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

Michele Knife Sterner

Avera Health

The Avera Health board of directors has a new member: Michele Knife Sterner of Marshall, Minnesota. Knife Sterner is associate director of Southwest Minnesota State University’s Access Opportunities for Success program and coordinator of the AOS Summer Bridge orientation.

Avera McKennan Hospital & University Center

Tamera Sturm

The Avera McKennan Hospital & University Center board of trustees has a new member: Dr. Tamera Sturm, a hospitalist who is the incoming chief of staff at Avera McKennan.

Harriet Yocum, a member of the Avera McKennan board of trustees, has been appointed chair of the Avera McKennan Philanthropy Council. Yocum is known as a business owner, civic volunteer and advocate for social justice.

The American Heart Association has presented Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center with the Get With The Guidelines – Heart Failure Silver Plus award, with Target: Heart Failure Optimal and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll. The Get With The Guidelines – Heart Failure quality achievement award is earned by hospitals that demonstrate a commitment to treating patients according to the most up-to-date guidelines as outlined by the American Heart Association.

Joe Miller

The First National Bank in Sioux Falls

The Independent Community Bankers of America has named Joe Miller, chief credit officer at The First National Bank in Sioux Falls, to its 40 Under 40: 2025’s Community Bank Leaders list. Miller has worked in the financial services industry for almost two decades, starting as a part-time teller. He joined First National Bank in 2013 in the ag banking department and was promoted to chief credit officer in 2023.

Sanford Health

Sanford Health has been recognized nationally for its commitment to veterans and their families. Military Friendly Brands has ranked Sanford Health No. 3 in the category of government and nonprofit brands on its annual list of organizations that set the standard for providing the best opportunities for veterans and military spouses. Sanford Health was the top-ranked health care system on the list.

The Nurse Residency Program at Sanford Health has been awarded full accreditation with distinction from the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Practice Transition Accreditation Program. Sanford Health was first awarded this honor in 2021. Qualifying nurses with less than 12 months of experience who accept a position as a registered nurse in a participating Sanford facility are automatically enrolled in the program, which is designed to provide personal and professional support to new to practice nurses.

Minervas/Harvester Kitchen by Bryan

Sioux Falls restaurants Minervas and Harvester Kitchen by Bryan have been named to the Award of Excellence list for 2025 from DiRoNA, the Distinguished Restaurants of North America.

Jared Vilhauer

First International Bank & Trust

Jared Vilhauer has joined First International Bank & Trust as assistant vice president commercial lender. He spent almost seven years working as an SMB finance executive and worked in financial services for a decade before that.

Kingdom Capital Fund

John Glasser

Tom Henderson

Eric Yunag

Nathan Rueckert

Kingdom Capital Fund has added four board members: Nathan Rueckert, founder of Baseball Seams Co.; Eric Yunag, executive vice president of Convergint; Tom Henderson, founder of ResGen; and John Glasser, leader of Collision.

Cassie Hopper

Plains Commerce Bank

Plains Commerce Bank has promoted Cassie Hopper to senior vice president of retail banking from vice president/retail banking manager. Hopper has been with the bank for two years and has 17 years of experience in the industry.

Security Savings Bank

Security Savings Bank has promoted three team members:

• Matt Gabbert to vice president of commercial lending. Gabbert joined the bank in 2021 and has more than 30 years of experience in banking, including two decades as a commercial lender at U.S. Bank.
• Mindy Halma to universal banker. Halma joined the bank in 2021 as a customer service representative and vault teller.
• Alicyn Grenz to mortgage lender/business development officer. She joined the bank in 2018 as a branch manager and has 18 years of experience in banking, including more than a decade at Dacotah Bank.

Security Savings Bank has hired two team members:

• Emma Kopp is the retail banking manager. She has 25 years of experience in retail banking, including 22 years at U.S. Bank.
• Carlene Underberg is a customer service representative. She has nine years years of experience in banking, working in customer service and mortgage underwriting.

Southeast Technical College

Fenecia Homan

Fenecia Homan will rejoin Southeast Technical College as vice president of academic affairs. Homan currently serves as the dean of the Governors Cyber Academy and K-12 initiatives at Dakota State University. Before that, she spent 10 years at STC, first as a mathematics and physics instructor and later as an academic administrator. She oversaw accreditation, assessment and institutional effectiveness and led the professional studies academic team. She began her career teaching math to students in grades 7-12 in rural North Dakota. Homan will begin her new role July 28.