SD CEO Women's Business Center Announces 2022 Award Winners 

Almost 320 women gathered at The Lodge at Deadwood for the SD CEO Outstanding Women in Business Award ceremony presented at the 11th annual Women’s Business Summit. 

“The purpose of the SD CEO Outstanding Women in Business awards is to provide a platform to acknowledge and recognize working women across the state,” says Michelle Kane, Director, SD CEO West Women’s Business Center,” From 36 applications, a distinguished panel of judges representing different industries, locations and experiences in South Dakota reviewed each nomination to select the top three finalists for each award category.” 

Nominations highlighted women entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs who have made a significant impact in business and whose actions exemplify savvy business acumen, integrity, compassion, and commitment to community. 

There were two award categories for business owners: the Enterprising Young Entrepreneur and Enterprising Entrepreneur and one award for Enterprising Intrapreneur. A new award, “The Women’s Choice” award, which was voted on live at the Women’s Business Summit was also presented.  

“Our top three finalists for each award category each brought something unique to the table and deserve to be recognized as they have made significant impact in business and whose actions exemplify savvy business acumen, integrity, compassion, and commitment to community.,” continued Kane, “Women continue to make strides in business across the state and it is a privilege to honor them.” 

2022 Outstanding Women In Business Finalists 

Enterprising Young Woman Entrepreneur 

Tia Berens, The Barn at Aspen Acres, Spearfish 

Fallon Deutsch, Distinctly Drey, Langford 

Devon Nelson, The Hot Room, Spearfish 

Enterprising Woman Entrepreneur 

Sandy Burns, Project Solutions, Rapid City 

Carrie Gerlach, Black Hills Adventure Tours, Inc., Rapid City 

Becky Tycz, B & H Publishing, Inc., Tyndall 

Enterprising Women Intrapreneur 

Marnie Herrmann, Security First Bank, Rapid City 

Lindsay Luper, Edward Jones, Hot Springs 

Jodi Watts, Black Hills Community Bank, Spearfish 

Congratulations to the 2022 Outstanding Women in Business Award recipients: 

Enterprising Young Entrepreneur 

Tia Berens, The Barn at Aspen Acres, Spearfish 

Enterprising Woman Entrepreneur 

Carrie Gerlach, Black Hills Adventure Tours, Rapid City 

Enterprising Woman Intrapreneur 

Marnie Herrmann, Security First Bank, Rapid City 

New – Outstanding Women’s Choice 

Tia Berens, The Barn at Aspen Acres, Spearfish 

 
Berens’s nominator shared, “Tia Berens is a pathfinder and way-maker. When Tia and her then fiancé Dan identified a need in the Black Hills for a wedding venue that could host their large guest list and provide a blank slate that could be used to host any wedding style, they made it. Despite growing both a business and a family simultaneously, Tia fuels both with an enthusiasm that is the secret sauce to her success.” 

Gerlach’s nominator shared, “Carrie graduated from BHSU with a degree in Tourism Management. In 2005, she started Black Hills Adventure Tours with one vehicle, one guide (herself), and the dream of owning her own business. She was a single mom raising two kids and working nights at RCRH so they could have healthcare and did tours during the day. Carries never gave up and today she has the company she dreamed about and has been showing guests from all over the world our beautiful state for 17 years.” 

 “Marnie Herrmann is the Chief Banking Officer at Security First Bank in Rapid City, a member of the corporate management team, and serves on the bank’s board of directors. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism from the University of Oregon and is a graduate of the Stonier Graduate School of Banking and the Wharton Leadership Program. Marnie not only fulfills her role as a critical business partner and member of the senior management team but was intimately involved in our business development effort when a decision was made to open a DeNovo corporate office in South Dakota in 2004,” shared Herrmann’s nominator.  

SD CEO West Women’s Business center is funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.