Hindsight 2020: Innovation & Creative Engagements Fuel Talent Gains 

Economic development in 2020 challenged us to think and act differently.  Innovative programming and technology turned lessons and challenges into advantages. Achievements in the business attraction and talent management programming established new records for our team in Sioux Falls, although no one may predict the future entirely.  

WIN in Workforce Summit 2020 draws record audience with timely content and format.

Attracting, retaining and developing talent is still top of mind for business leaders in the Sioux Falls area despite the disruption of 2020 – and they showed it by showing up in record numbers at the WIN in Workforce Summit.

The annual event, put on by the Sioux Falls Development Foundation, drew more than 1,000 attendees thanks to a hybrid format that allowed virtual and in-person attendance.

WIN in Workforce Summit 2020 Agenda for October 27, 2020

The Sioux Falls Advantage

This month’s Talent Talks delves deeper into the “why” behind the tagline The Sioux Falls Advantage and how our community’s ability to navigate and respond to change is supported by a strong foundation.

At the Sioux Falls Development Foundation (SFDF), we recognize our community’s resilient nature is a key advantage, especially during this uncertain time. It equips us to address our economic and workforce challenges. And it is one of our goals to help communicate that position of strength through the lens of attracting and retaining a workforce that meets our community’s needs.

The new decade is here, and with that, experts in all fields, including business and human resources, are making projections and predictions for what’s to come in 2020 and beyond. Accordingly, the first meeting in 2020 of the Recruitment Council, hosted by the Sioux Falls Development Foundation, presented a variety of HR trends for businesses to boost talent attraction and retention efforts in the new decade.

From the use of HR chatbots and other data-driven HR platforms to talent incentives and employer branding, the best practices that shape workforce development are the unifying themes that call together the Recruitment Council on a quarterly basis each year.

Led by Brad Schoenfelder, senior executive director of shared services for Sanford Health, and Denise Guzzetta, vice president of talent and workforce development for the Sioux Falls Development Foundation, nearly 85 members of the Recruitment Council registered for the event on Feb. 27 at the Sanford Research Center.

One concept that’s central to workforce development today? Technological innovation.

In order to position the city of Sioux Falls, and the state of South Dakota, as a regional powerhouse of business excellence, investment in infrastructure that allows our city to grow its technology footprint is vital. And thanks to the great work of many in and outside of Sioux Falls, advances in innovation, including technology infrastructure and research/development facilities, will work in tandem with city, state, and federal organizations and stakeholders to attract a talented, technically skilled future workforce home to South Dakota.