Ronna

Vice President of Talent & Workforce Development

Ronna Poppens serves at the Vice President of Talent & Workforce Development for the Sioux Falls Development Foundation. In her role, she oversees the Foundation’s suite of workforce development programs and initiatives aimed at helping Sioux Falls-area employers attract, retain, and develop the workforce they need to continue to grow and thrive.

Originally from Lennox, SD, Ronna attended the University of Sioux Falls, where she earned her B.A. in Business Administration Marketing and an M.B.A. in Business Management. Her background spans a variety of industries, including financial services, hospitality, real estate, and architecture and engineering. Despite their differences, the common thread has always been people. Ronna loves building relationships, identifying opportunities, connecting people, and turning dreams and ideas into action. Those skills are instrumental to her role within the Foundation as she connects with partners to achieve shared workforce goals.

“I’m especially excited to collaborate with employers, educators, and industry partners across the region to turn dreams and opportunities into tangible initiatives that will make a lasting impact,” Ronna says. “Sioux Falls is an exciting place filled with opportunities to build your future. I’m humbled to be part of the work happening behind the scenes to continue this momentum.”

Ronna and her husband, Nick, enjoy hosting gatherings, going on long walks, wandering around Downtown Sioux Falls, and grabbing dinner at Sushi Masa. As avid travelers – especially internationally – they always have a trip in the works. One of their favorite trips included seeing Taylor Swift on the Eras Tour in Switzerland!

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