May 2016 Chamber News

Chamber News May 2016

Vol. 51, No. 8

A PUBLICATION OF THE SIOUX FALLS AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Host city attitude proves successful for Sioux Falls

IN THIS ISSUE COVER STORY

Host city attitude proves successful for Sioux Falls

...................................................... 24-29

Chamber News PUBLISHER

Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce

FEATURES

Recap of the 2016 Legislative Session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30-31 30th Leadership Sioux Falls class to graduate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32-33

CHAMBER NEWS AD SALES

ARGUS LEADER MEDIA For advertising information, call: (605) 977-3943

CHAMBER NEWS LAYOUT/DESIGN JILL BLOM

IN EVERY ISSUE: Message from the Chair. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Events Calendars. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-11 Economic Indicators. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Noteworthy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Faces & Places. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-22 Community Appeals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Business Advocacy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30-31 Headlines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32-35 Convention & Visitors Bureau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Using Your Membership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38-39 Chamber Partner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Member Voice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Business News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42-43 Ribbon Cuttings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45-50 Membership Anniversaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 New Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Five Questions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 From the Archives. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

CHAMBER NEWS EDITOR

AMY SMOLIK For editorial information, call: (605) 336-1620 Chamber News is published monthly by the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce, PO Box 1425, 200 N. Phillips Ave., Suite 200 Sioux Falls, SD 57104 Advertising and editorial deadlines can be found at siouxfallschamber.com under News & Publications.

Postmaster please send address changes to: Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce, PO Box 1425, 200 N. Phillips Ave., Suite 200, Sioux Falls, SD 57101-1425 Phone: (605) 336-1620 • Email: sfacc@siouxfalls.com

CHAMBER MISSION As the leading Sioux Falls area business advocate, the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce represents its members by advancing and promoting the economic health and quality of life of the region.

Communicate WITH THE

CHAMBER .com/siouxfallschamber @SFAreaChamber @SFAreaAdvocate Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce

ON THE COVER Members of the Sioux Falls visitor industry are pictured at the site of the city’s namesake, Falls Park.

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

2015-16 SIOUX FALLS AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE LEADERSHIP AND STAFF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE CHAIR PAUL BRUFLAT CNA Surety CHAIR-ELECT DAVE KAPASKA, D.O. Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center VICE CHAIR STEVE VAN BUSKIRK Van Buskirk Companies TREASURER JOHN HENKHAUS The Everist Company IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR DANA DYKHOUSE First PREMIER Bank PRESIDENT/CEO EVAN NOLTE Chamber of Commerce BOARD OF DIRECTORS WENDY BERGAN JDS Industries RANDY BURY Sanford Health JULIE DARRINGTON CenturyLink GARY GASPAR Interstate Office Products MIKE HAUCK Accord Commercial Real Estate, LLC JAY HUIZENGA KELOLAND-TV DEAN KARSKY Farmers Insurance Group/Karsky Agency MARK MICKELSON Mickelson & Co. BETTY OLDENKAMP Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota ALEX RAMIREZ USA Media TV TIM STURDEVANT Sturdevant’s Auto Parts ROB TEKOLSTE Sammons Financial Group/Midland National Life Insurance Co. BOBBI THURY Cutler Law Firm CARL WYNJA U.S. Bank

EX-OFFICIO KENT ALBERTY Sioux Falls School Board CINDY HEIBERGER Minnehaha County Commission MAYOR MIKE HUETHER City of Sioux Falls DR. BRIAN MAHER Superintendent, Sioux Falls Public School System JIM SCHMIDT Lincoln County Commission ROBERT WEHDE Sioux Falls Catholic Schools CHAMBER & CVB STAFF EVAN NOLTE President/CEO CLAY BAK CVB Sales Manager THANE BARNIER Web Development & IT Manager MATT BARTHEL CVB First Impressions/Project Manager JOAN BARTLING Finance & Accounting Director JILL BLOM Graphics & Communications Specialist SHIRLEY BUSEMAN Receptionist CINDY CHRISTENSEN Agri-Business Division Manager RACHEL CRANE CVB Host City Manager ANNA ELIASON CVB Sales Manager AMY M. FARR Membership Sales & Retention Manager JEFF FEJFAR Web Designer KATE FOLEY Small Business & Leadership Development Manager LAUREN FOSHEIM Young Professionals Network (YPN) Manager

JAY KALTENBACH CVB Services/Resale Manager MARK LEE Public Affairs & Communications Director PAT LUND Membership Development Director MIKE LYNCH Public Affairs & Research Manager JILL NIEDRINGHAUS CVB Sales Assistant WENDY NEUHARTH Membership Services Administrative Assistant KRISTA ORSACK CVB Director of Marketing KATHIE PUTHOFF CVB Administrative Assistant TERI SCHMIDT CVB Executive Director TERESA SCHREIER Public Affairs & Communications Assistant SUSAN SEACHRIS Administrative/Accounting Assistant AMY SMOLIK Marketing & Communications Manager BETSY SPRENKLE CVB Creative & Communications Manager ALEXA STEINER CVB Sales Manager VALERIE WILLSON Membership Events Manager CAROLYN WINCHELL Forward Sioux Falls Director of Investor Relations ERIN ZIMMERMAN CVB Sales Manager

chambernews.com | Chamber News 3

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR

Collaboration is key to Sioux Falls’ success The Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce has long been the organization that brings people together from across the community to tackle issues as well as focus on economic development and quality of life opportunities for the area.

PAUL BRUFLAT 2015-16 Chair of the Board

... we invite all to the table and we continue to tackle new challenges together to help boost our community even more.

Selling Sioux Falls is easy when you take into account what we have to sell — a vibrant community with top-notch facilities and a host mentality. No one does a better job than our Sioux Falls Convention & Visitors Bureau! The CVB will celebrate their industry at their annual luncheon on May 10 — all are welcome to hear from keynote speaker J.B. Bernstein as he shares valuable insight on business, marketing, selling and achieving success in unpredictable and unprecedented circumstances.

Bernstein’s message on the power of relationships should resonate with the Sioux Falls audience. Collaboration has proven to be a successful strategy for much of our community’s successes, both recently and historically. In April we held the groundbreaking for Foundation Park, an 820-acre megasite — the state’s first — that will help create jobs for decades to come. Partnerships from the state, city and business community (primarily through Forward Sioux Falls) have made this park a reality.

Our entire region will benefit from this collaboration. Foundation Park is another sales tool for economic development and this venture wouldn’t have happened without everyone working together. Thank you to all our members who are investing in Forward Sioux Falls. As a reminder, the 2021 campaign officially ends May 27.

This issue of Chamber News shares a wrap-up from our lobbyist about the 2016 Legislative Session. Later this month our members will have a chance to hear from Gov. Dennis Daugaard at our spring Good Morning Sioux Falls program. We are already looking ahead to the fall election and the many issues that will appear on the ballot. We’re fortunate to have many volunteer leaders working with us as we develop issue briefs on the 10 certified ballot issues that will be decided in the November election. Based on our volunteers’ work, our Board will consider taking positions on issues important to our members. Our intent is to have informed and educated voters and we will share the research with our membership as it is developed.

There are other membership organizations, many specific to particular industries, but the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce truly is the premier business organization in the region. I believe that members like being on our winning team — because we invite all to the table and we continue to tackle new challenges together to help boost our community even more.

Thank you to all the volunteers who participated in our membership drive and welcome to the new members who joined our team during the recent Spring Membership Drive — we’re happy to have you on board!

chambernews.com | Chamber News 5

CALENDARS

CHAMBER

Events Calendar

Dates, times and locations are subject to change.

For a current listing of all Chamber events, visit siouxfallschamber.com, read the weekly edition of Quickly, or call (605) 336-1620.

You can register and pay for events online at siouxfallschamber.com.

FEATURED EVENTS MAY MEMBERSHIP

MIXER TUESDAY, MAY 10

SPONSORED BY:

4:30-6:30 p.m.

Great Plains Zoo & Delbridge Museum of Natural History, 805 S. Kiwanis Ave. COMPLIMENTARY HORS D’OEUVRES & CASH BAR $5 ADMISSION OR USE YOUR MIXER PASS

RSVP to vwillson@siouxfalls.com or at siouxfallschamber.com

CHAMBER CAFÉ: THE VIEW FROM THE CLOUD TUESDAY, MAY 3

8 a.m.

Chamber of Commerce, Betty J. Ordal Conference Center, 200 N. Phillips Ave., Suite 200 DETAILS: Uncover the value of marketing automation, sales enablement

and strategic business analysis all from within the cloud. In this Chamber Café, you will learn how to reduce the gap between the potential of your business and your technology investments. Key topics include: Tips on how to leverage marketing automation; benefits of integrated sales and marketing software; and how to use software to drive your business strategy and maximize your ROI. Presented by Mike Vetter, President and CTO, DataSync Corporation.

COST: $10 per person, includes continental breakfast.

RSVP: kfoley@siouxfalls.com or (605) 373-2002

LEADERSHIP SIOUX FALLS GRADUATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 4

5:30 p.m. Social, 6:30 p.m. Dinner, 7:30 p.m. Program Callaway’s, 500 E. 69th St. DETAILS: Celebrate the graduation of the 30th class of Leadership Sioux Falls. The evening’s speaker is Shantel Krebs, South Dakota Secretary of State and LSF graduate.

COST: $40 per person, which includes dinner.

RSVP: kfoley@siouxfalls.com or (605) 373-2002

VISITOR INDUSTRY LUNCHEON TUESDAY, MAY 10

11:30 a.m.

Sioux Falls Convention Center, 1201 N. West Ave. DETAILS: Featuring J.B. Bernstein, one of the most respected marketing

2016 ARMED FORCES DAY CEREMONIES

SATURDAY, MAY 21 • 10:30 A.M. SIOUX FALLS VA HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, 2501 W. 22ND ST. DETAILS: This annual event recognizes members of the armed

forces for their service. The keynote speaker is retired Lt. Col. Reid Christopherson. Sponsored by the Chamber’s Military & Veterans Affairs Committee.

COST: Free and open to the public.

MORE INFORMATION: vwillson@siouxfalls.com or (605) 373-2010

experts in the world of sports and the inspiration behind the Disney movie, Million Dollar Arm. The luncheon also features the 2016 Visitor Industry Awards, honoring members of the visitor industry in the categories of Heart of the City, First Impressions Business and Media.

COST: $40 per person. Reserved tables of eight available.

RSVP: kputhoff@siouxfalls.com or (605) 373-2032

GOOD MORNING SIOUX FALLS FRIDAY, MAY 13

7 a.m.

Holiday Inn City Centre Falls Room, 100 W. 8th St. DETAILS: Get an update from Gov. Dennis Daugaard at the spring Good

Morning Sioux Falls program. Plus, meet the newly-elected Sioux Falls City Council and School Board members, as well as new CEOs and managers.

COST: $20 per person, which includes breakfast.

RSVP: vwillson@siouxfalls.com or (605) 373-2010

JUNE MEMBERSHIP MIXER & BUSINESS FAIR TUESDAY, JUNE 14

4:30-7 p.m.

Sioux Falls Convention Center, 1201 N. West Ave. DETAILS: Sponsored by the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center; this Mixer

also features the 16th Annual Business Fair, which includes Chamber members displaying information about their business. Reserve your booth today — contact Valerie at vwillson@siouxfalls.com or (605) 373-2010.

COST: $5 or use your Mixer Pass RSVP: vwillson@siouxfalls.com or (605) 373-2010

chambernews.com | Chamber News 7

Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce

Young Professionals Network

UPCOMING EVENTS

To RSVP to any of these events, email lfosheim@siouxfalls.com or call (605) 373-2009. Visit siouxfallsypn.com for a full list of events.

YPN MEMBERSHIP TEAM MEETING WEDNESDAY, MAY 11

4-5 p.m.

Chamber of Commerce, 200 N. Phillips Ave., Suite 200 DETAILS: The YPN Membership Team focuses

on membership engagement, growth and retention, and is open to any member looking to get more involved and have an input on YPN events and activities. The Membership Team meets the second Wednesday of every other month at 4 p.m.

COST: Free to attend.

YPN OFF THE CLOCK THURSDAY, MAY 19

4-7 p.m.

Tre Lounge, 601 W. 33rd St. DETAILS: Connect, unwind and meet new

friends at the May Off The Clock.

