Southeast South Dakota News

The South Dakota Chamber of Commerce & Industry’s Business Day at the Legislature was held Thursday, February 23, 2023 in Pierre. Concluding a day that included the annual Business Caucus and an economic message from Neil Bradley of the US Chamber, four awards were presented, recognizing public service.

Business Day Program Chair Jaf Karim, Black Hills Energy, Rapid City, introduced the following awards and their presenters.

The Business Legislative Advocate award was presented by SD Chamber President David Owen to Dana J. Dykhouse, CEO, First PREMIER Bank, Sioux Falls, to honor his passion for education and his instrumental role in creating many scholarship opportunities in South Dakota, including the needs-based South Dakota Freedom Scholarship, assisting the state’s workforce. The Freedom Scholarship is specifically awarded to students on a needs basis. With gifts and commitments now totaling $225 million, the program has grown to become our state’s largest needs-based scholarship. During the 2023-24 school year, about $5.2 million will be allocated to students who meet income requirements.

Honored with the Distinguished Legislative Service award was the group of individuals who developed a plan, passed legislation, and successfully argued what is known as the Wayfair Decision before the United States Supreme Court. The decision opened the door for tax collections from out of state businesses doing business in South Dakota, and other states. The impact has been significant. The Distinguished Legislative Service award was presented by David Owen to the following individuals: Attorney General Marty Jackley, Representative Gary Cammack, former legislator Deb Peters, former South Dakota Retailers Association Executive Director Shawn Lyons (currently a Program Specialist for the SD Dept. of Game Fish & Parks), Bureau of Administration Deputy Commissioner Andy Gerlach and Department of Revenue Business Tax Division Director Doug Schinkel.

The Outstanding Public Service Award was presented by U.S. Senator and former Governor Mike Rounds. Senator Rounds honored a group of women who served in cabinet level positions under multiple governors. The recipients were Pam Roberts, the only person in state history to hold cabinet level positions for five different South Dakota governors; Doneen Hollingsworth who served as Secretary of Health from 1995-2015, under Governors Janklow, Rounds and Daugaard; Sandy Zinter who served 18 years in state government in the position of commissioner of the Bureau of Human Resources, also for Governors Janklow, Rounds and Daugaard; and, Deb Bowman  (posthumously) who served as Senior Advisor to Governors Janklow, Rounds and Daugaard and also as Cabinet Secretary for the Department of Social Services under Governor Rounds. Bowman’s award was accepted by her husband Randy.The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented Paul Knecht to the son of Greg Dean who passed away in January 2022. On his father’s behalf, Blake Dean accepted the award honoring Greg’s career that spanned work with the South Dakota Centennial Commission; serving as a senior policy advisor to Governors George Mickelson and Walter Dale Miller; vice president of the South Dakota Chamber of Commerce & Industry; director of industry relations with the SD Telecommunications Association; government affairs specialist for the South Dakota Rural Electric Association; and his many years as a trusted lobbyist.

Business Day was made possible by support from Summit Carbon Solutions, First PREMIER Bank, BNSF Railway Company, POET, Wellmark Blue Cross & Blue Shield of South Dakota, Black Hills Energy, Midco, Navigator CO2, NorthWestern Energy, Xcel Energy, and Bluestem Capital Company.

Original source can be found here.