Michael Heisler is a physician from Sioux Falls. He has been actively working on climate change for over 10 years, initially with a focus on the health impact of climate change, but quickly expanding to climate change more broadly.  He is committed to finding measurable, outcome driven, real solutions to this challenge that we all face.

Arlene Brandt-Jenson retired from the Natural Resources Conservation Service where she helped landowners implement conservation solutions. She became a Master Gardener and has held leadership positions on the state level with Master Gardeners and the Soil and Water Conservation Society. She enjoys teaching others about the importance of pollinators and planting the right plants to support them. In her role as Administrative Coordinator, Arlene schedules meetings, prepares minutes, and
uses her organizational skills to help keep SoDak 350 moving forward.

​Jim McAdaragh recently retired after working nearly 40 years in the financial services industry. His interest in ecology and the environment dates back to the first Earth Day celebration when his Junior High School sponsored a litter clean-up campaign. He implemented a recycling program at his company's corporate headquarters 35 years ago - a program that continues to this day. Jim was an early adopter of hybrid vehicles, as well as high efficiency household HVAC systems and appliances. His interests include walking and hiking, gardening (using drip irrigation to minimize water usage), American history, astronomy and bird-watching.

Kara Hoving is an environmental justice policy researcher currently based in Brookings, SD.  She holds a master's degree in Environmental Management from the Yale School of the Environment and has been active in the movement to combat the climate crisis since she was an undergraduate at the University of Iowa. She is excited to use her role as Communications Coordinator to craft winning messages that mobilize support for strong local climate solutions.

Jeff Smith is retired, but still owns a specialized print finishing and letterpress shop in Sioux Falls, now managed by his son. Jeff is a 2019 ‘graduate’ of Climate Reality Leadership Training. He's been a member of SoDak 350 since its inception, and is growing more concerned about his granddaughter’s future every day. Jeff grew up in Dell Rapids, where he and his wife raised their two sons, and has been a resident of Sioux Falls for about 9 years.

Amber M. Lively (she/her) is actively involved with several nonprofit organizations focused on improving our community's understanding of complex environmental issues. In addition to her position on the SoDak 350 Steering Committee, Ms. Lively serves on the Board of Directors for Friends of the Big Sioux River, and is the founder and Executive Director for Building Sustainable Connections.  She holds a Master of Science in Environmental Science and Policy (ESP) from Johns Hopkins University, a Bachelor of Science from South Dakota State University, and studied Political Science at the University of Iowa.  Amber teaches undergraduate and graduate-level courses in the topics of Science Communication, STEM Literacy, Sustainability Leadership, and Sustainable Business Modeling, and she serves as a project advisor for Johns Hopkins ESP graduate Capstone Projects.  Through her position on the SoDak 350 Steering Committee, Ms. Lively hopes to provide insights that inspire a more Sustainable South Dakota.