April 15, 2022

The fourth year of the Billie Sutton Leadership Institute includes the largest class so far.

Nine are members of the yearlong 2022 Sutton Leaders program. It focuses on leadership development, community engagement and public service across South Dakota. Those members are:

• Sydney Bartunek Bender, Sioux Falls.
• Cheyenne Chontos, Sioux Falls.
• Cante Heart, Summerset.
• Micah Lande, Rapid City.
• Molly O’Connor, Sioux Falls.
• James Payer II, Sioux Falls.
• Rachel Pfeifle, Rapid City.
• Katrin Profilet, Sioux Falls.
• Catherine Seeley, Pierre.

Seven are part of the Rural POWER program, which launched last year. Its goal is 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:

• Rebecca Blue, Huron.
• Brendan Farrell, Tea.
• Elizabeth Henderson, Buffalo.
• Tabitha Keller, McLaughlin.
• Jill Kessler, Eagle Butte.
• Heidi Kolbeck-Urlacher, Brandon.
• Bess Pallares, Brookings.

The nonpartisan Billie Sutton Leadership Institute is dedicated to inspiring and preparing the next generation of leaders to build a stronger South Dakota and more vibrant communities and workplaces through service to others. Sutton is a former state senator, 2018 candidate for governor of South Dakota and founder of the Billie Sutton Leadership Institute.