Movers & Shakers: First National Bank, Avera, Quarter Horse Association, AGC/LICA

The First National Bank in Sioux Falls has made a number of new hires and promotions:

• Jennifer Reecy as chief employee experience officer. 
• Don L. Rahn, has returned to the bank as a wealth advisor. He has 26 years’ experience in the financial planning and investment management industries.
• Bill Anderson to executive vice president. Anderson joined the bank in 2017 and is the chief experience officer.
• Teresa Ulven to vice president. She recently transitioned to her new position as the Advantage Network manager and has been with the bank for nearly five years.
• Yvette Christion to vice president. She has worked at the bank for almost 10 years and is the loan operations manager.
• Matt Adamson to assistant vice president. Adamson started at the bank in 2012 and is a portfolio manager in the Wealth Management department.
• Veronica Paulson to assistant vice president. She is a personal trust account administrator and has been with the bank since 2016.
• Carrie Reider to officer. Reider joined the bank in 2016 and has recently transitioned to her new position as a personal trust account administrator.
• Chase Hoffman to officer. He is a mortgage banker at the Western Mall location and has been with the bank for nearly three years.
• Maggie Groteluschen, vice president, has recently transitioned from a personal trust team leader to the personal wealth manager. She joined the bank in 2012.

Deanna Larson, CEO of Avera eCARE, was among speakers at the recent WSJ Tech Health conference Feb. 7 in San Francisco. During her presentation titled “The Era of Virtual Health Care,” Larson was interviewed by Stefanie Ilgenfritz, Health and Science Bureau Chief with the Wall Street Journal about the advantages and challenges of using virtual visits to bring care to people in remote locations.

The South Dakota Quarter Horse Association elected 2019 officers, including President Kristen Gonsoir from Groton and Vice-President Jodie Svennes from Brandt. Victoria Cuka from Vale was re-elected a secretary/treasurer and Janet Hansen, Fort Pierre, as the association point secretary. Board of directors from the East: Amy Krueger, Ferney; Dede Cuka, Wagner; and Jodie Svennes from Brandt. Central Region: Penny Petersen, Mitchell; Kristen Gonsoir, Groton; and Sheila Prins from Sisseton. Directors from the West region are Shirley Wetz, Vale; Hope Hall, Box Elder and Bob Quickstad from Sturgis. Joellen Miller, Groton; Joni Hunt, Faith; and Heather Sutton from Gettysburg will represent the at-large directorships. Becky Johnson, Mud Butte, remains on the board for 2019 as the SDQHYA youth advisor.

AQHA Directors representing SDQHA on the national level: Janet Hansen, Fort Pierre; Debbi Holmes Stockstill, Virgil; Jim Hunt, Faith; and Dean Johnson from Mud Butte. AQHA Directors-At-Large are Larry Larson, Rapid City; Dr. R.M. Christensen, Harrisburg; and James Sutton from Onida along with Directors Emeritus Jim Hootman, Harrisburg, and Mike Clites from Brookings.

2018 SDQHA Year-End All-Arounds:

• Wanda Carr and One Powerful Krymsun, both the Amateur and Level 1 Amateur All-Arounds;
• Jodie Svennes and Zipped With Pleasure, both the Amateur Select All-Around and Reserve Amateur All-Around in the Level 1 Division;
• Andrea Butler and My Details Are Blazing, the Amateur Select Reserve All-Around for 2018. 

The South Dakota Quarter Horse Youth Association 2018 Award winners were:

• Emily Johnson and RPM Machine - 14-18 All-Around Youth, Overall High-Point Youth and High-Point Senior Girl;
• Rachel Retterrath and Butterscotch Blend – Reserve Level 1 All-Around Youth;
• Jazmine Hart-Crissman and One Hot Molly - 13 & Under All-Around Youth and High-Point Junior Girl;
• Colin Sprinkel with This Tigers Hot - Reserve 14-18 All-Around Youth, Level 1 All-Around and High-Point Senior Boy.

2018 SDQHA Sportsmanship Award: Phil Svennes from Brandt

Most Valuable Professional Horseman: Kristen Gonsoir from Groton.

Life memberships presented to Jim Hootman, Harrisburg, and Mike and Vicky Clites from Brookings.

2018 SDQHA Producer of the Year: Bob and Karen Meyer, Glad Valley

AQHA 50-Year Cumulative Breeder: Jim Taylor, Huron

2018 PRCA Hall of Fame Inductee:  French Flash Hawk ‘Bozo’. Bred by John and Lis Hollmann from Hot Springs.

2018 SDQHA legacy honorees included:

• Trainer:  Darrel and Marlene Griffith;
• Rodeo: John and Cindy Baltezore;
• Show: Lew and Kerry Papendick;
• Race: Bob and Shilo Johnson;
• Promotion: Lynn and Connie Weishaar;
• Ranch: Art and Mary Cowan;
• Influential Horse: As Good As It Gets, Neil Sebring family.

The Associated General Contractors of South Dakota, Heavy-Highway-Utilities Chapter (AGC) and the South Dakota Chapter of the Land Improvement Contractors Association (LICA) recently announced their 2018 award winners: 

Build South Dakota Awards:

Category I - (Projects Under $1 million):  R.C.S Construction – Rapid City - for Outstanding Highway-Heavy-Utility Construction performed on the Meadowbrook Elementary School Phase 1A Draining Improvement Project in Rapid City.

Category II - (Medium Projects): BX Civil & Construction, Dell Rapids - for Outstanding Highway-Heavy-Utility Construction performed by constructing the Codington County Roundabout in Watertown

Category II - (Medium Projects): R.C.S Construction – Rapid City - for Outstanding Highway-Heavy-Utility Construction performed for the E. Idaho, E. Nevada, Ivy Streets and Robbinsdale Park Project in Rapid City.

AGC Good Citizen Award: The 2018 winners were involved in saving the life of a young man trying to jump from a bridge on Interstate 229 in Sioux Falls. The winners:  Curt Theisen, Gary Steinhoff, Adam Feistner, Chris Peters and Jordan Doane from the South Dakota Department of Transportation in Sioux Falls.

AGC Safety Excellence Award for Driver Safety: Wayne Theitje, Myrl & Roy’s Paving, Sioux Falls

Paul Lepthien Award: Gerald Neis, Scull Construction, Rapid City

50 Year LICA Continuous Membership Award:

• Westcott Construction, Holabird
• Dawson Construction, Howard