Elevate Magazine | March 2023

RAPID CITY BUSINESSES THRIVE THROUGH GENERATIONS

MINIMUM OPENING BALANCE$500

*Rates stated as Annual Percentage Yield (APY ) s e h R y , m

opening balance of $500.00 is required. At mat the cer tificate will renew to a 12 month cer tifica the rate that is effective at the time of maturit y. or other conditions could reduce the earnings on account . Call 800.482. 2428 for more informa

*Rates stated as Annual Percentage Yield (APY ). Not valid for brokered deposit s, institutional investors, business account s or Public Funds Dividends are compounded daily and credited monthly. A penalt y may be imposed for early withdrawal Rates are accurate as of Februar y 1, 2023 A minimum opening balance of $500.00 is required. At maturit y, the cer tificate will renew to a 12 month cer tificate at the rate that is effective at the time of maturit y Fees or other conditions could reduce the earnings on the account . Call 800.482. 2428 for more information. Black Hills Federal Credit Union membership is required Offer subject to change without notice Federally insured by NCUA .

Black Hills Federal Credit Union membersh required Offer subject to change without no Federally insured by NCUA .

CALL IT A TRADITION

In a world obsessed with start-ups and new tech, there’s a certain level of comfort in knowing a business has been around for generations. Whether it’s a product, a service, or a smile that gets passed down from grandparent to grandchild, there’s a foundation in place that transcends the everyday transaction.

Call it a tradition.

Call it a legacy. Call it stewardship. Whatever you do, don’t call it luck. When a business has been around for two, three, or four generations, there’s a sort of staying power and success that Google and Facebook can only dream about.

Everyone wants to pass something down to their children. But the United States was built upon the foundation of multi-generational businesses. Ford. Anheuser-Busch. Walmart.

These names aren’t just public companies or slogans on tee shirts. They started as generational businesses with a long-established reputation for excellence.

Welcome to this issue of Elevate, where we raise a glass to some of our own multi-generational businesses in Rapid City. Whether it’s beverage distribution, gold jewelry, automobiles, construction materials, hospitality, restaurants, manufacturing, printing, transmission, or advertising, we’re sure you will find something (or someone) you recognize in this issue. That’s because these generational businesses in Rapid City are our friends and neighbors, our colleagues and our collaborators, and they are the ones that give back to the community and the causes that matter.

Henry Ford once said, “Businesses that grow by development and improvement do not die.” For the multi-generational businesses featured in these pages, truer words were never spoken. As these businesses continue to evolve, they get better with age and over time. And, no doubt, they are shaping the future of Rapid City for the better. Stay safe and God-speed.

Tom

Tom Johnson, President & CEO

Elevate is a monthly publication produced by Elevate Rapid City. It is the premier business magazine for the Black Hills region telling the stories that make our area unique and vibrant.

PO Box 747, Rapid City, SD 57709 605.343.1744 elevaterapidcity.com

PRESIDENT & CEO

Tom Johnson

SENIOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT & PARTNERSHIPS DIRECTOR

Taylor Davis

SENIOR MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

Shiloh Francis

SENIOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

Lori Frederick

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

Liz Highland

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT & TALENT ATTRACTION DIRECTOR

Samantha McGrath

EVENTS & TRAINING DIRECTOR

Rachel Nelson

PUBLIC POLICY DIRECTOR

Garth Wadsworth

HOUSING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Laura Jones

INVESTOR ENGAGEMENT MANAGER

Becky Knox

WORKFORCE & SUSTAINABILITY MANAGER

Reese Niu

ECOSYSTEM SUPPORT & PROPERTY MANAGER

Loni Reichert

VISUAL CONTENT MANAGER

Maggie Jean Wince

INVESTOR RELATIONS MANAGER

Jason Wittenberg

EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Ashley Simonson

DESIGN AND LAYOUT

Maggie Jean Wince

PUBLISHED BY THE RAPID CITY JOURNAL

Ben Rogers, President ben.rogers@lee.net

ADVERTISING

Kelly Kanaan 605.394.8472

Jaimie Mohler 605.8302326

Tom Eltgroth 320-583-284

PRINTED BY SIMPSONS PRINTING

LIBERTY SUPERSTORES PAGE 36

MOYLE PETROLEUM PAGE 39

HAPPENINGS AROUND THE REGION

MARCH 3

90'S HOUSE PARTY AT THE PARK

We’re throwing a 90’s House Party at The Park 707 Venue! With Special guest DJ’s Oak and Stitch! 8:30p-12:30a March 3rd! Free GA and VIP tickets available! www.thepark. ticketspice.com/flannel

