New leadership for 2024-25
As directed by the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce bylaws, each year, new individuals are nominated to serve three-year terms on the Board of Directors. A nominating committee is formed to identify and recruit the new board members, who are then reviewed and approved by the current board.
The following Chamber members have been elected and began their term of service October 1, 2024:
Bill Gassen
Bill Gassen is the president and CEO of Sanford Health. He is a current member of the Board of Trustees for the American Hospital Association and a current member of the Board of Directors for Oscar Health, Inc. Gassen is an Ex-Officio member of the Sanford Health Board of Trustees. He was also the Co-Chair for the Active Generations Capital Campaign in 2022-2023. Catherine Dekkenga is Region Manager and Principal Architect at JLG Architects. She currently serves as vice chair of the Charter Revision Commission for the City of Sioux Falls and is a current member and past chair of the South Dakota Board of Technical Professions. Dekkenga previously served on the Chamber’s Issues Management Committee.
Mindy Kroll
Mindy Kroll is the CEO of Time Management Systems. She is an active member of Sales and Marketing Executives of Sioux Falls for the last 15 years, having a hand in almost every committee as well as serving as the SME Board President for the past 2 years. Kroll has also been a volunteer teacher with Junior Achievement for 12 years, participating in the 5 week class, JA in a Day, and the virtual teaching model. Mindy is also a Leadership Sioux Falls graduate.
Reggie Kuipers
Reggie Kuipers is the president of Bender Commercial Real Estate. Reggie has been an active member with the Chamber as part of the YPN Steering Committee and as the YPN Crossroads Summit Co-Chair. He is a Leadership Sioux Falls graduate and holds leadership positions on a variety of task forces, committees, and boards.
Dr. Ronald Place
Dr. Ronald Place is the president & CEO of Avera McKennan Hospital and University Health Center, a role he assumed in May of this year. Place is a 3-Star Army General who recently retired from military service. He is a member of the Board of Regents for the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, a past member and president of the Fort Knox Community Schools Board of Education, and a current member of The Link Community Triage Center board of directors.
Candic VanLiere
Candice VanLiere is the manager and partner of George Boom Funeral Home & On-Site Crematory as well as a licensed funeral director. She has also served as the Elder and Worship Committee Chair at Westminster Presbyterian Church.
The following Board members were also elected to serve one-year terms on the Chamber’s Executive Committee: Chair Miles Beacom, PREMIER Bankcard; Chair-Elect Tamien Dysart, Think 3D Solutions; Vice Chair Dr. José-Marie Griffiths, Dakota State University; Treasurer Jason Herrboldt, First Bank & Trust; and Immediate Past Chair Scott Lawrence, Lawrence & Schiller, Inc. Chamber President & CEO Jeff Griffin is also a member of the Chamber’s Executive Committee, serving as its Secretary.
The Chamber’s Board of Directors is rounded out by the following members: Catherine Dekkenga, JLG Architects; Derrick Larson, Eide Bailly LLP; Jeff Lautt, POET; Tim Meagher, Vanguard Hospitality; Matt Paulson, MarketBeat; Ryan Punt, SDN Communications; Jake Quasney, Lloyd Companies; Vicki Stewart, Employment Disability Resources; Amy Stockberger, Amy Stockberger Real Estate; and Selene Zamorano, SD Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
The following representatives also serve as ex-officio members: Kyle Groos, Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools; Dean Karsky, Minnehaha County Commission; Tiffani Landeen, Lincoln County Commission; Dr. Jane Stavem, Sioux Falls School District; and Mayor Paul TenHaken, City of Sioux Falls.
The following retiring directors will be recognized at the Chamber’s 118th Annual Meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 15: Immediate Past Chair Paul Hanson, Sanford Health; Joe Bunkers, Gage Brothers; and Nancy Savage, Child’s Play Toys.
Committee Chairs
Volunteers are critically important to the work of the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber has 10 formal committees, plus many more volunteer groups and action teams. Each is filled with members who volunteer their time to serve their community.
Each committee has a different purpose, but all support the Chamber’s mission. Through their activities, they are helping our community thrive by promoting economic health and quality of life in the Sioux Falls area.
Thank you to these leaders who are volunteering their time to serve as chair of Chamber committees in the coming year.
| Agribusiness Division Advisory Council | Julie Hammer | Sioux Empire Fair Association |
| Ambassador Committee | Monica Huether | volunteer |
| Budget & Finance Committee | Jason Herrboldt | First Bank & Trust |
| Business Leadership Council | Mari Ossenfort | KELOLAND Media Group |
| Community Appeals Committee | Shelly Johnson | DakotAbilities |
| Diplomat Committee | Christy Vastenhout | McCrossan Boys Ranch |
| Issues Management Council | Nathan Stallinga | DakotAbilities |
| Military & Veterans Affairs Committee | Freddy Real | Avera McKennan |
| Military Task Force | Ret. Brig. Gen. Greg Lair and Ret. Brig Gen. Ron Mielke | volunteers |
| Young Professionals Network | Alissa Matt | University of South Dakota |