of Northwestern Mutual.

12 Chamber News | MAY 2022

Dino DePerno, Keller Williams Realty, was the April diplomat of the month. Darci Hustrulid, Girl Scouts Dakota Horizons, was recognized as the Event Champion for her consistent attendance and participation at Chamber events and ribbon cuttings. The diplomat team of the month for April was Team Heeney: Captain Anna Heeney, CellOnly; Karlie Solum, Sanford Health; Dino DePerno, Keller Williams Realty; Dr. Rylan Pearson, ChiroFamily; and Brady Smidt, Swenson Wealth Management. Chamber ambassadors and chamber builders held a spring membership drive in late March and early April. Volunteers formed teams and engaged in a friendly competition to recruit the most new members to join the Chamber. Top Ambassador honors went to Lynda Billars, The Lynda B. Advantage Corp.–Lynda

Billars KW, and the Top Chamber Builder was Andrea Carstensen, Minnwest Bank. The Top Team for the member drive included: Kayla Eitreim, Junior Achievement of South Dakota; Jennifer Hoesing, DakotAbilities; Sheila Hoff, Keller Williams; Brad Jans, Jans Corp.; Kevin Kuphal, Canfield Business Interiors; April Meyerink, Black Hills Federal Credit Union; Brenden Nelsen, Wireless World; Cody Papke, City of Sioux Falls; Lenn Patterson George, West Plains Engineering; Rylan Pearson, ChiroFamily; Marshall Selberg, Keller Williams; Nathan Stallinga, DakotAbilities; Jennifer Tolk, Edward Jones; Corey Weide, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management; and Kadyn Wittman, Multi-Cultural Center of Sioux Falls. (Some of the team members pictured top right.)

New Faces & Promotions Chase Kramer, AIA, LEED GA, has been named director of design at TSP, Inc. Kramer, an architect who joined TSP in November 2013, will focus on strategic, firm-wide design and creative initiatives. Kramer earned a master’s degree in architecture from Iowa State University and a bachelor’s degree in art from Augustana University. He is graduate of Leadership Sioux Falls and a board member with AIA South Dakota, the Sioux Falls Arts Council and the Washington Pavilion’s Programming Advisory Board. Matt Crosby has joined TSP, Inc. as a proposal coordinator. Crosby earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from St. Norbert College (De Pere, WI) and a graduate certificate in nonprofit leadership from Minnesota State University, Mankato. MarketBeat has added two members to their team. Laycee Kluin has joined as a digital marketing strategist. She has three years of

experience in the financial services industry. Liz Schiefen has joined as a web developer. She has 14 years of development experience. First PREMIER Bank welcomed Jesse Huser as vice president, treasury services manager. Huser has nearly 14 years of experience in the banking industry. He will ensure new and existing Treasury Services customers receive quality service and support that is compliant with NACHA rules and federal regulations. Huser volunteers with Junior Achievement, Habitat for Humanity, Sioux Falls Cares, The Children’s Inn and Active Generations.

of Wisconsin – River Falls, and a B.S. in Communication Disorders from the University of Minnesota. She has extensive experience and expertise in providing therapy, diagnostics, consultation and training for parents and professionals. Garrett Raboin, currently the assistant hockey coach for the University of Minnesota, has been selected to be the inaugural head coach of Augustana University’s Viking men’s hockey program.

Brittany Schmidt, MA-CCC/SLP, has joined The Center of Disabilities as a licensed speech pathologist. She will provide specialized clinical services, training, technical assistance and continuing education. Schmidt has over 30 years of experience supporting individuals with disabilities. Schmidt earned an M.A. in Communication Disorders from the University

Honors & Awards Sales and Marketing Executives honored five women as winners of the 2022 Women of Excellence Awards. Julie Lautt, Avera Health, received the Excellence in Leadership Award. Holly Shane, Avera Health, received the Excellence in Marketing Award. Addie Reiman, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., received the Excellence in Sales Award. Amy Moore, Lemonly, received the Entrepreneurial Excellence Award. Vicki Neve, Kusek Family & Implant Dentistry, received the Supporting Excellence Award. More than 50 nominations were received for the awards.

Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce. Karla Santi, CEO & Founder of Blend Interactive, was named Small Business Person of the Year. Thunder Road, which is owned by the Novstrup family, was named Family-Owned Small Business of the Year. The Minority-Owned Small Business of the Year award was given to Mulugeta and Marta Endayeau, owners of Lalibela Restaurant. Local radio personality Bill Zortman, host of It’s Your Business on KELO AM 1320, was named Small Business Champion of the Year.

The U.S. Small Business Administration’s South Dakota district office honored eight South Dakota businesses and individuals with their annual awards, several are members of the

chambernews.com | Chamber News 13

Faces & Places

Be Seen Leadership The board of directors of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sioux Empire has named Stacy Jones as the organization’s Chief Executive Officer. Jones has experience in executive leadership roles, communications and marketing, team building and strategy. She most recently was the executive director of marketing and communication for Legacy Development and Consulting. Micah Aberson has joined Mammoth Sports Construction as its President. Aberson will help steer the explosive growth of the company and shepherd its strategic agenda. In

addition to his company leadership responsibilities, Aberson will build the workforce for the company’s Sioux Falls location and continue to invest his talents in his hometown. Aberson previously served as a senior executive at Sanford Health and was a partner at Lawrence & Schiller, Inc. Mammoth founder Jake Farrant will retain his role as CEO. Sioux Empire United Way has named Alan H. Turner II as Chief Executive Officer. He succeeds Jay Powell, who has led the organization for 23 years and will retire on May 31. Turner’s non-profit leadership experience

includes positions as Regional CEO of American Red Cross Western New York and CEO of United Ways in Central Florida, Southwest Alabama, and West Tennessee. He most recently served as a Senior Account Manager for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Turner is a native of upstate New York, he recently moved to Sioux Falls with his wife Stephanie and their two children.

Service Sioux Empire United Way elected the following officers for 2022: Chair Brenda Kibbe, Sanford Health; First Vice Chair Randy Knecht, Journey Group Companies; Second Vice Chair Kate Kotzea, Click Rain, Inc.; Secretary/Treasurer Tolcha Mesele, Smithfield Foods; and Past Chair Chris Kray. Division representatives include: Campaign Division Chair Monie Siemonsma, Siemonsma Electric; Campaign Division Vice Chair Tim Blotske, Wells Fargo Bank; Community Impact Division Chair Angie Hillestad, Eide Bailly, LLP; Community Impact Division Vice Chair Adrienne McKeownn, Harrisburg Community Foundation and Harrisburg Baseball Foundation; Marketing Division Chair Sara Mitchell, Midco; and Emerging Leaders Chair, Anna Jankord, Midco. Members elected to a first three-year term are:

14 Chamber News | MAY 2022

Kira Kimball, Marsh & McLennan Agency and Julie Waage, RAS. Other current board members include: Miles Beacom, PREMIER Bankcard; Jeremy Bill, Bestow Life Insurance; Brian Bird, NorthWestern Energy; Kim Burma, Midco; Elizabeth Carlson, First Bank & Trust; Dr. Mike Frankman, Falls Dental Centre; Corey Heaton, Wells Fargo Bank; Kelly Hefti, Sanford Health; Jamie Hegge, Lawrence & Schiller Inc.; Angela Lammers, Cetera Services, LLC; Jack Marsh; Melissa O’Hara, The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society; James Payer II, The Empire Mall; Alex Ramirez, USA Media TV; Steve Statz, Avera Health; Dr. Jane Stavem, Sioux Falls School District; Joel Sylvester, Five Star Call Center; and Mike Townsend, KELOLAND Media Group.

