WIN in Workforce Summit 2026 (registration closed)

A strategic look at how burnout, employment uncertainty with AI, and shifting employee and employer expectations are reshaping engagement—and what leaders must do to sustain performance.

Panelists:

• Micah Aberson – President/CEO of Lawrence & Schiller
• Paige Pearson Meyer – Vice President of Corporate Communications and Community Relations at Midco
• Scott Wickersham – CEO of Viaflex
• Tony Nour – Senior Vice President­ – Relationship Banking at First PREMIER Bank
• Moderator: Jodi Schwan, Founder & Owner of siouxfalls.business

Micah Aberson is the President & CEO of Lawrence & Schiller, a marketing and communications firm with offices in Sioux Falls, SD and Minneapolis, MN. He has previously served in several executive leadership positions, including Executive Vice President at Sanford Health and President of Cambria.

Micah is from Sioux Falls and holds a Bachelor of Business from Augustana University, and an MBA from the University of Sioux Falls. Micah is married to his wife, Jaclyn, and they have two daughters Sutton (13) and Andie (10).

Scott Wickersham is Chief Executive Officer of Viaflex, Inc. (formerly Raven Engineered Films), bringing more than two decades of experience in engineering, manufacturing and operational leadership. He joined Raven Industries in 2010 and became a member of the executive team in 2015, serving as Vice President and General Manager of both the Aerostar and Engineered Films divisions. Before joining Raven, Wickersham held technical and operational leadership roles at Hutchinson Technology Inc. and Suzlon Rotor Corporation. He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from South Dakota Mines and an MBA from Colorado State University and serves on the boards of the Sioux Falls Development Foundation and South Dakota Mines University Advisory Board. A Gettysburg, South Dakota, native and Brandon resident, Wickersham and his wife, Abbie, have four grown children: Taylor, Alex, Luke and Josey.

Paige Pearson Meyer is Vice President of Corporate Communications and Community Relations at Midco, where she leads internal and external communications, crisis response, executive thought leadership and community engagement efforts. Since joining Midco in 2016, she has helped advance high-profile partnerships and initiatives that strengthen the company’s reputation and connection to the communities it serves. Prior to Midco, Paige held communications and recruitment leadership roles and worked as a news and sports reporter. She brings a unique perspective that blends communications, leadership and organizational strategy, supported by a degree from Indiana University, the Stanford GSB Senior Executive Program and SHRM-CP certification. Paige serves on several nonprofit and community boards and is passionate about mentoring future leaders and creating meaningful community impact.

Tony Nour is an Armour, SD, native and graduate of Dakota State University and the University of South Dakota (MBA). He and his wife, Brenda, live in Sioux Falls with their four children. Tony serves as Senior Vice President­ – Relationship Banking at First PREMIER Bank, where he is responsible for the overall growth and leadership of the Wealth Management, Mortgage, Agricultural, Business and Retail Banking teams across all First PREMIER Bank markets. Tony is involved in the community through board roles with the Sioux Falls Development Foundation, the Sioux Empire United Way, Sanford International and RESGEN. He also represents South Dakota as a member of the American Banker Association’s Emerging Leaders Council.

Jia Jiang

Rising to notoriety with his most-viewed TED Talk (top 200 out of 60,000), What I Learned from 100 Days of Rejection, which became the basis for his bestselling book and #1 audio book, “Rejection Proof: How I Beat Fear and Became Invincible Through 100 Days of Rejection,” Jia Jiang has become the world’s foremost expert on rejection. A top-booked speaker, Jia is the sought-after authority on empowering confidence and resilience, overcoming one’s fear of rejection, and daring to be bolder in both life and career. His upcoming book, “Easy Discipline: An Unconventional Way to Achieve Ambitious Things” (Simon & Schuster, July 2026), expands on his mission to help anyone overcome obstacles and achieve their dreams and goals by adopting his breakthrough One Action Goal system. Jia’s tenacious (and often, humorous) journey from teenage Chinese exchange student to entrepreneur and high performance, personal development guru has captivated Fortune 500 audiences such as Google, Dell Technologies, Johnson & Johnson, Visa, Allstate and others. He consistently earns rave reviews and the personal thanks of audience members who credit Jia with changing their lives.

