Women We Admire is pleased to announce The Top 50 Women Leaders of South Dakota for 2024. South Dakota’s economy is well-known for top trade industries, driven by a hands-on workforce and exceptional women leaders. Key sectors such as manufacturing, livestock, financial services, insurance, cybersecurity, biofuels, bioscience, and advanced agriculture, including precision farming, form the backbone of the state’s economic landscape. With a GDP of approximately $69 billion, the finance and insurance industries are the most significant contributors to this economic success.
The Mount Rushmore State is home to an impressive list of women leaders in a variety of top industries. Among these leaders is Kristi Johnson, Chief Human Resources Officer of Agtegra Cooperative, a local agricultural cooperative. With over 30 years of experience, Johnson has held senior roles in the agricultural, financial, and biofuels sectors.
Next, we honor the accomplishments of science and biotechnology leader Jill Weimer, Chief Science Officer of Amicus Therapeutics, a global patient-focused biotechnology company. With a PhD in neuroscience, Weimer is a developmental neuroscientist who also serves as a scientist and professor in the field.
Finally, we congratulate Maria Walz, Chief Financial Officer of Hefty Seed Company, one of the fastest-growing seed brands in the country. As the leader of a finance team, Walz has been instrumental in achieving 77% enterprise growth.
Please join us in celebrating the accomplishments of The Top 50 Women Leaders of South Dakota for 2024.
1. Erika Batcheller
Chief External Affairs Officer, Sanford Health
Erika Batcheller is the Chief External Affairs Officer of Sanford Health. She first joined the company in 2020 as the executive director of media relations and corporate communications. In her current role, Batcheller focuses on sharing the story of the life-changing work both at home and across the globe. As the nation’s largest rural nonprofit healthcare system, Sanford Health spans 26 states and 10 countries and is dedicated to the integrated delivery of healthcare, genomic medicine, senior care, global clinics, cutting-edge research, and affordable insurance.
Batcheller’s career has focused on helping organizations achieve greater impact through strategic communications and public relations. With extensive experience providing counsel to the C-suite, she has a proven track record of leading strategies that enhance brands, elevate reputations, and deliver business value. She takes great pride in building exceptional relationships to power meaningful collaboration, motivate and influence, and drive performance.
Previously, Batcheller was a chief communication officer at Face It TOGETHER. Before that, she was a president at Batcheller Communications. Earlier in her career, she worked with the National Farmers Union as the director of communications and a communications coordinator. Batcheller earned an undergraduate degree in political science and international affairs from the University of Minnesota.
3. Kristina Schroder
Chief Executive Officer, Encompass Health
Kristina Schroder is the Chief Executive Officer of Encompass Health, the largest owner and operator of rehabilitation hospitals in the United States. Schroder leads a team of over 150 dedicated healthcare professionals who provide high-quality post-acute care to patients with complex rehabilitation needs. With more than 13 years of experience in the inpatient rehabilitation industry, she has a strong track record of improving clinical outcomes, financial performance, and patient satisfaction, while ensuring compliance with CMS regulatory requirements and TJC DSC programs.
Schroder is a licensed occupational therapist and a certified IRF PPS specialist. She is passionate about enhancing the lives of patients and empowering employees to grow and develop in their careers. She is also committed to expanding her market presence and building strategic partnerships with local and regional referral sources. Her mission is to deliver exceptional care that inspires hope and healing for patients and their families.
Schroder graduated from Ohio University with an MHA in Healthcare and graduated from the University of Indianapolis with a Master of Occupational Therapy. She has an undergraduate degree in human biology.
6. Sheila Anderson
Chief Financial Officer, Daktronics, Inc.
Sheila Anderson is the Chief Financial Officer for Daktronics. Daktronics, Inc. develops solutions that have become the standard in the LED video and messaging display industry through reliable quality with a laser focus on their customers' challenges. Anderson leads the finance and accounting functions, ensuring that the company’s processes and systems transact accurately, that financial information provides a foundation for strategic decision-making across the organization, and that the external reporting is compliant and engaging. She also provides financial leadership for the company’s digital transformation, strategic plan, treasury management, and acquisition strategy, is responsible for the company’s investor relations, and leads the company’s risk and legal functions.