MARCH 4

MOUNTAIN WEST WHISKEY FESTIVAL

Spend the evening with industry experts and whiskey connoisseurs at the Black Hills premier whiskey experience. The festival features a wide variety of whiskeys, bourbons and scotches to sample, upscale catering and live music in the heart of downtown Rapid City.

https://bit.ly/3UwqB7V

MARCH 4

CRACKERBARREL @ WDT

Legislative Crackerbarrels are free, public events to provide an opportunity for Legislators to discuss bills and issues and hear directly from the public elevaterapidcity.com/ events

MARCH 14

POLICY AT THE PUB

Policy at the Pub is a happy hour event held quarterly. This is an opportunity to connect in a relaxed environment and engage on various policy issues facing our community and state.

elevaterapidcity.com/ events

MARCH 18 ALL NATIONS SAINT PATRICK'S DAY PARADE

Kick off this Saint Patrick's Day with an All Nations parade downtown. Join us as we celebrate the diversity of our community, heritage, and roots - all in a fun, family environment. www.facebook. com/events/s/allnationssaint-patricksday-/719905963099477/

MARCH 25

DINO EGG-STRAVAGANZA

Join us at the Museum of Geology to celebrate the Spring and Easter season! There will be games and activities with prizes! Come have some fun and learn about geology and paleontology on the way!

Activities will be held on the museum exhibit floor and the Paleontology Research Lab on the SD Mines campus. This is a family friendly event and is for all ages! www.sdsmt.edu/ Academics/Museumof-Geology/Events/

MARCH 23

ELEVATE'S ECONOMIC SUMMIT

Join us for a half day event as we take a deep-dive into discussions shaping our economy. We will take a national approach to the economy and then focus more on a regional discussion. elevaterapidcity.com/ events

MARCH 24-26

2023 HOME SHOW

Join the Black Hills Home Builders Association from March 24-26, 2023 for the celebration of our Annual Home Show; help us celebrate the success of our show, we could not have made it this far without you, our attendees! There are over 400 booths, over 200 vendors covering 100,000+ square foot of exhibitor space at The Monument. Created and sponsored by the Black Hills Home Builders Association in 1973, this event is definitely the largest trade show in SD and has grown to be one of the largest in a 5 state region for a community of our size. www.blackhillshome builders.com/homeshow

PERFORMANCE STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS

IMPROVE YOURSELF IN BOTH SPORTS AND LIFE

Thursday, March 30, 2023 | 6 - 8 p.m

The Monument | Rapid City, SD

This free community event is geared towards athletes, coaches, parents or anyone wanting to improve their physical or mental performance.

SPEAKERS:

Martin Christofferson US Men’s Boblsed

Alex Viada Performance Coach

Dr Eddie O’Conner, PhD Sports Psychologist

3RD & 4TH GENERATION

BRINK CONSTRUCTORS

Brink constructs High Voltage Transmission Lines and Substations across the United States.

What do you think has contributed to your family's success?

When Frank, Grandpa, started it, he worked hard and expected his kids and grandkids to work just as hard. There was never an easy way even when he was teaching his grandkids to mow the lawn. He taught us all how to work with people.

What do you enjoy about doing business in Rapid City

It is a great place to raise a family. The work ethic usually exceeds expectations where sometimes you do what you need to do to get the job done. Large enough to get most services yet small enough that those services are still about customer service.

What is next for your business?

Brink has tripled in volume over the last 5 years and the vision is to double from there. Most of the staff are trade people that work on remote jobsites. We need to help people understand that beginning a career at Brink has and will continue to produce successful paths in the utility industry.

