Alumni
“I’m so grateful to be part of Leadership South Dakota, surrounded by people who dream big, care deeply, and remind me to live with purpose. Experiences like this fuel my soul and keep me moving forward with momentum.”
Dr. Melissa Dittberner, Class of 2025
“I’m so grateful to be part of Leadership South Dakota, surrounded by people who dream big, care deeply, and remind me to live with purpose. Experiences like this fuel my soul and keep me moving forward with momentum.”
Dr. Melissa Dittberner, Class of 2025
“I’m so grateful to be part of Leadership South Dakota, surrounded by people who dream big, care deeply, and remind me to live with purpose. Experiences like this fuel my soul and keep me moving forward with momentum.”
Dr. Melissa Dittberner, Class of 2025
“I’m so grateful to be part of Leadership South Dakota, surrounded by people who dream big, care deeply, and remind me to live with purpose. Experiences like this fuel my soul and keep me moving forward with momentum.”
Dr. Melissa Dittberner, Class of 2025
A New Class of Leaders
Budding leaders join our program to take their skills – and their network – to the next level. Our members come from all sorts of backgrounds and industries. But they do have one thing in common: an uncompromising dedication to the future success of our state.
Sort by year, industry or hometown to see all of our distinguished alumni.

Austin Asche
Agriculture & Food

Zac Barnhardt
Financial Services

Ben Beitelspacher
Manufacturing & Industrial

Melissa Carlson
Financial Services

Brice Christensen
Legal & Professional Services

Michelle Cwach
Healthcare

Vince Danh
Media & Marketing

Jacob Davis
Government & Public Service

Megan DeBoer
Transportation & Logistics

Kelly Dybdahl
Energy & Utilities

Jamie Farmen
Non-Profit & Community Services

Cortney Ficken
Technology & Communications

Maggie Fitzgibbons
Financial Services

Sandi Floyd
Financial Services

Ashley Geigle
Government & Public Service

Stacy Hackett
Healthcare

Tarah Heupel
Healthcare

Fenecia Homan
Education

Amber Hopper
Technology & Communications

Kyndra Hosek
Non-Profit & Community Services

Dawn Marie Johnson
Non-Profit & Community Services

Macy Kaiser
Non-Profit & Community Services

Brian Kemnitz
Energy & Utilities

Dana Kleinsasser
Government & Public Service

Terri LaBrie
Energy & Utilities

Kristy Laue
Media & Marketing

Emily Leech
Healthcare

Jake Meshke
Government & Public Service

Jessica Meyers
Technology & Communications

Tracey Quint
Media & Marketing

Kade Rexwinkel
Energy & Utilities

Joey Rotert
Financial Services

Holly Shane
Healthcare

Scott Sitts
Government & Public Service

Danyell Skillman
Legal & Professional Services

Winona Starrlight Burley
Government & Public Service

Erika Tordsen
Education

Krista Tschetter
Financial Services

Logan Veurink
Financial Services

Sandra Wallace
Financial Services

Christie Aberson
Manufacturing & Industrial

Travis Adney
Media & Marketing

Amanda Anglin
Non-Profit & Community Services

Andy Becker
Government & Public Service

Kecia Beranek
Non-Profit & Community Services

Dominika Blum
Education

Lance Bonn
Technology & Communications

Rebecca Bradley
Healthcare

Miranda Broin
Energy & Utilities

Kim Burma
Technology & Communications

Scott Carbonneau
Education

Margaret Carmody
Agriculture & Food

Brian Cooper
Manufacturing & Industrial

Eric DeKam
Technology & Communications

Madeline Diedrich
Financial Services

Amy Dirienzo
Education

Katelyn Duffy
Energy & Utilities

Natalie Eisenberg
Technology & Communications

Shawn Frederiksen
Financial Services

Thadeus Giedd
Media & Marketing

Ashia Gustafson
Education

Jennifer Hoesing
Non-Profit & Community Services

Luke Hutcheson
Financial Services

Richie Hutchinson
Financial Services

Nate Johnson
Agriculture & Food

Stephanie Judson
Non-Profit & Community Services

Michelle Kane
Non-Profit & Community Services

Chelaine Knudsen
Government & Public Service

David Larson
Real Estate

Madeline Miller
Healthcare

