Leadership

Tim Hamel, Board President, Sioux Falls
Occupation: Retired, US Bank

Tim attended the University of Nebraska, Omaha and Creighton University School of Law. He received his bachelor's degree in criminal justice and has a law degree. Tim belongs to the South Dakota Bar Association and is a member of Sioux Falls Rotary North where he serves on the board of directors.

Laura Johnson, Board Vice President, Reva
Occupation: Retired from Harding County Schools, Rancher, Teacher with Apex Learning

Laura attended college in the Black Hills where she received a BA in education. She later received an MA in administration at Grand Canyon. Laura belongs to the National Association of Music Educators and is a certified EMT.

Scott Sletten, Board Secretary Sioux Falls
Occupation: President/CEO, JDS Industries, Inc.

Scott received a BS in business from the University of South Dakota (USD) and an MBA from Arizona State University. Scott also serves on the USD Foundation Board of Trustees as well as the dean's advisory board at teh USD Beacom School of Business.

Mick Gibbs, Board Treasurer, Sioux Falls
Occupation: President/CEO, Avera Heart Hospital

Mick attended the University of North Dakota, University of Minnesota, and Case Western Reserve University, and earned a BA, MA, and MHA. he belongs to the American College of Healthcare Executives and South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations, and has a faculty appointment at the Sanford School of Medicine as a clinical ethics professor.

Sally Anderson, Honorary Member, Mesquite, TX
Occupation: Retired

Sally is the great-great-granddaughter of Elizabeth Bixby Sherrard, Children’s Home Society’s founder, and as such holds an honorary seat on the Children’s Home Society Board of Directors.

Jim Berman, Sioux Falls
Occupation: President/General Manager, Dakota News Now

Jim received an English degree from Rutgers University. He has also served on the boards of directors for Make-A-Wish, Junior Achievement and Family Services.

Helen Boer, Lyons
Occupation: Retired Rosenbauer Firefighting Technology

Helen also serves on the board of West Side Lutheran Church.

Darla Crown, Rapid City
Occupation: Retired Military

Darla received her undergraduate degree in elementary education from Black Hills State University and her master's of education and master's of science in guidance counseling and human resource development from South Dakota State University. She is retired from the South Dakota Army National Guard and the US Army. Darla belongs to Rushmore Rotary, Women’s Veterans of the Black Hills and American Legion #246. She serves on the Central States Fair Foundation Board, Veteran’s Court, Rushmore Rotary Board, the Employer Support of Guard and Reserve and on the liturgy committee at Blessed Sacrament Church.

Paulette Davidson, Rapid City
Occupation: President/CEO, Monument Health

Paulette graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a BS in business administration, and earned her MBA from the University of Notre Dame. She is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and a certified member of the American College of Medical Practice Executives. Paulette also serves on the boards of Elevate Rapid City, South Dakota Chamber of Commerce, SD Association of Healthcare Organizations and Monument Health Systems.

Gina Hopkins, Sioux Falls
Occupation: Facilities Manager, CorTrust Bank

Gina has a degree in tailoring and textiles from Minnesota West.

Lafawn Janis, Rapid City
Occupation: Business Development Specialist, Bluebird Consulting

Lafawn is a seventh generation member of the Oglala Lakota tribal nation. She attended Black Hills State University and graduated with a BS in education. Lafawn serves on the Sanford Labs Cultural Advisory Committee and Monument Health Community Advisory Committee.

Deanna Larson, Brandon
Occupation: CEO, Avera eCARE

Deanna attended Dakota Wesleyan (ADN), Presentation College (BSN), and University of Minnesota (Certificate in Public Health). She is a member of the American Telehealth Association and serves on the American Board of Telehealth, NALC.

Eric Lee, Rapid City
Occupation: Wealth Adviser, Goldman Sachs Personal Financial Management

Eric attended the University of Wyoming and has been a wealth adviser for 28 years.

John S. “Jack” Marsh, Sioux Falls
Occupation: Co-Founder/Co-Chair South Dakota News Watch

Jack earned his BA from Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, OH. He is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, National Press Club of Washington DC, News Leaders Association, SD Newspaper Association, and SD Broadcasters. Jack serves on the following boards: SD News Watch, Face It TOGETHER, Elimination of Prejudice Foundation, Sioux Falls Board of Ethics, SD Symphony Orchestra, Sioux Empire United Way, Dean’s Council, College of Arts and Sciences, University of South Dakota (USD) and the USD Foundation Board of Trustees.

John McGrath, Brandon
Occupation: Senior Vice President/Chief Credit Officer, First Premier Bank

John attended South Dakota State University and earned a BS in commercial economics. He is the treasurer of the South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame.

Dustin Morrison, Rapid City
Occupation: Lieutenant Pennington County Sheriff’s Office

Dustin is currently finishing a degree at Columbia Southern University.

John Rozell, Aberdeen
Occupation: CEO, Tri-State Wholesale Flooring

John graduated from the University of South Dakota with a BA degree in sociology. He also attended the University of Colorado and University of Oklahoma three-year banking courses. John serves on the Lifescape Board of Directors, Mount Rushmore Society, and Rotary. John is a CHS Director Emeritus who served as president of both the Foundation and Society Boards.

