DIETRICH // pg 8 FARMING NEW OPPORTUNITIES
HAMMERQUIST // pg 30
CRAFTING A PATH
When Harry Truman unexpectedly became President in 1945, he reportedly told reporters, “Boys, if you ever pray, pray for me now. I don’t know whether you fellows ever had a load of hay fall on you, but when they told me yesterday what had happened, I felt like the moon, the stars, and all the planets had fallen on me.”
Thrust into office during one of the most uncertain times in world history, Truman’s humility and steadiness became his defining traits—not his résumé. His story is a reminder that leadership is rarely about being the loudest in the room (although a voice like James Earl Jones can’t hurt). It’s about understanding the weight of responsibility, rising to the moment, and quietly setting the course for the future.
Take the story of Jason Love, now CEO of RESPEC, who has spent years preparing for this leadership moment. Under the mentorship of his predecessor, he’s guided by a team-first mindset and a bold 2030 vision to double the firm’s impact while keeping its employee-owned soul intact.
Then there’s the story of Jacqui Dietrich, the new head of the John T. Vucurevich Foundation. She is no stranger to taking the lead and building ecosystems. From launching businesses in Boulder to championing entrepreneurs in Denver, she’s now back home in the Hills, using her lifetime of “productive collisions” to strengthen Rapid City’s nonprofit backbone.
Robert Raker’s path is no less interesting. He began as an electrician and worked his way up to CEO of West River Electric. His tale is one of lifelong learning and deep local roots. He also combines a Juris Doctorate with an intimate grasp of energy systems to guide a utility cooperative through a time of rapid transformation.
ELEVATE
ELEVATE
And yet, as Mike Tyson famously reminded us, “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.” It’s one thing to have a five-year plan. It’s entirely another thing to walk into the corner office during times of change (which is always), adapt, and alter the course of a company’s destiny…for the better.
Welcome to this issue of Elevate, where we highlight four executives dodging the punches, stepping into big shoes, and carving out their own legacy in the process. The leaders featured in this issue aren’t just forging a path—they’re shaping it to lead exactly where they intend to go.
Finally, Jay Hammerquist, the newly appointed CEO of Rapid City Medical Center, has worn a lot of hats—from Washington, D.C. to Vancouver, from agriculture to aerospace, and all points in-between. He’s now applying decades of operational insight to local healthcare, working together with physician leaders to build alignment and execution from the inside out.
These stories aren’t just about new faces in leadership roles. They’re about legacy, vision, and the quiet strength of leadership done right—even when the punches come early and often.
Stay safe and God-speed,
Tom Johnson, President & CEO
A TOAST TO INNOVATION & IMPACT
YOUNG
elevaterapidcity.com/events
Elevate is a monthly publication produced by Elevate Rapid City. It is the premier business magazine for the Black Hills region telling the stories that make our area unique and vibrant.
PO Box 747
Rapid City, SD 57709
605.343.1744
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PRESIDENT & CEO
Tom Johnson
SENIOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT & PARTNERSHIPS DIRECTOR
Taylor Davis
SENIOR MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS DIRE CTOR
Shiloh Francis
SENIOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
Lori Frederick
SENIOR PUBLIC POLICY DIRECTOR
Garth Wadsworth
OPERATIONS DIRECTOR
Liz Highland
EVENTS & MARKETING DIRECTOR
Rachel Nelson
WORKFORCE PLANNING DIRECTOR
Reese Niu
HOUSING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Laura Jones
ECOSYSTEM SUPPORT & PROPERTY MANAGER
Loni Reichert
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Kallie Ruland
BUSINESS PROSPECT MANAGER
Drew Staufer
