From Nation to Neighborhood, this half-day Summit brings the big picture into focus and connects it directly to our community. Join regional leaders, business professionals, and community partners for an in-depth look at the forces shaping today’s economy, starting with the national outlook, narrowing in on South Dakota’s economic landscape, and concluding with the local impact taking place right here in Rapid City. You’ll hear how Elevate Rapid City is driving growth, supporting businesses, and strengthening our local economy, all while gaining insight you can apply in your own work. Along the way, connect with attendees from across the region and be part of the conversation shaping what comes next.

8:00 am – Doors open/Check-in Begins/Breakfast Buffet Open
We encourage you to come when the doors open and enjoy valuable networking!

8:30 am – Welcome

8:35 am – Beyond the Headlines: National Economic Trends That Matter to Your Business | John Kirchner, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

9:45 am – Bridging National Trends to Local Reality: South Dakota's Economy | Commissioner Bill Even, SD Governor's Office of Economic Development

10:45 am – Networking Break

11:00 am – Local Growth, Lasting Impact | Todd Kenner, Interim CEO & Darren Haar, Interim COO, Elevate Rapid City

12:00 pm – Event Concludes 

Registration closes on March 3rd!

About the Speakers:

John Kirchner

John Kirchner, Vice President of the Midwest Region in the Government Affairs Division at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, represents the Chamber throughout the states of Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Kirchner helps develop and implement the Chamber’s grassroots, legislative, and political activities in the area. In addition, he works closely with state and local chambers, as well as with members of Congress in his region to further the legislative priorities of the Chamber.

Kirchner received his B.A. in political science from St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota, and now resides in Edina, Minnesota.

Commissioner Bill Even

Bill Even is the Commissioner of the South Dakota Governor’s Office of Economic Development, where he leads statewide efforts to strengthen South Dakota’s economic competitiveness and create an environment for long-term business growth and workforce success; he brings extensive leadership experience from serving as CEO of the National Pork Board overseeing national research, promotion, and industry investment initiatives, senior leadership roles with DuPont Pioneer/Corteva in global industry relations, and multiple state-level executive positions including Secretary of Agriculture, Director of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, State Energy Policy Director, and Deputy Secretary of Tourism and State Development, giving him a unique perspective at the intersection of public policy, private industry, and economic development strategy.

 Bill and his family own and operate a diversified crop and livestock farm near Humboldt, SD. The farm was homesteaded in 1884 by his great-grandfather and Bill began farming in 1983.  Bill and his wife, Janell, have three children and live in Tea, SD.

 Todd Kenner

Over the past 40 years, Mr. Kenner has held senior leadership roles in engineering consulting firms ranging from $20M to $700M, with responsibilities including strategic planning, business operations, and organizational growth. He is a registered professional engineer in six states.

From May 2009 through March 2025, Mr. Kenner led the growth and expansion of RESPEC, an integrated consulting firm headquartered in Rapid City, SD, serving the water, energy, infrastructure, and technology sectors. Under his leadership, RESPEC grew from $14M in annual revenue to over $140M, expanding operations across 14 states and two Canadian provinces.

Throughout his career, Mr. Kenner has been committed to public service through leadership roles with professional organizations, public agencies, and community boards. In 2006, he received an Honorary Doctorate of Public Service from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. In January of 2026, Mr. Kenner took over as Interim CEO of Elevate Rapid City. 

Darren Haar

Darren Haar is a seasoned business executive, investor, and community leader based in Rapid City, South Dakota, known for his global corporate experience and strong commitment to local economic growth. He holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from University of New Mexico and spent much of his early career in the chemical and materials industry, including a long tenure with DuPont, where he served in senior leadership roles, most recently as Global Business Director for Microcircuit Materials before retiring in 2012.

During his time at DuPont, Haar led global business units, managed strategic growth initiatives, and oversaw international operations across Asia, Europe, and the Americas. He also served on boards for several international joint ventures and subsidiaries, gaining extensive experience in acquisitions, integrations, and cross-functional leadership.

After returning to the Black Hills, Haar focused on entrepreneurship and investment, becoming a key leader in regional economic development. He serves as Chairman of the Black Hills Regional Angel Fund, is Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, and has held leadership roles with organizations including Elevate Rapid City. In 2016, he received the Spirit of Enterprise award for his contributions to fostering innovation, investment, and startup growth in the region.

 If you have a food intolerance or allergy, please email events@elevaterapidcity.com so we can accommodate this ahead of time.

Thank you to our Premier Sponsor!

 Sponsorship opportunities are still available for this event! Please reach out to events@elevaterapidcity.com if interested.

By signing up for an Elevate event, I agree to comply with and be bound to the Elevate code of conduct.