Emerging Leaders, a division of Sioux Empire United Way, set their Steering Committee for 2022: Chair Anna Jankord, Midco; Andy Berg, Missouri River Energy Services; Keith Cutler, Midco; McKenna Fiegen, Sanford Health; Nick Hausman, First Bank & Trust; Kassie Hoiland, NorthWestern Energy; Sara Mitchell, Midco; Mariah Larson, Lawrence & Schiller, Inc.; Taryn Latza, Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation; and Tara Rader, AFLAC.

1-5 Knife River hosted Chamber members for the April Membership Mixer. President Clark Meyer welcomed guests. In addition to networking, guests had the option to take a tour of the quarry.

5 chambernews.com | Chamber News 15

Faces & Places

Be Seen

6 7 6-8 Chamber members gathered at Chick-fil-A Empire

Place for coffee and networking at the March Morning Mingle. 9 Young professionals new to the YPN were invited to a new member lunch to become acquainted with the programs and begin forming connections within the group.

9 16 Chamber News | MAY 2022

10 YPN members met at Camille’s Sidewalk Café for Morning Buzz in April.

chambernews.com | Chamber News 17

Faces & Places

Be Seen

11 11 David Owen, South Dakota Chamber of

Commerce and Industry, provided a recap of the 2022 legislative session issues and outcomes. 12-13 Fifty young professionals attended the recent YPN Speed Networking. Participants had three minutes to talk with the person sitting opposite them before moving on to the next seat, resulting in a lot of new connections.

13 18 Chamber News | MAY 2022

Faces & Places

Be Seen

14 Volunteers gathered for a kickoff rally at the start of the Chamber’s spring membership drive. 15 A Seat at the Table is one of the YPN’s most popular events. It offers a chance for young professionals to ask questions of and learn from the experiences of community leaders. Recent featured guests included Alex Ramirez, USA Media TV, and Dr. Jose-Marie Griffiths, Dakota State University. 16 The Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce cohosted a Mayoral Candidate Forum featuring the three candidates for Mayor of Sioux Falls. Approximately 200 people attended the event, which was cohosted by AARP, Argus Leader Media and Dakota News Now.

20 Chamber News | MAY 2022

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, Community Appeals affirms 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 requests for financial support made by Community Appeals scheduled campaigns. Applications for the next round of campaign scheduling opened May 1, and are due no later than Aug. 1, 2022. Non-profit educational and social organizations interested in applying for Community Appeals should contact Mike Lynch at mlynch@siouxfalls.com.

CURRENT CAMPAIGN

MCCROSSAN BOYS RANCH NOV. 1, 2022–MARCH 31, 2023

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

ACTIVE GENERATIONS APRIL 1, 2023–JULY 31, 2023 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).

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

VETERANS COMMUNITY PROJECT NOV. 1, 2023-MARCH 31, 2024 To build a village of 25 tiny homes for homeless veterans in the Sioux Falls area. A Village Center will also be constructed to facilitate behavioral/physical wellness, serving to link to other services.

LIFESCAPE HOSPITAL & SCHOOL APRIL 1, 2024-JULY 31, 2024

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

chambernews.com | Chamber News 21

The impact of

22 Chamber News | MAY 2022

Cover Story

the arts

artistic and cultural elements enhance community and economy

By Megan Raposa,

For the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce

Imagine, for a moment, a walk down Phillips Avenue. Along the way, you might see various SculptureWalk sculptures or glimpse the Arc of Dreams. Or maybe what stands out is the artwork on the utility boxes or painted on storm drains. And the odds are pretty good you’ll pass a banner advertising a local theater show or music performance. Imagine that walk, again, but this time, take out all of the arts. There’d be no sculptures, no colorful murals, no shows advertised, not even the popular Sioux Falls flag. Does it still feel like a walk in Sioux Falls? “When you think about what will be remembered from Sioux Falls, South Dakota a millennium from now, it’s

probably going to be something related to the arts,” Executive Director of Arts South Dakota Jim Speirs said. The arts play a critical role in the culture and quality of life in the Sioux Falls community, and they also have a substantial impact on the local economy and business community.

What we mean by ‘the arts’ Often when people talk about “the arts,” the mind jumps directly to fine arts like ballet or the symphony, and, while those are integral parts of the arts scene, local artists say there’s so much more to it than that. “Even if you don’t feel like it, you’re a part of the arts scene,” said Kellen Boice, executive director for the Sioux Falls Arts Council.

Photos clockwise from top left: Compassion sculpture by Darwin Wolf (photo courtesy of Darwin Wolf). A performer with the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra (photo courtesy SDSO). Holiday Jam with the Hegg Brothers at the Washington Pavilion (photo by Robin Starks). Actors perform in Blood Brothers at the Orpheum Theatre (photo courtesy of The Premiere Playhouse).

chambernews.com | Chamber News 23

Cover Story

Boice said anyone who’s ever attended a concert at the Levitt, seen art on the walls at a local coffee shop or listened to a band play at a local bar is participating in the local arts scene. Speirs takes the definition of the arts even further to include literary arts, filmography, videography, weaving, saddlemaking and basically anything creative. That includes the art of brewing beer and culinary arts, which Sioux Falls has in spades across the city.

Performing arts include the various theater groups in town like The Premiere Playhouse. Several other local groups have formed in recent years, and the theater scene is finding more creative ways to use spaces that hadn’t historically been used for theater, Boice said.

“Those are also part of our creative industries and what really makes Sioux Falls special,” he said.

A closer look at Sioux Falls’ vibrant arts community

Kellen Boice

“This is the kind of community where you can really set your own tone,” she said, adding that often when there’s a gap in the arts scene, individual artists will step up and find entrepreneurial and creative ways to fill that gap.

Sioux Falls Arts Council

One of the most obvious ways to look at Sioux Falls’ arts community is the prevalence of visual arts.

Sioux Falls also has a strong support of sculptures, largely brought on by the prevalence and popularity of the long-running SculptureWalk, said local sculptor Darwin Wolf.

Sioux Falls has more than a dozen galleries in town – including both traditional galleries like the Washington Pavilion and galleries in nontraditional spaces like JLG Architects or Coffea Roasterie.

Wolf studied art and sculpting in college, but he initially moved to Sioux Falls for a job not related to the arts. In 2003, he began sculpting again and developed an emphasis in sculpting notable South Dakotans.

The performing arts are also very visible throughout town. Restaurant and bar owners often look to local bands and musicians to perform in their spaces as a draw for customers.

He worked for years sculpting and promoting a project dedicated to Richard F. Pettigrew, the first U.S. Senator representing South Dakota after it became its own state.

“

There isn’t much that the arts can’t do.

