ELEVATE • FEBRUARY 2022
DOG-FRIENDLY IS THE NEW BLACK
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What do Amazon, Google, Ben & Jerry’s, Glassdoor, and Salesforce all have in common? Sure, they’re fast-growing companies. And certainly, they’re publicly traded. But what if I told you all these companies also allow their employees to bring their dogs to work every day of the year? It turns out that being dog-friendly is the new black. And there’s good reason. Dog-friendly communities and companies are more inviting. And dogs are good for our mental and physical health. It’s thought that dogs and humans sort of co-evolved over hundreds of thousands of years. What started with a wolf looking for a scrap of food near a campfire has evolved today to a dog on YouTube eating truffle (head to the Elevate website if you’d like the link). Not exactly what our ancestors had in mind, but it just goes to show you that our relationship with man’s best friend (or furbaby or pupper or doggo) continues to evolve for the benefit of both parties. And that’s good for everyone. Welcome to this doggy-themed issue of Elevate, where we explore the stories that make the Black Hills area a cool place for our four-legged buddies. While you’re sure to meet some good boys (and girls) in this issue, you’ll also see some of the ways dogs are part of the fabric of the lives of their human companions. You’ll learn about how one business, Bar K-9, combined the two hippest trends in urbanism, beer pubs and dog parks, into one business. You’ll also read the story of Resting Pawz, who gives dog owners in the area a way to remember the connection they’ve had to their former pets. And then there’s the story of the adventure pup Marley, who keeps her human companion (and professional photographer) always on the go. In the end, we could have filled five magazines with these kinds of stories, but we only had so much room. Hopefully, this issue inspires you and your own good buddy to get out of the house and enjoy the Black Hills, with a beer, on a trail, or maybe with an easy drive with the windows down. Stay safe and Dog-speed,
Tom Johnson, President & CEO
Elevate is a monthly publication produced by Elevate Rapid City. It is the premier business magazine for the Black Hills region telling the stories that make our area unique and vibrant. PO Box 747, Rapid City, SD 57709 605.343.1744 elevaterapidcity.com PRESIDENT & CEO Tom Johnson FINANCE & OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Dana Borowski ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Matt Brunner MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR Shiloh Francis PUBLIC POLICY DIRECTOR Anna Hays SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & INVESTOR RELATIONS DIRECTOR Brandis Knudsen WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT & TALENT ATTRACTION DIRECTOR Samantha McGrath ECOSYSTEM DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Mitch Nachtigall EVENTS & TRAINING MANAGER Rachel Day CREATIVE SERVICES MANAGER Andy Greenman BUSINESS RETENTION & EXPANSION MANAGER Larissa Hespen ECOSYSTEM SUPPORT & PROPERTY MANAGER Loni Reichert PUBLIC POLICY MANAGER Garth Wadsworth OFFICE MANAGER & HR COORDINATOR Liz Highland HOUSING COORDINATOR Laura Jones EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Becky Knox
DESIGN AND LAYOUT Andy Greenman PUBLISHED BY THE RAPID CITY JOURNAL Bill Masterson, Publisher, bill.masterson@bhmginc.com ADVERTISING Eddie Hebron, 605.394.8356 ehebron@amplifieddigitalagency.com PRINTED BY SIMPSONS PRINTING
