About Us

Mission

Bringing young professionals together to strengthen Sioux Falls through civic, social and leadership opportunities.

About Us

Sioux Falls Synergy is not your typical networking group. We do more than just shake hands and exchange business cards. The Synergy environment is one where people feel comfortable communicating their ideas, helping out, and embracing leadership roles within the organization. Members are given the opportunity to get involved, make a difference and have influence within the Sioux Falls community through three different tiers: Civic, Social, and Professional Development.

Our members are dynamic and innovative. Synergy attracts a wide variety of professions such as: teachers, doctors, attorneys, bankers, and accountants. Most of our members are in the first 10 years of their career and are looking to build relationships with other young professionals. The relationships our members establish today will be the business, philanthropic, and social framework of tomorrow’s Sioux Falls.

We are autonomous and run entirely by volunteers. Sioux Falls Synergy members can join a committee and immediately have an impact on our success. Whether you want to help others grow professionally, share your insights on current events, or help raise money to benefit a worthy cause, Synergy provides you with the resources and support to make it happen.

History

Sioux Falls Synergy is the innovation of six twenty- and thirty-something, community-minded young professionals who believed Sioux Falls needed a way for their peers to come together to network, volunteer and become connected to the city.

The first stage of development began when Cindy Elifrits Peterson, a transfer to Sioux Falls, wanted to get involved in the community and meet other young people with similar goals. At the time there no such organization, so she brought together a group of five other established Sioux Falls young professionals who wanted the same thing. This team of six built the Three Tier concept from a model Cindy had been a part of in a similar community and revamped the model to fit the style and needs of Sioux Falls.

In December 2005 conversations began and on May 11, 2006 Sioux Falls Synergy was launched.

Over the past 5 years, more than 375 young professionals have joined. During that time Sioux Falls Synergy has hosted more than 105 events!

The Three Tiers

Knowing that each person is looking for a different experience, an individual may engage themselves in one aspect of the organization, or become involved in each tier.

Professional Development- Professional Development events connect Synergy Members with leaders in Sioux Falls’ business and political communities.
Social- Social events connect Synergy members with other members and non-members in social settings, while helping to foster and develop long-term personal and professional relationships. Events also offer access to new and unique venues throughout the city.
Civic- Civic events provide Synergy members and non-members with access to volunteer opportunities with non-profit organizations in need.

Meet the Executive Committee

Val Anderson

Val Anderson grew up in Canton, South Dakota where she graduated high school in 2004. During high school she worked for her famliy’s bank, sparking her interest in the industry. Val then attended Augustana College and started working at banks in Sioux Falls as a teller, banker, and manager. Val is now a loan officer at her family owned bank, Farmer’s State Bank.

When not working, Val likes to be with her family and friends, volunteer, cook, travel, and golf.

Stacy Buehner

Stacy is originally from Canistota, SD. After graduating high school, she earned her B.A. in journalism/Public Relations from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities. While in Minneapolis, Buehner worked for a large public relations agency for four years before returning back to South Dakota in 2009. Currently, she manages investor relations for POET, LLC in Sioux Falls. In addition, she is a public relations committee member for Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sioux Falls.

In her spare time, Stacy enjoys volunteering, shopping, traveling and spending time with family and friends.

Felan Ritze

Felan Ritze grew up in Center Point, IA and graduated from Center Point – Urbana High School in 2004. Felan is a graduate from Augustana College with a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration and Spanish and also received her MBA from the University of South Dakota. Felan began working at Junior Achievement of South Dakota (JA) as an intern while attending Augie, and is now JA’s Operations Director. She is also a board member for the Academy of Finance, a program available to high school students attending Roosevelt or Washington High School. She is passionate about financial literacy and youth leadership development. In her spare time, you will find her skiing, hiking, or doing many outdoor activities, and you will probably spot her at many local events!

Jordin Mueller

Jordin Mueller grew up in Chamberlain, SD. She attended Augustana College in Sioux Falls, where she graduated with a Bachelors of Arts degree, majoring in Business Administration. Jordin held several internships while in college, including a year at SDN Communications in Sioux Falls. Paulsen Marketing hired Jordin immediately after finishing college. She is currently an Account Executive there. Mueller also serves as Education Chair on the board of the South Dakota Advertising Federation. When not working, Jordin enjoys running, baking, skiing and anything on the water!

Ann Den Boer

Ann Den Boer is originally from St. Cloud, Minnesota, the land of 10,000 lakes. Ann attended college at College of Visual Arts in St. Paul, Minnesota where she got to express her artistic side and creativity. She enjoys shopping, going on vacation, and spending time with her family and friends. Ann is married and has two wonderful lil’ boys that consumer most of her time when she’s not working!

Ann currently is at HJN Team Real Estate- The Kory Davis Experience as a Realtor, and loves to help people find their dream homes!

Justin Swoboda

Justin Swoboda grew up in Brookings, South Dakota. After graduating high school in 2001, he attended Minnesota State University in Mankato, Minnesota. He graduated with a degree in finance in 2005. After college he moved to Minneapolis where he worked for a health insurance company. Justin moved back to South Dakota in 2007 and is currently employed at Sanford Health as a Capital Portfolio Manager.

In his spare time, Justin enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing and watching sports, fishing, camping, traveling and volunteering in the Sioux Falls community.

Eric Hesla

Eric grew up on a farm near Vermillion, SD. He moved to Sioux Falls in June 2010 and continues to work for the companies he started in college.

Brad Edwards

Whether it’s design, programming, user experience or new media, Brad is fully enveloped and educated in the technology realm. Edwards’ received his education from South Dakota State and Lake Area Technical Institute (LATI). His real knowledge of the industry comes from his 10+ years of experience in it. Edwards’ started his own Website Design business, BEParadigm, in 2002. His background also includes, Multimedia Director for LATI, Web Interface Specialist for Paulsen Marketing, and most currently Interactive Director at Vision Video Interactive. Edwards’ specialty and passion lies in user experience design. His continual research and innovative tactics in this field have made him a leader for all those who collaborate with him.

Kristi Olesen

Kristi Olesen grew up on a farm near Turkey Ridge, SD. After graduating Freeman high school, she attend the University of South Dakota and earned a degree in business administration with an emphasis in marketing and completed double major in psychology. Following college, she moved to Sioux Falls and has worked in marketing and human resources field. She’s currently a project coordinator for the National Cancer Institute Community Cancer Centers Program (NCCCP) at Sanford Health.

In her spare time, Kristi enjoys going to concerts, traveling, volunteering, and spending time with friends and family.