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 Careflight

Avera Careflight was named Program of the Year by the Association of Air Medical Services. AAMS presents the award each year to “an emergency medical transport service (national or international) that has demonstrated a superior level of patient care, management prowess, high-quality leadership through visionary and innovative approaches, customer service, safety consciousness, marketing ingenuity, community service and a commitment to the medical transport community as a whole.” Avera’s Careflight service has base locations in Sioux Falls, Aberdeen and Pierre, and serves a five-state region.

Experience Sioux Falls

Experience Sioux Falls has received the Southeast Tourism Innovation Award from the Southeast South Dakota Tourism Association for its “Sioux Falls Sourced” campaign.

Billion Toyota

Billion Toyota has received the Board of Governors Award from Toyota Motor North America Inc. The annual award is given to Toyota dealerships that exhibit outstanding sales and maintain Toyota’s high standards for customer satisfaction.

Caliber

Mandy Sturdevant has been promoted at Caliber to art director. She joined the team five years ago as a designer.

 

Children’s Home Society of South Dakota

The Children’s Home Society of South Dakota has elected new officers for its board of directors: president, Eric Lee; vice president, Deb Soholt, treasurer, Jim Schmidt; and secretary, Jack Marsh. New board members are Matt Benne of Rapid City, Tim Dougherty of Sioux Falls and Luke Lindberg of Harrisburg.

Children’s Home Foundation

The Children’s Home Foundation has elected new officers for its board of directors:  president, Diana Dufur-Day; vice president, Bob Baker; treasurer, Dave Schmidt; and secretary, Kara Flynn. Jill Weisser-Pekoske of Sioux Falls is a new board member.

Dakota Business Finance

Dakota Business Finance has presented its annual awards.

Lender of the Year: First Dakota National Bank. This lender had the highest number of loans with Dakota Business Finance approved by the SBA in fiscal 2022. First Dakota National Bank and Dakota Business Finance assisted 14 businesses with securing SBA 504 loans.

Individual Lender of the Year: Travis Olsem of American Bank & Trust. This award recognizes the individual lender who had the highest number of loans with Dakota Business Finance approved by the SBA in fiscal 2022. Olsem worked with Dakota Business Finance to assist five businesses with SBA 504 loans for a combined amount of $2.4 million in financing.

Friend of Dakota Business Finance: Trisha Viss, former senior loan officer at Dakota Business Finance and now the SBA specialist in the Upper Midwest for First Interstate Bank. Viss assisted 41 businesses with securing SBA 504 loans totaling over $37 million in debenture funding.

Rural Initiative Community Lender Awards, which are based on the number of SBA 504 loans approved with Dakota Business Finance: In South Dakota, first place went to the city of Tea for loan approvals for Auto Dynamics, Tea Trailblazers, Benson’s Lawn & Landscaping and Design Crete; and second place went to the city of Brandon for three loan approvals for Barks & Rec, Quality Inn and Grand Fun Alley Learning Center. In Iowa, the city of Arnold’s Park took first place, and the city of Larchwood took second. In Minnesota, first place went to the city of Balaton, and second place went to the city of Worthington.

The board of directors at Dakota Business Finance has elected new officers: president, Brian Gilbert, The First National Bank in Sioux Falls; vice president, Will Haugen, First Dakota National Bank; and secretary/treasurer, Mike Gray, Sioux Falls Development Foundation. 

New directors are Tom Frieberg of Frieberg, Nelson & Ask; James Grotenhuis, CorTrust Bank; and Steve Ruda, Mariner Wealth Advisors. New board members are Brett Anderson, First Western Bank & Trust; Amy Farr, Hartford Area Chamber of Commerce & Development Foundation; Melissa Fossell, First National Bank of Omaha; Weston Hansen, The First National Bank in Sioux Falls; Jordan Huisken, First State Bank Southwest; and Galen Van Otterloo, Dacotah Bank.

First Premier Investment Services

Shari Pyle has joined First Premier Investment Services as a senior investment adviser. Pyle has 28 years of professional experience and started with Premier in August. She holds series 7 and 66 registrations as well as a life and health license.

Glass Doctor

Neighborly, the world’s largest home services company, has named Justin and Jennifer Eimers of Glass Doctor as franchise owners of the year. They were recognized for exemplary growth, leadership, customer service and sales.

NAI Sioux Falls

Marcus Mahlen, a senior vice president at NAI Sioux Falls, has earned the SIOR industrial/office commercial designation from the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors. Mahlen joined NAI Sioux Falls in 2017 as a broker associate. His expertise primarily involves investment sales and leasing in the industrial, office, and retail asset classes.

Pathward Financial

Sonja Theisen, Pathward Financial’s executive vice president of governance, risk and compliance, will succeed Glen Herrick as chief financial officer, effective April 30, 2023. Theisen, who joined Pathward in 2013, has held other leaderships roles across the organization, including chief accounting officer and chief of staff. Before joining the company, she served in finance and accounting roles at Great Western Bank, Eide Bailly and KPMG.

South Dakota Department of Tourism

The South Dakota Department of Tourism has received two w3 Awards from the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts. The department won a Gold Award in the travel email category for its “Travel Insights” email series. It received a Silver Award in the general video/travel category for its online video series “Tailgate Talks.” Both initiatives were developed through a partnership between the Department of Tourism and Lawrence & Schiller.

U.S. Small Business Administration South Dakota District Office

The U.S. Small Business Administration South Dakota District Office has presented its annual Leadership in Lending awards to lenders for their commitment to small businesses in the fiscal year ending Sept. 30.

First National Bank, Black Hills Federal Credit Union and Highmark Federal Credit Union tied for the highest number of SBA 7(a) loans. Each lender made 12 loans.

First Bank & Trust achieved the highest dollar volume of SBA 7(a) lending in South Dakota, making nine loans for $5.5 million.

Dakota Business Finance, an SBA certified development corporation, made 52 SBA 504 loans across the state, totaling $44 million.