September 2018 Chamber News

Chamber News Vol. 53, No. 10

September 2018

A PUBLICATION OF THE SIOUX FALLS AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

A CHANGING INDUSTRY Manufacturers adapt and grow in the face of workforce challenges

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IN THIS ISSUE COVER STORY

A changing industry: Manufacturers adapt and grow in the face of workforce challenges................. 24-29

Chamber News PUBLISHER

FEATURES

Chamber Annual Meeting to be held Oct. 16. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Hey Sioux Falls celebrates entrepreneurship. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 IN THIS ISSUE: Message from the Chair. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Events Calendars. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-9 Economic Indicators. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Noteworthy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Faces & Places. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-22 Community Appeals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Business Advocacy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Headlines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Business Sense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Convention & Visitors Bureau. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Business News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36-40 Member Voice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Using Your Membership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce CHAMBER NEWS AD SALES

For advertising information, call Steven Herman at (605) 351-1960 or email chambernews@siouxfalls.com

CHAMBER NEWS LAYOUT/DESIGN JILL BLOM M.HECKEL DESIGN

CHAMBER NEWS EDITOR

JENNIE DOYEN For editorial information, call: (605) 336-1620 Chamber News is published by the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce, 200 N. Phillips Ave., Suite 200, Sioux Falls, SD 57104 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

New Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

CHAMBER

Member Anniversaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

.com/siouxfallschamber

From the Archive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

@SFAreaChamber @SFAreaAdvocate

Ribbon Cuttings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43-46

Five Questions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

ON THE COVER

The manufacturing industry is adapting in the face of workforce challenges and continues to be an important part of the area’s economy. Several local companies are expanding and adding to their facilities in the coming year.

Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce Read online or find archived issues: issuu.com/siouxfallschamber

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

chambernews.com | Chamber News 3

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MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR

Message from the Chair The Chamber of Commerce fills an essential role in our community. Members past and present have helped shape an extraordinary business environment that encourages growth and reinvestment. Our collaborative culture improves our quality of life and promotes economic activity in our area. Together, we invest in membership so that our highly engaged volunteers, board members and staff have the backing and the resources needed to maintain progress.

STEVE VAN BUSKIRK 2017-18 Chair of the Board

My year as Chair of the Board has given me new appreciation for the breadth of the Chamber’s efforts…

My year as Chair of the Board has given me new appreciation for the breadth of the Chamber’s efforts to connect members with each other and the community. It has also given me a deeper understanding of how we accomplish our mission, and the exceptional membership value delivered by the Chamber. The Chamber sets goals and measures success on the basis of our Mission Statement: “As the leading Sioux Falls area business advocate, we represent our members by advancing and promoting the economic health and quality of life of the region.” Let’s consider a few examples of our mission in action.

Your Board of Directors is comprised of leaders from across the community. We represent the largest and smallest employers, in industries ranging from e-commerce to construction, plus non-profit organizations, schools and local government. Our meetings serve as a communication forum, with community leaders, problem solvers, educators and innovators sharing their perspectives on community issues and opportunities as they arise. This meeting helps us ‘advance economic health’ by fostering awareness and dialogue and encouraging us to work together.

The Agri-Business Division Council and the CVB Advisory Board have two very different purposes, but both work to ‘promote the economic health’ of our community. The Agri-Business Division focuses on the importance of agriculture in our economy. They host the Sioux Empire Livestock Show, which brings thousands of visitors to Sioux Falls. Those visitors and countless others throughout the year are supported by the efforts of the CVB, who lead in positioning Sioux Falls as a great destination for both business and leisure travellers.

We also have highly engaged members who work as Ambassadors and Diplomats, serving as connection points for other members. They drive relationships and support member satisfacition, ensuring that we can be a ‘leading business advocate’ through robust financial support from the membership.

These are just a few examples—we have many more volunteer committees working to fulfill our mission.

See for yourself at siouxfallschamber.com/committee-information.cfm. All have words like promote, develop, and advocate listed in their purpose statements. But without you, the member, none of this is possible.

I remain grateful for the opportunity to do my part supporting the mission of the Chamber. I am even more grateful that we have an organization that produces leaders and results that make growth in Sioux Falls a reality. We have the programs and the people to continue leading. We just need you, the member, to remain invested in our mission to help make this community the best place to live and work in the country.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve as Chair of the Board of Directors.

2017-18 SIOUX FALLS AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE LEADERSHIP AND STAFF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE CHAIR STEVE VAN BUSKIRK Van Buskirk Companies CHAIR-ELECT TIM STURDEVANT Sturdevant’s Auto Parts VICE CHAIR BOBBI THURY Legacy Law Firm, P.C. TREASURER DAN DOYLE Cutler Law Firm IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR DAVE KAPASKA, D.O. PRESIDENT/CEO JASON BALL Chamber of Commerce

EX-OFFICIO KENT ALBERTY Sioux Falls School Board CINDY HEIBERGER Minnehaha County Commission KYLE GROOS Sioux Falls Catholic Schools MAYOR PAUL TENHAKEN City of Sioux Falls DR. BRIAN MAHER Superintendent, Sioux Falls Public School System JIM SCHMIDT Lincoln County Commission

BOARD OF DIRECTORS WENDY BERGAN JDS Industries TOM BIEGLER Regency Hotel Management PAUL HANSON Sanford Health SHARON HASELHOFF Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort MIKE HAUCK Accord Commercial Real Estate, LLC RANDY KNECHT Journey Group LAURIE KNUTSON MARK MICKELSON Mickelson & Co. CHRISTY NICOLAISEN Multi-Cultural Center of Sioux Falls ALEX RAMIREZ USA Media TV KARLA SANTI Blend Interactive CLAIRE SANTOS Zoup! and Wingstop CARL WYNJA U.S. Bank CURT ZASKE

CHAMBER & CVB STAFF JASON BALL President/CEO THANE BARNIER Web Development & IT Manager MATT BARTHEL CVB Communications Manager JOAN BARTLING Finance & Accounting Director JUSTIN BENTAAS Public Affairs & Research Manager JILL BLOM Graphics & Communications Manager RACHEL CRANE CVB Host City Manager PATRICK DASCHEL CVB Sales Manager ERIN DEWITT CVB Sales Manager JENNIE DOYEN Marketing & Communications Director ANNA ELIASON CVB Sales Manager AMY M. FARR Membership Sales & Retention Manager JEFF FEJFAR Web Designer

RENAE HANSEN-KRUID Front Office Assistant MARY HUBLOU CVB First Impressions Manager/Project Assistant KAYLA HUIZING Young Professionals Network Manager JAY KALTENBACH CVB Services/Resale Manager ALEXANDRA LeBLANC CVB Sales Director PAT LUND Member Services Manager MIKE LYNCH Forward Sioux Falls Director of Investor Relations DEBORAH McISAAC Membership Director JILL NIEDRINGHAUS CVB Sales Manager KRISTA ORSACK CVB Director of Marketing DEBRA OWEN Public Policy Director KATHIE PUTHOFF CVB Administrative Assistant HOLLY RADER Agri-Business Division Manager EMILY SCHAFFER CVB Creative Development Manager TERI SCHMIDT CVB Executive Director TERESA SCHREIER Public Affairs & Communications Assistant SUSAN SEACHRIS Administrative/Accounting Assistant JACKIE WENTWORTH CVB Sales Manager VALERIE WILLSON Membership Events Manager

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

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11

SPONSORED BY:

4:30–6:30 p.m.

LifeScape 4100 S. Western Ave.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2

and energetic morning networking opportunity. Drop in as your schedule permits for a cup of coffee and great conversation with other members of the business community. Chamber staff will also be available to answer any questions you may have about our programs.

COST: Free SPONSORED BY:

4:30–6:30 p.m.

Grand Living at Lake Lorraine 2815 S. Westlake Dr.

COMPLIMENTARY HORS D’OEUVRES & CASH BAR $5 ADMISSION OR USE YOUR MIXER PASS

BUSINESS SENSE

WORKSHOPS

Noon-1 p.m. • $10, bring your own lunch Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce Tuesday, Sept. 11

Networking 101 Presented by: Val Pugsley-Tischler, PUSH Personal Development

Wednesday, Sept. 19

Using Time Wisely Presented by: Andrea Miller, Journey Group RSVP to vwillson@siouxfalls.com or at siouxfallschamber.com

6 Chamber News | SEPTEMBER 2018

MORNING MINGLE TUESDAY, SEPT. 25

EAPC Architects Engineers 114 S. Main Ave., Suite 200 7:30–9 a.m.

DETAILS: Before your day gets too hectic, join the Chamber for a fun

OCTOBER MEMBERSHIP

MIXER

5:30 p.m. Social 7 p.m. Program Orpheum Theatre 315 N. Phillips Ave. DETAILS: Celebrate our emerging entrepreneurial ecosystem at the

inaugural Hey Sioux Falls event. Six local entrepreneurs and businesses will be recognized for building great businesses or pushing the Sioux Falls entrepreneurial community forward.

COST: Free, complimentary tickets must be reserved in advance RSVP: heysiouxfalls.com

SEPTEMBER MEMBERSHIP

MIXER

HEY SIOUX FALLS THURSDAY, SEPT. 13

112TH ANNUAL MEETING TUESDAY, OCT. 16

4:30 p.m. Social 6:30 p.m. Dinner Sioux Falls Convention Center 1201 N. West Ave. DETAILS: Celebrate the Chamber and our community at the annual

meeting. The keynote is presented by Matthew Luhn, one of the original story creators at Pixar.

COST: $85 per person, tables of ten available.

RSVP: tschreier@siouxfalls.com or (605) 373-2050

UPCOMING EVENTS To RSVP to any of these events, email khuizing@siouxfalls.com or call (605) 373-2002. Visit siouxfallsypn.com for a full list of events.

SOCIAL ACTION TEAM MEETING Tuesday, Sept. 4 4–5 p.m.

Chamber of Commerce 200 N. Phillips Ave., Suite 200

DETAILS: The YPN Social Team focuses on

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

COST: Free, open to everyone!

MORNING BUZZ

Wednesday, Sept. 5 7:30–9 a.m.

Coffea Roasterie and Espresso Bar 2318 S. Louise Ave. DETAILS: Join us at the west-side Coffea for

Morning Buzz! Start your morning off right by gathering with fellow young professionals over a cup of coffee. Bring a co-worker or friend!

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

OUR SIOUX FALLS: ARC OF DREAMS & METLI PLAZA

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT ACTION TEAM MEETING

DETAILS: Join us at the Greenway

DETAILS: The Civic Engagement Action Team

Wednesday, Sept. 12 Noon–1 p.m.

Greenway Amphitheater at Cherapa Place 300 N. Cherapa Place Amphitheater to learn about The Arc of Dreams - a massive stainless steel sculpture that will span the Big Sioux River downtown, nearly the length of a football field, between 6th and 8th Streets. It will become a signature piece of art for Sioux Falls, helping to illustrate what we want to be… a unique and thriving modern city on the prairie.

Presented by Jim Clark, ScultureWalk Director.

COST: Free, bring your own lunch.

MEMBERSHIP ACTION TEAM MEETING

Wednesday, Sept. 12 4–5 p.m.

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

VOLUNTEER AT SIOUX FALLS MARATHON Sunday, Sept. 9 8:15 a.m.–Noon Dunham Park

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 every other month at 4 p.m. Join us!

DETAILS: YPN Members have the opportunity

COST: Free, open to everyone!

to cheer on marathon runners and hand out water at the 2018 Sioux Falls Marathon! The YPN Water Station will be located near Dunham Park at Mile 21. Volunteers can sign up to help either from 8:15-10 a.m. or 10 a.m.-Noon.

