More than forty years ago, Leadership Rapid City (LRC) began, bringing people together with the notion they could make a difference in the community, that leadership wasn’t just a thing you waited for in Pierre or Washington, that it was right here in the Black Hills. The program saw more than 1,000 people graduate and launched initiatives like Summer Nights, Day of Excellence, and the Festival of Lights Parade. It also gave future and current leaders a better understanding of the area and helped network the Black Hills far and wide.
After looking at Leadership Rapid City and taking into consideration feedback from LRC graduates and businesses, Elevate Rapid City built upon the previous success to develop a new leadership initiative: Elevate Leadership Institute (ELI).
“Leadership Rapid City did a great job of networking and community education for our community leaders,” said Tom Johnson, president and CEO of Elevate Rapid City. “ELI builds upon that success with additional leadership skills and training so the next generation of leaders in Rapid City has the capacity and resiliency needed to live up to Elevate’s mission: elevating the region for all.”
“I feel more confident, empowered, and knowledgeable about myself through the EQ-I assessment in order to propel forward in my leadership journey,” said Reece Weber, member of class of 2024 and attorney at Costello Porter. “I also feel more of an ability to help my organization and lead those attorneys that I work with in a similar way to how I was mentored when I first began practicing.”
The Elevate Leadership Institute is aimed at providing engaged citizens from across the region with the background, unique experience, and insights necessary to assume leadership positions in the community.
A graduation celebration was held at The Rushmore Hotel in Rapid City on Thursday, May 9. Graduates of the Elevate Leadership Institute Class of 2024 are:
- Dani Benne, Visit Rapid City
- Matthew Curley, Rapid City Fire Department
- McKay Dayton, First Interstate Bank
- Amy DiRienzo, SD Mines
- Mark Falcon, Loyal Plumbing
- Daryl Fierro, Omnitech
- Anna Gilligan, City of Rapid City
- Joe Gray, Scull Construction
- Rory Hammerbeck, The Monument
- August Hicks, Black Hills Federal Credit Union
- Elijah Houchens, Ketel Thorstenson, LLP
- Isaiah M. Judge, JJ Advisor Group
- Alexcia Kalal, Rapid City Police Department
- Dillon Matuska, Elevate Rapid City
- Jordy McPherson, Senator Rounds
- Mike Nelson, Black Hills Federal Credit Union
- Becky Pisle, US Air Force, Ellsworth Air Force Base
- Jen Potts, Monument Health
- Tif Robertson, T-N-T Event & Marketing Management
- Bailey Sadowsky, SD CEO West Women’s Business Center at BHSU
- Halli Schulz, Sturgis Ambulance
- Mackenzie Turner, The Marina at Sheridan Lake
- Reece R. Weber, Costello Porter Law Firm
- Robert Yellowhawk, Rural America Initiatives
Those interested in applying for the class of 2025 can learn more and access the application here. The application deadline is June 17. Scholarships and financial assistance are available.
