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.

Avera Health

Several Avera Health hospitals have been named as Blue Distinction Centers by the BlueCross Blue Shield Association. Blue Distinction Centers demonstrate quality care, treatment expertise and better overall patient results. Blue Distinction Centers+ also demonstrate more affordable care. Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center is a Blue Distinction Center+ for bariatric surgery and spine surgery and a Blue Distinction Center for hip and knee replacement, transplants and cellular immunotherapy. Other BDC+ designations were received by Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton for spine surgery, Avera St. Mary’s Hospital in Pierre for maternity care and Avera Marshall Regional Medical Center in Marshall, Minnesota, for hip and knee replacement. BDC designations were awarded to Avera Sacred Heart Hospital for hip and knee replacement and Avera Queen of Peace Hospital in Mitchell for hip and knee replacement and maternity care.

Greg Nelson

Mya Smith

The First National Bank in Sioux Falls

The First National Bank in Sioux Falls has promoted Mya Smith to portfolio manager. Smith has been with the bank for three years and previously served as an investment analyst.

Greg Nelson has joined The First National Bank in Sioux Falls as a family office adviser with FNB Reserve, a division of First National Wealth Management that serves high-net-worth families. Nelson has almost 20 years of experience in financial services with the past 13 focused on corporate finance.

Kathy Thornton Bias

Sagency

Kathy Thornton-Bias has joined Sagency as a senior adviser, partnering with CEOs, executive teams and boards to shape smart strategy, align leadership and guide organizations through complex transitions. She has more than 30 years of leadership experience with luxury consumer brands, cultural institutions and nonprofit organizations.

Sanford Health

Bill Gassen

Sanford Health president and CEO Bill Gassen has been recognized by Modern Healthcare as one of the 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare of 2025. This marks four consecutive years Gassen has been named to this significant list. Gassen, ranked No. 28 on the list, has led Sanford Health since 2020. The organization serves more than 2 million patients across the Upper Midwest, operating 57 hospitals and 147 senior care communities. In 2025, Gassen led Sanford Health through mergers with Wisconsin-based Marshfield Clinic Health System and Watertown-based Prairie Lakes Healthcare System. Sanford also purchased Lewis Drug, a family-owned pharmacy and retail store chain with 60 locations throughout South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota. In December, the health system announced a $300 million gift from Denny Sanford to help build a medical campus in Rapid City. Earlier this year, Gassen was elected as chair-elect designate of the American Hospital Association board of trustees. In 2027, he will serve as chair.

Brad Reimer

Brad Reimer, Sanford Health senior vice president and chief information officer, shared insights earlier this month at a national conference. Reimer participated at the HealthLeaders Chief Digital Executive Exchange on a panel that discussed the evolving role of the CIO.

Sanford USD Medical Center

Sanford USD Medical Center has received a Blue Distinction Center+ designation for knee and hip replacement by Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield as part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program. This program identifies hospitals and ambulatory care centers that demonstrate expertise in patient safety, deliver better health outcomes and are more cost-effective.

Rachel Pritchett

Canopy by Hilton

Rachel Pritchett has joined the Canopy by Hilton as director of sales and marketing. She has more than 10 years of experience in the industry with brands such as Hilton, Marriott, Omni Hotels and IHG and with independent hotels.

The Event Company

The Event Company has added three team members.

Mollie Brown

Addie Joy

Courtney Stegenga

Courtney Stegenga is an event project manager. Stegenga has five years of event experience, planning events of all sizes.

Addie Joy is the venue sales and events manager, and has years of event experience.

Mollie Brown is the “happiness coordinator.” Brown began at The Event Company as a summer intern.

Joe Marsh

First Premier Bank

Joe Marsh has joined First Premier Bank as the senior vice president, chief credit officer. He will succeed John McGrath, who will retire in January after 31 years at the bank. Marsh previously was the chief financial officer for Malloy Electric. Marsh began his financial career as a CPA with Henry Scholten & Co., a predecessor to Eide Bailly. He worked for 30 years at U.S. Bank, with a final role as senior vice president of commercial banking.

Christy Vastenhout

McCrossan Boys Ranch

Christy Vastenhout has been named executive director of McCrossan Boys Ranch. Vasenhout had been the leader of development at the organization since 2002. She succeeds Brian Roegiers, who retired after serving McCrossan for 27 years.

Pathward

Pathward ranks No. 32 on Monitor’s Bank 50 list for top banks in equipment leasing and finance in the U.S.

Nic McCay

Jace Guthmiller

Plains Commerce Bank

Jace Guthmiller has been promoted at Plains Commerce Bank to vice president B2B banking. He previously served as a private banking associate.

Plains Commerce Bank has hired Nic McCay as a mortgage banker.

Jennifer Murillo

Premier Bankcard

Jennifer Murillo has joined Premier Bankcard as chief marketing officer. She previously worked as the chief marketing officer at Discover Financial Services in Riverwoods, Illinois. Murillo has decades of award-winning brand, advertising and communications experience. She began her career at D’Arcy Masius Benton & Bowles advertising agency and worked at global agency Initiative Media before joining Discover Financial.