Ashley is a passionate community advocate who believes in the power of people, possibility, and connection. As the first Economic Development Director for her community, she has developed a deep passion for championing rural South Dakota and helping small towns turn ideas into meaningful progress. Her strengths lie in seeing potential, building relationships with a variety of personalities, and helping possibilities become reality. Ashley values the unique qualities that make South Dakota special and believes strong communities are built through conversations that connect—even the difficult ones. She is proud to call Murdo home, where she lives with her husband and their four children, ages 7 to 14. When she is not focused on community development, Ashley can usually be found cheering from the sidelines and chasing kids across the sports field. Her personal motto is to find the joy in every experience.