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Name: VACANT
Position: Marketing
City:
Term End Date:
Political Party:to be determined
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Name: Jeffrey Burket
Position: Chairman / Finance
City: Spearfish
Term End Date: 10/30/2026
Biography:
Appointed 2014. Jeff Burket is a director of operations at Minerals Technology, Inc., where he manages bentonite mining operations for the United States including safety, logistics and P&L. Jeff is a native of South Dakota and has been in the mining and logistics industries with 20+ years experience. A graduate of the University of South Dakota, Vermillion, with a degree in Accounting. He currently calls Spearfish home.
Political Party:Republican
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Name: Gregory Carmon
Position: Operation of Rail Service
City: Brandon
Term End Date: 10/30/2025
Biography:
Appointed 2018. A farm kid from DeSmet, Greg Carmon started his career in the railroad business working at General Electric Railcar Repair. Achieving inspector status gave him an excellent understanding of railcar repair and when an opportunity to buy a small outdoor railcar repair shop in Sioux Falls presented itself, he took the leap and began Midwest Railcar Repair. In 1999, Greg built a state-of-the-art repair shop in Brandon. Greg also owns two railcar leasing businesses, Carmath and M&C Leasing. Greg has served on the Brandon Chamber of Commerce as well as assisted in developing the Brandon Community Foundation and served on its board. He has served on Forward Sioux Falls and on the Sioux Falls Community Foundation Board, chairing the SFACF Grant’s Committee, and he serves on the Build Dakota Board. He also serves as leadership of Brandon’s Celebration United Methodist Church. Greg is a husband, father, and grandfather who loves to spend time at his lake home fishing and hunting.
Political Party:Republican
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Name: Scott Lockwood
Position: At Large
City: Rapid City
Term End Date: 10/30/2025
Biography:
Appointed 2023.
Scott Lockwood was born in Huron and has lived in Beadle, Brookings, Custer, Fall River, Pennington, Potter, Spink and Walworth counties. He started working for the Chicago & North Western Railroad as a section laborer in 1977 at Rapid City. During his tenure with C&NW he earned a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Chadron (NE) State College. In 1992 he began working for the Burlington Northern Railroad as a welder at Douglas, Wyoming. His career with BNSF included several promotions - Assistant Roadmaster, Supervisor Maintenance Planning, Manager Maintenance Planning and Assistant Director Maintenance Schedules (Central Region) - which took him to Gillette, Wyoming and Fort Worth, Texas. He retired from BNSF in 2016 and moved back to South Dakota. He enjoys hiking, treasure hunting, genealogy, photography and reading/writing historical books.
Political Party:Democrat
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Name: Jack Nelson
Position: At Large
City: Volga
Term End Date: 10/30/2025
Biography:
Re-appointed 2024. Jack Nelson grew up on a farm near Lake Preston. After high school, he started working in the local elevator. After 3 years, he was given the opportunity to be a General Manger at two coops where he'd stay for 21 years. In 2002, he made a career change to his current position and entered the ethanol industry. Jack has held positions on both the Lake Preston and Arlington City Councils as well as served on multiple church boards. During his years in Lake Preston, he was trained and certified as an emergency medical technician, which he utilized on local ambulance crews and fire departments. Jack is married and has two children and three cherished grandchildren. Hobbies are aviation, fishing, and spending time with his family.
Political Party:Republican
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Name: Steve Scharnweber
Position: Business Management
City: Pierre
Term End Date: 10/30/2026
Biography:
Appointed 2017. Steve Scharnweber grew up in central Iowa and went to work at C&NW in 1970 after one year at Iowa State University. He worked through several positions until promoted to management in 1977 in Boone, Iowa. Steve left C&NW in 1995 when the Union Pacific purchased the company and came to Pierre SD as Director of Engineering for the DM&E. Promoted to Vice President of Engineering in 1998, he served in that position until retirement in 2008. During that process, the DM&E acquire the old IMRL Railroad and together formed the Cedar American Corporation with Headquarters in Sioux Falls. Retirement with his wife Mary involves traveling to Iowa, Fargo (ND), Helena (MT), and Phoenix (AZ) to see kids and grandkids. Steve's hobbies included hunting and fishing.
Political Party:Republican
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Name: Ralph Schmidt
Position: User of Rail Service
City: Big Stone City
Term End Date: 10/30/2025
Biography:
Appointed 2023.
Ralph grew up in the Big Stone City area as a farmer until 1996. At that time, Ralph was hired with the Sisseton Milbank Railroad (SMRR) as a locomotive engineer. In 1999, Ralph accepted the position of General Manager of the SMRR and continues in that role today. In those 27 years, Ralph has seen many challenges in all aspects of short line railroading.
In 2009, Ralph, along with his family, started Schmidt Spray Foam Insulation LLC. Our business currently has locations in Milbank and Britton, SD and employs nine people. Ralph serves on the Lockwood Township Board in Roberts County and is currently the president of our homeowner’s association. He is a husband, father and grandfather who loves to spend time fishing and camping with his family.
Political Party:Republican
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