Find us on social media or visit siouxfallsypn.com

Wednesday, Sept. 19 4–5 p.m.

Chamber of Commerce 200 N. Phillips Ave., Suite 200

focuses on creating opportunities to educate YPN members on policy topics and current issues at both the state and local level. This team meets the third Wednesday of the month at 4 p.m. and is open to any member looking to get more involved.

COST: Free, open to everyone!

A SEAT AT THE TABLE WITH MAYOR PAUL TENHAKEN Tuesday, Sept. 25 Noon–1 p.m.

Chamber of Commerce 200 N. Phillips Ave., Suite 200

DETAILS: Join us for a special Seat at the

Table with Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken!

This event is for YPN members only, and you must RSVP to attend.

COST: $10, includes lunch

COST: Free

chambernews.com | Chamber News 7

SEPTEMBER This calendar is a sampling of local events, concerts, fundraisers, seminars and more compiled from siouxfallsevents.com and visitsiouxfallsevents.com.

Visit these websites for a complete listing of events happening in the Sioux Falls area, or for more details on the events listed here.

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.

8 Chamber News | SEPTEMBER 2018

1-2

LPGA Symetra Tour/Sioux Falls GreatLIFE Challenge

5-7

South Dakota Academy of PAs Fall Conference

6-9

35th Annual South Dakota Senior Games

7

Cirque Italia at the Empire Mall

7

Downtown Block Party on the Eastbank

8 Germanfest 8

Sidewalk Arts Festival

8

Super Second Saturday at Washington Pavilion

9

Sioux Falls Marathon, Half Marathon, Miracle 5K and 10K

11

Metallica at Denny Sanford PREMIER Center

13

Hey Sioux Falls

15 FernsonFest 15 Lincoln-O’Gorman-Washington

CRUISIN’ 66 70th BIRTHDAY PARTY 15-16

Fall Parade of Homes

17-23

Sanford International (PGA Tour Champions)

18

United Way campaign kickoff

20

Concept ONE Expo

21

One Autumn Night at Museum of Visual Materials

20

Christopher Titus

20-23

Cirque du Soleil

6-7

Showcase of Remodeled Homes

22

Hanger Dance

7

GonnaGetWed Bridal Showcase

22

Beervana 2018!

11

Innovation Expo

22-23

Fall Parade of Homes

12

Lynyrd Skynyrd at Denny Sanford PREMIER Center

23

South Dakota Race for the Cure

27-Oct.-7

SECT Presents: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

12-13

Men Are From Mars - Women Are From Venus Live! at Washington Pavilion

13

Harvest Festival at Strawbale Winery

27

KBACK Rockathon for LifeScape

14

LifeScape Pancake Benefit

27

Sunny Radiothon for LifeScape

16

Chamber 112th Annual Meeting

28-29

Sioux Falls PREMIER Rodeo

16-18

Finding Neverland at Washington Pavilion

28-30

SiouxperCon 2018: Return of the Con

18

Luke Combs at Sanford Pentagon

29

Food Truck Mash-Up

18

Rob Schneider at Orpheum Theatre

19

Leadercast Women

23

National Disability Employment Awareness Month Event

24

Diana Krall at Washington Pavilion

24

Fleetwood Mac at Denny Sanford PREMIER Center

25

Cheers to Liberty

26-28

Autumn Festival, An Arts and Crafts Affair

26-28

ZooBoo at Great Plains Zoo

30

CultureCon Sioux Falls

OCTOBER 3

2018 SD Safety & Health Conference

4

Primus at the District

5

Kip Moore at the District

5

First Friday Art & Wine Walk in downtown Sioux Falls

5-6

Monster Jam at Denny Sanford PREMIER Center

6

Fetching Fall Craft and Bake Sale

6-7

Outdoor Living Showcase

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chambernews.com | Chamber News 9

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

JULY 2018

JUNE 2018

CUMULATIVE YEAR TO DATE

4,512 PERMITS

2016

4,151 PERMITS

2017

BISMARCK

2.9%

3,719 PERMITS

2018 0

1000

2000

3000

4000

FARGO

2.6%

5000

MINNEAPOLIS/ ST. PAUL

Source: City of Sioux Falls

2.8%

RAPID CITY

City of Sioux Falls Total Construction Value

2.9%

JULY 2018

SIOUX FALLS

CUMULATIVE YEAR TO DATE

2.4%

ROCHESTER

2.6%

CEDAR RAPIDS

2.7%

500 OMAHA

3.1%

DES MOINES

2.4%

LINCOLN

2.9%

400

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

Agriculture Trends

300

JUNE 2018 10 $448.7 million $205.1 million

200

$9.55 $9.10

$449.3 million $184.4 million

$9.46

$415.8 million $144.8 million

0

$9.21

$8.91

8

SOYBEANS

(IN MILLIONS)

100

$9.84

(PER BUSHEL) U.S. SOUTH DAKOTA

2016

2017

Source: City of Sioux Falls

Total Construction Value

2018

6

New Non-Residential Construction Value

Sioux Falls Region Housing Overview JULY 2018

New Listings: 656 Days on the Market Until Sale: 72 Median Sales Price: $209,581 Inventory of Homes for Sale: 1,451 Source: RASE (Realtor Association of the Sioux Empire)

CORN

4

$3.43

$3.67

$3.46 $3.17

2

June 2017

(PER BUSHEL) U.S. SOUTH DAKOTA $3.58

$3.38

May June

2018

2018

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture chambernews.com | Chamber News 11

THANK YOU TO OUR 35TH ANNUAL

AG APPRECIATION DAY SPONSORS

Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2018 • Held in conjunction with the Sioux Empire Fair Sponsored by the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce, Touchstone Energy Cooperatives and Area Businesses: AARP South Dakota AgLab Express AgriCare Nutrition Alliance Communications American Bank & Trust Animal Health International Avera Health Avera Heart Hospital of South Dakota Avera Medical Group McGreevy 7th Avenue

Dakota Ethanol Dakota Fluid Power, Inc. Dean Foods/Land O’Lakes Dell Rapids Co-op Grain Dunlap Appraisal & Agri-Management, Inc. Eggers Southview Farms/ I-29 Bull Run Eide Bailly LLP Express Employment Professionals

Bargain Barn Tire Center Bayer Crop Science Beal Distributing, Inc. Best Western PLUS Ramkota Hotel and Conference Center Bimbo Bakeries USA Black Hills Federal Credit Union Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health

Farm Credit Services of America Farmers National Company Brandon First Bank & Trust First Dakota National Bank First Dakota Title The First National Bank in Sioux Falls First PREMIER Bank/ PREMIER Bankcard Frito-Lay

C & R Supply, Inc. Campbell’s Central Farmers Coop/FREMAR Central States Manufacturing Christopherson, Anderson, Paulson & Fideler, LLP CHS CHS, Inc. Chuck Sutton Auctioneer & Land Broker Citi Component Manufacturing/ Reaves Buildings Concordance Healthcare Solutions CorTrust Bank Dacotah Bank Dakota Beverage Dakota BUSINESS Finance Dakota Diesel Service

G & H Distributing, Inc. Getty Abstract & Title Co. Golden West Telecommunications Graham Tire Company Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort Great Western Bank Haug Steel Construction, Inc. Hilton Garden Inn Downtown Hobart Sales & Service Holiday Inn City Centre Howalt+McDowell Insurance, a Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC company Hy-Vee, Inc. Hydraulic World, Inc. IState Truck Center

Johnson Feed Inc. KDLT-TV (NBC) KELOLAND Media Group KSFY Television Ludens, Inc. Lynn, Jackson, Shultz & Lebrun, PC Mahlander’s Midco Midwest Land Surveying, Inc. Minnehaha County Pork Producers Minnwest Bank Monarch Sales Company, Inc. Morton Buildings New York Life Insurance Co.Great Plains General Office Nordica Warehouses, Inc. Nordstrom’s Automotive Northern Links Golf Course NorthWestern Energy Novak Sanitary Service PAULSEN Pfeifer Implement Co. Pipestone Holdings Plains Commerce Bank Poet Nutrition Raven Industries Reliabank Dakota Renner Corner Locker Results Radio/Townsquare Media Revier Pressure Washers

Scheels All Sports Scott Lumber & Supply Co. Shaykett Appraisal Co., Inc. Shipley’s Garment Spa Sioux Empire Fair Sioux Falls Regional Livestock Sioux Falls Truck and Trailer Sioux Falls Two-Way Radio Sioux International, Inc. Sioux Valley Energy SMG/Denny Sanford PREMIER Center South Dakota Corn South Dakota Farm Bureau South Dakota Pork Producers Council South Dakota Soybean Research & Promotion Council Sturdevant’s Auto Parts Sunshine Foods/Tony’s Catering Tiger Corporation Tri-State Hog Marketing Tri-State Neighbor U.S. Bank VistaComm Wells Fargo Bank Westra Atkins Land & Auction Winfield WNAX AM/FM Radio Jim Woster Xcel Energy Zoetis

SAB Biotherapeutics, Inc. Sanford Health

The Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce recognizes the role agriculture has played in the growth of our community. Though our city’s economy continues to expand and diversify, we know the region’s roots lie in agriculture.

For 35 years, we’ve been proud to acknowledge the work of our area farmers and ranchers by offering a free meal in conjunction with the Sioux Empire Fair. With the help of the businesses listed here and under the guidance of the Chamber’s Agri-Business Division Advisory Council, we are able to continue this salute to agriculture.

Thank you for all you do.

12 Chamber News | SEPTEMBER 2018

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.

chambernews.com | Chamber News 13

FACES & PLACES

Faces & Places

APRIL MEYERINK Black Hills Federal Credit Union

DAREN ANDERSON Big D Technology Solutions, Inc.

TOM HACKL

Dougherty & Company LLC

DAVID JOHNSON DAKOTACARE

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.

MATTHEW SOWDEN

Ameriprise Financial Services Dagel, Jakober & Associates

JULIE NELSON

American Bank & Trust

ERIC ANDERSON

ADAM COOPER

Black Hills Federal Credit Union

Howalt+McDowell Insurance, a Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC company

JACK DYVIG

CINDI JOHNSON

Sioux Falls Morning Optimists Club

Spectrum Marketing Services

MARILYN MOSER LifeVantage

GITA HENDRICKS Yoli BB

Recognition of Chamber Volunteers The Ambassador Team of the Month for June was Team Meyerink: April Meyerink, Black Hills Federal Credit Union; Tom Hackl, Dougherty & Company LLC; and Matthew Sowden, Ameriprise Financial Services - Dagel, Jakober & Associates.

BRIAN SPADER New York Life

BRAD NELSON

Keller Williams Realty of Sioux Falls

The Ambassador Team of the Month for July was Team Anderson: Eric Anderson, Black Hills Federal Credit Union; Adam Cooper, Howalt+McDowell Insurance, a Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC company and Marilyn Moser, LifeVantage.

Daren Anderson, Big D Technology Solutions, Inc., was awarded Diplomat of the Month honors for June and July. Second place honors for June went to David Johnson, DAKOTACARE; and Julie Nelson, American Bank & Trust, received third place honors.

Jack Dyvig, Sioux Falls Morning Optimists Club, was the recipient of the June Retention

14 Chamber News | SEPTEMBER 2018

Award and Cindi Johnson, Spectrum Marketing Services, won the ribbon cutting attendance award for June.

July Diplomat of the Month honors for second place went to Julie Nelson, American Bank & Trust; and Gita Hendricks, Yoli BB, received third place. Brian Spader, New York Life, received the July Retention Award. Brad Nelson, Keller Williams Realty of Sioux Falls, won the July ribbon cutting attendance award.