COST: Free to attend, drinks/food are on your own.

YPN AT OAKRIDGE NURSERY WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 2016

5:30-6:30 p.m.

Oakridge Nursery, 2217 S. Splitrock Blvd., Brandon DETAILS: Do you have a green thumb or wish you did? Join fellow YPN members for a handson workshop at Oakridge Nursery & Landscaping for an evening of learning and fun! Each person will get to choose their own annuals or herb plants and will be provided with all necessary supplies. Spots are limited, please RSVP

by May 18!

COST: $20, includes all supplies

YPN MORNING BUZZ-DOWNTOWN WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1 7:30-8:30 a.m.

Pappy’s, 101 S. Phillips Ave. DETAILS: Network with other YPN members

over a cup of coffee. Feel free to bring a friend or co-worker, and don’t forget your business cards. Come for the coffee, stay for the conversation.

COST: Free to attend, coffee/breakfast on your own.

YPN MORNING BUZZ-SOUTH WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1

7:30-8:30 a.m.

Panera Bread, 5117 S. Louise Ave. DETAILS: Network with other YPN members

over a cup of coffee. Feel free to bring a friend or co-worker, and don’t forget your business cards. Come for the coffee, stay for the conversation.

COST: Free to attend, coffee/breakfast on your own.

YPN FOCUS WORKSHOP: REALLY... HOW DO YOU CREATE A SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGY? THURSDAY, JUNE 2 Noon-1 p.m.

Chamber of Commerce, 200 N. Phillips Ave. Suite 200 DETAILS: Do you ever post just to ... post?

Overwhelmed with how to manage multiple social media accounts? Or just looking for tactics on how to begin or start over? Come join us to learn tips, tactics, and ideas that can be easily implemented to help simplify your overall social media needs.

Presented by Sarah Kurtenbach, Founder/Principal of the KB group, LLC. Kurtenbach is a social media and digital expert who has worked for a top Facebook Preferred Marketing Developer for more than five years. Starting as the second employee, she helped grow the company to be a multi-million dollar business, brought the company through an acquisition, worked postacquisition within a large Fortune 500 media company, and was promoted to be the youngest VP in the company to lead sales and revenue.

She has strategized, built content, put together process plans, run digital media, analyzed data and brought success to hundreds of advertisers including: AT&T, CVS, Capital One, Bayer, HGTV, jetBlue, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Lifetime, Skype, Domino’s, J.Crew, Audi, Samsung, Jaguar, Air France, Revlon, T.Rowe Price, and many others. Kurtenbach recently moved from New York City to South Dakota to marry her husband, Chad, and she has a passion for helping business owners succeed in the ever-changing digital and social space.

COST: $5 to attend, bring your own lunch.

PERSONAL & PROFESSIONAL TEAM MEETING THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2016

4-5 p.m.

Chamber of Commerce, 200 N. Phillips Ave. Suite 200 DETAILS: The YPN Personal & Professional

Development Team focuses on fostering professional relationships, career development, entrepreneurial endeavors and civic involvement while gaining an insider’s view of our regional business scene and exposing members to a broad range of community issues, and is open to any member looking to get more involved and have an input on YPN events and activities.

The Personal & Professional Development Team meets the first Thursday of every other month at 4 p.m.

COST: Free to attend.

SOCIAL TEAM MEETING TUESDAY, JUNE 7, 2016

4-5 p.m.

Chamber of Commerce, 200 N. Phillips Ave., Suite 200 DETAILS: The YPN Social Team focuses on so-

cial events that showcase the community while providing a positive environment for networking, socializing and developing connections. The Social Team meets the first Tuesday of each month at 4 p.m. and is open to any member looking to get more involved.

COST: Free to attend.

Connect WITH THE

YPN

Sioux Falls Young Professionals Network .com/siouxfallsypn @siouxfallsypn

Find us on social media or visit siouxfallsypn.com

chambernews.com | Chamber News 9

MAY Events listed are compiled from siouxfallsevents.com and visitsiouxfallsevents.com.

Siouxfallsevents.com is the community’s free, comprehensive community events calendar. Anyone can post an event happening in the Sioux Falls area. It’s free and it’s a great way to promote your event.

The Sioux Falls Convention & Visitors Bureau developed the visitor-related calendar to provide visitors a list of events they may be interested in attending.

By combining the calendars, you can see when there’s going to be a large number of visitors in the community and learn about events and activities you want to attend.

For more information about visitor-related activities, contact the Sioux Falls Convention & Visitors Bureau at (605) 275-6060. Learn more details about any of the following events by logging on or contact the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce at (605) 336-1620.

10 Chamber News | MAY 2016

2

Paul McCartney

2

Tech N9NE

4

Disney’s Beauty & The Beast

5

Andy Mineo

5

Joe Bonamassa

5

Los Tigres Del Norte

6

Art & Wine Walk

6-8

Mary Poppins

7

Avera Race Against Breast Cancer

7

Cinco de Mayo Fiesta

7

Costaki Economopoulos

8

Augustana Choirs & Orchestra Concert

8

Ladies Ultimate Showcase Tour

8

WWE Live

9

Breaking Benjamin

10 Vivace 10

Visitor Industry Luncheon

11

Scott Stapp: The Voice of Creed

12

Atreyu Islander & Sworn In

JUNE 12

Spirit of Volunteerism

1

B.O.B. STFU Tour

12 Kix

2-5

19th Annual RibFest

13-15

Mary Poppins

3

Downtown Block Party

14

Downtown Loft Tour

3-5

Anime Alpha

14

Poker Run & Montgomery Gentry concert

11

Festival of Cultures

14-16

Spring Parade of Homes

11-12

Siouxland Renaissance Festival

15

Maxwell’s Million Dollar Dreams

14

Flag Day Event

17 Sevendust

17

An Acoustic Tour with: Hinder

19

April Wine

18

Sioux Falls Pride 2016

20

The Black Dahlia Murder

18

Zippity Zoo Day

20

Unhallowed Resurrection MMXVI

22

Reverend Horton Heat

20-22

Mary Poppins

23

Casey Donahew Band

21-23

Spring Parade of Homes

24

Hemmings Motor News Great Race

22

Florida Georgia Line

25

Toby Keith

23

Avant Garden

25

Women’s Try-It Day

24 Deftones

25-26

South Dakota Peach Festival

25 Buckcherry

26

Gordon Lightfoot

26 Megadeath

27

Bike Night

27

29

Eve 6

Bike Night

chambernews.com | Chamber News 11

ECONOMIC INDICATORS Tracking trends in business is just one way that the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce is looking out for our members. Sioux Falls is a great place to do business, in part because of its diverse economy. Check here for economic indicators that help show growth and development.

City of Sioux Falls Building Permit Data

Regional Unemployment Rates

MARCH 2016

FEBRUARY 2016

1,098 PERMITS

2014

Bismarck 3.5%

1,968 PERMITS

2015

1,295 PERMITS

2016

Fargo 3.0%

Source: City of Sioux Falls

City of Sioux Falls Total Construction Value MARCH 2016

Rapid City 3.5%

Rochester 3.9%

Sioux Falls 2.7%

Total Construction Value

Cedar Rapids 4.6% Des Moines 4.1%

Omaha Lincoln 3.6% 2.8%

New Non-Residential Construction Value

$220

Minneapolis/ St. Paul 3.9%

$200 $180

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

$160

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

$140 $120 $193.5 million $106.5 million

$100

Agriculture Trends FEBRUARY 2016

$80

$16

$60

$15

(PER BUSHEL) U.S.

$14 (IN MILLIONS)

$40 $20

SOYBEANS

$109.1 million $21.3 million

$156.0 million $21.5 million

SOUTH DAKOTA

$13 $12

2014

2015

2016

Source: City of Sioux Falls

$11 $9.91

$10

$9.30

$9

$8.71 $8.51

$8.34

$8

$8.15

$7

Sioux Falls Region Housing Overview MARCH 2016

CORN

$6

(PER BUSHEL) U.S.

$5

New Listings: 667 Days on the Market Until Sale: 100 Median Sales Price: $168,000 Inventory of Homes for Sale: 1,362 Source: RASE (Realtor Association of the Sioux Empire)

$4 $3 $2

$3.79

$3.66

$3.43

$3.27

February

2015

SOUTH DAKOTA $3.57 $3.23

January February

2016

2016

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture

chambernews.com | Chamber News 13

AMBASSADOR COMMITTEE

50

th

ANNIVERSARY & REUNION

The Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce is proud to celebrate th the 50 anniversary of the Ambassador Committee.

Since 1966, the Ambassador Committee has played an integral role in the success of the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce. From the dapper sport coats proudly bearing the Ambassador emblem worn on many sales calls, to attending and participating in thousands of ribbon cutting ceremonies, this committee has shared time and talent in growing and maintaining the membership of The Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce.

We need your help!

Unfortunately, we are missing current contact information for many of the Ambassadors who have served throughout the years.

Information about this reunion will be shared on social media and in various Chamber publications, but we’re also hoping our members can help us spread the word about the reunion to any former Ambassador who may no longer live in the community.

Please contact the Chamber to share more information: (605) 336-1620 or afarr@siouxfalls.com.

NOTEWORTHY Headlines, accolades and rankings — Sioux Falls is often in the news for our community’s excellent business climate and high quality of life. Look for that information to be shared again here along with other topical quick hits.

BY THE NUMBERS (all data 2014 unless indicated otherwise)

Economic and international visitors travel expenditures that spurred

Jobs supported by travel expenditures (includes 8.0 million directly in the travel industry and 7.0 million in Wages shared

by American workers directly employed by travel

Tax revenue generated by travel spending for federal, state and 2.7%: Percentage of nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) attributed to travel and tourism

1 out of 9: U.S. jobs that No. 7: Where travel ranks in terms of employment compared to other major

The U.S. Travel Association is the national, non-profit organization representing all components of the travel industry that generates $2.1 trillion in economic output. It is the voice for the collective interests of the U.S. travel industry and the association’s 1,350 member organizations. U.S. Travel’s mission is to promote and facilitate increased travel to and within the United States. For more information, visit www.ustravel.org 1100 New York Avenue, NW Suite 450 Washington, D.C. 20005

| TEL 202.408.8422 | ustravel.org | CONNECT WITH US

chambernews.com | Chamber News 15

FACES & PLACES

Faces & Places

LYNDA BILLARS

The Lynda B. Advantage/ Team Billars & Associates KW

DAREN ANDERSON Big D Technology Solutions, Inc.

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.

BERNIE DEWALD

LARRY AYRES

JULIE NELSON

CINDI JOHNSON

McKinneyOlson Insurance

American Bank & Trust

Ayres Group

Spectrum Marketing Services

NATHAN STALLINGA DakotAbilities

DERRICK KARSKY

Farmers Insurance Group/ Karsky Agency

NANCY VANOTTERLOO First PREMIER Bank

Recognition of Chamber Volunteers The Ambassador Team of the Month for March was Team Billars: Lynda Billars, The Lynda B. Advantage/Team Billars & Associates KW; Bernie DeWald, McKinneyOlson Insurance; and Larry Ayres, Ayres Group. Ayres was also the Ribbon Cutting Attendance Winner. Nathan Stallinga, DakotAbilities, received the Top Sales Award.

Daren Anderson, Big D Technology Solutions, Inc., was awarded Diplomat of the Month honors for March. Second place honors went to Julie Nelson, American Bank & Trust, and third place honors went to Cindi Johnson, Spectrum Marketing Services. The

Ribbon Cutting Attendance award went to Derrick Karsky, Farmers Insurance Group/ Karsky Agency, and the Reinvestment Award went to Nancy VanOtterloo, First PREMIER Bank.

The Diplomat Team of the Month for March was: Captain Daren Anderson, Big D Technology Solutions, Inc.; Duane Noerenberg, Anderson Group CPA; Angie Wahl, All-Star Travel; Dustin Brouwer, Sioux Falls Seminary; and Cindi Johnson, Spectrum Marketing Services.

Faces & Places is great way to use your membership to be seen. This column appears each month in Chamber News and features information about Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce members and volunteers. Submissions may include grand openings, changes in management, moves, expansions, major developments and award recognition. Submit news using the Faces & Places form at chambernews.com or email asmolik@siouxfalls.com.

