February 2026 Elevate Rapid City Magazine

HUSCHKA // PG 14

WHERE PURPOSE SHINES

MULLENBERG // PG 22

MORE THAN A CAFFEINE FIX

DIXON // PG 6 BANKING ON PEOPLE

HICKS // PG 28 at the center of it all

HEARTBEAT

By Michelle Pawelski

By Kory Lanphear

By Kate Meadows

By Kory Lanphear

GLENN’S GUIDE TO THE FEBRUARY ISSUE OF ELEVATE

Every great organization has a heartbeat, and around Rapid City, it’s powered by the people who pour themselves into building community and culture from the inside out.

From small businesses detailing cars and fueling our caffeine needs to those working for civic monuments and financial institutions, these are the people shaping the heartbeat of our community.

They didn’t all start out knowing this would be their calling, but somewhere between the “I’ll give it a try” and the “I can make this better,” they built work-

ELEVATE

places where folks feel seen, valued, and genuinely glad to show up.

Whether they’re mentoring participants, cheering on staff, remembering what car you drove 12 years ago, or solving the daily puzzles of HR with military-level calm, each one proves the same truth: community thrives when people lead with heart. And in Rapid City, we’re lucky, because leaders like these don’t just elevate their workplaces.

They elevate all of us.

COMMUNITY & WORKPLACE CULTURE: THE HEART OF THE ORGANIZATION

WE LOVE OUR WRITERS

MICHELLE PAWELSKI

WHAT DO YOU LOVE TO DO IN THE BLACK HILLS?

I love experiencing the Black Hills on foot, whether I’m running or hiking. There’s something special about slowing down, taking in the scenery, and discovering just how many beautiful, unexpected views there are. I also tend to get lost, which makes the adventures even more exciting. I VIEWS! THE

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

DO YOU HAVE A RAPID CITY RESTAURANT HACK?

Absolutely: loyalty programs and punch cards. I’m all about earning free appetizers, desserts, and coffee. I also love planning meals around events like Restaurant Week. It’s a great excuse to try something new.

WHAT’S YOUR GO-TO COFFEE ORDER?

A café miel is my standby, but I’m always open to experimenting. I recently tried a rosemary latte from The Sour – yum.

DO YOU HAVE ANY PETS?

Yes—two rescue dogs, Misa and Butch, who love exploring the Black Hills as much as I do. We recently said goodbye to our 15-year-old chocolate lab, Tucker. For now, I’m officially banned from getting a third dog.

FUN FACT!

Michelle’s first issue writing for Elevate Magazine was the May 2021 edition, where she interviewed Kayleigh and a slew of other beverage proprietors for the inaugural Brews & Beans spotlight.

WRITER SPOTLIGHT

SENIOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT & PARTNERSHIPS DIRECTOR

