Vermillion, SD – The Prairie Family Business Association (PFBA), a University of South Dakota Beacom School of Business outreach program that serves family businesses in the Midwest, welcomes Stephanie Larscheid as its executive director.

“We are delighted to welcome Stephanie to the Prairie Family Business Association,” said Venky Venkatachalam, Ph.D., dean of the USD Beacom School of Business. “She has tremendous experience in both the non-profit and family business environment, and our members and partners will benefit greatly from her return to the organization.”

“Stephanie has a true passion for family businesses and a proven history of building strong relationships with our members,” Tura Synhorst, vice president of Coca-Cola Bottling Company High Country and chair of the PFBA Advisory Board said. “We are excited for the future with her leadership as Prairie Family Business Association continues to grow and expand throughout the region.”

Larscheid led the Prairie Family Business Association from 2015 until early 2018 when she and her family returned to Iowa. Larscheid has a proven record of membership growth and establishing strong relationships with Prairie Family Business Association’s members. Her extensive experience includes work in development roles for Iowa State University Foundation, University of Iowa Foundation, University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine, Augustana University and Saint Mary’s Parish and School. During her recent time in Iowa, Stephanie was appointed by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds to serve on the Empowering Rural Iowa Task Force. She earned her undergraduate degree from Iowa State University Ivy College of Business and a M.B.A. from the University of South Dakota Beacom School of Business.

“Working with family businesses is a pleasure and a privilege,” said Larscheid. “I’m excited to lead an organization that has an outstanding reputation for serving families, advisors and communities across the Midwest.”

The Prairie Family Business Association, founded in 1993, contributes to the Midwest economy through its mission of enhancing long-term survival and success of its family business members through quality education, programming and networking. The association serves nearly 200 member businesses in South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska.