Contact/About Us
Meet the Board of Directors
DIANE DIEKMAN – PRESIDENT
Diane Diekman, who grew up on a South Dakota farm, is a retired U.S. Navy captain and a published author. During her 32 years on active duty, she traveled around the world as an aircraft maintenance officer. Twice named All-American Commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 628, she currently serves on the funeral honor guards for the American Legion and VFW in Sioux Falls. She is the biographer of Faron Young, Marty Robbins, and Randy Travis.
TOM VERHEY – 1st VICE PRESIDENT
Tom Verhey grew up in Dell Rapids in Southeast South Dakota and enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1993. He was assigned as a Machine Gunner with the 3rd Battalion/5th Marine Regiment, the most decorated combat unit in the Marines, and was discharged as a Corporal following four years of active duty. In 1997, he began a career in the banking industry and is presently Vice President of Treasury Services for American Bank & Trust in Sioux Falls.He has served as an ambassador for the Mitchell Area Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce, including two years as President of the Mitchell Ambassadors Committee. He is a member of Marine Corps League Det 659, American Legion Post 15, El Riad Shriners, Resurgam Lodge 31 (past master), and has volunteered in Junior Achievement since 2007. Tom and his wife of 28 years, Jaimi, live in Sioux Falls and have 4 children: Brandt, Alex, Lukas, & Ethan.
HARRY ENGBERG – 2nd VICE PRESIDENT
Harry Engberg manages the Battleship Memorial museum and store. He recently retired from private practice as an attorney in Sioux Falls. During his 14 years as an officer in the U.S. Army, he graduated from Command and General Staff College, commanded a transportation company, and served as advisor to the South Vietnamese Army. He earned his Juris Doctor degree at the University of South Dakota. He is Past Executive Director of the South Dakota Lions Foundation and a trustee of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 628.
KAREN DUNHAM – 3rd VICE PRESIDENT
Karen Dunham is a real estate broker and owner of The Dunham Company Residential Real Estate in Sioux Falls. Originally from Minneota, Minnesota, she spent 17 years in the Naval Reserve and was present at the dedication of Battleship South Dakota Memorial. She has participated in the USS South Dakota battleship crewmember reunions since they began in 1970. She is Past President of the Sioux Falls Board of Realtors and a member of numerous other boards. Her honors and awards include the Sales & Marketing Distinguished Sales Award, Realtor of the Year, and 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award. Karen enjoys golf, bowling, and being “Grandma.”
ERIC CLEVERINGA
Eric Cleveringa is a fifteen-year F-16 pilot with the South Dakota Air National Guard, currently serving as Commander of the 175th Fighter Squadron. A Siouxland native who grew up in Rock Rapids, Iowa, he graduated from the University of North Dakota, specializing in aviation and economics. In 2013 he graduated from the University of South Dakota School of Law. Eric has numerous combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, yet his proudest accomplishments involve his friends and family, specifically his wife Leslie, children Connor and Audrey, and dog Champ. His family enjoys the outdoors, especially hiking, camping, fishing, and skiing.
ERIC ERICKSON
Eric Erickson grew up on a farm near Summit, South Dakota, graduated from South Dakota State University, and served as an aircraft mechanic in the South Dakota Air National Guard. He worked as a Daktronics Inc. salesman in the large sport venue market in Florida before returning to South Dakota to serve as Executive Director of the South Dakota Association of County Officials. He graduated from the University of South Dakota School of Law in 2013, joined Cutler Law Firm LLP, and became a partner in January 2018. His practice is focused on business matters, real estate, and governmental relations. Eric and his wife, Hannah, live in Sioux Falls with their children, Henry and Hazel.
BOB JOHNSON
Bob Johnson, whose hometown is Brainerd, Minnesota, spent three years in the Navy, eleven in the Air Force, and twenty in the Air Guard. He retired in 1996 as Command Chief Sergeant Major for the South Dakota Air National Guard. He owned Dakota Security, which provided locksmith services and bank security, including vaults/cameras/etc. He retired from there and sold that business in 1996. He is a past American Legion Post 15 commander, current Honor Guard member, and has been on many boards and committees. He and his wife, Maxine, have 7 children, 15 grandchildren, and 17 great-grandchildren.
SAM NELSON
Sam Nelson grew up in Canton, South Dakota, and graduated from South Dakota State University in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science in History and Political Science. While working on his Juris Doctorate at the University of South Dakota School of Law, he was commissioned into the Marine Corps. He served on active duty as a Judge Advocate from 2011 to 2017 and currently serves in the Marine Corps Reserve. Sam is a partner at Frieberg, Nelson and Ask L.L.P. He focuses his practice on lobbying, litigation, criminal defense, municipal law and estate planning. He is the city attorney for Alcester and assists with city attorney work for Worthing, Beresford, and Canton. Sam resides in Canton with his wife Alison, who is a Deputy State’s Attorney for Lincoln County. They have two children, Henry and Madelyn, and two dogs, Luna and Finn.
MARK QUASNEY
Mark Quasney grew up in Rapid City, South Dakota and enlisted in the U.S. Army out of high school. After five years of active-duty service, he returned home and received a bachelor’s degree from Black Hills State University and an MBA from Western Governor’s University. Mark spent 6 years working for the South Dakota Bureau of Finance and Management as a Budget Analyst, Statewide Internal Control Officer, and State Economist. He currently works as Vice President of Development Finance for Lloyd Companies. Mark lives in Brandon with his wife, Laura, and their two children, Grant and Ella.
DARYL SKANCKE
Daryl Skancke is the owner of a Sioux Falls brokerage firm, Realty Center Inc. He grew up in Baltic, South Dakota, and has been in real estate sales for 30 years. He plays lead guitar and has been inducted into the South Dakota Rock ‘N’ Roll Hall of Fame. Over the years, his bands included Who Cares, the Night Raiders Band, and the Chute Rooster Band. He played his first gig at age 13–on trumpet in a high school band. In addition to music, he enjoys fishing and travel.
TOM STENGRIM
Tom Stengrim is the founder and lead business strategist at Lazios in Harrisburg, South Dakota. He works with startup companies in developing a plan to get their ideas from the back of a napkin to the marketplace. He also works with existing companies that want to grow to the next level, requiring an evolving strategy and preparation to acquire that next stage of capital investment. Tom moved to South Dakota in 1999 and founded Stengrim Insurance, Inc. A native of Stephen, Minnesota, he joined the U.S. Navy in 1986 and was commissioned a Supply Corps officer in 2008. He lives in Harrisburg and currently holds the rank of Lieutenant Commander in the United States Naval Reserve.