Before she was named CFO in 2012, Anderson was the company’s corporate controller for six years. She moved to that position after four years as a project accountant. Before joining Daktronics in 2003, Anderson was a senior accountant at Dakota Minnesota and Eastern Railroad. She also worked as an auditor and consultant for two public accounting firms. Outside her work, Anderson serves as the board chair for the South Dakota Chamber of Commerce and Industry, monitoring laws and compliance to enhance the business environment in the state. She serves on the advisory board for the Ness School of Business and South Dakota State University and is an alumni board member for her alma mater Southwest Minnesota State University. She also serves on the Board of Trustees for Brookings Health System, and she is a member of the Finance Committee for St. Thomas More Parish and School.
Anderson graduated from Southwest Minnesota State University with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and received her MBA from the University of South Dakota. She became a Certified Public Accountant in 1996.
7. Sandra Ogunremi
Vice President of Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging, Monument Health
Sandra Ogunremi is the Vice President of Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging for Monument Health. In her role, she oversees Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging initiatives, Spiritual Care Services, Patient Experiences, Patient Relations, Guest Services, Volunteer Services, and Valet Services. She has been with Monument Health since 2008. Her successful work led to Monument Health Rapid City Hospital being recently recognized as one of three healthcare systems to earn the 2023 Carolyn Boone Lewis Equity of Care (EOC) Award. Additionally, Monument Health received the 2024 Diversity and Inclusion Award presented by Elevate Rapid City. She is a nationally sought-after conference speaker because of her subject matter expertise.
Ogunremi earned a Doctorate in Health Administration from Central Michigan University (CMU) in 2009. She has a Master of Science in Administration from CMU and a Bachelor of Pharmacy from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. She is Certified in Diversity Management with the American Hospital Association’s Institute for Diversity and Health Equity. She is a Cornell Certified Diversity Practitioner and holds several other certifications that enable her to deliver her best. Ogunremi is an Assemblies of God ordained minister and is the published author of the books, Casting Down Disruptive Imaginations and Overcoming Threats, Thoughts and Triggers. In 2024, she was included in the book From Leaders for Leaders. A Guide for Those Called into Ministry.
Ogunremi has taught throughout the United States, Canada, Africa, and England. She is most fulfilled when being used as a conduit to positively impact lives. She enjoys being involved with the communities she serves. As such, she recently fulfilled her term as the board president of Black Hills Area Habitat for Humanity. She served as the treasurer at First Assembly of God in Rapid City for seven years. She currently serves as the director of the South Dakota Assemblies of God Women’s Ministry, is on the Board of Performance Excellence Network, and is a Board of Trustee with Trinity Bible College and Graduate School. She has been married to a Board-Certified Nephrologist and Board-Certified Internist since 1993, and they are blessed with three adult children.
11. Catrina Rodgers
Chief Administrative Officer, MCI
Catrina Rodgers began her professional career 13 years ago. Today, she is the Chief Administrative Officer of MCI, the holding company for a diverse lineup of tech-enabled business service operating companies. Rodgers supports the leadership and executive team in achieving strategic business goals and initiatives.
Rodgers has extensive industry knowledge and strong interpersonal skills. Her management experience is well-supported by her expertise in call centers and team leadership. She excels in team building, account management, and customer service. Additionally, Rodgers has a proven track record in customer retention, customer experience, and customer satisfaction. Her skills also include sales management, operations management, and CRM. She is proficient in leadership, process improvement, and training. Moreover, she is knowledgeable in contact centers and business process improvement.
With more than 20 years of management experience in both inbound and outbound call centers, Rodgers joined TMone/MCI in 2011 as the chief training and support officer. Previously, she was the senior director of operations for Mass Markets. Before that, she served as a vice president of client services at Mass Markets.