Diplomat Team of the Month for June and July went to Captain Daren Anderson, Big D Technology Solutions, Inc.; Brad Nelson, Keller Williams Realty of Sioux Falls; Nancy Van Otterloo, First PREMIER Bank; Michelle Markgraf, The Compass Center; and Stefan Szwarc, Great Western Bank.

New Faces & Promotions Caliber Creative has hired Austin Cragoe as production manager. Cragoe has over ten years of in-house and agency marketing experience, as well as running two of his own small businesses. He has continued his educational development by attaining an MBA and becoming a certified Project Management Professional.

First Bank & Trust has promoted Amy Molenda to associate trust officer. Molenda has over two decades of financial services experience. Her responsibilities include investment management and trust services, along with retirement and estate planning for individuals and institutions. A Southeast Tech graduate, Molenda also received her Registered Paraplanner designation from the College for Financial Planning.

MetaBank has hired two and promoted one employee. Vishal Jhaveri joins as senior vice president of marketing. Jhaveri holds dual master’s degrees in Business and MIS. He has over 17 years of experience leading marketing teams at hardware and software technology companies. Vianeris Ortiz is partner account executive. Ortiz has several years of global financial services experience and most recently worked for Choice Bank in Belize City, Belize, as assistant vice president of client relations.

Rodney Heetland was promoted to application administration manager. Heetland has been with Meta nearly five years and will oversee a team of three to provide support for Meta’s critical business applications.

The Center for Disabilities, USD Sanford Medical School, has added the following new staff: Jon Wallner as training associate with an emphasis on employment; Jonathon MeDrano as training associate with an emphasis on culture and diversity; Leslie Stusiak-Drew as National Core Indicator (NCI) coordinator; Amanda O’Neill as birth to 3 specialist;

Laura Sundberg as behavior specialist; Wayne Weston as training specialist; and Erin Parham as the department manager. The Center has also promoted the following employees: Caitlin Borges to clinic manager, Steven Larson to NCI specialist, and Pat Herman to grants manager.

Voyage Federal Credit Union has hired Jessica Stienstra as Marketing Manager. She will be responsible for the strategic marketing, business development and public relations plans for Voyage. Stienstra has 12 years of sales and marketing experience working for a diverse group of organizations.

AmesburyTruth has added two new employees to their Operations team. Dan Gile joined as a production supervisor. Gile served in the U.S. Marine Corps and was part of a New Equipment Training Team developing processes and procedures for new and experimental equipment. Lorenzo Haddon also joined as a production supervisor. He served in the U.S. Army in a variety of roles from chief computer analyst to recruiter to battalion fire control sergeant.

Dave Thompson has joined Frontier Bank as their new Sioux Falls market president. He brings 25 years of banking experience from the Mankato, Minnesota market. He will focus on building the Frontier brand in Sioux Falls along with looking toward the future to evolve with their customers. Frontier’s former market president, Rick Anderson has transitioned into the role of director of sales and business development. He will focus his time outside of the bank interacting with clients so that he can customize services and products to fit their individual business needs.

Clark Engineering has hired Shane L. Waterman, PE, as an engineering manager and associate in the Sioux Falls office. Waterman is a civil engineer with more than 25 years of expertise in the design and construction of a variety of civil engineering projects.

Allison Struck has joined the Sioux Falls Public Schools Education Foundation as its first full-time executive director. Struck previously worked as a program manager and coordinator at Feeding South Dakota.

KELOLAND Media Group has hired veteran political and government journalist Bob Mercer. Mercer has been in the news business since 1984, with the exception of 1998-2002 when he served as press secretary for Gov. Bill Janklow. He received the Associated Press Managing Editors journalist of the year award in 1986 and the South Dakota Newspaper Association honored Mercer with its Distinguished Service award in 2017. Mercer will begin his reporting for KELOLAND Media Group in October.

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sioux Falls has named Rocky Welker as Executive Director. Welker received his Master of Public Administration degree with a specialization in Nonprofit Management from the University of South Dakota. He has worked in the nonprofit sector for the last five years and recently relocated from Sioux City to join the Habitat for Humanity team in Sioux Falls.

Workers’ compensation insurance provider, RAS has added Troy Buehner as lead software developer. He has 15 years of software development experience in a variety of industries.

Sarah L’Allier joins High Point Networks as a renewals assistant. L’Allier holds a masters degree from Northern State University and has experience in both the communications and customer service industry.

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, major developments and award recognition. Submit news using the Faces & Places form at chambernews.com or email jdoyen@siouxfalls.com.

Professional portraits of Chamber volunteers are courtesy Chad Phillips Photography. chadphillipsphotography.com

chambernews.com | Chamber News 15

FACES & PLACES

Honors & Awards Mud Mile Communications has been selected as one of the first advertising agencies to ever receive the Gold Telly Award. Started in 1979, the Telly Awards recognize the best in television and digital commercials and programs. The Gold Telly Award was launched this year to honor the best of the best. Mud Mile Communications was awarded its Gold Telly Award for its video for Coca-Cola “Scholars Foundation 2017.”

Addie Graham-Kramer, president of The Event Company, was recognized as a member of Connect Association magazine’s “40 Under 40.” The peer-nominated honor highlights the top young professionals in the events industry.

Connect Association is a national, B2B magazine that provides resources and ideas to professionals and planners in the meetings and events industry.

Fourteen lawyers from Davenport, Evans, Hurwitz & Smith, LLP were included in the 2018 edition of Great Plains Super Lawyers.

The following attorneys were ranked in the top 5 percent of practicing attorneys in South Dakota, on the Super Lawyers list: Jonathan P. Brown, P. Daniel Donohue, Thomas M. Frankman, Keith A. Gauer, Charles D. Gullickson, Douglas J. Hajek, Robert E. Hayes, Sarah Richardson Larson, Rick W. Orr (Retired), Vince M. Roche, Eric C. Schulte and Catherine A. Tanck. Three Davenport Evans lawyers were selected to the Great Plains Rising Stars list: Justin T. Clarke, Elizabeth S. Hertz and Anthony M. Hohn.

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

SERVPRO of West Sioux Falls received the Director’s Bronze award at the recent SERVPRO convention. Adam T. and Jessica M. Birger were recognized along with other high-performing franchisees at the annual event, which was attended by nearly 3,000 owners, key staff, and corporate representatives.

Jesse Wright, PIM portfolio manager with The Person Wright Financial Group of Wells Fargo Advisors has been recognized as a 2018 Top Next Generation Advisor by Forbes.

Wright has 13 years of experience in the financial services industry.

16 Chamber News | SEPTEMBER 2018

Good Deeds Paramedics Plus operations supervisor Monte Mathews received the American Ambulance Association’s Stars of Life award.

The award recognizes ambulance service professionals for superior service and dedication.

Diane Diekman was named All-American Post Commander, for the second consecutive year, during the recent Veterans of Foreign Wars national convention. She is past commander of VFW Post 628 in Sioux Falls and a retired U.S. Navy captain.

The Sioux Falls Business Resource Network recognized Fareway Food Stores (Sycamore Ave.); GreatLife at Willow Run; and Holiday Inn & Suites Sioux Falls Airport with Disability Friendly Recognition Program awards.

Five Chamber member companies were named to the annual Inc. 5000 list of fastestgrowing private companies. They are: Epicosity; Five Star Call Centers; MarketBeat.com; Sioux Falls Tower & Communications; and Weisser Distributing. Companies are ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2014 to 2017. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2014. They must be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit and independent--not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies--as of December 31, 2017. The minimum revenue required for 2014 is $100,000; the minimum for 2017 is $2 million.

Blake Crow, Eide Bailly, graduated from the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado (GSBC), a 25-month banking school which provides management and leadership training for community-banking professionals. Crow specializes in serving financial institutions, which is a leading area of specialization for Eide Bailly.

Randy Rehling, a consumer credit counselor with LSS Center for Financial Resources (CFR), is one of the first in South Dakota to pass the exam to be a HUD-certified counselor.

The individual HUD certification is the result of an extensive, proctored exam over six key areas: financial management; property maintenance; responsibilities of homeownership and tenancy; fair housing laws and requirements; housing affordability; and avoidance of and responses to rental and mortgage delinquency, eviction, and mortgage default.

The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust recently presented Ground Works-Midwest with a $7,500 grant to support its programs including teaching gardens, SD Ag in the Classroom, and YES! Camps.

In addition, the staff from Helmsley’s Sioux Falls office completed a volunteer landscaping projecting at the Ground Works-Midwest’s school teaching garden located at Hayward Elementary School.

Acquisitions & Expansions Graco Inc. is adding 56,000 square feet to its existing 148,000-square-foot facility. It will continue its current operations in the space throughout the project, which is expected to be complete by the end of March 2019.

Milestones StarMark Cabinetry achieved a significant safety milestone at their Sioux Falls facility.

As of June, StarMark Cabinetry recorded over 3 million consecutive hours worked without a lost time incident. A lost time incident is defined by the U.S. Department of Labor as an incident in the workplace “that results in an injury serious enough that causes the person injured to be unable to work for a day or more.” StarMark Cabinetry employs over 600 employees working roughly 1.5 million hours per year.

Be Seen

1

1-3 The July Membership Mixer was sponsored by the Holiday Inn City Centre. Attendees celebrated “Christmas in July” while networking with other chamber members.

Private Mortgage Banking

2

We provide hometown service with the backing of a nationwide company We’re here for you

3

Jen Dykstra 605-941-2144 NMLSR ID 400259 Katie Fonder 605-575-8725 NMLSR ID 1413795 Wells Fargo Home Mortgage is a division of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. © 2017 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. NMLSR ID 399801.

AS4145279 Expires 02/2019 chambernews.com | Chamber News 17

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FACES & PLACES

Be Seen

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5 7 4-6 The Mary Jo Wegner Arboretum hosted 170

6 18 Chamber News | SEPTEMBER 2018

members for the August Membership Mixer. Attendees enjoyed hors d’oeuvres, live music and networking in the picturesque setting. 7 Bob and Eric Weisser, Weisser Distributing, were the featured guests at a recent A Seat at the Table event. The father-son duo shared with YPN members their story of growing their business and lessons learned along the way.

8 The 35th Annual Ag Appreciation Day took place Aug. 8 in conjunction with the Sioux Empire Fair.

Hundreds of volunteers worked together to serve a complimentary meal to local farmers. The AgriBusiness Division of the Chamber organizes the event, which is sponsored by Touchstone Energy, Pipestone Holdings and many other area businesses.

8

chambernews.com | Chamber News 19

FACES & PLACES

Be Seen

9 9 Security National Bank of South Dakota hosted Morning Mingle

at their location on South Louise Avenue. More than 100 attendees enjoyed the chance to network over coffee before starting their workday.

WE PUT OUR ENERGY INTO DELIVERING MORE THAN ENERGY AROUND HERE.

This community isn’t just a place to us. We live here and work here. We invest in our communities to give back to the places we’re proud to call home.

Visit xcelenergy.com/Community to learn more.

© 2018 Xcel Energy Inc.

20 Chamber News | SEPTEMBER 2018

10

11 10-11 Business Sense Workshops are one-hour sessions that offer

practical information to help your business. The workshops are led by Chamber members who are experts in their field. Valerie Sampson and Angela Berry, The Sampson House, led a Business Sense Workshop on leveraging content marketing for your company. Vaney Hariri and Tamien Dysart, Think 3D, shared ways to attract, train and retain talent by investing in culture.

