June 6, 2022

This paid event piece is sponsored by SME Sioux Falls.

Inspiration. Networking. Community.

The Sioux Falls Leadership Summit offers all three – and more, organizers say.

The event, on Tuesday, June 14, is open to the public. This is the second year for the event, with a few bumps along the road because of COVID-19, and is hosted by Sales & Marketing Executives Inc. of Sioux Falls. But don’t let that fool you, said Miranda Ochocki, chairwoman of the summit: It’s not just for people in sales.

“SME is focused on sales and marketing, but the leadership summit focuses on everybody,” Ochocki said. “Our organization exists to train the Sioux Falls community and develop and grow leadership and a network.”

This year, the keynote speaker is James Clear, New York Times bestselling author of “Atomic Habits,” a personal and professional development book that teaches about small habits, decision-making and continuous improvement.

“We are very excited about bringing him in,” Ochocki said. “I love his book.”

She notes that personally and professionally, most people have something they are working to improve, which is what Clear addresses.

“I want to be more intentional about keeping my house clean or lose weight or eat better,” Ochocki said. “Then, there’s the professional – I want to make 30 sales calls. How can I implement those habits that are uncomfortable to start? Everyone is impacted by small habits, big changes.”

There are other telecast events, but Ochocki said it mattered to the group to have an in-person event, and attendees are coming from all over the country. They wanted to give Sioux Falls residents a chance to share what’s happening in their community.

Two other speakers round out the lineup.

Dianna Kokoszka is the former CEO and president of Coaching and Training for Keller Williams Realty International, where she grew the company to $500 million in revenue and the No. 1 training program in the world five years in a row. She focuses on cultivating the right mindset for success.

Larry Young is the owner of Boiling Frog Development, a business development and leadership development consulting firm that helps organizations achieve their growth plans through the development of their team and their processes. The Sioux Falls resident will speak about “Becoming the Hero of Your Own Story.”

The lineup was intentional, Ochocki said.

“I love how they all mesh together,” she said. “You want to be the hero of your story, but you have to take that first step, and that comes from having the right mindset, and that comes from having good habits.”

Her hope is that attendees learn something, get inspired and then find opportunities to connect with others personally and professionally.

“The Sioux Falls community loves to get together and talk,” she said. “We’re a big city, but we are a small community. And there’s nothing that beats that energy that a live speaker brings.”

Two awards will be presented at the summit.

Scott Lawrence, president and CEO of Lawrence & Schiller, is the Sales and Marketing Executive of the Year.

“We’re thrilled to recognize him as a leader in sales and marketing in our community,” Ochocki said.

The organization also will give an award to the 2022 Rising in Excellence winner. The nominees are Andrea Carstensen, Olivia Essig, Thadeus Giedd, Joe Kippley, Annie Mello, Alana Snyder and Lindsey Swenson.

Individual tickets and tables still are available.

“There is no shortage of people we know who should attend an event like this,” Ochocki said.

Event details

• What: Sioux Falls Leadership Summit powered by SME of Sioux Falls
• When: 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 14
• Where: Sioux Falls Convention Center, 1201 N. West Ave.
• Tickets: General admission tickets are $120. A table of 10 is $1,200. SME members pay $55 for a ticket. The event is open to the public. An additional session at 11:30 a.m. with Tamien Dysart requires a $40 ticket.
• Find more information here.