March 2022 Chamber News

Chamber News Vol. 57, No. 5

March 2022

A PUBLICATION OF THE GREATER SIOUX FALLS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

100+ YEARS OF

INVESTING IN COMMUNITY Founding Member businesses maintain long-term membership in the Chamber

In this issue Feature

100+ years of investing in community Founding Member businesses maintain long-term membership in the Chamber . . . . . . . . . . . 26-33 Top stories Local election set for April 12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34-36 DSU plans $90 million initiative to grow the industry. . . . . . . . . . . . 38-39 In this issue Message from the Chair. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Event Calendars. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-9 Economic Indicators. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Faces & Places. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-23 Community Appeals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Business Advocacy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34-36 Headlines. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38-41 DE&I Feature Series. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Business Sense. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Ribbon Cuttings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44-46 New Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Member Anniversaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48-49 Five Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 ON THE COVER

Forty-seven businesses have the distinction of being Founding Members of the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce. This signifies that they have maintained continuous membership in the Chamber since the founding of their business prior to 1940. Twenty-one of those businesses have been members since the Chamber was started in 1907.

Thank you to the following members for supporting the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce by being premium sponsors of the Chamber News magazine.

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

Chamber News Editor Jennie Doyen

For editorial information, call: (605) 336-1620 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

Chamber Mission 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.

FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA OR VISIT siouxfallschamber.com /siouxfallschamber Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce @GreaterSFCC @SF_Advocate siouxfallschamber

Read online or find archived issues: issuu.com/siouxfallschamber

chambernews.com | Chamber News 3

Message from the Chair

Message from the Chair The word “century” comes from the Latin “centuria,” which in the ancient Roman army was a company of one hundred men. The term began to be used to denote 100 years in the 15th century.

Alex Ramirez 2021-22 Chair of the Board

The Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce has an impressive group of “founding members” that have been part of our Chamber for 100 years or more. In a way, they are like a company of soldiers that has forged the way for today’s businesses and influenced your community in lasting ways. Imagine all the growth and change those businesses have experienced in Sioux Falls over that time! Most importantly, they’ve seen the returns for their investment and have maintained their support. In this issue of Chamber News, you can learn more about four of those founding members.

Whether you have been a member for decades, a few years or just a few months, we are so glad you choose to invest!

Every business has its own reason for joining the Chamber. I know some businesses join because they want to connect and network with other businesses and possible clients. Others join because they care about advocacy work we do in Pierre to support things that will keep our business community strong and growing. Whatever their motivations, most of us can agree that building a vibrant community is part of why they choose to invest in chamber membership. Our new members and volunteers also find out soon enough just how much impact our chamber has in our daily lives through advocacy and investment. They are excited to be a part of the force that works together for the future of our city and the generations to come.

Whether you have been a member for decades, a few years or just a few months, we Recently, Dakota State University announced that they plan to build a new Applied Research Lab are so glad you in Sioux Falls as part of their $90 million cyber-research initiative. This project is a game-changer choose to invest! for our city. The future is cyber, and this project helps position DSU, Sioux Falls and all of South Dakota to be a leader in cybersecurity. I am proud to know that Forward Sioux Falls plays a role in this project.

Finally, I encourage you to read the information in this issue about the candidates who are seeking local elected office this spring. It can help you make an informed decision about who you want in these important leadership roles. I became a U.S. citizen less than 2 years ago and I am excited to exercise my constitutional right to vote. I am always mindful of how blessed we are to live in this country with a strong and thoughtful Constitution – what a privilege. Remember to vote on April 12 – our democracy depends on it!

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

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, Inc. 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 EVENT

MIXER MEMBERSHIP

Tuesday, March 8

SPONSORED BY:

4:30 – 6:30 p.m.

Reliabank, 608 W. 86th St.

Complimentary hors d’oeuvres and beverages $5 admission or use your Mixer Pass

DE&I Activator Series: Fundamentals of Cultural Competence Wednesday, March 9 8:30 – 9:30 a.m.

Zoom

DETAILS: The DE&I Activator Series is an introduction to key concepts, strategies, mindsets and skill sets to support participant’s knowledge of how to activate a diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) workplace culture shift. The series offers concrete application strategies to help a workplace envision its DE&I goals and identify steps for implementation. Continuing education credit opportunities are available with SHRM and HRCI. COST: Free RSVP: siouxfallschamber.com

Business Sense Workshop: Core of Cryptocurrency Tuesday, March 22 11 a.m. – Noon Zoom

DETAILS: The birth of blockchain technology and cryptocurrency began over a decade ago as a niche and unique industry. This space has completely disrupted traditional finance and other industries and now it has reached a meaningful inflection point.

All businesses today are trying to understand what this is, how it has grown so rapidly, and how it will affect them in the future.

COST: $10 RSVP: siouxfallschamber.com

Business Sense Workshop: Charging a Conscious Culture Tuesday, April 12 11 a.m.-Noon Zoom

DETAILS: Workplace culture can feel like it’s being put under a magnifying glass, with concerns about how it will be adapted and maintained. What we know for sure is that a culture will emerge, whether intended or not, so you want to be deliberate in curating your work environments. Learn from Rana DeBoer, Keystone Group International, about the four stages of building a conscious culture and how to charge your leaders for success at each stage.

COST: $10 RSVP: siouxfallschamber.com

Membership Mixer Tuesday, April 12

4:30 – 6:30 p.m.

Concrete Materials 1500 Sweetman Place

DETAILS: Make a new connection at the April Membership Mixer, hosted by Concrete Materials. Enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres and beverages, plus take a tour of the quarry.

COST: Complimentary admission courtesy of Concrete Materials

6 Chamber News | MARCH 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.

Find us on social media or visit siouxfallsypn.com

Morning Buzz Thursday, March 3

Power Lunch Wednesday, March 9

YPN New Member Lunch Thursday, March 24

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.

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 Ginna’s Cafe! Please rsvp so we can monitor space requirements.

COST: Free

COST: Free, food & drink on your own.

DETAILS: Are you new to YPN? Looking for your first event to attend? Join us for our New Member Lunch at the Chamber!

This is a great opportunity to meet other new members and ask questions to experienced members. Lunch is included with registration. Space is limited to the first 20 people to RSVP!

Focus Workshop – Empowered Coaching: Leadership & Influence Pt. 2 Thursday, March 3

Night out with the Skyforce Thursday, March 10

7:30–9 a.m.

Origin Health - Chiropractic & Wellness 5800 E. 18th St.

Noon–1 p.m.

Zoom

DETAILS: Once a person learns the techniques of true leadership and influence, they will be able to build the confidence it takes to take the lead. The more experience they have acting as a genuine leader, the easier it will become. It is never easy to take the lead, as one will need to make decisions and face challenges, but it can become natural and very rewarding.

Presented by Molly Christianson, Empowered Coaching COST: Free, registration required.

Sioux Falls City Council Candidate Forum Thursday, March 3 5–7 p.m.

JJ’s Wine, Spirits & Cigars 3000 W. 57th St.

DETAILS: Get to know the candidates running for Sioux Falls City Council. We’ll start the event off with an informal mixer where you have the opportunity to meet each candidate and then we’ll transition to a program where the candidates have an opportunity to introduce themselves and discuss why they decided to run.

COST: Free, registration required.

Noon–1 p.m.

Ginna’s Cafe inside SCHEELS 2101 W. 41st St.

6–8:30 p.m.

Sanford Pentagon 2210 W. Pentagon Place

DETAILS: March Madness is upon us! Get your head in the game and join us for a night of basketball and networking as the Skyforce take on the Austin Spurs. You can also join the pre-party in a private space at Blue Rock Bar & Grill starting at 4:30 p.m.

COST: $25, includes ticket entry and unlimited popcorn & nachos

A Seat at the Table: Dr. José-Marie Griffiths Wednesday, March 16 Noon–1 p.m.

Chamber of Commerce 200 N. Phillips Ave.

DETAILS: Get to know Dr. José-Marie Griffiths, President of Dakota State University, at this Seat at the Table event.

Advanced registration is required.

COST: Free

Reservations for Six Wednesday, March 23

Noon–1 p.m.

Mama’s Ladas, 116 W. 11th 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.

COST: Free, food & drink on your own.

Noon–1 p.m.

Chamber of Commerce, 200 N. Phillips Ave.

COST: $10

YPN Speed Networking Thursday, March 24

5:30–8 p.m.

Keller Williams Realty, Sioux Falls 6300 S. Connie Ave. DETAILS: Looking for a quick way to expand your professional network? Join us for YPN Speed Networking! Limited to the first 50 to register. This is a FREE event, but you must register in advance to save your spot.

COST: Free, registration required.

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, March 1, 4 – 5 p.m.

Chamber of Commerce

Personal & Professional Development Action Team

Thursday, March 3, 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.

Zoom

Civic Engagement Action Team Meeting

Wednesday, March 16, 4 – 5 p.m.

Chamber of Commerce chambernews.com | Chamber News 7

Collaboration

you can bank on.

10-13

The Premiere Playhouse presents: The 39 Steps

This calendar is a sampling of local events, concerts, fundraisers, seminars and more compiled from siouxfallsevents.com and experiencesiouxfalls.com/ events. Visit these websites for a complete listing of events happening in the Sioux Falls area, or for more details on the events listed here.