16 Chamber News | MAY 2016

FACES & PLACES

New Faces & Promotions

Partnerships

Vicki Kerkvliet is the Executive Director of the Business Resource Network in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Kerkvliet has a B.A. in religion with a minor in psychology from Augustana University. She has worked in the field of disabilities for 23 years, most recently at Independent Living Choices, a position she held for almost 10 years. She is from Larchwood, Iowa.

Cornerstone Financial Solutions, Inc. and Reinders Financial, Inc. formed a strategic partnership. This new entity will be among the largest independent financial services firms in the area. Their client base is throughout the greater Sioux Falls area and the James River Valley.

Michael Bakke joined Beck & Hofer Construction, Inc. as an estimator and project manager. With more than 20 years of

experience as an architectural designer and project manager, Bakke brings a working knowledge of numerous types of commercial projects ranging from hotels, office buildings, schools, churches to federal overseas facilities.

Ashley Fellows, PHR, SHRM-CP joined The Weston Group as a Senior HR Advisor.

Fellows brings several years of human resource management experience and was most recently the Director of HR at Children’s Home Society.

Honors & Awards Stacie Bechtold, Director of Safety & Human Resources at Beck & Hofer Construction, Inc., was awarded the Paul Lepthien Safety Award by the Associated General Contractors of South Dakota (AGC-SD). This award recognizes individuals who demonstrate knowledge, collaboration, proactivity and passion in the area of construction safety.

Sioux Falls Skyforce Head Coach Dan Craig was named the NBA Development League Coach of the Month for games played in March and April. It’s the third Coach of the Month honor this season for Craig, who also won in December and January. Craig guided Sioux Falls to an 11-2 record to cap off a historic 40-10 season, the best record in NBA D-League history. Craig, in his first season as head coach for Sioux Falls, has been a part of the Miami Heat organization for 13 seasons.

Craig was also named the NBA Development League Dennis Johnson Coach of the Year in a vote by his fellow NBA D-League head coaches.

Jarnell Stokes, Sioux Falls Skyforce, was named NBA Development League Player of the Month for games played in March and April.

Stokes, who is in his second NBA D-League season, has appeared in 26 games with the Memphis Grizzlies and Miami Heat since being selected with the 35th overall pick of the 2014 NBA Draft. He finished the regular season with averages of 20.6 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals.

Sioux Falls Skyforce General Manager and Miami Heat Assistant General Manager Adam Simon was named the inaugural NBA Development League Basketball Executive of the Year Award, as selected by his fellow NBA D-League basketball executives. Serving as the Skyforce general manager since the team entered into a one-to-one hybrid affiliation agreement with the Heat three seasons ago, Simon helped bring head coach Dan Craig, his fellow Heat employee, to Sioux Falls prior to this season.

Sioux Falls Skyforce forward DeAndre Liggins was named the 2015-16 NBA Development League Defensive Player of the Year by a vote of the league’s 19 head coaches.

This is the second such honor for Liggins, who also earned the award in 2013-14 with Sioux Falls.

The Sioux Falls Arts Council awarded the 2016 Mayor’s Awards for the Arts. The winners include: Individual Excellence in Visual Arts: Joan Swenson, Admission/Marketing/Alliance Manager at Tallgrass Recovery, professional artist and guest speaker; Individual Excellence in Performing Arts: Delta David Gier, who is the music director of the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra; Individual Excellence in Literary Arts: Chris Browne, the co-author of the comic strip Hagar the Horrible, the book Hagar the Horrible’s Very Nearly Complete Viking Handbook and author of the children’s book The Monster Who Ate the State; Organizational Achievement in the Arts-EastBank Art

Gallery, which is a community-oriented location where regional artists could come together and exhibit their work, offer classes and build relationships with the community; and the Charlotte Carver Award for Achievement in the Arts: Sheila Agee, who served as director of the Civic Fine Arts Center in Sioux Falls and during her nine-year tenure assisted in building financial stability, public awareness of the arts and became part of the Washington Pavilion, changing the name to the Visual Arts Center.

Primrose Retirement Communities named Sioux Falls Executive Director Melissa Nelson as Primrose Executive Director of the Year.

Nelson has served as the Executive Director of Primrose of Sioux Falls since 2007.

G & R Controls was named Siemens Building Technologies 2015 Independent Field Office (IFO) of the Year. IFO of the Year is a highly competitive, national award presented to a Siemens partner annually. G & R Controls has been a Siemens Solutions Partner for nearly 40 years installing and servicing building automation systems throughout North and South Dakota as well as surrounding areas in a variety of facilities such as K-12 and higher education institutions, healthcare facilities, commercial, industrial and government buildings.

chambernews.com | Chamber News 17

FACES & PLACES

Leadership The Zeal Center for Entrepreneurship, formerly known as the South Dakota Technology Business Center, added new members to its Board of Directors: Dr. Pam Homan, Augustana University; John Henkhaus, The Everist Company; Dr. Debra Sepich, University of Sioux Falls; and Mike Vetter, DataSync. The Board also includes: Chair Steve Statz, Avera Health; Vice Chair Paul TenHaken, Click Rain; Secretary Treasurer Keith Severson, Eide Bailly; Evan Nolte,

Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce; Slater Barr, Sioux Falls Development Foundation; Dr. Venky Venkatachaleam, University of South Dakota; and Sherri Rotert, Greenfield Rotert.

Cheri Kraemer, RPh, Pharmacist/Owner of PCAB-accredited Pharmacy Specialties & Clinic Inc., was elected to the 2016 International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists (IACP) Board of Directors by the

Acquisitions Midco entered into an agreement to acquire Dataware, LLC, a firm that has provided data center space and cloud and managed services since 2001. The deal includes two data centers located in Sioux Falls and Yankton, S.D., giving Midco the infrastructure to deliver businessclass data center and managed services across the Upper Midwest. Midco will continue to

18 Chamber News | MAY 2016

IACP membership, which represents more than 4,000 pharmacists, technicians, students and members of the compounding community who focus upon the specialty practice of pharmacy compounding. Pharmacy compounding is the long-established tradition in pharmacy practice that enables physicians to prescribe and patients to take medicines that are specially prepared by pharmacists to meet patients’ individual needs.

Name Change serve Dataware customers as it expands its service line near-term and long-term to include additional managed business IT services. The company is assessing opportunities to expand the data center strategy into other cities.

Bargain Bytes has rebranded to SEAM, which stands for Secure Enterprise Asset Management, Inc.

FACES & PLACES

Be Seen

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The Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Committee wrapped up their Spring Membership Drive April 22. The Chamber welcomed 92 new members. Volunteers were recognized at a wrap-up party. 1 First Place went to Team Stallinga: Nathan Stallinga, DakotAbilities; Joey Rotert, First Federal Credit Union; and April Meyerink, Quality Inn & Suites.

From L to R: Nathan Stallinga, DakotAbilities; Sharon Haselhoff, Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort; Chamber President/CEO Evan Nolte; Joey Rotert; First Federal Credit Union; and 2015-16 Chair of the Board Paul Bruflat, CNA Surety. 2 Second Place went to Team Billars: Lynda Billars; The Lynda B Advantage; Bernie DeWald, McKinneyOlson Insurance; and Larry Ayres, Ayres Group. From L to R: Spring Drive Chair Nathan Stallinga, DakotAbilities; Chamber President/CEO Evan Nolte; Lynda Billars, The Lynda B Advantage; Larry Ayres, Ayres Group; Daschle Larson, McKinneyOlson Insurance; Julie Nelson, American Bank & Trust; and 201516 Chair of the Board Paul Bruflat, CNA Surety.

3 Third Place went to Team Lloyd: Liz Lloyd, Lloyd Resdential Group; Rick Rysavy, Home Federal Bank; Rod Carlson, Active Generations; and Darci Hustrulid, Alzheimer’s Association. From L to R: Spring Drive Chair Nathan Stallinga, DakotAbilities; Chamber President/ CEO Evan Nolte; Darci Hurstrulid, Alzheimer’s Association; and 2015-16 Chair of the Board Paul Bruflat, CNA Surety. 4 The top three associates were recognized for their contributions; first place went to Steve Herman, Coffee News of Sioux Falls; second place went to Cindi Johnson, Spectrum Marketing; and third place went to Sharon Haselhoff, Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort. From L to R: Cindi Johnson, Spectrum Marketing; Chamber President/CEO Evan Nolte; Sharon Haselhoff, Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort; 2015-16 Chair of the Board Paul Bruflat, CNA Surety; and Spring Drive Chair Nathan Stallinga, DakotAbilities.

4 chambernews.com | Chamber News 19

FACES & PLACES

Be Seen

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9 20 Chamber News | MAY 2016

5-10 Home Federal Bank’s downtown location was the site of the April Membership Mixer. Approximately 250 people attended.

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FACES & PLACES

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12 11 The Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce held candidate forums for the four Sioux Falls City Council seats and two Sioux Falls School Board seats that were decided in the April 12 municipal/school election. 12 The Sioux Falls Young Professionals Network held a “Meet the Candidates” social to allow candidates to interact with voters. 13, 14 The Rapid City Area Chamber of Commerce came to Sioux Falls for its annual Board Retreat. Part of their event included a social between the two chamber boards of directors held in the Betty J. Ordal Conference Center; (13) pictured are Rapid City Area Chamber of Commerce President Linda Rabe and Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Evan Nolte.

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14 chambernews.com | Chamber News 21

FACES & PLACES

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15 Melissa Johnson, owner of Oh My Cupcakes and Oh My Paperie, spoke to YPN members as part of the Seat at the Table series.

16, 17 The Chamber hosted South Dakota Chamber of Commerce & Industry President David Owen as he shared a recap of the 2016 Legislative Session. Members of the Chamber’s Board of Directors, Issues Management Council and area legislators were in attendance. For a recap of the session from the Sioux Falls Area Chamber’s lobbyist, read pages 30-31. 18 Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota kicked off their Campus on East Bank Community Appeals Campaign April 1. This campaign will create and develop the campus on East Bank in the Kilian Community College building, offering multiple LSS services in the heart of the city.

22 Chamber News | MAY 2016

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COMMUNITY APPEALS SIOUX FALLS AREA 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.

The committee has a responsibility to discourage unnecessary or overlapping drives, to assess funds available in the Sioux Falls business community, and to provide input on realistic drive goals.

Capital fund drive applications will be accepted by the committee until Aug. 1 of any one year and the suggested solicitation amount and time slot for approved drives will be determined and scheduled by the committee no later than February of the following year.

For more information on the Community Appeals Committee, call Mike Lynch at (605) 373-2006.

CURRENT CAMPAIGN

BUTTERFLY HOUSE & MARINE COVE APRIL 1-JULY 31, 2017 $1.26 MILLION Expand public aquarium exhibits in the Marine Cove

LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES APRIL 1-JULY 31, 2016 $1.25 MILLION

STOCKYARDS AG EXPERIENCE NOV. 1, 2017-MARCH 31, 2018 $1.19 MILLION

Create and develop the “Campus on East Bank,” offering multiple LSS services in the heart of Sioux Falls

Create a living heritage outdoor plaza on the site of the original Sioux Falls Stockyards

LEVITT AT THE FALLS NOV. 1, 2016-MARCH 31, 2017 $1.06 MILLION Create an outdoor concert venue in Sioux Falls, partnering with non-profit Levitt Pavilions

GREAT PLAINS ZOO & DELBRIDGE MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY APRIL 1-JULY 31, 2018 $1.41 MILLION Create a new “Big Cats of Africa” exhibit

chambernews.com | Chamber News 23

Host city attitude proves successful for Sioux Falls 24 Chamber News | MAY 2016

COVER STORY

Pictured are members of the Sioux Falls visitor industry inside the Falls Overlook Cafe, located at Falls Park.

BY AMY SMOLIK

Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce

Bringing conventions, meetings and events to Sioux Falls has been the responsibility of the Sioux Falls CVB for more than 40 years. Part of holding a successful event happens well after the bid is awarded — when everything promised during the sale is fulfilled. And Sioux Falls has excelled at following through on delivery, visitor industry representatives agree.

“We’ve always said we were a No. 1 host city because of the hospitality. Our community wraps its arms around events to make things happen,” said CVB Executive Director Teri Schmidt.

