New advisers in place for Sioux Falls’ incoming mayor
As Sioux Falls prepares for a change in City Hall, mayor-elect Christine Erickson has unveiled a temporary transition team to advise her during the first months of office. The announcement comes after a monthlong election contest that ended with Erickson’s four-point recount victory July 9; her inauguration is scheduled for July 17.
The group will work with Erickson on selecting city department leaders, reviewing policy strategies and evaluating the municipal budget. City finance leadership and the outgoing mayor’s staff helped assemble the slate of advisers, signaling an organized handoff between administrations.
Who’s on the team
Erickson named two co-chairs to lead the transition effort and a mix of business, nonprofit and civic figures to provide diverse perspectives. She said the team’s work will include community engagement and leadership development.
- Co-chairs: John Beranek, executive coach and founder of Intersections Group Consulting; Matt Paulson, founder of MarketBeat.
- Tamien Dysart, CEO and founder of Think 3D Solutions.
- Scott Erickson, president and CEO of American Banks and Trust.
- Alex Jensen, vice president of business development, Henry Carlson Construction.
- Rick Kiley, retired teacher and former City Councilor.
- Jodi Schwan, founder of Sioux Falls Business and Align Content Studio.
- Justin Smith, litigation attorney at Woods Fuller Law Firm (also served as Erickson’s representative during the recount).
- Karlie Solum, director of communications, Marsh McLennan Agency (also served as Erickson’s campaign manager).
- Kadyn Wittman, Sioux Falls YMCA director of development and current South Dakota state representative.
"It was an honor to win this historic election," Erickson said, noting the team would help bring "diverse ideas and voices for Sioux Falls as we move forward."
Transition background and local context
Erickson will be sworn in as the 33rd mayor of Sioux Falls and the city's first elected female mayor. City officials report that Shawn Pritchett, the director of finance, and Vanessa Gomez, Chief of Staff to outgoing Mayor Paul TenHaken, assisted in forming the transition team — steps that reflect an effort to leave the incoming administration with organized financial and staffing information.
Erickson publicly thanked TenHaken for facilitating a smooth handoff.
"Thank you to Mayor TenHaken for fostering a smooth transition and leaving the city in a great place for the next mayor to pick up the reins,"she said, indicating cooperation across administrations as city leaders change.
What to expect next
The transition team’s work will focus on immediate staffing decisions and an early review of budget priorities and policy directions. For Sioux Falls residents, that means the coming weeks may bring announcements about key department heads and initial policy priorities that could affect city services, capital projects and community engagement plans.
| Role | Name | Affiliation |
|---|---|---|
| Co-chair | John Beranek | Intersections Group Consulting |
| Co-chair | Matt Paulson | MarketBeat |
| Community & business advisers | Multiple | Local firms, nonprofits and former city leaders |
As Erickson and her team move from transition to governing, residents and local stakeholders will be watching which priorities rise to the top and how quickly new leadership is put in place across city departments.
