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10th Annual Women's Business Conference

Friday, October 18, 2019

The Lodge at Deadwood

The 2019 keynote speaker is Jennifer Pharr Davis. National Geographic Adventurer of the Year, Jennifer has trekked over 14,000 miles of long-distance trails over six continents. In 2011, she covered the 2,185 mile Appalachian Trail (the “A.T.”) in forty-six days, eleven hours and twenty minutes, maintaining a remarkable average of forty-seven miles per day. By doing this, she claimed the overall (male or female) fastest known time on the ‘A.T” and became the first woman to set the mark. Jennifer has written five books and has been featured in the New York Times, Outside, Trail Runner, NPR’s Talk of the Nation and the Washington Post. She’s also a business owner with her husband, a community leader and a mom.

“Celebrating our 10^th year helping women across the state launch new ventures and grow their businesses and careers, we wanted to focus on adventure and what that can mean in the workplace,” says Michelle Kane, SD CEO Director. “Jennifer is going to share stories of her extraordinary experiences all over the world which will result in actionable steps we can take to find the life explorer in all of us – both personally and professionally.”

This year, the focus of the Women’s Business Conference will be taking charge of your professional development and creating a seat at the table … even if you are not sure where to get started or where you should go next.

The conference will speak to women in all phases of their career – from early career to seasoned professionals. Jennifer will lead two sessions. The first will include defining your focus and path, communicating clearly and setting boundaries AND staying adaptable in any environment. The second session will discuss creative problem solving, teamwork, resiliency and work-life balance. While she shares stories of her worldwide hiking adventures and experiences, she will provide tips and tools for success that can be implemented immediately.

10th Annual Women's Business Conference

Friday, October 18, 2019

Conference Agenda

8:00am-9:00am Registration: Business Showcase/Visit Exhibitors

9:00am-9:15am Welcome & Introductions: Michelle Kane, Director, SD CEO

9:15am-10:30am Defining the Path: Jennifer Pharr Davis, Keynote Speaker

In a world that wants women to do everything well, it is imperative that we discover a narrow path where we can excel. We can define these individual pathways through personal and professional exploration, setting boundaries and communicating clearly, and by choosing habits of change over struggles of control. Learn to embrace the power–and freedom-that comes from naming your vision and claiming your direction.

10:30am-11:00am Networking Break: Business Showcase/Visit Exhibitors

Keynote Topics

Defining the Path

Going the Distance

Failure is not a mistake. It is an inherent part of any adventure. Taking on challenges can improve your creative problem solving skills and need for teamwork and delegation. Find ways to explore your potential, maximize your performance, and find the balance of what is possible in the short term versus what is beneficial in the long term.

Jennifer outside

Learn more about Jennifer’s books, company, and her story.

Jennifer will have signed books for sale at the conference.

Problem + Solution = Opportunity

This is common formula when someone starts a business.

The entrepreneur sees a problem, come up with a solution and BAM! ...an opportunity presents itself.

Not every business starts the same way and there are many reasons to launch a new venture:

It’s a dream!
It’s a necessity...
It’s just crosses your path.

There is no “right answer” and there is ALWAYS a story!

Get ready to be inspired as six women (including one mother and daughter team!) share their stories of successes, challenges and what they have learned along the way when it comes to owning a business in South Dakota.

Meet our speakers

Kristen Bell
Dough Trader, Good Day Cafe, Dough Fairy Delights
All located in Spearfish

Kristen Bell was raised in the Black Hills by a family of small-business people. She has lived in California, Texas, Kentucky and Arizona- earning a BFA in Performance of Theater Arts, with work experience spanning from cleaning motel rooms to gas station clerk, from fashion modeling to politics, from restaurant/bar industry to a farm-to-table endeavor. She opened Dough Trader Pizza Company in 2011, The Mission at Minder Binder (Tempe, AZ) in 2014, Liberty Farm in 2016, and Good Day Cafe in 2018. She loves cooking and washing dishes, and explaining some bit of science behind technique to anyone who will listen.