CREATIVE SERVICES MANAGER
Bailey Sadowsky
INVESTOR RELATIONS MANAGER
Rozlyn Lull
EXECUTIVE
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Ashley Simonson
April 3
CELTIC ANGELS IRELAND
The Monument themonument.live
May 1
GATEWAY TO GROWTH
Hosted by Monument Health Human Resources 1400 Turbine Dr. monument.health/event
May 2 EVERYBODY
Performing Art Center bhct.org/everybody.html
May 3
MOUNTAIN WEST FIESTA FEST
The Box mountainwestfiestafest.com
NAJA SHRINERS CIRCUS
The Monument themonument.live/events
SPRING MARKETPLACE POP-UP
The Monument themonument.live/events
STARDUSTFEST
Central States Fair & Rodeo facebook.com
May 7
TAKIN’ OVER THE ASYLUM Seraphim Theatrical Entertainment seraphimte.com/season
May 9–10
DOUG STANHOPE
West River Comedy Club tickettailor.com/events
May 20
STEAM CAFE
Hay Camp Brewing Company facebook.com/events
May 23–24
CHURCH OF CASHA JOHNNY CASH TRIBUTE
The Park Rapid City facebook.com/events
May 23
OPENING DAY OF THE FOUNTAINS
Main Street Square
May 24
BLACK HILLS FOOD TRUCK FEST
Black Hills Harley-Davidson blackhillshd.com
STORYBOOK ISLAND OPENING DAY
Storybook Island storybookisland.org
May 24–25
SPECIAL PERFORMANCES –DUNCAN FAMILY
Crazy Horse Memorial crazyhorsememorial.org/event
May 31
FRUHLINGSFEST & SPRING MARKET
Main Street Square visitrapidcity.com/events
MICHAEL PALASCAK COMEDY SHOW
The Box thebox.live
CANCER SURVIVORSHIP CELEBRATION
Monument Health Cancer Care Institute classy.org/event
Events are curated with the most accurate information available at the time of print. Please check the event website for full details or changes.
RAPIDCITYBUSINESSJOURNAL.COM
Rapid City Business Journal is a weekly show and a business news website produced by Elevate Rapid City and The HomeSlice Group. We strive to produce daily and weekly business news supporting Rapid City, The Black Hills, and South Dakota.
333 West Boulevard Ste. 200 Rapid City, SD 57709
605.343.6161
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EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Mark Houston
PUBLIC SERVICE DIRECTOR
Leslie Cline
IT/ENGINEERING
Chris Jaques
PRODUCER
Amber Clement
PRODUCTION
Oakley Tye
PROMOTIONS
Mitchell Stafford
WEBSITE DESIGN
Brenna Sherry
DATA MANAGEMENT
Hannah Masters
OPERATIONS
Toni Kinney
THE CAST
Mark Houston
Leslie Cline
Dean Taylor
Amy Rose
Mitchell Stafford Oakley Tye
Brandon Jones
Gary Matthews
Francie Ganje
Another HomeSlice Audio Production
EVENTS 2025 MAY
SOUTH DAKO
ECONOMIC INDICATORS
ELEVATE RAPID CITY PRO-BUSINESS LEGISLATIVE SCORECARD
Elevate took a position on 13 bills during the 2025 Legislative Session to advocate for the Rapid City business community. This pro-business scorecard reflects the voting record of local legislators on these key issues.
PRO-BUSINESS CHAMPION
Support Elevate’s position Oppose Elevate’s position
Sen. Helene Duhamel (32)
Sen. Amber Hulse (30)
Rep. Tim Goodwin (30)
Rep. Mike Derby (34)
Rep. Curt Massie (33)
Rep. Nicole Uhre-Balk (32)
Rep. Trish Ladner (30)
Rep. Steve Duffy (32)
Sen. Curt Voight (33)
Sen. Greg Blanc (35)
Sen. Taffy Howard (34)
Heather Baxter (34)
Rep. Phil Jensen (33)
Rep. Tina Mulally (35)
Rep. Tony Randolph (35)
PROPERTY TAX RELIEF
Lawmakers looked at over 20 property tax bills this session. We believe simple scorecards don't capture the complexity of the property tax system. Given the complexities of the property tax system, we opted not to include any property tax bills on the scorecard this year.
Only one property tax relief bill, SB216, actually passed this year.
This bill helps homeowners over the age of 65 by raising the income limits and home values allowed to qualify for a property assessment freeze. It aims to prevent seniors on fixed incomes from losing their homes due to
increasing taxes, addressing concerns lawmakers heard often.
The bill creates two new limits on annual increases: The total assessed value of all owneroccupied property in a county cannot exceed 3% per year. The total revenue payable to taxing districts may not increase by
more than 3% or CPI.