10-13

55th Annual Sioux Empire Sportsmen’s Show

12

The Holly Who? Murder Mystery Gala benefitting Habitat for Humanity

17

Jinjer at The District

17-18

The Good Night Theatre Collective Presents: A Bingeworthy Cabaret

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

18

Blippi The Musical at Washington Pavilion

18

13th Annual Compass Center Gala

19

Dakota Coffee Festival

19

South Dakota Symphony Orchestra:

19

St. Patrick’s Day Parade

22

Steve Vai: Inviolate Tour at The District

MARCH 3-6

The Premiere Playhouse presents: The 39 Steps

4-5

Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

5-8

2022 Summit League Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships

8 10

Raise Your Expectations Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5

SME Women in Business Jennifer Johnson 22

25 Vice President 25 National Association of Women in Construction Branch Manager 45th Anniversary celebration 26 -27 NMLS 470758 Morgan Wallen: Dangerous Tour with 31 HARDY & Larry Fleet

8 Chamber News | MARCH 2022

Cole Swindell: Down to the Bar Tour HAIRSPRAY at the Washington Pavilion Greater Sioux Falls Model Train Show McCrossan Wildest Banquet Auction in the Midwest -

(605) 444-4058A Chuckwagon Experience ID 405612

APRIL 1

Lainey Wilson at The District

1

The Chairity Gala for Furniture Mission of South Dakota

1-3

PBR First PREMIER Bank PREMIER Bankcard Invitational

2

South Dakota Symphony Orchestra: Bach’s St. Matthew Passion

3

Alice Cooper with Buckcherry at Washington Pavilion

5

Charley Crockett at The District

7

Whose Live Anyway? at Washington Pavilion

10

Church Basement Ladies at Washington Pavilion

10

South Dakota Symphony Orchestra: Stained Glass Concert

24

Sioux Falls Skedaddle

24

Megadeth & Lamb of God at Denny Sanford PREMIER Center

28

MercyMe: INHALE (EXHALE) Tour at Denny Sanford PREMIER Center

28

Dustin Lynch: Party Mode Tour 2022 at Sanford Pentagon

30

South Dakota Symphony Orchestra Centennial Finale

MAY 3

Kenny Wayne Shepherd at The District

3-8

Come From Away at Washington Pavilion

6

Spring Art & Wine Walk in downtown Sioux Falls Cinco de Mayo Fiesta

11

Shinedown at Denny Sanford PREMIER Center

7

16

4th Annual Downtown Easter Egg Hunt

8

Iration: Zen Island World Tour at The District

21

British Invasion at Washington Pavilion

12-15

The Premiere Playhouse presents: Cabaret

21-23

NAWIC Spring Forum 2022

13

21-23

The Good Night Theatre Collective Presents: Into the Woods

Rage Against The Machine at Denny Sanford PREMIER Center

14

Sioux Falls Storm vs Frisco Fighters

21

49th Annual Tribute to Women

16-17

14th Annual Knickers Fore Knockers

Jimmie Allen with Neon Union at The District

19-22

The Premiere Playhouse presents: Cabaret

23

chambernews.com | Chamber News 9

Your Success is Our Business Whether you’re a large corporation or small company, First PREMIER Bank is committed to always doing what’s right for you. We invest our time to know you and your business goals. Then we work to find the right financial solutions to help you achieve success. It’s how we’ve grown to be one of the nation’s strongest community banks. It’s The PREMIER Way.

PERSONAL | BUSINESS | MORTGAGE | WEALTH MANAGEMENT

firstpremier.com

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

January 2022

December 2021

CUMULATIVE YEAR TO DATE

306 permits

2020 2021

367 permits

2022

361 permits 0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

BISMARCK

2.7%

FARGO

2.1%

400

MINNEAPOLIS/ ST. PAUL

Source: City of Sioux Falls

2.5%

RAPID CITY

2.4%

City of Sioux Falls Total Construction Value January 2022

SIOUX FALLS

ROCHESTER

2.3%

2.0%

CEDAR RAPIDS

CUMULATIVE YEAR TO DATE

3.3%

60

OMAHA

DES MOINES

2.8%

1.6%

LINCOLN

1.1%

50

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

40 $57 million $35.1 million

Agriculture Trends December 2021

30

14.0 20

0

$10.60

$33.1 million $11.6 million

(IN MILLIONS)

10

$12.50

$12.20

$43.5 million $18.4 million

$12.40

$12.10

10.5

Soybeans

$10.00

2021

2020

Source: City of Sioux Falls

Total Construction Value

(per bushel) U.S. South Dakota

2022 New Non-Residential Construction Value

7.0 $5.58

$5.34

Sioux Falls Region Housing Overview January 2022

$3.97

3.5

New Listings: 322 Days on the Market Until Sale: 83 Median Sales Price: $269,900 Inventory of Homes for Sale: 610 Source: RASE (Realtor Association of the Sioux Empire)

0.0

$5.47

$5.27

Corn

$3.76

December

2020

(per bushel) U.S. South Dakota

November

2021

December

2021

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture

chambernews.com | Chamber News 11

Faces & Places

Faces & Places Our members do more than follow the news. They make the news. Job promotions and hirings. New projects. New partnerships.

Awards. Every day we hear about exciting accomplishments, historic milestones and other positive aspects of our member businesses that deserve to be shared. Submit news to jdoyen@siouxfalls.com.

Jay Soukup

Black Hills Federal Credit Union

Tammy Beintema American Heart Association

Megan Kjose

Lynda Billars

Feeding South Dakota

The Lynda B. Advantage Keller Williams

Andrea Carstensen

Doug DeGroot

Minnwest Bank

Kristin HoefertRedlinger Northwestern Mutual

Brian Sittig CNA Surety

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 Jay Soukup, Black Hills Federal Credit Union, eight years as an ambassador; and newlyappointed ambassador Megan Kjose, development director at Feeding South Dakota.

The ACE Award is presented monthly to one ambassador in recognition of their efforts to bring new members into the Chamber.

12 Chamber News | MARCH 2022

Lynda Billars, The Lynda B. AdvantageLynda Billars KW, received the ACE Award for December and Kristin Hoefert-Redlinger, Northwestern Mutual, received the January ACE Award.

Tammy Beintema, American Heart Association, was the January diplomat of the month. Andrea Carstensen, Minnwest Bank, was diplomat of the month for February.

Event Champion is a recognition given monthly to one diplomat for consistent attendance and participation at Chamber events and ribbon cuttings. Doug DeGroot was the January Event Champion and Brian Sittig, CNA Surety, received the honor for February.

The diplomat team of the month for January was Team Hoesing: Captain Jennifer Hoesing, DakotAbilities; Tammy Beintema, American Heart Association; Derrick Karsky, Farmers Insurance Group/Karsky Agency; Gita Hendricks, Cornerstone Financial Solutions, Inc.; and Jordan Huisman, First PREMIER Bank.

The diplomat team of the month for February was Team Peterson: Captain Deb Peterson; Andrea Carstensen, Minnwest Bank; Sandy Case; Rachael Powell, Goosmann Law Firm; and Darci Hustrulid, Girl Scouts-Dakota Horizons.

New Faces & Promotions Jeremy Altman, AIA, LEED AP BD+C and Lauren Deshler, AIA, have both recently become partners in Architecture Incorporated of Sioux Falls and Rapid City. Altman graduated from North Dakota State University with a Bachelor of Architecture and Bachelor of Environmental Design. He has nearly two decades of experience. Deshler graduated from Iowa State University with a Bachelor of Architecture, she has nine years of experience.

First PREMIER Bank recently promoted seven employees. Alex Jensen is promoted to Senior Business Banking Officer. Jensen has more than 15 years of professional experience.

Jay Salonen is promoted to Private Banking Officer and Wealth Manager. Salonen has more than 21 years of experience in financial services. Jeremy Anderson is promoted to Vice President, Branch Manager. Anderson has more than 20 years of professional experience. He will oversee the retail staff operations at the bank’s Sertoma and Wakonda locations. Jordan Huisman is promoted to Senior Business Banking Officer. Huisman has more than eight years of professional experience. Keith Miller is promoted to Senior Business Banking Officer.

He has more than 10 years of professional experience. Kenneth Breaw is promoted to Vice President, Branch Manager. Breaw has more than 41 years of professional experience.

He will oversee retail staff operations at the W. Benson Road location. Brian Moberly is promoted to Vice President, Trust and Estates.

He has more than 34 years of experience in the banking industry.

PREMIER Bankcard has promoted Anna Mitchell to Director, Human Resources.

Mitchell will oversee the day-to-day human resource operations for PREMIER Bankcard locations in Sioux Falls, Watertown, Huron and Dakota Dunes. She will support human resource managers to ensure they partner with and support the needs of various departments.

Mitchell has a master’s degree in Human Resource Management.

First PREMIER Bank and PREMIER Bankcard welcomed Teresa Ward as Senior Vice President, Internal Audit. Ward has more than 33 years of audit experience. She will oversee internal audit and loan review functions for both First PREMIER Bank and PREMIER Bankcard. Ward serves on the Board of the Sioux Falls Chapter of the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) and on the IIA’s International Professional Certifications Board.

Wade Kline, KLJ Engineering, has taken a new role, leading KLJ’s newly created Public Engagement Team. Kline has been part of KLJ since 2014, leading multiple complex

transportation plans and studies, all with large public engagement components.

Brian Wohnoutka, Cornerstone Bank, has been promoted to a Credit Analyst Officer Wohnoutka joined the bank in September 2021.

Dr. Aimee Deliramich has joined the Center for Disabilities as a Licensed Clinical Psychologist providing specialized clinical services, training, technical assistance and continuing education. Deliramich most recently worked at Lifescape to develop the clinical psychology inpatient and outpatient programs. Deliramich earned a PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of South Dakota, an MA in Counseling Psychology from the University of Hawaii at Hilo and a BS in Psychology from the University of Wyoming.

First International Bank & Trust welcomed Adam Walsh to their Sioux Falls team as Vice President and Commercial Lender.

Walsh has 15 years of banking experience and has been identified as an Emerging Leader by the South Dakota Banker’s Association. He is actively involved with a leadership position on the Harrisburg Economic Development Corporation and as a board member for the Sioux Falls Family YMCA.

Leadership Ryan Punt is the new CEO of SDN Communications. He succeeded Mark Schlanta, who retired in December 2021 after leading the organization for 21 years. Punt was previously SDN’s vice president of sales. He has been with the company since 2006.

Deb Koski was promoted to chief philanthropy officer for Sanford Health. Koski most recently served as system executive director for the Sanford Health Foundation. She has been with the organization since 2004.

Dakota State University President JoséMarie Griffiths has been named an expert advisor for the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP). The SCSP is inspired by the Rockefeller Special Studies Project (SSP),

launched in 1956 by Nelson Rockefeller and led by Henry Kissinger. In the midst of the Cold War, as the U.S. was facing roiling domestic and international conditions, Rockefeller and Kissinger brought together some of the nation’s leading thinkers to study the major problems and opportunities confronting the country to chart a path to revitalize American society, restore a strong bipartisan national security strategy, and renew American leadership. SCSP is a new initiative that will make recommendations to strengthen America’s longterm global competitiveness for a future where artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies reshape our national security, economy, and society.

chambernews.com | Chamber News 13

Faces & Places

Good Deeds

Honors & Awards

A $250,000 donation from T. Denny Sanford to the Sioux Falls Public Schools Education Foundation will enhance the organization’s programs for the 24,000 students and 1,800 teachers in the Sioux Falls School District. The gift will support four programs: Public School Proud Grants, First Time Teacher Grants, the Student Success Fund and the Education Foundation’s endowment.

