06/04/2015
Governor greets 2015 Dakota Rising Entrepreneur Fellows
Recognizing the importance of the entrepreneurial spirit to the growth of South Dakota’s economy, Governor Dennis Daugaard took time to meet with the applicants for the Dakota Rising Fellowship at the Selection Event June 1.
Eight rural entrepreneurs were selected to join the Dakota Resources Dakota Rising Community following the Entrepreneur Fellowship Selection event at the Clubhouse Suites in Pierre, SD. The event allowed each of the nine Entrepreneur Fellowship Finalists to showcase their businesses and network with like-minded rural entrepreneurs and community leaders.
Governor Daugaard met each of the Fellow Finalists and learned about the positive impacts Dakota Rising and its Entrepreneur Fellows are creating in rural South Dakota. Dakota Rising, Dakota Resources’ entrepreneur development program, cultivates rural entrepreneurs dedicated to growing themselves, their businesses and the greater community, providing a vital spark to strengthen South Dakota’s economic base.
The 2015 Dakota Resources Dakota Rising Entrepreneur Fellows include Cam Schock, Climate Control, and David Malsam, CompQuest Technology, from Aberdeen Dakota Rising, covering all of Brown County. Lawrence County’s Dakota Rising Fellows for 2015 are Leslie Bellet, Twin City Hardware, and Dr. Bob McIntosh, HealthSource of Spearfish. Southern Charles Mix welcomes Barbra Pechous, Taboma Publications, and Cheryl Swatek, The Cake Lady, its first two Entrepreneur Fellows since joining Dakota Rising in 2014. John Pfeifer, VoWac Publishing, is this year’s Fellow from Faulkton Area Dakota Rising, serving Faulk County. Chad Gollnick, Iron Outfitters, located in Piedmont, SD, was sponsored by a Dakota Rising Fellow alum.
Each Dakota Rising Fellow becomes a member of an interactive Fellowship community of rural South Dakota entrepreneurs focused on growing their businesses, their communities and South Dakota. The greatest benefit to the 2015 Fellows is participation in the Cohort process, a peer advisory board that challenges, supports and holds each entrepreneur accountable. With generous support from the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, Fellows are also awarded a $10,000 grant after their first year in the Fellowship to be used for professional and business development.
For more information on becoming a Dakota Rising Fellow, go to www.dakotaresources.org/dakota-rising. To learn more about how Dakota Resources increases the capacity of South Dakota communities, contact Dakota Resources at 605-987-2804 or e-mail [email protected]
This exciting opportunity is focused on strategically partnering with local communities to invigorate rural entrepreneurs and their businesses. By intentionally investing financial and human resources, we can grow the capacity of individuals and, in turn, grow their businesses.