Taylor Davis

SENIOR MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS DIRE CTOR

Shiloh Francis

SENIOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

Lori Frederick

SENIOR PUBLIC POLICY DIRECTOR

Garth Wadsworth

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

Liz Highland

CREATIVE SERVICES DIRECTOR

Bailey Sadowsky

ECOSYSTEM SUPPORT & PROPERTY MANAGER

Loni Reichert

HOUSING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Laura Jones

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Kallie Ruland

BUSINESS PROSPECT MANAGER

Drew Staufer

EVENTS & MARKETING MANAGER

Kamryn Wainwright

INVESTOR SALES MANAGER

Adam Braun

EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Ashley Simonson

RAPID CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

February 1

RUNNINGS JACKPOT TEAM ROPING

Central States Fair & Rodeo centralstatesfairinc.com

February 1–8

BLACK HILLS STOCK SHOW & RODEO

The Monument centralstatesfairinc.com

February 3

BIG SKILLET

Central States Fair & Rodeo centralstatesfairinc.com

RANCH RODEO

Central States Fair & Rodeo centralstatesfairinc.com

February 4

BRONCS FOR BREAKFAST

Central States Fair & Rodeo centralstatesfairinc.com

NOT ROCKET SCIENCE TRIVIA

Woodland Republic Brewing & Blending visitrapidcity.com

February 5

BRANDON JONES

Central States Fair & Rodeo centralstatesfairinc.com

February 5–7

RODEO RAPID CITY PRCA RODEO

The Monument themonument.live

February 6

TANNER USREY WITH KENNY FEIDLER

Central States Fair & Rodeo centralstatesfairinc.com

February 11

RUSH TEAM SKATE

Main Street Square visitrapidcity.com

February 12

CHEF’S TABLE: IMMERSIVE DINNER SERIES

The Box Event Center thebox.live

February 14

BREWER’S BALL 2026

Cohort Craft Brewery cohortbrewery.com

CANDLELIGHT: COLDPLAY & IMAGINE DRAGONS

Performing Arts Center of Rapid City feverup.com

THREE DOG NIGHT

The Monument themonument.live

WO MOTORSPORTS INDOOR ARENACROSS SERIES

Central States Fair & Rodeo centralstatesfairinc.com

February 19–21

RAPID CITY RUSH VS. WORCESTER RAILERS

The Monument themonument.live

FEBRUARY

February 21

ALL-ABILITY SKATE DAY Main Street Square visitrapidcity.com

February 26

FOOL HOUSE –THE ULTIMATE 90’S PARTY: THE MILLENNIUM TOUR

The Box Event Center thebox.live

MANIA: THE ABBA TRIBUTE

The Monument themonument.live

February 27

OMAR GOODING COMEDY TOUR

The 707 Night Life thepark707.com

THE BLACK JACKET SYMPHONY: PINK FLOYD – THE WALL

The Monument themonument.live

February 28

BLACK HILLS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PRESENTS: BRIGHT HORIZONS

Performing Arts Center of Rapid City performingartsrc.org

Events are curated with the most accurate information available at the time of print. Please check the event website for full details or changes.

EVENTS 2026

EXECUTIVE

Mark Houston

PUBLIC

Leslie Cline

IT/ENGINEERING

Chris Jaques PRODUCER

DAKO

PROMOTIONS

Mitchell Stafford

Chris Hornick DATA

Josh Partridge

Toni Kinney

M ark Houston

Leslie Cline

Amy Rose

Mitchell Stafford

Oakley Tye

Brandon Jones

Gary Matthews

Francie Ganje

SERVING SMILES ALONGSIDE EVERY CUP

Kayleigh Dixon’s People-First Approach Creates Positive Culture at Dixon Coffee

STORY BY MICHELLE PAWELSKI // PHOTOS BY BAILEY SADOWSKY

For Kayleigh Dixon, there is no secret formula or playbook behind the warm, welcoming atmosphere at Dixon Coffee Company.

It simply unfolds organically. That ease likely comes from her lifelong love of serving others, a passion that began well before coffee entered the picture.

At just 9 years old, Kayleigh was already taking her parents' dinner order, proving it’s never too early to start service with a smile.

Today, that same instinct for hospitality shapes the culture at her cozy coffee shop tucked into Mead Lumber’s parking lot off Omaha Street, and it’s a feeling that trickles down to her employees and customers alike.

“I actually aspired to do something different and didn't grasp that this would be my calling until later,” Kayleigh said.

While working as a barista during college, she quickly built a loyal following with customers drawn not only to her keen coffee skills but also to the genuine positivity and friendliness she brought to every interaction.

Her nearly a decade at Black Hills Blend helped shape the vision for her own business, Dixon Coffee Company, which she opened with her husband, Christopher, on Sept. 10, 2014. Together they are raising three children: Liam, Remi, and Everleigh.

“Black Hills Blend was a small business, and I loved that,” she said. “I got to know the owner and his kids really well.”

Kayleigh wanted to carry that same family dynamic into Dixon while also providing healthy, homemade, organic options. “It was near and dear to my heart to have an opportunity to create a drink or produce that was fair trade and organic,” she said. “That was really a big focus for us.”

In the 11 years since opening Dixon, Kayleigh and her team have achieved both.

“I can’t pinpoint how we have created such an awesome culture at Dixon, but it has become that way,” she said. “I feel like everyone who works here becomes friends. I hire these people, and eventually they all hang out together and become really close.

“

AS A LEADER, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR ME TO GUIDE AND INSTRUCT THEM IN A WAY THAT PRESENTS QUALITY AND CONSISTENCY IN OUR PRODUCT AND A FOCUS ON CULTIVATING RELATIONSHIPS. THAT IS AT THE HEART OF IT.”

- KAYLEIGH DIXON -

Over the last 11 years, that has happened over and over again.”