Improvements under 40% of your home's value aren't "new growth" for tax calculation purposes, but their value is still added to your assessment and counts towards the overall cap for owner-occupied property.
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE
SB6 – Passed // Authorize a loan from the South Dakota housing infrastructure fund to a school district adjoining a federal military installation for the construction or expansion of a school building.
SB109 – Passed // Permit a school district to implement a new or revised section 504 plan, individualized family service plan, or individualized education program for a student who is the child of an active-duty member of the United States armed forces.
AIRPORTS
SB 127 – Died // Authorize the expenditure of moneys and make an appropriation for grants supporting airport terminal improvements and expansion.
HB1189 – Passed // Extend by two years the date on which moneys appropriated to the Governor's Office of Economic Development in 2021 for marketing, route restoration, business development, and air service marketing will revert to the general fund.
EDUCATION & CHILDCARE
HB1114 – Passed // Make an appropriation for the purchasing of equipment to support the South Dakota Board of Technical Education.
HB 1132 – Vetoed // Establish provisions for eligibility in the child care assistance program for certain child care employees.
WATER INFRASTRUCTURE
SB202 – Died // Create the water infrastructure development fund.
Senate Joint Resolution 501 – Passed // Providing legislative approval for a future use water permit application by the Western Dakota Regional Water System.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
HB1122– Died // Amend provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code.
SB26 – Passed // Reduce employer contribution rates and increase the administrative fee rate for reemployment assistance.
HB1186 – Died // Provide for the revision and eventual repeal of the employer’s investment in South Dakota’s future fee.
SB177 – Died // Provide a sales and use tax refund for goods and services related to data center operations.
House Bill Resolution 6010 – Died // Encouraging the Executive Board of the Legislative Research Council to establish an interim legislative committee on preserving and protecting the Black Hills of South Dakota.
CON NECT OR COMMUNITY
STORY BY MICHELLE PAWELSKI \\ PHOTOS BY BAILEY SADOWSKY & SUBMITTED
Jacqui Dietrich began understanding the importance of relationship building, especially in small business, as a young child.
Her maternal grandfather owned the oldest real estate business in Rapid City, and paternal grandfather helped to lay the region’s first telephone lines.
“I feel like some authenticity comes from that value set. It is an interesting thing to see multiple generations emerging in that lifestyle and career choices,” said Jacqui, whose two sons, Dorian and Daevin, also work for a local small business.
At 19, Jacqui, originally from Spearfish, transferred from Augustana to Black Hills State University to help her then-boyfriend, now husband, Clint, run Adventure Sport, a small outdoor retail business with two locations, one in Spearfish and one in Rapid City.
That leap launched the teenagers on an epic journey —one that’s taken them across the globe and ultimately led Jacqui to a role she feels she has spent decades preparing for: becoming the newest chief executive officer of
the John T. Vucurevich Foundation (JTVF).
Jacqui started with JTVF, a philanthropic organization dedicated to helping low-income people meet their needs through grantmaking and community collaboration, in December.
“I feel very much in my element,” she said, seated in the foundation’s conference room, where posters of world-renowned speakers—brought to Rapid City each year by the foundation—line the walls. “But it is also a very challenging time to be walking into the field of philanthropy with everything that is happening at the federal and state levels. The uncertainty in our nonprofit community is through the roof.”
What gives Jacqui confidence is JTVF’s strong relationships and her own decades in the entrepreneurial landscape. “The work the foundation has poured into building those relationships is extraordinary. That has been a huge advantage to me being the new CEO.”
Fostering relationships and being the “connector” is what Jacqui is all about.
While helping Clint run Adventure Sport, Jacqui
THAT IS WHEN EVERYTHING CLICKED FOR ME. I WANTED TO CONNECT PEOPLE SOLVING PROBLEMS IN CREATIVE WAYS WITH LIKE-MINDED INDIVIDUALS AND INVESTORS TO START CHANGING THE ECOSYSTEM.”
- JACQUI DIETRICH
COLLISIONS PRODUCTIVE
“
I WAKE UP EVERY DAY AND LOOK AT THE
PEOPLE IN A ROOM AND THINK WHAT IS THE GOOD THEY CAN BRING AND HOW DO WE AT JTVF CAPITALIZE THAT AND STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY.”