12. Margaret Carmody
Chief Strategy Officer, Washington Pavilion
Margaret Carmody began her professional career 20 years ago. Today, she is the Chief Strategy Officer of Washington Pavilion, the region’s home for the arts, entertainment, and science. Located in a beautifully renovated historic building in downtown Sioux Falls, it is one of only a few facilities in the world to bring together under one roof the performing arts, visual arts, interactive science, and educational opportunities.
Carmody is a high-performing, results-driven senior leader with a proven track record of leading and implementing strategic plans and initiatives in complex, customer-centric organizations. Equipped with an exceptional ability to build relationships and foster team culture, Carmody has led critical areas related to internal and external communications, marketing, branding, and public, community, and government relations. She is active in a variety of nonprofit organizations, serving as a community advocate, mentor, and lifelong learner.
Carmody started her career in 2004 as a staff assistant in the US House of Representatives. From there, she went on to the South Dakota Health Care Association, before eventually rising to executive director of organizational culture, corporate communications, and strategic marketing at Raven Industries, her most recent position before joining Washington Pavilion. Carmody graduated from the University of South Dakota with an MPA and an undergraduate degree in contemporary media and journalism.
14. Pam Homan
Chief Strategy Officer & EVP, Augustana University
Pam Homan is the Chief Strategy Officer and Executive Vice President of Augustana University. Augustana is home to students who aspire to become the change-makers and problem-solvers of tomorrow. Homan earned a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary and Special Education, as well as a Master of Arts in Special Education from Augustana College (now University) in 1981 and 1987, respectively. She earned both a specialist degree in education in 1993 and a Doctorate in Educational Administration in 1996, from the University of South Dakota. Homan was energized by the opportunity to return to her alma mater, Augustana University, in 2015. She oversees the development and execution of strategic initiatives, advancement, alumni engagement, communications and marketing, enterprise data analytics, as well as the Augustana Research Institute (ARI), which she developed and implemented.
Homan served more than three decades as a teacher and administrator in education. She is known as a visionary leader and relentless advocate for children of all backgrounds and abilities. Her first teaching position was in special education in Luverne, Minnesota, and then in Webster, South Dakota, as a special and gifted education teacher. In 1983, she served in the same capacity in the Brandon Valley School District at its elementary and high schools. In 1990, Homan joined the Sioux Falls School District (SFSD), where she would go on to serve for 25 years, developing the McKennan Alternative Day School for adolescents with acute psychiatric disorders. Two years later, she acted as the district’s supervisor of Elementary Exceptional Children Services, expanding its special education programs inclusive of specialized behavior programs for children and adolescents. From 1994 to 2004, she served as principal of Jane Addams Elementary School before becoming the coordinator of program evaluation and assessment for the district and eventually the director of Assessment, Technology, and Information Services before taking the position of superintendent.
Beginning in 2004, Homan served as superintendent of the largest public school district in South Dakota for 11 years. She is a pioneer as the first woman superintendent in SFSD’s 152-year history. In this role, she provided executive leadership to the pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade public school system and Southeast Technical Institute (now College). During her tenure as superintendent, Homan opened and expanded eight elementary schools, two middle schools, and two specialized high schools. She designed and implemented the Career and Technology Academy, New Technology High Project-Based Learning, Pyramid of Behavioral Interventions, Learning Adventures Preschool, Spanish Immersion, and Leadership Development Institute, as well as at-risk programming for middle and high school students. She formed community partnerships to create the Finance Action Network, school-based health clinics, Learners to Leaders, as well as staff and student wellness programs. Over the last two decades, Homan has served on multiple boards – WestSide Lutheran Church, HelpLine, Great Plains Zoo and Delbridge Museum, Reliabank, Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science, Augustana Board of Trustees, McCrossan Boys Ranch, Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce, Sioux Falls Development Foundation, Sioux Empire United Way, Junior Achievement of South Dakota, and Khor Wakow.
View the complete list of awardees.
