How (The Hell) Did I Get Here?

In 2004, as a freshman in college, Lanissa used Christmas break as an opportunity to obtain her real estate license. What began as a part-time endeavor quickly evolved into a passion that has since become second nature - guiding clients towards the best purchase for them and their financial future. 

In 2008 Lanissa joined REMAX, the experienced franchise cultivated her knowledge and led her to become one of the top agents in the area. Her passion for Real Estate prompted Lanissa to invest in her own portfolio and offered her the opportunity to purchase her own rental properties and ultimately establish a building company with her husband in 2016. 

Lanissa’s knowledge of the market and entrepreneurial spirit led her to open her own agency in 2017. Now overseeing 13 agents, Lanissa is proud to call 4 Seasons Real Estate home. Lanissa currently holds nine designations and currently serves on the Board of directors for the Realtor Associations on the local and state levels and has served on the Local, State, and National RPAC Committee helping to fight for private property rights.

 Her passions in life not only include Real Estate and Construction, but also being the mother to two stepchildren, 13 and 11, and an active 1-year-old who has followed in mommy’s footprints with plans to conquer the world each morning, but not before breakfast.

Connect with Lanissa:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lanissarealtor
Website: http://lanissafortner.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lanissafortner

Aaron Flint is the host of  Montana's leading statewide radio talk show "Montana Talks." Aside from serving in Iraq and Afghanistan with the military, he also spent over two decades working in Montana politics and broadcasting. This included a stint as the State Director for Ryan Zinke’s Congressional offices in Montana, and as communications director for the gubernatorial campaign of now-Congressman Greg Gianforte. Prior to that, he grew a statewide radio show in Montana from 10 signals to more than 20 across the state. His work has been featured nationally by Fox Business, The Drudge Report, Huffington Post, Politico, and others. As an officer in the Army National Guard, he served four military tours overseas including time in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa, and the Arabian Peninsula. He enjoys combining his real-world background and Montana roots, to hopefully give listeners a side of the story they don't get to hear anywhere else.

Connect with Aaron:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-flint-47590279
Website: https://montanatalks.com/author/aaronflint
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FlintReport
Twitter: https://twitter.com/aaronflint

Dr. Jeri V. Kurtz finished her career as the Director of Budget and Institutional Research at South Dakota State University. Born and raised in Sacramento, California, she moved to a farm in rural South Dakota after marrying her sweetheart (crazy husband of 52 years). She has degrees in Home Economics, Mathematics, and Education Administration with a Finance emphasis. She now focuses on supporting her four amazing children (Rachel is her favorite), nine adorable and brilliant grandkids, and the fine and fiber arts communities. 

Mitch Nachtigall (Night-en-gale) lives in Rapid City with his wife, Tracy, and two daughters, Sadie and Molly.  Mitch is the Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Elevate Rapid City and Director of the Elevate Rapid City technology start-up incubator.  He currently serves as a traditional South Dakota National Guard Soldier in the role of Battalion Executive Officer for the 109th Engineer Battalion and is the Community Ambassador for Bunker Labs Rapid City.

Mitch also dabbles in strategic plan consulting on the side through his company, PB&J Solutions, believing that everything is best learned in the simplest terms.  Mitch and his family are active indoors and out.  He has logged a workout every day for over 630 consecutive days (as of March 1st, 2020) and reads at least 52 books a year, all in an effort to keep up with his amazingly talented wife and daughters. 

Connect with Mitch:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitchnachtigall
Website: https://elevaterapidcity.com

Lee DeLange is the Chief Operating Officer for GenPro Energy Solutions, a Black Hills based energy service organization with a global depth of experience in solar and energy efficiency technologies. Prior to coming to GenPro Energy, Mr. DeLange spent 23 years with Rapid City-based Black Hills Energy. He earned a Bachelor of Applied Technical Sciences degree from Black Hills State University, and a computer-aided drafting degree from Western Dakota Technical Institute.  His proven track record has led to him being highly sought after for various speaking engagements about leadership. He is a 2017 graduate of Leadership South Dakota, and a 2001 graduate of Leadership Rapid City. He and his wife, Amy, have three grown children and enjoy spending time in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota.

Connect with Lee:

Website: https://genproenergy.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lee-delange-5135b432

 Chief Master Sergeant Rochelle M. Hemingway is the Command Chief, 28th Bomb Wing, Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota. Chief Hemingway leads the wing’s enlisted force and serves as the primary advisor to the commander on all matters concerning the morale, welfare, warfighting effectiveness, operational utilization and professional development of nearly 3,200 enlisted Airmen who support the largest B-1 combat wing in the U.S. Air Force. 