Jan Grunewaldt, Regency Hotel Management, received the Ben Black Elk Award for outstanding contributions to the state’s visitor industry.

In January, Lloyd Companies gave $1,972 each to two local nonprofit organizations: Caring Closet and the Making Memories fund at Children’s Home Society. The dollar amount honors the founding of Lloyd Companies 50 years ago in 1972. The company intends to make additional donations to other nonprofits throughout 2022.

14 Chamber News | MARCH 2022

K&J Trucking has been named one of North America’s Top 20 Best Fleets to Drive For. This marks the first time a South Dakota Trucking company has ever received this prestigious industry award. To be considered, companies had to be nominated by one of their drivers. The selection process include extensive interviews with staff about company

programming and driver surveys to solicit input from those working directly with the fleets.

K&J was also named a Fleet to Watch in 2021.

Prairie Berry Winery won awards for six of their wines at the 2022 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, the largest competition of North American wines. The winery’s Black Hills Red Blend 2021 received a Best of Class award and was also a sweepstakes contender for Best of Red Wine. The competition featured over 5,700 wines from more than 1,100 wineries.

Be Seen

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1-4 Chamber members enjoyed appetizers and

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networking at the January Membership Mixer hosted by Frontier Bank and The Diamond Room. Bank president Scott Schneidermann welcomed guests.

4 chambernews.com | Chamber News 15

Faces & Places

Be Seen

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5-8 The February Membership Mixer was hosted by Jer Events at their new location on the edge of Tea. Owner Jeremy Brech welcomed guests, who enjoyed live entertainment and games while networking with other Chamber members.

16 Chamber News | MARCH 2022

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9 Kerri Tietgen, CEO of EmBe, was the featured guest at a recent YPN A Seat

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at the Table lunch. The popular event gives attendees the chance to hear about the professional journey of a business leader and ask questions in a small group setting. 10-11 Sanford Profile hosted Chamber members for coffee and networking during the January Morning Mingle. Profile’s business development manager Shannon Park welcomed guests.

chambernews.com | Chamber News 17

Faces & Places

Be Seen

12 12-13 The Chamber’s annual Legislative Coffees offer a forum for citizens to ask questions of their state senators and representatives during the legislative session. Three coffees were held during the month of February. 14-15 Young professionals met at La Luna Café in February for networking and coffee at Morning Buzz.

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16 YPN members gathered at Wiley’s for an Off the Clock social in January.

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READY TO SELL, GROW or RETIRE?

chambernews.com | Chamber News 19

Faces & Places

Be Seen

17-21 More than 100 Chamber members

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traveled to Pierre for the 38th annual Sioux Falls Day at the Legislature. Participants were able visit with their elected officials, observe committee meetings and general session and share lunch in the rotunda.

Governor Kristi Noem, Senator Jamie Smith and Representative Taylor Rehfeldt all spoke to the group.

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22 A recent Our Sioux Falls event offered YPN members that chance to learn about Empower Campus. Lisa Verdin, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sioux Empire, and Rich Merkouris, board member for the Empower Campus spoke to attendees about the creation and impact of the campus.

chambernews.com | Chamber News 21

Faces & Places

Be Seen

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23-30 The 69th Annual Sioux Empire Livestock

Show was held Jan. 25-30 at the W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds.

Livestock producers and buyers from across the country traveled to Sioux Falls to attend the show, generating an estimated $3 million economic impact.

At the Mayor’s Round-Up & Sale of Champions, the top market livestock are auctioned off for a premium. This year’s event generated more than $87,000 in premiums for producers.

22 Chamber News | MARCH 2022

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chambernews.com | Chamber News 23

GREATER SIOUX FALLS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 69TH ANNUAL SIOUX EMPIRE LIVESTOCK SHOW JAN. 25-30, 2022 More than $87,000 in premiums was paid out to exhibitors at the Mayor’s Round-up & Sale of Champions auction held Friday, Jan. 28, 2022.

Thank you to the following area businesses for their support:

$12,000 Supreme Row SPONSORED BY GRAND CHAMPION MARKET BEEF

RESERVE CHAMPION MARKET BEEF

Exhibitor: Riley Jansen, Hull, IA

Exhibitor: Hadie Testerman, Hollis, OK

Buyers: Dacotah Bank; Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort; South Dakota Corn

Buyers: Denny Sanford PREMIER Center; Midwest Shows, Inc. /Farm Shows USA

SUPREME CHAMPION BULL (Hereford)

Gold Sponsor

Producer: Voegle Show Cattle, Lennox, SD Buyer: Greg Kroupa, White Lake, SD

Silver Sponsor

GRAND CHAMPION MARKET SWINE Exhibitor: Gavin Straka, Yukon, OK

Exhibitor: Jack Jacobs, Cairo, NE

Buyers: Avera Health/Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center; U.S. Bank; The First National Bank in Sioux Falls

Buyers: Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort; South Dakota Corn

GRAND CHAMPION MARKET LAMB

Bronze Sponsor

(Angus)

Producer: Blueprint Cattle Company, Otley, IA Buyer: Jace Isaacson, Burbank, SD

THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING BUSINESSES WHO ALSO PAID PREMIUMS AT THE MAYOR’S ROUND-UP & SALE OF CHAMPIONS:

RESERVE CHAMPION MARKET LAMB

Exhibitor: Makenzie Rule, Hawarden, IA

Exhibitor: Brayden Bowers, Alcester, SD

Buyers: Farm Credit Services of America; First Dakota Title; Marsh & McLennan Agency; Plains Commerce Bank; South Dakota Soybean Research & Promotion Council; Wieman Land & Auction Co.; Woltman Group; Xcel Energy

Buyers: Chuck Sutton Auctioneer and Land Broker, LLC; Results Radio Townsquare Media; Woods, Fuller, Shultz & Smith P.C.

GRAND CHAMPION MARKET GOAT

SUPREME CHAMPION FEMALE

RESERVE CHAMPION MARKET SWINE

RESERVE CHAMPION MARKET GOAT

Exhibitor: Flint Kennedy, Fremont, IA

Exhibitor: Flint Kennedy, Fremont, IA

Buyers: Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort; The First National Bank in Sioux Falls

Buyers: First Crop Solutions; The First National Bank in Sioux Falls

Amthauer Club Lambs Aurora Co-op Baete-Forseth HVAC Bank of the Valley Bar-K Cattle Beal Distributing, Inc. C&B Operations Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce Diplomat & Ambassador Committees Cindy Christensen Component Manufacturing & Reaves Buildings Concrete Materials Cooper Bounds Cooper Specialty Feeds CorTrust Bank Curran Cattle Company Cutting Edge Ag Dakota Beverage Dakota Buyers Club Dale & Joan Werning/Werning Cattle Daren Corcoran Epic Realty Farmers Co-op Society Farmers State Bank Firesteel Ranch First Bank & Trust First Dakota National Bank First PREMIER Bank/PREMIER Bankcard FS Gold Star Garry Private Wealth Resources, LLC Great Plains National Bank Great Western Bank High Stride Hoffman Feedyard Holmes Animal Clinic, Otto Show Cattle & Foreman Cattle Insta-tan Lights

Ireton Community Health Jason & Tiffany Woodruff JLG Architects Jo Beal & Scott Wick Katie & Tyler Urban Klein Custom Chopping Middlesworth Club Lambs Nordstrom’s Automotive Inc. Paul Wachter Pfeifer Implement Post Equipment Prewitt & Co. Raven Industries, Inc. Risty Benefits Robinson Agency Ronnie Jordan Rule Supplements Runnings Sanford Health Schlechter Ag Liquid Schrag605 Shaykett Appraisal Co., Inc. Sioux Falls Regional Livestock Sioux International South Dakota Pork Producers Council Stella Sutton Design Southwest Crop Insurance Sweet Grass Vet Temple Insurance Tiger Corporation Tony’s Catering/Sunshine Foods VanRegenmorter Cattle Wayland Swinford - Swinford Trailer Westra Land & Auction, LLC Windy Creek Cattle Co. Woodruff Electric Zuber Club Lambs Zollman Livestock

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.

CURRENT CAMPAIGN

To build a new and larger Furniture Mission facility on the Empower Sioux Falls Campus (previously the School for the Deaf Campus).

By vetting capital fund drives, the objective of Community Appeals is to affirm the project is a sound community investment and worthy of donor consideration.

It is the intent of the Chamber to encourage every business to carefully consider such requests. However, we also acknowledge that many businesses have limited resources for capital fund drives, both in an ability to properly evaluate them and a sufficient budget to contribute. Our Community Appeals process is intended to provide our members with assurance that a Community Appeals campaign is worthy of investment.

THE FURNITURE MISSION OF SOUTH DAKOTA APRIL 1, 2022–JULY 31, 2022

MCCROSSAN BOYS RANCH NOV. 1, 2022–MARCH 31, 2023 SIOUX FALLS SKATEPARK ASSOCIATION NOV. 1, 2021–MARCH 31, 2022 $1.35 MILLION

To create a high-quality, multi-purpose, concrete skatepark/plaza in the core of Sioux Falls at Nelson Park. Once built, the skatepark will become part of the Sioux Falls Parks and Recreation Department.

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

ACTIVE GENERATIONS APRIL 1, 2023–JULY 31, 2023

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

chambernews.com | Chamber News 25

100+ YEARS OF

INVESTING IN COMMUNITY Founding Member businesses maintain long-term membership in the Chamber

By Amy Smolik,

For the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce

A piece of quartzite carved with the words “Founding Member” sits in the entryway of George Boom Funeral Home & Onsite Crematory on E. 10th Street.

The rock is from the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce’s 100th Anniversary in 2007 and represents ongoing investment that George Boom and many other longstanding Sioux Falls businesses have made in growing the community.

Change is constant in business. Throw in a global pandemic, technological advances and an evolving economy, and the Sioux Falls of 2022 looks vastly different than the Sioux Falls of 1922 or 1907, or even earlier.

When the Chamber, known in 1907 as the Sioux Falls Commercial Club, celebrated its 100th year as an organization several businesses were identified as “founding members.”

26 Chamber News | MARCH 2022

Cover Story

This designation means they were early investors in the city’s premier business organization and have maintained their Chamber membership.