15. Jennifer McCready
SVP of Customer Strategy, NRC Health
Jennifer Morrison McCready is a dynamic leader helping to transform the healthcare experience through a human lens. As the Senior Vice President of Customer Strategy at NRC Health, she plays a pivotal role in supporting the nation’s leading hospitals and healthcare systems; 63% of the top 250 healthcare systems partner with NRC Health. McCready brings her unique combination of healthcare and consumer expertise to empower these systems to enhance patient, consumer, employee, and market experiences, driving meaningful improvement across the healthcare sector.
Prior to joining NRC Health, McCready served as the System Executive Director of Patient Experience and Digital Operations for Sanford Health, a large healthcare system in Northern America with 48 medical centers, 211 clinics, and more than 160 senior living centers. During her time at Sanford, she developed a strategy focused on creating a patient-centric culture while collecting and defining actionable insights to guide team members and physicians in delivering exceptional experiences.
McCready’s journey into healthcare was preceded by a successful career with Simon Property Group, the largest shopping mall owner in the United States with more than 200 shopping centers. During her tenure with Simon, she won multiple awards for her leadership in marketing, business development, and consumer experience. Her innovative efforts revitalized the shopping center experience by shaping a significant renovation and expanding a multi-million-dollar gift card program all while maintaining a best-in-class consumer experience.
McCready holds a degree in business administration with an emphasis in marketing and management from Augustana University, a foundation she credits for launching her successful career. On a personal level, McCready is passionate about gaining a deeper understanding of the role of genetics and how it impacts quality of life. She and her husband, Tyler, enjoy biking and capturing memorable moments through travel and photography.
17. Kira Kimball
Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer, Marsh & McLennan Agency
Kira Kimball serves as Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer for Marsh McLennan Agency, where she provides strategic and tactical leadership to advance efforts to attract and celebrate diverse perspectives while promoting and protecting a level playing field for all colleagues. Marsh McLennan Agency (MMA) provides business insurance, employee health and benefits, retirement and wealth, and private client insurance solutions to organizations and individuals seeking limitless possibilities.
As a committed business leader in her community of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Kimball serves on the board of directors for Southeast Tech Foundation, Levitt at The Falls, Sioux Falls Development Foundation, 100+ Women Who Care, Sioux Falls, Sioux Empire Women Connect, and Pathways to Inclusive & Equitable Workplaces, a nonprofit she founded. Kimball is a member of the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce Leadership Sioux Falls Executive Committee. She volunteers as a Sioux Empire United Way Impact Team member and an EmBe women’s leadership program mentor. She is the first person in both SD and ND to earn the National Diversity Council Certified Diversity Professional designation, and she is a Qualified Administrator of the Intercultural Development Inventory.
Before Kimball’s 16 years in the insurance industry, she spent a decade in higher education teaching, advising, and counseling students at Purdue University and The Ohio State University with a focus on leadership and organizational development, career exploration, and DEI (diversity equity, and inclusion). Kimball studied English and philosophy at Minnesota State University Moorhead as an undergraduate and received graduate degrees in counseling and development and English at Purdue. Passionately believing everyone’s self-esteem and potential are worth supporting, Kimball commits to living this belief both in and outside the workplace.
24. Nikki Hardin
Vice President of Operations, Data Dimensions
Nikki Hardin is the Vice President of Operations for Data Dimensions. Data Dimensions took three pillars of the P&C industry – EDI clearinghouse network, document mailroom intake, and electronic payments processing – and integrated them into a seamless solution to meet their client’s needs and goals. Their uniquely integrated automation solutions provide organizations flexibility and modularization; creating a purpose-built, bi-lateral network that can be implemented today while easily adjusting to future-state direction and growth.
Over her 25-year career with Data Dimensions, Hardin has served in many roles within the organization. Most recently, she was the director of commercial operations for nearly five years, where she directed and oversaw all facets of the assigned work unit. She was responsible for ensuring that all deadlines were met and that the work was performed accurately, productively, and efficiently per company and client procedures. In her current role, she is responsible for the commercial operations segment of the business and manages a robust team of remote employees.
