May 28, 2024

Forty professionals have been named to the next class of Leadership South Dakota.

It’s the 11th class for the statewide program, which provides participants with the background, unique experiences and insights necessary to be successful in leadership positions.

The class will spend eight months visiting communities and hearing from leaders across the state.

Those selected are:

• Katie Bartling, Sammons Financial Group, Sioux Falls
• Jamie Boettcher, South Dakota Department of Education, Spearfish
• Melissa Dellman, SDN Communications, Chester
• Melissa Dittberner, University of South Dakota, Volin
• Timothy Doyle, Rapid City Police Department, Rapid City
• Dory Hanson, Deadwood Chamber of Commerce, Lead
• Ashley Hobbs, Mitchell United Way, Mitchell
• Kari Hybertson, First Interstate Bank, Sioux Falls
• Jason Kann, Co-op Architecture, Brandon
• Megan Kjose, Feeding South Dakota, Sioux Falls
• Matthew Knippling, SDSU Extension, Flandreau
• Jessica Larson, Sicaŋgu Co., Mission
• Terry Liggins, TLC Services and Hurdle Life Coach Foundation, Sioux Falls
• Kimberly Lofgren, Mitchell Area Chamber of Commerce & Development Corp., Mitchell
• Sara Lum, Startup Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls
• April Meyerink, American Bank & Trust, Sioux Falls
• Dustin Morrison, Pennington County Sheriff’s Department, Rapid City
• Eric Nelson, Black Hills Energy, Rapid City
• Kelly Nelson, South Dakota Community Foundation, Pierre
• Traci Nord, Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center, Sioux Falls
• Bryce Pattison, Premier Bankcard, Sioux Falls
• Angela Rans, NorthWestern Energy, Huron
• Aaron Riswold, Poet, Dell Rapids
• David Rogers, Sanford Health, Sioux Falls
• Floyd Rummel, First Premier Bank, Madison
• Liz Schiefen, MarketBeat, Mitchell
• Ryan Schmidtman, Sanford Health, Sioux Falls
• Jimmy Seward, Monument Health, Sturgis
• Jody Shaw Hernandez, Boys & Girls Club of the Northern Plains, Brookings
• Alana Snyder, 605 Magazine and 605 Creative Co., Sioux Falls
• Michelle Socia, Marsh McLennan Agency, Watertown
• Thad Titze, Robins Kaplan LLP, Sioux Falls
• Katey Ulrich, USD Knudson School of Law, Vermillion
• Dave Van Nieuwenhuizen, Journey Construction, Sioux Falls
• Sara Vande Kamp, Southeast Technical College/South Dakota Department of Education, Sioux Falls
• Sara Waldner, Lawrence & Schiller, Sioux Falls
• Adam Walsh, First International Bank & Trust, Harrisburg
• Jamie Ward, South Dakota Trust Co., Sioux Falls
• Tara Yost, On Hand Development Corp., Miller
• Heather Zinter, Valley Queen Cheese, Milbank

“This year’s class is full of incredible leaders. Our selection committee had to choose from an impressive list of nearly 80 folks from across South Dakota, and they did a great job,” executive director John Meyer said. “The team and I are anxious to get started with this class in September, and I personally am excited for year two at the helm of this important organization.”