Index of University Press Releases
Aug. 29, 2007
Listen to the Mavericks event
to be held in Chamberlain
MITCHELL – A celebration of cultural entrepreneurship in South
Dakota, Listen to the Mavericks, will be Sept. 7 in Chamberlain at Cedar
Shore Resort.
South Dakota’s top fledgling entrepreneurs will be honored. They
were selected for their contributions to their local economies and culture,
and their innovative risk taking.
Belva Matthews, Higher Ground Coffee Shop
Higher Ground is an uptown coffee shop on the Pine Ridge Indian reservation.
Matthews and her husband operate the shop, one of only a few private
businesses on the 3,500 square-mile reservation. She says the shop is
“mostly a place to inspire hope in the people and encourage them
and show them God’s love.”
Brian Klock, Klock Werks Kustom Cycles
Klock Werks cycles are gracing the covers of magazines and being featured
in television series. What began 10 years ago in a small garage has
become a celebrated success, with Klock’s custom bagger cycles
holding a Bonneville Salt Flats speed record and winning the Discovery
Channel’s “Biker Build-Off” competition in Sturgis.
Scott Lively, Dakota Beef
Fans of the Detriot Tigers and the Houston Astros are enjoying all-beef
Dakota Dogs thanks to Lively’s desire to create local jobs in
Howard following the closing of a plant that employed 100 people. He
started with 30 cows and the packing plant and now restaurants, retailers
and distributors across the country buy Dakota Beef.
Susie Macklem, Sweet Perks
A cheery outlook, great muffins and a homey atmosphere have helped Macklem
build her muffin shop in Sioux Falls. Her niche is catering to people
who treasure the nostalgia of a hometown bakery, and her business is
fueled by her salesmanship. She bakes a thousand muffins a day and believes
being friendly is key to her business success.
Joe Kolbach, Energy Maintenance Service
Kolbach’s vision of the future of wind energy in South Dakota
now includes 150 employees. A 21-year veteran of wind energy projects,
Kolbach has buildings in Gary and Howard, but he also has sites in California,
Colorado, Pennsylvania and Illinois. While working to increase the use
of renewable fuels, Kolbach is also fueling the South Dakota economy.
Lance Nielsen, Sacred Trust International Ministries
Nielsen, aka Angel Dean, is working on a novel, a children’s book,
a family parlor game and a movie script. His Christian rock band recently
performed on the main stage at the LifeLight Festival, and he sells
real estate in Sioux Falls. “Entrepreneurism isn’t always
about making money, but achieving your goals and your mission. Our mission
is helping others. And we do whatever it takes to find the funding to
fulfill our mission.”
Jim and Nancy Schade, Schade Vineyards
The Schades are pioneering a fledgling industry that mixes agriculture,
tourism and mail order marketing. In addition to learning all about
vineyards, they’ve learned about lobbying. They and the state’s
13 other wineries are lobbying to change South Dakota’s liquor
laws to allow mail orders for wine. In the nation’s fastest growing
wine industry, South Dakota’s, the Schades are leading the way.
John Humphrey, Blue Dog Gallery
From fighting fires in Los Angeles County to running a gallery in Lead,
Humphrey enjoys a challenge. Humphrey launched a Plein Aire Paint Out
for local artists and started a framing shop to sustain the gallery
during the slower winter season. His goal, he says, is to get the best
work from the best artists, and he’s meeting his goal.
Randy Golden, R-Star Manufacturing
Golden’s firm, Sidump’r, has been named to Inc. magazine’s
list of America’s 500 fastest growing companies. Having already
sold that, Golden is on to his seventh business, R-Star Manufacturing,
building rear discharge trailers. “I had this idea and I’ve
found that I really like the invention process,” said Humphrey.
With his latest venture, Golden hopes to employ people left jobless
by a recent business closing in Yankton.
For more information on the event schedule, visit www.sdhalloffame.com.
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