Erik Nyberg
Legal & Professional Services

Eric Pauli
Energy & Utilities

Matt Roby
Financial Services

Amy Sazue
Non-Profit & Community Services

Hannah Schaefer
Media & Marketing

Bo Secrest
Energy & Utilities

Kelsey Smith
Non-Profit & Community Services

Sadie Swier
Non-Profit & Community Services

Hope Vande Kop
Technology & Communications

Nathan Vander Plaats
Government & Public Service

Abbey Vanderwerf
Legal & Professional Services

Stacy Wrightsman
Manufacturing & Industrial

Nicole Zoerink
Healthcare

Jason Ahrendt
Financial Services

Joe Batcheller
Non-Profit & Community Services

Valeriah Big Eagle
Non-Profit & Community Services

Beau Bryan
Financial Services

Anshu Chandra
Education

Sarah Delaney
Legal & Professional Services

Shala Eisenbeisz
Financial Services

David Erickson
Government & Public Service

Jamie Hajek
Energy & Utilities

Matt Hammer
Media & Marketing

Christopher Hintz
Media & Marketing

Alyssa Howard
Healthcare

Jordan Huisman
Financial Services

Nate Jones
Energy & Utilities

Benson Langat
Non-Profit & Community Services

Michele Loobey-Gertsch
Non-Profit & Community Services

Derrick Marks
Government & Public Service

Sean Melmer
Financial Services

Nakina Mills
Education

Marsha Nichols
Energy & Utilities

Tracy Olson
Healthcare

Jackie Payne
Legal & Professional Services

Paige Pearson Meyer
Technology & Communications

Andrea Polkinghorn
Healthcare

Ryan Punt
Technology & Communications

Scott Radigan
Energy & Utilities

Erick Rangel
Real Estate

Erin Rinehart
Agriculture & Food

Caroline Rothe
Manufacturing & Industrial

Casey Schultz
Media & Marketing

Ali Sheley
Legal & Professional Services

Tom Shields
Financial Services

Scott Spencer
Financial Services

Amanda Spiering
Financial Services

Katie Studer
Healthcare

Rebecca Trefz
Non-Profit & Community Services

Christy Ward
Healthcare

Anna Whetham
Healthcare

Karly Winter
Legal & Professional Services

Rebecca Zabel
Non-Profit & Community Services

Beka Zerbst
Government & Public Service

Joe Beck
Agriculture & Food

Taniya Bethke
Non-Profit & Community Services

Amy Bialas
Healthcare

Kjerstin Blotske
Financial Services

Michele Boy
Financial Services

Tyrelle Brakke
Non-Profit & Community Services

Ryan Budmayr
Media & Marketing

Drew Christensen
Energy & Utilities

Angie Christiansen
Energy & Utilities

Callie Curley
Agriculture & Food

Mark Daniels
Healthcare

Ryan Donavon
Healthcare

Tamien Dysart
Technology & Communications

Jesse Fonkert
Government & Public Service

Jessica Gromer
Non-Profit & Community Services

Brad Hearst
Legal & Professional Services

Chris Huber
Non-Profit & Community Services

Lynne Hunter
Healthcare

Ann Hyland
Energy & Utilities

Lisa Irvine
Financial Services

Joe Kippley
Healthcare

Nancy Kunz
Financial Services

Susan Kyte
Technology & Communications

Glen Marshall
Education

Kristi Metzger
Financial Services

Ginger Niemann
Non-Profit & Community Services

Caroline Nyberg
Financial Services

Rick Olivier
Technology & Communications

Tracy Pardy
Healthcare

Sarah Pierce
Non-Profit & Community Services

Dusty Pinske
Financial Services

Michael Pogany
Energy & Utilities

Jennifer Rollins
Government & Public Service

Jenny Schmidt
Media & Marketing

Justin Shatto
Retail & Consumer Services

Leah Sideras-Christensen
Financial Services

Val Simpson
Energy & Utilities

Spencer Sommers
Legal & Professional Services

Jason Sutton
Legal & Professional Services

Beau White
Legal & Professional Services

Klint Willert
Education

Will Areklett
Agriculture & Food

Breanna Beebe
Financial Services

Angela Beilke
Financial Services

Jeremy Bill
Financial Services

Abby Bischoff
Agriculture & Food

Lora Black
Healthcare

Michael Bockorny
Non-Profit & Community Services

Lee Bollock
Healthcare

Paul Briseno
Government & Public Service

Alyssa Broin
Energy & Utilities

Jessica Castleberry
Education

Catherine Chicoine
Financial Services

Marc Eyre
Energy & Utilities

Blake Gunderson
Financial Services

