Feb. 24, 2025

Sales & Marketing Executives Inc. of Sioux Falls has named 55 nominees for its Women of Excellence Awards.

Awards will be presented as part of the group’s 45th annual Women in Business event March 18 at the Sioux Falls Convention Center.

Women of Excellence nominees were nominated by their peers and will be anonymously voted on by a committee of SME members.

The women nominated are:

Entrepreneurial Excellence

• Lindsey Claeys, Avera Prairie Cancer Institute
• Ashley Edblom, Sanford Health — Bloom the Boutique
• Elaine Koch, The Cookie Jar Eatery
• Annie Mello, SISU Fitness
• Jessica Meyers, Porchlight Services
• Annie Myers, First Interstate Bank
• Shannon Ward, Good NAtured

Excellence in Leadership

• Michelle Blick, Luckys
• Kimberly Fiala, Plains Commerce Bank
• Brooke Fitts, First International Bank & Trust
• Nicole Goehring, Coach
• Cassie Hopper, Plains Commerce Bank
• Tia Meyer, Neighborhood Dental
• Marcia Schmitz, Direct Companies
• Karoliina Slack, Sanford World Clinic
• Jackie Sorensen, Thorson Heating Inc.
• Erica Stone, Citi
• Kali Trautman, The Event Company
• Katie Van Beek, Avera Cancer Institute
• Brook VerMeer, Evolve Fitness for Women

Excellence in Marketing

• Bethany Buitenbos, Chick-fil-A
• Jenny Hefty, eXp Realty
• Teresa Jackson, Plains Commerce Bank/Windsor Mortgage
• Shawna Kleinwolterink, Plains Commerce Bank
• Jessica Potter, Avera Health
• Patricia Solis, Solis Photography
• Jeannie Thurston, Midco
• April Van Otterloo, Alpine Cos.

Excellence in Public Service

• Dawn Andresen, Good Samaritan Society
• Miranda Basye, Sioux Falls City Council/Cannonball Digital
• Julie Becker, St. Francis House
• Naomi Blank, Harvey Dunn Elementary
• Kim Burma, Midco
• Chantelle Friedman, Live Inspired 265
• Rachel Noonan, Inter-Lakes Community Action
• Dawn Patten, Trail Ridge Senior Living
• Carly Reiter, Sanford Health
• Christina Riss, Sioux Empire United Way

Excellence in Sales

• Raquel Blount, Lloyd Cos.
• Tawnya Friske, Good Samaritan Society/Sanford Health
• Katie Haffeman, Good Samaritan Society/Sanford Health
• Paula Kruetzfeldt, Montgomery’s
• Jenny Leonardo, Meadowland Insurance Agency
• Jessica Lirette, Midco
• Lorrie Selbo, Security National Bank

Supporting Excellence 

• Laura Aasen Retterath, Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center
• Amy Christoffels, Sunkota Construction
• Regan Dennis, Northwestern Mutual
• Jennifer Dixon, Plains Commerce Bank
• Briana Even, ISG
• Elizabeth Howard, Sanford Health
• Amanda Prindiville, Midco
• Kathie Puthoff, Experience Sioux Falls
• Melissa Radigan, Sanford World Clinic
• Rita Rodriguez, South Dakota Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

The Young Woman of Excellence award is new this year and provides a $1,000 scholarship, sponsored by Avera, to a graduating senior that can be applied toward post-secondary education or conferences to further their learning. Students completed an application detailing their school and community involvement and their plans and sharing about a woman who has inspired their views on leadership.

Young Woman of Excellence finalists

• Delainey Burrack, Tea High School
• Maya Nelson, Sioux Falls Christian
• Lauren Roling, McCook Central High School
• Claire Woods, Washington High School
• Sofia Yafasova, Lincoln High School