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.

Alternative HR

Rhonda Toft has joined Alternative HR as an human resources consultant. Toft began her HR career with SPS Payment Systems and later served as HR director at Specialized Card Services and Household Finance, which later was acquired by HSBC. With HSBC, Toft worked as an employee relations specialist in the U.S. and Canada, and rose to the level of vice president. Her areas of expertise are executive leadership, employee relations, national and global HR management, workplace investigations, and negotiation and dispute resolution.

Augustana University

Augustana University alumna Eleanor Weckwerth, class of 2023, and professor of physics Eric Wells, Ph.D., were part of a research team that was published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Communications. Weckwerth and Wells joined researchers from Kansas State and Michigan State universities to publish “Initial state characterization of hydrogen migration following strong-field double-ionization of ethanol.” KSU and MSU scientists performed the experiment, and Weckwerth — who triple majored in physics, mathematics and chemistry — led the data analysis. Weckwerth, who is pursuing a graduate degree in physics from Stanford University, worked on the project for more than two years while she was an Augustana student.

Sanford Health Plans

Dr. Tommy Ibrahim has been named president and CEO of Sanford Health Plans. Irbahim most recently served as president and CEO of Bassett Healthcare Network in Cooperstown, New York. Last year, he spoke in Sioux Falls at the Summit on the Future of Rural Health Care. Ibrahim succeeds John Snyder, who is retiring this year. Snyder will stay on in an advisory role as Ibrahim moves into the new role.

Ballard Spahr

Daniel Fritz is the new Sioux Falls office managing attorney for Ballard Spahr. Fritz joined Lindquist & Vennum when it expanded to Sioux Falls in 2012 and became part of Ballard Spahr when the firms merged in 2018.

 

Caliber

Kaitlyn Berens has joined Caliber as an account coordinator. She most recently worked as an in-house marketing specialist.

 

 

City of Dell Rapids

Steve McFarland is the new city administrator for Dell Rapids. He most recently served in the same role in Spearfish.

 

 

Dakota Credit Union Association

Jeff Olson, president and CEO of the Dakota Credit Union Association, has been named as a member of the transitional board of directors of the new America’s Credit Unions. The organization is the result of a merger between Credit Union National Association and National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions. DakCU is the professional financial trade association that serves 64 credit unions in South Dakota and North Dakota.

Davenport, Evans, Hurwitz & Smith

Ashley Brost has become a partner in Davenport, Evans, Hurwitz & Smith LLP. Brost, who joined the law firm in 2018, is a litigation attorney focused on commercial litigation with an emphasis in trust and estate litigation. She also has significant experience in personal injury litigation, appellate practice, criminal defense and family law.

 

RSA

Matt Glasrud has been hired as the office manager at RSA.

 

 

South Eastern Development Foundation

The South Eastern Development Foundation board of directors has elected officers: president, Paul Tschetter, Boyce Law Firm; vice president, Rich Naser, NAI Sioux Falls; and secretary/treasurer, Bryan Hakeman, Dakota CPA.

Joining the board as a new member is Autumn Kaufhold, Van Buskirk Cos.