BOARD MEMBERS

Julie Heine’s hometown is Vermillion, SD and she is a proud 1983 VHS alumna. After graduating from high school, for her freshman year, she attended St. Cloud State University and then transferred to South Dakota State University to obtain a B.A. in English Education. Her M.A. is from the University of South Dakota as a Reading Specialist. Julie taught junior high in Alcester-Hudson School District and middle school in the Vermillion School District. Following her classroom experience, she worked for the North Central Association which is an accreditation agency for K-12 schools. She retired from her secretary position at the USD Children’s Center and is now working for the family farm.

Julie was raised in the belief that service is of utmost importance. She has spent her life in numerous volunteer capacities. Previously Julie has been active in Clay County 4-H, Vermillion Food Pantry and St. Agnes Church and School. She is currently on the Vermillion Civic Council board.
Tim, Julie’s husband, farms with his family. They have three grown sons – Luke, Gerrit and Seth, a lovely daughter-in-law, Katie, and three wonderful grandchildren. Julie is pleased to be on the Dakota Hospital Foundation Board and follow in her mother’s footsteps.

Crystal Brady grew up in Adrian, Minnesota and graduated from high school in 1996. She went on to attend the University of South Dakota, earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2000.

Crystal began her law enforcement career in April 2000 with the Vermillion Police Department. Prior to that, she briefly worked as a jailer for the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and as a dispatcher for the Clay Area Communication Center.

She was promoted to detective in January 2004 and later became Lieutenant of Investigations in January 2013. In August 2022, Crystal was selected to serve as Chief of Police.

Crystal has loved living in Vermillion, South Dakota and raising her two daughters in the community—both of whom attended the University of South Dakota. Her oldest daughter recently graduated from nursing school and now works as a nurse at Sanford Hospital in Vermillion.

Deeply committed to Vermillion, Crystal has been actively involved in the community both personally and professionally. As a parent, she supported her daughters through soccer, gymnastics, dance, and show choir. In her professional and civic roles, she has contributed to the Clay County Child Protection Team, Rotary, the Sesdac Executive Board, the Sesdac Foundation Board, and several other local organizations.

Crystal enjoys spending time with her daughters and cherishing moments with her new grandson. Her career reflects a strong commitment to public service, community partnership, and building a safe, supportive environment for the families of Vermillion.

Lana Svien, born and raised in Willmar, Minnesota, started volunteering in hospitals at the age of 14 years old. After receiving her baccalaureate degree in physical therapy in 1974 from the University of Wisconsin, she enjoyed providing physical therapy in rural hospitals and nursing homes in western Minnesota. Subsequently seeking to add to her education, she obtained a master’s degree in anatomy from USD in 1983, at which time she worked for the formerly named Dakota Hospital on an as needed basis. Lana has a soft spot for the hospital in Vermillion where both her children were born in 1982 and 1984. Furthermore, in the early 90’s she was instrumental in the development of the physical therapy graduate program at USD, later assuming the Chairperson which she held for 25 years, and also earning a PhD in Medical Science from University of Nebraska College of Medicine in 2002. Currently she is a Professor Emerita after 30 years at USD.

Give back to our beloved community has been her value. She currently serves on the United Church of Christ Cabinet.

Lana loves to spend time with her family, which includes 4 beautiful grandchildren, as well as relaxing at her Minnesota lake cabin. She has a passion for providing physical therapy mission work in less resourced countries, such as Haiti, Guatemala, Palestine and Vietnam.

When asked if she would join the DHF board, she said “Yes!” as her roots are in rural health care, both personally and professionally.

Joni Freidel is originally from Minnesota, where she graduated from St. James High School and then obtained a baccalaureate degree from Southwest Minnesota State University. It was there she met her husband, Mike, and started a life-long career in higher education. Stops along the way included Augustana University (master’s work), Mount Marty College, and since 2005, the University of South Dakota where she serves as Director of Scholarship Administration, a liaison position working with the USD Foundation.
Pay it forward has been the motivation for Joni and her involvement in the Vermillion community. “When asked to serve on the Dakota Hospital Foundation Board, it was an easy decision to say yes! My family and I have been so fortunate to have had the care, expertise and friendship of the Sanford family.”
Joni has five children, Kelsey, Jackson, Jerrod, Kylen and Hailey and all of them have attended USD. When she’s not spending time with her family or at USD events, she is an avid traveler. Currently, Joni also serves on the boards of the Clay County Historical Society and the Vermillion Area Dance Organization.

Damon Alvey grew up in northwest Iowa and is a graduate of the University of South Dakota. He began his teaching and coaching career at Brandon Valley School District. While teaching there Damon attained a Master’s degree from South Dakota State University and moved into administration with the Scotland School District for eighteen years.

During his tenure as Superintendent and Elementary Principal, he received his Education Specialist degree from the University of Sioux Falls and a Doctorate degree from the University of South Dakota. Damon has been with the Vermillion School District since 2017. Damon is married to his wife Linda and they have two grown daughters, Ashley and Amber.

Farron Pratt is the President of First Dakota National Bank in Vermillion. Farron has worked for First Dakota for over 20 years. A native of De Smet, SD, he grew up on a family farm located just northeast of De Smet. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and Management from Northern State University in 1990.

Farron has been employed in banking for over 30 years after having gone into banking right after graduating from college. Ag and commercial lending and financial analysis have been a primary part of his duties since he started in the profession. Farron has been active in many community and professional organizations throughout his banking career in the communities he has served.

