Business Briefs 08-13-19

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Gatzke named Distinguished Alumnus

BROOKINGS – Brookings businessman and developer Brian Gatzke was named a 2019 Distinguished Alumnus by the SDSU Department of Economics.

Gatzke grew up near Tulare. His post-secondary degrees include an associate’s degree in farm and ranch management from Northeast Junior College in Norfolk, Nebraska, bachelor’s degree in agriculture business and commercial economics from South Dakota State University, and a master’s in business from Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa. 

Gatzke led sales and marketing for niche markets for Daktronics, Inc., for 20 years. He then changed careers to rural property appraisal. He earned the Accredited Rural Appraiser designation from the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers (ASFMRA) and founded Northern Plains Appraisal, LLC. 

Gatzke has served in state, regional and national leadership roles and board positions in the ASFMRA and The Appraisal Institute. In 2018, he was awarded National Rural Property Appraiser of the Year. 

Gatzke says he is committed to developing the next generation of real estate property professionals. He provides rural appraisal education across the nation. Garzke lives in rural Brookings. He and his wife Carla have two children, Diedra (recently deceased) and August.

Standish gets SDSU employee honor

BROOKINGS – Micayla Standish has been named South Dakota State University’s Civil Service Employee of the Month for August. Standish, who serves as a graphic designer at University Marketing and Communications, will be honored at 3:30 p.m. Aug. 19 in the Communications Center.

“As a graphic designer for the university, I love that I get to create marketing materials that hopefully make an impact on our community,” Standish said. “I truly enjoy getting up and going to work knowing that I get to do what I am passionate about alongside some truly great co-workers. My skill set as a designer has improved drastically since starting here almost four years ago and that is mainly because I have a great team that pushes me to do my best.”

Standish has worked at UMC since November 2015 and has a hand in the layout and design of a wide array of projects. Her design for the SDSU football schedule poster won the university division in the 2018-19 CoSIDA Publications and Digital Design Contest. She also received awards for her work in the 2016-17 and 2017-18 contests.

In her spare time, Standish enjoys family time with her husband, Todd, and 1-year-old daughter, Lyla. 

Klinke joins Mills Construction

BROOKINGS – Mills Construction, Inc. has welcomed Isaac Klinke to its team as a project engineer. As a project engineer, Klinke will work under the project managers to help manage paperwork, orchestrate crews, material and equipment for the ongoing, multi-sited operations of the company. Klinke will help to ensure all work is done properly, on time and within the projected cost. 

Klinke is a Bemidji State University graduate, holding a B.S. degree in construction management with a minor in facility management. Along with his formal education, Klinke brings seven years of field experience to the Mills Construction Management team. He joins Mills Construction from KLS Construction, where he gained experience with custom residential construction.

At Mills Construction, Klinke joins more than 50 people employed in varying aspects of the construction trades.