24 Chamber News | MAY 2022

—Darwin Wolf

Opposite page left: The Little Big Band performs on the patio at R Wine Bar (photo by Jack Mohlenhoff). Opposite page right: Darwin Wolf works on a sculpture in his studio (photo courtesy of Darwin Wolf). Above: Performers on stage in The Premier Playhouse production of Blood Brothers (photo courtesy of The Premiere Playhouse).

Wolf was working to not only sculpt the project but also to raise the funds to make it possible. “It was a rough go trying to get all that done,” he said. Then, the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce stepped in. They helped him get the fundraising over the finish line. It was that partnership with the chamber and the business community that made it all possible, Wolf said, adding that he’s “forever grateful.” Wolf said artists in Sioux Falls are a “manufacturing power.” Not only are they creating visual, performance, written, textile, edible arts, but they are also living, working and spending money in the Sioux Falls community. “We’re here,” he said. “We want to continue to be part of the local economy.”

Arts as an economic engine There’s no question the arts contribute to Sioux Falls’ culture and quality of life. But a perhaps lesser-known aspect of the arts scene is its economic impact. A 2015 study administered by Americans for the Arts showed that nonprofit arts organizations in the Sioux Falls area generated more than $105 million in annual economic activity. The study also showed the arts accounted for more than 3,500 full-time jobs in the area, and that the average audience member at a given arts event spends $30 when they attend that event.

“So every time somebody buys a ticket to see a Premiere Playhouse production, and we get an audience of 500 people, that’s $16,000 coming downtown that evening,” said Robin Byrne, executive director for The Premiere Playhouse. That study is being conducted again this year, and leaders in the local arts Robin Byrne The Premier Playhouse community expect to see even greater numbers in 2022 in terms of economic impact. It’s also worth noting the study does not take into account artists who are not part of registered nonprofits or other companies involved in the arts that don’t have a nonprofit tax structure. “The arts aren’t just a bunch of pretty little things,” Wolf said. “The arts make up 4% of the gross national product.” Wolf also noted the significant role art has played over the years in reinvigorating Sioux Falls’ downtown. The Washington Pavilion was a significant part of that, he said, but other things like SculptureWalk and, more recently, Levitt at the Falls, the community theater, the musicians playing in bars and restaurants have all contributed to “resurrecting” downtown. “There isn’t much that the arts can’t do,” Wolf said.

chambernews.com | Chamber News 25

“

Our business community takes its support of the arts very seriously, and they get it —Jennifer Teisinger

Above: Members of the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra perform at the Washington Pavilion (photo courtesy of the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra). Opposite page: Artist Hugo Jiménez works on one of his plein air paintings (photo courtesy of Hugo Jiménez Art Studio).

How art and business fit together Beyond the dollar signs, the Sioux Falls arts scene also plays a role for local businesses in attracting and retaining the people who live and work here. Take the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra, for example. Executive Director Jennifer Teisinger said she hears often from board members or patrons that the symphony’s location in Sioux Falls was one of the deciding factors in their choice to move here. And for Teisinger, it’s not a question of what Sioux Falls is like because the orchestra is here.

As Sioux Falls grows into a larger city, the arts are an important aspect in attracting that growth, Byrne said, calling it a “resource we can offer.” “When you look at real thriving, popular cities that are expanding, that are attracting businesses – every single one of them has a thriving arts district,” he said. “People will make decisions about where they’re going to live and who they’re going to work for based on what facilities that city has to offer them.”

Jennifer Teisinger South Dakota Symphony Orchestra

“The real question is how would you feel if the symphony orchestra wasn’t here?” she said. “It’s a little bit like parks – you may not go to the park all the time, but you would really miss it if it wasn’t there. It becomes a part of what makes this community vibrant.” Teisinger has also seen employers in town take prospective hires to the symphony as a way to entice them to take a job in Sioux Falls knowing that the community has this strong element of music and culture to offer them.

26 Chamber News | MAY 2022

“That might tip the scales,” she said, “and we know that it has.”

Supporting the arts can also be a way for businesses to show potential customers their values and their commitment to the community, Byrne added. “By being, consistently, a company that supports the arts, you seep into the unconsciousness of the community as one of the good guys out there that’s trying to invest in the community rather than just simply profiting from the community,” he said. Having a strong arts community has also been beneficial to Sioux Falls’ healthcare community. Wolf said he’s been working with Sanford’s cancer center for 12 years now, sculpting with cancer patients.

Cover Story

“They’re not going to spend money on that unless they know it’s going to be beneficial for their patients,” he said, adding that the arts can also play an important role in treating mental health, addictions, physical therapy and more.

What the arts community needs from businesses There’s not an arts organization in town that will tell businesses they don’t need financial support. In many cases, they’re getting that. “Our business community takes its support of the arts very seriously, and they get it,” Teisinger said. She added that the ticket price at the symphony orchestra covers about 25 percent of the cost to actually put on the production. The rest of that support comes from donors, including donations from local businesses via direct donations, advertising, sponsorships, buying season passes and more.

“What’s missing is the local-level support of our local, individual artists,” Boice said. The Sioux Falls Arts Council is working to help those small artists by offering micro grants of $250 to $500 to help fund projects, materials, studio space, etc, but Boice said she’d like to see more support from the broader community. Speirs said he’d like to see the city take a more strategic role in supporting local arts, too, adding that the business community can play a role in creating spaces for artist housing, studio space or collective work environments for artists. “If we want to have an inviting place for people to live, and people to move and people to start businesses in, we have to have a vibrant art sector,” he said. “Or people won’t want to be here.”

That said, the arts community’s needs go beyond the money. In some cases, what’s needed is space for rehearsals, performances, creators, etc, and Byrne said the real need is for space that is affordable – or even free – to use. In other cases, what’s needed is flexibility. It’s very challenging to make a full-time living as an artist in Sioux Falls, Speirs said, and few people are able to do it successfully. That means most artists in town are working other jobs to pay the bills and creating art on the side. “I think we need more businesses that say, ‘Hey, come work for us, and we’ll still make time for you to be an artist,’” Speirs said. And, at the end of the day, what local artists said they need most is support. The arts that come to Sioux Falls via broadway productions or out-of-state Jim Speirs sculptures or musicians certainly add to Arts South Dakota the community, but Byrne, Speirs and Boice agreed one of the groups that could use more support is the smaller-scale local artists.

“

When you look at real thriving, popular cities that are expanding, that are attracting businesses – every single one of them has a thriving arts district. —Robin Byrne

chambernews.com | Chamber News 27

Business Advocacy

Spring brings elections South Dakotans welcome spring. We all enjoy our parks, bike trails, baseball games and election season. With the April municipal elections behind us, it’s time to focus on the June 7 primary races. The South Dakota Legislature created new state legislative districts last fall, resulting in district boundary changes in the greater Sioux Falls region. We gained another legislative district (an additional three legislators). In addition, some incumbent legislators that used to be in different districts now find themselves competing in the same district. The June primary has many contested legislative races.

Debra Owen

Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce

...the business community needs to support those who are prepared to step forward and become policy leaders in our city and state.