McKIE FORD LINCOLN

McKie Ford Lincoln is a 3rd generation Ford and Lincoln dealership and offers full-service automotive needs through ABRA Auto Body & Glass and multiple AVIS Budget franchises in the region. Mark McKie, Matt McKie & Karris McKie-Kaiser are also active through many local non-profit organizations in Rapid City.

SIMPSON FAMILY’S FOCUS ON CUSTOMERS AND TECHNOLOGY KEEPS IT THRIVING FOR NEARLY 60 YEARS

THREE GENERATIONS OF PRINTING

STORY BY MICHELLE PAWELSKI PHOTOS SUBMITTED

Frank Simpson was born an entrepreneur. His drive and energy had him dabbling in nearly everything from politics to real estate, bee keeping and ice cream, and of course printing. His ambition left a lasting footprint on Rapid City – one that is now carried on by his son, Dan, and grandson, Jonathan.

The Simpsons’ journey into the printing industry started in the late 1940s. Frank’s father was the district superintendent of the Wesleyan Church and with that came a lot of printing. His go-to local business was Holmgren’s Fine Printing. So, when his son Frank was looking for work, he connected him with the company. Frank started off sweeping floors, moving his way up to shipping, bindery and eventually lead pressman. When Carl Holmgren died in a tragic accident in 1962, Frank stepped in to help the family with the business.

In 1965, Frank took out some loans to buy the printing company. In 1968, Frank along with his wife Doris moved the business to a location off Jackson Boulevard where it continued to grow. Along with Frank and Doris, their five sons worked on and off in the printing business. “I started working when I was 12,” said Dan Simpson, the

second generation of the family-run business. “I was riding my bike after school and sweeping floors. I’ve been here for a long time, and there have been a lot of twists and turns.”

One of those twists was in 1972. A devastating flood took the lives of 238 people including Dan’s new bride Claudia and nearly took the lives of Frank, Dan and his brother, Jim. The Simpsons Printing building was just on the edge of the destruction that ravaged the western corridor of the city. “That flood really ripped this town and our family to pieces. We picked up the pieces we could and kept the business going and moved on from there. For me, I went back to work and tried to make sense of it all.”

Despite the setback of the flood, the Simpson family and their business kept moving forward. Frank entrusted the day to day printing business to his five sons while he pursued new ventures. He went into real estate developing 200 acres of the Lang Ranch off Deadwood Avenue where the current Simpson Printing building is located. Frank and Doris also founded the Fountain Springs Church and became founding partners of the local NBC affiliate, NewsCenter 1. Continually focused on community service, Frank also served in both the S.D. House of

Representatives and S.D. Senate.

While his brothers moved on to different ventures, Dan stayed to run the family business. “I liked printing. It just kind of clicked with me, and I was good at it,” Dan said.

In 1977, Dan met Kathy who would soon become his partner in life and business, but not without some persuading on Dan’s part. “She wouldn’t go out with me. I asked her out three times and she finally said yes.” The two went on one date.; engaged that Monday of their first date; and married six weeks later.

Kathy jumped right into her role as businesswoman.

“We wouldn’t be where we are today without Kathy and the relationships she has. She handles so much,” Dan said.

Throughout the decades, Simpsons Printing continued to grow adding new technology, new employees, new accounts and opening a second location in Gillette, Wyoming.

One of the company’s biggest moves was purchasing Dean Nauman printing, the Simpson family’s main competition. The family ran two businesses out of two locations for many years before combining forces and moving to their current building.

“I’ve really seen a lot of changes through the years,” said Dan who has been involved with the family business since the beginning. “We developed a lot of new things that we brought to Rapid City. We brought the first

quick print and the first fourcolor press. We were really cutting edge in that way.”

Dan and Kathy’s son Jonathan, the family’s third generation, is now taking on moving the business into the future.

Like his father, Jonathan grew up in the family business. “I spent time here ever since I was very small and worked on and off.”

He pursued other things working in the car industry and moving around before eventually finding his way back home. “Going to work outside the family business was key. You have to have good and bad experiences that you can learn from and take with you.”

