South Dakota Basic Economic Development Course

Alysia Cook

Alysia Cook with Opportunity Strategies specializes in customized training, professional facilitation, and strategic planning. Her clients include economic development organizations, chambers of commerce, local and state governments, utilities, associations, and nonprofits. With more than 33 years of experience, Alysia has trained thousands of professionals, elected officials, and community leaders. She develops boards, facilitates strategic plans, and delivers programs designed to strengthen organizations and grow communities. An international public speaker, Alysia serves on the faculty for multiple economic and community development institutes. She holds the IOM designation and PCED certification.

Dan Gardner

Dan Gardner has over 30 years of experience advising municipalities on economic development, strategic planning, and fiscal issues. More recent projects include assisting with business recruitment; restructuring of economic development departments; assisting with implementation of new incentives and economic development policies; negotiation of intergovernmental agreements; and negotiating redevelopment agreements.

Before founding his own firm, Dan held principal and senior positions with other nationally recognized urban planning and economic development consulting firms.

In addition to his professional experience, Dan has a master’s degree in public administration (MPA), and has served as an elected City Council member, Plan Commission Chair, and member of a County Development Commission; all of which provides him with a unique insight and perspective on economic development.

Bob Mundt

Bob Mundt has served as President and CEO of the Sioux Falls Development Foundation since 2018. With over 30 years of experience in economic and community development across five Midwestern communities, he works with civic leaders, developers, and businesses to identify growth opportunities and implement strategies that support regional prosperity. Bob holds degrees from the University of Northern Iowa and Bellevue University and is a graduate of the Institute for Organizational Management and the Center for Creative Leadership. He is a Certified Economic Developer (CED) and Certified Chamber Executive (CCE), with extensive experience in business attraction, retention, talent development, and infrastructure planning.

Danielle Propst

Danielle brings a strategic, asset-based approach to community and neighborhood development, helping communities turn local strengths into actionable plans. With nearly a decade of experience, she creates customized planning frameworks centered on people, partnerships, and long-term vision. Her work, recognized with state and national economic development awards in Iowa, has supported transformative efforts in communities such as Le Mars, Bondurant, and Orange City. She also contributed to South Dakota’s Infrastructure First initiative, advancing statewide infrastructure and capital improvement planning. Through interactive engagement, she equips communities with practical tools to identify key players, align priorities, and move development forward confidently.

Justin Heim

Justin pairs infrastructure expertise with a collaborative mindset to advance thoughtful, community-driven development. With a decade of experience in public works and site development, he helps communities connect long-range visioning with practical, buildable solutions. As the designated city engineer for several municipalities, Justin works closely with local leaders to align infrastructure investment with neighborhood growth and redevelopment goals. He played a key role in South Dakota’s Infrastructure First initiative, helping shape 16 capital improvement plans and identify high-impact development sites. In this session, Justin shares insights on how engineering, partnerships, and strategic infrastructure planning support resilient, thriving communities.

Michael Bockorny

Michael Bockorny, a South Dakota native from Huron, earned his Business Management degree from Northern State University and an MM from the University of Mary. He is also a Certified Master Economic Development Practitioner (MEDP). He serves as President & CEO of The 17-20 Group, focusing primarily on leading the Economic Development Professionals Association of South Dakota. Previously, he spent over a decade as CEO of the Aberdeen Development Corporation and worked in senior living, higher education, and retail development. Michael has founded 19 companies and taught college courses in entrepreneurship. He and his wife, Kristi, have three children, a daughter-in-law, and a beloved dog.

Taylor Davis

Taylor Davis is the Senior Director of Workforce Development and Partnerships at Elevate Rapid City, where she leads initiatives focused on workforce development, military engagement, talent attraction, and economic mobility. Since joining Elevate, she has helped launch new workforce grants, talent attraction initiatives, micro-credentialing programs, and data-driven workforce consulting. Previously, she held leadership roles at the Wichita Falls Chamber of Commerce, advancing workforce and talent strategies and founding military employment initiatives. Her work has received state and national recognition, and she serves on the Board of Directors for the International Economic Development Council. A proud military spouse, Davis has made Rapid City home with her family.