SIOUX FALLS The South Dakota Trade board of directors has identified Jesse Fonkert as the next president and CEO of South Dakota Trade after a competitive search process.
The current president and CEO, Luke J. Lindberg, has been nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as under secretary of Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Jesse is a statewide leader who has tremendous respect in the business community and with South Dakota Trades stakeholders, said Joe Beck, chair of the South Dakota Trade board of directors. Im confident this transition will be seamless and Jesse will build upon the momentum Luke has generated for the association. We are excited that there will be some overlap between when Jesse joins South Dakota Trade and prior to Lukes departure.
Lindberg is currently undergoing confirmation by the U.S. Senate for the role to which he has been nominated within the Trump administration. He will remain in his role as president and CEO of South Dakota Trade until the time of his Senate confirmation.
Fonkert currently serves as the deputy commissioner of the Governors Office of Economic Development. He has a degree in international affairs and business from Augustana University. He will join South Dakota Trade effective April 21.
Ive come to know Luke as both a friend and someone who delivers outsized results. He has left a lasting impact on trade here in South Dakota, and I know he will do the same for our farmers and ranchers across America, said Governor Larry Rhoden. Ive worked with Jesse in the Governors Office of Economic Development, so I know what hes capable of. He is cut from the same cloth as Luke and will be a successful diplomat for our state.
Im honored to have the opportunity to lead South Dakota Trade at a time like this, when we are finally standing up for Americas small and medium-sized businesses and ensuring they have a level playing field as they compete for international sales, Fonkert said. My tenure as the head of this association will be to carry on the important work Luke and the team have begun our state is fortunate to have had Lukes vision and leadership in the early days of South Dakota Trade.”
In addition to his tenure with the Governors Office of Economic Development, Fonkert previously served as the president and CEO of the Sioux Metro Growth Alliance and worked in Washington, D.C., at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
Jesse is the right man for the job, Lindberg said. Leading South Dakota Trade has been a huge honor and joy. Our team has done incredible work in a short period of time, and I will forever be thankful that stakeholders all across our great our state came alongside me to create South Dakota Trade. I will watch with great excitement how the organization continues to make a major impact on our economy under Jesses leadership.
Jesse has been a key leader at GOED, and we have a terrific working relationship, said economic development commissioner and ex-officio South Dakota Trade board member, Joe Fiala.
South Dakota Trade is a 501(c)(6) association that navigates international trade for South Dakota. The association has offices in Sioux Falls and Rapid City. For additional information, visit www.southdakotatrade.com.
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