Billie Sutton Leadership Institute announces 2024 class
April 26, 2024
The Billie Sutton Leadership Institute’s sixth year is underway, offering both the Sutton Leaders and Rural POWER programs.
Sixteen members of the new class met for a training seminar this past weekend in Oacoma to kick off the yearlong leadership development program.
The programming offers “impactful training and opportunities for learning, networking and growth,” said Sutton, a former state senator, 2018 candidate for governor of South Dakota and founder of the Sutton Leadership Institute.
“These folks are leading in communities big and small, and we are proud to support them as they take on ambitious new plans to make a difference throughout South Dakota.”
Sutton Leaders is the institute’s original program, now in its sixth year, focused on leadership development, community engagement and public service across South Dakota. Those members are:
- Angelica Mercado-Ford, Sioux Falls.
- Dustin Calhoun, Rapid City.
- Kaleb Hartley, Wagner.
- Kehala Two Bulls, Rapid City.
- Lara Thiem, Sioux Falls.
- Lauren Nikolas, Aberdeen.
- Sara Telahun Birhe, Sioux Falls.
- Stephanie Hanson, Brookings.
- Zach Dickson, Sioux Falls.
Rural POWER, now in its fourth year, seeks to grow a new generation of rural leaders and encourage involvement in local rural cooperatives providing essential services to South Dakota communities. Those members are:
- Danielle Duxbury, Wessington Springs.
- Danielle Kucera, Winner.
- Dustin Christensen, Hamill.
- Jeff Thaler, Sioux Falls.
- Liz Renner, Yankton.
- Margaret Doom, Wagner.
- Sydney Schad, Lantry.
