Movers & Shakers features new hires, promotions and awards involving top executives and organizations. For consideration, email [email protected]. Guaranteed placement is provided only to partners of SiouxFalls.Business.

Avera

Several Avera and Avera partner hospitals have been named to the Top 100 Rural & Community Hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals lists by the Chartis Center for Rural Health. In addition, Avera Queen of Peace Hospital in Mitchell was named as a top 20 hospital by the National Rural Health Association. Top 100 Rural & Community Hospitals: Avera Queen of Peace Hospital, Mitchell; Avera Sacred Heart Hospital, Yankton; Avera St. Luke’s Hospital, Aberdeen; Avera St. Mary’s Hospital, Pierre; and Lakes Regional Healthcare, Spirit Lake, Iowa. Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals: Avera Hand County Memorial Hospital, Miller; Community Memorial Hospital Avera, Redfield; and Pipestone County Medical Center & Family Clinic Avera, Pipestone, Minnesota.

Good Samaritan Society

Three Good Samaritan Society leaders have been recognized as McKnight’s Women of Distinction Award winners. The program honors standouts in skilled nursing, senior living and home care. All nominees’ credentials, backgrounds and results are studied by a national independent panel of judges.

Hall of Honor: Aimee Middleton, vice president of operations.

Rising Stars: Katie Davis, senior director, long-term care, Minnesota; and Desirae Toomey, administrator, home- and community-based services, Sanford Hospice.

Dakota Business Finance/South Eastern Development Foundation

Erik Barnes has been hired as a senior loan officer for Dakota Business Finance and the South Eastern Development Foundation. Barnes has been in commercial lending for five years and has worked with Dakota Business Finance on a number of SBA 504 loans and Development Foundation loans.

The Event Company

The Event Company has added two staff members.

Ariana Mount is an events and communications specialist. She has a background in media relations, coupled with event planning experience.

Jess Widmark is an event brand designer. She has a background in social media management, event planning, graphic design, print and digital design, and website design.

First Premier Bank

First Premier Bank has promoted Julie Burtis to senior private banking assistant. Burtis has more than 20 years of professional experience and joined the bank in 2012.

 

RSA

Keith Neuharth and Justin Oleson, both longtime associates of RSA, have acquired partial ownership of the architecture firm. Neuharth joined RSA in 1998. He is a principal architect and the vice president of operations. Oleson has dedicated his career to RSA, joining the firm upon graduation from North Dakota State University in 2006. He is a principal architect and the vice president of talent and technology.

Sioux Empire United Way

The Sioux Empire United Way has presented its annual awards to its volunteers and outstanding business partners with the conclusion of its fundraising campaign.

Robin Prunty, Larry Oppold Memorial Award.

Amy Carter, Helen E. (Oppold) Blair Memorial Award.

Ashley Janish, Brent Weiler Bulldog Award.

Jeremy Roemen, Rich Garry Rookie of the Year Award.

Aerostar, Business of the Year Award.

Dakota Vascular, Business of the Year Award.

Journey Group, Business of the Year Award.

Tom Heller, Heart Club Philanthropist Award.

Brenda Kibbe, Volunteer of the Year Award.

Chuck Hendrickson, David Birkeland Memorial Award.

South Dakota Board of Regents

Brian Maher, executive director and CEO of the South Dakota Board of Regents, has announced his resignation effective at the end of his contract, which runs through June. He started in June 2020. Nathan Lukkes, the board’s current chief of staff and general counsel, will succeed Maher. Lukkes started at the Board of Regents as the system assistant vice president for research and economic development. Before that, he served as the deputy commissioner of the South Dakota Governor’s Office of Economic Development and as an attorney in Sioux Falls. Lukkes also served for 10 years in the South Dakota Army National Guard.

South Dakota Chamber of Commerce & Industry

The South Dakota Chamber of Commerce & Industry has presented its annual awards.

Business Legislative Advocate: Dana Dykhouse, CEO of First Premier Bank, to honor his passion for education and his instrumental role in creating many scholarship opportunities in South Dakota, including the needs-based South Dakota Freedom Scholarship, assisting the state’s workforce.

Distinguished Legislative Service: The group of individuals who developed a plan, passed legislation and successfully argued what is known as the Wayfair decision before the U.S. Supreme Court. The decision opened the door for tax collections from out-of-state businesses doing business in South Dakota. Recipients are Attorney General Marty Jackley, Rep. Gary Cammack, former legislator Deb Peters, former South Dakota Retailers Association executive director Shawn Lyons who now is a program specialist for the South Dakota Department. of Game Fish & Parks, Bureau of Administration Deputy Commissioner Andy Gerlach and Department of Revenue Business Tax Division director Doug Schinkel.

Outstanding Public Service Award: A group of women who served in Cabinet-level positions under multiple governors. Recipients are Pam Roberts, the only person in state history to hold Cabinet-level positions for five governors; Doneen Hollingsworth, who served as secretary of health from 1995-2015; Sandy Zinter, who served 18 years in state government as commissioner of the Bureau of Human Resources; and Deb Bowman, posthumously, who served as a senior adviser for three governors and led the Department of Social Services under one governor.

Lifetime Achievement Award: Greg Dean, posthumously. Dean’s career spanned work with the South Dakota Centennial Commission; serving as a senior policy adviser to Govs. George Mickelson and Walter Dale Miller; vice president of the South Dakota Chamber of Commerce & Industry; director of industry relations with the South Dakota Telecommunications Association; government affairs specialist for the South Dakota Rural Electric Association; and his many years as a trusted lobbyist.

South Dakota Department of Tourism

Travel South Dakota’s Go Great Places integrated marketing campaign has been honored with a platinum Adrian Award after taking gold in an initial round of judging. The award is from the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International. The campaign was developed in partnership with Lawrence & Schiller of Sioux Falls, MMGY Global of Kansas City and Miles Partnership of Denver.