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12 A Seat at the Table is one of the YPN’s most popular events. Valerie Loudenback, Grand Prairie Foods, shared her professional journey and answered questions from YPN members during A Seat at the Table in August. 13 YPN members enjoyed a casual night out at a Sioux Falls Canaries game.

chambernews.com | Chamber News 21

FACES & PLACES

Be Seen

15

14

14-15 U.S. Senator John Thune shared his perspective on activities taking place in our nation’s capital during the Inside Washington event on August 7. Tim Rave, Sanford Health, moderated the discussion. Prior to the luncheon, Sen. Thune met with a small group of Young Professionals Network members for a Sit Down with the Senator discussion.

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866.235.8995 | TimeCommunications.biz 22 Chamber News | SEPTEMBER 2018

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.

VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA, DAKOTAS NOV. 1, 2018-MARCH 31, 2019 $1.25 MILLION

THE GLORY HOUSE OF SIOUX FALLS NOV. 1, 2019-MARCH 31, 2020 $1.35 MILLION

BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICASIOUX COUNCIL APRIL 1-JULY 31, 2019 $1.57 MILLION

ACTIVE GENERATIONS APRIL 1-JULY 31, 2020 $1.45 MILLION

To construct multi-family housing to serve young people ages 16-21 who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

To provide affordable, long-term housing for up to 72 offenders with immediate access to substance abuse, mental health, employment and case management services.

Renovate existing facilities to meet the increas- To purchase land and build a second facility on ing safety and program standards necessary to the east side of Sioux Falls to accommodate its expanding programs and membership. equip local youth to be “Prepared for Life.”

For more information on the Community Appeals Committee, call Mike Lynch at (605) 373-2008.

chambernews.com | Chamber News 23

A CHANGING INDUSTRY

Manufacturers adapt and grow in the face of workforce challenges

BY ROB SWENSON

for the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce

Recruiting enough good workers has been a big challenge for manufacturing companies in the Sioux Falls area for years, perhaps even decades.

“South Dakota hasn’t had enough welders since the ox carts were passing through on their way to Oregon,” jokes David Owen, president of the South Dakota Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

Although the industry generally is doing well, workforce challenges have become more pronounced in recent years.

Employee hiring and retention issues are among the economic forces driving the increased use of automation and technology in manufacturing, which is a deceptively large

24 Chamber News | SEPTEMBER 2018

business sector in the Sioux Falls area and across South Dakota, Owen said.

Nearly a third of the manufacturing jobs in South Dakota are in the four-county Sioux Falls metropolitan area.

There are more than 260 manufacturing firms in the metro area and they employ approximately 14,000 people, according to the Sioux Falls Development Foundation. About 9 percent of all the jobs in the metro area are in manufacturing.

Dean Dziedzic, vice president of the Development Foundation, said that local manufacturers typically identify finding qualified and skilled workers as their biggest challenge, but that’s not just a local issue. “This is not a Sioux Falls prob-

COVER STORY

(Above) An employee at Harvard Integrations welds steel panels together for a fuel tank.

lem. It’s not a Midwest problem. It’s nationwide,” he said.

Manufacturing companies are investing in technology to increase the efficiency of their operations, and to make better and more productive use of their employees, Dziedzic said.

“I don’t see our local companies laying off people. It’s more that they don’t have to go out and try to hire (as many) people. They’re able to maintain current (employment) levels,” he said. “As we move forward, I think companies will invest more in technology and robotics, and create more efficiencies.”

With its 10 development parks – most of which are full – the Development Foundation provides some site options to

chambernews.com | Chamber News 25

COVER STORY

new and growing companies. The park with the most open space is Foundation Park, the organization’s biggest and newest industrial park.

a national mean of $18.30. Production workers accounted for 6.7 percent of the local workforce and 6.3 percent of the national workforce.

At 820 acres, Foundation Park has been promoted as South Dakota’s first “megasite.” It was established in 2015 by the Development Foundation, in partnership with the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, the City of Sioux Falls and Forward Sioux Falls. The park has railroad access and is located near the Intersection of Interstates 90 and 29.

As a member of the Chamber’s Young Professionals Network, Tommy Pollema has had the opportunity to participate in two Community Connections tours of manufacturing plants in Sioux Falls – Graco Inc. and Electronic Systems Inc. The tours changed his impression of the industry.

Foundation Park is being positioned as a good location for advanced manufacturing. So far, it has two businesses: Win Chill Cold Storage, which is open, and Dakota Carriers, which will open soon.

COUNTERING MISCONCEPTIONS Pay is one of the variables that attracts job candidates, and it can vary from company to company.

In 2017, the mean hourly wage for production workers in the Sioux Falls metro area was $15.76 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That compared to

“Growing up, I perceived manufacturing as labor-intensive and not glorious or high-paying work. But after taking tours, it opened my eyes that they do a lot with technology and have high-paying jobs,” said Pollema, manager of the Cain Ellsworth accounting firm in Sioux Falls.

“The tours opened my eyes that manufacturing had a bad rap. There’s definitely great opportunities and high-paying jobs in the manufacturing industry,” he said.

Don Cuperus is a business advisor with South Dakota Manufacturing and Technology Solutions, an office in Sioux Falls that works in partnership with the Governor’s Office of Economic Development to help manufacturing companies improve productivity. His duties include coordinating peer

An employee performs metal prep work on supporting tube structures at Harvard Integrations.

26 Chamber News | SEPTEMBER 2018

Construction workers cut a metal floor grate for installation in the new Gage Brothers facility being built on North Bahnson Avenue.

discussion groups for CEOs and human resource directors who work in manufacturing.

executives in operations, human resources and engineering work out of Sioux Falls.

“Technology and automation are two important pieces helping relieve some of the workforce issues,” Cuperus said.

“Technology has advanced on its own over the years, but the lack of workforce accelerates adoption of technology.”

Finding new employees can be challenging, Binder said, but the company doesn’t have a problem retaining them. He expects operations in Sioux Falls to continue to expand.

An increasing use of automation and technology is among the common threads in growing manufacturing companies in Minnehaha and Lincoln Counties. Here’s a closer look at four of them that also have new, improved or expanding facilities:

“This site will continue to grow over the years,” Binder said. “We’re always looking for ways to make our products better and cost less.”

AMESBURYTRUTH AmesburyTruth combined operations at plants in Sioux Falls and Canton, and moved last year into a new, 167,200-square-foot production facility in northwestern Sioux Falls.

The Sioux Falls plant is a branch of an Edina, Minnesota company that is owned by Tyman Plc of London, England.

They make window and door hardware such as balances and counterweights. The Sioux Falls plant employs 280 people.

“We don’t make the glass. We don’t make the wood.

But we make everything else,” said Tim Binder, director of global supply chain. “We’re kind of a one-stop shop for companies’ window and door hardware needs.”

The company’s products are shipped all over North America and beyond. The staff in Sioux Falls includes four executives, including Binder, who have corporate responsibilities that extend beyond operations in Sioux Falls. High-level

An employee at AmesburyTruth inserts instruction manuals into packaging.

chambernews.com | Chamber News 27

A construction worker grinds a metal I-beam at the new Gage Brothers facility.

GAGE BROTHERS Gage Brothers expects to be operating in a new, 210,000-square-foot plant by February 2019.

The new plant is being built on North Bahnson Avenue in an open, industrial area east of Interstate 229. A 14,000foot building that will house the company’s offices is being constructed nearby.

Gage makes precast, concrete wall panels and other structural components. The company’s products have been used on buildings ranging from Target Field and TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis to the Cherapa Place office building and O’Gorman Performing Arts Center in Sioux Falls.

The new plant will consolidate the company’s manufacturing operations in one building. At its present site in western Sioux Falls, operations are scattered over 13 buildings and the outdoors.

The new plant also will be cleaner, more automated and will enable Gage to make more and better products, President Tom Kelley said. “We’ll be able to do more work with the same amount of people.”

The new plant also will provide the company’s 250 employees a safer and more comfortable working environment.

Work hours will become more predictable, too, Kelley said.

For example, employees should never again have to wait for fresh concrete to complete a job, he said.

A Graco employee assembles and packages spray gun components.

28 Chamber News | SEPTEMBER 2018

COVER STORY

“We need to clear up the perception of what manufacturing is and what it isn’t,” he said. “These are many highly skilled, high-tech, high-paying jobs in manufacturing right here in South Dakota, and we’re a prime example of that.”

GRACO INC. Graco Inc., which makes fluid-handling equipment, is adding 56,000 square feet to its 148,000-square-foot plant in northeastern Sioux Falls. Work on the expansion is expected to be finished by the end of March.

“Strong employee performance and a continuous improvement mindset made expanding our presence in Sioux Falls an easy decision,” said Brian Callahan, operations manager at the plant.

Minneapolis-based Graco employs about 250 people at its Sioux Falls plant. They expect to add 40 more employees over the next four years. Completely filling out the building expansion with people and equipment could take four to eight years, Callahan said.

The company’s products can be big – the size of a trailer home – and require advanced tools and skilled employees to build. The company recently invested $1.5 million in lasercutting equipment. Earlier this year, it added 21,000 square feet to one of its buildings to house the new tool.

“We’re expecting an uptick in business, for sure,” Aasen said. “A lot of that is related to oil.” In Texas, for example, the oil industry is on an upswing, and companies need backup power facilities for field operations.

Harvard Integrations is owned by the Hill Companies, a privately owned business based in Canada. The plant in Tea employs 91 people, and it’s trying to add about 10 more.

However, finding good employees, such as electricians, can be challenging, said Cindy Krekelberg, human resources manager.

“We’re really happy with the people we have and get. We just struggle to get some of them,” Aasen said.

Graco is celebrating its 25th year in Sioux Falls. Finding skilled workers, such as machinists, can be challenging, Callahan said, but once the company hires them, they stick around. Nine of its local employees have been with the company since the start. Attractions include competitive pay and favorable working conditions, Callahan said.

In the eight years that Callahan has been at the Sioux Falls plant, the use of robotic pieces of equipment has increased from a “handful” to more than 50. Automation has slowed the need for hiring, but it also has created new and better work opportunities for employees, he said.

“The workforce has to have a different set of skills, in turn creating higher paying jobs,” Callahan said.

HARVARD INTEGRATIONS Harvard Integrations of Tea might not be as familiar to the public as some other modern manufacturers in the area, but its products are sold across the United States and in some foreign countries. The company makes products such as metal enclosures for backup power generation and distribution systems for businesses and institutions.

“We don’t really build a standard product,” said Adam Aasen, president and CEO. “Everything we build is to customers’ specifications.”

Harvard Integrations operates in three main buildings and three smaller buildings on about 15 acres of land in an industrial area along Interstate 29. There is room on the property for future expansion, if needed.

2018 South Dakota Manufacturers’ Day Summit Wednesday, Sept. 12 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Southeast Technical Institute Registration is $99 sdmanufacturing.com/events

Harvard Integrations employees work together to assemble the corner of a custom metal enclosure.

chambernews.com | Chamber News 29

BUSINESS ADVOCACY

Careful process determines advocacy positions

DEBRA OWEN

Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce

...advocacy efforts often place the Chamber at the center of public policy issues

Your Chamber is an effective influencer in the arena of advocacy for all levels of government: city, county, school, state and federal. Our team regularly attends local government meetings, along with having “boots-on-the-ground” for the legislative session. At the federal level, the Chamber is a convener of conversations between our members and our Congressional Delegation.

Recent examples include the Inside Washington lunches held this summer and the Washington D.C. fly-in in the early part of September. We keep our members informed about our advocacy efforts through the weekly publication of the Chamber Advocate, which also includes our podcast.

It is a privilege to serve as the voice of business on behalf of our members. Our advocacy efforts often place the Chamber at the center of public policy issues and allow us to be a partner in shaping the future of our community.

VOTE YES

ON SEPTEMBER 18 The Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce supports a “Yes” vote on the proposed Sioux Falls School District bond.

