Tara Jade Fox
Tara Jade Fox LLC, Owner
TaraJadeFox.com
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Unforgettable: The Art of Connection
In "Unforgettable: The Art of Connection," award-winning actor and performance coach, Tara Jade Fox, tears apart the misconception that acting is faking. The best performances, the ones that give you chills, aren't polished. They're real. In this session, Tara shares the exact techniques actors use to do the homework, let it go, and live in the moment, so that when the camera rolls, the pitch starts, or the room goes cold, you're not performing at people...you're connecting with them. And they won't forget it.
More about Tara
Chaser of chills. Lover of life. Constantly playing in a world of imagination. I've done high falls, been a zombie, a werewolf, lost a lover, and died — all in one day.
I've been glamorous and hideous at the same time. Your favorite daydream and your worst nightmare.
And for over 20 years I've taken everything that world taught me and used it to bring out the aliveness in others.
Marli Sayler
Joy in Being, Owner
www.joy-inbeing.com
You On Purpose: Living Your Identity with Bold Intention
How many of your thoughts today were actually yours — chosen, intentional, on purpose?
Or were you just running on autopilot?
In this presentation, Marli Sayler invites audiences to get curious about their own minds: why we default to self-doubt, why old habits feel so hard to break, and why "just think positive" never actually works. Instead of quick fixes, Marli offers something more lasting: a fresh, honest look at the thought patterns running the show, and simple tools to start rewriting them.
This isn't a sit-and-listen kind of talk. It's interactive, real, and applicable…the kind of session where people find themselves nodding, laughing, and quietly having an "aha" moment about their own life. Attendees leave with practical ways to quiet the noise, reconnect with what actually matters to them, and start showing up in work, relationships, and everyday life a little more on purpose.
More about Marli
Marli Sayler is a Certified Life and Mental Performance Coach who helps individuals and organizations learn how to "Think on Purpose", equipping them with tools for personal growth, emotional resilience, and lasting change. She is also the author of the Daily GRIP 90-Day Journal + Planner, designed to help people build intentional habits and strengthen their mindset one day at a time.
Marli partners with schools, businesses, leadership teams, and collegiate athletic programs — including South Dakota State University Athletics — to strengthen mindset, build confidence, and enhance well-being in both life and performance. Her speaking style blends authenticity, humor, and practical strategies that audiences remember and use long after they leave the room.
From collegiate athletes, to corporate leaders, educators to community groups, Marli has built a reputation for connecting with a wide range of audiences and creating interactive, engaging experiences that inspire people to take ownership of their mindset and find more joy in the process.
A South Dakota State University graduate and former elementary teacher, Marli combines her love of teaching with her passion for personal development, continuing to empower others through coaching, speaking, and community wellness initiatives.
Marli lives in Brookings, South Dakota, with her husband, Seth, and their three young children — proud supporters of the SDSU Jackrabbits.
Jennie Milton
AdrenaJen, Owner
https://jenniemilton.com/
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Into the Wind: How Top Performers Use Pressure to Rise
Pressure is inevitable. The question is: will it hold you back, or help you rise?
In this inspiring and entertaining keynote, adventure athlete, entrepreneur, and courage expert Jennie "AdrenaJen" Milton shares powerful lessons from extreme sports, business ownership, leadership, and surviving seven brain surgeries. From riding giant waves and heli-skiing in Alaska to building businesses and overcoming life-threatening challenges, Jennie reveals how top performers use pressure as a catalyst for growth rather than a reason to retreat.
Through unforgettable stories and practical strategies, audiences will learn how to lead with confidence, take calculated risks, and turn fear into forward momentum. They will leave empowered to rise above uncertainty, expand their influence, and inspire others to do the same.
Because the people who create the greatest impact aren't the ones waiting for perfect conditions—they're the ones willing to go into the wind.
More about Jennie
Jennie “AdrenaJen” Milton is an extreme sports athlete, keynote speaker, and author who helps women find the courage to do the things that scare them so they can build bold confidence in life and business. From a fearful childhood to becoming an Australian Kitesurfing Champion and globally ranked snowkiter, Jennie has spent her life navigating high-risk environments—from big mountain skiing in Alaska to facing the biggest storm of her life through brain surgery.
