This week’s Up-and-Comer is Doria Drost, director of marketing at Denny Sanford Premier Center — ASM Global.

Name: Doria Drost

Age: 24

Hometown: Poquoson, Virginia

What brought you to Sioux Falls: Before moving to Sioux Falls, I had been living in southwest Minnesota for most of my life. I attended Southwest Minnesota State University for both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and really loved the area. After completing my higher education, I really wanted to dive into my chosen field of marketing. My first full-time job out of college was running the marketing department at a county hospital, and then I relocated to Sioux Falls a couple years later to be closer to my family, my fiancé, and to enter my role as the Director of Marketing for Denny Sanford PREMIER Center.

What keeps you in Sioux Falls: I’m a small-town gal at heart, and even though Sioux Falls is considered a metropolitan area (and has the amenities and entertainment to prove it), it’s still cozy enough to feel like home.

What’s your favorite thing about your job?

Working in live events give you something new to tackle every day. I love having the ability to be creative in my career and connecting with people from all over. From artists, to promoters, to event attendees, and venue partners, I’ve had the ability to connect with so many amazing people in my role.

How did you get connected to your industry?

During the pandemic I really tried finding ways of honing in on different skillsets within marketing, including gaining an event planning certification. I also had previous experience partnering with city government and EDA administrations through a prior freelance role that gave me experience working with clients across various industries. When I first began considering Sioux Falls for relocation, I wasn’t necessarily looking for a role in live events, but I did want to find a role that would allow me to be engaged with the community, and at an organization that is community-driven and focused, while also challenging me to grow in my field. The Denny Sanford PREMIER Center checked all of those boxes.

Describe your workplace in three words.

Energetic, Adaptable, Collaborative

What is something someone might be surprised to learn about you?

I love learning about local government – not necessarily politics, but more centered on public service. In Minnesota, I was the youngest person to run for state office during the 2020 election cycle, and have always been passionate about finding ways to solve community challenges. I’d much rather read an article about local news than watch a movie.

What’s your favorite way to give back to your community?

I serve on two amazing nonprofit boards: SiouxperCon and DisruptHR. These groups tend to be my main focus with volunteering, but when I can, I also love to serve local organizations that benefit our younger generations like the Toy Lending Library and Reading Bridge. I’m also an active member in our local SME and YPN organizations.

What’s one business you’d like to see in Sioux Falls that isn’t here now?

While we have many gyms and fitness centers in Sioux Falls, I’d love to see a fitness center more focused on adult recreation and club sports where folks can drop in, learn about and try a new sport, and have the chance to compete on randomized teams so that individuals are more encouraged to participate.

If you had $1 million to start a business, what kind of business would it be?

I used to own my own retail boutique where I sold handmade items ranging from artwork to jewelry to candles and home décor. All of the items were handmade either by myself or other artisans that I connected with through different markets and pop-ups. If I had $1 million to start a business, I would love to get something similar going as an extension of a service-based business like a coffee shop or bed & breakfast.