That positive workplace culture translates into the service provided, which is paramount to Kayleigh. She leads her team by modeling her community-focused service based on an outstanding product.

“I think as a mom, your kids are not going to do as you say, but do as you do,” she said. “That is a big part of it –watching me in action."

Despite running the day-to-day operations, Kayleigh still finds time to return to her roots, slinging caffeinated beverages and chatting up customers. Many are still customers from her days at Black Hills Blend. Some are children of her former coffee patrons. And Kayleigh knows more than just their drink preference. She remembers the car they drove more than a decade ago, the highlights of their vacation, the milestones in their lives – anything she can learn from the five minutes while they are waiting for their order.

“It’s those brief little moments that I cherish. You get to know so much about someone in those few minutes,” she said.

It is those qualities she instills in her employees as well. The small coffee hub is often lined up on both sides with eager drivers. Dixon baristas, however, remain calm and always have a smile and time to ask about someone’s day.

“As a leader, it is important for me to guide and instruct them in a way that presents quality and consistency in our product and a focus on cultivating relationships. That is at the heart of it,” she said. “If I mimic that when I am here, then they will feel that too.”

Kayleigh also encourages her employees to help shape the business, inviting their input on policies, procedures and new drinks so they feel genuinely invested in the business. She empowers them to create the monthly features and share ideas on how flow could work better within the shop. “That helps them feel more connected to the shop and business,

and I think that is a big part of leadership too.”

Kayleigh is also focused on giving back to the community that has supported her throughout the years. Aside from providing coffee and donations to various organizations, each year she and her team choose a charity to support during the holiday season. “This year, we did a food drive for Feeding South Dakota, and we also donated half of the gift cards purchased to the Stevens High School band students.”

At the heart of Dixon are the people, both community and employees, and

the relationships built and nurtured with each interaction. The business is special because it allows Kayleigh and her team to connect with so many others in a positive way, creating moments that matter for them and the community.

“Our reach may be small, but we sure love being a part of our community –in any form.” *

TEAM CUL TURE,

CON NECTED AND

Brittney Huschka Helps Make The Monument a Noteworthy Workplace

STORY BY KORY LANPHEAR

PHOTOS BY BAILEY SADOWSKY & SUBMITTED

I REALIZED THAT YOU WORK EVERY DAY, ALL DAY, YOUR WHOLE LIFE. I KNEW THAT I WANTED TO HELP PEOPLE ENJOY THEIR WORKPLACE AND WANT TO BRAG ABOUT WHERE THEY WORK.”

- BRITTNEY HUSCHKA

The Black Hills Stock Show, Lakota Nation Invitational, Black Hills Powwow: each event is a staple of Rapid City Culture. And they all take place at The Monument.

Growing up in Glendive, Montana, Brittney Huschka’s first experience with the notion of a community was fairly typical. “I was in athletics a lot when I was growing up; basketball, tennis, cross country, and volleyball,” she said. “Working together, being flexible, cooperating with people who maybe you don't get along with but you share the same end goal — those are great lessons that I learned in a formative time that actually translate really well to what I do in the workplace.”

As the Team and Culture Coordinator at The Monument, Brittney, took inspiration from her parents. Her father was a truck driver and her mother worked as the lead cook at her high school. Naturally hard workers, Brittney’s parents inspired her to pursue a career in human resources. “I realized that you work every day, all day, your whole life. I knew that I wanted to help people enjoy their workplace and want to brag about where they work,” she said.

Feeling that her options were limited in Glendive, Brittney

chose a college in a place she’d visited only one time, Black Hills State University in Spearfish. After she got her degree and began working in higher education admissions, she realized that human resources, as she experienced it, was more about paper than people. So five years ago, when the role at The Monument came to her attention, she thought it would better match her initial vision.

Brittney is the first person to hold her job title at The Monument. The job is niche, though in a good way. She is a liaison between the City of Rapid City, which owns The Monument, and the civic center’s workforce.

“We have such a unique workforce of 60 full-time employees that are city employees, and then, depending on the time of year, we have anywhere from 400 to 600 or 700 part-time, seasonal employees,” said Brittney.

“I bridge the gap between our managers and Human Resources and between our managers and our part time employees. We do everything in-house here, from concessions to the work on the walls. My intention is to create a better culture and a better workplace that people want to go to, and make The Monument a noteworthy place to work.”