Maggie Russo, Sioux Falls
Occupation: Manager, Flatland Flyways Lodge

Maggie attended Black Hills State University and Northern State University and has a degree in fine arts.

Tim Rustand, Brandon
Occupation: Business Banker, Security National Bank

Tim attended Augustana College in Sioux Falls and earned a BA in business and minor in economics and communications. He is active in many organizations and serves as treasurer for his church. Tim served in the Air Force and SD Air Guard.

Karen Schreier, Sioux Falls
Occupation: Judge, US District Court

Karen attended St. Louis University where she obtained both her BA and JD degrees. Karen belongs to the Federal Judge Association, American Bar Association and the South Dakota Bar Association.

Greg Schweiss, Rapid City
Occupation: Vice President, Risk Management Pete Lien & Sons, Inc.

Greg attended the University of South Dakota and graduated with a BS in business administration. Greg belongs to the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and South Dakota CPA Society. Other boards he serves on include Blessed Sacrament Church, Western SD Catholic Foundation and Youth & Family Services.

Norbert Sebade, Rapid City
Occupation: Retired, Regional President, First Interstate Bank

Norbert received his BA from Black Hills State University. He has served on the South Dakota Health & Education Board, Governor’s Office of Economic Development and First Interstate Greater Wall Fund.

Chirag Shukla, Sioux Falls
Occupation: Chief Information & Technology Officer, Risk Administration Services, Inc.

Chirag graduated from South Dakota State University with an MS in engineering.

Carolynn Stavenger, Sioux Falls
Occupation: Retired, Education

Carolyn attended Iowa State, South Dakota State University, and Augustana University where she earned a degree in elementary education and early childhood education. She has been a CASA Advocate for 14 years and belongs to the Junior League of Sioux Falls. Carolynn has volunteered at Children’s Inn for 18 years and continues to do this weekly. Carolynn also mentors former CASA and CHS little buddies.

Maureen Suga, Sioux Falls
Occupation: Retired

Maureen attended the University of South Dakota where she graduated with a BS in psychology and an AA in nursing.

Marilyn Van Demark, Sioux Falls
Occupation: Retired

Marilyn received a BA from Augustana College and an MS in nursing at Boston University. She is a member of the First Lutheran Church Foundation.

Meg Warder, Hill City
Occupation: President/CEO, 1880 Train

Meg attended Montana State University in Bozeman, MT, and Universidad Del Belgrano in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She received an MBA and a degree in commerce.

Michelle Lavallee, Chief Executive Officer, Sioux Falls

Prior to assuming the CEO role at CHS, Michelle held executive level positions with Avera, the University of South Dakota (USD) and Raven Industries. She attended Northwestern University in Chicago where she received both her BS and MBA.

Michelle is currently board president of the SD Hall of Fame, serves on the Board of RAS and Sioux Falls Development Foundation, past president of the SD Symphony, past president of Downtown Sioux Falls Rotary, past board member of Ronald McDonald House, Washington Pavilion and the USD Foundation.

Joe Herdina, Chief Financial Officer, Sioux Falls

Prior to assuming the CFO role at CHS, Joe worked decades with The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society in various roles focused on accounting, Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement, debt capital financing, treasury, investments, supply chain and risk management functions.

Prior to his work with Good Samaritan, Joe spent eight years as a licensed CPA in public accounting in Rapid City and Sioux Falls with his auditing focused almost exclusively on long-term care, senior living, acute care and school districts. Joe attended the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology and graduated with a BS in business administration – accounting from the University of South Dakota. He holds a a CPA – inactive license.

Karl Jegeris, Chief Operations Officer Rapid City

Prior to joining the CHS team, Karl worked in various positions with the Rapid City Police Department for over 24 years, including six years as chief of police. He attended Minnesota State University, Mankato for his undergraduate degree and St. Cloud State University where he received a master's degree in public safety executive leadership.

Karl is a past board member of the Salvation Army of Rapid City and WAVI (Working Against Violence Inc) and has been a classroom volunteer for Junior Achievement for the past 20 years. He recently became a member of the Rushmore Rotary in Rapid City.

Mark Niemeyer, Chief People Officer, Sioux Falls

Prior to assuming the CPO role at CHS, Mark held leadership positions with Elanco Animal Health (Eli Lilly), Novartis Animal Health and Marsh & McClennan Agencies. He attended Dordt University where he received his BA degree and the University of Sioux Falls, where he received his MBA.

Rick Weber, Foundation Development Director, Sioux Falls

Prior to coming to CHS to work in the foster care program in 1987, Rick worked at Sioux Vocational School for the Handicapped (now Lifescape), Southeastern Mental Health Center and as a Probation Officer for the Second Judicial Circuit Court. Rick received a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and sociology from the University of Sioux Falls, a master's in public administration from the University of South Dakota, and a master's in philanthropy and development from St. Mary’s University.

Rick has served as board member of the SD Association of Fundraising Professionals, board member and president of Catholic Family Services, member and president of Siouxland Child Protection Council, advisory board of Big Brothers Big Sisters, board member of South Dakota Corrections Association, South Dakota Children’s Justice Task Force, Sioux Empire Parenting Coalition and the Sioux Empire United Way Planning Division.