Did you hear the one about the guy that asked for a “burger refill” at a fast food restaurant? Got a flight attendant to let him grab the mic and address a plane full of passengers? Or, asked Krispy Kreme to make doughnuts in the shape of Olympic rings—and succeeded? These are just a few of the very creative—and sometimes, outrageous—asks that were part of Jia Jiang’s now legendary “100 Days of Rejection,” the blog that became the basis for his most-viewed TED Talk and bestselling book. Stories like this are an integral part of what Jia brings to the speaking stage, along with remarkable journey of an ambitious teenager from Beijing who longed to be an entrepreneur like his idol, Bill Gates, and followed his dream by becoming an exchange student in the U.S. (only to find himself in rural Louisiana teaching himself English).

Today, in addition to writing his new book, “Easy Discipline: An Unconventional Way to Achieve Ambitious Things” (Simon & Schuster, July 2026), speaking, and blogging, Jia Jiang (pronounced Jah Jahng) has achieved his dream of becoming an entrepreneur. He is the CEO and owner of Rejection Therapy, a website that provides inspiration, knowledge and products to help people overcome their fear of rejection. He is also the CEO and founder of Wuju Learning (Wuju means “fearless” in ancient Chinese), a company that trains organizations to become fearless through rejection training. In 2022, he became a Board Member of LifeHikes®, a global professional development company that has been called the “secret weapon” of companies like Alibaba, Facebook, Dropbox, and Google. Prior to taking the life-altering risk of becoming an entrepreneur, he worked in the corporate world at Dell Technologies and LinkedIn.

Jia’s powerful and empowering story has been shared across business and popular media, including NPR, Bloomberg Businessweek, The Guardian, CNN, TIME Magazine, Inc., and others.

He holds a Bachelor of Computer Science from Brigham Young University and a Master of Business Administration from Duke University.

Session Description: Remote work is not the problem. Unintentional communication is. Internal communication is the leadership system that creates clarity, trust, inclusion, accountability, adaptability, and connection across hybrid, remote, and on-site teams.

Katie LeBrun has spent more than 20 years helping organizations communicate with greater clarity and transparency. Her experience includes community banking, healthcare, fintech, higher education and credit, and she is passionate about making organizational communications easier to understand. In her current role, she works alongside leaders to develop strategic communications to ensure employees connect their work to organizational goals. She is especially interested in data-driven and AI-assisted communications. In May 2027, Katie will graduate from the University of South Dakota with a master’s degree in communications, marketing, and organizational leadership.

Session Description: The Generation Divide: Engaging Everyone to Choose, Contribute and Stay” breaks down the five generations working side‑by‑side and the communication patterns, expectations and motivations that shape each. Attendees will leave with practical, human‑centered strategies to reduce friction, strengthen trust and engage every generation with clarity and intention.

Liz Carlson is a workplace teacher, keynote speaker and belonging advocate who helps leaders create environments where all minds can thrive. After years in corporate leadership, she transitioned into higher education, teaching MBA and business communication courses while raising three neurodivergent children who reshaped her understanding of inclusive leadership. Today, Liz teaches inside workplaces—immersed in her clients’ teams, culture and everyday challenges—through worksite learning programs focused on communication and leadership development. Her approach is practical, human‑centered and rooted in the belief that great leadership is simply great communication in action. Her leadership standards are simple, memorable and transformative: listen. be intentional. be kind.

Session Description: What do employers expect new college hires to know — and how far do graduates fall short? This session unpacks the skills, knowledge, and attributes driving today’s employability gap, and explores how AI is reshaping both sides of the hiring equation.

