April 15, 2021

Dr. Vance Thompson has been named the South Dakota Sales and Marketing Executive of the Year by Sales and Marketing Executives Inc. of Sioux Falls.

SME Sioux Falls will present Thompson with the honor at the Sioux Falls Leadership Summit on June 1 at the Sioux Falls Convention Center.

“Dr. Thompson has changed the view many people have of South Dakota, quite literally, through this work at Vance Thompson Vision,” the organization said in a statement.

“As a world-renowned refractive and cataract eye surgeon, he has been an innovator in the field of ophthalmology since the beginning of his career, having been part of the FDA-monitored clinical trials that resulted in the approval of LASIK, one of the most successful elective procedures available. He and his practice have changed the model for eye surgeons by working collaboratively with primary eye care providers so that his team can focus on providing top-notch surgical and complex case care to patients.”

SME noted Thompson “believes in a team-first approach to customer service. He is known for being passionate about having a caring team and culture experience in order to create a caring patient or customer experience.”

Entrepreneur magazine recently named Vance Thompson Vision as one of the country’s top company cultures.

As co-owner in Jessup Cellars in Yountville, California, his award-winning staff recently won recognition for having the best tasting room experience and best wine club experience in the Napa Valley for the third year in a row.

In recent years, his practice has grown to include seven state-of-the-art clinic locations, 20 doctors and over 260 employees. This growth is only possible because of his dedication to developing a world-class team culture and a patient experience that is second to none, SME noted.

The Sioux Falls Leadership Summit is a new event hosted by SME Sioux Falls. For this inaugural event, renowned leadership expert John C. Maxwell will be the keynote speaker, along with local leader Tamien Dysart as the opening speaker.

In addition to honoring the South Dakota Sales and Marketing Executive of the Year, the event also will feature SME’s Rising in Excellence Award. This award will be presented to an SME Sioux Falls member age 25 to 45 who is viewed as a future leader and has contributed to the business community.

Tickets for the Sioux Falls Leadership Summit are $90. Tables also are available to purchase. Doors open at noon, and the event starts at 1 p.m. Visit smesiouxfalls.org for tickets and information.