Jonathan moved back to Rapid City in 2006 partnering with his dad. “I was ready to take on that responsibility,” he said of joining the family business. “I knew the commitment and hard work it was going to take, and I was at the point in my life where I was ready to start that career.”

Among his many responsibilities as a business owner, Jonathan’s focus is on strategic planning and researching new areas of the industry that can keep the business competitive and modern. “Technology changes really fast. Also, the market of what products are on the incline and decline is always changing. “

Jonathan added large format printing 10 years ago that put the business in a good position to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. “We’ve transitioned from a traditional

SE E MORE OF WH AT WE C AN DO: simpsonspr int ing .com

“There have been so many people along the way. I am really humbled by our success. I look back and see all the elements, and I am in awe. I am really blessed to have all that in my life."

Dan Simpson

commercial printing to something that is a little more unique and that has served us well. We want to keep that going. I see us still using technology to be more efficient with what we do and following future opportunities whenever those come up.”

Whether there will be a fourth generation of Simpsons Printing is unknown.

Like their father and grandfather, Jonathan’s children Audrey, 12, and Beau, 7, are growing up in the printing industry. “I am just pushing them to pursue what they love and if that turns out to be the company then we can discuss it. But if not, that’s okay. I want them to feel no pressure to be involved.”

For now, the focus is to continue the strong foundation started by Frank nearly 60 years

ago. A foundation supported by family, employees and community.

“It’s not just me or Jonathan. It’s not just my father,” Dan said. “There have been so many people along the way. I am really humbled by our success. I look back and see all the elements, and I am in awe. I am really blessed to have all that in my life.“

LIV HOSPITALITY

3RD GENERATION

Describe what your company does.

We own, operate, and develop award-winning hospitality properties in one of the most captivating vacation destinations in the nation and arguably the world! From the largest indoor waterpark in the Dakotas to full-service gaming resorts in Deadwood, LIV Hospitality owns and operates 13 hotels and related businesses in Rapid City, Deadwood and Box Elder South Dakota.

What do you think has contributed to your family's success?

Striving for excellence in all that we do. Honoring family, shareholders, and associates in our daily approach. Supporting each other through the generations both financially and in counsel. Sharing ideas, vision, and resources to help the company grow.

What do you enjoy about doing business in Rapid City?

The community, the visitors, and the history. We are Black Hills born and raised and to be able to have a successful business in your hometown is an honor. The traditions, the legacies and the new opportunities on the horizon energize us every day.

What is next for your business?

We want to continue to look for development opportunities to grow our hospitality portfolio both here in the Black Hills and in other markets. We believe staying diverse within your core competencies as a business is strategically important for long term growth and stability.

One piece of advice you would share with someone trying to grow their family business.

Design, develop and evolve your company with one goal in mind: survivability of the company. So many family businesses are structured in a way that promotes generational engagement/succession without concern for the long-term sustainability of the company. Stocks, bylaws, partnership agreements, etc. should all be designed to promote the longterm health and wellbeing of the company. This will inspire trust and confidence with your associates and attract the talent you need to succeed now and into the future.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

COCA-COLA BOTTLING COMPANY HIGH COUNTRY

3RD & 4TH GENERATION

Coca-Cola Bottling Company High Country is a family owned, regional Coca-Cola Bottler founded in 1956 serving portions of Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. The company distributes hundreds of different varieties of sparkling soft drinks and a vast array of still beverages including sports drinks, bottled waters, juices and juice drinks, teas, energy drinks and coffee.

What do you enjoy about doing business in Rapid City?

Our third and fourth generations were all born and raised in Rapid City. We love our hometown, the Black Hills and our home state of South Dakota. We enjoy the culture of not only Rapid City, but also of the entire Black Hills region. Most importantly, we have been blessed to serve and build generational relationships with our local customers, as well as serve and take care of countless tourists throughout the year.

What is next for your business?

To steward the business from the current 3rd generation of leadership into the 4th generation of leadership and beyond. Our vision is that each successive generation will remain grounded in our culture to Honor God in All That We Do through servant leadership. We believe the future is about evolving, making sure we change with times, but also stay rooted in our foundations and our fundamentals while respecting and cherishing our heritage.