Earlier in her career, Hardin served Data Dimensions as a supervisor, general manager, and operations manager. She has a demonstrated history of working in the information technology and services industry and is skilled in management, leadership, team leadership, and Microsoft Office.
27. Megan Kleinsasser
Chief Operating Officer, Accura HealthCare
Megan Kleinsasser is the Chief Operating Officer of Accura HealthCare. Kleinsasser joined the Accura family in 2019 with over 15 years of healthcare experience. Accura HealthCare’s nursing and rehabilitation centers provide individualized care for residents and patients to return to higher levels of function. Their intensive medical and rehabilitative services include orthopedic, pulmonary, cardiac, dementia, respite, diabetes, and hospice services for short and long-term care needs.
Kleinsasser is a graduate of Moorhead State University in Moorhead, Minnesota, where she received an undergraduate degree in health services administration, as well as her Master’s degree in Public Health and Human Service Administration. She realized early in her career that quality is the foundation for successful care delivery. She has gained experience in skilled nursing, assisted living, as well as home and community-based services. During her time as an executive director in Minnesota and South Dakota, Kleinsasser acquired the roles of regional quality specialist and senior executive director. In 2016, she began serving on the South Dakota Healthcare Association Board of Directors. She is also an AHCA Senior Examiner, reviewing quality award applications. She has successfully written and received the Bronze and Silver Quality Awards.
Before joining Accura HealthCare, Kleinsasser was an executive director at Aberdeen Health and Rehab. Before that, she was an executive director at Grand Meadow Healthcare Center. Earlier in her career, she worked with Highmore Healthcare Center as an executive director.
28. Fredel Thomas
VP of Admissions and Marketing, Dakota Wesleyan University
Fredel Thomas is the Vice President of Admissions and Marketing at Dakota Wesleyan University, a vibrant university community rooted in a strong commitment to academic excellence, career preparation, and an individualized learning experience for each student.
Thomas started her career at DWU in 2012 as director of the Kelly Center for Entrepreneurship, where she taught entrepreneurial leadership courses and served as a resource for regional businesses in South Dakota. She was named dean of admissions in 2015 and was promoted to her current position in 2018. As an extension to her work at DWU, Thomas served as chair of the Council on College Admissions in South Dakota, is a board member of the Dakota Association for College Admission Counseling, serves on the South Dakota Freedom Scholarship Advisory Council, is an affiliate for Credo, a higher education consulting firm, and a is a frequent speaker for the National Small College Enrollment Conference.
Before DWU, Thomas worked for 12 years in the telecommunications and technology industry as a programmer, quality assurance officer, project manager, and director of product management. She has served as a board member for the Weekend Snack Pack, the Abbott House, the Mitchell Area Chamber of Commerce, the Safe Place of Eastern South Dakota, and Avera Queen of Peace. She is active in her church, where she leads a youth group. Thomas earned an MBA in Strategic Leadership from Dakota Wesleyan University and an undergraduate degree in computer science from the University of South Dakota.
30. Kristi Johnson
Chief Human Resources Officer, Agtegra Cooperative
Today, Kristi Johnson is the Chief Human Resources Officer of Agtegra Cooperative, a local agricultural cooperative headquartered in Aberdeen, South Dakota. It is owned by over 6,700 farmers and ranchers, predominantly in North and South Dakota, with a network of over 70 locations and 850 employees.
Johnson is an experienced human resources executive with over 30 years of experience and has held several leadership roles. She joined Agtegra from Black Hills Energy in Rapid City, where she was director of total rewards. Johnson has also held positions at Midco, Great Western Bank, and POET, a biotechnology research company that promotes health and sustainability through renewable biofuels and bioproducts.
Johnson is passionate about creating partnerships throughout the company and community. She grew up on a small farm in Moody County and graduated from Flandreau High School. She attended Southwest Minnesota State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. She holds nationally recognized certifications as a Senior Professional in Human Resources and a Senior Certified Professional.