Alex Halbach
Legal & Professional Services

Katie Hunhoff
Media & Marketing

Tim Jensen
Legal & Professional Services

Amanda Johnson
Financial Services

Lynn Kendall
Energy & Utilities

Lindsey Kimber
Non-Profit & Community Services

Heath Kooiman
Legal & Professional Services

Heather Krause
Healthcare

Matthew Kull
Education

Kasey Maher
Retail & Consumer Services

Brienne Maner
Technology & Communications

Paul Mantz
Energy & Utilities

Molly McIntosh
Healthcare

Jay Mitchell
Financial Services

Brian Mueller
Government & Public Service

Brodie Mueller
Retail & Consumer Services

Rachelle Norberg
Legal & Professional Services

Steve Payne
Media & Marketing

John Pohlman
Media & Marketing

Jeff Poppen
Healthcare

Pooja Pullman
Agriculture & Food

Greg Robinson
Technology & Communications

Kelsey Sakos
Government & Public Service

Karla Santi
Technology & Communications

Justin Smorawske
Technology & Communications

Michelle Stephens
Healthcare

Cecily Tucker
Financial Services

Kristi Wagner
Energy & Utilities

Jenny Wolff
Legal & Professional Services

Marsha Anderson
Media & Marketing

Angela Boersma
Legal & Professional Services

Toby Bordewyk
Energy & Utilities

Erin Bosch
Retail & Consumer Services

Ryan Boschee
Financial Services

Cathy Bradley
Energy & Utilities

Bryan Breitling
Healthcare

Jon Clayborne
Technology & Communications

Jess Evans
Retail & Consumer Services

Amanda Feldkamp
Financial Services

Bradley Fischer
Financial Services

Ryan Gardner
Media & Marketing

Isaac Gerdes
Healthcare

Evan Grong
Agriculture & Food

Sara Hento
Education

Abby Huisken
Education

Bryan Ingalls
Financial Services

Tommy Johnson
Legal & Professional Services

Michael Kaiser
Financial Services

Janet Kittams
Non-Profit & Community Services

Valerie Loudenback
Agriculture & Food

Marcus Mahlen
Real Estate

Elizabeth Massa
Non-Profit & Community Services

Brendyn Medina
Government & Public Service

Jennifer Olson
Financial Services

James Payer II
Retail & Consumer Services

Jennifer Quail
Education

Stacy Reitmeier
Healthcare

Tim Schut
Real Estate

Nicholas Sershen
Legal & Professional Services

Karlie Solum
Legal & Professional Services

Murray Thompson
Healthcare

Helen Usera
Non-Profit & Community Services

Lin Van Hofwegen
Non-Profit & Community Services

Erik Van Laecken
Education

Katie Wagner Washnok
Transportation & Logistics

Jennifer Weiss
Healthcare

Bradley Wenande
Energy & Utilities

Sandra Whiteshield
Education

Buck Yerdon
Energy & Utilities

Michael Zacher
Manufacturing & Industrial

Chris Aeilts
Technology & Communications

William Anderson
Financial Services

Brian Aust
Media & Marketing

Angie Bakke
Healthcare

Amy Bartling-Jacobson
Legal & Professional Services

Jameson Berreth
Government & Public Service

Ryan Brown
Financial Services

Christine Buell
Healthcare

Jennifer Bunkers
Legal & Professional Services

Lisa Carlson
Healthcare

Anita Drummond
Financial Services

Megan Fischer
Education

Kara Frankman
Financial Services

Thomas Glanzer
Energy & Utilities

Lisa Groon
Non-Profit & Community Services

Pam Hanneman
Financial Services

Dillon Haug
Education

Paul Heinert
Government & Public Service

Josh Horak
Financial Services

Jill Ireland
Non-Profit & Community Services

Karl Jegeris
Non-Profit & Community Services

Alex Jensen
Retail & Consumer Services

Jennifer Johnson
Non-Profit & Community Services

Melissa Johnson
Retail & Consumer Services

Sheila Kuchta
Healthcare

Luke Lindberg
Non-Profit & Community Services

Christina Lynn
Financial Services

Paul Mausbach
Government & Public Service

Becky McElroy
Retail & Consumer Services

John Meyer
Non-Profit & Community Services

Mikayla Mitzel
Government & Public Service

Amanda Neugebauer
Financial Services

Paul Rann
Legal & Professional Services

Tracy Saathoff
Media & Marketing

Dean Sigman
Energy & Utilities

Stuart Stein
Manufacturing & Industrial

Nick Stroot
Government & Public Service

Melanie Torno
Healthcare

Jeff Veltkamp