Brittney has partnered with managers to provide flexible, personalized scheduling for staff. If there are multiple events going on at once and the staff is in need of help, Brittney and the management team do not hesitate to step in and assist.

Employees are encouraged to try new jobs within the organization. If there is a good fit, they are often accommodated so they can transfer to new roles. As a result, the willingness of people to step in where they normally wouldn't feel

comfortable is an underlying tone within the Monument’s culture.

“A lot of employees come back every year. Some employees have been here for over 25 years. Actually, there are three people, a couple, and now their daughter, who work in our Food and Beverage Department, and they have been here since the mid-1980s.”

About a half a million people come to events at The Monument each year, so the satisfaction of part-time

staff is crucial. Brittney strives to stay on a first-name basis with as many employees as she can, while getting to know them and things about their life so they feel like a respected individual.

“It’s that human connection. How you hire an employee, how you interview them, how fast you respond to them, how organized you are — all those things matter a lot,” Brittney said. “How we treat people during the hiring process reflects what their longevity will be with

the company. Our managers do a good job of ensuring that employees have a good experience, that they are appreciated and that they want to come to work. We have employees from different backgrounds and we have all kinds of different events, from galas and fundraisers to community events to free events. That diverse culture is a really important part of The Monument, Rapid City, and the Black Hills.” *

UNIQUE I MPACT

At Unique Auto Grooming, Danielle Muellenberg Goes Far Beyond the Details

In high school, Danielle Muellenberg wanted to be a court reporter. But after she did some schooling for it, she didn’t think it was her calling.

She found a job at Black Hills Works as manager of Unique Auto Grooming and has spent the last 14 years supporting her employees’ independence, confidence, and quality of life all while watching them succeed at meaningful work.

Black Hills Works is an organization that helps people with disabilities find employment, housing, and community support to ensure that they can live their lives to the fullest. The organization owns Unique Auto Grooming, where Danielle serves as the manager of a team that cleans and details cars for corporations and individuals alike.

Currently, Danielle oversees seven Black Hills Works participants, along with several leads, who work alongside participants in small teams. “We clean and detail for Billion Auto and Rapid City Police Department. McKie Ford is probably our biggest customer,” Danielle said.

Danielle grew up in Rapid. She’s a Central High School graduate and she has five kids, ranging in ages from 17 to 29.

As an active member of Fraternal Order of Eagles, Danielle volunteers annually to do Christmas shopping for children and nursing homes.

“When I took over at Unique Auto, I didn't know anything about detailing cars... It's a hard job. You have to get in there and be able to move and shimmy and get in all those tight spots," she said with a laugh. While she values timely work, she maintains a flexible schedule for her team, giving leads the choice of working either 7–3 or 8–4.

Danielle started with Black Hills Works as a Direct Support Professional, working parttime overnights. Over time she worked her way up to where she is now, first as manager of Woodworks, also owned by Black Hills Works, then she added managing Unique Auto Grooming to her responsibilities. “They're a good company, I've had some really good bosses and I like working with the participants, especially,” she said.

The impact Danielle has had on the culture at Unique Auto Grooming, she said, amounts to small things. She’s put a lot of effort into getting more steady customers, sheerly by putting in the legwork and gaining reputation by word of mouth.

One of her proudest moments happened recently, when a participant’s mother called and told Danielle that her son has opened up quite a bit since he started working at Unique Auto, something Danielle was surprised, but gladdened, to hear. “I'm like, good, because he's still pretty quiet here. But I do like to joke around with him to get talking, smiling.”

The true spotlight of her work is cultivating relationships with the participants, watching them learn new things that they can take to the community. “It’s watching them succeed,” she said, “just working alongside them and giving them positive reinforcement, making sure they

know how to do a task and can follow directions, and do a good job. And then they feel good about themselves.”

As for the leads, some of them are experienced detailers and they often train her on techniques. Danielle is open-minded and she appreciates the things that they often teach her. For example, a lead suggested incorporating air compressors into the workflow. Danielle agreed and it had a major impact on the business’s productivity as a whole.

Her work is about more than creating a sense of fulfillment for participants and leads. While she hopes they feel supported, she’s also quick to acknowledge that the impact goes both ways, they often draw her out of her shell and give just as much back to her. “I did the Polar Plunge with them once, there were like five of us — staff and participants. We dressed up as Where's Waldo and then we all jumped in the water, I thought it was pretty cool, no pun intended,” said Danielle.

