May 29, 2026

This week’s Up-and-Comer is Jackson Lunstra, customer care manager at Furniture Mart USA.

Name: Jackson Lunstra

Age: 24

Hometown: Sioux Falls

What brought you to Sioux Falls?

I grew up here, so Sioux Falls has always been home. It’s where my roots are — my family, my friends and a lot of great memories. I went to Washington High School, so the east side really makes me feel close to home.

What keeps you in Sioux Falls?

Our community has a perfect balance. We get all the great elements of an urban environment but the benefits of a small-town feel. It’s everything that feels like home to me.

What’s your favorite thing about your job?

I love helping customers throughout their entire journey with Furniture Mart USA. Our division is really focused on taking care of people and making sure they feel like family, not just a customer. It’s rewarding to work with my team to find ways to make the experience even better.

How did you get connected to your industry?

Before Furniture Mart USA, I was managing a local pizza chain here in town. My brother told me about an opportunity at FMUSA, so I decided to make the jump and try something new.

I was new to the furniture industry and started as an associate, working my way into a supervisory role. Now, I help with quality assurance and improvement, and help our people be their best every day. It’s been a great opportunity to develop my own leadership skills too.

Describe your workplace in three words.

Dynamic, evolving, motivating.

What is something someone might be surprised to learn about you?

I played the guitar and lacrosse growing up. Lacrosse is a unique sport for South Dakota – I always tell people it’s like hockey but different.

What’s your favorite way to give back to your community?

For me, giving back is about serving people. This can be at work and in the community. That’s one of the reasons customer care is such a great fit for me. We get to help solve problems, support customers and make a positive impact each day.

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

I’d love to see Krispy Kreme make a comeback. There used to be one here! Although it’s worth mentioning, my girlfriend would vote for Cheesecake Factory.

If you had $1 million to start a business, what kind of business would it be?

That’s a great question. I’d start a landscaping business. We’d start with residential projects and scale up to commercial work. I like the idea of building something from the ground up and seeing the results in real time.