Speakers

Paul TenHaken is native of Worthington, Minnesota. After graduating from Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa, Paul and his wife, Jill, moved to Sioux Falls to launch their careers and start a family. Today, they have three young children.

After holding various marketing and executive roles in Sioux Falls and earning his MBA from the University of Sioux Falls, Paul founded the marketing technology agency Click Rain in 2008, where he served as CEO until 2017. While CEO, Click Rain was the only South Dakota company included on the Inc. 5000 list as one of America’s fastest growing private companies for the five consecutive years. The agency has won numerous awards for its unique workplace culture, including the prestigious “Entrepreneur 360” award in 2016 and the Embee Tribute to Women “Embeliever” award. Paul was named one of Entrepreneur Magazine’s Top Ten Emerging Entrepreneurs as well as South Dakota Young Entrepreneur of the Year. Paul’s primary passion, however, lies in the leading and development of people. He is the co-founder of the Dispatch Project, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that creates international service trip opportunities and philanthropic outlets for business leaders.

Paul also travels to Haiti annually to work with organizations serving the people of Haiti. He also is a frequent speaker on the topics of empowerment, workplace culture, and leadership In his free time, Paul is an active runner, obstacle course racer, triathlete, and is active in his church. He credits his personal faith for much of what he defines as success.

Mike Kiley is a retired Naval Aviator with over 5,000 flight hours and 50 combat missions. He has held program management positions with the Office of Naval Research, DARPA, the Applied Research Lab at Penn State and with the Chem Bio Directorate at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency. Additionally, Mike was the Chief Operating Officer of an intellectual property licensing firm with a valuation of $120M, and the Vice President of an international company providing aircraft replacement parts and repair services to foreign militaries. At the National Nanotechnology Coordination Office he concentrates on nanotechnology commercialization and maintaining situational awareness of nanotechnology industry developments in the U.S. and abroad.

Michelle Kakacek is a graduate of the University of SD, with a degree in Political Science with an emphasis in Public Administration. She worked for Watertown Development Company (WDC) for nearly 9 years, serving as its Director of Business Development, Interim Executive Director, and Executive Director and assumed the role of Director of SD Manufacturing & Technology Solutions in 2023. She is a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) through the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) and serves on its Accredited Economic Development Organization (AEDO) Review Committee. Prior to her time in economic development, Kakacek spent 7 years in Supply Chain at an international electronics manufacturer.

Kakacek lives in Watertown in a manufacturing family, with husband Jamie who is designer and drafter at Signs by Benchmark, and their 2 children, Alex and Grace.

Marcella Hurley serves as State Program Director for South Dakota APEX Accelerator, with offices in Yankton, Rapid City, Pierre, and Sioux Falls, assisting businesses in state, local and federal contracting. The APEX Accelerator program, formerly known as Procurement Technical Assistance Program (PTAP), under management of the Department of Defense (DoD) Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP), plays a critical role in the Department’s efforts to identify and help a wide range of businesses enter and participate in the defense supply-chain.

Marcella previously served as Lender Relations Specialist for Small Business Development Center (SBA) South Dakota Regional Office; as Regional Director of the Small Business Development Center; and as Procurement Technical Assistance Counselor for Central and Upper Midwest South Dakota.

Marcella collaborates with SBDC offices statewide, planning districts, economic development corporations, Community Development Finance Institutions, the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, the South Dakota Chamber of Commerce, and the Small Business Administration.

She is an adjunct instructor for state universities and consults and trains in the understanding of the dynamics of the business environment, the elements of creating a business, and the fundamentals for financing, marketing, and maintaining a profitable business, and the importance of enhancing business strategies through the development of banking relationships.

She is a licensed member of the International Society of Business Appraisers, LLC. She also provides feasibility analyses for existing companies relative to growth and expansion plans, as well as exit strategies.

Luke Lindberg is the President & CEO of South Dakota Trade, a 501c(6) public-private-partnership that navigates international trade for South Dakota.

Previously, Mr. Lindberg served as the Chief of Staff and Chief Strategy Officer at the Export-Import Bank of the United States. As the agency’s second-highest ranking official, he was responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of EXIM and advancing strategic initiatives such as the program on “China and Transformational Exports”, opening new markets for American Liquified Natural Gas, securing America’s supply of Critical Minerals & Rare Earths, and protecting allies in the race to deploy 5G globally. He also led EXIM’s involvement in the execution of the ground-breaking Abraham Accords. Mr. Lindberg earned the Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes distinctive accomplishment and leadership that significantly benefit EXIM and the nation.

Today, Mr. Lindberg Serves on the board of directors of the National Association of District Export Councils, and the Children’s Home Society. He holds advisory roles with the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue University, and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Additionally, Mr. Lindberg is a Senior Fellow at the America First Policy Institute and has been featured by Fox News, The Washington Times, The Hill, The Daily Caller, The Federalist, and The Farm Journal, for his ‘Thought Leadership’ on international affairs and agriculture policy. Mr. Lindberg earned a Master of Business Administration, a Master of Public Policy, and a Bachelor of Arts in Government & Politics, all from the University of Maryland.

Joni Ekstrum serves as executive director of South Dakota Biotech. She oversees its advocacy, communication, education, and membership services, representing more than 60 members in industries from food and agriculture to human health and renewable energy.

Since she assumed this role in 2012, Ekstrum has grown the membership and increased gross profit while maintaining and expanding membership benefits. Her collaborative approach has provided connections for networking and led to new business and partnering opportunities for both members and individuals. Her passion for the industry and charismatic personality have helped build relationships with other states and parent organization BIO, legislators, other advocacy groups, venture capital, economic development, and other industry partners.

