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Tourism Industry

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Tourism Awards

Tourism Awards

Each January during the annual South Dakota Governor's Conference on Tourism, awards are presented to outstanding members or organizations that have contributed significantly to the state's tourism industry.

  • The Ben Black Elk Award is presented to an individual or individuals who have made outstanding contributions to South Dakota's tourism industry. The 2024 award was presented to Lucille Holsether (Wall).

    Read more about the Ben Black Elk Award and see the display at the Department of Tourism.
     
  • The A.H. Pankow Award honors a member of the media or public relations industry who has shown superior interest in and coverage of South Dakota and the tourism industry. The recipient of the 2023 award was Jeff Carrino (Milbank).
     
  • The Peter Norbeck Excellence in Tourism Innovation Award honors a South Dakota tourism industry partner for innovative marketing, special promotions, or improvements to their business or attraction. Holy Terror Days/The Haunting of Keystone (Keystone) was named the winner for 2023.
     
  • The Ruth Ziolkowski Outstanding Hospitality & Customer Service Awards recognize members of the South Dakota tourism industry who have displayed remarkable hospitality and customer service. Kelly Larson (Chamberlain), Susan Kaiser (Lead), Zane Lodmell (Sioux Falls), and Dianne Larson (De Smet) were recognized for 2023.
     
  • The Governor's Tourism Rising Star Award recognizes an individual who has worked in the South Dakota tourism industry for 2-4 years, is excelling at their job and will make a positive difference in the years to come. The 2024 award was presented to Taryn Reidt (Chamberlain/Oacoma).
     
  • The George S. Mickelson Award honors a business or organization that promotes outstanding hospitality and customer service training for its employees. The 2023 award was presented to Black Hills Adventure Tours (Rapid City).
     

 For nomination information about the Tourism Awards, please go to the Tourism Awards Nominations page.

To learn more about the George S. Mickelson Award, see the South Dakota Great Place Program page and the George S. Mickelson Award page. 

For a list of all those previously recognized with Tourism Awards, see the page with Past Winners.
 

 

FOR INFORMATION

For more information, please contact Jim Hagen at 605-773-3301 or [email protected].

Kortney Fethkenher

Kortney Fethkenher
Kortney Fethkenher
  • Supports all public relations and social media efforts
  • Maintains brand voice across all social channels
  • Supports international public relations strategy
  • Hostings (domestic and international)
Social Media & Public Relations Representative
[email protected]

About

About Travel South Dakota

Travel South Dakota’s mission is to enhance the quality of life for all South Dakotans by strengthening our communities and their tourism economies, encouraging responsible stewardship of our destination, and creating meaningful experiences for all to enjoy.

The South Dakota Department of Tourism is made up of two divisions: Travel South Dakota and the South Dakota Arts Council. Travel South Dakota is comprised of four teams: Global Public Relations & Content Services; Global Travel & Trade; Global Marketing & Brand Strategy; and Industry Relations, Development & Research. 

Whether it’s promoting South Dakota's legacy attractions like Mount Rushmore National Memorial or our world-class pheasant hunting experience, it’s a privilege to tell people about our great destinations. We love to tell the story of the rich Native American culture and the history of pioneers like Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Together, we’re here to serve the people of South Dakota and all who come to meet our Great Faces and explore our Great Places.

 


If you wish to request a speaker from the Department of Tourism, please complete the Speaker Request form.


Department of Tourism Team
Photo of Jim Hagen
Jim Hagen
Secretary of Tourism
[email protected]

Jim has served as South Dakota’s Secretary of Tourism since 2011. He has a passion for seeing the visitor industry in all corners of our state grow to new heights.

Before becoming the Secretary of Tourism, Jim served four and a half years as the National Fundraising Campaign Director and Public Relations Director for the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation. From 2004-2006, he served as South Dakota’s Secretary of Tourism and State Development. From 1995-2002, he served as Chief of Staff and Special Advisor to Governor Bill Janklow.

Jim was honored and proud to represent South Dakota as the National State Tourism Director of the Year in August 2014. He was chosen by his peers in the National Council of State Tourism Directors and the U.S. Travel Association. Under his leadership, and in close partnership with the tourism industry in South Dakota, the state has set new economic impact records every year over the past seven years, including all-time spending and visitation records. During his tenure as Secretary, the Department of Tourism has been the recipient of numerous regional and national marketing and public relations awards.

In March 2014, Jim was appointed to the 32-member National Travel and Tourism Advisory Board (TTAB) by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker. The board is charged with advising the United States Secretary of Commerce on travel and tourism issues affecting our country. In March 2016, he was reappointed by Secretary Pritzker to another two year term on the TTAB. He also serves on the Executive Board of the U.S. Travel Association and chairs the Membership Governance Committee. In January 2017, he was elected Chairman of the National Council of State Tourism Directors.