PHOTOS SUBMITTED

PRESERVATION FOR FUTURE

FOURTH GENERATION TAKES OVER LEADERSHIP OF PETE LIEN & SONS

FUTURE GENERATIONS

STORY BY MICHELLE PAWELSKI PHOTOS SUBMITTED

Holly Lien’s earliest memories are of coming to work with her dad on the weekends, driving around the empty quarry, and hearing firsthand all the cool things happening at Pete Lien & Sons. The stories continued at the nightly dinner table, where Holly and her sisters, Courtney and Bailey, would intently listen to their father recap his workday.

“I would say I don’t remember not talking about the family business. My dad was so proud of the business and having us involved,” Holly said. “I don’t think it was his intention to develop us into the family business, but he was so proud of what he did that it made us naturally gravitate towards it.”

Not only did Holly and her sisters learn about the family business from their father, Pete, but they were raised as little entrepreneurs by their grandparents. When Holly was eight years old, her grandparents brought the grandkids together to form Greatkids Incorporated, a name created by the kids. “They wanted to help their grandchildren learn about the blessings of free enterprise and the joy of living in the United States.”

It was a business that flourished for years.

The group of young entrepreneurs would meet quarterly to learn about business, specifically Pete Lien & Sons, taking tours, riding equipment, and eventually creating their own business development plan for Greatkids Pumpkin

Patch. “We sold out in the first week we were operational,” Holly said, pointing to a framing of their first dollar made in 2002. “We did everything that goes into developing a business. At the time, we were thinking it was just a fun thing to do with our cousins, but they were teaching us about how cool it was to live in the United States, operate a business, and grow it.”

Holly, along with two of her cousins, have recently taken over leadership of Pete Lien & Sons, the fourth generation of a Black Hills-based company that was started in 1944 by Holly’s great-grandfather Pete Lien.

In the early 1940s, Pete Lien moved his family to the Black Hills from Waubay, South Dakota to work as a contractor. In 1944, he purchased the old Black Hills Marble Quarry, the area west of the company’s current corporate offices. He started his mining business, Pete Lien & Sons, with his two sons, Chuck, Holly’s grandfather, and Bruce, with an initial goal of supplying rock needed for

the construction of the Rapid City Army Air Base, now Ellsworth Air Force Base.

However, the company quickly turned into much more. Pete Lien & Sons, almost in its 80th year, supplies products for materials all over the world, from sports fields and food preservatives to water purification, kitty litter, and beer bottles.

“We started the quarry for construction-grade material and have been known for that locally for many years,” Holly said. The company expanded to the industrial mineral side in 1949 with the purchase of an iron ore facility in Nemo, South Dakota, as well as purchasing a number of sand and gravel locations in the 1950s. In the 1960s, Pete Lien & Sons expanded to the lime business, building a plant at the quarry. Then, in the early 1970s, acquired a plant and quarry in Colorado allowing them to begin pulverizing the limestone. “We take the limestone and cook it into quick lime and make it into a product that is primarily used for pollution control – neutralizing acid to make

water drinkable, putting it in coal-fired power plants, so there is no acid rain that comes from them.”

The calcium oxide is supplied to cities all over the country, including Spokane and San Francisco, for water treatment.

And while many people see Pete Lien & Sons as a mining company, Holly sees it as much more.

Pete Lien & Sons considers mining as a temporary benefit of land optimization, Holly said. The company’s focus, she said, is on concurrent reclamation, ensuring the land is restored to a better state than when they found it.

“That was important to our owners long before the EPA started regulating mines,” Holly said.

The company has received many national recognitions in its nearly 80-year history. In 1961, 15 years before reclaiming was required by law, Pete Lien & Sons received the Letter of Recommendation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for achievement in conservation and reclamation. “This was something in the Black Hills that had never been done before since mining began in 1876 with Custer’s Expedition.”