Born at RAF Lakenheath, England, and raised in Kokomo, Indiana, Chief Hemingway entered the Air Force in August 1991. After completing basic training she began her career as a medical service technician. In 1999, she graduated from the Independent Duty Medical Technician (IDMT) program and deployed in support of various humanitarian missions in Jamaica, Curacao, Vietnam, Africa and Southwest Asia. Prior to assuming her current position, Chief Hemingway served as the superintendent, 56th Medical Group, Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. 

Connect with Rochelle:

Website: https://www.slaytosuccess.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rochelle-hemingway-1109548a

What you believe affects your actions and, ultimately, your outcome. And because your beliefs are shaped by the narratives you tell yourself, they must be genuine, regardless of how offbeat they seem.

But even the most experienced leaders need help finding their true personal brand story. When they do, they become more influential, generate more buy-in, and become the best version of themselves.

Seasoned brand and leadership coach and consultant Cassa Grant shares how you can find your authentic rhythm at any point in your career, regardless of how “weird” it may be. Listen to her amazing journey!

Connect with Cassa: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cassagrant
Website: https://www.cassagrant.com
Twitter:  @cassa_grant

From the front desk of an FBO in Minnesota, to the captain's seat of a commercial airliner, Erika Armstrong has experienced everything aviation has to offer.  During her piloting career, she was a Red Cross, charter, corporate, cargo, hazmat and air ambulance pilot and captain, flying 28 different aircraft before going to the airlines. She is also an aviation professor at MSU Denver, VP of Business Development at Advanced Aircrew Academy and author of A Chick in the Cockpit.  Erika has also been able to use the power of social media to educate and share the joys of aviation to 500,000 followers which help inspire the next generation of pilots

Connect with Erika:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/achickinthecockpitb727
Twitter: https://twitter.com/armstrongerika1
Website: https://achickinthecockpit.com

Brian Lassiter was elected president /CEO of the Performance Excellence Network (Minnesota Council for Quality) in the summer of 2001.  Before his election, Brian held positions with the following organizations: Ian Alliott Consulting (Managing Director), Norstan Consulting (Principal Consultant), The St. Paul Companies (Corporate Quality Consultant), Price Waterhouse (Consultant), and Boatmen's National Bank (Quality Manager).  In these roles, Brian has worked with hundreds of organizations in a variety of industries to help them improve their performance and competitiveness. 

Brian has served nearly 25 years in various roles with the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program, including Examiner, Senior Examiner, Alumni Examiner, and on the Board of Overseers (2012-15).  Before his appointment as president, he served as a volunteer Senior Evaluator for the Minnesota Quality Award (1996-97), served as a Judge for the Veteran’s Administration Baldrige-based Carey Award (2004-06), served as a judge on the Baldrige-based Army Communities of Excellence (2009-10),  and is serving on the Panel of Judges for the American Health Care Association’s Baldrige-based Awards (2013, 2016-20).

Brian serves as Chair of the Alliance for Performance Excellence, the national consortium of all state/regional quality/excellence awards and is on the board and faculty of Communities of Excellence 2026, a nonprofit that is working to apply the principles of Baldrige to solve community challenges and improve community outcomes.

Brian was on the Review Panel for the University of Minnesota Carlson School’s Juran Fellowship program (2003-08), served on the Benedictine Health System Board of Trustees (2009- 2018) serving as chair from 2011-15, and served from 1995-2003 and 2004-2014 on the Board of Directors for Goodwill/Easter Seals of MN.

Connect with Brian:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-lassiter-9309616
Website: https://www.performanceexcellencenetwork.org
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LassiterBrian
Email: [email protected]

 Legend Suspensions began in 1998 when Jesse Jurrens introduced the first Air Suspension system for The Harley-Davidson Softail Chassis. Jesse invented the product and started the company in his parent’s basement in Watertown, SD. The company officially incorporated in 2000 and celebrated its 20-year anniversary in 2020.

Legend Suspensions now manufactures three lines of suspension for Harley-Davidson and Indian motorcycles: an air suspension line, Legend Air, a coil suspension line, Legend REVO/REVO ARC, and Legend AXEO, a front-end suspension line. Offroad UTV air suspensions systems are also offered. The company distributes globally and is known for high quality products, a Lifetime Warranty, as well as outstanding customer service.

Jesse lives in the Black Hills with his wife Tyna and their children Garet, Cole, Morgan, and Gresen. They enjoy spending their time on two wheels, biking, motorcycling and any activity that takes them outdoors.

Website: legendsuspensions.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LegendSuspensions
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/legendsuspensions
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/legendsuspensions