GEORGE AWARD

JULIO "MUTCH" USERA

Since 1981 the Chamber, now Elevate Rapid City, has presented its George Award recognizing an outstanding community leader that has gone above and beyond throughout their life to bring about positive change and impact on the Rapid City Community. “They didn’t just wait to let ‘George’ do it, they did it themselves.” This phrase was coined in regard to George Weedman back in 1979, who worked for Black Hills Power and Light, and spent 30 years on the Ag committee – through the years you would hear the phrase often that “George will do it” and he did!

Julio “Mutch” Usera graduated from Central High School in 1973 and went to work for Black Hills Power and Light Company as an apprentice appliance serviceman. While working there he also received his degree from Black Hills State University. Over the course of his 48 years with the company he held several roles, but spent most of his time in Public Relations, Economic Development, and Marketing.

Mutch has been engaged at a leadership level on several community projects including leading the Saving Ellsworth Communication Team when the base was on the BRAC list, chairing the Central States Fair and Black Hills Stock Show through the COVID pandemic and creating a strategic plan to operate safely, chairing Destination Rapid City board and helping develop a 5-year strategic plan that will take the organization to the next level of success.

Mutch has also been involved with Western Dakota Tech taskforce, Rapid City Lions Club, the YMCA, United Way, Elevate Rapid City, Club for Boys, Black Hills Vision, South Dakota Voices for Children and on the list goes. As the saying goes, “He didn’t just let George do it!”

In this spare time, he and his wife, Charlene, own and operate a martial arts school located in Uptown Rapid. It has been a lifestyle for his entire family for over 51 years. In fact, all his children hold Black Belts in Jujitsu. Mutch has a Black Belt in several martial arts.