Since they first joined the Chamber, some of those founding members have had name changes, location changes and even ownership changes. But the constant? Their belief in investing in Sioux Falls. Here are a few of their stories.

George Boom Funeral Home & On-Site Crematory “Our founding member rock sits in our foyer for everyone to see. I’m proud of it,” said Phil Schmitz, manager and funeral director. “This community helps us, and we help the community. The Chamber is a big part of it.”

Schmitz is one of the owners at George Boom Funeral Home & On-Site Crematory, the third group to own it since 1919. The ownership group purchased the funeral home from its namesake, George Boom, in the 1990s. They never changed the name, he said, because Boom’s legacy in the community was strongly established. George Boom is 96 years old and is still living in Sioux Falls. In 1954 Boom purchased the business, then known as Bantam Funeral Home, from Doc Bantam, a dentist. It was located at 11th Street and Minnesota Avenue. In 1964, Boom moved it to its current location on E. 10th Street near Bahnson Street — what was then the edge of town.

The former George Boom Funeral Home on E. 10th Street. The facility was rebuilt in 2018. George Boom pictured right.

chambernews.com | Chamber News 27

Cover Story

Another change over the years is the increase in evening and weekend services, including Sundays. And now 60% of services held are at the funeral home rather than offsite. People are very spiritual, Schmitz said, but not as many are card-carrying members of churches. “But they still want a ceremony and still want to reflect on a life well-lived.”

The number of people choosing cremation has also increased, up to 55% — another reason the team chose to invest in a larger building as well as adding onsite cremation services. Shortly after opening their new building, George Boom hosted a Chamber membership mixer, which was a great way to show people what happens “behind the curtain,” Schmitz said.

Schmitz started working at George Boom in 1985. At that time, most funerals were held in churches and 3% of the population chose cremation. As the city grew, E. 10th Street widened from a two-lane road to a main thoroughfare.

Parking became a challenge, as did the sounds from the busy road.

Phil Schmitz A new building opened on the existGeorge Boom Funeral Home & On-Site ing eight-acre site in February 2018. At Crematory close to 27,000 square feet, it allowed for flexibility on how to serve people’s needs and plenty of parking to accommodate multiple visitations on the same day.

“We don’t want people to feel rushed, we want them to have enough time,” Schmitz said. “This is one time you don’t want to be in a hurry.”

28 Chamber News | MARCH 2022

“The Chamber gives us so many tools to invest in our people, to tell our story to newcomers. And they are supportive,” he said. “When the dues come in, I don’t even think twice. I enjoy seeing new members and businesses that come in. That’s what keeps our community vital.

Schmitz said he never imagined the role that technology would play in the funeral industry. Helping loved ones tell the story about the essence of the person is a foundation of a funeral director’s job. It’s not just the birthdate and the death date, he said — there’s so much in between. Today that also includes photos and videos. Pre-Covid, recording and livestreaming services were important; when the pandemic hit, they became a way to connect people when being together physically in large groups wasn’t an option.

“I’m the old guy now,” Schmitz said. “Things change. The core values are the same.”

Shipley’s Garment Spa In the early days of Sioux Falls, you could make a phone call by dialing just one number. City Hall, the Police Department and the Fire Department were the first three. No. 4? Shipley’s. There’s an old laundry bag that hangs in an office that has “Phone 4 for Shipley’s” printed on it.

Today, Susie and Gerry Wingler own and operate Shipley’s Garment Spa, the third generation to run the company. Susie’s grandfather Sam Speier operated the business after the family settled in Sioux Falls. Susie’s father, Sam Speier Jr., took over after World War II. The Winglers became partners in the mid-1980s.

Shipley’s original laundry plant opened in 1902 as a new facility on 9th Street across from City Hall. In the beginning it was only laundry, which used water to clean. In 1927, Speier introduced the Zoric System of dry-cleaning to Sioux Falls — a new industry for clothes and fabric care. Speier also added complimentary pickup and delivery, using a horse and wagon.

A 1988 fire in the plant destroyed the building and much of its history. The family tore the building down and made it a parking lot, reestablishing the business across the alley way.

Over the last 120 years, Shipley’s is still providing excellent laundry service with few changes, Gerry Wingler said.

“A press is still a press. We use steam and air to run the presses and to press the garments. The laundry side hasn’t changed a whole lot. The change has been in the solvent part that does the cleaning,” Wingler said.

The solvent the industry has used has changed multiple times, Wingler said. Today it’s a green organic solvent.

Technology has also made things more efficient for both

Opposite page: A quartzite rock sits in the lobby of George Boom Funeral Home & On-Site Crematory identifying the business as a founding member of the Chamber.

The company’s new facility opened in 2018.

Above: Gerry and Susie Wingler own and operate Shipley’s Garment Spa. The business was started by Susie’s grandfather in 1902.

chambernews.com | Chamber News 29

Cover Story

employees and customers. Wingler credits their 120-year history in Sioux Falls to the support of their customers and the business community.

“Susie’s Grandpa was very civic minded,” Wingler said. “He was considered a prominent businessman. We imagine he has the same thoughts and attitudes as we do about supporting our community.”

Wingler appreciates that the Chamber advocates, promotes and cheerleads for the business community.

“In doing that, the city grows, the city prospers, and it completes the circle. We just believe supporting the Chamber in helping to promote commerce in the city betters the quality of life in our city,” he said. “You can’t separate the dynamics of what Chamber does, what the Development Foundation does, all the civic-minded organizations that are in play in Sioux Falls. They all work together. That’s what creates quality of life that we all cherish and enjoy.

Wingler said he and his wife would like to see the business carry on for another generation, though that remains to be seen, he said.

“We like Sioux Falls. Sioux Falls is home. We were raised here. We’re raising our families here, so we remain,” Wingler said.

There is one other change — you now have to dial a few more digits to phone Shipley’s. And the pickup and delivery service? That’s still complimentary, minus the horse and wagon.

Concordance Healthcare Solutions Much like how chambers of commerce build communities through the power of businesses working toward common goals, the creation of Concordance Healthcare Solutions brought the power of three legacy medical supply companies together to assist healthcare organizations across the country.

Who is Concordance? If you lived in Sioux Falls before 2016, you might recognize the name Kreisers. In 1905, Frederick Kreiser opened a pharmacy in Sioux Falls. Kreisers became a major regional distributor of medical and surgical supplies and equipment across the upper Midwest, offering a complete line of products to the care continuum.

Concordance Healthcare Solutions was formed in 2016 when three of the largest regional healthcare distributors in the marketplace — Kreisers, MMS and Seneca Medical — merged into one. The company is headquartered in Tiffin, Ohio, with strategically located distribution offices across the country, including Sioux Falls. They serve more than twothirds of America’s healthcare systems.

Corporate Account Manager Mike Young said the footprint of their customers are changing, often because of acquisitions and consolidations. When those companies cover a larger area, they want to work with suppliers who can also cover that same large area — part of the reason why merging the three companies into one made good sense.

Gerry WIngler shares the history of Shipley’s Garment Spa through a series of framed photos in the lobby of their business.

30 Chamber News | MARCH 2022

Above, workers fulfill orders at the Sioux Falls distribution center for Concordance Healthcare Solutions.

Catalogs from the early 1900s, similar to the one at right, detailed the medical supplies distributed by the company.

“Consolidation is happening all over with hospitals, nursing homes and manufacturers,” said Young. “Sometimes the only way to keep together is to expand your footprint.”

At its largest point, there were approximately 120 Kreisers employees in Sioux Falls. Company-wide, there are more than 1,200 Concordance employees. Many employees who were part of Kreisers have worked for the company for decades.

“We built our company in the small towns of the prairie,” Young said. “You call on hospitals, nursing homes, doctors’ offices. The variety is fun and the people in small towns know our reputation and that they can count on great service.”

Concordance has had several locations in Sioux Falls over the years, starting out at 9th Street and Main Avenue. For 50 years it was located at 22nd Street and Minnesota Avenue, conveniently situated between the city’s two hospital systems.

Dave Larson Sr. is the grandson of Frederick Kreiser. He was the third-generation owner and he has a son who still works for the company. Larson retired after the merger and sits on the senior advisory board of directors. He said the merger was the best way to meet the changes in the industry.

“Joining forces seemed the right thing to do,” Larson said.

“The medical supply industry has really consolidated over the years and there are fewer and fewer independent suppliers.”

Catalogs from the early 1900s showed more than just medical products, however; everything from air compressors to heating pads were available to order. For many years there were retail stores in Sioux City and Rapid City, as well as warehouses in Billings, Montana, and Rapid City. Kreisers eventually focused on wholesale distribution and grew by acquiring other medical supply companies across the region under Larson’s leadership. Today the Sioux Falls office is located in the north part of the city.

Like many industries, the COVID-19 pandemic altered business as usual, especially for a medical supply company.

“It took us by surprise, but one of the things we prided ourselves on prior to and after the merger was our ability to pivot quickly in terms of making adjustments,” said Greg Huber, Vice President of Application Development.

On the sales side, things changed as well, Young said. Reps were no longer making in-person visits. Instead, they helped ensure the pipeline of materials kept flowing and searched for products to meet their customers’ needs.

chambernews.com | Chamber News 31

Kreiser Surgical Supply, now Concordance Healthcare Solutions, was located on Minnesota Avenue for more than 50 years.

“It’s very challenging but also very fulfilling,” Young said of his work in sales. “As a company, we know we’re making a difference. We know we matter. What our companies do is to help people get better.”

The mission of Concordance is to “Positively Impact Lives.”

Huber said it’s not just marketing buzzwords.

“What it means is not just the patients we serve, veterans, nursing homes; it also means we want to positively impact the lives of suppliers and employees. It’s so subtle and simple,” Huber said. “It’s not just about us. It’s bigger than us.”

Growing into a much larger business with the merger meant concern and fear at the beginning as people didn’t know Greg Huber Concordance Healthcare how changes would affect them. But Solutions management did a good job of being open and paying attention, Huber said.

Building a new culture across multiple sites and different management styles doesn’t happen overnight. The company recently launched a new employee volunteer program called Concordance in the Community. Concordance employees are encouraged to share their time and their talents by volunteering in their respective communities. It’s a company-wide initiative that has local impact, he said.

“We’re changing as the industry changes. You have to have foresight to prepare and plan for it,” Huber said. “That speaks for itself regarding Fred Kreiser who in 1905 adapted to changes to enable the company to last that long.”

32 Chamber News | MARCH 2022

Electric Construction Company In 1906, Sioux Falls streetlights still operated on fuel.