- JACQUI DIETRICH
earned her degree in small business administration, bringing classroom lessons into their business. At the same time, she was helping run Wild Idea Buffalo Company, which became the country’s first regenerative organic buffalo operation.
“We certainly experienced our trials - drought years, economics ups and downs and navigating e-commerce,” Jacqui said. “Wild Idea was all based on e-commerce. We just ate, slept and breathed our businesses and had two kids at the same time.”
In 2006, they sold Adventure Sport. The original plan was to move to Washington, D.C., where Jacqui had landed a position in shaping agriculture policy for U.S. Senator Tim Johnson. But life took a detour when Clint received a job opportunity with Oakley, taking the family to Colorado instead.
Walking around downtown Denver, hundreds of miles from the buffalo herds of rural South Dakota, Jacqui wondered what to do next.
Her background in rural economies and small business operations led her in a new direction. At Wild Idea, she’d seen the power of niche markets.
“We were shipping meat all over the country to politicians and food editors,” Jacqui said. “Wild Idea was featured in the New York Times and Gourmet magazine during that growth period. It gave me a different understanding of what’s possible in a place like South Dakota.”
She became a fellow in the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Colorado
Boulder, a program founded by pioneers of the organic food industry.
“These executives had built successful businesses creating new product categories like Horizon Organics and wanted to mentor the next generation of leaders,” Jacqui said. “That just set my trajectory in a whole new direction.”
Jacqui immersed herself in Boulder’s entrepreneurial culture, not as a business owner, but as the individual connecting the dots.
“I realized I didn’t want to own my own company. I loved being the enabler – connecting students, entrepreneurs, and researchers with clean companies.”
She called this work creating “productive collisions” – a phrase coined by a CU Boulder scientist.
“That is when everything clicked for me. I wanted to connect people solving problems in creative ways with like-minded individuals and investors to start changing the ecosystem.”
Creating “productive collisions” has been her roadmap since.
At CU Boulder, Jacqui focused on innovation and entrepreneurship helping changemakers address not just product development but workforce sustainability and environmental impact.
She later led a program with the City of Denver to create entrepreneurial opportunities for underserved communities–connecting entrepreneurs with mentors and access to capital.
“Often, these entrepreneurs come from no personal wealth, so how do we get them bankable?” she said. “We were always thinking about how to enable these processes and provide what they need to succeed.”
By the time she left, more than 60 entrepreneurs were running small businesses.
Through that work, Jacqui met a Florida-based Fortune 100 executive interested in creating a tech platform to improve the visibility of entrepreneurial resources.
Jacqui was the first client in Startup Space, a tool that expanded community connectivity and a critical piece of software during the pandemic for helping municipalities distribute small business relief funds.
“It was an awesome example of catalyzing deep resources and making that funnel smoother and more productive.”
Jacqui was working remotely with Startup Space when her family moved back home to the Black Hills in 2020. But after a few years of Zoom calls, she missed feeling rooted in her community.
In Denver, I was anchored in everything that was happening locally. I realized I missed that.”
That led her to join the Rapid City Arts Council (RCAC) as executive director. “The arts community has a lot in common with entrepreneurs,” said Jacqui, who visited the Dahl Arts Center as a child with her grandmother, a docent here in the ‘80s. “It’s about creating a sense of belonging for different groups.”
While leading RCAC, Jacqui secured national grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the U.S. Department of Justice and JTVF, an ongoing funder of RCAC. Her work with the foundation sparked her interest in the CEO role.
“I was instantly attached to what the foundation was doing. It took me back to that connector role –understanding how important it is to have people who hold access to resources and just want to listen and help.”
Jacqui’s journey has come full circle, from small-town entrepreneur to national changemaker. She’s back in her home state, in a role she was meant to have: community connector.
“I wake up every day and look at the people in a room and think what is the good they can bring and how do we at JTVF capitalize that and strengthen our community.” *
JOHN T. VUCUREVICH FOUNDATION
For children and families
Children’s Home Society of South Dakota is healing trauma, raising hope and growing resilience for the children, families and communities we serve. We offer everything from residential treatment and schools to outpatient mental health services, forensic interviewing and more. And now we’re expanding services at our new location on Mount Rushmore Road in Rapid City.