Dr. Steve Horan serves as an assistant professor of business at Dakota Wesleyan University, holds a CPA designation, and brings over 25 years of business experience spanning several financial services institutions in Sioux Falls. He champions education and actively builds connections between students and meaningful workplace opportunities. Drawing on 25 years in financial services, Steve empowers students to bridge classroom concepts with real-world business scenarios.

Session Description: Capacity isn’t the opposite of performance; it’s what makes performance sustainable. This session looks at the connection between employee capacity and performance and how the way we design work can influence both.

Anna Jankord is Executive Vice President at the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce. Her work centers on helping businesses maximize the value of their Chamber investment while creating experiences and opportunities that help people and organizations grow. Anna’s career spans more than 15 years in leadership education and talent development, beginning at the University of Minnesota before moving into corporate learning and training roles at Midco and Viaflex. Across each chapter of her career, she has focused on building the capacity of people and organizations to do their best work. Today, she brings that experience together through leading teams, developing community leaders, partnering with businesses, and designing experiences and systems that strengthen the Sioux Falls business community.

Session Description: Employee disengagement rarely happens overnight. More often, it is a symptom of something deeper and understanding what it is underneath is the first step toward reengagement. This interactive session will explore the practical tools to see it, fix it, and engage it – in yourself and others within your organization.

Joe Obermueller serves the University of Sioux Falls as Vice President for Academic Affairs. He began his career at USF in 2013 as an Assistant Professor of Theatre, later earning tenure and promotion to Associate Professor of Theatre. He earned his MFA in Theatre Pedagogy from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia, where he also served as an adjunct professor of acting and speech, and his BA in Theatre Arts from Pepperdine University in Malibu, California.

Now in his 14th year at USF, Joe oversees the University’s graduate and undergraduate academic portfolios, the Center for Professional Development, Mears Library, and the Office of the Registrar. He is a certified Working Genius facilitator and has a particular interest in organizational culture, team effectiveness, and helping individuals and teams better understand how they work, communicate, and contribute.

Session Description: Technology should make work easier, not more complicated. In this session, participants will learn practical tips for managing communications, meetings, and collaboration more effectively using the tools they rely on every day. We’ll also explore ways to automate routine tasks, reduce busywork, and create more time to focus on the work that matters most.

Maddy Dahl is a technology strategist, Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP), and Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) who helps organizations realize business value from AI, Microsoft 365, and modern workplace technologies. At RSM, Maddy leads Microsoft 365 and AI adoption initiatives that accelerate productivity, strengthen collaboration, and drive innovation. Their expertise includes Microsoft Copilot, Microsoft 365, governance, training, and organizational readiness. Maddy works with business and technology leaders to align emerging technologies with strategic goals and successful change management. She is known for translating complex technical concepts into practical strategies that drive adoption and measurable business outcomes.

Session Description: In a culture that celebrates busyness, achievement, and hustle, it’s possible to build an impressive career while quietly neglecting the things that matter most. Through compelling research, personal stories, and his practical framework called The Power 5, Paul TenHaken challenges audiences to redefine success by strengthening the five interconnected areas that shape a meaningful life: faith, health, family, relationships, and work. Participants will discover practical strategies for avoiding burnout, building resilience, and creating a life that thrives both personally and professionally.

Paul TenHaken served as the 32nd Mayor of Sioux Falls from 2018 to 2026, leading one of America’s fastest-growing cities through a period of historic growth and transformation. Guided by a focus on entrepreneurship, public safety, community unity, and fiscal stewardship, his administration helped secure more than $150 million in private investment for parks, community projects, and cultural amenities while also facilitating the largest economic development project in South Dakota history. During his tenure, Sioux Falls grew by a historic 23% while also hitting its lowest crime rate in a decade, earning recognition as one of the Top Ten Best Run Cities in America. Today, Paul is a consultant and leadership development fanatic who helps leaders and organizations build high-performing teams, navigate change, and lead with greater purpose and impact.