Electric Construction Company was formed by Herman Clause and T.G. Cook, to build the lines that brought electricity to the city.

Today Electric Construction still does residential, commercial and industrial wiring and is one of the largest and oldest electrical contractors in the state. The company was owned by the Kuhle family from 1940-2012 and then purchased by several employees — Damon Dykstra, Jay Soderquist and Duane Mergen. Later Ben Delay and Justin Koepp bought out Mergen. The company was known as Electric Construction & Appliance until 1984 when the appliance portion separated to become its own company and the construction portion focused solely on contracting work.

“We still do service work for residential and commercial,” said Damon Dykstra, Vice President. “Our primary work is with commercial and industrial. Smithfield Foods, Wells Fargo Bank, SDN Communications are just a few of the larger customers we do work for.”

Cover Story

Electric Construction has completed large scale projects from the Ft. Randall Dam in Pickstown, South Dakota to retail shops at Lake Lorraine in Sioux Falls.

The core of the business is in the Sioux Falls area, but their footprint expanded to include Wagner in 2016 and Brookings in 2018. Some customers have worked with Electric Construction since its early days.

“We’re still navigating growth within the company and facing employee challenges with the workforce shortage,” Dykstra said.

Dykstra and his partners appreciate the work that the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce does on behalf of the business community, Dykstra said. He and his team can focus on their day-to-day needs, knowing that the Chamber is maintaining the growth of the Sioux Falls area.

Damon Dykstra

Electric Construction Slow and steady growth over the years Company has also seen the number of employees nearly double since the early 2000s, Dykstra said, to approximately 140-160 employees today.

The future of their industry includes renewable energy and solar energy. Continuing to expand the company’s physical location is also a possibility.

Each member of the ownership group started out as an apprentice, working their way through journeyman and foreman positions before moving into the office. As a young partner coming in, Dykstra was told that support of organizations like the Chamber was the right thing to do and pays dividends — and that the new owners should remain members. So they did. “The Chamber does great work. It’s an easy decision to pay our dues,” Dykstra said.

Pictured left is an ad that appeared in the Greater Sioux Falls Magazine published by the Chamber in 1961. Electric Construction Company had a storefront on Phillips Avenue for the appliance portion of their business (photo from the late 1960s). Now they focus primarily on construction contracting work. The business moved to a new facility in north Sioux Falls a few years ago.

chambernews.com | Chamber News 33

Business Advocacy

Local election set for April 12 Sioux Falls residents will select leaders for the city and school district in an election to be held Tuesday, April 12, 2022. On the ballot this year is the office of Mayor, four seats on the City Council and two seats on the Sioux Falls School Board.

2022 Sioux Falls Election Information Open seats:

The profiles on these pages are intended to provide a snapshot of the candidates seeking elected office. Everyone who had publicly declared their candidacy for Mayor or City Council prior to Feb. 16 was invited to participate. Candidates had until Feb. 25 to file their nominating petitions; please visit sf.k12.sd.us or siouxfalls.org to confirm the complete list of candidates.

•

Mayor

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Four seats on City Council

•

Two seats on School Board Election Day: April 12

Voter registration deadline: March 28

The Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce does not endorse candidates. However, the Chamber encourages all residents to learn about the candidates seeking office and to exercise their right to vote on April 12.

Absentee Voting begins: March 28

Public forums organized by the Chamber will provide opportunities to get to know the candidates. A City Council candidate forum will take place on Thursday, March 3 from 5-7 p.m. at JJ’s Wine, Spirits & Cigars. Dates for forums with the mayoral candidates and school board candidates were not set as of press time. Visit siouxfallschamber.com for the latest information.

Mayor Taneeza Islam, Esq.

Occupation: Executive Director of SD Voices for Peace and SD Voices for Justice

Education: BA in Political Science, Albion College, Albion, MI; MA in Intercultural Management, School for International Training, Brattleboro, VT; JD Hamline University School of Law, Saint Paul, MN.

Family: Husband Dr. Timothy Dillard, two sons Zaki and Amiri

Years residing in Sioux Falls: 10 years in May 2022

Website: taneezaforsf.com Social Media: @taneezaforsf on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter If elected Mayor, what is a short-term priority you have?

What is a long-term priority?

With adding 5,000-7,000 new residents every year for the next 10 years we need a comprehensive housing plan. I will start by assessing housing shortage levels for all incomes to create short term solutions for our increasing low-income workforce and innovative public-private partnerships for long term investments.

34 Chamber News | MARCH 2022

Paul TenHaken

Occupation: Mayor Education: BA, Dordt College; MBA, University of Sioux Falls

Family: Wife Jill, children Jade (16), Max (13), Nora (9)

Years residing in Sioux Falls: 22 Website: tenhakenformayor.com Social Media: @paultenhaken on all major platforms

If elected Mayor, what is a short-term priority you have?

What is a long-term priority?

Our city has made tremendous strides with our economy, community public safety, and infrastructure in recent years during a time of record growth. If re-elected, Sioux Falls can expect my administration to continue this momentum, while also maintaining the safety and quality of life in Sioux Falls that make the city so great.

City Council - At-Large A Bobbi Lynn Andera

Janet Brekke

Business Owner

Attorney and Small Business Owner.

Occupation: Business Operations Advisor / Education: Bachelors of Science in Medical Technology, Masters of Science

Family: 4 sisters, 3 brothers and my dog Ezra.

Committed relationship with boyfriend and he has two children

Years residing in Sioux Falls: 18 Website: bforthecity.com Social Media: Facebook What is the most pressing challenge facing our community and how would you work to address it?

Accelerated rate of growth. Policing resources and support would be addressed. One element would be to institute fostering community unity through local non-profits, strengthening neighborhood watch and utilizing Wilson’s and Kelling’s Broken Windows theory.

A theory proposed in 1982 and utilized in New York in the 1990’s.

Occupation: Retired Prosecutor, City Education: BAs in both English &

Communications from USD; Juris Doctorate at USD School of Law

Family: Husband, Jeff; three adult

children, Morgan, Logan, and Rheann.

Three grandchildren.

Years residing in Sioux Falls: 41 Website: janetbrekke.net Social Media: facebook.com/janetbrekke4citycouncilatlarge What is the most pressing challenge facing our community and how would you work to address it?

Sioux Falls is currently in an affordable housing crisis. I will work together with community, business, and civic leaders to create a new vision for housing, cutting red tape, including pathways for homeownership, accelerating the housing development process, and generating new solutions for how people live in Sioux Falls.

Sarah Cole

Occupation: Physician Education: Undergraduate at Concordia

College in Moorhead, MN; Medical school at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences

Family: Two children (ages 9 and 11) Years residing in Sioux Falls: 7 years total (2012-2015; 2018 - current)

Website: sarahforsiouxfalls.com Social Media: Search “Sarah for Sioux Falls” on Facebook What is the most pressing challenge facing our community and how would you work to address it?

As your councilor, I’ll work collaboratively with my colleagues to move Sioux Falls forward in a positive direction. We can improve the lives of our residents, but only by working together. As your advocate, I plan to focus on public safety, economic development, housing shortages, youth opportunities, and sustainable growth.

City Council - At-Large B Pam Cole

Rich Merkouris

Graphic Design; SDSU: History & Non-Profit Management

Mathematics from University of Sioux Falls, Master of Divinity from Sioux Falls Seminary

Occupation: Non-Profit Consultant Education: Rocky Mt College of Art & Design: Family: Husband, Mike Cole, 5 adult children Years residing in Sioux Falls: seven, with 31 in South Dakota

Website: coleforcouncil.com Social Media: facebook.com/pamcoleforcouncil

instagram.com/pamcoleforcouncil

What is the most pressing challenge facing our community and how would you work to address it?

Our greatest challenge is to support our workforce and families.

This includes growing industry that provides living wages. My background as a former legislator provides the experience needed to tackle issues like affordable housing and food insecurity through policy and public/private partnerships. Together, we can build an even better Sioux Falls.

Occupation: Nonprofit Administrator Education: Bachelor of Science in

Family: Wife, Shannon, and three children; Hannah (10), Henry (7), Hazel (5)

Years residing in Sioux Falls: 20 years Website: merkourisforcouncil.com What is the most pressing challenge facing our community and how would you work to address it?

The most pressing issue facing our city is to simultaneously continue healthy growth and bring about renewal for our core neighborhoods. I will work to identify the most impactful opportunities for public investment that will grow our workforce and bring further private investment in all areas of our community.

Candidate profiles continued on next page chambernews.com | Chamber News 35

Business Advocacy

Candidate profiles continued from previous page

City Council - Southeast District David Barranco

Immanuel Bassey

and William

What is the most pressing challenge facing our community and how would you work to address it?

Occupation: Lawyer Education: BA & JD, University of Texas Family: Wife, Catherine, sons, Christopher Years residing in Sioux Falls: 5 Website: barranco.solutions What is the most pressing challenge facing our community and how would you work to address it?

GROWTH. As Sioux Falls fills with wonderful new neighbors, as we enjoy exciting new entertainment and business opportunities, we cannot ignore growth’s downsides. We risk missing the chance to develop affordable housing, ameliorate traffic congestion, and curtail violent crime. Interwoven is the need to upgrade our workforce.

Without efforts to educate local workers, the crisis will persist. When we help families locate nurturing childcare, we free up hours that can be reinvested performing jobs our economy demands. Finally, any civic vision that fails to protect our natural environment and safeguard our physical and mental health is woefully incomplete.

City Council - Central District Curt Soehl

Occupation: Territory Manager Farmers Union Insurance

Education: attended Southwest Minnesota State

Family: Wife Tammi, 3 grown children, 8 grandchildren

Years residing in Sioux Falls: 42 Website: curtforcouncil.com Social Media: @curtforcouncil What is the most pressing challenge facing our community and how would you work to address it?

The challenge for the Council will be to manage our community’s growth in a fiscally responsible way that expands our infrastructure capacity, improves public safety, and responds to the diverse needs of our growing population. All while maintaining and enhancing the investments we have already made in our existing neighborhoods.

36 Chamber News | MARCH 2022

Occupation: Small business owner Years Residing in Sioux Falls: 20

As an insurance business owner; managing risk and protecting my clients is what I do. It takes a new voice and a fresh perspective to address challenges and opportunities.