Blending powerful storytelling with practical mindset tools, Jennie delivers her signature keynote Into the Wind - How top performers use pressure to rise. teaching audiences how to work with fear, take calculated risks to achieve success and to win under pressure. She is the author of the children’s book series Gale and the Red Kite of Courage, a contributing author to multiple anthologies, and a sought-after speaker on courage, resilience, risk.
Marcia Hultman - Panel Moderator
Office of Governor Larry Rhoden
Marcia Hultman was appointed Cabinet Secretary of the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation by Governor Dennis Daugaard in 2014 and reappointed by Governor Kristi Noem in 2019 and 2023 and now serves under Governor Larry Rhoden. Prior, she had served in various DLR leadership roles for 17 years. Hultman has been involved in the delivery of workforce training, employment, adult education and literacy, and unemployment insurance services, as well as state-specific wage and hour, workers’ compensation, and human rights programs. Hultman received a bachelor’s degree from Black Hills State University and completed the Council of State Government Henry Toll Leadership program in 2016.
Jamie Hower
Monument Health
Jamie Hower serves as the Manager of Monument Health’s Career Development and Advancement team and as a CNA on their Heart and Vascular Unit. She was also appointed to the SD Workforce Development Council by Governor Rhoden in July.
Her career has focused on workforce strategy, talent development, leadership growth, and organizational transformation. With a strong appreciation for both data-driven decision-making and the human stories behind the data, she develops innovative workforce solutions that strengthen organizations and communities.
Drawing on her career and education in Business, Human Resources, and Performance
Psychology, along with experience as a Certified Nursing Assistant, Jamie brings a
unique perspective that bridges the bedside and the boardroom. Her work is centered
on aligning people, purpose, and performance to help others achieve meaningful growth
and success.
Rebecca Ortmeier
SD Department of Labor and Regulation
Rebecca Ortmeier is the Apprenticeship Coordinator for the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation, where she assists in the development of high‑impact workforce solutions across the state. With a primary focus on the healthcare industry and experience supporting employers across all sectors, Rebecca works to connect businesses with the skilled talent they need. Through strategic apprenticeship development and employer engagement, she helps shape the future of South Dakota’s workforce one apprenticeship at a time.
Kelsey Ruzicka
Moxie Marketing
Creativity has always been at the heart of what I do. I’ve always been drawn to the process of taking an idea and turning it into something meaningful—something that connects, communicates, and makes an impact.
With a background in Communication Arts and Business Marketing, three decades of experience in the media industry, and a lifelong entrepreneurial spirit, I bring both creativity and strategy to every project. My experience has taught me that great marketing isn’t just about making something look good—it’s about understanding people, finding the right story, and communicating it in a way that moves them to action.
Owning and operating my own business has been a long-time dream, and I’m incredibly grateful to be living that dream every day through Moxie Marketing. I love working alongside business owners to uncover what makes their businesses unique and turn those ideas into meaningful, strategic marketing that helps them reach their goals.
That’s what I strive to bring to every client and every project—creativity with purpose,
strategy with heart, and a genuine desire to see good businesses succeed.
Dean Sigman
Black Hills Energy
Dean Sigman is the Manager of Electric Operations for Black Hills Energy in Rapid City, South Dakota. Since joining the company as a lineman in 2008, he has advanced through roles in Construction Planning and Operations Leadership, becoming Operations Supervisor for the Northern Hills area in 2013 and ultimately becoming Manager of Electric Operations.
Dean began his utility career and apprenticeship in his hometown of Martin, South Dakota, where he worked toward becoming a Journeyman Lineman. Throughout his career, he has been actively involved in apprenticeship and workforce development programs, serving as a mentor, supervisor, administrator, and advocate for employee growth. He is passionate about developing the next generation of skilled utility professionals through apprenticeship and mentorship programs.
