Meet a member: Alexis Mahlen
Alexis Mahlen is always on the go! She focuses her professional efforts on brokering commercial real estate for Lloyd Companies, while her personal time is dedicated to raising sons Jack (3) and Miles (1) with her husband, Marcus. An active community volunteer, Alexis is a past chair of the YPN Steering Committee and is currently helping to plan the Chamber’s 118th Annual Meeting as the Event Co-chair. Somehow in the midst of all this, she made the time to launch a podcast with Marcus called Behind the Business | Founders in the 605.
1. Can you offer any hints of what is to come at this year’s Chamber Annual Meeting?
Get ready for the best annual meeting yet! Incoming Board Chair, Miles Beacom, far exceeded expectations by announcing REO Speedwagon as the featured special guest and I am truly honored to be emceeing alongside Dana Dykhouse. What I most look forward to most at these events is the networking, so I am excited for the setting we have planned. You won’t want to miss celebrating Sioux Falls’ success in the past, present and future with a dynamic Chamber crowd at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center on Tuesday, October 15th!
2. What do you value the most in your Chamber membership?
The Chamber and YPN have provided foundational opportunities to better engrain myself within the community. Programming, events, and networking opportunities have connected me to people and businesses within the Sioux Falls MSA, provided awareness of political issues, and further solidified my commitment to being a dedicated Sioux Falls citizen. Taking on various leadership opportunities including the Chair of the YPN Steering Committee grew my leadership capabilities while receiving unparalleled encouragement from established community leaders. The Chamber and YPN have truly enhanced my opportunities to succeed personally and professionally .
3. Describe your perfect day in Sioux Falls.
The perfect day would involve being active, enjoying the outdoors and eating good food, all with my family. The day would start by greeting the sunrise, followed by meeting friends at a fitness studio, and then spending the remainder of the day being active, whether that be hitting the bike trail, swinging rackets on the tennis court or clubs on the golf course, a good old-fashioned family baseball game, and/or exploring one of the many great parks Sioux Falls offers.
4. What is a skill that you’d like to learn and why?
Inspired by the Olympics, learning how to be an Olympic athlete would be a neat skill. I am intrigued by how the Golden Girls handle vault. In my younger years especially, I loved to push myself with sprints, so sprinting and then flipping through the air and landing gracefully would be exhilarating.
5. If you could witness any event of the past, present, or future, what would it be?
Being a boy mom of baseball lovers, witnessing a Twins World Series win with my family would be ideal. A World Series win has happened in the past, but hopefully in the future as well! I also simply want to see my boys grow and learn to love this community like Marcus and I do.
6. What might someone be surprised to learn about you?
I have performed on stage at both Disney World and Disney Land. As a freshman in high school, I had the opportunity to share the stage with my dance group in Orlando. As a senior in high school, I traveled with the band to perform in Anaheim.
7. Tell us something you are proud of.
My family. Marcus encourages and supports me daily, and I am so proud of our young boys. Jack impresses me daily with his memory and enthusiasm to learn, and Miles’ eagerness to greet everyone with a huge smile and wave gives me so much joy.
8. How did you choose your profession?
I was blessed by having things fall into place. With a background in real estate appraising, I joined Lloyd Companies in construction accounting. After a couple short months, a couple colleagues approached me about an opportunity to join the Lloyd Real Estate division. Working alongside dedicated hardworking people has greatly impacted my career and I am thankful to team members at Lloyd Companies for embracing me.
9. In your opinion, what is one of the most significant accomplishments for our community in the last 10 years?
Being in the real estate world, it’s tough not to note the impressive growth and development throughout the community. Ten years ago, people weren’t thinking in terms of $1B in building permits (which Sioux Falls has done two years in a row now) or about $250M developments, such as the Steel District where the Lloyd office is located! Now they are being discussed frequently and accomplished regularly.
10. Why do you choose to volunteer with the Chamber?
Giving back to an organization that has given so much to me and the community I choose to live in is why I continue to serve as a volunteer. The value the Chamber brings by spearheading initiatives and events that promote economic development, strengthen credibility, and further establish corporate citizens through networking, promoting community involvement and advocacy is vital to the success of a community.
BONUS QUESTION if you’d like to name drop…What are a couple of your favorite restaurants or retailers?
Ask me this question again in 2025 after the sure-to-be amazing retail opportunities and four restaurants open at the Steel District!
