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.

Avera eCARE

Avera eCARE has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Ambulatory Health Care Accreditation by demonstrating continuous compliance with nationally recognized standards. The Gold Seal of Approval is a symbol of quality that reflects an organization’s commitment to providing safe and effective patient care. A team of on-site surveyors evaluated Avera eCARE’s compliance with standards such as emergency management; leadership; provision of care, treatment and services; performance improvement; and patient rights.

MetaBank

MetaBank has hired three staff members.

Matthew Withey is the vice president of product management. He is a product development professional with 17 years of experience in building and delivering new products and services. Withey previously worked at Visa Inc., where he was business leader/director of product strategy and segment management.

Erin Bofenkamp is a project manager. Bofenkamp is a certified project manager professional with eight years of experience. Before joining Meta, she was a project manager with the city of Sioux Falls.

Ashley Sorenson is a UI/UX designer. Sorenson has extensive UX design experience. She holds a master’s degree and doctorate in human factors psychology from the University of South Dakota.

MetaBank has promoted two staff members.

Travis Schettler to principal software engineer from senior software engineer. Schettler has been with Meta for two years.

Nancy Kowalke to senior business systems analyst. Kowalke has been with Meta for 11 years. She previously was a software engineer IV/team lead, principal test engineer and systems analyst.

American Civil Liberties Union of South Dakota

Janna Farley has joined the American Civil Liberties Union of South Dakota as the communications director. She oversees the communications program for the ACLU chapters in South Dakota, North Dakota and Wyoming. Farley has experience in journalism, advertising and public relations.

Dakota State University

Kelli Koepsell has been hired as the communications and marketing director at Dakota State University. Koepsell was DSU’s director of public relations and marketing from 1994-2003. For the past 15 years, she has held a variety of roles with Sanford Health’s marketing department, most recently as director of service line marketing.

Home Builders Association of the Sioux Empire

The Home Builders Association of the Sioux Empire has been recognized for its Outdoor Living Showcase with an Award of Excellence from the National Association of Home Builders. The showcase started in 2016. The event allows consumers to see “before” photos of homes, tour the final landscaping project and talk with landscaping design professionals.

Insurance Professionals of Greater Sioux Falls

Five members of the Insurance Professionals of Greater Sioux Falls have received the organization’s annual awards.

Insurance Professional of the Year: Samantha DeBates, senior advantage account underwriter with Continental Western Group of Luverne, Minn.

Client Service Professional of the Year: Carrie Patterson, an insurance agent with Schwebach Insurance of Dell Rapids.

Professional Underwriter of the Year:  Krista Ahrendt, a commercial underwriter with Continental Western Group.

Rookie of the Year: Nachole Gillis, a client coordinator with Howalt+McDowell Insurance, a Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC company.

Young New Professional of the Year: Antje Peters, a client representative with Howalt+McDowell Insurance.

Koch Hazard Architects

Koch Hazard Architects has named Brooke Wegener, director of marketing, as a partner. She has been with the firm since 2011. Wegener is the first non-architect partner in the firm’s 57-year history. Wegener began her career at Koch Hazard as the marketing and graphics coordinator. Since that time, she has added the responsibilities of strategic human resources, business development, project management, social and community development, and strategic planning.

NAI Sioux Falls

Jeff Bass has joined NAI Sioux Falls as a broker associate. Bass has more than 20 years of experience in multifamily property ownership and management.

Perspective

Svavar Magnusson has joined the Perspective design studio as a full-time architectural associate. Magnusson is Perspective’s first hire from the newly accredited architectural program at South Dakota State University.

Weisser Distributing

Weisser Distributing of Tea has promoted six employees:

Thomas Wilka to accounting manager.

Brennan Lucas to customer service manager.

Michael Thompson to warehouse operation coordinator.

Collin Citrowske to warehouse second-shift lead.

Corey Liebl to assistant shipping manager.

Jayd Docken to technology coordinator.