Oct. 1, 2024

This week’s Up-and-Comer is Leah Friese, director of marketing and digital media for the Sioux Falls Development Foundation.

Name: Leah Friese

Age: 27

Hometown: Pipestone, Minnesota

What brought you to Sioux Falls?

Pipestone is a pretty small town, so when I was growing up, we came to Sioux Falls all the time to shop, see movies, etc., so it became like a second hometown to me. When it came time for me to decide where I wanted to go to college, I ended up picking Augustana University and had a great four years there. After graduating, I decided this is where I wanted to stay!

What keeps you in Sioux Falls?

Sioux Falls is the perfect place to call home. It’s big enough to have great shopping, dining and entertainment options, but small enough where you’ll walk down Phillips Avenue and be able to see people you know and stop and visit with them. My parents are only an hour away, and usually they come to Sioux Falls at least once a week. My three sisters are nearby, and several of my friends from high school and college are here too. Between the growth of the city and the great quality of life we have here, it’s a great place to be. That’s a pretty typical economic development-person answer, but it’s truly how I feel.

What’s your favorite thing about your job?

My favorite thing about my job is how meaningful it is! I really feel like I am doing work that’s positively impacting Sioux Falls. I get a firsthand look at some of the big projects going on, as well as play a small part in addressing the opportunities we have in front of us as a community. I’m happy to help in any way I can! I also love communicating about the work we’re doing! If you want to stay in the know, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and X.

How did you get connected to your industry?

When I was a senior at Augustana, I was a social media intern with the Foundation. Megan Jung, who was SFDF’s director of marketing at that time, was my boss. She taught me so much and was such a great mentor to me; I really had a great experience. After college, I worked in marketing at a bank here in town for two years. When this position became available, I gave it a shot. Now, here I am!

Describe your workplace in three words.

Exciting, rewarding and fun!

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

I speak Spanish! I don’t use it much day to day, but it comes in handy sometimes.

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

I love being a part of the Furniture Mission’s marketing committee. The Furniture Mission is a nonprofit organization that helps make houses into homes by providing gently used furniture and housewares to those in need. Things like a bed to sleep on and a table to eat dinner at are simple blessings that many of us take for granted, and it’s so rewarding to be a part of an organization that helps provide those types of items to people in need at no cost to them. If you have furniture or housewares you’d like to donate to a great cause, I’d invite you to consider the Furniture Mission!

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

I’d love to see a Dutch Bros Coffee! We have lots of Dutch people around here, including me, so I feel like we are due for one. If you’re ever near a Dutch Bros, be sure to try the Golden Eagle, and you’ll agree with me that we need one here.

If you had $1 million to start a business, what kind of business would it be?

It’s nothing super-groundbreaking or innovative, but I’d love to open a coffee and waffles spot! I love Black Coffee and Waffle Bar in Minneapolis, and the vibes and the coffee are so fun, I think it’d be a great fit for Sioux Falls.