The CVB’s host city program, which includes management of the Falls Park Visitor Information Center and connections

with the medical community, started in the 1990s because a Chamber board member suggested the CVB do outreach to visitors coming to Sioux Falls for medical treatment.

Technology has enhanced the way that people can learn about a community since the 1990s — and the CVB uses social media, apps and mobile websites to share information about Sioux Falls and planning trips here. The CVB does outreach with the medical community and other places where people gather across the city to share information about Sioux Falls and educate visitors about available opportunities.

The CVB is part of the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce and is funded through a 1 percent lodging tax.

In 2011, a BID tax of $2 per room night was added with the funds going directly to marketing the city. Since 2011, the chambernews.com | Chamber News 25

COVER STORY

The Sheraton Sioux Falls Hotel hosted South Carolina Gamecocks and rolled out the red carpet for their players and fans. The team bear, Eli, was also shown special treatment.

2015-16 CVB BID Board Chair Thea Miller Ryan, The Outdoor Campus Vice-Chair Char Roth, J&L Harley-Davidson Secretary Steve Westra, Hegg Companies, Inc. Past-Chair Shailesh Patel, Hampton Inn/TownePlace Suites/ Baymont Inn & Suites/Microtel Inn & Suites Scott Garrett, Holiday Inn City Centre Jean Hoesing, Ramada Hotel & Suites Randy Huber, Dakotah Lodge Tom Morris, Kelly Inns, Ltd. At-Large Member Mark Wahlstrom, First Dakota Title Non-Voting Member Rex Rolfing, Sioux Falls City Council Non-Voting Member Teri Schmidt, Sioux Falls Convention & Visitors Bureau

number of hotel rooms has grown from 4,132 to 4,947 and the occupancy rate has gone from 47 percent to 54 percent.

More visitors means more marketing opportunities — and more people spending money in the community.

“I moved to Sioux Falls in July and I have been impressed with the enthusiasm and drive of this CVB. They have an extremely effective sales force that is focused and aggressive in selling the city and this is evident with all the various organizations, groups and tours that you see visiting Sioux Falls,” said Becky Vealey, manager of the Sheraton Sioux Falls Hotel.

The Sheraton was one of the host hotels for the recent NCAA Division I Women’s Sweet 16 Regional finals held in Sioux Falls as part of March Madness. The Sheraton hosted the South Carolina Gamecocks, including their team bear Eli, who was also welcomed with open arms, Vealey said.

“When you have all entities of a city on the same page about tourism and conventions it is easier to attract business of any kind. The visitors and conference attendees all have a better experience when they experience a thriving community,” Vealey said.

Bringing the NCAA tournament to Sioux Falls was a collaborative effort between the Sioux Falls CVB, Sioux Falls

26 Chamber News | MAY 2016

The Professional Bull Riders (PBR) came back to Sioux Falls for a second year in 2016. From L to R: Jason Brewer, PBR VP of Partnerships; Teri Schmidt, Sioux Falls Convention & Visitors Bureau; CVB Council Chair Dan Radigan, Radigan Enterprises; and Sean Gleason, PBR CEO.

Sports Authority and facilities. All needed to work together in order to meet the requirements of the NCAA. The CVB and the Sports Authority pitched Sioux Falls together and were successful in bringing several NCAA events to the city.

Summit League Commissioner Tom Douple has long been an advocate of Sioux Falls and its potential. He’s seen the city improve its facilities from the 2009 Summit League men’s and women’s basketball championships — and also improve attendance and add sponsors along the way.

“Sioux Falls is an outstanding host for sporting events — everything is in place for the event to be successful,” Douple said. “Strong community support, great hotels and restaurants, first-class facilities and a hard-working volunteer base crate a winning atmosphere that fans, parents and participants enjoy while in Sioux Falls.”

In 2015, travel generated $2.1 trillion for the U.S. economy, supporting 15.1 million American jobs, according to the U.S. Travel Association. In South Dakota in 2014, that equates to $2.8 billion in spending, $303.2 million in tax receipts and supporting 27,251 jobs that represent 9.5 percent of the labor force.

Tom Bosch, Vice President of Hospitality for Avera Health, is a former hotel manager who has worked with the CVB for many years.

“What I appreciate the most is their ability to bring together competitors and have them work together for the common goal of promoting our city as a destination,” he said. “Simply put, our CVB wraps it up and puts a bow on it.”

Those who work in the Sioux Falls visitor industry know the power of collaboration — they gather monthly to stay on top of industry and local trends and to learn from each other at monthly Sioux Falls CVB Advisory Council meetings.

Stacy Wrightsman, Sanford Health, joined the Advisory Council last year. She has assisted the CVB with bids, tours and helping to promote the city and the healthcare offered.

She appreciates the monthly meetings to share information.

“Just like other successful endeavors in our great city, I get the opportunity to see first-hand the collaboration our CVB has with all industries in our city and Sioux Falls Area. The number of attendees at our monthly meeting is truly a testament to this collaborative spirit,” Wrightsman said.

chambernews.com | Chamber News 27

COVER STORY

2015-16 CVB Advisory Council Board EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Chair Dan Radigan, Dairy Queen/Orange Julius/ Karmelkorn, Radigan Enterprises

LEFT: The Sioux Falls CVB manages the Falls Park Visitor Information Center, which features Sioux Falls memorabilia and information. TOP: Pictured is the FAM Tour contest punch card, which encourages Sioux Falls visitor industry employees to visit area attractions in order to “fam”iliarize themselves with things to see and do in Sioux Falls. The employees can then use this information when visitors ask questions, with a goal of encouraging visitors to spend more time in Sioux Falls or to make a return trip.

Vice-Chair Thea Miller Ryan, The Outdoor Campus Treasurer Sara McMahon, Comfort Inn & Suites Past-Chair Char Roth, J&L Harley-Davidson Teri Schmidt, Sioux Falls Convention & Visitors Bureau

MEMBERS

Jan Grunewaldt, Best Western PLUS Ramkota Hotel & Conference Center Frank Gurnick, Dakota Alliance Soccer Club Ronette Hegg, Hegg Companies Todd Heitkamp, National Weather Service and Dakota Angler Tracy Kolb, Hampton Inn of Sioux Falls Chris Kray, Scheels All Sports Patti Lyon, Sioux Falls Police Department (retired) Chad McKenzie, KSOO Radio Scott Petersen, Washington Pavilion Nathan Schock, Locals Love Us Stacey Sorlien, South Dakota Pork Producers Council Paul Ten Haken, Click Rain Tom Van Wyhe Cindy Walsh, Dakota King dba Burger King/GreatLIFE Stacy Wrightsman, Sanford Health

28 Chamber News | MAY 2016

The CVB is currently conducting a “FAM Yourself” Punch Card Contest for Sioux Falls visitor industry frontline employees, with a goal of educating frontline employees so they are better able to share information with visitors on other attractions throughout Sioux Falls, encouraging visitors to stay in Sioux Falls longer and/or return for another visit.

“It is all about relationships when it comes to the visitor industry, as the only way our CVB is going to be successful is through the efforts of others,” Bosch said. “The CVB understands the importance of working with a variety of different stakeholders within our community — and the only way this happens is a high level of trust and confidence built by strong relationships.”

The CVB will celebrate the industry as part of National Tourism Week, held May 1-7, at its annual Visitor Industry Luncheon on May 10. Several awards will be distributed to industry representatives: Heart of the City, First Impressions, Business and Media. In addition, keynote speaker J.B. Bernstein will also talk about collaboration with his story about bringing baseball to India. He produced a reality competition to find India’s first professional baseball player, which was turned into the Disney movie, “Million Dollar Arm.”

2015 MAJOR NEW EVENTS

Visit

In 2015, Sioux Falls was the host city for many events, tournaments and conventions that were new to Sioux Falls. The following three events are some of the largest that took place thanks to the efforts of the CVB:

2016-17 Official Visitor’s

Guide

South Dakota’s Larges

t City

LPGA Symetra Tour GreatLIFE Challenge, held Sept. 3-6, 2015 • Brought in the top aspiring LPGA Tour professionals from the U.S. and 24 countries • Largest purse in LPGA Symetra Tour history • Returning for a second year (2016) Rocky Mountain International Roundup, held April 12-16, 2015 • Featured 200 international tour operators and suppliers from 10 countries.

• As a result, international tour operators are now selling Sioux Falls as an overnight destination for international travelers.

National Association of County Agricultural Agents, held July 8-18, 2015 • Bid for this convention in 2011 • National convention with 1,250 people attending

Sioux Falls Convention & Visitors Bureau VisitSiouxFalls.com

Follow

THE

CVB

Find us on social media (Visit Sioux Falls) or go to visitsiouxfalls.com to read the official Sioux Falls Visitor Guide online

chambernews.com | Chamber News 29

BUSINESS ADVOCACY

The 2016 Legislative Session — Your Chamber’s perspective Each year we approach the legislative session as thoughtfully and analytically as we can.

We do our best to uncover the issues that will likely be prominent in the upcoming session.

These issues form the foundation for our annual Legislative Platform. A well-developed platform is a lot like a battle plan and since “no battle plan survives contact with the enemy” (a quote attributed to a few people in various forms), things change as the session begins and bills emerge. Still, the process we go through prepares us for what we expect as well as the unexpected.

MARK LEE

Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce

Our goal is to represent and inform you on important issues each session so we look forward to your input.

We certainly approached the session believing that two monumental issues would dominate the agenda –Medicaid expansion and K-12 funding. With respect to Medicaid expansion, it seemed that each week during session we heard that word from the Federal government was expected “next week” regarding the provision of health services for Native Americans. As it turns out, word was not received until the seventh week of session and even then much more analysis was needed. Thus, Medicaid was not addressed during the regular run of the session. It remains to be seen if there will be a special session or if this issue will wait until 2017.

However, the six-month intensive study of K-12 education by the Blue Ribbon Task Force in 2015 became the Governor’s centerpiece legislative initiative. Your Chamber followed the work of the Task Force as well as undertook our own study of K-12 issues and kept our Issues Management Council and the Chamber Board informed as issues were discussed. We were very well prepared to engage in this issue.

As was widely and repeatedly reported, the Governor’s proposal focused on addressing the core issue of teacher salaries. The Task Force concluded, and the Governor agreed, that our status as the worst-paying state posed a strategic threat to the quality of our K-12 system and it needed to be addressed. There actually seemed to be broad-based legislative consensus on that conclusion (though grudgingly for some), but the real battle was how to pay for the plan.

The Task Force explored a number of possible funding sources and options and concluded that significant new resources were needed that were both reliable and predictable.

After considering the entirety of the Task Force’s work, the Governor proposed HB 1182, a one-half cent increase in the sales tax that would generate $107 million. The target for K-12 funding was $67 million. Thus, the Governor proposed $40 million for property tax relief for all classes of property. As amended in the House, the final result was about $37 million for property tax relief, $3 million for technical institute teacher salaries, $67 million for new K-12 funding and language that directed that the new money was to be used for teacher salaries and benefits.

The other pieces of the package included changing the funding formula significantly (though it still relies on fall enrollment as the important numerator) and funding a handful of programs to incent districts to improve efficiency and to provide more options for online delivery of classes. Also included were new provisions affecting capital outlay funds, capping general fund reserves and including “other revenues” as part of the funding formula.

The Chamber joined a host of other business organizations and others to support the Governor’s proposal. While we did (and still do) believe more reformation is needed to optimize the system, we accepted that this package was needed and we were all in.

This was a contentious issue and the most important piece, the one-half cent sales tax increase, required a two-thirds vote of each house. It failed its first effort in the House, but upon reconsideration it garnered the 47 votes needed to pass. In the Senate, it passed with 25 votes or one more vote than needed.

We were proud to accept the responsibility to help forge the prospect for transformational change in K-12 education. The Chamber has long been an advocate for strong educational systems and believes that an excellent K-12 system is a community, workforce, human and economic development imperative.

30 Chamber News | MAY 2016

BUSINESS ADVOCACY

SO WHAT ELSE HAPPENED? Actually quite a bit. There were 419 bills introduced this past session. The Chamber of Commerce team we have in Pierre reviews every measure introduced and evaluates our interest in the topic. We use our Bill Tracker to catalog bills into Tier I (highest priority) and Tier II (watching). Tier I bills are those that we actively follow and often testify and advocate on. Sometimes we are seeking passage, sometimes a quick death and sometimes amendments are needed. Our Bill Tracker included 65 Tier I bills and 50 Tier II bills. Yes, it’s likely we are conservative in our approach meaning that we are more likely to add something than to risk missing a topic that we should be following.

