Presenters: Erica Beck, City of Sioux Falls

Jesse Fonkert, Sioux Metro Growth Alliance

Erica Beck serves as the Chief of Staff to Mayor Paul TenHaken in Sioux Falls, SD. As Chief of Staff, Erica’s primary focus is on developing and leading the execution of the organization’s strategies within the One Sioux Falls framework, which includes collaborating and leading a wide variety of both internal and external colleague and partner relationships. Casting vision and creating impactful change through the empowerment of people is where Erica’s passion is centered. 

Prior to beginning her role as the Chief of Staff in June of 2018, she spent four years as the Vice President of Development for Lloyd Companies. During her tenure with the regional construction and property management company, she was responsible for development and execution of the company’s corporate growth and business strategy, marketing and public relations. During her time at Lloyd Companies, she was recognized by the Prairie Business Journal as one of the region’s leading women in business, and in the spring of 2018 she was named as the inaugural winner of the Steve Metli Vision Award from Downtown Sioux Falls, Inc. 

Previous to her work in the private sector, she served eight years with the City of Sioux Falls as Urban Planner, Senior Planner and Economic Development Manager. During that time, she played a key role in the community’s economic development and downtown revitalization efforts. 

Erica and her husband, Ivan, live in Sioux Falls with their three children, daughter in-law, granddaughter and miniature wiener dog. 

Hailing from Mobridge, SD, Jesse Fonkert attended Augustana University in Sioux Falls. He double majored in Business Administration and Government/International Affairs, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2014.

Jesse interned for several years with First PREMIER Bank followed by an internship with the Office of Representative Kevin Cramer (ND) in Washington, D. C.

Jesse was first exposed to economic development thanks to internships with first Lincoln and Minnehaha County Economic Development Associations and then the Sioux Falls Development Foundation.

In January 2015, he started a position with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in Washington, D.C. as the Program Analyst in the Office of Commissioner Tony Clark.

Following his job at FERC, Fonkert spent nearly four years as the Chamber & Economic Development Director for the City of Hartford, SD. During his tenure, he supported community leaders in efforts to revive downtown, build a strong Chamber of Commerce, and enhance the work of the Hartford Area Development Foundation by the creation of a multi-year strategic initiative dubbed Envision Hartford 2025

On April 1, 2020, Jesse started a role as the executive director of the Lincoln and Minnehaha County Economic Development Associations (LCEDA/MCEDA). In 2021, LCEDA/MCEDA merged to create the Sioux Metro Growth Alliance (SMGA). SMGA serves the economic development efforts of sixteen municipalities in four counties throughout the Sioux Falls MSA.

Jesse and his wife Kelsey reside in Hartford with their daughter Astrid and are active members of their community.