From Alaska to Augustana: HR professional finds fit for family in Sioux Falls

Jessica Williams was part of a community theater production when someone said something that made her change her own life script.

“She said, ‘I don’t want the next time I see my family to be at a funeral.’ And it struck a chord with me.”

At the time, Williams and her husband, Travis, were living in Alaska, almost 3,000 miles from her family in Iowa City and only slightly closer to his in South Dakota.

“I wasn’t really happy about where I was at working in benefits administration, we’d both suffered family losses in 2019, and our son was about to start sixth grade,” she said. “We had family we never saw, and I just said, ‘Where are we going to go?’”

Her husband’s aunt, Janet Ryan, a longtime leader and new co-owner at Breadsmith in Sioux Falls, helped answer the question.

“She knew of an opening at Augustana and pointed me there,” Williams said. “We’d stayed at some hotels in town before visiting her, but I knew nothing about Sioux Falls whatsoever.”

Travis grew up in Interior and still has family on a ranch in western South Dakota. Williams grew up in a military family and moved multiple times growing up. They met in Chicago, and married life meant military life once more because Travis served in the Coast Guard.

“We had four different stations we were at. The first was in Alaska, and after we left, we kept wanting to go back and did in 2018,” she said.

“Travis never thought he’d live East River, but here we are in South Dakota.”

In July 2024, their change of address became official when Williams was hired as a compensation and benefits specialist in human resources at Augustana University.

“I don’t have a university background — I spent more of my career working in medical offices or hospital administration — but they said they like that I see things through a different lens and bring a different perspective,” she said. “To my boss’s credit, she was excited about that and encourages new ideas. The day I interviewed, I left just feeling like I’d left my family because it felt like ‘When can I start?’ I didn’t want to leave. You just know when it’s the right fit.”

Since moving to Sioux Falls, Travis also easily found a job. He began helping his aunt at Breadsmith but then moved into campus security at Augustana.

“The difference in affordability here is just, oh my goodness,” Williams said. “Our gas price went down by $2 per gallon. Our rent stayed about the same, but so many nickel-and-dime things are so much more affordable. There are so many grocery stores and so many options that it makes it so much cheaper comparatively to live here.”

They were able to find a home to rent close enough so their son can walk home from Memorial Middle School.

“We’re in a comfortable neighborhood with a garage, and hopefully someday we’ll be able to find a home,” Williams said. “That’s ultimately our goal now is to find that area we want to be in.”

She also has been able to connect her love of theater through The Premiere Playhouse — she just was named to the cast of “9 to 5” coming up later this year — and through shows at the Washington Pavilion.

“And I took my son to SiouxperCon, which was fantastic,” she said.

“There’s so much here for a family who has such a diverse set of interests and something for all of us. Ultimately, we came here to provide new opportunities to our son. Sioux Falls has exceeded our expectations, from the water park to the arcades, the excellent school district and the events that take place in Sioux Falls. We’ve also been able to take advantage of the proximity to Minneapolis for sporting and other gaming events.”

Her son “loves video games, and we’re so pumped they have esports in the schools,” Williams said.

“He took first place at SiouxperCon and did the SoDak Circuit esports event last year, and we’re excited for it to come back this year. It was so much fun. And the schools have been great. I could not be happier, and the way the arts are encouraged in the school system is incredibly valuable to me. I’m so happy my child can live in an area where he gets to do that.”

At Augustana, “I don’t think I’ve ever worked anywhere where I felt like I was making this much of a difference,” Williams added.

“I feel like my opinion is being heard and I matter. That’s amazing for an employer.”

In Sioux Falls, “I am overwhelmed by the kindness that I’ve seen and the politeness,” she said. “You see such generosity, even within the community.”

The Williams family’s experience shows that no matter how far you move from to get here, you’ll easily be able to connect to the Sioux Falls community, said Denise Guzzetta, vice president of talent and workforce development for the Sioux Falls Development Foundation.

“It’s been wonderful to meet Jessica and work with her in her capacity with HR but also hear how her own career and family’s life has been enhanced through moving to Sioux Falls,” she said. “This truly is a place where you’ll feel like you’re making a difference at work and love your experience outside of work.”

To learn more about putting the Sioux Falls Advantage to work for you and your family, contact Denise Guzzetta at deniseg@siouxfalls.com or visit siouxfalls.com.