To learn more about the proposal and the need, visit voteyesforschools.com.

To learn about the Chamber’s rationale on this issue or other ballot questions, visit siouxfallschamber.com and click on the Advocacy tab.

Our advocacy is member driven. The Issues Management Council (IMC) bears the responsibility of making recommendations to the Board of Directors on a myriad of public policy issues. The IMC is comprised of more than 40 individuals representing a variety of local businesses and industries. They meet monthly and have recently been deeply engaged in the review of the Sioux Falls School Bond and the November ballot measures. Their work is challenging as they carefully analyze the impact of public policies on our business community.

In the coming months, IMC will review our policy statements and our legislative platform for the 94th Legislative Session. Our policy statements act as guiding principles for the chamber’s advocacy efforts and do not change dramatically from year-to-year. Currently, these statements include the following areas: quality of life, taxation, development incentives, business climate, education, infrastructure, environment, government, tourism, housing, workforce, diversity and business development. You can find these statements on our website at siouxfallschamber.com under the Advocacy tab.

Our legislative platform discussions typically involve more extensive modifications from year-to-year. These focus on specific issues that are time sensitive and will likely serve as an advocacy directive prior to the start of the legislative session. Though IMC evaluates and makes recommendations to the Board of Directors, it is the Board that ultimately reviews and makes the final determination of the Chamber’s position on all related policy matters. This would include the statements, the legislative platform, the school bond referendum and the November ballot measures.

As you can see, through meaningful member engagement, our advocacy efforts are thoroughly member driven. All this is necessary to ensure that our advocacy efforts support the overall mission of your Chamber and helps to prepare us for the upcoming election and legislative session.

30 Chamber News | SEPTEMBER 2018

HEADLINES

Chamber Annual Meeting to be held Oct. 16 Featuring keynote speaker Matthew Luhn The Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce will hold its 112th Annual Meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 16 at the Sioux Falls Convention Center. The celebration will begin with a reception at 4:30 p.m., the dinner starts at 6:30 p.m. and the program starts at 7:30 p.m. The evening concludes with a post-reception at 9:15 p.m.

The Chamber’s Annual Meeting launches the one-year term of the incoming chair, Tim Sturdevant, President & CEO of Sturdevant’s Auto Parts. He will take over the Chamber’s top volunteer position Oct. 1, following 2017-18 Chair of the Board Steve Van Buskirk, Van Buskirk Companies. Also at the meeting, the Chamber will share priorities for the coming year and acknowledge the contributions of retiring directors.

The event will culminate with a keynote address from Matthew Luhn, one of the original Story Creators at Pixar.

Luhn is an accomplished storyteller, instructor, keynote speaker and story consultant, with over 20 years’ experience creating stories and characters at Pixar Animation Studios. Alongside his story work in Hollywood, Luhn works with Fortune 500 companies, entrepreneurs and other professionals, teaching how to craft and tell stories that bridge the gap between business and heart in order to build stronger brands and business communication.

Luhn’s most recent clients include Adidas, Facebook, BBC, Microsoft, Sony, Warner Brothers, Apple, Google, Clorox and many more. His story credits include Toy Story, Toy Story 2, Toy Story 3, Monsters Inc., Monsters University, Finding Nemo, UP, Cars, Ratatouille and other films currently in development.

With over 20 years’ experience creating and developing dozens of films, TV shows and video games, at Pixar, The Simpsons, ILM and other studios, Luhn knows what it takes to create memorable stories

SIOUX FALLS AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 112TH ANNUAL MEETING Featuring keynote speaker Matthew Luhn Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018 Sioux Falls Convention Center Order tickets online at siouxfallschamber.com or call (605) 336-1620 with enduring characters. From filmmaking to business, Luhn’s story talks are beneficial to anybody wanting to improve their story skills or learn the persuasion of great storytelling. In Luhn’s story seminar, he will share his process for creating new ideas and characters, how to develop great stories and story structure, and how to realize your story ideas from script to storyboards to finished product.

Stacy Wrightsman, Sanford Health, is serving as chair of the Annual Meeting and Corey Weide, Morgan Stanley, is leading the ticket sales team.

New this year is the option to purchase bottles of wine in advance, which will be ready on your table at the event. Attendees can order their wine at the same time they purchase tickets – either through an online order at siouxfallschamber.com or through a member of the ticket sales committee. Wine presale is limited to members who reserve a table.

Invitations will be mailed to Chamber members after Labor Day and tickets will be distributed beginning in September. The cost is $85 per person or a table of ten for $850. Tickets and table reservations will be available beginning Sept. 4. chambernews.com | Chamber News 31

BUSINESS SENSE

Five things you can do now to improve your benefit plan As unemployment rates continue to be near record lows, it is more important than ever for companies to focus on employee engagement and retention. One of the tools management can use to attract and retain talented people is a 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan. A 401(k) is a voluntary retirement savings plan, controlled and administered by the employer, into which employees can contribute a portion of their earnings before MEGAN OELTJENBRUNS, CPA income taxes. Employers can tailor these ELO Prof LLC plans to specifically benefit their workforce and reinforce company values. Below are a few things that you can do to increase employee participation and engagement with your company’s retirement plan.

1. CONSIDER AUTOMATIC ENROLLMENT. One of the main reasons employees don’t participate in retirement plans is inertia – it’s easier to do nothing than something. But, you can amend your plan so that employees have to opt-out instead of opt-in. As soon as an employee meets eligibility requirements, they are automatically enrolled at a predetermined percentage of salary.

Of course, someone who does not want to participate always has the option of withdrawing, but generally people are happy that the work has been done for them. You can also add an auto escalation feature, where employee deferrals are incrementally increased every year. This helps employees who might otherwise put off saving or save too little to maximize the employer match.

2. ADD A ROTH OPTION A Roth option allows an employee to defer a portion of salary after taxes. The account then grows tax-free and can be withdrawn tax-free at retirement. This can be of particular benefit to a younger workforce. Given a chance to grow over a longer period of time, the benefits of paying taxes up-front can be substantial. You may be able to amend your company’s 401(k) plan document to allow employees to choose to defer their salary into either traditional or Roth IRAs, giving them more options and flexibility.

32 Chamber News | SEPTEMBER 2018

3. OFFER PROFESSIONAL HELP Make sure your company plan’s investment advisor is available and accessible to your employees. New hires should be provided with contact information and the opportunity to discuss their retirement plan options when they become eligible to participate. Employees who feel empowered to ask questions and make changes to their accounts are more likely to participate in the plan.

4. IMPROVE COMMUNICATION Do your employees know what you’re offering? A single meeting or email is usually not sufficient to educate your employees on your retirement plan’s features. You may want to record meetings and presentations offered by advisors – this will allow you to create an archive for future reference. Embrace continuing education by scheduling periodic updates. Employees may have experienced life changes – like marriage, a new baby, or a promotion – that could affect their retirement. Make sure they know what their options are, and that you’re available to help.

5. PROVIDE LIFETIME INCOME ILLUSTRATIONS The power of compound interest and the immediate savings of tax deferral are very real and easily demonstrated visually. Graphs and charts that show the growth of money over time can be very powerful and can clearly show employees what they stand to miss out on by not participating, or by waiting to participate. These illustrations show what participants’ stand to receive in monthly income based on their current contribution rates. It can be helpful for your employees to see that the money coming out of their checks now will be coming back to them in time, and that it is supplemented by your company match.

In a tight job market, employers should take advantage of every retention and acquisition tool in their belt, and the company 401(k) plan is a fantastic one. Your employees will thank you for looking out for their long term financial futures, and your business will benefit from taking great care of your people.

Megan Oeltjenbruns, CPA, is an audit manager with ELO Prof LLC, a full service public accounting firm in Sioux Falls. She works closely with small and medium sized businesses to improve their processes and assist with compliance issues, always focusing on maintaining the highest levels of quality and efficiency.

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CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU

Share your events with visitors to Sioux Falls The Sioux Falls Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) works to bring people from around the world to Sioux Falls to experience all the exciting events and attractions our community has to offer!

TERI SCHMIDT

Sioux Falls Convention & Visitors Bureau

let people coming to Sioux Falls know about your event

Research shows that many of today’s travelers plan their trips months in advance. They research where they are going and often make plans to include everything they want to see and do on their trips. With this in mind, it is critical for the CVB to maintain an up-to-date website offering information on the city. One of the most important sections of our website is the calendar of events, where potential visitors can see what is happening in our community, what there is to do and see, what events and attractions they can experience and more.

This is where you come in to the picture! The CVB’s website offers an Events Calendar consisting of visitor-related events being held in Sioux Falls, meaning all events open to the public that involve people coming to town and staying overnight in the city’s hotels while they enjoy the happenings in the community.

Anyone hosting a visitor-related event is welcome to post their information on the CVB’s website. The CVB encourages everyone to take advantage of this free advertising – let people coming to Sioux Falls know about your event! It’s free and easy!

Check out visitsiouxfallsevents.com to create an account and post your event for free!

Sioux Falls Convention & Visitors Bureau Mission To market the city of Sioux Falls as a one-of-a-kind visitor destination, and to provide premier visitor services, and increase visitor spending in order to enhance economic impact throughout the community.

The Sioux Falls Promise The CVB stands committed to exceeding visitor’s expectations. We will provide superior visitor hospitality in the city best recognized as “The Heart of America.”

For all your convention, meeting and event needs, contact the Sioux Falls Convention & Visitors Bureau: (605) 275-6060, email sfcvb@siouxfalls.com or visit visitsiouxfalls.com; for more updates about the visitor industry, go to pg. 36-37.

34 Chamber News | SEPTEMBER 2018

Contact the Sioux Falls Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) to bring your convention, meeting or event to Sioux Falls, “The Heart of America”!

VisitSiouxFalls.com/BringItHome

Take in the View!

Managed by:

Check out the largest selection of Sioux Falls Memorabilia at the Falls Park Visitor Center!

Open Daily 10am-9pm through October 28th.

For more information call 605.367.7430 or go to VisitSiouxFalls.com/FallsPark.

BUSINESS NEWS

Visitor Industry Updates STRATEGIES TARGET LEISURE TRAVELERS DURING SHOULDER SEASON The Sioux Falls Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) will begin their shoulder season marketing campaign earlier this year and further refine strategies to attract leisure travelers to the city between Oct. 1, 2018 and Feb. 28, 2019. The campaign will seek to build awareness through conversion metrics such as email sign-ups, trip planning engagements and hotel and flight bookings.

Based on the timing of engagement from previous years, the campaign will shift to incorporate two phases. The first phase will be lead-generating through a sweepstakes promotion, and the second phase will focus on awareness and driving hotel bookings. Due to the high engagement in the earlier part of the campaign in previous years, the launch will move to Oct. 1.

In phase one, users will have the chance to register to win a fall getaway and a holiday getaway. A new landing page feature will encourage participants to share the promotion, extending the reach of the campaign organically while featuring a variety of Sioux Falls activities based on travel personas.

On Jan. 2, 2019 the campaign will shift to phase two, where more inspirational messaging will be communicated. Media will be directed to trip planning tools and relevant content pieces. This phase will encourage travel to Sioux Falls to break out of the winter routine and start highlighting all Sioux Falls has to offer year-round.

Each phase and persona will have unique imagery and messaging to align with the seasonal reasons to travel to Sioux Falls, including use of social channels, media placement and email marketing.

This campaign is supported by matching funds through the South Dakota Department of Tourism’s Community Cooperative Marketing Program.