In 1980, Pete Lien & Sons was awarded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Earth Care Award. To date, Pete Lien & Sons

is the only quarrying company to receive the prestigious designation. The award was presented by Academy-Award winning actor Robert Redford.

In 2004, the company received the Environmental Steward Award from the National Stone Sand & Gravel Association, the first time in history the award went to a company’s president.

Now 40 and the chief marketing officer, Holly said much of her success is from her mentorship provided by her father, grandparents, and other family members. Chuck Lien, who passed away in 2018 at 93, continued to go to work six days a week, passing along his wisdom until the last few days of his life. Her aunts Sam Brannan, chairwoman of the board; Suzy Gabrielson, chief corporate treasurer; Larece Shattuck, treasury manager; and uncles, Joel Brannan, former COO; and Bert Jocks, land rider, always took great pride and effort in ensuring next-generation development was one of their most important job functions.

While she works in sales, Holly understands each department of Pete Lien & Sons. She is in her 17th year working for the company, not counting each summer she worked growing up. “My dad’s generation did a good job exposing people who wanted to be in the business long-term to many different job functions. It is invaluable to know the

“Although I am an owner and shareholder in the company, I feel like I am just a placeholder to hold shares and pass them on to my daughter and hopefully her children one day. Hopefully, Pete Lien & Sons will continue for many more generations.”

Holly Lien

different parts. It builds a more cohesive team to know what each person is going through, which makes you a better leader.”

While the next generation brings with them the knowledge gained from past leaders, they also bring with them new ideas and perspectives.

Holly, her cousins Hayden Fuchs, chief financial officer, and Joe Brannan, area director for the company’s Colorado Ready Mix Division recently, and longtime employee Brian Tideman, Chief Operation Officer, created a new vision statement to fit the company’s future.

The new statement, “Enthusiastically Developing Essential Resources for our Aspiring Communities” encompasses the company’s focus.

Holly credits Pete Lien & Sons’ success and longevity to the principles it was originally founded upon and carried throughout the generations. “I think that oftentimes family businesses fall apart because of not having a unified foundation, morals, and vision for what they want for the future – not having something bigger than yourself. It was indoctrinated to us since we were kids that this family business is here to pass on to future generations. And although we don’t always share the same opinions, we all have that one single goal in mind.”

The fourth generation of family leaders is already planning for the next generation.

“Although I am an owner and shareholder in the company, I feel like I am just a placeholder to hold shares and pass them on to my daughter and hopefully her children one day. Hopefully, Pete Lien & Sons will continue for many more generations.”

Saturday

March 11, 2023

Suppor t Black Hills Works

y put ting your way through Downtown Rapid Cit y! by

Are you looking FOREward to Black Hills Works Foundation’s annual Putt-n-Pub event on March 11, 2023?

Register today at www.blackhillsworks.org/EVENTS

Can’t join us this year? You can still suppor t an inclusive community where people of all abilities can par ticipate! You make inclusion possible with your donation at www.blackhillsworks.org/DONATE

Your hear tfelt suppor t will ensure the people suppor ted by Black Hills Works can play the spor ts they love, par ticipate in community events, and suppor t their overall health and wellness.

Thank YOU!

STEC’S ADVERTISING

3RD GENERATION

We are a Promotional Products Distributor. We offer over 3 million different promotional products to businesses in the Black Hills region. Everything from embroidered and screen printed wearables to laser etched drinkware and imprinted writing instruments. If a company would like to put their logo or message on an item we can do it.

What do you think has contributed to your family's success?

Dedication to our customers, employee`s and community and an unwillingness to compromise on providing top notch customer service.

What is next for your business?

We look to continue to expand our customer base and team so that we can continue to provide support the Black Hills region for another 40 years.

One piece of advice you would share with someone trying to grow their family business.

It's never too early to begin talking about succession planning.

SHIRLEY STEC

THE BUSINESS OF LOVE

STORY BY MICHELLE PAWELSKI

PHOTOS SUBMITTED

THE RIDDLE FAMILY HAS BEEN HELPING PEOPLE CELEBRATE THOSE SPECIAL MOMENTS FOR MORE THAN 60 YEARS.