For her efforts at Unique Auto Grooming and Woodworks, Danielle was presented with the Excellence in Service award in 2018 and was inducted into the Black Hills Works Hall of Fame in 2022.

Looks like she found her true calling, after all. *

“IT’S

WATCHING THEM SUCCEED. JUST WORKING ALONGSIDE THEM AND GIVING THEM POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT, MAKING SURE THEY KNOW HOW TO DO A TASK AND CAN FOLLOW DIRECTIONS, AND DO A GOOD JOB. AND THEN THEY FEEL GOOD ABOUT THEMSELVES.”

- DANIELLE MULLENBERG -

WHERE COME FIRST

PEOPLE PEOPLE

When August Hicks talks about her work, there’s a lightness in her voice that makes one thing clear: she’s exactly where she’s meant to be.

A Rapid City resident for nearly six years, Hicks has spent the past four years working at Black Hills Federal Credit Union, where she brings both heart and precision to her role in human resources. It’s a far cry from her early career in emergency management with the U.S. Air Force, but in many ways, she says, the work isn’t all that different.

“You’re helping people through questions and meeting people where they are,” she said.

Originally from Ada, Oklahoma — “southeast Oklahoma, Tiger King country,” she jokes. Hicks served 10 years on active duty in the Air Force as an emergency manager. She met her husband while they were both deployed in Kuwait. Military life eventually brought them to Rapid City when he was stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base in 2019.

By then, Hicks had just separated from active duty herself and was doing active guard work while finding her footing in the civilian world.

A role as an HR manager at a school district opened the door to a new path—one that felt like a natural fit. “I like helping people,” she said.

“People are like puzzles, but they’re really complex.”

That calling led her to human resources work with the VA, where she handled employee and labor relations and commuted daily to Sturgis. The commute was hard on her, she said. It was a conversation with a friend that eventually brought her to Black Hills Federal Credit Union.

“She told me, ‘They’re just really nice,’” Hicks said. “And she was right.”

For Hicks, “nice” wasn’t just about friendliness; it was about values. Hicks describes herself as mission-driven and was searching for a workplace that aligned with how she wanted to show up in the world.

"Integrity matters at Black Hills Federal Credit Union', she said. 'They always look at doing the right thing and treating people like people. A lot of corporate environments can get stuck behind the rigidity or profits.”

No two days look the same in her role. Hicks works across engagement, retention, and recruiting, staying current with industry trends while responding to the unexpected.

“You never know when someone is going to come in with an interesting

problem that needs solving,” she said. “Medical issues. Career advancement. Life stuff.”

It’s that unpredictability she loves most.

“I don’t like doing the same thing every day,” she said.“That’s why I loved emergency management. I like it when my day gets disrupted.”

One meaningful shift from her military days, however, is balance. Emergency management was often a matter of life or death. Now, Hicks works in an environment that actively encourages a full life outside the office.

“I haven’t taken my laptop home once in the four years I’ve worked here,” she said. She credits leadership that walks the talk—from annual compensation reviews and consistent raises to a culture that encourages employees to show up for their families.

“I’ve heard our CEO say, ‘If your kid has a sporting event or a play, you need to be there,’” Hicks said. “The more balanced and stable your life is, the more successful you’ll be at work. That’s a recipe for retention.”

That people-first mindset extends to hiring, too. Hicks is

passionate about skills-based hiring and creating an inclusive workplace.

“Aptitude and attitude matter more than skills,” she said. “If you’re kind, you show up, and you align with our mission, we’ll probably have a place for you.”

Outside of work, Hicks has fallen hard for the Black Hills and the community that comes with them. She still remembers the shock of her first September snowstorm, but she wouldn’t trade it for anything.

“We love it here,” she said. “We’ll be here forever.”

She talks about the peace of the trails, the ability to head outdoors

without crowds, and the ease of building community. She’s part of a book club with 11 women. There are no rules about the books that get chosen for the group to read, except that no one can have read it before.

For Hicks, Rapid City offers something rare: space to breathe, room to connect, and a community that shows up for one another.

“It’s tightknit. It’s supportive. It’s easy to make friends,” she said. “I just love it.”

And in a city built on connection, August Hicks is right at home, solving puzzles, helping people and finding joy in the beautifully unpredictable rhythm of community life. *