Erin Burmeister
Doc & Alice
Rapid City

Erin Burmeister is co-founder/owner of Doc & Alice, Black Hills Boutique, providing a fashion fix for all those in need. She’s a SoDak Soul Sister, wife of Ethan for twenty-four years, and mother of four. With Art & Design, Fashion Design, Interior Design/Decor, Real Estate, Music, and Ministry as background, her passions include fashion, people, spaces, and the Black Hills . . . celebrating the color and joy of life. She loves sharing those things with a community and helping others express on the outside who they are on the inside.

Sharon Goodman,Owner
Doc & Alice
Rapid City

Sharon Goodman is a co-founder/owner of Doc & Alice along with her daughter Erin Burmeister. The two have worked together on previous projects, including Real Estate & model home interiors for builders. Although her degree is in music and education, she found a home in sales while owning her own store. For over 50 years she has been selling both her own products and products from many other sources with side gigs in jewelry making, music performance, and teaching. She has a long-held passion for fashion and a deep love for music and her family. Her hobbies include reading, art, and riding motorcycles - officially obtaining her motorcycle license at the age of 75! Her family includes her husband, Marshall, 2 adult children, 8 grandchildren, 1 grandson-in-law and a new great-grandchild.

Jess Czerny, OD, DVM
Mountain Valley Vision Center, Spearfish
Deadwood Eyecare, Deadwood
Veterinarian at Animal Care Center of Spearfish, Spearfish

Jess Czerny is both an optometrist and a veterinarian. She has owned Mountain Valley Vision Center and Deadwood Eye Care for the last 8 years with her husband and continued to practice optometry while getting her second degree in veterinary medicine. She became a doctor for the second time in 2017. She is a Black Hills State Alumni and graduated as Valedictorian from the Michigan College of Optometry and summa cum laude from Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine. She is passionate about utilizing excellent medical technology to help provide the best care to her human and her animal patients. Jess loves the adventure of being a business owner, doctor, and now mom to a three-month-old, and in any spare time she can be found cross-fitting, mountain biking, or country dancing with her husband!

Lyndy Ireland
Triangle Ranch Bed & Breakfast
Philip

Lyndy Ireland was born, the 4th generation, on historic Triangle Ranch near Philip, SD. After high school she married her cowboy/teacher/coach sweetheart. When they were blessed to become parents, they determined to raise their children, the 5th generation, on the ranch. In doing so, her roles included mother, ranchwife, part time singer, horsewoman, typesetter for the local weekly newspaper, nursing home activities director, seamstress, interior painter and manager for the World-Famous Wall Drug's Western Boot Department. In her mid-40's she realized that “God didn't cut me out to punch a time clock”. After convincing hubby that it was perfectly logical to renovate their historic Sears & Roebuck ranch home as a Bed & Breakfast she came home to “bloom where she was planted”. 24 years later they continue to offer unique lodging and our special South Dakota hospitality to visitors from around the world.

Stacie Suedkamp
Fig Tales
Flandreau

Stacie Suedkamp creates custom desserts and enchanting stories. She turned a hobby and love for baked goods into her full-time sugar cookie business, Fig Tales. With a background in sales, marketing and training combined with a family history of hard work she doubled down on her strengths and works her dream job. She firmly believes you are one Google search away from learning any new skill. In addition to baking beautiful cookies, she’s a phenomenal idea generator and connector of people.

Dr. Helen Usera
Aspiring Business Consulting
Moderator

Dr. Helen Usera is Assistant Development Director for Abbott House. She provides community outreach for the organization specifically in West River. Helen also owns a consulting firm that provides strategic and organizational planning for small and large businesses. She is a certified John C. Maxwell Team mentor, coach, and speaker. She has her Doctorate in educational administration from University of Kansas. Helen had a ten-year career in the United States Army Reserves which allowed her the opportunity to complete her education. Helen has 2 sons and two grandchildren. Her current nonprofit and community service includes Rapid City Chamber of Commerce board treasurer, Western Dakota Tech Advisory Board and Air Force Global Strike Command Civic Leader.