It’s a good thing to have so many South Dakotans seeking to engage in our democracy by running for office. The Chamber continues to be outspoken about encouraging employers to support their employees who run for public office. The Chamber believes that business-friendly policy makers should be in the room when important decisions impacting our community are made. In addition, the business community needs to support those individuals who are prepared to step forward and become policy leaders in our city and state. To further that effort, last November the Chamber held a non-partisan candidate school: Next Level of Civic Leadership (NLCL). The class was a pilot project and it sought to equip individuals who were considering a future run for public office. Eighteen business-friendly community leaders participated in the pilot NLCL program. Attendees gained the following benefits and skills: • Participants heard from nearly 30 current and former elected officials, campaign managers and political insiders on the merits and challenges of running for and holding public office. • Participants expanded their knowledge about the roles and responsibilities of various levels of government. • Participants expanded their networks by connecting with other passionate, civic-minded community leaders. • Participants now have the opportunity to be mentored by a former elected official to help them strengthen their platform and make decisions about their personal civic journey. All of this effort has culminated in encouraging those pro-business candidates to put their name on the June ballot. These candidates provide choices for the voter, especially the pro-business voters. Each year, the Chamber provides a Legislative Scorecard to help business leaders know how their legislators voted on bills that the Chamber took a position on during session. The scorecard came into being four years ago, at the request of our leadership and past board chairs. The 2022 Legislative Scorecard includes all of the bills the Chamber took a position on during the most recent legislative session and reflects how each individual legislator voted. It also includes a cumulative score for each legislator from the last four legislative sessions. If you take a moment to review the scorecard, you will find many of the scorecard percentages are improving. This year there were 10 legislators who voted with the Chamber 100% of the time! Overall, the vast majority of our region’s legislators voted with the Chamber this year. The Legislative Scorecard is a communication tool both to our members and to the legislators. You can find the scorecard along with our Legislative Annual Report on our website siouxfallschamber.com There are many first-time candidates seeking office this year, many of whom attended the Chamber’s NLCL last fall. We urge you to support these candidates in whatever way works best for you. There are many ways to help the candidates, it doesn’t always mean a donation of dollars. Candidates also appreciate a donation of time to help with their campaign. If you have an interest in supporting a candidate(s) we encourage you to reach out to them directly. Candidates would appreciate hearing from you. Democracy at the local level is best. Let’s encourage and support those business-friendly candidates seeking to serve.

28 Chamber News | MAY 2022

Headlines

Speakers address the crowd at the 2021 Armed Forces Day program, held at The Alliance.

Public invited to attend Armed Forces Day ceremonies The Military & Veterans Affairs Committee of the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce is hosting the annual Armed Forces Day program on Saturday, May 21. The program will take place at 10:30 a.m. at the South Dakota Military Heritage Alliance, located at 1600 W. Russell St.

Armed Forces Day Saturday, May 21 10:30 a.m. South Dakota Military Heritage Alliance

President Harry S. Truman led the effort to establish a single holiday for citizens to come together and thank military members for their patriotic service in support of the country. On Aug. 31, 1949, Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announced the creation of an Armed Forces Day to replace separate Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force Days. The single day celebration stemmed from the unification of the Armed Forces under the Department of Defense.

citizens who proudly fly the American flag year-round. Outstanding Achievement Awards will be presented to selected guardsmen/women and reservists for outstanding military achievement and commitment to their country and community.

The 2022 event features a keynote address, a formal military program, and a Stars & Stripes presentation for selected Sioux Falls

Oath of Enlistment Ceremonies will induct South Dakota volunteers into the U.S. Armed Forces.

chambernews.com | Chamber News 29

Headlines

The 37 members of Leadership Sioux Falls class 36 graduated on Wednesday, May 4.

Leadership Sioux Falls graduates 36th class Members of the 36th class of the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce’s Evan C. Nolte Leadership Sioux Falls (LSF) program graduated on Wednesday, May 4. Rana DeBoer addressed the graduates and their guests, encouraging them to pursue excellence in their service to community. DeBoer is the Chief Impact Officer for Keystone Group International. She is a graduate of Leadership Sioux Falls class 35. DeBoer is experienced in strategic planning, culture engineering, and individual and organizational effectiveness. She is known for fueling the energy of people for high-performance. The Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce has facilitated Leadership Sioux Falls as a community development program for 36 years. It is designed to meet the need for active participation of informed and dedicated community leaders. Main objectives of the program are: to inform and motivate participants by providing information on community resources; to identify community issues and challenges; to interact with other community leaders; and to gain a sense of community trusteeship.

30 Chamber News | MAY 2022

LSF class sessions are held monthly from October through May at various times and locations in the community. Session topics change over the years to mirror the current issues, challenges and opportunities in the Sioux Falls area. Core topics include economic development, public safety, human services, healthcare, education, non-profit volunteerism and quality of life issues. Rana DeBoer

The quality of the participants is the true strength of the Leadership Sioux Falls program. They represent the public and private sectors, and civic and community organizations in the Sioux Falls area. This year’s participants were selected from more than 72 applications. Keystone Group International

Applications for the 37th class, which will begin in October, will be available at siouxfallschamber.com in June 2021.

Leadership Sioux Falls 36 Milana Arambasic, ARTvision/ARTisan Skin & Laser Center

Wendy Mamer, Augustana University

Marissa Begley, JRA Enterprises (SEAM and Millennium Recycling, Inc.)

Terrance Matia, Sioux Falls Police Department

Taly Bialostocki, Self-Employed Casey Boerger, Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce Cory J. Buck, Sioux Falls Development Foundation

Alissa Matt, University of South Dakota Alumni Association Joe Miller, The First National Bank in Sioux Falls Maria Munkvold, Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office

Vinson Q. Danh, 4Front Studios

Amy Helen Nachtigal, Dorsey & Whitney Trust Company LLC

Zach DeBoer, Self-Employed

Maureen Ohm, MarketBeat

Bill DeNet, Tessier’s, Inc.

Teresa Pick, Children’s Home Society of South Dakota

Carrie Dragt, Midco

Chelsea Schull, Rep. Dusty Johnson's Office

Brandon Hanson, Washington Pavilion Management Inc.

Alex Soundy, Bender Commercial Real Estate Services

Brittany Hanson, University of Sioux Falls

Juliann Stolle, Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center

Nolan Hazard, Koch Hazard Architects Elliot Hitt, Eide Bailly LLP Jennifer Hoesing, DakotAbilities Cody Ingle, Center for Family Medicine Taylor Jacobsen, McKinneyOlson Insurance Alex Jensen, First PREMIER Bank Kristy Laue, Lawrence & Schiller, Inc. Jonathan Leddige, Minnehaha County Public Defender Office

Natalie Story, Central Bank Sadie Swier, Downtown Sioux Falls, Inc. Briana Vande Pol, Think 3D Solutions Rachel Wagemann, Sanford Health Wendy White, Face It TOGETHER Garrett Wilson, Midco Matt Wittrock, Weisser Distributing

Application period open for Community Appeals Beginning May 1, non-profit educational and social organizations may apply for the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce Community Appeals scheduling consideration for the campaign cycle beginning November 2024. The deadline to apply is Aug. 1, 2022. Applicants will present to the committee early this fall, and the selection of the campaigns to be scheduled will be made by calendar year-end. The Community Appeals vetting process is highly regarded to facilitate the capital campaign process for both the organizations soliciting, as well as for the businesses contributing to these causes.

private, public and business sectors of the community into consideration when targeting available dollars for the capital campaign drive. Additionally, it is important that solid justification is provided on how the organization’s mission fulfills both a community quality of life and economic impact component. The Chamber assists scheduled organizations to market their campaign, encourages members to contribute and provides a membership list to facilitate solicitations. Contact Mike Lynch at mlynch@siouxfalls.com or (605) 373-2008 with questions and to receive an application.