Jim grew up in the northeast region of The Mount Rushmore State. He is a graduate of Aberdeen Central High School and the University of Southern California. He loves South Dakota’s outdoors and its hidden gems. He is always up for a good adventure, so be sure and invite him to explore your corner of the state.

Jim Hagen
Secretary of Tourism
[email protected]
Wanda Goodman
Wanda Goodman
Deputy Secretary
[email protected]

Wanda has been a part of the tourism industry in South Dakota since 2006, and has served as the Deputy Secretary since 2012. Prior to this role, Wanda served as the department’s Media & Industry Relations Manager, and worked as the Public Relations Director for a small marketing firm.

Always a South Dakotan, Wanda grew up in the southeastern corner of the state. She loves sharing the stories of South Dakota, whether it be an American icon like Mount Rushmore National Memorial, an off-the-beaten path gem like the National Music Museum, or one of the state's great faces such as the alligator wrestlers at Reptile Gardens. As a staunch advocate for the importance of travel, Wanda proudly serves on the Family Travel Association’s national board of advisors. In her role on the FTA board, and as the department’s Deputy, she enjoys the opportunity to work on a wide variety of projects, and never tires of seeing a first-time visitor to her state transformed into an ambassador.

When she’s not enthusiastically promoting the state she loves and calls home, she and her family can be found fishing or boating on South Dakota’s Lake Oahe, hiking in South Dakota’s outdoors, or traveling to explore a new destination.

Wanda Goodman
Deputy Secretary
[email protected]
Photo of Hallie Getz
Hallie Willey
Finance Officer & Administrative Director
[email protected]
  • Provides fiscal support to the department, including management of all funds received and distributed
  • Oversees financial reporting and accounting of funds and Internal Controls efforts
  • Manages on-going expenses and department budgeting
  • Drafts and oversees department contracts
Hallie Willey
Finance Officer & Administrative Director
[email protected]
Theresa Tople
Teresa Tople
Administrative Assistant & Board Liaison
[email protected]
  • Tourism Advisory Board liaison
  • Receptionist for phone calls and mail
  • Bulk publication requests
  • Industry database assistance
  • Industry mailings and labels
Teresa Tople
Administrative Assistant & Board Liaison
[email protected]
Global Marketing & Brand Strategy Team

The Global Marketing & Brand Strategy team is responsible for working with our marketing agencies to develop, execute and manage our year-round domestic and international marketing campaigns in key strategic markets.

Together, the teams conceive the creative elements in our work, media tactics and schedules, and overall marketing strategy. The team works on omni-channel campaigns that utilize TV and Connected TV, digital, paid social media, print, audio and digital audio (podcasts + streaming), email, Out-of-Home (billboards + activations), and consumer and industry websites. The team also administers a robust cooperative marketing program that provides matching funds and opportunities to various South Dakota tourism industry partners that connect to our overall marketing efforts.

Mike Gussiaas | Global Marketing Director
Mike Gussiaas
Chief Marketing & Creative Officer
[email protected]
  • Directs Global Marketing strategy and efforts
  • Directs Global Marketing campaigns
  • Directs & implements Brand Standards

MEET MIKE >>

Mike Gussiaas
Chief Marketing & Creative Officer
[email protected]
Erin Weinzettel | Global Marketing & Brand Manager
Erin Weinzettel
Global Marketing & Brand Strategy Director
[email protected]
  • Manages Global Marketing strategy and campaigns
  • Manages joint strategy and efforts with other South Dakota government departments
  • Helps manage and implement Brand Standards

MEET ERIN >>

Erin Weinzettel
Global Marketing & Brand Strategy Director
[email protected]
Ashley Worth
Ashley Worth
Co-op Marketing Manager
[email protected]
  • Manages Global Marketing cooperative marketing partnerships
  • Manages Community Cooperative Marketing program
  • Manages A La Carte Cooperative Marketing program
     
Ashley Worth
Co-op Marketing Manager
[email protected]
Angela Bartel
Angela Bartel
Graphic Designer
[email protected]
  • Designs and supports Global Marketing publications and collateral
  • Designs and supports Global Travel & Trade collateral
  • Designs Department’s industry collateral
Angela Bartel
Graphic Designer
[email protected]
Photo of Alexa Dorn
Alexa Dorn
Marketing Campaigns & Projects Manager
[email protected]
  • Manages and implements marketing partnership programs
  • Manages A La Carte Cooperative Marketing program
  • Assists and coordinates Global Marketing campaigns
Alexa Dorn
Marketing Campaigns & Projects Manager
[email protected]
Michele Ganschow
Michele Ganschow
Internal Marketing Projects Manager
[email protected]
  • Coordinates flow of all Global Marketing efforts
  • Supports Global Marketing campaigns
  • Supports Global Travel & Trade collateral efforts
     
