Rita Anderson

Rita Anderson spent her career as an economic development practitioner, with over three decades of experience in the field. Her career started in Yuma, Colorado in 1991 and wrapped up with her retirement as the Executive Director of the De Smet Development Corporation in 2023. During her career, Rita oversaw projects such as the recruitment of manufacturing and retail businesses to the community, housing development, development of community facilities in several different communities, to name a few. She is an active advocate for community & economic development and rural communities with her involvement in statewide organizations to promote economic development efforts, including workforce, housing, childcare, trails, tourism, community projects and wellness efforts with South Dakota Legislature and strong working relationship with State of South Dakota Departments. She continues to serve on the De Smet Development Corporation board.

By |2025-01-02T17:01:58+00:00January 1, 2025|Board|0 Comments

Patri Acevedo Fuentes

Patri brings over 20 years of design expertise, cultural sensitivity, and a wild and wonderful wit to her work. Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Patri resided in New York, Florida and Texas before making the Black Hills her home. As an architect and community member, Patri finds joy in creating solutions that catalyze smart growth and renewal with a special love for rural and remote communities. An engaged and passionate civic leader, Patri is a 2021 Bush Foundation Fellow. During the fellowship, she expanded her knowledge of public policy and social justice and her capacity for intercultural development, with the goal of creating a more equitable approach to architecture through policy, planning, practice, and participation. She understands that architecture is powerful and permanent and seeks to make the design and construction of places and spaces more just.

By |2025-01-02T17:01:37+00:00January 1, 2025|Board|0 Comments

Brian Depew

Brian Depew is Executive Director of the Center for Rural Affairs based on Lyons, Nebraska. He provides strategic leadership for the Center’s community development, financing and policy change efforts. Brian also serves on the governing body of the National sustainable Agriculture Coalition. He was a 2018 BALLE Network Local Economies Fellow. When not at work, Brian can be found chopping wood, working in the garden and tending a small flock of sheep.

By |2025-01-02T17:10:24+00:00January 1, 2025|Advisory Council|0 Comments
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