Oct. 28, 2025

This week’s Up-and-Comer is Shaina Goedtke, a Realtor at White Spruce Real Estate/Keller Williams, one of four recipients of this year’s 4 Under 40 awards from the Realtor Association of the Sioux Empire Inc.

Name: Shaina Goedtke

Age: 33

Hometown: Santa Rosa, California

What brought you to Sioux Falls?

While I was technically born here, I moved with my mom at the age of 5 to California. I spent 15 years there and returned back to South Dakota for college. I attended SDSU for early childhood education.

What keeps you in Sioux Falls?

I’ve visited my whole life as most of my immediate family lives in surrounding towns. I always enjoyed the small-town feel with big-city amenities nearby. I also love the warm hospitality and friendly farmer waves. I envisioned myself back here one day — raising a family.

What’s your favorite thing about your job? 

How can I pick one?! Letting my creative juices flow, taking what I loved so much from teaching — using my creativity for marketing and standing out among the 1,000 other agents, teaching others, making sure my clients are well informed. Communication is one of my top priorities. The cherry on top is seeing and feeling my client’s excitement closing on their first home — something they didn’t know was so attainable. I love seeing them proud of their accomplishment.

How did you get connected to your industry?

2020 — COVID — was my breaking point as a teacher. I knew I wasn’t going to last forever as a teacher. I kept hoping that someone would reach out to me and offer me a job I didn’t know I needed. Ha! When that wasn’t happening, I took matters into my own hands. After many nights thinking and praying, I found myself excited — yet nervous — for a self-employed position of real estate! I loved the “flexible” hours and how the opportunities were endless!

Describe your workplace in three words.

Positive, driven and purposeful.

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

I have a fear/dislike for animals — all of them really!

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

Spotlighting Sioux Falls — creating content that shares local businesses that I love and trust! Also, over the last year, I have thoroughly enjoyed volunteering at the St. Francis House. It fills my cup!

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

Trader Joe’s! For the love, please!