Leadership Pierre 2026-2027 Session 2: Community Services
The Leadership Pierre Class of 2026–27 attended their second session on Thursday, October 8th, with a full day centered on Community Services. Session sponsored by Thrivent Financial.
The day began at the Pierre Area Chamber of Commerce with the full program in-person and the classroom only students virtually. The classroom session focused on "Unifying Culture," a virtual session with Erik Therwanger.
From there, the full program students hit the road for a variety of experiences showcasing the vibrancy of Pierre's business community:
- Boys & Girls Club of the Capital Area, the group toured the facility and saw how local kids have a safe place to learn and grow.
- The class then visited Countryside Memory Care & Support, followed by the Countryside Hospice Thrift Store.
- Back at the Pierre Area Chamber of Commerce, the cohort enjoyed lunch and a lively Non-Profit Panel featuring Lou Taylor (Gov Grocery), Julia Jones (Pierre Area Referral Service), and Shelby Bergeson (Missouri Shores Domestic Violence Shelter).
- At River Cities Public Transit, the group got a firsthand look at how rides are provided across central and western South Dakota.
- The day's tours wrapped up at the South Dakota Discovery Center, where the cohort explored hands-on STEM learning for kids and families.
A huge thank you goes out to our generous sponsors who make this program possible:
- Program Sponsor: BankWest
- Session Sponsor: Thrivent Financial
- Transportation Champion Sponsor: River Cities Public Transit
- Community Exploration Sponsor: American Bank & Trust
We can't wait to see what's ahead as the class continues its journey next month with Agriculture and Natural Resources, sponsored by Kroeplin Air Service, LLC.
Learn more about Erik Therwanger by clicking this link.
Stay tuned on the Pierre Area Chamber of Commerce Facebook Page for updates on Leadership Pierre!