32. Barb Rezac
VP for Mission & Advancement, Mount Marty University
Barb Rezac is the Vice President for Mission and Advancement of Mount Marty University. She first joined the university in 2012. Mount Marty University is a private, Catholic, Benedictine coeducational liberal arts university. Primary emphasis is placed on the development of each person as a complete human being with intellectual, professional, and personal skills and a composite of moral, spiritual, and social values.
With over 29 years of experience with exemplary skills in team building, fundraising, visionary strategic planning, financial and project management, complex event planning, community and donor relations, program and curriculum development, and building trusted relationships, Rezac serves in an executive leadership role to advance the mission and expand the profile of the university. She executed two fundraising campaigns for university capital and annual fund needs, increasing endowment by 168%, leading a talented team in raising over $40 million, and generating a pipeline of future donors. She integrated the mission into university curricular and co-curricular activities, instituted a trustee oversight committee, and collaborated with the campus-wide mission committee. She chaired two of the five committees that wrote assurance arguments for the ten-year accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission.
Previously, Rezac was a director of development at Sacred Heart School. She earned a PhD in Education and an undergraduate degree in elementary and special education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She also has an MA in Educational Administration from the University of South Dakota.
View the complete list of awardees.
36. Lynda Barrie
Chief Executive Officer, Orthopedic Institute
With over 35 years of experience in the healthcare industry, Lynda Barrie is a passionate and driven leader who strives to improve the quality and efficiency of patient care. As the Chief Executive Officer at Orthopedic Institute, she oversees the strategic direction, financial performance, and operational excellence of a leading orthopedic practice in Sioux Falls, SD. She also owns and operates Kirkland Healthcare Solutions, a consulting firm that provides innovative and customized solutions for healthcare organizations of all sizes and specialties.
Barrie shares her expertise in electronic health records, process improvement, and new business development. She has a proven track record of delivering results, increasing revenue, reducing costs, and enhancing patient satisfaction for various healthcare entities, including Wuesthoff Health Systems, Sunrise Pediatrics, Cleveland Clinic, and Tenet Healthcare. Barrie has a strong background in accounting, having earned her BA from Nova Southeastern University. She is also proficient in several EHR systems, such as Epic, Cerner, Athena, and Allscripts. Her core competencies include strategic planning, leadership development, change management, contract negotiation, compliance, and risk management.
Barrie is motivated by the mission of providing high-quality and accessible orthopedic care to the communities she serves, and she values collaboration, innovation, and integrity. She is excited to join a team that shares her vision and values and that can benefit from her diverse perspectives and experiences in the healthcare field.
37. Melissa Wagner
Chief Financial Officer, Brookings Health System
Melissa Wagner is the Chief Financial Officer of Brookings Health System, an independent, city-owned health system. Brookings Health includes the 49-bed Brookings Hospital; a 79-bed skilled nursing home, The Neighborhoods at Brookview; congregate living apartments for seniors, Brookhaven Estates; Arlington Medical Center; White Medical Clinic; Volga Medical Clinic; and Yorkshire Eye Clinic & Optical.
As CFO, Wagner is responsible for the development and maintenance of accurate financial information for the general ledger and financial statements. She is also responsible for establishing, updating, and maintaining financial policies, procedures, and records necessary to meet the goals of the Brookings Health System.
A South Dakota native, Wagner joined Brookings Health in 2014 as a financial analyst. Before that, she worked in finance at Fishback Financial. She currently serves as treasurer for both the Volunteer Service Bank and Brookings Friends of Baseball. Wagner holds a Master’s in Accounting from Kaplan University and a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Arizona State University.
40. Maria Walz
Chief Financial Officer, Hefty Seed Company
Maria Walz is the Chief Financial Officer of Hefty Seed Company, one of the fastest-growing seed brands in the country. Hefty Seed Company has more than 45 stores and continues to open more locations every year. The company is now the eighth largest crop protection retailer in the US and number 12 in seed.