Of the 65 Tier I bills we followed, 23 were passed and signed by the Governor and 65 percent of Tier I bills did not survive the process. It is common for us to work to kill more bills even than we work to pass. Of the 50 Tier II bills we followed, 26 were passed and signed by the Governor. We had one bill, SB 136, dealing with reducing property taxes as an incentive to establishing grass buffer strips along waterways, that we advocated for and it passed both houses. However, it was vetoed by the Governor and his veto was sustained.

County Funding — Two measures improved funding for our counties. The first, SB 2, would provide some funding to counties from the current alcohol beverage taxes. The second, HB 1005, included increasing a number of fees for service for counties. This was, in large part, due to the summer study on county government and the belief that county funding issues need to be addressed.

School Minor Boundary Changes — From a summer study, SB 5 was designed to eliminate the prospect of almost any school boundary change regardless of the reason unless districts agreed to transfer land of equal value. We knew this bill would likely pass in some form, so we sought to eliminate the language that required a land swap. We were successful and the bill got a little better.

Workers’ Compensation — HB 1084 was designed to set aside the Wheeler decision and craft new rules regarding the calculation of wages for employees who work multiple jobs. We supported this bill and it was successful in the process.

Use Tax — An effort by the Department of Revenue through SB 51 and then SB 139 to tax goods only stored, but not used, in the state was a bad idea that we rallied to help kill.

Transportation Network Companies (TNC) – HB 1091 came to be known as the “Uber” bill as it paved the way for TNCs to enter the state and do business. This bill addressed important insurance and licensing issues but leaves other regulation to municipalities like Sioux Falls, which has already adopted an ordinance. A Senate version also emerged, but we preferred HB 1091 and sought its passage.

Non-Profit Corporations Act – HB 1068 was a massive piece of legislation that sought to rewrite and modernize the laws that govern our state’s nonprofits. Eventually the bill was stripped down to a few essential elements that amended today’s laws to make some improvements. It’s likely we’ll see piecemeal work on this topic over time.

Remote Sellers Tax – SB 106 sought to require all internet sellers to remit sales tax to South Dakota. It may well result in testing the issue in court and we certainly support marketplace fairness.

One area that we tend not to engage as a Chamber is the myriad of “social” legislation that comes forward. This year’s most notable was the “transgender bathroom bill.” We stayed neutral on this issue, but it’s obvious that legislation like this can affect tourism and business recruitment and expansion as we are seeing in other parts of the country.

Thus, it may well be something for us to consider as it will most certainly be a topic in the 2017 Session.

There are so many other topics we could consider and if anyone has questions on legislation they should contact us. Our goal is to represent and inform you on important issues each session so we look forward to your input.

chambernews.com | Chamber News 31

HEADLINES

Celebrating years

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30th Leadership Sioux Falls class graduates Members of the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce’s successful Leadership Sioux Falls program will graduate Wednesday, May 2, at Callaway’s — the 30th class to do so.

South Dakota Secretary of State Shantel Krebs, also a LSF graduate, will address the graduates and their guests.

The Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce continues to sponsor this community development program, now in its 30th year, designed to meet the need for active participation of informed and dedicated community leaders. Main objectives of the program are: to inform and motivate participants by providing information on community resources; to identify community issues and challenges; to interact with other community leaders; and to gain a sense of community trusteeship.

Leadership Sioux Falls sessions are held monthly October-May at various times and locations in the community. Session topics change along with the issues, challenges and opportunities. Core topics include economic development, law enforcement, human services, healthcare, education, non-profit volunteerism, and quality of life issues.

32 Chamber News | MAY 2016

LEADERSHIP SIOUX FALLS 31 Leadership Sioux Falls 31 begins October 2016 with applications available in July.

For information about the upcoming program, visit siouxfallschamber.com or contact Kate Foley at kfoley@siouxfalls.com or (605) 373-2002.

The quality of the participants is the true strength of the Leadership Sioux Falls program. They represent the public and private sectors and civic and community organizations in the Sioux Falls area. This year’s participants were selected from 91 applications.

For more information on the 31st class, which will begin in October 2016, contact Kate Foley at (605) 373-2002 or kfoley@siouxfalls.com. Applications will be available at siouxfallschamber.com in July 2016.

HEADLINES

LEADERSHIP SIOUX FALLS 30 Ryan Austad

Mary Gerwer

Lindsey Meyers

Joe Beck

Angie M. Hillestad

Aaron Rasmussen

Elizabeth Carlson

Kurt E. Johnson

Ryan Reiner

Blaine Davis

Ryan Kerkvliet

Peter J. Ronning

Monica Derby

Mike Knudson

Scott Rust

Ben Dold

Chase D. Kramer

Alex Smith

Joseph M. Dylla

Chad Kriech

Christopher K. Filsinger

Angela Lammers

Corey E. Fishel

Nicholas Larson

Lauren Fosheim

Jason W. Lemke

Julie Nelson Gehm

Valerie Loudenback, MHA, SHRM-CP

Austad’s Golf

Raven Industries, Inc. First Bank & Trust

Weisser Distributing Smithfield Foods Midco

The First National Bank in Sioux Falls CorTrust Bank RSM US LLP

Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce LifeScape

CNA Surety

Eide Bailly LLP

Home Federal Bank

Journey Group Companies HenkinSchultz Creative Services TSP Inc.

First Bank & Trust AIA South Dakota/Cetera Services LLC Citi

Avera Health

McGowan Capital Group Ryan Reiner State Farm Ronning Companies City of Sioux Falls South Dakota Governor’s Office of Economic Development

Erin Srstka

Minnehaha County

Bobbie Tibbetts Sanford Health

Nicole Oelrich Tupman Lindquist & Vennum LLP

USD Sanford School of Medicine Grand Prairie Foods Inc.

chambernews.com | Chamber News 33

HEADLINES

Latino culture celebrated at annual Cinco de Mayo Fiesta May 7 The Wells Fargo Cinco de Mayo Fiesta will be held May 7 from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. at Falls Park. Authentic Latino food, music, art, children’s activities and more make this a festive and fun family day. The Cinco de Mayo Fiesta is a family event that brings together the business and civic community of Sioux Falls and the surrounding area to recognize, appreciate and celebrate the Latino cultures in the area.

“Wells Fargo has sponsored the Cinco de Mayo Falls Park Fiesta since its beginning. We want to be part of it because it’s the premier community event celebrating the cultures and traditions of our growing Latino population,” said Curt Zaske, Wells Fargo. “Wells Fargo is proud of the diversity of cultures represented in the markets we serve. We can’t wait to celebrate this year’s fiesta!”

Admission and all activities in the Kids’ Zone are free, which includes: piñatas, inflatables, painting with Hector, airbrush

34 Chamber News | MAY 2016

tattoos by Airbrush by Mary and a photo booth. Returning this year for the second time is the Chihuahua fashion show at 1 p.m.

New to the fiesta is Hoop the Fair at 3 p.m., an interactive hula hoop experience. For a complete schedule and more information, visit cincofiesta.com.

While observing this traditional Mexican holiday, Cinco de Mayo in Sioux Falls creates awareness of and develops pride in the diverse Latino cultures that make up the area community. The fiesta benefits Caminando Juntos, a ministry of the Presentation Sisters.

Caminando Juntos, meaning “walking together,” is a ministry for the Latino population in the area. This ministry, which began in 2002, continues to grow as the population in Sioux Falls and the surrounding area becomes more diverse.

Ten years ago, Caminando Juntos was recognized by the Board of Immigration Appeals

and Sister Janet Horstman was accredited to provide legal immigration services. Services provided include: assistance to accessing healthcare, education, legal and social service systems; accompaniment of women and children in abusive relationships; visitation to homes, hospitals and state penitentiary; education through English classes and citizenship preparation; provision of immigration counseling and services by an Accredited Immigration Specialist; and promotion of human rights for Latinos.

HEADLINES

South Dakota businesses continue to grow, thanks to efforts from GOED A Sioux Falls entrepreneur and business were among several honorees at the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) annual conference, held in April in Sioux Falls.

The Governor’s Giant Vision Business Entrepreneurial Competition, organized by the South Dakota Chamber of Commerce & Industry, recognized Qvidity Telehealth LLC. The company placed third and will receive $5,000. In total, $40,000 was distributed to winners from across the state.

Sean Coffman, founder of carsforsale. com, received the Entrepreneur of the Year Award. This award recognizes an exceptional business person who takes big risks to follow their dreams, and that’s just what Coffman did when he began his business in 1999. Since then, the company has grown to more than 170 employees and lists more than 2 million vehicles for sale nationwide.

“Since its inception, Carsforsale.com has seen incredible growth,” said Gov. Dennis Daugaard. “Carsforsale.com soon plans to begin construction on its new corporate campus right here in Sioux Falls. It’s a great honor to recognize Sean for his giant vision and innovative spirit.”

In addition to the awards, the annual conference shared updates about successes from 2015. South Dakota’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rose for the fifth

consecutive year from 2010-14. The state’s GDP kept pace with the national economy growing by 3.4 percent in 2014 compared to the nation’s annual 4.1 percent increase.

Nearly all of South Dakota’s major industries experienced GDP growth, with the manufacturing industry leading the way.

South Dakota manufacturers produced a 6.4 percent increase compared to the national increase of 3.6 percent in this key industry.

“These numbers are proof that South Dakota’s economy is continuing to grow, which is certainly what we like to see,” said GOED Commissioner Pat Costello. “I’m optimistic that the momentum we gained this past year will carry over into 2016 as well.”

Out of 373 total leads the GOED acquired in 2015, 76 percent of them (282) were from within the state’s targeted industries. When broken down by state, nearly half, 49 percent, of the GOED’s leads in 2015 came from within South Dakota; 12 percent each came from Minnesota, and 4 percent from Iowa, Nebraska and California.

“We tend to hear more discussion about the GOED’s efforts to recruit from out-ofstate, but in actuality, we focus a great deal of time and energy on supporting our new and existing in-state companies as well,”

Costello said.

In 2015, GOED staff made a recordbreaking 487 retention and expansion visits to companies across the state. These visits are a great opportunity for the staff to learn more about the incredible things in-state companies are doing and to connect them with resources to help them grow and prosper.

Relationship-building is a key part of successful economic development – with 42 percent of total leads in 2015 coming from referrals, up 5 percent from last year.

Self-generated leads accounted for nearly a quarter of total leads for 2015 and are up 5 percent from 2014 as well.

Nearly 300 students were selected for the first round of Build Dakota scholarships and started classes at the state’s four technical institutes in fall 2015. To finance Build Dakota, the State of South Dakota partnered with businessman and philanthropist T. Denny Sanford. Sanford donated $25 million to the program, and Gov. Dennis Daugaard committed to match the donation through Future Funds. The $50 million is expected to provide 300 scholarships annually for the first five years, and then an endowment will continue to award approximately 50 scholarships per year.

chambernews.com | Chamber News 35

CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU

What does the CVB do for you?

Instead of Sioux Falls Convention & Visitors Bureau Executive Director Teri Schmidt’s column in this space this month, we asked members of the Sioux Falls visitor industry to share their thoughts about what the CVB does for their business and Sioux Falls.

Here’s some of the answers:

“The CVB has been an invaluable resource for my organization (Dakota Alliance Soccer Club) in several ways. First, they have used their resources — staffing, other business relationships to help us bid for regional events, as well as statewide competitions, clinics and workshops. They have been instrumental in making the events that we host more appealing and accommodating for our out-oftown visitors. Recently, we partnered with the CVB Housing Bureau and their efforts have more than exceeded our expectations. Without the assistance of the CVB we would not have hosted as many events over the years. Their resources and guidance helped tip the favor of several bids in the direction of Sioux Falls. The by-product of their assistance is new business to the Sioux Falls community and an opportunity for parents, players, coaches and volunteers to enjoy events in their own backyard.”

Frank Gurnick, Dakota Alliance Soccer Club

“As a business with limited resources, we enjoy the ‘horsepower’ provided by the CVB. Their enthusiasm for the city, knowledge of all things related to tourism and commerce, as well as their willingness and receptiveness to our needs, is vital. We are a direct benefactor of the important place this organization has in Sioux Falls.”

