Movers & Shakers features new hires, promotions and awards involving top executives and organizations. For consideration, email [email protected].

Avera Health

Sarah Henderson, vice president of supply chain at Avera Health, has been named to a list of 10 people to watch in health care contracting by The Journal of Healthcare Contracting.

Julie Lautt, Avera Health chief financial officer and interim president and CEO, has been named to the list of “182 Women Hospital and Health System CFOs to Know” by Becker’s Hospital Review. Lautt has been with Avera for 24 years.

Avera Health chief philanthropy officer Dzenan Berberovic has been named to the  Becker’s Hospital Review list of “Rising Stars: Healthcare Leaders Under 40.” Berberovic joined Avera nearly six years ago and has served in his current role since 2020.

Davenport, Evans, Hurwitz & Smith

Eighteen lawyers at Davenport, Evans, Hurwitz & Smith LLP have been listed in Best Lawyers 2024 for South Dakota in 22 practice areas.

• Mary Akkerman: trusts and estates.
• Reece Almond: commercial litigation.
• Jean Bender: employee benefits, or ERISA, law and employment law – management.
• Jonathan Brown: closely held companies and family businesses law, corporate law, mergers and acquisitions law, and real estate law.
• Justin Clarke: litigation – insurance.
• Daniel Donohue: closely held companies and family businesses law, real estate law, trusts and estates.
• Shane Eden: commercial litigation.
• Thomas Frankman: bet-the-company litigation, commercial litigation and personal injury litigation – defendants.
• Keith Gauer: bankruptcy and creditor debtor rights/insolvency and reorganization law, corporate law and litigation – banking and finance.
• Charles Gullickson: banking and finance, and financial services regulation law.
• Douglas Hajek: banking and finance, corporate law, financial services regulation law, government relations practice, and mergers and acquisitions law.
• Robert Hayes: bankruptcy and creditor debtor rights / insolvency and reorganization law, bet-the-company litigation and litigation – bankruptcy.
• Dixie Hieb: banking and finance; business organizations, including LLCs and partnerships; closely held companies and family business law; and corporate law.
• Sarah Richardson Larson: elder law; employee benefits, or ERISA, law; and trusts and estates.
• Mitchell Peterson: commercial litigation, litigation – insurance, personal injury litigation – plaintiffs.
• Terry Prendergast: corporate law, real estate law, and trusts and estates.
• Brendan Reilly: business organizations, including LLCs and partnerships; closely held companies and family business law; corporate law; and mergers and acquisitions law.
• Vince Roche: litigation – trusts and estates.
• Eric Schulte: litigation – construction and litigation – insurance.

Eric Schulte

Mary Akkerman

In addition, two Davenport Evans lawyers were named Lawyers of the Year: Mary Akkerman for trusts and estates and Eric Schulte for litigation – insurance.

Kalen Biord

Elizabeth Hertz

Two lawyers were named Ones to Watch:  Kalen Biord for business organizations, including LLCs and partnerships, and tax law, and Elizabeth Hertz for appellate practice, commercial litigation, litigation – construction, family law and litigation – intellectual property.

Jennifer Uthe

First Premier Bank

Jennifer Uthe has been named lead receptionist for First Premier Bank at the main office in downtown Sioux Falls. Uthe joined the bank in 2001 and has 34 years of professional experience.

Robins Kaplan

Brendan Johnson

Robins Kaplan LLP partner Brendan Johnson has been named chair of the firm’s National Business Litigation Group, which includes more than 100 attorneys across all seven of the firm’s offices. Johnson will continue his active trial practice and remain co-chair of the firm’s Government and Internal Investigations Group. He joined Robins Kaplan in 2015 after serving as the U.S. attorney for the District of South Dakota.

South Dakota Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals

The South Dakota Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals will present its annual awards later this month as part of the organization’s 2023 National Philanthropy Day conference in Chamberlain.

• Outstanding Philanthropists of the Year: David and Janet Hovey Johnson.
• Outstanding Philanthropic Community: Hill City.
• Outstanding Philanthropic Corporation: West River Electric Association Inc.
• Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser: Janet Kahler of Rapid City.
• Outstanding Fundraising Professional: Richard “Dick” Bohy.