CVB WELCOMES VISITORS AT REST STOPS The CVB and several local hospitality partners greeted visitors at interstate information centers recently. Team members were at the Valley Springs Information Center along Interstate 90 on July 20 and Aug. 3. The rest stop welcome events provide an opportunity for the local hospitality industry to draw visitors off the interstate and into Sioux Falls to experience the community. They also serve to promote Sioux Falls attractions and events, restaurants and hotels. The CVB team handed out t-shirts, Sioux Falls Visitor Guides, visitor maps and Falls Park brochures with warm hospitality!

SIOUX FALLS PREMIER RODEO THIS MONTH Sutton Rodeo of South Dakota is bringing the Sioux Falls PREMIER Rodeo to the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center on September 28-29 as part of the Professional Rodeo Cowboy’s Association (PRCA). This event will showcase the PRCA’s top bull riders, saddle bronc and bareback riders against the best rodeo stock in the world, in a unique $40,000 competition. The riders will be competing to qualify for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and World Championship titles in Las Vegas.

CVB STAFF ATTEND ESTO Members of the CVB staff attended the U.S. Travel Association’s Annual ESTO Conference (Educational Seminar for Tourism Organizations) last month in Phoenix. ESTO is regarded as one of the top conferences for Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs), and this year’s event certainly did not disappoint. Attendees learned about up and coming trends in the visitor industry and how to better market their destination to people all across the globe.

CONNECT FAM TOURS SIOUX FALLS The CVB hosted a Connect Familiarization (FAM) Tour on July 17-18 with meeting planners working in a variety of industries.

Connect Meetings is an organization the CVB partners with to identify meeting planners from across the country that could potentially hold their convention, meeting or event in Sioux Falls. For the past several years, the CVB team has attended several Connect Trade Shows which have proven to be a good lead source for Sioux Falls.

Nine planners from across the nation came to Sioux Falls to experience the city like a local. The planners toured the city’s meeting and convention facilities, along with a sampling of attractions.

Sioux Falls has excellent industry partners who helped showcase our city as a meeting destination. Special thanks to the Washington Pavilion, Josiah’s Coffee House Café & Bakery, the Holiday Inn City Centre and the Sheraton Sioux Falls Hotel for their generosity in support of this FAM Tour.

36 Chamber News | SEPTEMBER 2018

CVB staff pose with meeting planners at a stop downtown during the Connect FAM Tour.

TRAVEL JOURNALISTS SHARE SIOUX FALLS WITH NATIONAL MEDIA The CVB hosted several travel journalists during the month of August. Travel blogger Tamara Gruber of We3Travel visited early in the month. Gruber is a passionate advocate for the benefits of family travel. She and her preteen daughter, Hannah, wanted to experience Sioux Falls through a family destination lens. They visited Falls Park, experienced SculptureWalk along Phillips Avenue and enjoyed the culinary offerings in the downtown area. As a mother-daughter duo, they visited several of the beautiful and eclectic boutiques in Sioux Falls. Gruber commented that the community exhibited a real vibrancy and noted that in her short visit she interacted with many young professionals.

Later in the month, the CVB, in conjunction with the South Dakota Department of Tourism, hosted four travel journalists whose mission was to experience Sioux Falls from an agri-tourism perspective. They were on assignment to experience restaurants that are intentional about serving farm-to-table fare. The fast-paced afternoon included a stop at the Stockyards Ag Experience, locally sourced appetizers at The Market, a trip to Strawbale Winery for their Thursday evening Summer Porch Series, and dinner served family-style at Bread and Circus Sandwich Kitchen. The group also enjoyed treats from locally sourced Stensland ice cream and a late-night stop at several of the

breweries on Brewer’s Row. The journalists, armed with information about agri-tourism from the region, will now develop content for several magazines in both print and digital format. The Sioux Falls CVB was excited to host this group because of the earned media exposure the journalists will provide for Sioux Falls.

SIOUX FALLS TO HOST REALTOR CONVENTION OF THE DAKOTAS Sioux Falls has been chosen to host the 2023 REALTOR Convention of the Dakotas. The convention will take place September 13-15, 2023 at the Sioux Falls Convention Center, with the Sheraton Sioux Falls Hotel as the headquarter hotel and Ramada Hotel & Suites as overflow. The convention is for members of the South Dakota Association of REALTORS and the North Dakota Association of REALTORS. Approximately 725 licensed real estate brokers and salespersons are expected to attend from the two states.

MOTORCYCLE CELEBRITY MEET & GREET J&L Harley-Davidson hosted a motorcycle celebrity meet and greet as a kick-off event for those who traveled west for the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. The event provided an opportunity for motorcycle enthusiasts to mingle with some of the top industry professionals from across the country.

chambernews.com | Chamber News 37

BUSINESS NEWS

Hey Sioux Falls celebrates entrepreneurship The Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce has partnered with the Zeal Center for Entrepreneurship and 1 Million Cups to create a new event celebrating entrepreneurship in our community. The inaugural Hey Sioux Falls will be held Thursday, Sept. 13 at the historic Orpheum Theatre in downtown Sioux Falls.

Hey Sioux Falls is an event for anyone that has a vested interest in the Sioux Falls startup community, both t-shirts and suits alike. It will feature live entertainment and conversation during a social hour starting at 5:30 p.m., followed by a program at 7 p.m.

Six local entrepreneurs will receive awards for building great businesses or pushing the Sioux Falls entrepreneurial community forward. Awards will be presented in the following categories: New Startup; Growth Startup; Startup

Champion; Investor; Corporate Innovator; and Social Impact.

Hey Sioux Falls is presented by The First National Bank in Sioux Falls. Tickets are complimentary but must be reserved in advance. Visit heysiouxfalls.com for tickets and more information.

HEY SIOUX FALLS AWARD FINALISTS New Startup of the Year

Startup Champion of the Year

Corporate Innovator of the Year

Learn Create Build SiouxFalls.Business Well 365

Clint Brown Will Bushee Karla Santi

Growth Startup of the Year

Investor of the Year

First Bank & Trust The First National Bank in Sioux Falls Midco

Farmers Business Network Think 3D Solutions Weisser Distributing

Bird Dog Equity Partners Bluestem Capital Company, LLC Falls Angel Fund

Social Impact Face It Together Helpline Center's Sioux Empire Network of Care Sioux Falls Seminary

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Offices also in Mitchell, Pierre, Watertown and Rapid City 38 Chamber News | SEPTEMBER 2018

SEHP annual breakfast to be held Sept. 20 The Sioux Empire Housing Partnership (SEHP) will hold its annual breakfast on Thursday, Sept. 20 at the Holiday Inn City Centre.

The annual breakfast features a summary of activity and successes from the preceding year and includes recognition of individuals who have had a significant impact on the affordable housing. Awards will be presented for the Friend of Affordable Housing and the Mortgage Lender of the Year.

Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken will be the featured speaker at this year’s event.

Mayor TenHaken will present details of his new plan to address affordable housing in Sioux Falls, and will outline the department’s initiatives for the coming year.

restoration, budgeting and post-purchase programs. This menu of programs is offered free to all Chamber member businesses and Forward Sioux Falls contributors. In addition, SEHP pioneered E-MAP, an employerassisted down payment program that was eventually adopted by the South Dakota Housing Development Authority.

Launched in 1997 as an initiative of Forward Sioux Falls, SEHP works to preserve, improve and increase affordable housing options for low- to moderateincome families. They provide HUDcertified housing education, which includes home purchasing, renter education, credit

NETWORK SECURITY

MANAGED DDoS PROTECTION WITH THE CLUTCH DELIVERY

The SEHP annual breakfast begins at 7:15 a.m. and the program will conclude by 9 a.m. Tickets are $40 per person or tables of six for $225 and can be purchased by calling Kelli Zimmer at (605) 339-0942.

With SDN’s Managed DDoS Protection service, IT pros can monitor and mitigate Distributed Denial of Service attacks that threaten to disrupt critical communications, ensuring legitimate traffic gets through in the face of total chaos.

Enjoy the UPTIME. | sdncommunications.com

chambernews.com | Chamber News 39

BUSINESS NEWS

United Way kicks off annual campaign Sioux Empire United Way will kick off its 2019 Campaign on Sept. 18 at 3:30 p.m. at Harmony South Dakota, located in St. Joseph’s Cathedral School. This year’s fundraising campaign will support 86 local programs, impacting the lives of one in three people across the Sioux Empire.

“We are excited to host this year’s campaign Kickoff at Harmony, a program that started in 2014 through our Community Impact Grant funding process,” said Chris Kray, 2019 Volunteer Campaign Chair. “The students of this after school music program are looking forward to showing us their program, sharing their tremendous talents with us and showing us what dedication, determination and hard work can produce.”

Harmony South Dakota is just one of the 86 programs that will receive funds from Sioux Empire United Way with a successful campaign. Among the funded programs in the coming year are:

40 Chamber News | SEPTEMBER 2018

“Our Sioux Empire United Way has a history of successful fundraising campaigns because of tremendous support from our business community and their employees,” said Kray. “I believe as a community, we recognize that there are needs out there and the United Way funded programs are a great solution to help our neighbors and our community.”

• Imagination Library – which provides a free book to more than 11,000 children in the Sioux Empire each month.

• Bright Start – a nurse home visitation program for expectant moms and moms with children under the age of three.

Last year the program served more than 150 families.

• Céilí Cottage – adult day services in a home-like setting for individuals with Alzheimer’s or dementia; 22 individuals receive great care through the program.

Sioux Empire United Way’s Kickoff Event will feature information about Harmony South Dakota and past United Way featured initiatives and will include a performance from Harmony Students. In addition, the 2019 campaign goal will be announced. The event is open to the public and free to attend.

Doors open at 3:30 p.m. at 601 W. 4th St. and the program will start shortly after 4 p.m.

More information on the kickoff event and Sioux Empire United Way programs can be found at seuw.org.

MEMBER VOICE

Championing Women Leaders According to Beyonce, girls run the world. Yet in 2016, the U.S. Census Bureau calculated that the average woman makes 79 cents for every dollar paid to the average man. American women also lag behind when it comes to representation in leadership positions. The global nonprofit Catalyst conducted a study that found that while women comprise 44 percent of the overall S&P 500 labor force, only 25 percent are executive and senior level managers. Just 6 percent are CEOs.

EQUALITY IS OUR “BUSINESS AS USUAL” PAIGE PEARSON MEYER Midco

Support of women in leadership begins at the top.

As a staunch believer in equal pay for equal work, in elevating women to the highest levels of power – and that my two-year-old daughter can throw the ball as hard and fast as boys her age – I’m unwilling to accept these statistics as “business as usual.” Fortunately, I work at a company that agrees with me. At Midco, 20 of our 51 senior leaders are women, including our Chief Human Resources Officer, Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Operating Officer.

One of those senior leaders is my friend and colleague, Jeannie Thurston. Thurston began her career at Midco in the customer support call center. Now, 15 years later, her knowledge of the voice of the customer drives our marketing campaigns. As Director of Creative Services, Thurston is most proud of developing her team members and seeing young women reach their potential.

SYSTEMIC SUPPORT, INDUSTRY RECOGNITION Support of women in leadership begins at the top. Our President & CEO Pat McAdaragh is a such a steadfast supporter that he was recently presented with the EmBeliever award, which celebrates a person or business that demonstrates the mission of EmBe – to enrich the community by empowering women and families.

“I am fortunate to be in a position that can encourage and help women take risks to reach their own potential and make an impact on all of us,” said McAdaragh. “I thank the tremendous women role models in my life, especially my wife and my mom.”

In addition to Pat’s award, Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT) honored Midco as one of its Best Companies for Women to work, based on results of its 2017 survey. The survey gauged gender-related quantitative and qualitative employee data, and assessed the diversity and inclusion practices of the participating companies.

