Nov. 22, 2019

Longtime Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce president Evan Nolte has been named winner of the annual Spirit of Sioux Falls award.

It was presented by the Sioux Falls Development Foundation at the organization’s annual meeting Thursday.

Nolte joined the chamber in 1979 as executive vice president and was appointed president and CEO in 1992. He retired in 2017.

He also served as co-president of Forward Sioux Falls from 1993 to 2017.

Described as “the king of collaboration,” his ability to build consensus while keeping focused on long-term goals was his “secret sauce,” said Jay Rasmussen, board chair of the Development Foundation.

“Few civic leaders have helped lead our area through more years of prosperity and unrest,” he said. “He has been instrumental in so many community efforts throughout the years, leaving a legacy of leadership.”