Walz is a senior executive with expertise in finance, driving business success by optimizing teams and financial processes. As the leader of a finance team in a growing company, her role at Hefty Seed Company is to monitor metrics, create benchmarks, implement policies for consistency, and create an environment of fiscal responsibility. Developing positive and top-notch teams, measuring what matters, and taking organizations to the next level of productivity are at the core of Walz’s career. She is proud to be a key facilitator in achieving 77% enterprise growth while reducing FTEs by 12%.
Walz started her career in 1994 in accounts payable at Achieve. From there, she went on to VistaComm & Taco John's of Iowa, before eventually rising to CEO at VistaComm, her most recent position before joining Hefty Seed Company. Walz graduated from the University of South Dakota with an undergraduate degree in accounting.
42. Angela Avila
Chief Operations Officer, Robert Sharp & Associates
Angela Avila is the Chief Operations Officer of Robert Sharp & Associates. Located among the beautiful Black Hills in Rapid City, SD, Robert Sharp & Associates believes a team approach is the most effective and efficient way to work with and for their clients. Their best asset is their amazing team of experts in account services, media strategies, copywriting, graphic design, web development, digital media strategies, and audio/visual production.
Avila is a dedicated leader with proven success in building and leading teams to success. She has a proven track record of financial success, increasing revenue and profitability across multiple channels. As a proactive executive, she successfully develops, mentors, and leads top-performing team members committed to providing superior service and producing excellent results.
Avila started her career in 2003 as a facilities and equipment manager in media and theater arts at Montana State University. From there, she went on to Prairie Berry, before eventually rising to director of sales and marketing at Liv Hospitality, LLC, her most recent position before joining Robert Sharp & Associates. Avila graduated from Montana State University-Bozeman with an undergraduate degree in media and theater arts.
43. Nicole Kerkenbush
Vice President of Education, CHIME
Nicole Kerkenbush joined CHIME (College of Healthcare Information Management Executives) as the Vice President of Education in July 2023. CHIME is an executive organization dedicated to serving senior digital health leaders. CHIME includes more than 5,000 members in 56 countries and two US territories and partners with over 150 healthcare IT businesses and professional services firms. Kerkenbush is honored to help exceptional leaders transform health and care through CHIME educational offerings and events.
Before joining CHIME, Kerkenbush served at Monument Health in Rapid City, South Dakota, from 2016 to July 2023. She spent her time with Monument Health as the first vice president of data analytics and later served on the Executive Team in the roles of chief performance officer and chief nursing and performance officer. Before working in nonprofit healthcare, Kerkenbush served 24 years in the United States Army Nurse Corps, where she focused on supporting quality healthcare with information and technology. Her key roles in the Army were Chief information officer, chief medical information officer, and military functional deputy program executive officer. She also served as the nursing informatics consultant to the Army Surgeon General for four years. Kerkenbush retired at the rank of Colonel.
Kerkenbush received Master's degrees in Healthcare Administration and Nursing, as well as a Certificate in Biomedical Informatics, from the University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, and she has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas. She is a Certified Digital Health Executive (CDH-E) and Lean Yellow Belt.
48. Amy Crissinger
VP for Student Affairs & Enrollment Management, Dakota State University
Amy Crissinger is the Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management at Dakota State University (DSU). DSU is located in Madison. Founded in 1881, DSU offers undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs through its colleges of arts and sciences, business and information systems, computer and cyber sciences, and education.
In this role, Crissinger is responsible for the recruitment and enrollment of undergraduates at DSU. She develops annual and strategic enrollment plans in collaboration with the academic and student affairs departments, as well as the marketing and athletics departments, and the DSU Foundation. She also partners with online education, international programs, graduate programs, and ITS to implement recruitment systems and enrollment databases.
Crissinger started at DSU in August of 1992 as an admissions counselor. She was promoted to director of admission in 1999 and to associate vice president for enrollment management in 2011. She started her current VP role in 2021. Crissinger graduated from DSU with a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Marketing Specialization. She also holds an MS in Strategic Leadership from Black Hills State University.
View the complete list of awardees.