DOING THE HARD WORK – TOGETHER While we’re proud of the strides we’ve made, there’s much more work to be done. Now in its third year, Midco’s Women’s Leadership Summit addresses the unique challenges women face when they lead in the workplace. Discussions around empowerment, vulnerability and value happen at the summit. And as we continue to strive to be the best communications company in the country, it’s important that those conversations continue and we keep investing time and resources to develop the female workforce.

I think it’s important for men to know that their partnership and support is critical to our success. Businesses are most effective when men and women are allies. And I’d like to extend a personal thanks to the many men I work with who have helped make my company a wonderful place for women to lead and have meaningful impact.

Don’t forget what Beyonce said: Girls run the world.

Paige Pearson Meyer is Midco’s spokesperson, public relations principal, employee engagement lead and community relations manager. She is a member of the Young Professionals Network Steering Committee, the Stockyards Ag Experience, the University Center Foundation, the Midco Foundation and Breathe Bravely, a nonprofit organization that gives voice to Cystic Fibrosis. Pearson Meyer is also a Sioux Empire United Way Loaned Executive and a member of Women in Cable Television.

chambernews.com | Chamber News 41

USING YOUR MEMBERSHIP

Make networking work for you

BY DEBORAH McISAAC

Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce

We all know networking can be an effective and efficient way to promote yourself and your business. For some, that might be easier said than done, though. Your chamber membership can be a strategic tool that helps you maximize networking opportunities. The Chamber offers two high profile events each month to help you in your efforts to network. The Mixer and the Mingle are intentionally designed with a different purpose and vibe, so you can pick the format that you prefer – or take advantage of both opportunities! The goal is to provide you a path to success by increasing your sphere of influence.

The Membership Mixer is our largest networking event. The member organizations who sponsor the Mixers not only want to educate our community about their organization, but also understand the value of members coming together. Mixers are typically held the second Tuesday from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The attendance varies from 200-300 people.

Chamber members also sponsor Morning Mingles, an early morning opportunity to gather over Caribou Coffee and schmearfuls (cream cheese stuffed bagel bites). Morning Mingles start bright and early at 7:30 a.m. and wrap up by 9 a.m. The venues are typically smaller than Mixers, and attendance varies from 40-100 people. The scale of Mingles can be appealing to those who prefer smaller crowds.

There are three distinct differences between these events. The Mixer has a more formal program, encouraging attendees to stay until the

end. Mingles are more casual, members can flow in and out as their schedule allows. Mixers have historically provided a robust food and drink menu. Mingles are simply making connections over a cup of coffee. Mixers have a $5 admission charge while Mingles are free to attend.

Each event has a registration table, where your chamber activities crew will greet you with a smile. You may drop your business card for door prizes as well as grab a name tag if you need one. If you are new to the event, you may also be connected to one of our Diplomats to bring you into the fold and meet new people. Bascially – we’ll do our best to help you form connections at our networking events!

If networking still sounds daunting, a new program is available for you. Networking 101 is part of our Business Sense Workshop series and is scheduled the day before or the day of the Mixer each month.

Val Pugsley-Tischler, PUSH Personal Development Coach, facilitates Networking 101. She provides tips and techniques to make any networking event a valuable and productive experience. Each session is unique, so you can attend as many times as you’d like to keep improving your skills.

Attending networking events is just one of your many benefits of Chamber membership. If you would like more information about these events or any of your other membership benefits, please call our office at (605) 336-1620.

Get your 2018-19 Mixer Pass!

Chamber members have long recognized the value of attending Membership Mixers.

An average of 250 people attend the Mixer each month and enjoy the opportunity to create new connections and strengthen existing relationships with other chamber members.

Admission to a Mixer is $5 per person.

You can reduce the cost of attending the Membership Mixers by purchasing a Mixer Pass. Now through Dec. 31, you can purchase Mixer Admission Pass at a discounted price of $40 – that’s a $20 savings if you attend all 12 Membership Mixers in the next Chamber year.

Here are some of the advantages of purchasing a Mixer Pass: • You’ll always be prepared for attendance at the mixer – even if you don’t have cash in your wallet.

• If you can’t attend one of the monthly mixers, you can let a co-worker or friend use your pass for that month.

42 Chamber News | SEPTEMBER 2018

• Order your pass now and the Chamber will invoice your business so you don’t have to bother with expensing your admission cost each month.

• Order several for your business and share them with your employees who will benefit from the networking environment of a mixer. You can also use them to treat customers to complimentary admission to a mixer(s).

The Mixer Pass can be used for admittance to each monthly Mixer from October 2018-September 2019. The Pass must be presented at the registration at each event.

To purchase your Mixer Pass, contact Valerie Willson at (605) 373-2010 or vwillson@siouxfalls.com. Passes can also be purchased at the door of an upcoming Mixer.

RIBBON CUTTINGS

Ribbon Cuttings

The Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce holds ribbon cutting ceremonies for members to celebrate joining the Chamber, milestone anniversaries, 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.

Adwërks

136 S. DAKOTA AVE. adwerks.com Adwërks is a full-service advertising and marketing agency primarily for business to consumer clients. L to R: Ward Ertz, Kelli Zimmer, Lynda Billars, Jim Mathis (certified advertologist), Sharon Haselhoff, Kristi Cornette and Mark Luke.

NEW LOCATION

Big Time Storage Gateway Addition

by Nielson Construction

3512 S. GATEWAY LANE nielsonconstruction.net Nielson Construction is excited to bring a new concept to Sioux Falls. Big Time Storage allows customers the ability to purchase a Man Cave or a She Shed. L to R: Kelly Nielson, Jay Soukup, Mike Hauck, Jack Rentschler; April Meyerink, Jamie Nielson, Darci Hustrulid and Brad Tille.

EXPANSION

Black-Top Paving

NEW MEMBER

4500 W. 58TH ST. pavewithblacktop.com Black-Top uses the highest quality standards and seeks to prolong asphalt with design, construction and maintenance practices.

L to R: Matt Ondricek, Laurie Knutson, Bradly Meyer, Mark Luke, Ryan Kerkvliet (division leader), Mayor Paul TenHaken, Amy O’ConnorHoback, Julie Nelson, Chris Flisinger and Shane McKnelly.

Chef Ellen: Personal Chef

chefellendoerr.com Chef Ellen provides in-home meal replacement and cooking lessons with allergy and diet friendly custom menus. L to R: Lisa Sanderson, Laurie Knutson, April Meyerink, Lynda Billars, Chef Ellen Doerr (owner), Ryan Doerr, Tom Ries and Shannon Ward.

NEW MEMBER

chambernews.com | Chamber News 43

RIBBON CUTTINGS Don Dunham III Real Estate

7400 S. BITTERROOT PLACE, #200 dondunham.com Don Dunham III Real Estate, specializing in residential real estate, celebrated their open house and new location. L to R: Mike Hauck, April Meyerink, Nancy Weber-Sweere, Donna Fuerstenberg, Stefanie Engebretson, Don Dunham III (owner), Cory Weeden and Darla Jorgensen.

NEW LOCATION

The First National Bank in Sioux Falls 5217 S. LOUISE AVE. fnbsf.com

NEW LOCATION

The First National Bank in Sioux Falls is excited to celebrate the opening of their new southwest branch at 59th and Louise. L to R: Julie Pepper, Julie Nelson, James Gaspar, Alex Ramirez, Brian Glibert, Joanna Portice, Chris Ekstrum (president), Mark Luke, Nathan Stallinga and Kari Radack.

Fresh Impact, LLC

freshimpact4biz.com Fresh Impact provides creative and innovative social media management and marketing.

L to R: Jody Reisch, Sharla Reisch, Mark Luke, Kim VanderPoel (CEO/owner), Karla Santi, Ferlyn VanderPoel, Jack Dyvig, Mike Hauck and Laurie Chapin.

NEW MEMBER

Health Connect of South Dakota

NEW LOCATION

2011 W. 26TH ST., SUITE 203 healthconnectsd.org Health Connect of South Dakota’s new location allows the consumer health library to expand into a larger space and maintain state-wide public health work with tobacco cessation and numerous health issues. L to R: Patty Suedback, Michelle Markgraf, Matt Sowden, Will Buschee (president),Tim Sturdevant, Fran Rice (executive director), Jay Soukup, Kristin Hoefert-Redlinger and Anelis Coscioni.

Jekyll & Hyde BBQ Jekyll & Hyde BBQ shares unique sweet and spicy BBQ from their food truck and through catering services. L to R: Mindy Gross, Tom Hackl, Ava Gross, Elyse Gross, James Gaspar, Nick Verzani, Garrett Gross (co-owner), Gracie Gross, Tom Ries, April Meyerink, Mike Hauck and Koleson Verzani.

NEW MEMBER

44 Chamber News | SEPTEMBER 2018

JJ’s Wine, Spirits & Cigars

3000 W. 57TH ST. siouxfallswine.com After 20 years at the corner of 57th and Western, JJ’s Wine, Spirits & Cigars has moved and expanded, creating an enhanced adult beverage retail experience. L to R: Michael Callis, Mark Lee, Brittany Elsasser, Jay Soukup, Tom Slattery (owner), Mark Luke, Jean Slattery, Mike Hauck, Jennifer Miller and Paul Squyer.

NEW LOCATION

Legacy Law Firm, P.C.

7404 S. BITTERROOT PL. legacylawfirmpc.com Legacy Law Firm is a boutique firm that provides legal services specializing in estate planning, elder law, and business planning. L to R: Ryan Pomerleau, Joanna Pomerleau, James Gaspar, April Meyerink, Julie Nelson, Jayna Voss (cofounder), Bobbie Thury (co-founder), Felan Link, Laurie Knutson, Mark Luke and Adam Oster.

NEW LOCATION

INTERNET & NETWORKING DATA CENTER PHONE CABLE TV ADVERTISING

MIDCO WORKS FOR GRAHAM TIRE

Midco.com/Business • 1.800.888.1300 © 2018 Midcontinent Communications. All rights reserved.

chambernews.com | Chamber News 45

RIBBON CUTTINGS Power & Grace Gymnastics

4225 N. BOBHALLA DR. powerandgrace.com Power & Grace Gymnastics provides classes for the full spectrum of movement education through gymnastics. L to R: Alyssia Gilbert, Mark Luke, Stacy Wrightsman, Dennis Champoux (owner), Mike Hauck, Kathy Champoux (owner), Jay Soukup, James Gaspar and Katie Thompson.

NEW LOCATION

Sanford House

EXPANSION

2335 E. 60TH ST. N. The Sanford Health Foundation celebrates the official grand opening of the Sanford House, a tribute to health care’s greatest philanthropist, Denny Sanford, and the power of giving. L to R: Kelsey Sweeney, Kelby Krabbenhoft, Bobbie Tibbetts (vice president), Monsignor Trafny, Denny Sanford, Micah Aberson (chief global brand officer), Karla Santi, Erica Beck, Mark Luke and Deb Koski.

The Sauna Haus

1511 E. 69TH ST. thesaunahaus.com The Sauna Haus provides infrared sauna therapy and dry salt therapy in a spa-like environment.

L to R: Roger Lien, Bobbie Thury, Lori Meyer (owner), Jay Soukup, Richard Meyer, Nancy Weber-Sweere, Rhiannon Israel and Stefanie Engebretson.

NEW MEMBER

See the Trainer

715 S. MINNESOTA AVE. seethetrainer.com See the Trainer is a sports medicine and orthopedic bracing franchise that is excited to join the Sioux Falls market. L to R: Shelby Baatz, Jay Soukup, Janel Cole, April Meyerink, Tyler Brown (president), Katie Brown, Jason Ball, Kristin Hoefert-Redlinger and Sandy Brown.

