Iowa native finds tech career in Sioux Falls

Oct. 2, 2018

This week’s Up-and-Comer is Donald Van Raalte, a division manager at Interstates.

Name: Donald Van Raalte

Age: 36

Hometown: Larchwood, Iowa

What brought you to Sioux Falls?

About five years ago, my wife and I decided that we wanted to move to a city that offered more activities and educational opportunities for our kids. Growing up nearby in northwest Iowa, I’ve always thought of Sioux Falls as a good place to live and work, and because Interstates already had an office there, Sioux Falls was a logical choice and an easy move.

What keeps you in Sioux Falls?

There’s something special about the people in Sioux Falls. We have wonderful neighbors, and my family has made a lot of great friendships here. In terms of size and feel, the city has struck a perfect balance between large and small. With how much my family loves this community, it’s hard to imagine living anywhere else.

What’s your favorite thing about your job?

Working at Interstates has allowed me to work on a great team that uses software to solve problems in a variety of industries. It’s really exciting to see name-brand products on the shelf that I know are safer, higher quality and less expensive because of the software that my team has developed.

How did you get connected to your industry?

In the summer after third grade, I bought “IBM PC” by Larry Goldstein at a garage sale and learned to program in BASIC. I’ve been creating software to solve problems ever since.

Describe Interstates in three words.

Needs to results.

What’s one business you’d like to see in Sioux Falls that isn’t here now?

May I dream big? I’d love to have a top 100 technology company like Amazon or Alphabet have an office in Sioux Falls.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

With all the potential in software that is still out there, I’d like to be leading a larger and growing team that delivers software products and services that truly make everyone’s lives better.

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Iowa native finds tech career in Sioux Falls

This week’s Up-and-Comer is Donald Van Raalte, a division manager at Interstates.

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