March 20, 2025

This paid piece is sponsored by Sioux Metro Growth Alliance.

From a growing community to a community advocate to a business that has served as a valuable resource, Sioux Metro Growth Alliance is honoring the people and places helping move the metro area forward.

SMGA president and CEO Tyler Tordsen presented the awards at the organization’s annual meeting and awards banquet.

“We’re fortunate to live in a state and region where the communities, the businesses and the people are looking out for each other and working on growing the region with future generations in mind,” Tordsen said. “All of us at SMGA continue to be proud of our members, partners and volunteers who make the work we do special and our collective impact on the region meaningful.”

South Dakota Lt. Gov. Tony Venhuizen addressed the event, which was attended by more than 140 community and business leaders from the region.

“Sioux Falls is a great city and a great place for me and my family to call home. South Dakota’s economic strength would not be possible without all the growth that Sioux Falls and the surrounding area have achieved in recent years,” he said.

“The Sioux Metro Growth Alliance is focused on keeping the metro area growing and thriving, and I was honored to join them today.”

Here’s a closer look at this year’s winners.

Community Innovation: City of Crooks

The Community Innovation award is granted to a member community that has demonstrated successful new ideas in community development or achieved a community goal through partnership and community effort. 

In Crooks, “they’ve got strong leaders, starting with Mayor Butch Oseby, then you have your city administrator Tobias Schantz — I’ve always enjoyed working with the both of them,” said Eric Pauli, community relations manager at Xcel Energy. “They’re always looking forward to what they can bring to the community in Crooks that will help both the businesses and the residents grow.”

Business Partner of the Year: ISG Inc.

The Business Partner of the Year award is given to a company, enterprise or entrepreneur doing business in the SMGA region that has shown outstanding community development support or regional economic development partnership activity during the preceding year.

ISG Inc. has been a major provider of engineering and architectural services for more than 50 years and has been serving the region since 2018. Their nationwide footprint has not stopped the ISG staff from being trusted leaders in the region.

“From my standpoint as mayor, I need someone who is willing to come to the table and say ‘hey, have you thought about this?’ rather than just going along with whatever I am saying,” Mayor Arden Jones of Hartford said.

Regional Economic Development Champion: Jeffery Tanner, executive director of the Canton Economic Development Corporation

The Regional Economic Development Champion award is granted to an individual living in or working in the region who has shown active support for community development through recent or cumulative past service to economic development and community enhancement. 

For his work in 2024, Jeffery Tanner was awarded SMGA’s Regional Economic Development Champion of the Year.

“Jeff is that person that just keeps following up, he keeps working with those prospects, and we’ve landed some good businesses in Canton because of it,” said Jon Frick, board member for CEDC.

Canton’s industrial growth “was stagnant,” Mayor Sandi Lundstrom added. “Since Jeff has been here, we’ve got three new businesses, and we are almost out of land, so we’re looking into expanding our park now.”

Board moves

During its annual meeting Wednesday, SMGA also welcomed new board member Jeff Eckhoff, planning and development services director for the city of Sioux Falls. Eckhoff is a familiar face to those who work in economic development, having previously led SMGA’s predecessor organizations, the Minnehaha County and Lincoln County economic development associations. Eckhoff is replacing outgoing board member Heather Kranz, CEO of TrioTel Communications in Salem.

SMGA also elected new officers for the 2025-26 term:

• Chair of the board – Mike Jaspers of East River Electric.
• Vice chair – Marcus Mahlen of NAI Sioux Falls.
• Secretary/treasurer – Dean Karsky, Minnehaha County Commission member.
• Past chair – Sharese Ihnen, Hegg Realtors.
• Membership advisory board chair – Dean Karsky.

For information on SMGA or to read the 2024 annual report, click here.