NEW MEMBER

WoodRiver Energy, LLC

101 S. REID ST., SUITE 307 woodriverenergy.com WoodRiver Energy is a Certified Natural Gas supplier to MidAmerican Energy commercial and industrial customers and works on a no-cost, utility-backed program. L to R: April Meyerink, Mark Luke, Jay Soukup, Laurie Knutson, Craig Gertsch, Michelle Markgraf and James Gaspar.

NEW MEMBER

46 Chamber News | SEPTEMBER 2018

New Members Ameriprise Financial Services Dagel, Jakober & Associates Financial Planning Matthew Sowden, (605) 332-4600 5120 S. Western Ave. #101, 57108 ameripriseadvisors.com/team/dageljakober-associates

Baker Audiology & Hearing Aids

Hearing Aids Melissa Baker and Tyler Baker, (605) 951-1995 429 W. 69th St., 57108 siouxfallshearing.com

Bella Rosa Flower Market

Florists-Retail Ann Summa, (605) 271-2637 421 N. Phillips Ave., Suite 123, 57104 bellarosamarket.com

The Blarney Stone Sioux Falls Restaurants Russ Wanner, (605) 274-0103 333 S. Phillips Ave., 57104 blarneyirishpub.com

Blue Lion Aerial Imaging Aerial Video & Photography Cody Hanthorn bluelionaerialimaging.com

Cabinet Specialist

Cabinet Manufacturing, Sales Mark Stordahl, (605) 595-0554 P.O. Box 89423, 57109 cabinetspecialistllc.com

Cufflinks, Inc.

Wholesale Jewelry Adam Broin, (605) 550-4393 cufflinks.com

Dakota Seafood Sioux Falls Grocers-Wholesale Travis Peterson, (605) 681-4332 5009 S. Western Ave., 57108 dakotaseafood.com

New members are printed in each issue of Chamber News. Following is a list of businesses or individuals who have invested in the greater community by joining the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce.

An online Membership Directory can be found at siouxfallschamber.com. Want to become a member?

Call (605) 336-1620.

Dakota Underground Media / KBACK Radio Stations Frank Anderson, (605) 271-1539 401 E. 8th St., Suite 221, 57103 kback.rocks

Discovery Realty Group

Real Estate-Residential Destinie Marshall, (605) 521-5891 6300 W. Connie Ave., 57108 discoveryrealtygroup.com

Guaranteed Rate, Inc

Mortgages Steve Ennis, (605) 799-4938 101 S. Reid St. Suite 307, 57103 rate.com/steveennis

Jekyll & Hyde BBQ

Restaurants Garrett Gross, (605) 251-6370

Keller Williams Realty Thomas Richards

Redeemed Surfaces

Short Staffed, Inc.

Painting Contractors Esteban Rodriguez, (605) 254-6139 facebook.com/redeemedsurfaces

Employment Agencies Jason Grieve, (605) 799-7575 1600 E. 10th St., 57103 shortstaffed.com

Reliabank - Humboldt Branch

Turks & Caicos Cabana Grille

Associate Member Adam Lund, (605) 363-3808 1003 2nd Ave., Humboldt, 57035 reliabank.com

Restaurants Tim Meagher, (605) 271-7500 5001 W. Western Ave., 57104 cabanagrille.net

Reliabank - Tea Branch

Tyler Goff Group Hegg Realtors

Associate Member Jenni White, (605) 498-3683 720 E. Kevin Dr., Tea, 57064 reliabank.com

Real Estate-Residential Tyler Goff, (605) 413-4103 5800 S Remington Pl., Suite 100, 57108 tylergoffgroup.com

Rust & Co.

Retail Stacey Utrera 5005 S. Western Ave., Suite 100 57108 shoprustandco.com

Village Cooperative of Sioux Falls

Senior Living Tina Farber, (605) 824-0553 3220 W. 57th St., 57108 villagecooperative.com

Real Estate Thomas Richards, (605) 275-0555 6300 S. Connie Ave., 57108 thomasrichards.yourkwagent.com

Keller Williams Realty of Sioux Falls - Mandra Kruse Real Estate - Residential Mandra Kruse, (605) 777-3039 6300 S. Connie Ave., 57108 mandrakruse.kw.com

Luca’s Boutique

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Retail Luca Papini, (605) 212-2655 401 E. 8th St., Suite 122, 57103 lucas.boutique

Marie & Marie Bridal

Bridal Shops Kayla Thompson, (605) 206-5773 229 S. Phillips Ave., 57104 marieandmariebridal.com

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chambernews.com | Chamber News 47

MEMBERSHIP

Member Anniversaries

Congratulations to the following members who are celebrating their milestone membership anniversaries this month. They are part of a continued commitment to our community through their investment in the 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.

30 YEARS

10 YEARS

1ST YEAR REINVESTORS

Men’s Clothing halberstadtsmenswear.com

Moving & Storage brouwerrelocation.com

Construction advantageseamlessguttersllc.com

Halberstadt’s Men’s Clothing Junior Achievement of South Dakota

Brouwer Relocation Inc.

Advantage Seamless Gutters, LLC

Cask & Cork

American Trust Insurance

Coffea Roasterie

Careers Unlimited Staffing LLC

HealthSource Chiropractic & Progressive Rehab

Center for the Prevention of Child Maltreatment

Jenny Craig

Color Me Mine Sioux Falls

20 YEARS

Weight Control Service jennycraig.com

Real Estate-Commercial assamcompanies.com

State Farm Insurance - Jill Van Ede

Customs Direct

Associate Member jasd.org

25 YEARS

Make-A-Wish South Dakota Associate Member southdakota.wish.org

Sisson Printing, Inc. Printers sissonprintinginc.com

Assam Companies Cyntom Property Management, Inc. Property Management cyntom.com

Frost Mortgage Lending Group Mortgages FrostMortgageSiouxFalls.com

Wine-Wholesale caskncork.com

Coffee Shop coffearoasterie.com

Chiropractors, DC healthsourcechiro.com/sioux-falls-south

Insurance jillvanede.com

Vanessen’s Hair Design

Beauty Salons, Supplies, Equipment vanessenshairdesign.com

Zoetis

Insurance americantrustins.net

Employment Agencies dakotacareers.com

Associate Member sdcpcm.com

Ceramics - Equipment & Supplies siouxfalls.colormemine.com

Consultants

East River Legal Services Associate Member erlservices.org

kRav’N

Associate Member

Restaurants kravn.com

Hotels & Motels hiexpress.com/siouxfallssd

5 YEARS

Krumvieda Companies / AKB Development

Siouxland K & K Construction, Inc.

Hotels & Motels siouxfallscomfortinnandsuites.com

Holiday Inn Express Hotels & Suites

Concrete Contractors

Comfort Inn & Suites

Julie Prairie Photography

15 YEARS

Photography julieprairie.com

Chiropractors, DC dakotachiropractic.com

Krohmer Plumbing, Inc.

Dakota Chiropractic & Wellness Center

Plumbing , Heating & Cooling Contractors krohmerplumbing.com

Right at Home Home Health Care rahsesd.com

Walls by Waldner, Inc.

Drywall & Plastering Contractor wallsbywaldner.com

Worthington Tractor Parts, Inc. Farm Equipment wtpinc.com

48 Chamber News | SEPTEMBER 2018

Developers krumviedacompanies.com

Pahl’s Designer Showroom Lighting Fixtures pahlsshowrooms.com

RL Real Estate Group Real Estate rlrealestategroup.com

South Dakota Miss Amazing Associate Member sd.missamazing.org

Sport Bowl, Inc.

Bowling siouxfallssportbowl.com

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.

Manufacturer's success in Sioux Falls led to regional expansion

In 1902, Lawrence D. Manchester decided to move his one-man biscuit operation from Luverne, Minnesota to Sioux Falls. The first location in South Dakota was a small, one-oven building; but by 1915, business was thriving, and a six-story factory was constructed at 205 E. Sixth St. At this location, Manchester Biscuit Co. produced all types of cracker and biscuit products such as Waldorf crackers, graham crackers and sugar wafers.

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In 1930, United Biscuit Co. absorbed Manchester Biscuit, and Lawrence Manchester became its president until he died later that year. In 1966, United Biscuit would change its name to Keebler.

By 1937, Manchester Biscuit Co./United Biscuit Co. had branches throughout South Dakota and in Nebraska, with a second factory in Fargo, North Dakota. At one point, the Sioux Falls factory employed 450 workers.

United Biscuit Co. ended operations in Sioux Falls in 1960, and Raven Industries purchased the Manchester Biscuit building in 1961, which they still occupy today.

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chambernews.com | Chamber News 49

FIVE QUESTIONS

Five questions is a monthly feature on a Chamber volunteer, Chamber member or staff member.

Want to be featured here? Call (605) 336-1620.

Five questions with Stacy Wrightsman Stacy Wrightsman is a Public Affairs Director for Sanford Health and is serving as the Event Chair for the Chamber’s 112th Annual Meeting. An active Chamber member, Wrightsman is currently a Chamber Diplomat and is Vice Chair of the Business Leadership Council. She also serves on the boards of Levitt at the Falls and the Boys & Girls Club of the Sioux Empire and as a member of the Convention & Visitor’s Bureau Advisory Council. Wrightsman and her husband Dan have two sons, Gavin and Nolan.

Why do you choose to volunteer your time for the Chamber?

Two main reasons. First – it is the opportunity to build long-standing, trusted relationships with other Chamber members and volunteers. Working alongside these professionals, aimed at a common goal and focus, has been a strong cord that has woven together some of my best friendships and working relationships. Second, corporate collaboration is alive and well in Sioux Falls. It is, in part, what has made us Forbes’ Best Small Place for Business and Careers, 9th strongest economy in the U.S. (Policom) and the 9th Happiest and Healthiest Cities in the Country (Prevention Magazine.) While all that is something to celebrate, we are also tapping into successes we can glean from entrepreneurs and other non-traditional economic drivers. It is definitely something I want to be part of!

STACY WRIGHTSMAN Sanford Health

Describe your perfect day in Sioux Falls.

Sunshine. Relaxing on a patio. Playing in the park. Visiting the Zoo. Laughter.

Hanging with Spinosaurus at the Washington Pavilion. Exploring downtown and the Sculpture Walk. Endless opportunities to make memories. Never a dull day in the great city of Sioux Falls!

What might someone be surprised to learn about you?

When I share that I’m really an introvert I usually get some puzzled looks... I am not a shy person but I do really treasure my quiet, reflective time. While I love connecting with people, I prefer opportunities where I can know someone on a more personal level. The great thing is through my work at Sanford Health, I get to do just that, offering a listening ear and being available to those who have a question or a need that I might be able to assist.

What is a skill that you would like to learn and why?

Professionally, I would like to develop my public speaking and the art of facilitation.

While I am comfortable speaking in public, I strongly desire to develop this skill to be a more effective communicator. Personally, this fall I will be stretching my athletic prowess, learning some new skills physically and completely getting out of my comfort zone. Stay tuned…

Describe a challenge facing our community today. Any ideas on how to tackle it?

The lack of quality face-to-face communication. So much of what I learned about how to do business in Sioux Falls came from those who helped develop our successful collaborative approach. I wonder if some of the authenticity in our conversations, some of the respect shown to others, even those with whom we disagree, is bypassed due to busy lifestyles, social media, technology and the like. We need to be able to disagree respectfully and feel safe to share our thoughts and ideas as a city, region and as a nation. The answer isn’t easy. It’s not a one-time training or class on how to have honest dialogue. Rather, it’s learning from one another, expanding my own world view and perspective, listening and mentorship. Sioux Falls is a great “big” little city and we owe it to all our neighbors to be willing to learn, listen and respect one another.

50 Chamber News | SEPTEMBER 2018

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