The Community Appeals Committee prioritizes organizations that show an unmet need that exists within the Sioux Falls community and provide evidence that the solicitation plans have taken the

chambernews.com | Chamber News 31

Headlines

The Commerce Center building, located at the corner of Eighth Street and Phillips Avenue in downtown Sioux Falls.

Chamber purchases Commerce Center building The Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce has purchased the downtown office building it has occupied for the past 30 years. The Commerce Center, located at the corner of Eighth Street and Phillips Avenue, was built by Dunham Company. It opened in 1992, with the Chamber as one of its original tenants. Alex Ramirez, Chair of the Chamber’s Board of Directors, said, “This purchase demonstrates the Chamber’s commitment to investing in downtown development and the overall growth of the city. We are taking a historic step to acquire a long-term asset on behalf of our membership.” The purchase price was $5.7 million. Chamber President & CEO Jeff Griffin stated that the investment captures the Board’s vision for the future of the organization. “The strength of our Chamber membership and decades of prudent financial planning positioned us to seize the opportunity presented to us by Dunham Company to purchase the Commerce Center,” said Griffin. “This acquisition puts us in a position to stabilize our annual expenses while building equity in downtown Sioux Falls.” The Commerce Center also houses several other non-profit, community-focused organizations that work closely with the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce. The Sioux Falls Development Foundation, Experience Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls Sports Authority

32 Chamber News | MAY 2022

Community leaders participate in the groundbreaking ceremony for the Commerce Center building, which opened in 1992.

and Sioux Empire Housing Partnership will all benefit by locking in long-term, affordable rent in the space. Lloyd Property Management has been hired to manage the property and lease the 10,000 square feet of space currently open. Immediate plans for facility improvement include a redesigned ADA entry, façade work, and updated building signage. An open house and ribbon cutting will be scheduled for late summer.

Using Your Membership

The website siouxfallsevents.com features events happening in Sioux Falls and the surrounding area.

Online community events calendar launches The online community events calendar at siouxfallsevents.com has relaunched following a complete overhaul in design and function. Siouxfallsevents.com features events of all types happening in Sioux Falls and the surrounding area. Categories include arts, entertainment, workshops and seminars, charity and benefits, retail and dining, festivals, sports and more. All events that are local and open to all are welcome to be submitted. Submissions should meet the following guidelines: • Event should take place within a 20-mile radius of Sioux Falls. If virtual, the event should be hosted by a business located in the area.

• Events that contain hate speech or offensive content are subject to removal. The website is managed by the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce as a service to its members and the broader community. Any individual, business or organization can post events to this calendar. Chamber members are encouraged to use siouxfallsevents. com as a tool to help promote their business-focused events such as workshops, conferences, or even customer appreciation events. A selection of events posted to siouxfallsevents.com will be published in each issue of Chamber News magazine.

• Event should be open to a wide audience. Those open only to members of a specific club are subject to removal.

chambernews.com | Chamber News 33

Chamber Partner

Growth, optimism define current state of Sioux Falls

Mayor Paul TenHaken City of Sioux Falls

We are at a pivotal time in Sioux Falls because of our historic growth.

SUSTAI NA BL E KID G S& F

During the State of the City address in March, I shared a few of those stories, including what compelled several newcomers to make Sioux Falls their home. Their enthusiasm for Sioux Falls is infectious—and a great reminder of everything we have to be grateful for in Sioux Falls. We also heard from members of the 2021-22 Mayor’s Youth Council. Their comments reflect a strong sense of optimism about the future of Sioux Falls that I continue to hear from residents across our community.

TH W O ES R ILI M A

ION AT OV N

One of the highlights of my work as Mayor is the opportunity to interact daily with many residents and community members. These conversations shape my perspective on the concerns of residents across Sioux Falls—from business owners to parents and faith and community leaders.

G AG

IN G PE O P

There’s no question that Sioux Falls is experiencing record growth. Last year was a historic year for our community, including surpassing $1 billion in building permits valuations, the lowest debt per capita in more than a decade and sales tax growth exceeding 19 percent, along with welcoming nearly 7,000 new residents to Sioux Falls. We moved forward with public investments to manage Sioux Falls’ record growth, including significant commitments to public safety such as breaking ground on a state-of-the-art public

The Coverage You Want. The Commitment You Need. Business | Home | Health | Life We all need insurance to protect our homes and businesses. You also need the support of professionals who stand by your side— sweating the small stuff so you don’t have to. Fischer, Rounds & Associates combines the coverage you want with the commitment you need. That’s at Your Service. At Your Side.

Call Us in Sioux Falls Phone: 605-336-4444 Toll Free: 877-789-3773

2300 W. 49th St. Sioux Falls, SD 57105 FischerRounds.com

Offices also in Mitchell, Pierre, Watertown and Rapid City

34 Chamber News | MAY 2022

A rendering of what phase three of the River Greenway improvement project may look like when completed.

safety training campus and opening The Link community triage center, quality of life investments and large-scale investments in the city’s roadway network. Like cities across the country, we are faced with uncertainty and challenges. Inflationary pressures on basic living expenses like food, utilities and gas, housing availability and affordability, and childcare are impacting businesses and individuals across Sioux Falls. These tensions are further amplified due to our community’s population and business growth. Despite those challenges, the City and our partners across the region are working to move the community forward and maintain Sioux Falls’ excellent quality of life with a continued focus on accessible housing, infrastructure funding, public safety and workforce within the One Sioux Falls framework. We are at a pivotal time in Sioux Falls because of our historic growth. To sustain our trajectory, we need to continue to make thoughtful investments. Thanks to the City’s smart decision-making and fiscal responsibility, we are poised to continue to grow a vibrant local and regional economy. One prime example of forward-thinking investments is the City’s investment in Dakota State University’s new cyber-research lab. This opportunity will allow us to diversify our workforce, add up to 500 six-figure jobs, and provide competitive cybersecurity jobs in Sioux Falls. Addressing our community’s housing challenges goes hand in hand with workforce concerns. Housing will continue to be a priority of my administration, and the 2026 Housing Action Plan focuses on a multifaceted approach to guide our work moving forward. In response to our community’s evolving needs, I also shared that we have added areas of emphasis to the One Sioux Falls framework with a focus on sustainable growth and a focus on kids and families. We continue to make strategic investments as a City in order to grow strategically and to manage the tension that growth creates in order to keep Sioux Falls investable. Looking ahead, investments in infrastructure, including the wastewater treatment plant expansion, and Sioux Falls’ roadway network are moving forward. We also continue to make progress with exciting public investments in downtown Sioux Falls, including Phase Three of the River Greenway, Jacobson Plaza at Falls Park and reconstruction of the Sixth Street Bridge and Seventh Street cul-de-sac. These investments are complementing the private sector investments happening in areas including The Steel District and Cherapa II. I’m also looking forward to the work we will be doing with business and community leaders through the creation of the Downtown 2035 Plan to shape downtown’s skyline for the next generation. Sioux Falls has exciting work ahead of us as a community. Together, in collaboration with our partners, the City will continue making thoughtful, strategic decisions to maintain our excellent quality of life in the years ahead. Paul TenHaken is Mayor of the City of Sioux Falls. He took office in May of 2018 and will be sworn in for his second term on May 17, 2022.