During her tenure, Ekstrum has made a significant impact on the biotech industry in South Dakota and energized the association. She is a tireless advocate and enthusiastic promoter for the association, its members, and affiliates. She has brought attention to the significant economic impacts of an innovation-driven economy and served as an effective liaison in advocacy issues to keep the progress of biotech moving.

As executive director of South Dakota Biotech, Ekstrum represents the interests and provides input on behalf of the biotech industry on many boards, including:

• Council of State Bioscience Association Board of Directors;
• Sioux Falls Downtown Rotary Board of Directors;
• Sioux Empire Boys & Girls Club Board of Directors;
• South Dakota Development Corporation Board of Directors;
• South Dakota State University Institutional Biosafety Committee

Ekstrum remains active in the business community by attending various events across the state and volunteering as TeamMates mentor and EmBe Women's Leadership Mentor.

Before South Dakota Biotech, Ekstrum served as POET's political action committee administrator. In that role representing one of the world's largest ethanol producers, Ekstrum grew PAC membership from 100 to 700 members, making it the largest PAC in the renewable fuels industry. She also is a veteran of many statewide political campaigns.

Ekstrum has a B.S. in Psychology from South Dakota State University and has three children and two step-children.

Dr. José-Marie Griffiths is president of Dakota State University in Madison, South Dakota. President Griffiths has spent her career in research, teaching, public service, corporate leadership, economic development, and higher education administration. She has served in presidential appointments to the National Science Board, the U.S. President’s Information Technology Advisory Committee, and the U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science. She has recently been appointed a member of the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence, part of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for 2019 and is chairman of the Workforce Subcommittee for the commission. She has led projects for over 28 U.S. federal agencies such as the National Science Foundation, NASA, the Department of Energy, and various intelligence and military agencies, over 20 major corporations such as AT&T Bell Laboratories and IBM, in over 35 countries, and worked with seven major international organizations, including NATO and the United Nations. She has received over 20 significant awards in science, technology, teaching and the advancement of women in these fields.

Denise M. Guzzetta serves as Vice President of Talent and Workforce Development of the Sioux Falls Development Foundation. In her current role, she is responsible for the strategic design and implementation of workforce programming initiatives designed to achieve the Forward Sioux Falls Strategic Workforce Action Agenda.

Before her role as Vice President of Talent and Workforce, she has 20 plus years of executive Fortune 50 experience serving as Vice President for BASF Global, Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Company and in advisory positions for the National Public Utilities Commission, The Society for Human Resource Management and the Worldwide ERC.

Before working in the private sector, Denise worked for the Central Intelligence Agency, where Judge William Webster awarded her the Meritorious Excellence Award for her design and implementation of a new supply management system. Her unique experience in data analytics, finance, marketing, and organizational design, allows her to strategically align and utilize essential resources to plan for current and future corporate employment and workforce needs.

Denise is an alumnus of Catholic University in Washington, D.C., and Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.

Jade Borgeson is the Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Natcast Workforce Center of Excellence.

Jade is an experienced policy advisor and program administrator. For the past decade, top-ranking officials, policymakers, and national workforce development leaders have trusted Jade to develop and execute effective responses to complex public sector challenges. Prior to joining Natcast, Jade led the Policy division at Research Improving People’s Lives (RIPL), a tech-for-social-impact nonprofit that works with governments to help them use data, science, and technology to improve policy and program administration. In this role, she led the expansion of tech-government partnerships in service of state workforce initiatives.

In 2020, Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo appointed Jade to serve on the state’s COVID-19 Emergency Taskforce as the Economic Re-Opening Lead. In this role,she developed a comprehensive plan to safely restart Rhode Island’s economy and support impacted workers. Prior to the pandemic, Jade served as Chief of Staff of the Rhode Island Department of Revenue, where she was tasked with various modernization initiatives which helped secure an additional $100 million of state revenue that was reinvested in workforce creation, economic development, education and other top priorities. She also previously served as the Chief of Staff of the Rhode Island Department of Administration. Jade holds a B.A. from New York University: Abu Dhabi and a M.P.A. from Brown University.

Jade’s initial focus at Natcast will be on establishing the NSTC Workforce Center of Excellence and implementing prioritized workforce initiatives. She will establish the infrastructure and programming necessary to monitor the progress of semiconductor workforce initiatives, support the growth of the US semiconductor workforce and engage key stakeholders to inform future workforce priorities.

Natcast is the operator of the National Semiconductor Technology Center (“NSTC”), powered by the CHIPS for America Act. CHIPS for America is funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce. More on Natcast can be found at natcast.org, where interested parties can review career opportunities and can sign up for our newsletter. For more information on the CHIPS program, see www.chips.gov.

Antonio de la Serna is:

• Principal Director of Strategic Technology, Siemens EDA
• IEEE Senior Member
• Member, Steering Committee, IEEE Midwest Symposium for Circuits and Systems (MWSCAS)
• General Co-Chair, 2017 IEEE MWSCAS
• Founder and Officer, Electronics Division, National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA)
• Former Vice-Chair, Metro North Workforce Investment Board, Cambridge, Massachusetts
• National Reviewer, Next Generations Science Standards
• Medalla de Oro recipient, MAES: Latinos in Science & Engineering
• Advisory board participation at several universities
• Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellow, California Predoctoral Fellow, GEM Fellow