A jeweler in smalltown Webster, South Dakota saw something promising in a young Jesse Riddle encouraging him to head to Chicago and pursue schooling in jewelry making – a move that would set into motion more than six decades and three generations in the industry.

“Working for that jeweler is what kind of piqued his interest,” said Tamara Riddle-Schumacher, Jesse’s daughter and the president of manufacturing and gemology for Riddle’s Jewelry.

Jesse used his skills from Chicago to pay his way through the University of South Dakota, selling jewelry out of a trailer to his fraternity and opening his first store in 1959 during his senior year of college.

“It’s amazing where we have gone from there,” said Brett Riddle, Jesse’s son, and President/CEO. Riddle’s Jewelry is now in its third generation with nearly 70 stores in nine states with another one in the works along with 1,200 wholesale accounts, a manufacturing business and factory outlet.

“We are a horizontal as well as vertical business. We are not just in the retail business. No other jewelry company in the country that started in retail has done what we’ve done,” he said.

Jesse’s entrepreneurial drive and focus on people prompted the business to expand in the 1960s. Jesse and his wife, Joyce, joined forces with Jesse’s brother Bob and his wife, Carole. But growing the business was not always easy.

“In the early years, my dad and mom and uncle and aunt put their homes up for mortgage to fund the business,” Brett said.

All the money earned went right back into the business.

“When they first opened the store, my mother worked as an English teacher and they lived off her salary which was $3,400 a year,” Tamara said.

But despite the challenges, Jesse was never one to back down.

“You could never tell my dad no or that he couldn’t do something,” Brett said.

The retail sector expanded quickly in the 1970s and ‘80s with the popularity of shopping malls. In 1989, a new facility was built and along with the factory, the company offices out of Aberdeen and Watertown were moved to one location.

“Our main business is still selling wedding rings and diamonds,” Brett said.

And the family loves being a part of all those special occasions. The stories they hear dating

back decades are what make them love what they do even more.

A few years ago, Brett’s son Jesse was working at a Sioux Falls store while attending college. A man came in and told the story of how he bought an engagement ring from a Jesse Riddle in Milbank, South Dakota in 1968. The store had closed, however, Jesse let him in and helped him pick out the perfect ring. The younger Jesse told the man that that was his grandfather.

“It was very emotional,” Brett said.

Aside from the jewelry business, some of the family members have also ventured into the hotel and event venue business, expanding the moments they get to share with customers. They own the K Bar S Lodge with a nephew, Jordan Olson, as the assistant general manager.

Both Tamara and Brett began working in the industry at a young age.

“We lived out in the country in Aberdeen and my mom would pick us up from school and take us

to the store and we would do our homework and just hang out until they were ready to go home,” Tamara said.

The kids soon began working different jobs in the store.

During Christmas they wrapped the gifts or stood behind the showcase taking out the items people wanted to see. Once they got older, they moved into goldsmithing. “It really seems like we have always been a part of it.”

The siblings moved up in the company and are now heading up the second generation, mentoring the third, and discussing the possibility of a fourth generation.

Jesse Riddle used to say he could not have done anything without his employees, customers, and family. The family-run company now has more than 700 employees, many who have been alongside the family for decades.

At one point in the ‘80s and ‘90s, there were 23 family members working at Riddle’s Jewelry – a testament to the family’s cohesiveness. “We have been fortunate that the family members have always supported each other and make the effort to work together,” Tamara said. “We want to make that effort to continue on.”

Tamara and Brett both said their father taught them to treat people well and everything else will fall into place. Both remember their father sneaking life lessons in during car rides when they were growing up. “Some of the things he told us when we were younger – he would say all this stuff and thinking back later he was just teaching us.”

Tamara and Brett are now passing down their father’s wisdom to the next generation hoping that Riddle’s Jewelry’s legacy will continue for many more decades.

Brett said their father believed he never worked a day in his life. He loved what he did and his family and did not see it as work.

How can you not love what you do when you are always celebrating love?

“We are in the love business and get to help people with those special moments in their lives,” Brett said.

There are currently seven family members working with the family-run Riddle’s company.