Farron has been active within the Vermillion community, having volunteered in the following capacities:
• Past President and Board Member of the Vermillion Area Chamber & Development Company
• Vermillion Capital Campaign Committee Member & Co-Chair
• Vermillion NOW Leadership Advisory Circle
• Dakota Business Finance Board Member
• Southeast Council of Governments Board Member
• Vermillion Jr. Achievement Board Member

Farron is an avid outdoorsman enjoying all types of hunting in the fall. Annual trips in September to the western states to archery elk hunt is one of his favorite pastimes. Farron, and his wife Shellie, have lived in Vermillion since 2003 and have two children, Rylan and Kennedy, both of which are graduates of the University of South Dakota.

Veronica Schmidt, a native of South Dakota, has served as the Senior Director of Sanford Vermillion Medical Center since September 2021 overseeing operations for hospital, long term care, and clinic services. Veronica previously served Sanford Vermillion in director roles from 1995-2011. Prior to returning to Vermillion, Veronica served as CEO of Critical Access Hospitals in Western South Dakota and Central Nebraska.
Veronica holds a Bachelors degree in Social Work and Masters degree in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of South Dakota and a Masters degree in Social Work (MSW) from the University of Nebraska-Omaha.
Veronica and her husband, Troy met at USD and have three children, Emme, Maya, & Roman, all of whom were born at Sanford Vermillion Medical Center.
Veronica enjoys reading, fitness, photography, anything with family, and cheering on the Coyotes.

Michael Smith grew up in Belgrade, Montana and moved to Vermillion in 2009 to attend USD. In 2013, he graduated from USD with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice.
During his undergraduate studies, Michael worked as a part time Clay County Jailer and in December 2012 he was promoted to Clay County Deputy Sheriff. Michael continued to work in that capacity until August 2018, at which time he left full-time law enforcement service to attend the USD Knudson School of Law. During his law school tenure, Michael served as a volunteer Clay County Reserve Deputy Sheriff.
After graduation from the USD Knudson School of Law in 2021, Michael and his family moved to Rapid City, where he worked in private law for a short time before returning to public service as a Deputy State’s Attorney for the Pennington County State’s Attorney’s Office. During his time in Pennington County, Michael obtained an abundance of courtroom and trial experience.
On June 1st, 2023, Michael returned to Vermillion as the appointed Clay County State’s Attorney. In 2024 he ran unopposed and now serves as the elected Clay County State’s Attorney.
In 2023, Michael was appointed by the South Dakota Attorney General to the Open Meetings Commission, a commission he continues to serve on.
Michael, and his wife Christen have four children: Nevaeh, Caleb, Elysa, and Clayton. In his free time Michael enjoys spending time with his family, coaching and spectating his children’s sporting events, playing golf, and running.

Tom Overby grew up in Southeastern South Dakota, graduating from Viborg High School. He is also a graduate of Augustana University in Sioux Falls with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration.

Tom is currently a Financial Advisor with Edward Jones in Vermillion. Prior to Edward Jones he worked in variety of roles in the Biopharmaceutical industry for 28 years, primarily with Amgen Inc and Johnson & Johnson.

Tom has been married to Kaye, a native of Irene, South Dakota, for 29 years. They have two children: Kiana and John.

Tom enjoys attending sporting events in his leisure time, particularly with family and friends. He has previously served on boards for youth sports and served many years as a youth coach for football, basketball, and baseball.

Katherine Price is from Albuquerque, NM, and came to Vermillion in 2012. She holds a bachelor of music degree from the University of New Mexico, and a master of music degree from the University of Oregon, both in vocal performance. Katherine has sung at contemporary music festivals in New Mexico, California, Oregon, and North and South Dakota, and is continuing to perform periodically here in Vermillion. Recently you could have seen her at the 2022 South Dakota Shakespeare Festival’s opening noon concert at the National Music Museum.

Since settling in South Dakota, Katherine quickly became rooted in the community. She is in her third term on the City Council as Alderman of the Central Ward, has participated in the Vermillion Community Theater, and served as president of Friends of the USD Opera, a philanthropic group dedicated to supporting the Opera program and its students at USD. She loves all the varied activities available in Vermillion, and the town’s safe, family-friendly vibe. She is a strong supporter of music and the arts in Vermillion and always eager to be part of what’s happening next.

Katherine works as the Assistant Dean of Administration in the College of Arts & Sciences at USD. In her spare time she likes singing and performing, doing yoga, cooking and entertaining, and spending time her husband Paul (Professor in the USD Music Department), and son Ethan. She is happy to be part of the Dakota Hospital Foundation and all the good work they do in the area.

Lisa Ketcham is originally from Parker, SD. She moved to Vermillion in 1987 to attend college and has lived here ever since. She earned a B.S. in Business Administration from USD. Outside DHF, she has served on many community boards over the years to help promote and build the Vermillion community.

“I’m on the Community Engagement Committee so am involved in events such as: The Best Medicine: LAUGH, An Evening for Women, annual leadership dinner, etc. Our committee promotes membership for DHF; helps create awareness in the community about DHF and health services offered by Sanford Vermillion, Community Health Service Award selection, etc.

“I previously served on the board for 12 years and after sitting out a year, have returned for additional terms. There are many highlights from my time on the board, but probably the biggest ones are being involved with the construction of the new state-of-the-art facility, being able to offer Assisted Living options for our community, working with a great team of board members and staff, and making a difference to enhance the quality of life for our community through the services and programs that we offer.” Ketcham said.