People You Should Know 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.

Dakota State University

David De Jong has been named dean of the College of Education at Dakota State University. De Jong currently serves as the chair of the division of educational leadership at the University of South Dakota. He has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and middle level education from the University of Northern Iowa, a master’s degree in educational leadership from Drake University and a superintendent’s license in educational leadership and an Ed.D. in educational leadership, both from UNI. In the K-12 arena, he has taught elementary classrooms and served as an elementary principal and superintendent in schools in Pella, Iowa. At USD, he has taught and developed many graduate education courses and served as an adviser and on many dissertation committees. He has trained over 150 K-12 schools, colleges and universities in facilitating simulations and has led 13 national webinars on simulations and other topics. His research has been published in peer-reviewed journals, and he is active with professional organizations. De Jong will begin his duties at Dakota State on June 22.

Deb Roach has been named the vice president for human resources at Dakota State University. Roach has been at Dakota State since 2018, serving as director of career and professional development. She became the interim vice president for human resources in November 2021. Roach has a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in human resource management from the University of South Dakota. She  has worked in financial services, with many years as a senior vice president at The First National Bank in Sioux Falls. She also worked for Avera Health as a workforce development consultant.

Eide Bailly

Brent Impecoven has been accepted into the partnership at Eide Bailly. Impecoven joined Eide Bailly in 2012 and has provided assurance services to clients in a variety of industries, including construction, aggregates, manufacturing and health care. His primary focus includes conducting audits, reviews and compilations for construction contractors and aggregates producers, as well as performing audits of employee benefit plans.

Prairie Family Business Association

Prairie Family Business Association has added three members to its advisory board who will serve three-year terms: Megan Howard, second-generation family member of The Howard Group; Marnie Ochs-Raleigh, first-generation owner of Evolve Systems in St. Paul; and Travas Uthe, the founder of Trav’s Outfitters in Watertown.

Bluestone Federal Credit Union

Guy Anderson has joined Bluestone Federal Credit Union as director of accounting. Anderson has 15 years of experience in financial institutions ranging from $45 million to $2 billion in assets.

First Premier Bank

First Premier Bank has added Greg Kummer to its wealth management department as a vice president. Kummer will oversee the development and growth of First Premier’s trust services, investment management and private banking teams. He has 33 years of professional experience, most recently serving as the trust department president for a Minneapolis-area bank.

First Premier Bank has promoted Tom Kaufman to personal banking officer. Kaufman joined the bank in August 2020.

First Premier Bank/Premier Bankcard

First Premier Bank and Premier Bankcard have promoted Cassie Wilebski to loan review officer, internal audit. Wilebski has five years of professional experience and joined Premier in February 2021.

 

Harrisburg Chamber of Commerce

The Harrisburg Chamber of Commerce has named Carrie Bell as executive director. Bell most recently owned and operated Carrie Ann’s Boutique in Harrisburg. Bell, a 17-year member of the Harrisburg community, and her husband, Travis, a graduate of Harrisburg High School and owner of Bell Drywall, live in rural Harrisburg. Their  two children attend Harrisburg schools.

Immunize South Dakota

Danielle Gullickson has been named as the first executive director of the nonprofit Immunize South Dakota. Previously, she spent seven years at the Community HealthCare Association of the Dakotas and has nearly a decade of nonprofit experience in operations management, event coordination and partner relationships.

JDS Industries

JDS Industries has hired four staff members.

Jacob Hoch is a multimedia designer on the marketing team. He previously worked in management positions and as a digital marketing specialist for a large grocery store chain.

Jade Neeman is a sublimation specialist.

Tim Reinhart is an outside sales rep for Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia. He has 27 years of experience working for two large retailers in the awards and personalization industry, including production, purchasing and inventory control, and new product development.

Mike Wittrock is a transportation coordinator on the purchasing/transportation team. He has more than 25 years of experience in logistics. Retired from the military, Wittrock also has a background in law enforcement and firefighting.

Three JDS Industries employees have been promoted.

 Meg Ellis to customer care director. Ellis started at JDS in 2016 as a supervisor in customer service and most recently headed up the JDS Sign Supply customer service staff.

Tonya Fitz to custom order supervisor. Fitz has been with JDS since 2010, starting out in customer service and has worked in fabrication customer service for several years.

Ayleen Valenzuela to supervisor in the customer service department. Valenzuela jointed the customer service team in 2017 as a bilingual rep.

LifeScape

LifeScape has achieved Person-Centered Excellence Accreditation from The Council on Quality and Leadership. This designation validates that LifeScape is committed to person-centered practices that promote the attainment of individually defined outcomes by people with disabilities.

Smithfield Foods

Smithfield Foods Inc. has received a Silver Stevie Award in the Company of the Year – Manufacturing category of the 20th annual American Business Awards. Smithfield was recognized for its efforts in 2020 to ensure stability in the global food supply, to keep employees healthy and safe, to make progress toward its commitment to reduce the environmental impact of its operations and to invest in diversity, equity and inclusion. More than 3,700 nominations from organizations of various sizes and industries were submitted for consideration in a wide range of categories, and more than 230 professionals worldwide participated in the judging process to select this year’s winners.

Thrivent

Mark Schlueter, a wealth adviser with Thrivent, has received a Voice in Philanthropy Award from Thrivent Charitable Impact & Investing. He is one of 89 financial professionals nationwide to be recognized. Schlueter is being honored for his service in helping clients put their values and charitable goals into action. The selection was based on total outright and deferred charitable gifts made by Schlueter’s clients through Thrivent Charitable last year. These gifts will help support a variety of local, national and global charities according to each client’s wishes.