chambernews.com | Chamber News 35

DE&I Article Series

From barrier to bridge: Language as a connection point in business by Elizabeth Duffy Language differences can be a barrier, causing frustration and confusion. But at Gage Brothers Concrete Products, language is a bridge to connection. Over the past ten years, the leadership team at Gage Brothers has made themselves into a fully bilingual English/ Spanish company. According to a 2021 article in Forbes by Sonia Thompson, Spanish is the most common non-English language spoken in the United States, with 13 percent of the U.S. population speaking Spanish at home. With this increasing trend, businesses would be well-served to learn from those further along on the path. Cassie Nicolai, vice president of HR and safety for Gage Brothers, explained that their company has people in as many departments and levels of positions as possible that are bilingual in English and Spanish. “We have people in management positions, HR positions, office positions and production positions,” she said. “Anything we do as a company as far as communication is offered in both English and Spanish, whether that’s a meeting, a training, a handbook, written materials, posted announcements, all of those things are always done in both languages.”

Cassie Nicolai Gage Brothers

While 50% of Gage Brothers’ employees are Spanish-speaking people with varying levels of English skills, it has been important that representation is seen throughout all levels of the business.

When current leadership speaks English, it takes intentional effort to recruit Spanish-speaking employees into leadership and management positions. “Your default as an English speaker is going to be to do things in English, whether that’s a training or a job posting about internal openings and opportunities,” said Nicolai. “So every decision you make or new initiative you decide to do, you have to ask: Did we make this available in both languages? Is this going to be accessible to Spanish speakers?” Gage Brothers utilizes internal staff, as well as outsourced talent to ensure they are making everything accessible to Spanish speakers. Internally, they staff a translator who works on written translation and trainings. Additionally, they have an ongoing relationship with an experienced translator who can help via video chat with employee meetings or interviews. Gage Brothers also uses local translation services to fill in as needed. Marco Antonio Vega Solorio, architectural production lead, said, “Ayuda muchísimo que se hable el español ya que podemos tener mucha más comunicación entre todos y podemos expresar todas las cosas que deseamos decir ya que en muchas ocasiones decidimos mejor no decir las cosas y quedarse uno con alguna inquietud o alguna opinión o idea que podría ayudar a la compania ya se para lograr más producción o tener una compañía más segura y no lo hacemos por temor a que

Gage Brothers employees pose for a company photo at their facility in northwest Sioux Falls.

36 3636 Chamber Chamber Chamber News News News | | MAY MAY | APRIL 2022 2022 2022

Marco Antonio Vega Solorio Gage Brothers

DE & I

FEATURE SERIES

quisas no nos entiendan nuestro idioma y decidimos mejor no decir ni hacer nada aún cuando sabemos que es algo bueno productivo y benefico para todos.” [Translation: “It helps a lot to speak Spanish since we can have much more communication between all of us and we can express all the things we want to say, otherwise we decide it’s better not to say things, and leave some concern or some opinion or idea unsaid, that could help the company, I know, to achieve more production or to have a safer company, and we don’t do it for fear that maybe they won’t understand our language so we decide better not to say or do anything even when we know that it is something good, productive and beneficial for all.”] In the past, Gage Brothers has offered English classes and Spanish classes to introduce employees to a secondary language, but it was more a company benefit for those who wanted to grow their skills than a true solution to a language barrier. “It’s not realistic to think that a person is going to become bilingual from going to that class,” said Nicolai, “but it showed good faith that [Gage Brothers] values your culture and your language.” For businesses that want to become more inclusive around language, Nicolai warns not to expect overnight results. “It has been a 10-year long journey for Gage Brothers,” she said, “But I would encourage other companies not to be afraid and to start taking steps towards that if that’s one of their goals.” To begin, businesses should consider how jobs are posted, whether the company’s website can be translated easily, and whether interviews can be done in the prospective employee’s first language. It is also important to consider translation functionality when selecting new software vendors. “Outsource whatever you need to hire translation services, and find materials that are in Spanish,” advised Nicolai. “Then, the best thing that you can do is start putting together a plan for how to intentionally recruit or develop people who are bilingual to put them in leadership or trainer positions.” “Otro beneficio es que tenemos capacitaciones en español y gracias a esto poder obtener certificacións y capacitaciónes ya que entendemos todo al 100%,” said Vega Solorio.

Flags from 25 countries, representing the backgrounds of Gage employees, are on display in the company break room.

While it takes time to become a bilingual business, there are many things businesses can do immediately to build connection among cultures. At Gage Brothers, the employee break room features flags from 25 different countries to represent the backgrounds of their employees. “We like to use that as a kind of visual display that we’re proud of all of our team members and where they came from,” said Nicolai. Gage Brothers also includes employee features in their internal newsletter and recently updated their employee giving program. “We try to be aware of and support those things that we know that our team members care about,” said Nicolai. The four core values at Gage Brothers are Agility, Ownership, Endurance and Connection. “To us, connection means building communities, literally,” said Nicolai, “But it’s also building connections with our community externally and building a community here internally with our team members. To do that, you need to be able to communicate and connect with people in their own language.”

[Translation: “Another benefit is that we have training in Spanish and thanks to this we can obtain certifications and training since we understand everything 100%.”]

chambernews.com chambernews.com | Chamber | Chamber News News 37 37

Ribbon Cuttings

The Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce offers a ribbon cutting ceremony or member spotlight video for members to celebrate joining the Chamber, milestone anniversaries, expansions or remodels. The public and all Chamber members are invited to share in the celebration. Call (605) 336-1620 for more information or to schedule your event. Groundbreaking ceremonies are coordinated by the Sioux Falls Development Foundation. Call (605) 339-0103 for more information or to schedule your event.

4Front Studios

600 N. Main Ave., Suite 109 4frontstudios.com 4Front Studios provides strategic consulting, video and photography to fuel client’s digital content success. L to R: Cindy SchoppertPickett, Nichelle Lund, Vince Danh (partner), Dan Doyle, Jeff Pickett (partner), Brad Nelson, April Meyerink, Kristin Hoefert-Redlinger and Sophia Pickett. NEW MEMBER

Cellar 54

720 S. Highline Place cellar-54.com Cellar 54 is a retail wine store featuring an on-premises wine and malt beverage license. L to R: Shelby Bierema, April Meyerink, Justin Zandstra, Jason Herrbolt, Jenna Snyder (owner), Cindi Johnson, Anna Jankord and Becky Forster.