Randy Derheim, Pinnacle Hospitality (Callaway’s, Foley’s Fish Chop & Steakhouse)

“It isn’t what the CVB does for me, but what the CVB does for Sioux Falls. They are an energized team, passionate about Sioux Falls literally going many extra miles to bring a wide variety of business events and people to Sioux Falls. Most recently the PBR Rodeo ... it’s not only bull riders and clowns bringing visitors to town to watch. Sioux Falls residents are fired up about the entertainment factor.

The basketball tournaments give many ‘outsiders’ a pleasant taste of Sioux Falls that brings them back to enjoy it another time. They have their finger on the pulse of the visitor industry and act on it, vastly improving the quality of life in Sioux Falls.”

Rhonda Milstead, Falls Overlook Café

“The Sioux Falls CVB is a great business partner. I appreciate that they have produced usable resources we can provide to our customers (maps, visitor guides, etc.), it makes guests to our city feel informed. Our CVB has made great advancements in attracting new groups and more travelers to Sioux Falls by showcasing all that our great city has to offer in a variety of means throughout the country, they are definitely putting Sioux Falls on the map and making people take notice! We are very fortunate to have an energetic CVB team that has a passion and enthusiasm that radiates to attract more people to visit Sioux Falls.”

Char Roth, J&L Harley-Davidson

“Having been in the hospitality business for over 40 years in cities from Milwaukee to Rapid City, Omaha to Fargo, we have worked with several civic promotional organizations. In all of our experience, our Sioux Falls Convention & Visitors Bureau has been the most proactive and professional in helping build awareness of our community and our businesses. They take a personal interest and pride in presenting first class presentations and opportunities for a win/win relationship with every organization that we have seen the Sioux Falls CVB involved with!”

Tom Walsh Sr., GreatLIFE

“The CVB is the hospitality voice and leader in our community; they are a partner with all of us in the hospitality business that work hard to bring new business into our community and retain old friends that are ‘regulars.’ They set the bar for rolling out the red carpet to all guests, whether they’re tourists, here to shop, medical, national conventions, regional conventions, sporting groups, entertainment or family reunions. They are aggressively working to keep Sioux Falls and all it has to offer on the map, to educate our feeder markets and markets with potential and to tell everyone who will listen, that we are, in fact, the ‘Heart of America!’”

Jan Grunewaldt, Best Western PLUS Ramkota Hotel

“Having watched the CVB operate now for many years, I continue to be amazed at the collaborative and innovative approaches they take to bringing visitors, conferences and events to this city. Tourism plays a huge part in our local economy and the revenue the CVB directly and indirectly brings to Sioux Falls through tourism development efforts can’t be understated.”

Paul Ten Haken, Click Rain

36 Chamber News | MAY 2016

2016

Visitor Industry Luncheon “Million Dollar Arm”

presented by featured speaker J.B. Bernstein Portrayed by Jon Hamm in Disney’s Million Dollar Arm

May 10, 2016 • 11:30am Sioux Falls Convention Center More information at VisitSiouxFalls.com/Luncheon

Mother’s Day should be every day!

Bring your mother to Falls Park for a beautiful view!

Pick out a gift at the Falls Park Visitor Information Center.

Open daily 10-9pm. 605.367.7430 Managed by:

USING YOUR MEMBERSHIP

Don’t take ZIP files from strangers: Avoiding email scams

BY THANE BARNIER

Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce

It is hard to imagine how business was conducted before the invention of email. Email is the primary means of communication and for many, it has become second nature. The more comfortable people get in communicating in this manner, the less careful people tend to become about what is opened.

When it comes to delivering malware, email is still the most common attack vector. Despite modern filtering technologies, things still get through, which can cause havoc on your computer.

In the end, the best countermeasure you have is yourself, and with just a little vigilance, you can prevent most email-delivered malware attacks.

Email scams are the epitome of social engineering. In last month’s Chamber News, there was information about how hackers use social engineering to get users to give them access to valuable computer resources without even realizing they’re doing it. Fake emails have been a primary weapon in the hackers’ arsenal since the earliest days this method of communication first became popular.

One of the first widespread malware attacks was the Melissa worm in 1999. This was a macro virus within a Word document that spread via email. It would infect a PC and then send itself out to everyone in the user’s address book. These recipients would receive an email from someone they knew with the text: “Here is that document you asked for.” Embedded In the attached Word document was the virus code. Recipients would click the Word doc, launch the virus on their system, and the cycle started all over again. This worm infected hundreds of thousands of PCs and did an estimated $300-$600 million in damage. The high traffic it generated crushed email servers and caught system admins off guard by the speed with which it spread.

In 2000 a new worm hit the internet: Loveletter. Because of its destructiveness and how fast it replicated, many still consider it the most dangerous virus ever. Again, the email sent itself to everyone in the infected user’s address book, with the text “Kindly check the attached loveletter coming from me.” Who doesn’t like to get a love note from someone special? If it’s from someone who shouldn’t be sending you a love note, who wouldn’t check it out just out of curiosity? The file attached had a .VBS extension, which no one but programmers were familiar with, so the natural reaction was to click it and see what it does. VBScript was a new vector for viruses, so it got around most antivirus software. Loveletter was hard to remove because it was self-replicating, destroying JPG files and overwriting them with copies of itself. Infected computers also launched a massive Denial of Service attach on the White House website. There were 50 million infections in the first 10 days, an estimated 10 percent of the internet-connected computers worldwide.

38 Chamber News | MAY 2016

From there, antivirus filtering became more sophisticated, scanning and stripping infected attachments before they could even get to the inbox, so hackers had to change things up. Soon they started placing virus files into self-extracting ZIP files, a tactic still used by hackers today. Though most AntiVirus scanners are now able to deep scan within ZIP files to ferret out potential threats, this is far from 100 percent effective. As security caught up to the ZIP method, hackers had to find new ways to obfuscate their malware payloads, so they began embedding links in their emails which duped the user into downloading the virus code from the internet.

Hackers could also use these links to direct the user to a site which asks them to register for services, or log into their bank account, capturing the user’s personal information. This is a technique known as “phishing,” and it can lead to identity theft and compromise of your passwords and other security.

As users began to get wise to these tactics, hackers started creating emails which looked more and more realistic. Often they mimic legitimate emails from large companies, such as FedEx, UPS, Amazon and PayPal, just to name a few. Spoofed emails are very prevalent around the holidays when e-commerce is at a high.

On first glance, these fake emails are so well-crafted you’d never notice a difference, but suspicion and couple seconds pause will

USING YOUR MEMBERSHIP

As email scams become more and more sophisticated, it is hard to tell a fake email from a real one. On this page: Examples of fake emails that mimic real emails from Amazon and FedEx. Opposite page is the email “loveletter,” a worm that appeared in 2000 is still considered one of the most destructive virus ever unleashed on the internet.

reveal the warning signs that this may be a fake email. A legitimate email from a real corporation won’t include bad grammar or misspellings, but fake emails are often translated by non-English speakers. If you move your mouse over a link, the full hyperlink should pop-up in most email programs. Does the link really go to the correct corporate website? Does the link start with https://, meaning it is going to a secure site, or just it just start with http:// ?

Most companies will always send you to a secured site when linking to account information. Is there an attachment on the email? Big companies like PayPal, Amazon, UPS, etc. will never send you an attachment.

Emails from UPS are a common example. If UPS sends you tracking information, should you click the link in the email? The best answer to these very well-spoofed emails is to go to the UPS website, log into your account and check the tracking information from there. This circumvents the email completely and the risk of launching potential malware. Sure it’s an extra step, but it’s the only guaranteed way to avoid falling into the email trap.

ZIP or EXE file. Even if you know the sender of the email, are you expecting a file from them or is this out of the blue? If it’s a ZIP file, would this person really be sending you a ZIP file? If someone sends you an invoice with a notice to collect, don’t panic and click the attached invoice to see what it is; instead, think for a second.

Have you ever done business with this company? If not, why would the first contact to collect be in the form of an email? Chances are this is an attempt to scare you into opening the invoice attachment, thus launching the virus code.

Everyone must be a part of the security process. Email is an indispensable tool, but it also creates a huge opportunity for hackers to exploit human tendencies to be too trusting, and routine can make you complacent. If you have any questions about an email’s legitimacy, don’t open it. If something seems fishy, don’t click any links contained in the email. The best countermeasure against email fraud is to be alert, be wary and always think before you click.

The best way to protect yourself is to think before you click. Are you expecting an email form this person or company? If you don’t know the sender, never open the attachment, especially if it is a

chambernews.com | Chamber News 39

CHAMBER PARTNER

Sharing the podium at this monumental groundbreaking, from L to R: Chamber Chair of the Board Paul Bruflat, Forward Sioux Falls Co-chair Dave Rozenboom, City Councilor Dean Karsky, Mayor Mike Huether, Gov. Dennis Daugaard, Development Foundation President Slater Barr and Development Foundation Chair of the Board Dale Froehlich.

Partnership celebrates Foundation Park When state and local leaders wielded shovels at the groundbreaking ceremony held for Foundation Park on April 19, they were celebrating an historic moment with great promise for the Sioux Falls area economy. Already heavy equipment is moving dirt for the roads and infrastructure essential to future construction. The idea for Foundation Park began a few years ago with the call from a site selection consultant working with a company that required an extremely large tract of land for a project that had the potential to transform the Sioux Falls economy. Market conditions prevented that company from coming to our community, but the need for a site that could welcome such large projects was made apparent.

SLATER BARR

Sioux Falls Development Foundation

... the size of the 820-acre Foundation Park ... make this project a game-changer for our region.

The Development Foundation called on the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, City of Sioux Falls and Forward Sioux Falls leadership with a proposal for the state’s first megasite — and our long-time partners were eager to come on board. The size of the 820-acre Foundation Park — and those partnerships — make this project a game-changer for our region. We’re working hard right now to make it happen. Foundation Park gives us another strategy for success, another solid reason to be on the short list of projects that could enhance our tax base, attract thousands of talented new workers and springboard a variety of local businesses to the next level of prosperity. The Foundation Park groundbreaking marks the beginning of making this land, acquired from forward-looking families in the area, into a business location that attracts the attention of corporate decision-makers and site selectors around the world. Sioux Falls has long enjoyed top 10 status as a location for businesses and families, and the fiscal advantages of doing business in South Dakota are becoming common knowledge in boardrooms across our nation.

World-class companies require a globally-connected site with room to grow and transportation options that include our two interstate highways, rail and air service. Once we have streets constructed and the high-capacity utility and communication infrastructure in place, we can appeal to some of the largest projects in the country. The sites in Foundation Park offer just what these businesses are looking for. Already a handful of companies are negotiating to build there and more will follow. The Development Foundation thanks Gov. Daugaard, Mayor Huether and local officials for helping us celebrate this very special event in the economic history of Sioux Falls.

Slater Barr is the President of the Sioux Falls Development Foundation.

40 Chamber News | MAY 2016

MEMBER VOICE

Sioux Falls CVB: Vital to Sioux Falls’ visitor industry When a bus pulls up at The Outdoor Campus, we’re usually expecting children to spill out, shouting, laughing and ready for a day of learning about our South Dakota outdoor heritage. But some busses are different. Some contain people from all over the country or the world.

They’re not here to play; they’re here to learn how they can help others discover us. Thanks to the Sioux Falls Convention & Visitors Bureau, those folks are about to see another great spot our city offers its visitors.

THEA MILLER RYAN The Outdoor Campus

We’re getting things done in this city and we’re doing it well.

FAM tours, or FAMiliarization tours, bring in a bus of travel planners. These are the folks who plan trips for bank customers, plan trips for foreign visitors and plan trips for people who want to see the heart of America. While they’re at our building they find out about the group activities we can offer.

There’s nothing as great as a group of foreign travelers learning how we Dakotans hunted and trapped to stay alive on the prairie. They learn that today we don’t use long bows or muzzleloaders like in the movies. Instead, they get to pick up a compound bow or an air rifle and learn to shoot. They learn that Dakotans are proud of the outdoor heritage and we work hard to use and eat every animal we harvest, much like the pioneers did.

The CVB is responsible for bringing us a lot of visitors every year, but they also give more “buying power.” We’ve saved thousands of dollars over the years by participating in cooperative advertising programs. There is no way The Outdoor Campus could afford an ad in the AAA Travel guides for the state, but the CVB leads a partnership to include local attractions, making the ad affordable and cost-shared.

