Industry Partners
Building the Program
The Build Dakota Scholarship Fund was set up to help overcome the workforce shortage South Dakota faces. While the generous donations we’ve received have made—and will continue to make—a significant impact, industry partners help extend the benefit even further. Here’s how.
For Students
- Businesses sponsor students and commit to paying a portion of their program expenses. Build Dakota picks up the other portion. The student gets a free degree, and the employer gains a skilled scholar.
- Secure employment prior to graduation.
- Potential on-the-job training and part-time employment while in school.
For Businesses
- Cost-effective method to give current employees advanced training.
- Pipeline of new talent from South Dakota tech schools.
- Guaranteed work from qualified, highly-skilled graduates.
- Free advertising on the Build Dakota website.
For South Dakota
- Surge in skilled workers who help fill the state’s workforce shortage.
- Highly-trained scholars committed to staying in South Dakota.
- Thriving local businesses that have committed, quality workers.
Have Questions? Reach Out.
Each school has their own Build Dakota Industry Partner Program. Depending on the program, some students will be required to have an industry partner to receive the Build Dakota Scholarship. To learn more or to inquire about becoming a partner, please contact the technical colleges directly with the information below.
Lake Area Technical College
___________________
Stretch-the-Million
Melissa Waldner
605.882.5284
Email Melissa
Mitchell Technical College
___________________
Double Edge
Clayton Deuter
605.995.7132
Email Clayton
Southeast Technical College
___________________
Sponsor-a-Scholar
Kelli Rogotzke
605.367.5768
Email Kelli
Western Dakota Technical College
___________________
Have Your Pick
Andrew Kapelewski
605.718.3061
Email Andrew
Find an Industry Partner
The Build Dakota Scholarship Program is fortunate to have support from businesses in varying fields. We’d like to thank the following industry partners for helping make this program flourish!
If you want to learn more about partnering businesses and potential employment opportunities, click any of the links below.
A
Apex Ironworks & Fabrication
Milbank, SD Brandy Lewis 605-438-2700 brandy.lewis@apexironworksandfab.com
B
Bethesda Nursing Home of Aberdeen
Aberdeen, SD April Wirth 605-225-7580 aprilwirth@aberdeenbethesda.org
BJM Enterprise
Valley Springs, SD Mark Rozeboom / Eric VanGrotheest 605-757-6220 bjmenterprises@alliancecom.net
C
Carlson & Stewart Refrigeration
Sioux Falls, SD Cory Schreifels 320-253-5058 cschreifels@carlsonstewart.com
Caterpillar Inc – Black Hills Design Center
Rapid City, SD Jessica Bradley 605-391-7638 bradley_jessica_h@cat.com
Children's Dental Center & Parkway Orthodontics
Sioux Falls, SD Cheryl Reaves 605-332-1095 Smiles@childrensdentalcentersf.com
Civil Engineers and Constructors
North Sioux City, SD Sheri Young 712-222-1452 sheriy@ceconstructors.com
Community Health Center of the Black Hills
Rapid City, SD Lori DeBaere 605-721-8948 ldebaere@chcbh.org
D
Dakota Tool and Sharpening Service
Sioux Falls, SD Jason Bosch 605-339-6174 dakotasharpening@gmail.com
E
F
Freeman Regional Healthcare
Freeman, SD Courtney Unruh 605-925-4000 courtney.unruh@freemanregional.com
G
General Equipment & Supplies
Sioux Falls, SD Meghan Fitzgerald 701-850-7597 MFitzgerald@genequip.com
Golden West Telecommunications
Wall, SD Savannah Williamson 605-279-2161 savannahwilliamson@goldenwest.com
Good Samaritan Society (Sanford Health)
Sioux Falls, SD Meghan Gorsuch 605-312-9154 meghan.gorsuch@sandfordhealth.org
Grand Prairie Foods
Sioux Falls, SD Valerie Loudenback 605-334-5332 x 225 valerie@grandprairiefoods.com
Grossenburg Implement – Belle Fourche
Belle Fourche, SD Patrick Olson 605-569-0267 patrickolson@grossenburg.com
Grossenburg Implement – Winner
Winner, SD Katriona Koenig 402-375-3325 KatrionaKoenig@grossenburg.comH
I
Infrastructure Design Group, Inc
Sioux Falls, SD Robert Kummer 605-271-5527 robertk@infrastructuredg.com
J
K
L
M
N
North American Truck & Trailer
Sioux Falls, SD Cheryl Rierson 605-575-2141 cheryl.rierson@nattinc.com
O
P
Pennington County Sheriff's Office
Rapid City, SD Kimberly Bloomenrader 605-394-6113 kimberly.bloomenrader@pennco.org
Prairie Lakes Healthcare System
Watertown, SD Alison Gilbertson 605-882-7949 alison.gilbertson@prairielakes.com
Precision Risk Management
Sioux Falls, SD Jeff Svennes 605-271-7996 jeff@precisionriskmanagement.com
R
Rapid Precision Manufacturing, Inc.
Britton, SD Kayla Stutelberg 605-448-2290 kayla@rpmmachining.net
S
Scotchman Living Center (Philip Health Services)
Philip, SD Denise Buchholz 605-859-2511 ext. 3955 dbuchholz@monument.health
T
Tennant Electric
Faulkton, SD Brandon or Carrie Tennant 605-598-4298 tennantelectric@venturecomm.net
V
W
Wagner Community Memorial Hospital Avera
Wagner, SD Marcia Podzimek 605-384-3611 Marcia.Podzimek@avera.org
Watertown Development Company
Watertown, SD Michelle Kakacek 605-884-0340 michelle@watertownworks.com
Watertown Motor Company
Watertown, South Dakota Andy Johnson 605-886-5844 andy@watertownfordchrysler.com
Winner Regional Health
Winner, SD Laura Windsperger 605-842-7228 laura.windsperger@sanfordhealth.orgY
Contact the Colleges
Southeast Tech offers more than 70 pathways to today’s most innovative fields. Here, you’ll find career-focused two-year programs that prepare you with the skills you need to jumpstart your career in high-need industries.
Sioux Falls, SD
At Mitchell Tech, students learn and perform in settings that mirror real-world workplaces. In two years or less, you’ll understand the complexities of your chosen field and have the hands-on experience to get started.
Mitchell, SD
Lake Area Tech offers small, interactive classes, new technology and cutting-edge programs to prepare students for the current workforce demands. Learn by doing and work with the most advanced equipment in your field of study.
Watertown, SD
Western Dakota Tech—the only technical college in the western South Dakota region—offers programs in some of the fastest-growing fields and industries. Through internships and industry partners, students graduate ready to make an immediate impact.
Rapid City, SD