NEW MEMBER

Central Payments

101 S. Phillips Ave., Suite 105 central-payments.com Central Payments, the country’s fastest growing prepaid card issuer and payments technology leader, nearly doubled its staff in 2021, leading to buildout of a second location in downtown Sioux Falls. L to R: Nikkee Rhody, Nichelle Lund, Karlie Solum, Trent Sorbe (founder/president), Melissa Otten, Kayla Eitreim, Jay Soukup and Lynda Billars. NEW MEMBER

Dave & Buster’s

2690 S. Lorraine Place daveandbusters.com Dave & Buster’s opened its first location in South Dakota at Lake Lorraine in Sioux Falls. L to R: Joey Rotert, Anna Heeney, Megan Jansick, Jared Hilliard (general manager), Nathan Stallinga and Kristin Hoefert-Redlinger.

NEW MEMBER

38 Chamber News | MAY 2022

Faces of Sioux Falls Magazine

spotlightmediafargo.com The Faces of Sioux Falls coffee table book will launch this year in Sioux Falls. The 80+ page book features a photojournalistic approach featuring some the of community’s business owners. L to R: Anna Heeney, Megan Kjose, Jenn Hoesing, Anna Jankord, Mike Dragosavich (CEO), Paul Hoefer, Jeff Griffin and Jay Rasmussen. NEW MEMBER

Hayward Park

GROUNDBREAKING

400 N. Valley View Road The City of Sioux Falls broke ground on a $2.2 million improvement project to Hayward Park near Hayward Elementary School. L to R: Sara Porter Montgomery, Jan Nicolay, Cynthia Mickelson, Andy Patterson, James Gaspar, Don Kearney, Greg Neitzert, Rick Kiley, Ann Nachtigal, Matt Hart, three Hayward Elementary students, Hayward Principal Derek Maasen, Mayor Paul TenHaken, David Locke and Kurt Loudenback.

chambernews.com | Chamber News 39

Ribbon Cuttings

Northern Tool + Equipment

NEW LOCATION

4440 W. Crossroads Place northerntool.com Northern Tool + Equipment is a family business that takes pride in their ability to equip customers with the tools to tackle tough challenges. They strive to build lasting relationships and promote a fun and unique Northern experience. L to R: Nikki Rinehart, Dan Doyle, Robert Weaver, Marshall Selberg, Jared Bymer (general manager), Kristin Hoefert-Redlinger and Gabby Kemth.

Quantum Business Solutions

thequantumleap.business Quantum Business Solutions systemizes, optimizes and automates your people, processes and technology around revenue growth. L to R: Dan Doyle, Jewell Peterson, Milana Arambasic, Andrea Carstensen, Shawn Peterson (owner), Kristin Hoefert-Redlinger, Joey Rotert and Kennedy Bartunek.

NEW MEMBER

Queen City Balloon Bar

3220 E. 10th St. queencityballoons.com After six years operating as a home-based business, Queen City Balloon Bar opened a storefront on the east side of Sioux Falls. L to R: Jeff Dutton, Alexis Konstant, Amy O’Connor-Hoback, Jenn Hoesing, Ryan Egan (owner), Lynda Billars, Christine Egan (owner), Nathan Stallinga and Elizabeth Dutton. NEW LOCATION

Raztech LLC

196 E. 6th St., Suite 200 raztechsd.com Raztech is a managed IT services company created to better serve the IT needs for small to medium sized businesses in the greater Sioux Falls region. L to R: Andrea Carstensen, James Zawacki (owner), Dan Doyle, Chad Ronshaugen (owner), Lucas Fiegen, Kristin Hoefert-Redlinger and Megan Jansick. NEW MEMBER

Sioux Empire Baseball Association 1321 N. Cleveland Ave. siouxempirebaseball.org The Sioux Empire Baseball Association has moved their office and training facility to a new location. L to R: Jerry Ades, Nichelle Lund, Jenn Hoesing, Dan Doyle, Layne Somsen, Amy Gesch, Jeff Campbell (director), Betzi Plucker (director), Rick Rysavy, Justin Zandstra, Joey Rotert and Joel Husman. NEW LOCATION

Sioux Falls Dental Implant Center 5200 S. Cliff Ave., Suite 102 siouxfallsdentalimplantcenter.com Sioux Falls Dental Implant Center is a stand-alone specialty clinic offering a full range of dental implant services. L to R: Michael Haiar, Kristin Hoefert-Redlinger, Justin Zandstra, Dr. Kevin Haiar (owner), Kim Haiar, Anna Jankord, Carissa Kenjalo, Jessica Haiar and Thomas Haiar. NEW MEMBER

Sioux Falls Hypnosis

101 S. Reid St., Suite 307 siouxfallshypnosis.com Sioux Falls Hypnosis specializes in services for weight loss, smoking cessation and stress reduction. L to R: Lynda Billars, Kristin HoefertRedlinger, Daniel Burow (owner), Dan Doyle, Sandy Case and Josh Muckenhirn.

NEW MEMBER

Ribbon Cuttings

Sioux Metro Growth Alliance

NEW LOCATION

196 E. 6th St., Suite 200 siouxmetro.com Sioux Metro Growth Alliance empowers their public and private members to find opportunities to grow through regional partnerships in Lincoln, Minnehaha and McCook counties. L to R: Ryan Solberg, Andrew Curley, Chad Ronshaugen, Paul Mantz, Rebecca Wulf, Rhiannon Israel, Megan Jansick, Rick Lehman, Jesse Fonkert (CEO), Lucas Fiegen, David Doxtad, Brandon Lane, Andrea Carstensen, Eric Pauli, Mike Wendland, Kristin Hoefert-Redlinger and Sheldon Jensen.

South Dakota Development Corporation

NEW LOCATION

42 Chamber News | MAY 2022

196 E. 6th St., Suite 200 thinksddc.com SDDC moved to a new downtown space to provide partnership opportunities in economic development to help the small businesses and municipalities of South Dakota. L to R: Luke Tibbetts, Bob Tone, Bill Earley, Andrea Carstensen, Dan Doyle, Brad Jankord, Robert Miller, Lucas Fiegen, Jennifer Oberg (CEO), Brooke Rollag, Megan Jansick, Kristin HoefertRedlinger, Kevin Wagner and Randy Snyders.

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.

Anthem Title Escrow Services

Joe Juhl Keller Williams Realty Sioux Falls

Blue Moon Estate Sales Sioux Falls

Merchant Home Group – KW Realty

Financial Services Jackie Fick, (605) 306-3400 6300 S. Old Village Place, Suite 200, 57108 anthemtitle.com

Auctions & Thrift Jim Breeman, (605) 310-0656 bluemoonestatesales.com/sioux-falls

Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Show Theaters & Music Meredith Wood, (866) 496-0535 thedinnerdetective.com/sioux-falls

Hiatt Strategic Consulting

Professional Development & Training Dr. Charles M. Hiatt, (605) 359-1626 hiattsc.com

Real Estate-Residential Joe Juhl, (507) 227-7815 6300 S. Connie Ave., 57108 joejuhl.kw.com

Real Estate-Residential Melissa Merchant, (605) 275-0555 6300 S. Connie Ave., 57108

Northwestern Mutual – Samuel Theobald

The McNaney Group

Public Relations & Communications Bob McNaney, (651) 249-7718 720 South Plaza Way, P32, Mendota Heights, MN 55120 themcnaneygroup.com

White Space Studio

Photography, Sound & Video Maddie Peschong, (605) 212-2674 1716 S. Marion Road, 57106 whitespacesiouxfalls.com

Affiiliate-Insurance Samuel Theobald, (605) 978-9994 2307 W. 57th St., 57108 northwesternmutual.com/samuel-theobald

SoDak Stays

Lodging Kayla Huizing, (712) 470-6078 sodakstays.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

55 Years

Electricians & Electrical Contractors electricsupplyfsd.com Member since 1923

Specialty Retail dakotasportsonline.com

Electric Supply Co., Inc.

