March 9, 2026

This piece is sponsored by Prairie Family Business Association.

Community and business leader Eric Erickson has been named the next executive director of the Prairie Family Business Association.

An outreach center of the USD Beacom School of Business, Prairie Family Business Association has a 34-year history of helping family business thrive through generations.

Erickson most recently served as vice president of corporate support for Friends of South Dakota Public Broadcasting, leading philanthropic fundraising efforts in support of South Dakota Public Broadcasting. During his tenure, he grew business support for SDPB by 91 percent in five years, built long-term partnerships with businesses and foundations across the state, and partnered closely with board leadership on governance and strategy.

Before that, he spent almost two decades growing his career in sales and account leadership for the telecommunications industry at SDN Communications, Alignex and CenturyLink.

Erickson is a Brandon native and graduate of South Dakota State University.

“We are delighted to welcome Eric Erickson to Prairie Family Business Association,” said Klaus Beckmann, interim dean of the USD Beacom School of Business. “Eric’s experience and vision will ensure a smooth transition and successful future of PFBA. The Beacom School of Business has a well-developed relationship with PFBA, which will continue to grow even stronger under Eric’s leadership.”

Erickson also brings a dedicated history of community involvement, including as board president of Downtown Sioux Falls Rotary, committee chair of the Sioux 52 Mentoring Initiative, board member and development chair of Family Visitation Center and a classroom volunteer for Junior Achievement. He’s a member of the inaugural class of Leadership South Dakota, mentors two students through LSS youth mentoring and serves on the steering committee for the Abbott House Brighter Futures campaign.

“PFBA has always been about relationships, shared learning and long-term success for family businesses. Eric understands that mission at its core. His proven ability to grow partnerships, build trust and work collaboratively with boards and business leaders positions us well for our next chapter.” said Christie Ernst, PFBA advisory board chair and second-generation leader at Lloyd Cos. “We are excited for the energy and vision he will bring to our members and the broader business community.”

We sat down with Erickson for a look at how he views the role ahead.

How do you think your previous experience positions you well for your new role?

My career has focused on connecting businesses with the resources they need to succeed. It starts with building trust and then developing a clear understanding of how a company operates and what will help it solve problems or become more productive. Every PFBA member has a different situation. My role is to understand those circumstances and connect members with the most helpful advisers, peers and learning opportunities available through the association. 

What has been eye-opening to you, or what have you found especially valuable as you’ve learned more about PFBA?

South Dakota has the highest rate of family-owned businesses in the country. For 34 years, Prairie Family Business Association has helped those companies navigate leadership transitions and grow across generations. What stands out to me is that the organization’s expertise now reaches far beyond its origin with members in more than two dozen states who rely on PFBA for succession planning, board development and peer connections with other family business leaders. 

What are some of your initial priorities as you take on your new role?

The immediate focus is the 2026 Family Business Conference. It is the premier annual gathering for family-owned businesses and the advisers who support them. I’m excited to support the team in the final preparations and then welcome more than 500 attendees to Sioux Falls for two days of learning and networking at the Canopy hotel. The relationships I begin building at the conference will be an important starting point in a role that is ultimately centered on trust and connections. 

Many family businesses are long-term members of PFBA. What’s your message to them in terms of what they can expect from you as a leader?

One of our core values is “Above and Beyond.” Many of our member families have invested their lives in building strong companies for their employees, customers and the next generation of owners. My responsibility is to make sure their connection to PFBA delivers real value. I want members to know that I will listen carefully, stay focused on what helps them succeed and continue strengthening the community that has made this organization so respected.

Connect today

Would your family business like to learn more about connecting with the resources of Prairie Family Business Association?

The annual conference is a great place to start. Visit here to learn more.