As an elected councilman for the SE district, my goal is to engage with residents, help steer initiatives and work with city government to advance a progressive Sioux Falls.

chambernews.com | Chamber News 37

Headlines

A rendering of what the planned DSU Applied Research Lab in Sioux Falls might look like. The facility would be part of a complex called the Cyber Innovation Park located in northwest Sioux Falls. The Applied Research Lab is part of a $90 million initiative developed as a public-private partnership.

Cyber-research expands in South Dakota DSU plans $90 million initiative to grow the industry On Jan. 26, Dakota State University announced a $90 million initiative to grow the cyber-research industry in South Dakota. This transformational idea is the result of a vision, an opportunity and a unique partnership.

“This initiative will be a game-changer for the state,” said JoséMarie Griffiths, President of DSU. “We will propel South Dakota to be recognized as a key contributor to national security and defense.”

The vision is based on the fact that there is a great need for cyber security professionals in the country. While Dakota State trains many individuals in offensive security, over 50 percent of these graduates must leave the state for the east or west coasts to work in offensive cyber security.

Griffiths said, “DSU wants more of these graduates to stay here, right in South Dakota, to perform the types of highly specialized work for which they are qualified.”

To do this, efforts needed to be put in place to make South Dakota a “cyber state.” Research is one key to creating the opportunities needed to keep students in state. Under Griffiths’ leadership, steps have been taken to increase campus research including the opening of Madison Cyber Labs, or MadLabs®, and the creation of a cyber academy to introduce high school students to the cyber field through a dual credit program.

38 Chamber News | MARCH 2022

But to create the bigger vision of South Dakota as a Cyber State, more capacity needs to be generated. Griffiths and her colleagues at Dakota State began to craft a plan that involved several partners, including the cities of Madison and Sioux Falls, Sanford Health, philanthropist T. Denny Sanford and the State of South Dakota.

“We created a vision to expand DSU’s Applied Research Lab (ARL) to stimulate a vibrant cyber-research industry in Sioux Falls which supports national security and defense, offers workforce and economic development opportunities, and establishes South Dakota as a cyber state,” Griffiths said.

Dave Rozenboom, First PREMIER Bank president and co-chair of the Forward Sioux Falls 2026 campaign, said the development of a cyber innovation park in Sioux Falls aligns with a long-term objective of Forward Sioux Falls to expand and diversify our regional economy.

Forward Sioux Falls has committed $250,000 in seed funding for the development.

“We are thrilled with the proposed plan and the public-private partnerships that have been developed in support of this project,” said Rozenboom. “The DSU Applied Research Lab will add significant jobs and resources to our economy and further enhance the reputation of Sioux Falls as a great place for young professionals to thrive.”

Public and private partners Several entities are working together to make the $90 million initiative a reality.

Several components of the five-year initiative require approval of one or more governing body, including approval from the Sioux Falls City Council for the $10 million commitment to create the physical, organizational and programmatic infrastructure needed for the DSUARL in Sioux Falls. The state legislature must approve considerations for the Sioux Falls ARL and the program expansion in Madison.

As of press date, Senate Bills 54 and 130 were moving through the Legislature.

The initiative includes objectives in both DSU’s home community of Madison, as well as Sioux Falls, where two-thirds of DSU alumni live and work.

In Madison, the project will continue to fill DSU’s ARL to 125-150 full-time jobs. It will increase DSU’s capacity, doubling the number of graduates of The Beacom College from 200 to 400 annually by recruiting and retaining faculty, students and staff. Finally, it will expand the cyber talent pipeline and career pathways by launching the Governor’s Cyber Academy to offer dual credit programs to high school students statewide.

In Sioux Falls, the project will expand DSU-ARL with a highly specialized facility, which will be owned by the State via the Board of Regents and DSU. This facility is expected to open in fall of 2025 and support 400 to 500 full-time jobs, with salaries in the $100,000 range. With enough land for a total of three buildings at the Sanford Sports Complex in Sioux Falls, this could grow to be 1,500 jobs, proving a strong core of experts in offensive cyber security who will help defend the nation and critical systems across the United States.

•

$50 million over five years from T. Denny Sanford to construct a highly specialized facility to house the expanded DSU-ARL in Sioux Falls with an estimated completion date of fall 2025.

•

10 to 16 acres of land donated by Sanford Health at the Sanford Sports Complex adjacent to Sanford’s Virtual Care Center. This proximity would result in the creation of a complex called Cyber Innovation Park, which will pool expertise that will attract other similar businesses, and act as a magnetic force for other individuals, agencies and businesses to locate close to this specialized knowledge community.

•

$10 million from the City of Sioux Falls* to create the physical, organizational, and programmatic infrastructure needed for the DSU-ARL in Sioux Falls.

•

$250,000 from Forward Sioux Falls for planning a Cyber/IT Park in Sioux Falls.

•

$30 million from the State of South Dakota proposed by Governor Noem in her FY23 budget request*. This will expand the educational capacity of The Beacom College in Madison to double the number of graduates from 200 to 400 per year and to launch the Governor’s Cyber Academy statewide to all high schools.

•

Execution of Plan will be done by Dakota State University and the South Dakota Board of Regents. *Pending approval of the governing body

The Sioux Falls efforts will also establish a non-profit corporation to hire DSU-ARL staff to perform and manage the applied research and lease space. These staff will diversify the workforce in the area, a bonus for local economies. The new non-profit corporation will also run intensive summer cybersecurity bootcamps for students from other universities in South Dakota majoring in cyber-related disciplines such as computer science, computer engineering, software engineering, etc. These are anticipated to begin in summer 2023.

chambernews.com | Chamber News 39

Headlines

Mike O’Hara named St. Patrick's Parade Grand Marshal The next Grand Marshal of the annual Sioux Falls St. Patrick’s Day Parade is 100% Irish, has marched with his family in each of the 41 parades and is the son of an earlier Grand Marshal. He is Mike O’Hara, 76, owner of O’Hara Masonry and a native of Montrose, an Irish community west of Sioux Falls.

This year’s parade in downtown Sioux Falls on Saturday, March 19, will honor the late Mike O'Hara Msgr. James Michael Doyle, the 1999 grand marshal and a long-time supporter of the parade and the Irish community in Sioux Falls. The parade had been canceled in the last two years because of concerns over COVID 19.

The O’Hara clan, typically from 35 to 50 of them, have become memorable for their elaborate parade floats, the most recent featuring the “old woman” in a very large shoe. Mike’s dad, John, was Grand Marshal in 2000. “He was honored but didn’t understand why a guy from Montrose would be in a parade in Sioux Falls,” Mike said.

Mike was one of 14 children raised in the Montrose area by John and his wife, Evelyn. Mike and his wife, Deb, live near Renner and have three adult sons. He was an avid youth baseball and basketball coach for many years. The O’Hara clan emigrated to South Dakota in the mid-1800s via Iowa from County Cavan in northern Ireland.

O’Hara says the advent of the St. Patrick's Day Parade started the family’s formal celebrations. “Construction of the float and participation in the parade became the reason for the largest concentration of our family to honor our Irish traditions,” he says. “From my parents to the grandkids, the great-grandkids, and the great-great-grandkids, the parade has been a cause for all to gather and celebrate. Many a great or great-great-grandchild has had their family ‘debut’ at the parade.”

The St. Patrick’s Day Extravaganza Committee plans the parade with support from the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce.

The parade was informally organized in 1980 by the late Sylvia Henkin. She stepped down in 2013 after serving as parade grand marshal for the second time. Her successor is Shawn Cleary, president of Tiger Corporation, an Irishman who proudly wears his green stripes.

The parade remains an event that brings the regional community together to celebrate – just as Sylvia envisioned. The parade usually has about 100 entries and is called the people's parade because anyone can participate as long as they are registered or part of a registered group and wearing an official St. Patrick's parade button, which costs $3.

40 Chamber News | MARCH 2022

The O’Hara family has had a float in every St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Sioux Falls. Mike O’Hara will serve as Grand Marshal of the 2022 parade.

Registration, which closes March 12, is available at siouxfallsevents.com/stpats. Placement in the parade is on a first come, first served basis and is at the discretion of parade officials.

Each entry must have some kind of Irish theme. The link also includes rules for participation in the parade. Buttons are available in advance at the Chamber of Commerce office, 200 N. Phillips Ave., and numerous businesses throughout the community. They can also be purchased the day of the parade at the start of the parade.

The traditional painting of the shamrock will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 19 in front of Mrs. Murphy’s Irish Gifts, 219 S. Phillips Avenue. The event will be public and Phillips Avenue will be closed at 10:45 a.m. between 10th and 11th Streets. The parade takes off from Phillips Avenue and 13th Street at 2 p.m. and ends around 5th Street. Streets adjacent to the route are closed at 1:30 p.m. and parking is not allowed on Phillips Avenue starting late Saturday morning. The parade will begin staging at 12:30 p.m. on Main and Dakota Avenues between 11th and 13th Streets.

An enduring part of the parade has been the Khartum Temple Pipe & Drums from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. They hope to return this year and their expenses, have been covered by donations from Sanford Health, Avera Health, Xcel Energy and Holiday Inn City Centre.

2022 Saturday, March 19, 2022 St. Patrick’s Day Parade

LEGEND PARADE ROUTE ROAD CLOSED AT 1:30 P.M. ADA PORTA-POTTY

DESTAGING AREA

4th Street

TRASH CAN TRASH DUMPSTER PAINTING OF THE SHAMROCK LOCATION

Phillips Avenue

8th Street

Main Avenue

Minnesota Avenue

7th Street

Dakota Avenue

6th Street

NO PARKING ON PHILLIPS AVENUE AT ANY TIME ADA Parking is available at the corner of 8th Street & Phillips Avenue

THE 42ND ANNUAL ST. PATRICK’S DAY EXTRAVAGANZA

9th Street

• Painting of the shamrock on Phillips Avenue between 10th and 11th Streets at 11 a.m.

10th Street

• Parade down Phillips Avenue at 2 p.m.

All parade participants MUST enter staging area from 11th Street

• The Vanguard Squadron airplane stunt team will perform at the start of the parade.

• The falls of the Big Sioux River will be lit green both March 19 and 20.

PARADE 2 p.m.

START

1st Avenue

13th Street

STAGING AREA

12th Street

• 2022 Miss Shamrock will appear at the painting of the shamrock and in the parade.

ONE-WAY

STAGING AREA

11th Street

• The Arc of Dreams over the Big Sioux River will be lit green March 19.

14th Street *Map subject to change.

