Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce: Leadership transition, emerging priorities
The top executive and the volunteer board chair of the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce spoke at the Downtown Rotary Club of Sioux Falls Monday, May 8, about the organization’s recent leadership transition, the Chamber’s priorities and development of a qualified, robust workforce that meets the growing needs of business and industry.
Jason Ball became Chamber CEO and president in January, succeeding Evan Nolte, who retired after leading the region’s premier business advocacy group for 37 years. Dr. David Kapaska, CEO and regional president of Avera McKennan, is amid his one-year term as the elected chair of the Chamber’s Board of Directors. Ball was hired by the Chamber during Kapaska’s chairmanship.
Jason Ball became Chamber CEO and president in January, succeeding Evan Nolte, who retired after leading the region’s premier business advocacy group for 37 years. Dr. David Kapaska, CEO and regional president of Avera McKennan, is amid his one-year term as the elected chair of the Chamber’s Board of Directors. Ball was hired by the Chamber during Kapaska’s chairmanship.
Ball has been on a “listening tour” with business and community leaders since his arrival in South Dakota. After a three-month crash course in network-building, he’s begun the process of strategic visioning with Chamber leadership and staff. Ball spoke about what he’s observed, where he sees future opportunities, and the importance of a strong, centralized voice for businesses in a quickly changing environment.
Ball, a Certified Economic Developer, earned an MBA from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, and is a graduate of Oklahoma University’s Economic Development Institute. Ball is a member of the International Economic Development Council, Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, U.S. Chamber Institute for Organization Management and Mid-America Chamber Executives. In 2015, Ball was selected by Development Counsellors International for “40 Under 40 – Rising Stars in Economic Development.” Prior to moving to Sioux Falls, Ball was president of the Hutchinson, Kansas, Chamber of Commerce for four years, and director of business development for the Lincoln, Nebraska, Chamber of Commerce for five years.
Kapaska is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy. Later, he earned an MBA from Southern Illinois University and a medical degree from the University of Osteopathic Medicine in Des Moines, Iowa. Kapaska served as an Air Force pilot before embarking on a career in business and health care. He spent 10 years as a family practice physician and then assumed various hospital administrative roles. Kapaska served as senior vice president of medical affairs and chief medical officer at Avera McKennan. In 2004, he took a lead role in establishing Avera eICU CARE, which leverages technology to extend critical care expertise to rural areas. He also started programs for hospitalists, surgicalists and intensivists. Kapaska is the 16th administrator in the 100-year history of Avera McKennan, a regional health network including Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center, 14 regional hospitals, about 70 primary and specialty care clinics, plus long-term care facilities and home medical equipment outlets. Known to many as "Dr. K," Kapaska is set to retire from Avera McKennan in June.
Program Highlights May 8, 2017
Ball, a Certified Economic Developer, earned an MBA from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, and is a graduate of Oklahoma University’s Economic Development Institute. Ball is a member of the International Economic Development Council, Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, U.S. Chamber Institute for Organization Management and Mid-America Chamber Executives. In 2015, Ball was selected by Development Counsellors International for “40 Under 40 – Rising Stars in Economic Development.” Prior to moving to Sioux Falls, Ball was president of the Hutchinson, Kansas, Chamber of Commerce for four years, and director of business development for the Lincoln, Nebraska, Chamber of Commerce for five years.
Kapaska is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy. Later, he earned an MBA from Southern Illinois University and a medical degree from the University of Osteopathic Medicine in Des Moines, Iowa. Kapaska served as an Air Force pilot before embarking on a career in business and health care. He spent 10 years as a family practice physician and then assumed various hospital administrative roles. Kapaska served as senior vice president of medical affairs and chief medical officer at Avera McKennan. In 2004, he took a lead role in establishing Avera eICU CARE, which leverages technology to extend critical care expertise to rural areas. He also started programs for hospitalists, surgicalists and intensivists. Kapaska is the 16th administrator in the 100-year history of Avera McKennan, a regional health network including Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center, 14 regional hospitals, about 70 primary and specialty care clinics, plus long-term care facilities and home medical equipment outlets. Known to many as "Dr. K," Kapaska is set to retire from Avera McKennan in June.
Program Highlights May 8, 2017
- Jason Ball became Chamber CEO and president in January 2017, succeeding Evan Nolte who retired after 37 years.
- Dr. David Kapaska, CEO and Regional President of Avera McKennan, is the elected chair of the Chamber’s Board of Directors.
- Jason Ball was hired by the Chamber during Kapaska’s chairmanship. The Chamber has a membership of 2,330 businesses and reaches 87,000 people.
- Sioux Falls needs to start thinking about its becoming a metro area, with expanding diversity.
- Over the next 10 years, SF could add 90,000 more people. A quarter of medical specialists are from other countries. 80 different languages are spoken in the SF School District.
- Ball has been on a “listening tour” with business and community leaders since his arrival in South Dakota. He’s begun the process of strategic visioning with Chamber leadership and staff.
- Contact info: ball@siouxfalls.com Office: 605-373-2000
Next Week’s Program:
Taneeza Islam, Executive Director CLIP—Where access to legal services meets entrepreneurship