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