Our guest book reflects that partnership. “How did you hear about us,” we ask. AAA Guide, Sioux Falls guide, South Dakota Vacation Guide and Falls Park Visitor Center are at the top of the list, alongside “word of mouth.”

As a business leader, we have to a lot of meetings. Every third Thursday of each month, I get to attend my favorite meeting — the CVB Council meeting. Over lunch we get to hear what all the great people at the CVB are doing to promote our city. I can’t tell you how many times I walk out of that meeting asking myself, “How do they get THAT MUCH DONE?” They are doing all they can to bring conventions, meetings, tourists and events to Sioux Falls. Events like Professional Bull Riding (PBR) or the Travel Media Showcase don’t just happen. The CVB provides support, money, people and anything they can do help bring those events to town. It’s not just the big events, though. Smaller groups like the South Dakota Speech Language and Hearing Association or the South Dakota Nurses Association conference get the same welcome and attention.

We’re getting things done in this city and we’re doing it well. CVB Director Teri Schmidt leads a team like no other. They hide their capes and super powers well, but I can assure you, they have them. Take a peek at their coats — I’m guessing their capes are hidden there.

Thea Miller Ryan is the Executive Director of The Outdoor Campus. She also serves as the Chair of the Sioux Falls Convention & Visitors Bureau BID Board of Directors.

chambernews.com | Chamber News 41

BUSINESS NEWS

Visitor Industry Updates CVB FAM TOUR CONTEST UNDERWAY

The Sioux Falls Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) kicked off the 2016 National Tourism Week, held May 1-7, with a new “FAM Yourself” Punch Card Contest. The contest is for local Sioux Falls visitor industry frontline employees. The purpose of the contest is to educate frontline employees so they are better able to share information with visitors on other attractions throughout Sioux Falls, encouraging them to stay in Sioux Falls longer and/or return for another visit. Each frontline employee must visit a minimum of 10 of the 16 local attractions on the punch card to “FAMiliarize” themselves.

The contest runs through May 20, 2016. Punch cards must be punched by a representative at each attraction and returned to the CVB by 4 p.m. on Friday, May 20 in order to be entered into a prize drawing. Employees’ managers must also sign the punch cards prior to submission. Additional entries can be earned by posting a selfie on Instagram at each of the locations punched and tagging #FAMSF16.

Two grand prizes will be awarded offering more than $500 in prizes and there will be 10 prize winners who will receive $25 gift cards. Each visitor industry business with employees participating will be entered into another drawing for a chance at two “Sweet Prizes.” Winners will be announced May 26.

If you are a visitor business and would like punch cards for your employees, contact CVB Host City Manager Rachel Crane at (605) 373-2026 or rcrane@siouxfalls.com.

INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL/TOUR OPERATORS HEADED TO SIOUX FALLS IN MAY

The Sioux Falls Convention & Visitors Bureau will be hosting international travel and tour operators in partnership with the South Dakota Department of Tourism for an RMI Post FAM (“FAM”amiliarization) Tour May 12-13.

FOLLOW VISIT SIOUX FALLS TO WIN

The Sioux Falls Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) recently launched a new leisure marketing campaign in cooperation with the South Dakota Department of Tourism. The targeted audience is potential visitors from designated market areas in Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri and Ohio.

The campaign engages visitors during three primary areas of the travel decision: awareness, education and travel time. Each stage has specific goals and messaging based on where the potential visitor is in their trip planning and experience. As a part of the travel time stage, two social media initiatives are being implemented.

The “Photo of the Week” sweepstakes uses Instagram and promotes the use of the hashtag #weareheresf. The most engaging photos will be featured across Visit Sioux Falls’ social media accounts, campaign landing page and emails. Each week a winner will be selected to win a $25 gift card to a partnering business in Sioux Falls and featured as the “Photo of the Week.” The promotion runs through June 27. For complete rules go to visitsiouxfalls.com/ social.

As an additional personal engagement with travelers while they are in Sioux Falls, the CVB monitors trending stories about local businesses on social media in order to treat followers with an on-site surprise. To redeem the surprise, participants must be at the partnering business at a specific time during the campaign and mention hashtag #weareheresf. The times and locations will be posted on Visit Sioux Falls’ social media accounts. To learn more follow Visit Sioux Falls on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

NODA REGION V CONFERENCE COMING TO SIOUX FALLS IN 2017

The Region V of NODA selected Sioux Falls to host their 2017 Regional Conference. Region V is one of nine regions and represents members from Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Manitoba, Canada. NODA is an international association comprised of professional administrators, students, faculty and related organizations. The event will be March 30-April 3, 2017 at the Holiday Inn City Centre.

The RMI Roundup Conference was held in Sioux Falls in 2015 and is in Cody, Wyo., this year. The FAM tour will take place immediately after the conference ends in Cody. Tour operators from UTAT Italy, Etnia Travel Concept Italy, Intrepid Travel Group USA, Enjoy America Germany, Europe Active France, and RMI Office France will be attending the Sioux Falls tour for their first visit to the city. The Approximately 300 attendees representing college student orientaoperators are all interested in developing itineraries and overnight tion, transition and retention fields are expected at the event. This travel into Sioux Falls and South Dakota. will be the first time that the regional conference will be held in Sioux Falls.

Thank you to the following businesses for partnering with the CVB as part of this hosting: Sheraton Sioux Falls Hotel, Badlands Pawn, Fernson Brewery, Strawbale Winery, SculptureWalk, and the Overlook Café.

42 Chamber News | MAY 2016

CVB UTILIZES NEW PROMOTION EFFORTS FOR OFFICIAL VISITORS GUIDE

The CVB is implementing new digital tactics to promote the official Sioux Falls Visitors Guide. The strategy includes a strong call-to-action to request for the printed guide as potential visitors start planning their summer trips. Geo-targeted areas include new markets based upon analysis of past requests and digital engagement.

New digital platforms include increased paid search, Facebook lookalike audiences and pre-roll videos with a lead form overlay.

Advertising efforts will also reach the Travel Meredith audience and include a Sioux Falls-sponsored web page, direct emails and geo-targeted display banner efforts. Remarketing will continue and match new creative direction.

SPORTS SYMPOSIUM BUILDS RELATIONSHIPS FOR CVB

The Sioux Falls Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) traveled to Grand Rapids, Mich., for the National Association of Sports Commission’s Annual Sports Events Symposium, April 3-7. More than 800 people were in attendance for the symposium, including sporting event planners, tournament directors, executive directors and other CVBs from around the country. The Sioux Falls CVB met with many sports planners throughout the week, representing basketball, volleyball, swimming, soccer, baseball, golf, curling and more. These shows give great opportunities to meet with planners face to face on an individual meeting. Meetings such as this have produced events like Sioux Falls hosting the LPGA Symetra Tour.

To align with digital efforts the CVB continues promotion of the guide across various lead-generating print publications and various other sales and marketing efforts.

chambernews.com | Chamber News 43

RIBBON CUTTINGS

Ribbon Cuttings

The Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce holds ribbon cutting ceremonies for members to celebrate joining the Chamber, milestone anniversaries, grand openings, expansions or remodelings. Ribbon cutting ceremonies are organized free of charge for members and are held Monday through Friday at 11:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. 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.

Baird

NEW MEMBER

4930 S. WESTERN AVE., STE. 400 howardgroupofbaird.com Baird is an employee-owned, privately held and independent financial services firm that provides comprehensive wealth management strategies to individuals and their families.

L to R: Bill Perry, Cindi Johnson, Bobbi Thury, Mark Stuck (Senior VP/Branch Manager), Lynda Billars, Mary Howard (Senior VP/Financial Advisor), Adam Cooper, Christie Aberson and Megan Howard.

Click Rain, Inc.

EXPANSION/REMODEL

300 N. PHILLIPS AVE., STE. 110 clickrain.com Click Rain, Inc. is an online marketing and web development agency based in Sioux Falls.

L to R: Lynda Billars, Gary Gaspar, James Krueger (partner, VP-Interactive Services), Eric Ellefson (partner, VP-Innovation), Paul Ten Haken (President, Chief Online Strategist), Dan Doyle, Amy O’Connor Hoback and Jack Dyvig.

Emberz Restaurant & Lounge LLC

NEW MEMBER

1021 DIAMOND CIR., HARTFORD, SD Emberz Restaurant & Lounge LLC is a locallyowned restaurant that offers steaks, pastas, specialty burgers and many more items and can cater all types of events and parties.

L to R: Tate Reiner, Drew Reiner, Daschle Larsen, Brittany Kelley, Mark Luke, Brian Reiner (co-owner), Bernie DeWald, Sarah Swanson (co-owner), Tessa Swanson, Dave Swanson (co-owner), Jennifer Reiner (co-owner), Blair Bathke, Mike Hauck and Derek Reiner.

Family Business Development Group LLC

NEW MEMBER

bethadamson.com Family Business Development Group LLC is a resource for family businesses and their advisors. They help families identify and solve challenges that are part of a family business while growing and preparing to transition the business. L to R: Carrie Dragt, Amy O’Connor Hoback, Alex Ramirez, Beth Adamson (founder), Jackie Stratman, Allison Nelson, Aaron Clayton and Nicole Raml. chambernews.com | Chamber News 45

RIBBON CUTTINGS Freedom Realty, Inc.

6209 E. SILVER MAPLE CIR. #1 freedomrealtysf.com Freedom Realty, Inc. provides full-service real estate, including sales, property management and pricing opinions. L to R: Ben White, Larry Ayres, Sam Hahn (owner), Deb Peterson, Sheila Smith Hahn, Rick Trapp, Bobbi Thury and Mark Luke.

NEW MEMBER

G & H Distributing, Inc.

NEW MEMBER

900 W. RUSSELL ST. ghdistributing.com G & H Distributing, Inc. is a locally-owned agricultural and industrial distributor for the region representing hundreds of manufacturers of MRO equipment, warehouse supplies and hydraulic parts. L to R: Bruce Flier, Amy O’Connor Hoback, Reggie Kuipers, Lynda Billars, Joel Flier (owner/general manager), Beth Flier, Tim Sturdevant, Deb Peterson and Kara Flier.

Homewood Suites by Hilton Sioux Falls

EXPANSION/REMODEL

3620 W. AVERA DR. siouxfalls.homewoodsuites.com Homewood Suites by Hilton Sioux Falls is an all-suite, extended-stay hotel with full kitchens in every room. L to R: Heidi Hesvik, Chris Lamont, Mike Adkins, Jeff Lamont (owner/CEO), Kelly Grovijahn, Meloney Storgaard (general manager), Dan Doyle, Nate Kessler, Maureen Ohm (director of sales), Joey Rotert, Bobbi Thury, Nathan Stallinga, Jessica Bohrer, Wendy Lamont and Lewis the Duck.

H-Visa Solutions

NEW MEMBER

101 S. REID ST., SUITE 307 hvisasolutions.com H-Visa Solutions help employers navigate the H-2A and H-2B work visa program. These programs allow U.S. employers to hire immigrant workers for hard-to-fill positions on a seasonal and temporary basis. L to R: Larry Ayres, Amy O’Connor Hoback, Tim Harsh, Dan Doyle, John Bedell (CEO/President), Janel Cole, Betty Oldenkamp and Warren Vic.

Hy-Vee, Inc.

3020 E. 10TH ST. hy-vee.com Hy-Vee, Inc. is a full-service grocery store that now offers fuel, the Market Grille and many other services at its E. 10th Street location.

L to R: Andrew Mack, Amy O’Connor Hoback, Tim Sturdevant, Dan Simon (store director), Jay Smith, Julie Nelson, Chris Filsinger and Lynda Billars.

EXPANSION/REMODEL

46 Chamber News | MAY 2016

RIBBON CUTTINGS Organizing by Lisa

TEA, SD letlisaorganize.com Organizing by Lisa creates spaces people can feel proud to call their own. L to R: Brian Rand, Stefanie Engebretson, Amy O’Connor Hoback, Lisa Soma (owner), Tracy Gran, Lynda Billars and Paul Bruflat.

