Author: Jason Sanderson

Rapid City Mayor Steve Allender will join us on October 18th to talk about his leadership style and his experience serving as mayor. Steve Allender is a native South Dakotan, and was raised in a military family. After his father retired from the Air Force, his family moved to Belle Fourche, where Steve attended grade…

School is back in session and so are the Black Hills Leadership Development luncheons! Join us on September 20th for your monthly dose of motivation from local leader, Vaughn Vargas! Vaughn Vargas is Siha Sipa (Black Feet) Lakota of what is now known as the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. His great grandfather was James Holy…

Spring is the perfect time to brush up on your leadership skills! Join us on April 17th to learn about “Leadership for Community Challenges to Community Solutions” presented by Dr. Albert Linderman with Rapid CIty Collective Impact. Albert Linderman, Ph.D., CEO of Sagis Corporation, is a cultural anthropologist guiding community change and leadership transitions. He…

Our March luncheon features Rob Mudge, President of RPM and Associates. Robert P. Mudge is a South Dakota native and graduated from the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, in the late 70’s, with a BS and MS in Metallurgical Engineering. Mr. Mudge worked in industry from his graduation until 1982 when he co-founded…

Our February luncheon features Scott Engmann, Executive Director for the Black Hills Area Habitat for Humanity. Scott Engmann is a Father of 3 boys, and has been married to his wife Ceri for 12 years. He has served as the Executive Director for Black Hills Area Habitat for Humanity since 2006. In its 25th year,…

Our January luncheon features David Emery, Chairman and CEO of Black Hills Corporation. David R. Emery is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Black Hills Corporation, a customer-focused, growth-oriented, vertically-integrated utility company headquartered in Rapid City, South Dakota. The company serves 1.2 million electric and natural gas utility customers in 800 communities in eight states.…

Our November luncheon features Kristina McCollam, Director of Business and Client Development at Assurant. Her speech is titled Personal Branding – Offline. Kristina McCollam is a boomerang native of Rapid City who spent entirely way too much time in higher education (first as student, then as professor). Upon returning to Rapid she discovered that there…

Welcome back!  September is the start of our third year of and Black Hills Leadership luncheons. Kick-starting this season is Lieutenant Peter Ragnone of the Rapid City Police Department. Pete was born and raised in Flint, Michigan where he consumed volumes of water which explains the obvious. He is a fisherman and hockey player but…

The Black Hills Leadership luncheon in April will feature Renee Parker, Executive Director of United Way of the Black Hills. Renee Parker has been a resident of Rapid City since 1953. She attended school at General Beadle and Knollwood Elementary, North Junior High, and graduated from Rapid City Central High School in 1971. She attended…

The Black Hills Leadership luncheon in March will feature Col. Gentry Boswell, Commander of Ellsworth Air Force Base. Col. Gentry Boswell is commander of the 28th Bomb Wing, Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., the largest B-1 combat wing in the U.S. Air Force, with 27 aircraft and more than 3,800 military and civilian members. Colonel…