April 6, 2021

This week’s Up-and-Comer is Nathan Kerkvliet, an e-commerce developer at JDS Industries.

Name: Nathan Kerkvliet

Age: 29

Hometown: Larchwood, Iowa

What brought you to Sioux Falls?

I grew up in the area.

What keeps you in Sioux Falls?

Having easy access to city and rural attractions.

What’s your favorite thing about your job?

Solving problems for all aspects of a business from HR to marketing to accounting. As a developer, I get involved with everything software facilitates on a day-to-day basis.

How did you get connected to your industry?

I enjoyed developing e-commerce platforms in the past, and the position at JDS was a really good fit for my knowledge and background.

Describe JDS in three words.

Strategic, professional, connected.

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

While in the Air Guard, I went overseas with four different units, and I made stops in eight countries.

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

Donating my time to volunteer opportunities like at local hospitals.

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

I’d like to have a game developer or board game publisher set up shop here.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

In the next five years, I plan to expand my skill set and continue to better the JDS e-commerce platform to match the highest standards of an ever-changing industry.