Non-Profit & Community Services

Sarah Waltner
Agriculture & Food

Julie Ward
Healthcare

Keith Weber
Agriculture & Food

Erika Young
Retail & Consumer Services

Lindsie Bell
Non-Profit & Community Services

Kelly Buntrock
Financial Services

Paige Carda
Non-Profit & Community Services

Michael Clauson
Manufacturing & Industrial

Chris Conrad
Financial Services

Casey Crabtree
Energy & Utilities

Ashli Danilko
Healthcare

Lee DeLange
Energy & Utilities

Ashley Erickson
Healthcare

Nick Fosheim
Agriculture & Food

Nicole Garber
Financial Services

Catie Greseth
Non-Profit & Community Services

Dave Haan
Manufacturing & Industrial

Megan Handshue
Non-Profit & Community Services

Don Hedrick
Government & Public Service

Marrissa Janssen
Financial Services

Gil Johnson
Healthcare

Heath Johnson
Agriculture & Food

Katie Kennett
Financial Services

Nick Kotzea
Education

Paul Krueger
Education

Scott Larson
Healthcare

Katrina Lehr-McKinney
Agriculture & Food

Reed McKee
Energy & Utilities

Cathy McLeer
Non-Profit & Community Services

Sandra Melstad
Legal & Professional Services

Jacki Miskimins
Technology & Communications

Erik Muckey
Retail & Consumer Services

Alison Robey
Agriculture & Food

Mark Schmidt
Healthcare

Kristina Sipma
Energy & Utilities

Amy Thompson
Legal & Professional Services

Luke Tibbetts
Financial Services

Doug Tribble
Financial Services

Jake VanDewater
Technology & Communications

Vaughn Vargas
Education

Jessica Wells
Non-Profit & Community Services

Nancy Wenande
Non-Profit & Community Services

Garrett Wilson
Technology & Communications

Jasen Beckman
Transportation & Logistics

Thomas Bosch
Healthcare

Eileen Briggs
Government & Public Service

William Bushee
Technology & Communications

Kendra Calhoun
Healthcare

Tom Cota
Financial Services

Joe Donnell
Non-Profit & Community Services

Kelsey Doom
Non-Profit & Community Services

Scott Duke
Healthcare

Mark Dunn
Financial Services

Kayla Eitreim
Non-Profit & Community Services

Patrick Erickson
Financial Services

Tony Farmen
Financial Services

Lindsay Flannery
Healthcare

Nikki Gronli
Government & Public Service

Kent Hartsuiker
Financial Services

Thomas Hurlbert
Legal & Professional Services

Paula Jensen
Energy & Utilities

Jolene Loetscher
Media & Marketing

Nate Malloy
Healthcare

Heidi Marttila-Losure
Media & Marketing

Alissa Matt
Education

Ken Meirose
Energy & Utilities

Laura Mitchell
Media & Marketing

Jason Salamun
Government & Public Service

Laura Schoen Cabonneau
Non-Profit & Community Services

Laura Shattuck
Government & Public Service

Tiffany Smith
Financial Services

Christine Sorensen
Government & Public Service

Jael Thorpe
Retail & Consumer Services

Bobbi Thury
Legal & Professional Services

Chad Thury
Healthcare

Jeremy Tims
Financial Services

Steven Tims
Agriculture & Food

Jesse Tischer
Healthcare

Scott Vanden Berge
Legal & Professional Services

Morgan VonHaden
Non-Profit & Community Services

Tom Weaver
Financial Services

Nate Welch
Financial Services

Walter Woods
Healthcare

Joshua Zellmer
Legal & Professional Services

Kirk Albertson
Government & Public Service

Shannon Brinker
Real Estate

Chris Daugaard
Financial Services

Mary DeVany
Education

Mike Elliott
Healthcare

Eric Erickson
Non-Profit & Community Services

Dave Garrett
Government & Public Service

Justin Goetz
Government & Public Service

Erica Peterson
Healthcare

Ericka Heiser
Legal & Professional Services

Cory Hughes
Financial Services

Kylie Kiesner
Agriculture & Food

Michael Knudson
Manufacturing & Industrial

Dave Kroll
Financial Services

Pam Lange
Non-Profit & Community Services

Shawn Ludemann
Financial Services

David Merhib
Non-Profit & Community Services

Mark Millage
Retail & Consumer Services

Keith Moore
Non-Profit & Community Services

Tony Nour
Financial Services

Kevin Nyberg
Retail & Consumer Services

Cindy Peterson
Legal & Professional Services

Glynda Rahn
Energy & Utilities

Cheri Rath
Agriculture & Food

Scott Reiman
Financial Services

