More than a job title.

Creative by nature. Strategic by experience. People-first by choice.

I've worn a lot of hats throughout my career. Marketing leader, creative strategist, photographer, event planner, community advocate, and the person who somehow ends up figuring out how to make the big idea actually happen.

But I've never been particularly good at fitting into just one box.

I'm someone who loves a good challenge, believes relationships matter, and isn't afraid to ask, "What if we tried something different?"

I'm direct, curious, and usually taking in more than I'm saying. I believe in showing up for people, celebrating their wins, and creating an environment where everyone feels comfortable bringing something to the table.

I take my work seriously. Myself? A little less so.

Behind the professional

I'm Bethany. A marketing leader, creative thinker, community advocate, and someone who's never been particularly good at sitting on the sidelines.

Professionally, I've built my career around connecting people, ideas, and opportunities. From developing campaigns and leading brand initiatives to building community partnerships and creating experiences that drive measurable results, I believe great marketing starts with understanding people and ends with making something meaningful happen.

I'm strategic by nature, creative at heart, and someone who genuinely enjoys the challenge of turning a big idea into something real. I ask questions, challenge assumptions, and believe that being a strong leader means knowing when to take charge, when to listen, and when to make room for someone else to shine.

But there's more to me than the work.

I've been involved in my community for as long as I can remember. From volunteering as a kid and securing grant funding in high school to serving on nonprofit boards and supporting local organizations today, finding ways to make a difference has always been part of who I am.

Creativity has followed a similar path. I studied graphic design, spent years involved in theater and music, and built a wedding photography business alongside my professional career. Those experiences gave me plenty of opportunities to create, collaborate, organize, and occasionally improvise when things didn't go according to plan.

I'm also someone who appreciates an audiobook at 1.5x speed, Christmas trees on November 1st, a crispy Diet Coke, a little sarcasm, and the occasional unconventional idea. I've been known to create a few of those myself.

At the end of the day, I care about doing great work, treating people well, and leaving things better than I found them. I take my responsibilities seriously, but I've never believed that means taking myself too seriously.

Accolades & viral wins

  • Young Woman of Achievement Nominee - EMBE

  • Rising in Excellence Leadership Nominee - SME

  • 4 Under 40 Award Winner - Young Professionals Network

  • 2-time Women in Business Excellence in Marketing Nominee - SME

  • Selected as one of five for a Chick-fil-A Corporate Marketing Director focus group, out of 3000 nationwide stores.

  • Heart of Bethany Award - Evermore Blooms

  • 2026 Clarky Award, Best Sponsorship Activation - USHL

  • Distinguished Alumni Award for Service to Church and Community - Mount Marty College

  • 2-time Diplomat of the Month - Sioux Falls Chamber

  • 20 On The Rise Nominee - Honeybook, Rising Tide, & Peerspace

A few things that make me, me

There's a lot more to me than marketing strategies, campaign results, and board meetings. Here are a few things you probably won't find on my résumé.

My home has a hockey roster

My husband and I are a billet family for junior hockey players, which means our home regularly includes teenage boys chasing their hockey dreams. It's part host family, part life coach, and occasionally a crash course in teenage boy logic. But beyond the hockey, it's about giving these young men a place where they can feel at home, be themselves, and know someone is in their corner.

I ran a movie rental business out of my dorm room

Before streaming was a thing, I had a massive DVD collection and a pretty solid side hustle. For 50 cents a night, fellow students could rent movies straight from my dorm room. Every DVD had its own label, and the profits helped fund my laundry quarters.

I've always loved movies, and I'm still known to slip a movie quote into everyday conversation. Some people have a reference for everything. Mine just happens to come with a screenplay.

I know how to get the shot

For years, I ran a wedding photography business alongside my professional career. I became known for my signature dip-kiss pose, perfected the photographer's squat, and learned that a wedding day runs a lot smoother when someone has a plan.

I created timelines, coordinated shot lists, and kept the day moving while making sure couples could actually enjoy it. I loved the creative side, but I loved bringing order to the chaos just as much.

My hair has had a few rebrands

Blonde. Red. Blonde again. Back to red. For a while, my headshots had a shorter shelf life than most marketing campaigns. I've stuck with red for quite some time now, but don't be surprised if a blonde version of me makes an appearance somewhere in the archives.

Leadership beyond the job description

I've never believed leadership begins or ends with a title.

Some of the most meaningful opportunities I've had to lead have happened outside of my day-to-day work, through community organizations, volunteer initiatives, and rooms filled with people who care deeply about making things better.

Over the years, I've had the opportunity to serve in leadership and advisory roles with the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce, Washington Pavilion, Experience Sioux Falls, and Sales & Marketing Executives. These experiences have allowed me to contribute to conversations about community growth, business development, the arts, and opportunities for women in leadership.

I value being part of something bigger than myself, but I also believe a seat at the table comes with a responsibility to contribute. I ask questions, offer ideas, challenge perspectives when needed, and look for opportunities to turn conversations into action.

I've been fortunate to receive recognition for my work and community involvement, but what matters most to me is the trust people place in me, the relationships built along the way, and knowing I've contributed something worthwhile.

Because to me, leadership isn't about being the most important person in the room. It's about helping the room accomplish something important.