Elevate Rapid City announces the inaugural class of Elevate Leadership Institute

Elevate Rapid City knows that in order to elevate the region for all, an investment must be made in growing and developing leaders. That is why they have created the Elevate Leadership Institute (ELI).

Set to begin September 9, this nine-month program provides participants with the background, unique experiences, and insights necessary to assume leadership positions in the community. By the end of the program an ELI graduate will advance their natural desire to serve, engage, lead, and inspire others to join them to achieve even greater success. Together, the class will discover the vision and continue to develop partnerships with a purpose to elevate the region for all.

“To be a leader in today’s challenging, multicultural, and fast-paced environment takes courage, communication, and sometimes a little bit of grit. This year’s class looks to have a lot of all three,” says Tom Johnson, President & CEO of Elevate Rapid City. “We are confident that once they have graduated from ELI, the community can expect great things. We know they will be ready to elevate the region for years to come.”

Elevate Leadership Institute Class of 2022

Stephanie Anderson, Security First Bank

Tommy Barbour, Northwest Pipe Fittings

Laura Bellisle, Black Hills Basecamp

Carrie Bond, Rapid City Public Library

Rebecca Bradley, Monument Health

Jordan Burbach, Architecture Incorporated

Justin DiBona, Gunderson, Palmer, Nelson & Ashmore, LLP

Tim Doyle, Rapid City Police Department

Austin Eichacker, Ketel Thorstenson, LLP

Ben Ganje, City of Rapid City

Holli Hennies, Pennington County

Mark Jobman, Jobman STUDIO

Adam Kaemingk, United States Senator Mike Rounds’ Office

Kalie Kjerstad, Rancher - Self-employed

Jacob Losett, Scull Construction Service

Brian Maruska, SoDak Marketing

Katie Murray, United States Representative Dusty Johnson’s Office

Jeremy Muth, Select Construction Inc.

Luke Neely, Lloyd Companies

Eric Nelson, Black Hills Energy

Devin Pfaff, Casey Peterson, LTD

Ryan Phillips, Rapid City Police Department

Daniel Sandvig, Rapid City Fire Department

Jennifer Schmaltz, Monument Health

Left to right: Linda Rabe, Carrie Bond, Samantha McGrath

by Andy Greenman

Carrie Bond with the Rapid City Public Library is also the recipient of the Linda Rabe Women in Leadership Scholarship. Rabe spent more than thirty years with the Chamber, was the first female to serve as its chief executive, and broke barriers for other women in leadership throughout her career. Bond was selected for this full-ride scholarship to ELI for her passion, integrity and commitment to the mission: Elevating the Rapid City region for all.