Innovative Office Solutions Office Equipment & Supplies innovativeos.com Member since 1907

Thomas James and Bechtold Jewelry Jewelry bechtoldjewelry.com Member since 1907

70 Years Midco

Telecommunications midco.com

Dakota Sports/Dakota Lettering/ Hauff Mid America Sports

40 Years

Beck & Hofer Construction Contractors beckandhofer.com

Faini Designs Jewelry Studio Jewelry fainidesigns.com

35 Years

DAKOTACARE Administrative Services (DAS) Insurance & Benefits dakotacare.com

30 Years

Avis Rent A Car Vehicle Rentals avis.com

25 Years Ron Arndt

Associate Member

20 Years EarthBend

IT Consulting earthbend.com

GreatLife at Bakker Crossing Golf Course Golf Courses bakkercrossing.com

Midstates Imprinted Sportswear Promotional Products midstatesbranding.com

15 Years Epicosity

Marketing/Advertising Agencies epicosity.com

10 Years

High Point Networks, LLC Computer Sales & Service highpointnetworks.com

Minnehaha County Deputies Association Associate Member deputiesassociation.com

Office Advantage

Computer Sales & Service officeadv.com

Summit Plumbing, Inc. Heating & Cooling summitplumbinginc.com

5 Years

Accountable to You, Inc. Bookkeeping accountabletoyouinc.com

Remedy Brewing Company Bars & Breweries remedybrewco.com

W. Tom Simmons Associate Member

44 Chamber News | MAY 2022

Sioux Falls Thrive, Inc. Associate Member siouxfallsthrive.org

Truly Nolen Pest Control Pest Control trulynolensiouxfalls.com

Fargo Glass & Paint Company Wholesale fargoglass.com

Associate Member

Fully Promoted

Promotional Products fullypromoted.com/locations/sioux-falls-sd

FIRST YEAR REINVESTORS

Gordon Flesch Company

Sporting Clubs & Associations allamericangymnastics.com

Hunters Pointe Shooting Complex

All American Gymnastics Academy Rod Carlson

Associate Member

Michael A. Crane Associate Member

Dakota Surrogacy, LLC

Associate Member hunterspointesd.com

Hurdle Life Coach Foundation Associate Member facebook.com/thehurdlelifecoach

ELBO Computing Resources, Inc.

Mark & Sandy McClung

Building & Remodeling

Sanford Underground Research Facility South Dakota Republican Party Associations sdgop.com

Tim Sturdevant Associate Member

Tri-State Nursing Home Health Care tristatenursing.com

Minnekota Markets, LLC Wholesale minnekotamarkets.com

ReBath

Associate Member sanfordlab.org

IT Consulting gflesch.com

Family Services

IT Consulting elbo.net

Pathways to Inclusive & Equitable Workplaces

Associate Member

“ We need a forward

thinking firm to advise us within the ever-changing business environment.” We are that. Get to know ELO. •Audit •Tax •Accounting

•Payroll •Consulting •Wealth Management

605-271-1302 ELOCPA.COM

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 Andrea Carstensen Andrea Carstensen works for Minnwest Bank as business development and treasury management officer. She was raised in Fairmont, Minnesota, and moved to Sioux Falls to attend Augustana University. Andrea enjoys volunteering her time with a variety of community organizations. In addition to serving as a diplomat for the Chamber, she is active with Sales & Marketing Executives, Sioux Empire United Way, South Dakota Bankers Association, and more.

Why do you choose to volunteer your time for the Chamber and other community organizations? The Chamber has been the foundation of my career and provided special friendships, too. The Chamber unites businesses together, advocates for strong conditions and opens doors for yourself, partners and nonprofits in our city, all while having a good time. Volunteering as a Diplomat propels the mission and events offered. Currently, serving as co-chair for the Furniture Mission ‘Place of Grace Community Campaign’ has been a special feat; raising $5 Million for a beautiful new facility on the Empower Campus. There are many important causes in our city that require collaboration. Being involved with nonprofits gives meaning beyond oneself and my faith values play a factor in why I give time, talents and treasures. Andrea Carstensen Minnwest Bank

Visit chambernews.com for more questions with Andrea

What is a skill that you’d like to learn and why? I can play a few instruments already, but learning the acoustic guitar is a dream. I welcome anyone who wants to teach or just sit in my living room and peacefully strum (kidding!). A savvy answer is to always become more proficient in Microsoft Excel. There is massive functionality in its reporting and feel I’ve only touched the surface.

What is your favorite thing about working and living in Sioux Falls? Sioux Falls has seen me bloom. I have roots in the community ever since going to school here in 2014. It has a smaller town feel with the opportunities and possibilities of a larger city. Both professionally and personally, there is a plethora of options and familiar faces everywhere you go. With the continued momentum that will only be enhanced further. I look forward to seeing the growth Sioux Falls has in store for careers, education, good eats, developments and entertainment.

How did you choose your profession? My very first internships and summer job were in banking. I enjoyed the number-crunching detail required, creativity, sales and problem-solving. I gratefully experienced multiple consumer positions and lessons thereafter but chose to enter the nonprofit realm to be a fundraiser. Looking back, that experience grew connections and set me up to be a better community volunteer, especially for campaigns. In 2021 I rejoined the finance industry. My current role allows me to build relationships in the community while showcasing the core values and benefits of Minnwest Bank and presenting a full suite of cash management solutions to current and prospective commercial customers.

What was the last book you read? I am currently reading A Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. This book is a shock to our design, in my opinion. Last month the Young Professionals Network read the Go-Giver by Bob Burg and John David Mann. I’ve heard for years it is a staple book, and that it was.

46 Chamber News | MAY 2022

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Forward.

Welcome Greg! First PREMIER Bank is pleased to announce the addition of VP Head of Wealth Management Greg Kummer to its financial team. Greg is a Minnesota native and brings 33 years of professional experience to First PREMIER. He will lead the bank’s Wealth Management Department which includes: Trust Services, Investment Management and Private Banking. Greg and his wife Carla have two school-aged children and are looking forward to becoming a part of our community. His office is located at 500 South Minnesota Avenue. First PREMIER Bank’s Wealth Management team can help you create custom financial solutions to manage what you have today and grow it for tomorrow. To learn more, contact Greg at (605) 371-2844.

PERSONAL | BUSINESS | MORTGAGE | WEALTH MANAGEMENT

firstpremier.com