Honoring Departing Board Directors And Welcoming Incoming 2025 Board Directors
Honoring Departing Board Directors for Their Service
The South Dakota Hall of Fame (SDHoF) extends its deepest gratitude to Michelle Lavallee (Sioux Falls), Dave Rozenboom (Sioux Falls), and Ann McKay Thompson (Rapid City), as they conclude their service on the organization’s Board of Directors. Their unwavering dedication, leadership, and passion have been vital in honoring the remarkable achievements of the 792 Inductees of the South Dakota Hall of Fame and advancing the Hall’s Programming.
During their tenure, Michelle, Dave, and Ann contributed significantly to preserving and celebrating the legacy of excellence in South Dakota. Their commitment to the SDHoF’s shared vision has strengthened the organization’s efforts to inspire and recognize individuals and organizations that have made extraordinary contributions to the state’s rich history and culture. Moreover, they assisted in embedding that history in our educational programming in programs such as Legends and Learning.
“Michelle, Dave, and Ann have been integral to our work,” said Laurie Becvar, CEO of the South Dakota Hall of Fame. “Their efforts have left an indelible mark on the Hall and the lives of countless South Dakotans. We are profoundly grateful for their service.”
As the SDHoF bids farewell to these exceptional leaders, they look forward to building on their accomplishments and continuing to celebrate the stories of South Dakota’s most inspiring individuals. The SDHoF is equally honored to share that Ann McKay Thompson will continue to serve on the Programming Committee as a community member and Dave Rozenboom will continue to serve on the Finance Committee as a community member. Their continued involvement speaks to the meaningful work of the SDHoF.
The SDHoF’s 2025 Board Leadership team will include Mike Cartney (Watertown) as Board Chair, Kitty Kinsman (Rapid City) as Vice Chair, John Porter (Sioux Falls) as Past Chair, Dzenan Berberovic (Sioux Falls) as Secretary, and Cathy Clark (Sioux Falls) as Treasurer. They will also be welcoming Karl Adam (Pierre), Dick Brown (Sioux Falls), José-Marie Griffiths (Madison), and Dan Morrison (Sioux Falls) to their Board of Directors in 2025.
Welcoming Esteemed New Board Directors in 2025
We are thrilled to welcome Karl Adam ( Pierre), Dick Brown (Sioux Falls), Dr. José-Marie Griffiths (Madison), and Dan Morrison (Sioux Falls) to our Board of Directors in 2025. These esteemed individuals have already made a strong impact on South Dakota through their work throughout the state, and their guidance and dedication to our Board of Directors is sure to set our organization up for success in the coming years.
Meet our new Board Directors below.
Karl Adam
Karl Adam joined the South Dakota Bankers Association (SDBA) as its president and CEO in November of 2020. Prior to joining the SDBA, Karl was employed at Dakota State Bank with locations in Blunt and Pierre, SD from 1995 to 2015 and worked as its president and CEO.
In 2015 Dakota State Bank was merged into First Dakota National Bank, where he served as President of the First Dakota National Bank, Pierre branch from 2016-2020. During his banking career, Karl served two consecutive terms on the SDBA Board of Directors and was elected as the Chair of the SDBA from 2018-2019.
Karl and his wife Joan reside in Pierre, SD where they have raised their five children. Karl remains active serving on several local and statewide boards.
Dick Brown | 2019 Inductee
Dick Brown, a fifth-generation South Dakotan and native of Dell Rapids is a graduate of USD's BA and MA programs in political science and attended American University, Washington D.C. for PhD work. He has worked for Senators Karl E. Mundt and Henry M. “Scoop” Jackson as a United States Senate professional staff member, served as Executive Secretary of the Missouri River Basin Commission–a ten state-ten federal agency Presidential Commission, Executive Secretary of the MRB Governors’ Conference, Executive Vice President of the Sioux Falls Downtown Development Corp. He had two careers as a Vice President Marketing-Norwest Bank and Regional Vice President of Wells Fargo Bank of Sioux Falls, and served 20 years as General Agent of Lutheran Brotherhood Securities Corporation now Thrivent Financial.