KEEP
STORY BY MICHELLE PAWELSKI PHOTOS BY BAILEY SADOWSKY
Jason Love has spent a lifetime playing on teams, coaching them, building them, and leading them—on the field, on the sidelines and in the office. From playing with Post 22 and cheering on his daughters in basketball to guiding a global engineering consulting firm, he knows that a strong team isn’t just the key to winning games—it’s the foundation of a thriving business.
Jason’s passion for creating effective teams is the guiding principle in his newest role as president and chief executive officer of RESPEC, a worldwide integrated solutions firm headquartered in Rapid City with a wide range of expertise from water science and engineering to data and internet technology.
For three years, he has been preparing for this moment, guided by the mentorship of former president and CEO Todd Kenner. In 2022, RESPEC’s board of directors proactively separated the two roles to ensure a seamless transition when the time came for Jason to take the helm.
“It was a very intentional process designed to prevent any major disruptions,” Jason said, seated in a conference room within RESPEC’s newly expanded 70,000-square-foot facility. The move marked achieving a strategic goal set in 2018—to establish RESPEC’s fourth generation of leadership by 2025. This deliberate approach reflects the company’s unwavering dedication to stability and long-term vision.
“I have an amazing mentor in Todd. He spent many years bringing me into this position. As I was moving up, there was an opportunity to build a team up underneath me. This role is a big one, but it is a team. You have to have the right team around you,” Jason said.
Jason, a Rapid City native, has been with RESPEC since 2005. Prior to joining the company, he spent nearly a decade working in the San Francisco Bay area.
His story is similar to that of many from the Black Hills area – limited job opportunities led him to seek work elsewhere.
After graduating from Stevens High School, Jason spent a year playing baseball at South Dakota State University before transferring back to his hometown to attend South Dakota Mines. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering with an emphasis in water resources. “I wanted to work on water quality and explore how integrating technology could help address water-related challenges.”
After graduation, Jason packed up and moved to the West Coast with his then-girlfriend, now wife, Sonja – a rival Central Cobbler – whom he met at Mines.
“I went out to San Francisco during the dot-com boom.
Google was starting up next door. It was a really cool time to be out there,” he said. “I really loved what I did. I liked the technical aspects of the water quality work that I did around the country.”
Jason and Sonja had their first daughter, Gabbie, who is now a sophomore at the University of South Dakota. Their youngest daughter, Finley, is a high school junior at Jason’s alma mater.
Despite his love for his job, Jason had a desire to return home to the Black Hills. That opportunity arose when fellow Mines Hardrocker Dan Hoyer, working on his doctorate, contacted Jason for his expertise in water resources. “I started to get to know him, and he connected me with RESPEC.”
RESPEC brought Jason in to launch a water-focused market sector, expanding the company’s long-established portfolio.
Founded in 1969 by a group of South Dakota Mines professors, RESPEC—short for Research Specialists—was created to tackle one of the nation’s most pressing challenges at the time: the disposal and storage of nuclear waste. The founders also aimed to provide Mines graduates with opportunities to build successful careers in engineering and science within South Dakota.
“I longed to come back home and make an impact locally,” Jason said. “I loved the Hills and wanted to use my capabilities to build something here. I was fortunate
that RESPEC gave me that opportunity.”
Today, RESPEC operates across seven market sectors, ranging from mining and water to infrastructure and technology. Since 2005, the company has expanded from 90 employees in two offices to a team of 650 across 30 locations—and it continues to grow.
The goal for 2030 – double that number and be a recognized North American company.
Jason believes they are already well on the way to achieving that vision.
“Our larger purpose really revolves around enriching lives – for the communities we live in, the clients we serve and for our employees,” he said. “Through
that, we create new opportunities. When we grow, we gain new expertise, new geography and new cool projects our people can work on.”
That creates longevity and a workplace culture that keeps RESPEC at the top of its game.
“One of the things I love about RESPEC, and our employees do, is we are 100 percent employee-owned, and no one owns more than 5 percent, so when we make decisions, it is for the whole company,” Jason said. “That’s kind of what I think really allows us to have the mindset of building a legacy.”