Brian Sandvig
Agriculture & Food

Mark Schlichte
Government & Public Service

Tom Schmidt
Financial Services

Jennifer Schmidtbauer
Legal & Professional Services

Heather Schopp
Education

Suzanne Stluka
Education

Kirsten Taggart
Energy & Utilities

Tim Trithart
Healthcare

Paul Tschetter
Legal & Professional Services

Nick Wendell
Education

Kyle Wiese
Healthcare

Virginia Wishard Lambert
Non-Profit & Community Services

Jon Wunder
Energy & Utilities

Adam Walsh
Financial Services

Alana Snyder
Media & Marketing

Angela Rans
Energy & Utilities

April Meyerink
Financial Services

Arica Kulm
Education

Ashley Hobbs
Non-Profit & Community Services

Blake Gomer
Energy & Utilities

Bryce Pattison
Financial Services

Dave Van Nieuwenhuyzen
Manufacturing & Industrial

David Rogers
Healthcare

Dory Hanson
Government & Public Service

Dr. Sara Vande Kamp
Education

Dustin Morrison
Government & Public Service

Eric Nelson
Energy & Utilities

Floyd Rummel
Financial Services

Heather Zinter
Agriculture & Food

Jamie Boettcher
Education

Jamie Ward
Financial Services

Jason Kann
Legal & Professional Services

Jessica Larson
Government & Public Service

Jimmy Seward
Healthcare

Kari Hybertson
Financial Services

Katey Ulrich
Education

Katie Bartling
Financial Services

Kelly Nelson
Non-Profit & Community Services

Kimberly Lofgren
Government & Public Service

Liz Schiefen
Technology & Communications

Matthew Knippling
Education

Megan Kjose
Non-Profit & Community Services

Melissa Dittberner
Education

Michelle Socia
Legal & Professional Services

Ryan Schmidtman
Healthcare

Sara Lum
Media & Marketing

Sara Waldner
Media & Marketing

Tara Yost
Government & Public Service

Terry Liggins
Non-Profit & Community Services

Timothy Doyle
Government & Public Service

Sioux Falls
Healthcare

Abby Kuper
Healthcare

Albert Pavlinac
Media & Marketing

Alexcia Kalal
Government & Public Service

Amy Miller
Education

Andrew Sogn
Education

Arin Gonseth
Technology & Communications

Ashton Dockendorf
Media & Marketing

Breanne Lynch
Education

Briana Vande Pol
Government & Public Service

Brittany Wagner
Government & Public Service

Cale Feller
Healthcare

Callie Meyer
Government & Public Service

Carly Heard
Education

Cassi Severson
Media & Marketing

Courtney Jacobson
Financial Services

Greg Jasmer
Legal & Professional Services

Jared Bender
Energy & Utilities

Jennifer Jung
Financial Services

Joel Hermann
Financial Services

Jordan Bonstrom
Education

Joshua Brown
Legal & Professional Services

Kelly Marshall
Legal & Professional Services

Kelly Nyberg
Retail & Consumer Services

Kelsie Ficken
Healthcare

Kyle Laughlin
Government & Public Service

Lee Kaffar
Manufacturing & Industrial

Levi Rustand
Energy & Utilities

Megan Greenfield
Technology & Communications

Melody Westra
Financial Services

Mike Baumgarn
Energy & Utilities

Mohamed Elfaruk
Agriculture & Food

Olivia Essig
Healthcare

Ryan Hoffman
Manufacturing & Industrial

Sadie Haugen
Financial Services

Samantha VanEck
Financial Services

Sarah Meagher
Education

Stacie Suedkamp
Agriculture & Food

Tanner Hento
Manufacturing & Industrial

Tim Hanigan
Government & Public Service

Zakaria Okuwe
Healthcare
Alumni Reach
528Total Alumni
95Communities
Represented
1State
“I’m so grateful to be part of Leadership South Dakota, surrounded by people who dream big, care deeply, and remind me to live with purpose. Experiences like this fuel my soul and keep me moving forward with momentum.”
Dr. Melissa Dittberner, Class of 2025
“There isn’t a photo or statement that could sum up what this program meant to me. I’m so thankful for the opportunity, for the places I’ve gone, things I’ve learned and most importantly the people I’ve met.”
Liz Schiefen, Class of 2025
“Being part of this group has been such a huge part of my year, meeting new people I’d never have had the motivation to meet, being inspired, and continually seeing inspiration from you all every day.”
Matt Knippling, Class of 2025