Advance registration is required in order to participate in the parade.

Registration must be completed by March 12 at siouxfallsevents.com/stpats

DE & I

DE&I Article Series

Working to break the cycle

FEATURE SERIES

Employment's role in reducing recidivism

by Elizabeth Duffy Greg Sands knows the importance of community. As the owner of Sands Wall Systems, he has hundreds of team members in several surrounding states. As a philanthropist, Sands financially supports area nonprofits including Glory House and the Avera Addiction Care Center. As a previously incarcerated person, he knows firsthand how important it is for a community to support people seeking a second chance.

Over the past 30 years, Greg Sands and his wife Pam have simultaneously built a booming business and a life of sobriety. Neither were achieved alone. “I’ve been fortunate to have a great partner who has helped me every step of the way,” said Sands.

While we all face adversity, many people lack meaningful support to help overcome it.

“We have to remember that not everybody has been given the same shot in life,” said Sands.

Employment specialists at Glory House help clients find jobs and also help employers find workers. Many employers appreciate the extra accountability measures, such as sobriety requirements, when a new employee is a resident of Glory House. Having those types of guardrails in place can build trust in a transitional period.

For businesses who want to open their candidate pool to previously incarcerated people, it is important to ensure employees feel safe enough at work to admit when they are struggling, especially those in recovery. “I think employers need to be open to discussion and do what they can to tamp down the stigma of shame that surrounds addiction,” advised Sands.

Greg Sands

Sands Wall Systems

With the staggering rates of incarceration and addiction throughout the country, every community has individuals who are coming out of prison, jail or treatment. The question becomes – how can we as a business community help break the cycle of recidivism?

“If we don’t have a transitional process from incarceration to becoming a responsible, productive member of society, if we are not helping transition people, then they’re just going to continue to go back into prison,” said Sands.

For those who are able, steady employment can be a catalyst to building a fulfilling life. “It’s critical,” said Sands. “And [work] is healthy - mentally and physically, as well as emotionally and financially.”

Sands views employment, and the construction industry in particular, as a team atmosphere where people build things together – literally and figuratively. “It gives people a sense of community and belonging,” he said, “and that’s key to staying on the journey of recovery.”

“Employment is such an important piece of all of our lives,” agreed Nicole Dvorak, Interim President and Human Resource and Compliance Officer at Glory House. “Everybody has fulfillment when they provide a service.”

42 4242 Chamber Chamber Chamber News News News | | MARCH MARCH | MARCH 2022 2022 2022

Glory House is a local nonprofit that provides both residential and outpatient assistance to people striving to be free of drugs, alcohol and crime. Many of their clients have recently been incarcerated, and Glory House helps them build the skills they need to start a new path.

Hurdles will arise, but many businesses can find simple, creative solutions. “It’s definitely something you have to think about ahead of time, on a person-by-person basis, because it’s not just one size fits all,” said Sands.

For instance, a person with a theft conviction may not be able to keep the books, but maybe they can stock shelves. Another employee might need a split-shift to accommodate their AA meeting schedule.

At Glory House, Dvorak has seen the impact a paycheck can have on their clients, and it can be life changing. “They’re starting to make those contributions to their family where maybe they haven’t provided support for a number of years,” she said.

And as the employment relationship grows, so does the community connection. “They start to see that they are very valuable,” said Dvorak, “not only with people in their family, but also with people who don’t even know them.”

Business Sense

Focus on equity

Tips for investing in commercial real estate Within the last 30 years or so, commercial real estate has joined the marketplace as an alternative asset class for individuals, or institutional investors to allocate capital.

Stocks, bonds and cash have been ingrained in society for decades prior to commercial real estate entering the mix, leading the long list of alternative asset classes.

payment, along with ongoing expenses. But if the property is worth $1.5 million and you could walk away from a sale with $750,000, your equity is no longer the $250,000 you initially put down. It’s the $750,000 you could receive and put into an alternative asset class mentioned above. In effect, by not choosing to sell the property, you are choosing to buy it (re-invest) for $750,000 this year. What would your return on investment look like based on an investment of $750,000 compared to $250,000?

What are some of the other alternative asset classes? That definition seems to expand Marcus Mahlen monthly with the advent of cryptocurrency, NAI Sioux Falls NFTs and more, but traditionally commodities, collectibles, venture capital, operating companies or gold come to mind.

The act of working your equity becomes crucial in this situation, and continuing the status quo is typically the fourth best option to consider after these three:

Owning commercial real estate has obvious benefits to most investors, including: •

Cash Flow - The amount of money you have left after rent received, paying expenses and your mortgage.

•

Principal Reduction - Rather than coming out of your pocket as the owner/landlord, your principal is reduced annually by tenants.

•

Income Tax Savings - Depreciation deductions, which shelter the cash flow and principal reduction.

•

Appreciation - Always assume to be zero going in from an investment and lending perspective, but the reality is that over time most all property increases in value. This has been especially true in the last few years in industrial and multi-family properties in the Sioux Falls market.

These benefits are great, but what most investors don’t consider over the term of their hold on a commercial real estate investment property is the active equity stake they have in the investment. If you buy an asset for $1 million, it’s likely you’d be able to purchase that asset for $250,000 down (25% in most cases). Your initial equity of $250,000 should be used as a basis year one when considering your cash on cash. If that investment made sense 5, 10 or 15 years ago for $250,000 in equity, what is your equity telling you about your return on the investment today? Have you owned the property for too long and your depreciation deductions are no longer in play? Or have you considered where the market has taken your property value on an income or market comparable approach basis?

After a period of time, your investment will no longer tie to the initial equity you put down to acquire the property. Your investment is the amount of net proceeds you could receive if you sold the property today!

1. Sell - A straight up sale is unlikely to benefit most owners as they will have to pay a large capital gains tax.

2. Refinance - A common theme in the last 2-3 years in the market, especially with the historically low interest rates we’ve had. This seems to be the safest bet for investors in recent years but expect that to start to change if interest rates begin to climb.

3. 1031 Exchange - This simple act of selling your property and deploying your equity into a like-kind asset allows you to avoid capital gains tax. In the last few years, we’ve had clients 1031 exchange out of farmland and into commercial real estate in Sioux Falls, as well as the exact opposite, clients exchange commercial real estate investment property into farmland. The motivation all depends on the individual’s place and timing in life, along with the associated risk tolerance.

Most of this perspective is framed from the angle of the individual or institutional investor, but similar principals should be applied from a business owner considering real estate ownership as well.

Focusing on equity will lead you to consider where the best return on that equity is coming from. Does your operating business perform at a rate that is allowing you as the business owner a 10% or greater return? If so, it would likely not make sense to purchase real estate for your business to locate in because real estate typically returns in the 6%-8% range. Leasing would be a better alternative, allowing you to allocate more equity into your operating business, thus maximizing your return. Many business owners never run the numbers to show the better return on investment, but it might not be a bad practice to consider.

Regardless of which action you take – the act of fully understanding your equity basis in your commercial real estate investment property should be done on an annual basis with an experienced team of property management, accounting and brokerage advice.

Marcus Mahlen, CCIM is senior vice president at NAI Sioux Falls. His expertise primarily involves investment sales and leasing in the retail, office and industrial asset classes.

Let’s say that property you purchased ten years ago for $1 million is now worth $1.5 million, which is not out of the question for many assets in Sioux Falls. You likely still have a principal and interest

chambernews.com | Chamber News 43

Ribbon Cuttings

Ribbon Cuttings

The Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce offers a ribbon cutting ceremony or member spotlight video for members to celebrate joining the Chamber, milestone anniversaries, expansions or 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.

Buff City Soap

NEW MEMBER

4025 W. 41st St. buffcitysoap.com Buff City Soap is a soap makery with a mission to make the world smell wonderful one handcrafted soap at a time. Buff City products are made fresh daily with plant-based ingredients.

L to R: Kacey Russell, Anna Heeney, Valerie Loudenback, Kelsey Gaston (franchise partner), Curt Bowe (franchise partner), Kristin HoefertRedlinger, Nichelle Lund, Joey Rotert and Alexsis Crowley.

Carsley Golf

carsleygolf.com Carsley Golf sells a patented golf training device that helps golfers improve their games. L to R: Megan Jansick, Dan Doyle, Mary Englar, Hailey Englar, Dave Riffey (owner), Jackson Englar, Jeff Hurley, Karlie Solum, Lynda Billars, Kristin Hoefert-Redlinger and Todd Kolb.

NEW MEMBER

Hope Harbor

101 E. South St., Parker, SD 57053 hopeharbormn.org Hope Harbor’s mission is to equip teens, empower parents and serve those in need by anchoring them to the hope of God’s promises.

L to R: Cindy McKittrick, Jeff Griffin, Chris Bisschop, Amy O’Connor Hoback, Amanda Dent (site director), Jay Soukup, Carol Woltjer and Adrian Hendrixson.

NEW MEMBER

LifeScape

3320 N. 4th Ave. lifescapesd.org The LifeScape Linden Home supports adults with varied disabilities in our community to live full and independent lives. L to R: Kim Haiar, Rick DiSanto, Scott Lawrence, Ben Jacobs, Steve Watkins (CEO), Kameron Nelson, Kristin Hoefert-Redlinger and Gerry Tracy.

NEW LOCATION

44 Chamber News | MARCH 2022

Northern Plains Endodontics

4824 E. 57th St. northernplainsendodontics.com Northern Plains Endodontics specializes in providing personalized, modern, and comfortable endodontic (root canal) care.

L to R: Fallon Rosecky, James Payer II, Lainee Goettsche, Kristin Hoefert-Redlinger, Dr. Zack Goettsche (owner), Dustin Bonn, Lisa Robison, April Meyerink and Danni Nordhagen.

NEW MEMBER

69th Annual Sioux Empire Livestock Show

CHAMBER EVENT

W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds, 100 N. Lyon Blvd. siouxempirelivestockshow.com The Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce celebrated the 69th annual Sioux Empire Livestock Show. The annual event showcases livestock and supports the agriculture industry.

L to R: Jennifer Hoesing, Nichelle Lund, Logan Doyle, Nathan Stallinga, Rene Stolsmark, Kristin Hoefert-Redlinger, Joey Rotert and Peyton DeJong.

