Meet the Industry Outreach & Development team

Meet the Industry Outreach & Development Team

The Industry Outreach & Development team’s core function is to provide support and assistance to the communities and businesses within the tourism industry. This team can provide information about cooperative programs, marketing campaigns, consumer trends and marketing research. In addition, they are responsible for organizing industry outreach events and assisting communities with destination development initiatives within the four key niche areas of agri-tourism, sports tourism, outdoor adventure tourism and tribal tourism.

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
  • 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
Calvin Bloemendaal
Calvin Bloemendaal
Research Manager & Industry Liaison
  • 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
Ciara Rounds
Ciara Forest
Destination Development Manager & Industry Liaison
  • 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

Meet the Department of Tourism

Meet the Department of Tourism Team

The South Dakota Department of Tourism’s mission is to promote the state as a premier vacation destination to all visitors and to support and serve the South Dakota visitor industry.

Tourism is separated into four teams specializing in media and public relations, travel and trade, marketing and brand strategy, and industry outreach and development. The four teams strive to tell the South Dakota story to potential visitors while keeping our marketing consistent.

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 culture of the Native Americans and the history of pioneers like Laura Ingalls Wilder.

The South Dakota Department of Tourism is made up of two divisions: Tourism and the South Dakota Arts Council. 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.

Department of Tourism Team
Photo of Jim Hagen
Jim Hagen
Secretary of Tourism

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
Wanda Goodman
Wanda Goodman
Deputy Secretary

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
Photo of Hallie Getz
Hallie Willey
Finance Officer & Administrative Director
  • 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