That legacy is also deeply rooted in its partnership with South Dakota Mines, which has long provided a strong pipeline of talent. It is a partnership that is the foundation of RESPEC. As CEO and president, Jason remains committed to fostering that talent and continuing to invest
in the next generation of engineers and scientists.
“It truly became my passion to build something that provides opportunities for people to stay in the region, have good paying jobs and do cool work around the world,” he said. “That is building upon our vision.”
As a 20-year veteran of RESPEC, Jason has been instrumental in the company’s continued success, although he credits the leaders before him and the 649 other players on the team. “I have been fortunate that the ones before me have built something that is better than when they came, and I want to leave that same legacy.”
When he isn’t strategizing his next play at RESPEC, Jason is on the road with Sonja cheering on Finley at basketball games or visiting Gabbie at school.
He’s building a legacy that goes beyond business. *
ROBERT RAKER TAKES THE LEAD WITH A CLEAR VISION AND STRONG UTILITY BACKGROUND.
STORY BY JENNA CARDA \\ PHOTOS BY BAILEY SADOWSKY
| WIRED GROWTH FOR
GROWTH
The Black Hills, and western South Dakota, have always had a place in Robert Raker’s heart. With his passion for the outdoors, it is the perfect place to mountain bike, fish for walleye, and enjoy the Black Hills.
“I’ve always enjoyed the people, the culture, and the quality of life western South Dakota has to offer,” he said.
Robert is always ready to learn something new, and as he worked his way through high school and college, rodeo was the challenge Robert looked to master.
|
After his rodeo career reached its pique, Robert looked to Western Dakota Technical College (WDTC) for direction in a different career. Finding an interest in energy, he set his sights on becoming an electrician.
“The coursework through WDTC introduced me to the industry and eventually I worked my way up through the ranks becoming a journeyman then eventually a master electrician in 2013,” said Robert.
In 2008, Robert joined the team at West River Electric Association (WREA) to
|manage the cooperative’s load management program – controlling usage on the power grid. In this position, Robert was able to use his technical background to communicate changes, updates, and opportunities to members in terms everyone understood.
“There are so many facets within the industry,” said Robert. “And with WREA’s professional development opportunities to continue education, I was able to see that there was opportunity to learn and grow [within the company].”
WREA is a western South Dakota rural
co-op that consists of over 2,500 miles of line across a 4,500 square mile area. Their team works to provide utility services to community members outside of the populated areas of Rapid City, and is governed by its member-voted board of directors.
Although WREA has been in business for nearly 86 years, it has adapted and evolved as technology changes.
“Understanding that you’re never going to know everything is one of the most instrumental lessons I have learned throughout my career,” said Raker. “Our
L to R: Andee Jo, Charlee Jo, Billi Jo, and Robert
industry is evolving; and it’s not something unique to WREA—it’s business in general. [Change] is happening at a more rapid pace than what it has in the past, and it’s important to continue with a growth mindset.”
Robert’s acknowledgment of being a lifelong learner has progressed his career into multiple departments within WREA. He has contributed to marketing, member communications, strategic planning, and legislative affairs. In 2022, Robert received his Juris Doctorate from Mitchell Hamline School of Law which has proven to be invaluable considering the nature of utilities and government regulations.
While gaining credentials as a lawyer in 2022 was a milestone in his life, Rob-
ert’s family was also growing. Robert and his wife Billi Jo, along with their oldest daughter Charlee Jo, welcomed their newest baby girl to the Raker family – miss Andee Jo.
“Being with my family is the highlight of my day,” said Robert. “Whether we are out with the horses or mountain biking, being together is the best part.”
In December 2024, Robert was selected as the company’s CEO by the board of directors—officially beginning the position on January 3, 2025.
In the WREA release of the CEO announcement, the co-op’s board chairman Andy Moon explained that “the Board did a search both internally and externally to be certain that we would
choose the right individual to lead West River Electric into the future. We felt Robert’s experience in the utility industry, along with his training and education, [made] him the best candidate.”
With their members’ best interest at the forefront of his mind, Robert is eager to continue building upon the firm foundation past WREA CEO’s have created before him.