He served four terms in the South Dakota House of Representatives, serving as Chairman of the Education Committee for four years, Chairman of the Taxation Committee for two years, and as a State Affairs member for five years. He served ten years as an elected member of the East Dakota Water Development District. He has served as Chairman of the Board of the following organizations: The Sioux Empire United Way, Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Rotary Club of Sioux Falls, First Lutheran Church of Sioux Falls, SD Fraternal Congress, SD Water Congress, Black Hills National Forest Advisory Board, and other local, state and national organizations. He served as a South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks Commissioner from 2003-2008.
He was inducted into the SD Hall of Fame 2019 and has served as a board member of Arts SD, SD Humanities Council, the Chiesman Foundation for Democracy, South Dakota TIPs, CAMO Coalition, USD Foundation Farber Fund, and U.S. Senator Karl E. Mundt Foundation. Dick is a member of the American Legion- 1st Lt. US Army Infantry and a member of the U.S. Capitol Police Force 1967. Dick was married to Sue Brown (deceased 2020) and they have three children—Matthew, Terra, Jennifer, and seven grandchildren. Sue served two terms on the Sioux Falls School Board and as President/CEO of the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation for 11 years. Sue is a 2008 inductee into the South Dakota Hall of Fame.
Dick is a principal partner in Brown Associates, a consulting firm for nonprofit organizations. He and Sue served as Development Directors for the SD Parks and Wildlife Foundation, a support organization for the SD Department of Game, Fish and Parks 2008-2022. The Foundation's mission is to conserve South Dakota's lands, parks, waters, and wildlife. Their work for the Foundation has focused on raising private ($24 million) to support and build The Outdoor Campus West in Rapid City, Renovation of the Outdoor Campus in Sioux Falls, Custer State Park, The Mickelson Trail connector to Mt Rushmore, Custer State Park Visitors Center, Peter Norbeck Outdoor Education Center, Palisades State Park Expansion, CSP Bison Center and the creation of Good Earth State Park at Blood Run and GESP-BR Visitors Center.
Dr. José-Marie Griffiths | 2023 Inductee
Dr. José-Marie Griffiths is the President of Dakota State University in Madison, South Dakota. She has spent her career in research, teaching, public service, corporate leadership, workforce and economic development, and higher education administration, with special focus work in STEM fields.
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 was a member of the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence and is an expert advisor with the Special Commission on Special Projects (SCSP). She participated in the White House Cyber Workforce and Education Summit, and 2023 Senate hearings on AI and Ag, research, and workforce.
She was named the 2024 USA Today Woman of the Year for South Dakota, one of 50 Influential Women in AI by InspiredMinds, and was inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame in 2023.
Dan Morrison
Dan Morrison is a proud South Dakota and Minnesota native with roots in Wessington Springs. Born in Sioux Falls as the youngest of three boys, Dan grew up in Huron, graduated from high school in Pipestone, Minnesota, and eventually returned to Sioux Falls to attend Augustana University. At Augustana, Dan majored in Business Administration and was a member of the baseball team.
During Dan’s junior year, he secured a coveted internship with Merrill Lynch’s Sioux Falls office in the fall of 2008. It was during this time that he met Todd Nelson, who would later become his senior partner. Todd hired Dan to assist part-time while he completed his studies and baseball commitments. Over 15 years later, the partnership remains strong.
A few years into his career, Dan met his wife, Jordan, a Sioux Falls native. The couple married in 2015 and soon after began their family, which now includes three daughters: Charlotte (7), Peyton (6), and Gabriella (3). Their household is further rounded out by two beloved dogs. Dan’s extended family is also based in Sioux Falls, including his parents, Jim and Mary, his brothers Chris and Adam, and Adam’s wife, Amy, along with their two sons, Jakob and Joey.
Dan has a longstanding commitment to philanthropy. He began volunteering in college with Lutheran Social Services as a “Big Brother” and has since supported various causes. His contributions include time with the Shrine, serving on the board and committees of the JY6 Foundation (a pediatric cancer charity), and extensive involvement with Rotary International. Additionally, he has been a board member, coach, and president of the Sioux Falls Cyclones.
As a volunteer assistant coach for the Augustana Vikings baseball team, Dan shares in the team’s success, including their 2018 National Championship. He also coaches his daughters’ sports teams, though he happily avoids dance and gymnastics.
In his free time, Dan enjoys golfing, spending quality time with his children, and attending Minnesota Gophers or Augustana Vikings athletic events—often for the concessions as much as the competition!