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.
          Zac Barnhardt
Financial Services
          Ben Beitelspacher
Manufacturing & Industrial
          Melissa Carlson
Financial Services
          Austin Asche
Agriculture & Food
          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
Non-Profit
          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
          Traci Nord
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
Upcoming Alumni Events
“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