The Spearfish Chamber of Commerce helps the local community in many unseen ways. From helping new businesses establish themselves and build name exposure to assisting already rooted businesses network and promote themselves, the Chamber looks out for Spearfish’s local economy.
The Leadership Spearfish program is a professional development course offered by the Chamber, to help residents network and make a mark on the community.
Heather Giffrow, the executive director of the Chamber, has her hands in many pots. Giffrow, who has been with the Chamber for 2½ years, is passionate about her work and her community. She took over the Leadership Spearfish program after a move from Columbus, Nebraska, and is working with her third class this year.
“I am the person that orchestrates it all and runs Leadership Spearfish,” Giffrow said. “I had the advantage that in my past life, when I was back in Nebraska, I was a volunteer for the Columbus, Nebraska Chamber, and I did their leadership program as well. So, in Columbus, I probably had six leadership classes that I helped orchestrate. I always had a passion for it because it’s meeting some of the greatest people in the community and watching the relationships develop and grow. Just the excitement of people learning of what’s in their communities that they weren’t aware of.”
The class began in 1987, and included Jim Benning, Ida Marie Snortland, and Jim Elkhorn, who are all active members in the Spearfish community today. The mission of the program from thirty-eight years ago still remains the same: to promote and foster leadership and relationship between Spearfish community members.
In total, the class has graduated more than 550 leaders. This year’s class consists of fourteen people from the Spearfish area. One of this year’s participants, Heather Snyder, who manages the Spearfish and Gillette branches of Highmark Federal Credit Union, got connected through Chamber Board Vice President, Tony Pannone, who also works as CIO of Highmark.
“I want to gain a strong network and connection with all the people who are active in Spearfish,” Snyder said. “I’m really hoping to find more ways to be a part of the community, to get more involved, and put our name out there. We are a part of the Spearfish community, and part of our mission is to support the community.”
Participants range in professional fields and specialties. There are members from financial offices, engineering, health care, education and more. It is truly open to anybody looking to establish themselves as a leader in the community.
“We try to connect future leaders in Spearfish together with other influential people through the community,” Giffrow said about the aim of the program. “We want them to learn something new. This year I partnered with Michelle May and did the Gallup Strength finders, and how that works with being a leader and how to work with teams. We want personal development for each classmate. But really, my goal is just to get them in front of people that are influential in the community and to create a network.”
The class meets once a month, for eight months. Giffrow attempts to theme each day with something new for the classmates to learn. Activities range from meeting with county commissioner Eric Jennings about the agriculture in the area, to touring the Heritage Center or hydro plant, and other tourist sights local to Spearfish.
In the first class Giffrow sends the students out for a scavenger hunt throughout Spearfish, and to do a SWOT – strength, weakness, opportunity, and threat – analysis of the area.
“Day one is an introduction for the students. I send them throughout the community on a scavenger hunt and I make them take selfies. And then I actually have them do a SWOT analysis on the community. That’s finding the strengths, the weaknesses, the opportunities and the threats of Spearfish. It’s interesting to see the different classes in the three different years I’ve done Leadership, to see what the differences have been between the classes.”
Each year, the class has to work together on a project that will help better Spearfish and to leave their mark on the community. One past class put together “Reality 101” classes at the local high school to help prepare students for the world post-graduation. Another worked together to create painted wraps for utility boxes around town. This year’s project will be announced at their graduation in May, at the Chamber mixer held that month.
Members of the class speak highly of their experience with the program. Past graduates mention all the relationships they have built and the network they now have. After finishing the class, alumni have a small group of resources they can reach quickly with questions or issues they may face.
“I’ve had a great time participating in Leadership Spearfish,” Snyder says. “I’ve met so many people and built relationships with people in the community. I’ve been able to explore different businesses and places in Spearfish. It’s cool to see more of the community that I wouldn’t have before.”
Giffrow plans to continue the program after the graduation in May, continually improving and growing things. Her love of Leadership Spearfish radiates when she speaks of things to come.
“I just want it to keep getting better and better,” she says. “Honestly, this year I had so many good ideas that I’m having to cut some things out. Just because there’s so many great things that are happening in Spearfish. I try to make the days filled to the absolute fullest, but not being too overwhelming either. It’s about finding that healthy blend.”