NEW MEMBER

Qvidity Telehealth

401 E. 8TH ST., SUITE 306 qvidity.com Qvidity Telehealth provides branded, subscription-based telemedicine solutions and professional consulting for medical groups large and small. L to R: John Storm, Amy O’Connor Hoback, David Johnson, Bob Birt, Dr. Jeremy Storm, Heather Kittelson, Lynda Billars and Matt Sage.

NEW MEMBER

chambernews.com | Chamber News 47

RIBBON CUTTINGS Selberg for Sioux Falls

selbergforsiouxfalls.com Selberg for Sioux Falls (Marshall Selberg) was successfully elected to the Sioux Falls City Council, serving the Southwest District.

L to R: Rachael Selberg, Dean Karsky, Liz Lloyd, Jolene Selberg, Marshall Selberg (City Councilor), Mike Hauck, Sheila Hoff and Rylee Selberg.

NEW MEMBER

Sherlock & Co.

1825 S. MINNESOTA AVE. (UPPER SUITE) sherlocksiouxfalls.com Sherlock & Co. is a real-life game where you solve puzzles, answer riddles and hunt for clues; corporate packages are also available.

L to R: Gina Kohrs, Amy O’Connor Hoback, Julie Darrington, Justin Blais (owner), Elizabeth Blais (owner), Brett Carter, Heather Kittelson and Nancy Blais.

NEW MEMBER

48 Chamber News | MAY 2016

RIBBON CUTTINGS Sioux Falls Connections

625 S. MINNESOTA AVE., SUITE 102 siouxfallsconnections.com Sioux Falls Connections is a Sioux Falls based referral group with a focus on giving back to the community. L to R: Ryan Wanless, Alex Ramirez, Derrick Karsky, Amy O’Connor Hoback, Jake Peterson (President), Erin Schoenbeck, Dean Karsky and Dr. Shelly Buseman.

NEW MEMBER

Zeal Center for Entrepreneurship

2329 N. CAREER AVE. #1 realzeal.com Zeal celebrated its $500,000 remodel and opening of new collaboration space to foster entrepreneurship in the Sioux Falls region.

L to R: Tom Stengrim, Evan Nolte, Steve Statz (Zeal Board Chair), Rich Naser (President), Amy O’Connor Hoback, Darrin Smith and Abby Parker.

EXPANSION/REMODEL

50 Chamber News | MAY 2016

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 Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce. To learn more about Chamber membership, contact (605) 336-1620 or sfacc@siouxfalls.com. Find a complete Membership Directory online at siouxfallschamber.com or on your smartphone using the Chamber’s app — search “Sioux Falls Chamber” in the Google Play or iTunes stores.

FOUNDING MEMBERS

35 YEARS

Aramark Uniform Services

South Dakota Rehabilitation Center for the Blind

Jewelers-Retail bechtoldjewelry.com Member Since 1907

Uniform Supply Service aramark-uniforms.com

Rehabilitation Center state.sd.us/dhs/sbvi

Brown & Saenger

The Insurance Connection

Texas Roadhouse

Insurance insconnection.com

Restaurants texasroadhouse.com

Northern Truck Equipment Corp.

5 YEARS

Truck Equipment Parts-Heavy Duty ntecorp.com

Advanced Systems, Inc.

Coaching-Professional Development elev8-coaching.com

Office Machines, Service, Supplies asidakota.com

Escape Float Spa

Bechtold Jewelry

Office Furniture, Printing, Supplies brown-saenger.com Member Since 1907

Builders Supply Co. Building Materials builderssupply.biz Member Since 1938

Electric Supply Co., Inc. Electrical Contractors electricsupplyfsd.com Member Since 1923

Harold’s Photo Centers Photo Finishing-Retail haroldsphoto.com Member Since 1938

Orthopedic Institute Physicians & Surgeons-M.D.-Orthopedic ortho-i.com

Sioux Empire Fair Association Associate Member siouxempirefair.org

25 YEARS

AgriCare Nutrition, LLC

FIRST-YEAR MEMBERS WHO REINVESTED DURING THEIR MARCH ANNIVERSARY MONTH

Child’s Play Toys Toys childsplaytoyssf.com

Elev8 Coaching

Chad Phillips Photography

Spas escapefloatspa.com

Photography chadphillipsphotography.com

Greensmart Irrigation LLC.

ComPro, Inc.

Associate Member greensmart-irrigation.com

Telephone Equipment Sales & Installation compro-dakota.com

Lenae Design, LLC

Family Dentistry of Sioux Falls

Interior Design lenaedesign.com

Paulson Dental

Livestock Feed-Manufacturing & Wholesale agricarenutrition.com

Dentists familydentistrysf.com

Shoes-Retail Member Since 1910

Chuck Sutton Auctioneer and Land Broker, LLC

Massage Therapy massageenvy.com

Redlinger Bros.

Plumbing & Heating

Sioux Falls Paint & Decorating

Auctioneer-Broker suttonauction.com

Milliron Granite & Quartz

Mechanical Contractors redlingerbros.com

Johnson Shoes, Inc. dba Arthur Johnson Shoes

Paint-Retail, Wholesale, Industrial siouxfallspaint.com Member Since 1913

70 YEARS

Lewis Drug, Inc. Drug Stores lewisdrug.com

45 YEARS

Interstate Office Products, Inc. Office Furniture & Supplies i-o-p.com

Malloy Electric, Bearing & Supply Industrial Service Center malloyelectric.com

40 YEARS

A-OX Welding Supply Co., Inc. Welding Equipment & Supplies aoxwelding.com

Farner-Bocken Company Candy & Confectionery-Wholesale & Manufacturing

Jerke Construction Co. Crane Service & Rigging jerkeconstruction.com

20 YEARS

Brende Schroeder Meadors LLP Attorneys bsmllp.com

Inter-Lakes Community Action Partnership Associate Member interlakescap.com

15 YEARS

Short-Elliott-Hendrickson, Inc. Engineers-Consultants sehinc.com

10 YEARS

Dakota BUSINESS Finance Associate Member dakotabusinessfinance.com

Family Wellness Fitness Centers familywellnesssf.com

Massage Envy Spa

Countertops millirongq.com

My Mechanic Auto Care Inc. Automobile Repairing & Service mymechanicsd.com

Dentists paulsondental.com

Teresa Jackson & Associates, LLC Marketing/Advertising teresajacksonassociates.com

New Interiors Design Interior Design newinteriorsdesign.com

South Dakota Farmers Union Associate Member sdfufoundation.org

The Electric Crayon Tattooing theelectriccrayonsd.com

Training Solutions Institute Associate Member trainingsolutionsinstitute.com

Windstar Lines Buses, Charter/Tours gowindstar.com

Skinner Financial Services Financial Planning skinnerfinancial.net

chambernews.com | Chamber News 51

MEMBERSHIP

New Members

New members are printed in each issue of Chamber News. Following is a list of businesses or individuals who have invested in the greater community by joining the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce. An online Membership Directory can be found at siouxfallschamber.com or by using the Chamber’s App, available in the iTunes and Google Play stores. Want to become a member? Call (605) 336-1620.

Black Hills State University Schools, Colleges, Universities Tim VanSickler, (605) 271-4770 2812 W. 41st St., 57105 bhsu.edu

Boomerang Management Enterprises, LLC

Evidence Based Oriental Medicine, LLC (EBOM Clinic) Health Care Yueshan Hu, (605) 691-4279 5132 S. Cliff Ave., Ste. 3, 57108 ebomus.com

Hubers Electric, LLC

Information Technology Joe Herreman, (605) 718-2666 1935 Samco Rd., Rapid City, SD 57702 boomerangme.com

Associate Member Willis Hubers, (605) 529-6560 P.O. Box 245, Baltic, SD 57003

Credit Union Association of the Dakotas

Counseling Cecelia Dachtler, (605) 988-8131 extension 3 6209 S. Pinnacle Pl, Ste. 102, 57108 journeycounselingservices.com

Associations Jay Kruse, (800) 279-6328 1741 S. Cleveland Ave. #304, 57103 cuad.coop

Diamond Mowers, Inc. Industrial Mowing Equipment Kelli Phelps, (605) 977-3300 350 E. 60th St. N., 57104 diamondmowers.com

Equity Trust Company Financial Planning Jared Greenfield, (605) 321-1035 2329 N. Career Ave. #205, 57106 trustetc.com

52 Chamber News | MAY 2016

Journey Counseling Services, LLC

LeafGuard Gutters Gutters Kevin Feldewerd, (888) 363-3305 P.O. Box 85114, 57104 leafguard.com

New Century Press Associate Member Lisa Miller, (712) 472-2525 P.O. Box 28, Rock Rapids, IA 51246 ncppub.com

Olson Heimensen Financial Associate Member Corey Heimensen, (712) 472-3867 201 S. Story St., Rock Rapids, IA 51246

Pepper Entertainment, Inc. Entertainment Jo Dohrer, (605) 357-7377 230 S. Phillips Ave., Ste. 202, 57106 pepperentertainment.com

Sioux Empire Lawn Care Lawn Care and Snow Removal Eric Hultgren, (605) 376-5213 4608 S. Vista Ln., 57105 siouxempirelawncare.com

FIVE QUESTIONS Five questions is a monthly feature on a Chamber volunteer, Chamber member or staff member. Want to be featured here? Call (605) 336-1620.

Five questions with Chuck Brennan Chuck Brennan is a serial entrepreneur and philanthropist who grew up in Sioux Falls and now resides with his wife and children in Las Vegas, Nev. Brennan has been involved in several businesses, including being the Founder/President and CEO of Dollar Loan Center, which has more than 80 locations in four states. He is also the founder of the Brennan Rock and Roll Academy, which offers free rock and roll lessons to children in Sioux Falls. His newest venture is Badlands Pawn, Gold & Jewelry, a 70,000 sq. ft. pawnshop that also has its own radio station, TV network, deli, tattoo parlor, gun range and doubles as a concert venue. Included in this venture is the Badlands Motor Speedway in Brandon, S.D.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT SIOUX FALLS? Growing up and living in Sioux Falls for 28 years lends to a wealth of incredible memories and a simple hometown comfort level. When coming home I am always pleasantly surprised to run into so many people I went to school with or who have been long-time friends or business acquaintances. I am a sucker for the salad bar lunch at Minerva’s.

CHUCK BRENNAN

Badlands Pawn, Gold & Jewelry

WHAT IS THE BEST THING THE CHAMBER DOES FOR THE SIOUX FALLS AREA? I have been involved in more Chambers than I could even start to remember and the most impressive thing about Sioux Falls is the sheer number of members and the unity of the group. We all feel they do a great job and truly have the businesses’ best interests in mind.

WHAT IS ONE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT YOU SUPPORT AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO YOU? The Brennan Rock and Roll Academy. I founded this one-of-a-kind facility a little over three years ago in an effort to bring free music lessons to children who may not be able to afford them. There is so much proof and so many studies that link life success and educational success to music that I felt it was my calling to bridge this gap in Sioux Falls. Via a group of volunteer instructors, we give the children nearly 1,000 free rock and roll music lessons a month. The children learn to dream bigger, believe in themselves, work in groups and gain confidence that will serve them throughout their lives.

WHEN YOU WERE A FRESHMAN IN HIGH SCHOOL, WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP? I’ve always been an entrepreneur, even as a freshman in high school. I have been addicted to success and have always swung for the fences in my business dealings. Go big or go home!

WHAT IS THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU EVER RECEIVED? From Jack Daly: The most expensive time in a business owner’s career is the time between them losing faith in a staff member and the time they actually do something about it.

chambernews.com | Chamber News 53

FROM THE ARCHIVES

As a membership organization with a history spanning more than a century, the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce has influenced progress across the community in a number of ways throughout the decades.

Visit Sioux Falls Since 1907, the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce has been the entity to promote the city and welcome visitors. Over the years, several publications were used to share facts about the city. Here is a sampling of some of those documents.

The Sioux Falls Convention & Visitors Bureau annually produces a “placemat” map for visitors. The Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce will have the 2016 detailed city map available in June.

54 Chamber News | MAY 2016

The orange map is circa early 1960s and touted a progressive Chamber in a progressive city. The “heart” map and directory is from the late 1950s; it asked visitors to discover the “Heart of the Great Sioux Empire.” Today the Sioux Falls CVB uses the tagline “Heart of America.” The map with the Falls illustrations is from approximately 1940 and proclaimed Sioux Falls as The Convention City and A Meeting Place for the Northwest.