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

Offices also in Mitchell, Pierre, Watertown and Rapid City chambernews.com | Chamber News 45

Ribbon Cuttings

SD CEO East Women’s Business Center

NEW MEMBER

2329 N. Career Ave., Suite 213 facebook.com/SDCEOE SD CEO East Women’s Business Center empowers women and propels economic development across South Dakota through trainings, counseling, and technical assistance.

L to R: April Meyerink, Michelle Kane, Angela Lammers, Jaime Wood, Natalie Madeira Cofield, Ashley Biggar (director), Andrea Carstensen, Kristin Hoefert-Redlinger, Anna Jankord and Julie Hinker.

T-Mobile

617 S. Highline Place t-mobile.com T-Mobile works to be the “best in the world at connecting customers to their world.” They been in Sioux Falls for one year and recently opened a second location at Dawley Farms.

L to R: Paul Weist, Justin Zandstra, Joey Rotert, Katy Van Noy (market manager), Josh Muckenhirn, Rudy Robinson (store manager), Nathan Stallinga, Brad Jans and Kyle Crain.

NEW MEMBER

Announcing

A NEW PARTNER at Davenport Evans

Davenport, Evans, Hurwitz & Smith, LLP is pleased to announce that Michael L. Snyder has become a partner in the firm.

Mike Snyder is a litigation attorney at Davenport Evans. Mike’s practice consists primarily of commercial and complex litigation, workers’ compensation, and insurance litigation. Originally from Pierre, South Dakota, Mike joined the firm in 2016.

Mike was selected to the Great Plains Rising Stars 2020 and 2021, in the area of Business Litigation by Great Plains Super Lawyers.

Each year, no more than 2.5% of lawyers in a state are selected for this honor.

Get to know Mike Snyder at www.davenportevans.com or contact him at msnyder@dehs.com or 357-1251.

46 Chamber News | MARCH 2022

DAVENPORT EVANS LAWYER

MICHAEL L. SNYDER

Davenport, Evans, Hurwitz & Smith, LLP (605) 336-2880 davenportevans.com

info@dehs.com 14th Street & Main Avenue

Membership

New Members Academy of Lymphatic Studies

Education–Post Secondary AnnaMarie VanEpps, (772) 589-3355 11632 High St., Suite A, Sebastian, FL 32958 acols.com

Access Systems

Office Equipment & Supplies Jennifer Olson, (888) 464-5440 700 E. 41st St., 57105 accesssystems.com

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

Insurance & Benefits Adeline Reiman, (605) 275-1949 5101 S. Nevada Ave., 57108 ajg.com

Boos & Associates

Associate Member Andrew Sloss, (605) 983-1436 2301 Research Park Way, Suite 221, Brookings, SD 57006 booscpa.com

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.

Quality Inn & Suites

Hotels & Motels Marcy Versteeg, (605) 336-1900 5410 N. Granite Lane, 57107 qualityinn.com/sd062

Sioux Falls Dental Implant Center Dental Care & Orthodontics Dr. Kevin Haiar, (605) 799-2929 5200 S. Cliff Ave., Suite 102, 57108 siouxfallsdentalimplantcenter.com

Sioux Falls Hypnosis

Personal Services Daniel Burow, (605) 310-3400 siouxfallshypnosis.com

The Social LLC

Event Venues Carly Hamm, (605) 412-9030 301 S. Thompson Ave., 57103 thesocialsiouxfalls.com

South Dakota CEO East Women’s Business Center

Associate Member Ashley Biggar, (605) 691-4761 2329 N. Career Ave., Suite 213, 57107 bhsu.edu/SDCEO/East

T-Mobile

Technology Retailer Rudy Robinson, (712) 259-9141 617 S. Highline Place, 57110 t-mobile.com

Village Cooperative of Sioux Falls Apartments Leah Janssen, (605) 681-8887 1600 E. 77th St., 57108 villagecooperative.com

Wegner Roofing & Solar

Contractors Matt Thompson, (605) 988-6323 6100 W. 41st St. Suite 102, 57106

Buff City Soap

Specialty Retail Kacey Russell, (605) 275-5720 4025 W. 41st St., 57106 siouxfallssd.buffcitysoap.com

CenterPoint Wealth Planning Financial Planning Daniel Reinders, (605) 305-0333 7400 Bitterroot Place, Suite 200

Chick-fil-A

Restaurants Bethany Buitenbos, (605) 275-1010 4005 W. 41st St., 57106 chick-fil-a.com

Crawford's Bar & Grill

Restaurants Daniel Myers, (605) 332-5333 214 S. Phillips Ave., 57104 crawfordssf.com

Fairway Independent Mortgage The Heartland Branch

Mortgage Lender Troy Lage, (605) 906-1020 3800 W. Technology Circle, Suite 201, 57106 troylageteam.com

Jim Schmidt

Associate Member

Mark Lee

Associate Member

NAI Commercial – Stacey Sieverding Real Estate–Affiliate Stacey Sieverding, (605) 728-1390 2500 W. 49th St., Suite 100, 57105 naisiouxfalls.com

chambernews.com | Chamber News 47

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

25 Years

Auto Sales billionauto.com Member since 1935

Banks libertynational.bank

Billion Automotive

South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation Employment Agency dlr.sd.gov Member since 1936

50 Years

Physicians Laboratory Laboratories & Imaging plpath.com

Sturdevant’s Auto Parts Automotive Parts & Supplies sturdevants.com

45 Years

Hy-Vee, Inc. (Louise Ave.) Grocery Stores hy-vee.com

40 Years

Liberty National Bank Multi-Cultural Center of Sioux Falls

Sparkle Uniforms Clothing & Shoes sparkleuniform.com

Tinner’s Public House Restaurants tinnerspublichouse.com

Nonprofit-Community sfmcc.org

10 Years

15 Years

Attorneys ballardspahr.com/offices/sioux-falls.aspx

Cars Trucks-N-More Repair Center, Inc. Auto Repair & Services carstrucksnmore.com

Digit-All Technologies Electronics & Appliances teamdigitall.com

Ernst Capital Group Investing ernstcapitalgroup.com

Experity

IT Consulting experityhealth.com

Ballard Spahr, LLP

Blueprint Business Advisory Business Consulting yourbusinessblueprint.com

Dacotah Territory International Visitor Program Associate Member dtivp.org

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Sioux Falls SW Hotels & Motels hiexpress.com/siouxfallssw

Hy-Vee, Inc. (Minnesota Ave.)

KN Construction, Inc dba Nielson Construction

Grocery Stores hy-vee.com

Contractors nielsonconstruction.net

Center Inn

Identity Marketing

Senator Larry Zikmund

Hotels & Motels thecenterinn.com

Associate Member identitymarketing-az.com

Associate Member larryzikmund.com

Principal Financial Group

Mama’s Ladas Restaurants mamasladas.com

5 Years

Insurance & Benefits principal.com/dakotas

30 Years

Security National Bank of South Dakota

Pepsi Beverages Company Beverages-Wholesale

35 Years

Heritage Funeral Home Funeral & Cremation Services heritagesfsd.com

SDN Communications Telecommunications sdncommunications.com

Waterbury Heating & Cooling, Inc. Heating & Cooling waterburyheating.com

48 Chamber News | MARCH 2022

Banks snbsd.com

South Dakota Golf Association Associate Member sdga.org

Allen Edge Real Estate Team Real Estate-Residential allenedge.com

Brosz Engineering, Inc. Engineering broszeng.com

CMC Properties LLC Property Management

Empire Motorsports

McGreevy & Associates

Dugan Sales & Service

Great ATM Services

New Tec, Inc.

Engineered Truss Systems, Inc.

Health Connect of South Dakota

PAL, Inc.

OdeCo LLC

Motorcycles empiremotorsportssf.com

Banks greatatmservices.com

Associate Member healthconnectsd.org

Heyer Engineering Inc. Engineering heyerengineering.com

Ignite

Professional Development & Training ignitesiouxfalls.com

Insurance & Benefits mcgreevyassociates.com

Rental Equipment ntlifts.com

Property Management

Queen City Balloon Bar Specialty Retail queencityballoons.com

First Year Reinvestors

Specialty Retail dugansalesandservice.com

Building Materials engineeredtrusssystems.com

Contractors odeco-sd.com

Pifer’s Auction & Realty and Land Management Real Estate Appraisers pifers.com

Bella Rosa Flower Market Florists bellarosamarket.com

chambernews.com | Chamber News 49

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 Mari Ossenfort Mari Ossenfort is Vice President and General Manager of KELOLAND Media Group.

She was raised in South Dakota, has lived and worked in other parts of the country and chose to return to her home state. Mari holds a degree in business management from the University of South Dakota. She volunteers with Kids’ Chance of South Dakota and Junior Achievement and is a member of the Chamber’s Business Leadership Council. Mari, her husband, Mark, and their two sons, Matthew and Whitey, enjoy watching sports and spending time at Lake Madison.

How did you choose your profession?

Coming from a family of business owners, I always thought I would be a business owner myself. But that was not a realistic next step right out of college, so my first professional job was managing a retail store. The power of advertising amazed me.

I was impressed by how it influenced customers and increased sales. Every time we invested in an advertising campaign, the sales increased. It was easy for me to see the return on the advertising investment. After living in Houston and Denver, I decided I wanted to move home to South Dakota. So, I reached out to a few radio and TV stations to pursue a career in advertising sales and one of them took a chance on me. After a few successful years as a salesperson, I was promoted to sales manager and, eventually, I became general manager.

Mari Ossenfort

KELOLAND Media Group

Visit chambernews.com for more questions with Mari

Why does KELO choose to invest in Chamber membership?

That’s an easy question to answer. The Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce helps all sizes of businesses with many different programs. We want to support organizations that support other businesses and align with our values. The Chamber is a great organization for numerous resources needed in our community by business owners.

What makes a great leader?

A great leader is a person who leads by example. Leaders need to walk the walk they talk.

What is the best piece of advice you have received?

I’ve received a lot of great advice from a lot of good people. And there is one quote that has set me up for success in life: “Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future.” I have been so blessed to have great friends over the years from my high school friends in Yankton, to my college friends at USD, and all the other people I have met along the way. No matter where I go or what I do, when I’m with my friends, I’m always in a room with super smart, positive, energetic people.

If you could witness any event of the past, present or future, what would it be?

I’d like to experience a day in Sioux Falls in 50 years. Hopefully, by then we have solved some of our challenges. I could help make tomorrow a better place if I knew exactly what it looks like.

50 Chamber News | MARCH 2022

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:

You’ve got this, and we’ve got you. sanfordhealth.org

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