“I am incredibly fortunate to follow behind past leadership who have positioned WREA to be a strong and adaptive organization. We have a talented team of men and women and I’m excited to lead WREA into the next phase of innovation and growth.” *
“ UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU’RE NEVER GOING TO KNOW EVERYTHING IS ONE OF THE MOST INSTRUMENTAL LESSONS I HAVE LEARNED
- ROBERT RAKER -
SHAPED S OIL STRATEGY & by
Jay Hammerquist led on ranches, in boardrooms, and now, back at RCMC.
STORY BY JENNA CARDA \\ PHOTOS BY BRENT KASTNER
The Hammerquist name has been around Rapid City since the early 1880s when Jay Hammerquist’s great-grandfather homesteaded a ranch east of the metro area. Growing up, Jay was immersed in agriculture by default, and really enjoyed the operations of it all.
His first job off the ranch didn’t stray too far from his normal chores, taking a position at Aby’s Seed & Feed.
“I would help mill and load grain a couple hours a week after school,” said Jay. “But it was my first real paycheck. Then in the summertime throughout college, I worked at Howard Johnson’s and taught tennis.”
Life for Jay Hammerquist has always been filled with dichotomies, and the contrast between what is perceived for life as a rancher to life as a tennis player is just the beginning.
After graduating South Dakota State University with a degree in ag business, Jay found a job in Washington DC working for the federal Small Business Administration assisting with business communications.
“It was completely different from what I was used to,” said Jay. “It was a big city working in government; it was my first job out of college, and it was just all so new to me.”
However, the challenge of exceeding expectations is what drove him
“I’ve got so many data points in my head of what makes a great leader and not-so-great; what to do to succeed and what not to do—and I believe that has shaped me more than anything to the professional I am today.”
- JAY HAMMERQUIST -
to find success. After DC, Jay and his wife Theresa moved to North Carolina where he got his MBA, and then eventually began working for a consulting firm which took them to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
In this consulting role, Jay was able to work with leaders from a variety of industries on various scales of operations on their integrations and execution of goals.
“I’ve worked for many different leaders, and I’ve had the opportunity to coach many leaders, as well,” said Jay. “I’ve got
so many data points in my head of what makes a great leader and notso-great; what to do to succeed and what not to do—and I believe that has shaped me more than anything to the professional I am today.”
When Jay was able to move his family of five back to Rapid City, he was accepted into the role as CEO for Black Hills Orthopedic and Spine Center. For seven years, Jay worked alongside doctors and oversaw the commitment to care provided to patients at that facility.
In 2017, the opportunity to get back into operations consulting was presented and he took it. Flying throughout the country for clients in oil and gas, forestry and aerospace was his normality. He would work with leaders, mid-management teams, and frontline workers at factories, plants, and sites where employees are boots on the ground getting the work done.
“A lot of what I helped teams do is focused on operational enhancements and continuous improvement,” said Jay. “I coached on lean thinking,
PHOTO BY BAILEY SADOWSKY
data analysis, problem-solving, and implementing the actions that these teams weren’t able to do themselves – whether it be due to resources, skills, or just too small of a team to do the work that needed to be done.”
In March 2025, Jay accepted the position as CEO of Rapid City Medical Center – eager to be back “home” and with a team to work towards the goals that are in front of him.
“I’m very grateful to be here,” said Jay. “As CEO, I report to a board of phenomenal physicians that all have ideas of excellence for this organization, and while my expertise isn’t in how doctors should practice medicine – my focus will be on aligning the organization and executing on our plans to meet the goals and vision for Rapid City Medical Center and the foundational impact it has on the Rapid City community.”
Throughout life’s trajectory of changes, opportunities, and milestones – maybe all of the experiences and talent accumulated throughout the years aren’t dichotomous after all. They have shaped Jay into a leader ready to take on a new goal to ensure RCMC sees continued success. *
$2,500 SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED TO TWO HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS PURSUING ACCOUNTING DEGREES.
*To qualify and receive credit card bonus offer, you must make qualifying purchases (purchases less returns, credits, and adjustments) totaling $2,000 or more during the first 90 days from loan opening. Purchases do not include cash advances, balance transfers, unauthorized or fraudulent charges, account fees, and interest charges. Qualifying purchases