Michele Ganschow
Internal Marketing Projects Manager
[email protected]
Global Travel & Trade Team

The Global Travel & Trade team is responsible for promoting South Dakota as a premier vacation destination to both domestic and international travel trade professionals (tour operators and travel agents). They use their expertise to educate and inform tour operators about South Dakota’s diverse tourism offerings, and to identify growth segments of the group tour market. The primary domestic focus of the team is attending trade shows, such as the American Bus Association conference, that have the most potential for delivering tours to the state. The team also attends international travel trade shows like IPW, the United States’ largest travel trade show; Brand USA’s Travel Week Europe; and hosts the International Roundup in our region every year.

As part of The Great American West (GAW) consortium, the Global Travel & Trade team partners with the states of Idaho, North Dakota and Wyoming to pool financial resources in the international market to gain larger exposure for the state and the region. GAW coordinates several travel trade missions every year to target tour operators in countries like the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Australia and New Zealand. These missions consist of meetings where the team meets with dozens of tour operators to ‘sell’ the state. Travel South Dakota also contracts with firms that assist us with travel trade outreach in Canada.

Cole Irwin
Cole Irwin
Global Travel & Trade Senior Director
[email protected]
  • Oversees all Global Travel & Trade efforts
  • International Marketing efforts (TravelSouthDakota.com)
  • Rocky Mountain International (RMI) promotions
  • Marketing campaigns
  • Hostings
Cole Irwin
Global Travel & Trade Senior Director
[email protected]
Kyler Flock
Kyler Flock
Global Travel & Trade Representative
[email protected]
  • International Marketing efforts (Canada and Asia)
  • Familiarization Tour coordination and hosting
  • Content creator for Global Travel Trade efforts
Kyler Flock
Global Travel & Trade Representative
[email protected]
Calley Geigle
Calley Geigle
Global Travel & Trade Representative
[email protected]
  • Group Tours (TourSDakota.com)
  • International Marketing efforts (TravelSouthDakota.com)
  • Familiarization Tour coordination and hosting
  • Content creator for Global Travel Trade efforts
Calley Geigle
Global Travel & Trade Representative
[email protected]
Global Public Relations & Content Services Team

The Global Public Relations & Content Services team works closely with the Global Marketing & Brand Strategy team, outside marketing and public relations agencies, and tourism industry partners to promote South Dakota as a premier vacation destination to media and consumers around the globe.

The team actively pitches South Dakota tourism-related stories to state, regional, national and international media in order to secure coverage in major print & online publications and broadcast outlets. Throughout the year, this team hosts numerous travel writers and journalists as well as social media influencers to put a spotlight on the state and its tourism offerings. The team also conducts media interviews, provides photo & video assets to media outlets, and issues press releases from Travel South Dakota.

This team is also the communications arm to South Dakota’s tourism industry, servicing both external and internal stakeholders while serving as the backbone of Travel South Dakota’s content creation efforts, including industry and consumer emails, web content development and maintenance for SDVisit.com and TravelSouthDakota.com, long and short-form video, and vacation and visitor guide services.

Katlyn Svendsen
Katlyn Svendsen
Global Public Relations & Content Services Senior Director
[email protected]
  • Directs the overall public relations strategy
  • Hostings (domestic and international)
  • Lead spokesperson and media correspondent
  • National Travel & Tourism Week
  • South Dakota Newsroom (MediaSD.com)

MEET KATLYN >>

Katlyn Svendsen
Global Public Relations & Content Services Senior Director
[email protected]
Byron Banasiak
Byron Banasiak
Visual Assets Manager
[email protected]
  • Manages Department’s visual assets and loans
  • Chief Photographer and Videographer
  • Maintains Department’s asset database

MEET BYRON >>

Byron Banasiak
Visual Assets Manager
[email protected]
Ann DeVany
Ann DeVany
Website Manager
[email protected]
  • Manages Department’s websites
  • Manages digital communications to industry
  • Deploys digital communications to industry
Ann DeVany
Website Manager
[email protected]
Thad Friedeman
Thad Friedeman
Senior Marketing Services Coordinator
[email protected]
  • Coordinates and supports Global Marketing strategies and efforts
  • Implements Brand Standards
  • Supports Global Marketing campaigns
  • Manages South Dakota Logo usage and Great 8 Logo usage
  • Provides ad design tips
Thad Friedeman
Senior Marketing Services Coordinator
[email protected]
Austin Kaus
Austin Kaus
Content Development Manager
[email protected]
  • Manages Global Marketing content efforts
  • Creates content for all Global Marketing efforts
  • Maintains brand voice across all Department channels

