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.

Dakota State University

Dakota State University has added 10 faculty members.

Zainab Albujasim and Sam Flint are assistant professors of computer science in The Beacom College of Computer & Cyber Sciences.

Abeer Alkhwaldi and Ganga Basyal are assistant professors of information systems in the College of Business and Information Systems.

Mariam Gado is an assistant professor of cyber defense in The Beacom College of Computer & Cyber Sciences.

Julia Price-Lee is an assistant professor of psychology in the College of Education & Human Performance.

Jackson Heiberger, Ethan Price and Farishta Rahman are computer science instructors in The Beacom College of Computer & Cyber Sciences.

Abbey Shimer is a civics/history instructor in the College of Arts & Sciences.

Sanford Research

Three researchers at Sanford Research have been awarded grants from the National Institutes of Health.

Ikuo Masuho

Pilar de la Puente

Leah Irish received a $3.2 million grant to study the link between sleep disturbance and binge eating. Sanford Research will contribute to the grant with a team of researchers.

Pilar de la Puente and her lab were awarded a $2.8 million grant to study ovarian cancer.

Ikuo Masuho and his lab received a $2.1 million grant to study G protein-coupled receptors, one of the most important targets for drug development.

Linda Nissen

First Bank & Trust

Linda Nissen of Tea has joined First Bank & Trust as a mortgage loan officer. She has more than 30 years of experience in the real estate industry, starting as a Realtor and working with a title company before moving into banking and mortgage lending.

Goodcents

Tim and Laurie Fjellestad, owners of the Goodcents franchise on Cliff Avenue, won two awards from the sub sandwich chain, which operates in 10 states. They were recognized for top delivery sales and top catering sales in 2024.

Justin Broughton

Premier Bankcard

Premier Bankcard has promoted Justin Broughton to vice president collections. He joined Premier in 1998 as a phone representative and has served in various other roles, most recently as the assistant vice president of the specialty collections and recovery business.

Security National Bank

Emily Schmidt

Emily Schmidt has joined Security National Bank as a mortgage loan originator for the branch at 74th Street and Louise Avenue. Schmidt has almost a decade of financial experience, including as a banking assistant, loan processor, account manager and underwriter.