South Dakota Governor-elect Kristi Noem is searching for people who want to serve in the top seats in several state government agencies. She’s also appointed interim secretaries for some agencies and is retaining some of the current agency leaders.
Noem has announced a targeted talent search for seven key cabinet posts: Secretary of Education, Secretary of Agriculture, Commissioner of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, Secretary of Social Services, Secretary of Human Services, Secretary of Veterans Affairs and Secretary of Tribal Relations.
Those wishing to be considered for the cabinet, or to offer nominations, should apply on Governor-elect Noem’s transition website.
Additionally, Governor-elect Noem announced the following cabinet appointments, which she will make upon taking office January 5, 2019:
Craig Price will serve in the Noem administration as Secretary of Public Safety. Price has served in law enforcement for 21 years and has been superintendent of the South Dakota Highway Patrol since 2011.
Jim Terwilliger will serve in the Noem administration as Secretary of Revenue. Terwilliger is the state economist and the deputy commissioner of the Bureau of Finance and Management (BFM). He has been with BFM since 2006.
Darin Bergquist will serve in the Noem administration as Secretary of Transportation. He has served as secretary since 2008. Bergquist joined the department in 1998 after working in the Bureau of Administration.
Jim Hagen will serve in the Noem administration as Secretary of Tourism. Hagen has served as secretary since 2011, and previously served as Secretary of Tourism and State Development. Hagen has also worked as national campaign director and public relations director for the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation.
Kelly Hepler will serve in the Noem administration as Secretary of Game, Fish, and Parks (GFP). Hepler joined GFP as secretary in 2015, following a career in leadership roles in the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
Marcia Hultman will serve in the Noem administration as Secretary of Labor and Regulation. Hultman has served as secretary since 2014. She previously served as deputy secretary and has served in the department since 1997.
Kim Malsam-Rysdon will serve in the Noem administration as Secretary of Health. Malsam-Rysdon has served as secretary since 2014. She previously served as Secretary of Social Services and in leadership roles in the Department of Social Services and the Department of Human Services.
Steve Pirner will serve in the Noem administration as Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources. Pirner was first appointed as secretary in 2000. He has been with the Department of Environment and National Resources since 1979.
Scott Bollinger will serve in the Noem administration as Commissioner of the Bureau of Administration. Bollinger has been commissioner since 2017. Having served in state government for over 35 years, he has experience in the Bureau of Finance and Management and the Department of Corrections.
Laurie Gill will serve in the Noem administration as Commissioner of the Bureau of Human Resources (BHR). Gill has led BHR since 2013. She previously served as Secretary of Human Services and has held leadership roles in the Department of Health. Additionally, Gill served nine years as the mayor of Pierre.
The Governor-elect also announced the following interim cabinet appointments, who will serve until a search for their positions is conducted following the 2019 Legislative Session.
Pat Snow will serve in the Noem administration as interim Commissioner of the Bureau of Information and Technology. Currently serving as BIT’s chief technology officer and director of telecommunications, Snow has served as interim commissioner since earlier this year.
Laurie Feiler will serve in the Noem administration as the interim Secretary of Corrections. Currently serving as the department’s deputy secretary, Feiler has been with the Department of Corrections since 1984.
Noem says while she wants to recruit new talent, she also wants to retain the best and brightest who have already committed themselves to serving South Dakotans. She says she’s thrilled to partner with proven public servants while also bringing new faces and ideas into public service.
