Office of Gov. Dennis Daugaard

500 E. Capitol Ave.

Pierre, S.D. 57501

(605) 773-3212

www.sd.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  Thursday, November 6, 2014

CONTACT:  Tony Venhuizen or Kelsey Pritchard at 605-773-3212

Gov. Daugaard Announces Changes To Senior Leadership Team

PIERRE, S.D. – Gov. Dennis Daugaard today announced changes to his senior leadership team:

Tony Venhuizen will serve as chief of staff. Venhuizen has served for the last four years as director of policy and communications and as a member of the Governor’s Executive Committee. Venhuizen will continue to oversee communications, and will oversee the operations of several government departments and functions.

Nathan Sanderson will serve as director of policy and operations and will become a member of the Governor’s Executive Committee. Sanderson has served for the last four years as a policy advisor in the Governor’s Office, focusing on agriculture and natural resources issues. Prior to that, he was director of the Office of Agricultural Policy in the South Dakota Department of Agriculture. In his new role, Sanderson will oversee the operations of many government departments, as well as the operations of the Governor’s Office.

Jim Seward will join the Governor’s Executive Committee, and continue in his role as general counsel to the Governor. In that role, Seward has led the creation and implementation of the successful criminal justice reform initiative. He also serves as the Governor’s top legal advisor and oversees the Department of Corrections and the pardon and parole processes.

The Governor’s Executive Committee is a team-based management structure of officials who answer directly to Gov. Daugaard.  Seward and Sanderson will join Lt. Gov. Matt Michels, Senior Advisor Kim Malsam-Rysdon, Chief Financial Officer Jason Dilges, Economic Development Commissioner Pat Costello and Venhuizen as members of the executive committee.

These changes will be effective following the Nov. 7 departure of Chief of Staff Dusty Johnson.   

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