MEET AUSTIN >>

Austin Kaus
Content Development Manager
[email protected]
Kortney Fethkenher
Kortney Fethkenher
Social Media & Public Relations Representative
[email protected]
  • Supports all public relations and social media efforts
  • Maintains brand voice across all social channels
  • Supports international public relations strategy
  • Hostings (domestic and international)
Kortney Fethkenher
Social Media & Public Relations Representative
[email protected]
Steph Spronk
Stephanie Spronk
Social Media Manager & Global Media Representative
[email protected]
  • Manages all public relations and social media strategies
  • Supports international public relations strategy
  • Hostings (domestic and international)

MEET STEPHANIE >>

Stephanie Spronk
Social Media Manager & Global Media Representative
[email protected]
Industry Relations, Development & Research Team

The Industry Relations, Development & Research team is responsible for providing support and assistance to the communities and businesses within the South Dakota tourism industry. This team proactively travels the state to provide industry members with information about cooperative programs, marketing campaigns, consumer trends, marketing research and the latest updates from Travel South Dakota. They make it their goal to help industry members plug into the department as much as possible.

In addition, the team is responsible for organizing industry outreach events such as the annual Governor’s Conference on Tourism. They assist communities with destination development initiatives. The team also oversees the state’s Interstate Welcome Centers and the hiring and training of the seasonal staff who work in them. Finally, the team is responsible for tracking and reporting travel indicators and also oversees the annual economic impact studies that demonstrate tourism’s impact on South Dakota’s economy.

Kirk Hulstein
Kirk Hulstein
Industry Relations, Development & Research Senior Director
[email protected]
  • Oversees destination development strategy
  • Manages various tourism industry grants
  • Directs research and reporting strategy
  • Oversees industry relations efforts

MEET KIRK >>

Kirk Hulstein
Industry Relations, Development & Research Senior Director
[email protected]
Calvin Bloemendaal
Calvin Bloemendaal
Research Manager & Industry Liaison
[email protected]
  • Develop and manage Travel South Dakota's research plan
  • Analyze digital and social media engagement, campaign KPI’s and website performance
  • Stay informed on emerging marketing trends, new technologies, and industry travel indicators
  • Manage industry databases and CRM programs
  • Industry liaison for the northeast (Glacial Lakes & Prairies) and southeast (Southeast South Dakota) regions

MEET CALVIN >>

Calvin Bloemendaal
Research Manager & Industry Liaison
[email protected]
Ciara Rounds
Ciara Forest
Destination Development Manager & Industry Liaison
[email protected]
  • Destination development program strategy
  • Industry liaison for west (Black Hills & Badlands) and central (Missouri River) regions
  • TAP Grant program administration
  • Community visits
  • Industry workshops coordination
  • Cooperative Marketing program promotion
  • Tourism development project management

MEET CIARA >>

Ciara Forest
Destination Development Manager & Industry Liaison
[email protected]
Shawntae Moran
Shawntae Moran
Welcome Center Manager
[email protected]
  • Welcome Center hiring and personnel management
  • Management of daily Welcome Center operations
  • Welcome Center employee training and familiarization tour coordination
  • Welcome Center sales and co-op programs
  • Welcome Center exhibits and visitor experience
Shawntae Moran
Welcome Center Manager
[email protected]
Bailey Tysdal
Bailey Tysdal
Industry Training & Legislative Relations Manager
[email protected]
  • Hospitality training programs
  • National Travel & Tourism Week (NTTW) campaign and outreach
  • Annual Governor’s Conference on Tourism
  • Legislative outreach and relations program
  • Training and professional development webinars

MEET BAILEY >>

Bailey Tysdal
Industry Training & Legislative Relations Manager
[email protected]

GOVERNOR'S TOURISM ADVISORY BOARD

The 11-member Governor's Tourism Advisory Board includes visitor industry and citizen representatives from across the state. Members serve as liaisons and advisors regarding tourism industry-related topics and issues.

Meet the Board

 

SOUTH DAKOTA ARTS COUNCIL

Led by Executive Director Patrick Baker, the South Dakota Arts Council is a state agency serving South Dakotans and their communities through the arts. The Council makes quality arts accessible throughout the state by providing grants, services and information to artists, arts organizations, schools and the public. It is a division of the South Dakota Department of Tourism.

Meet the Arts Council

 

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