The South Dakota 98th Annual Convention took place this past week, September 25-27, 2024, in Rapid City, South Dakota, with this year’s theme “Moving Mountains Together”, and we did just that!
It has been 7 years, since SDAHO has hosted the Annual Convention in Rapid City, due to the pandemic. Celebrating in the beautiful Black Hills was a success and SDAHO is thankful to all of those who helped make it happen. More than 500 individuals came together at The Monument Event Center to attend this year’s event that included amazing keynote speakers, educational sessions, over 55 diverse sponsors and exhibitors, and the celebration of colleagues for outstanding service and excellence.
The event began on Wednesday afternoon when more than 60 golfers gathered to participate in the annual golf tournament held at Hart Ranch Golf Course, sponsored by Eide Bailly.
Opening keynote speaker Command Sergeant Major Gretchen Evans, kicked off the main event Thursday morning with her moving true-life story and presentation titled, The Life-Changing Power of Your Rope Team. Evans, one of the most highly decorated women to serve in the U.S. Army shared her story of being injured in a rocket attack in Afghanistan that ended her military career. Evans shared how she reclaimed her life with the support of her Rope Team that included a service dog and a select group of friends and supporters. There was not a dry eye in the house as Evans received a standing ovation from the audience.
This year’s convention offered attendees over 27 different sessions, in 9 different tracks to choose from. Navigating the Future of Cybersecurity in Healthcare What We Have Learned Since the Change Healthcare Cyberattack was a timely topic featuring Eric Pulse and Michelle Gates of Eide Bailly presenting on behalf of HFMA. Attendees were able to take away practical strategies and best practices for enhancing their organizations security posture, ensuring both internal measures and external vendor engagements align with cybersecurity requirements, and more.
Coaching Up or Out, with Martha Lofquist and Claressa Millsap presented to a packed room, as she focused on a systematic approach to performance improvement, beginning with the leader’s introspection and ensuring the foundational groundwork for employee success is in place.
With more attention in place on Medicare Advantage programs, this year’s convention brought together Jason Merkley, CEO Brookings Health System; Nate Ovenden of Sanford Health Plan and Teri Jacobs with Avera Health to present, Medicare Advantage Strategies: Lessons from Healthcare Leaders. The panelists shared their insights on navigating the complexities of Medicare Advantage Plans.
Attendees looking to gain insight on media relations and marketing strategies took part in hands-on learning with Thursday’s Media Training Session, hosted by long time reporters, Jerry Oster of WNAX Radio and former Argus Leader Editor and now Fresh Produce Executive, Cory Meyers and Fresh Produce Account Executive Heidi Marsh. Also offered this year, Innovative Strategies in Healthcare Marketing and Media which provided attendees a session full of creative designs and ideas as marketing experts shared the latest trends in healthcare marketing, wayfinding, and more.
Over 55 vendors greeted attendees during the exhibitor social on Thursday evening, sponsored by McGough Construction and SDAHO Enterprises. SDAHO is grateful to all of this year’s sponsors who helped make the event such a success.
- Platinum Sponsors: McGough Construction; SDAHO Enterprises
- Gold Sponsors: Monument Health; Scull Construction Service
- Silver Sponsors: DTB Systems, Inc; Marsh McLennan Agency; Sanford Health
- Bronze Sponsors: Aligned Providers; Casey Peterson Ltd; CMBA Architects; Forvis Mazars; Jackson Physician Search; ZulaFly
The convention ended just as it began, with an outstanding closing keynote presentation and a standing ovation. Paul Long shared his presentation, The FUNdamentals of Meaningful Leadership, which included a more deliberate approach in helping people create professional and personal fulfillment in their lives. Long’s vibrant enthusiasm on the stage was contagious as attendees engaged with one another and Paul, taking home with them realistic tools to create FUNDAMISM in their own work cultures.
Congratulations to all of this year’s Distinguished Service Award and Affiliate Award Recipients. We offer a sincere thank you to the affiliate societies, presenters and our many sponsors, exhibitors, and attendees who once again helped make the annual convention a success.