What is an Intrapreneur?

Most people are familiar with the word “entrepreneur”. An entrepreneur is a person who organizes and operates a business or businesses, taking on greater than normal financial risks in order to do so.

Being entrepreneurial can mean sharing ideas freely and celebrating so-called failures as learning and growing experiences. They have serious skin in the game and get to call the shots.

But what if you work for a great company, non-profit, educational institution or municipality? In other words,if you work for someone else, can you still use the tools of the entrepreneur to include innovation, resilience, grit and creativity to find success and create change in your workplace? ABSOLUTELY.

You might be an intrapreneur.

Being an intrapreneur can mean knowing your industry inside out and being able to exploit that knowledge to create new opportunities INSIDE your company.The intrapreneur goes about her day looking for ways to make things better for her company’s clients or customers, creating efficiencies in workplace processes and adding value to her and her colleague's day to day work experience. While she may not be in control of her schedule, tasks or projects every day, she approaches her work with a positive attitude and makes time for herself when she needs a break. She shares decision-making power with others and strives to make a difference not only for her company or organization but also for her own career aspirations.

Our “Finding your Intrapreneurial Mindset” live podcast will help you expand your thinking about what is possible in your workplace. Sounds intriguing? Just wait until you meet our rock star intrapreneur influencers!

Meet our Intrapreneur Influencers

Sarah Carlson
Development Director, Historic Homestake Opera House Society
Moderator

Passionate about imagery and interpretation her whole life, Sarah has played a creative director role for two decades of design work in tourism, nonprofits, including exhibit design and revitalization. Sarah spent 15 years in Sioux Falls, SD and now 12 years in the Black Hills. Sarah dove into the executive director position 8 years ago at the Homestake Opera House in Lead, SD to assist in strategic planning and funding of restoration projects while the 105-old theater features 40 year-round events and tours. Sarah is grateful to live in a welcoming community that is truly 'Miles Beyond Ordinary'. Sarah has committed leadership roles in her church choirs, community theater, Lead Historic Preservation, Lead Area Chamber of Commerce, Black Hills and Badlands Tourism, and proudly sings the National Anthem for several annual events in Deadwood.

Beth Hottel
Manager, Marketing Department, Ketel Thorstenson, LLP

Beth Hottel joined Ketel Thorstenson, LLP (KTLLP) in 2013 after four years of economic development with Destination Rapid City, creating a business improvement district, and building Main Street Square. She has over 20 years’ experience in marketing, brand building, and business development, having worked for ad agencies, independent businesses, and a nonprofit. Beth oversees all marketing, communications, and promotional efforts of KTLLP. She is a member of the Association of Accounting Marketing, a 2017 Leadership Rapid City graduate, and has served six years on the board of the American Advertising Federation | Black Hills Chapter, including past president. She was named a Spirit of Dakota Award Nominee in 2012, and one of the Top Ten Fabulous Women of 2012 by Black Hills Woman Magazine. Beth is passionate about good design, mentoring, and belly laughs.

Cyrissa Thompson
Treasury Management Specialist, Great Western Bank

Cyrissa Thompson began her banking career ten years ago with Great Western Bank. Since 2016, she has been serving commercial customers in western South Dakota as a Treasury Management Specialist. Cyrissa strives to provide next-level customer service with a drive to build successful long-lasting customer relationships. Her passions include family, the outdoors and volunteering. She is a 2017 Leadership Rapid City Graduate, board member for the Ups of Downs Family Support Group and volunteer for the Central States Fair and Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo.

10th Annual Women's Business Conference

Friday, October 18, 2019

The Lodge at Deadwood

Keynote Topics

Problem + Solution = Opportunity

Meet our speakers

What is an Intrapreneur?

Meet our Intrapreneur Influencers

Sponsors

Diamond Sponsors

Platinum Sponsors

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

2019 Exhibitors

Scheels - $450 value

Akela Spa and The Lodge at Deadwood - $500 value

The Lodge at Deadwood - $300 value

Spearfish

Rapid City