Brett Riddle, second generation, president/CEO

Tamara Riddle-Schumacher, second generation, president manufacturing/gemology

Tim Riddle, second generation, gemstone purchasing manager

Scott Riddle, second generation, manager of Watertown Riddle’s Jewelry/district manager

Loren Jensen, third generation, director of corporate office

Jesse Riddle, third generation, regional manager

Dominic Schumacher, third generation, Mt. Rushmore/ Landstrom’s outlet manager

“For some people, building a technology company serving customers in more than 60 countries requires being located in Silicon Valley or some other traditional tech hub. B9Creations is located in Rapid City because we put values and quality of life first in building this business.”

Limited time offer not available in all areas and subject to change. Available only to qualified, first-time business customers in existing Bluepeak service areas. Contract required and minimum commitment period may apply Pricing excludes applicable taxes, fees, and surcharges, which are payable by customer Installation and activation fees may apply Stated speeds are “up to” speeds based on a wired connection. W ireless speeds may vary All services are subject to the applicable Bluepeak service ter ms and conditions. Restrictions apply Visit www.mybluepeak.com/business/home or call 866-991-9722 for more infor mation.

“We rely on technology partners like Bluepeak to enable us to stay connected to customers in markets around the world.”

Shon Anderson B9Creations, CEO

LIBERTY SUPERSTORES

4TH GENERATION

Describe what your company does.

We operate a group of new car dealerships, selling Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Fiat, Hyundai, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Volkswagen and Chevrolet brands along with used vehicles, service, parts and a collision center.

What do you think has contributed to your family's success?

In the 1930s, Ernest Patnoe’s slogan was, “We smile when you come, you smile when you leave” and four generations later it has evolved into our current slogan, “Simple, worry-free car buying”. It’s all about taking care of our customers and employees.

What is next for your business?

A few months ago, we opened our new Liberty Auto Body and Collision Center and in the coming weeks we will be opening a centralized used car reconditioning center. Additionally, we are always looking for new growth opportunities around the area.

One piece of advice you would share with someone trying to grow their family business.

Throughout the years we have been fortunate to grow our family business and even merge other family businesses into our Liberty Superstores family. Our existing team and new hires constantly tell us how much they appreciate the cultural aspect of working in a family business where everyone knows each other’s names and work together to achieve common goals. As you grow, you never want to lose sight of the “family” aspect of family business.

PHOTOS SUBMITTED

3RD GENERATION

MOYLE PETROLEUM

Moyle Petroleum is a third-generation company and many members of the family still work within the organization. Gilbert Moyle II, founded the company, and currently his sons Gil and Clark are holding the reins. Cousins Trevor, Gib, and Sydney are all part of operating various aspects of it.

Moyle Petroleum’s primary focus is on the operation of the Common Cents convenience stores in four different states (SD, WY, UT, and NE). The company is also involved in a few other local businesses, mostly in the service industry.

What do you enjoy about doing business in Rapid City?

What makes doing business in Rapid City so great for us is that our family has been living in this community for so long, watching as it grows and develops. Being a part of that development gives us so much joy and excitement for the future. We have such great people in this area, their friendliness and work ethic are completely in line with our company’s values, and it gives us a great deal of confidence in the continued success of our business.

What is next for your business?

With each generation of our family, we have seen radical changes in the way we go to market. We started out selling bulk oil and operating full-service gas stations. We then began to offer more typical, modern convenience store offerings and shifted to more of what you see today. We are now developing a model that will account for the expected decline in fuel sales as well as shifting consumer habits when it comes to buying prepared food. We hope to continue to be a force that can encourage growth in Rapid City and the surrounding areas, be it through charitable donations of time and money or simply providing a source of income for local families. Not only is that growth good for us as a business, but it is good for us as individual members of the local society. Knowing that the growth is coming and what changes it will bring in tow are critical to success as a business operator. We don’t want to follow the Blockbusters of the world into obscurity as our industry continues to change and take on new aspects; we hope to be ahead of the curve when it comes to innovation.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

ELEVATE RAPID CITY

BOX 747 RAPID CITY, SD 57709