Lori Meier

Lori oversees all of our apartment complexes and the residential property managers. Along with overseeing the residential properties, she assists with the commercial side of property management as needed. Lori is a licensed broker associate with a degree in business management. She has 16 years experience in property management including 3 years experience in managing HOAs. Her housing career started while in the banking industry, where she did personal home and new construction mortgages and also partnered in a home contracting business which encouraged her to understand and appreciate the personal satisfaction one has in their home and/or business.
In her spare time, Lori enjoys the outdoors biking and paddling boarding with her husband, Alan. She also enjoys reading, cooking, watching movies, and spending time with their families.

Carmen Christensen

Carmen’s strong accounting and organizational skills help keep things running smoothly in the accounting department. Her focus and attention to detail are valuable in her role, where she brings 15 years of experience. When not at work, Carmen can be found at concerts, working out or spending time outdoors.

Pete Nelson

Pete Nelson joins VBC with over 40 years experience in the construction industry. He has a background in commercial construction, having previously held esteemed positions at construction firms in both Minnesota and Colorado. Pete was born and raised in Grand Rapids, MN. He has been married to his wife, Rochelle, for 37 years and they have 3 grown children together, all of which also work in the construction industry. Outside of work, Pete enjoys spending time with family, hunting, fishing and being outdoors.

Mike Van Buskirk

Mike is a licensed real estate broker and mechanical engineer who graduated from South Dakota State University with decades of experience in the identification and development of commercial and residential properties within the region. Managing nearly 500,000 square feet of commercial properties and 560 apartments in the area with the vast majority of the properties originating as ground up developments. In the industry Mike has been President of Sioux Falls Multi-housing Association, a member of the Dakota Business Finance board and is currently joining the Sioux Falls Development Foundation board. Responsibilities include development of new properties from project selection, land and lease negotiations, financing arrangements and ultimately the management of the properties. Projects include developments such as the Bridges at 57th Street, Remington Pointe, Lake Lorraine and many other commercial properties.

Steve Van Buskirk

Steve Van Buskirk is President of Land Development for Van Buskirk Companies, a full service real estate company located in Sioux Falls, SD. Steve received his BA degree and his MBA in finance from the University of Minnesota.

With his father, Myron, as the founder of the family-owned business, Steve grew up in the industry. Since 1992, Steve has built a successful career in commercial construction and real estate development by gaining knowledge and expertise from firsthand experience. His development focus has been on VBC’s nineteen (and growing) residential neighborhoods and several commercial developments in and around Sioux Falls region. Highlights of their commercial work are two premiere lifestyle centers; The Bridges at 57th Street and the Lake Lorraine, both are innovative mixed-use properties.

Steve has also served as an active member of the Infrastructure Review Advisory Board, President of the Home Builders Association, and is currently the Chair of the Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce. Among many organizations, some of his volunteer time includes Habitat for Humanity, Boy Scouts of America, and United Way.

Steve and his wife, Shannon, have 2 boys and together they enjoy skiing, swimming, boating, and camping.

Ryan Tysdal

Ryan Tysdal’s career in sales began in 1991, when he broke the state record for Boy Scout popcorn sales. Ryan wanted a Nintendo worse than anything, but his parents wouldn’t buy him one, so he sold enough Boy Scout popcorn to earn one.  After helping deliver popcorn every night for nearly a month, his parents probably regretted not just buying him the Nintendo…

Years later, Ryan still enjoys being in sales as a Commercial Broker with Van Buskirk Companies. Ryan focuses on sales and leasing of retail and office properties.

Ryan also dedicates a considerable amount of time to land development, most notably with the Foss Fields property, which is Phase II of the Shoppes on 100 project, a major retail development along Highway 100 in East Sioux Falls.

He works with all types of clients, from small locally-owned businesses to large national tenants. Ryan prides himself on making each transaction as smooth as possible for his clients. Ryan brings considerable experience in deal negotiations and has the unique ability to see the “bigger vision” while being able to manage the small details of a project.

After obtaining a Business degree from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD, Ryan went on to receive an MBA from the University of Sioux Falls.

Ryan has served on several boards and committees over the years, including Sioux Falls Rotary West and the South Dakota Advertising Federation. He is also a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers and El Riad Shrine.

In his spare time, Ryan enjoys spending time at Lake Okoboji with his wife Sara, their two daughters Harper and Emerson, and their son Henry.

Click HERE to view Ryan Tysdal’s website

Autumn Kaufhold

Autumn Kaufhold joined Van Buskirk Cos. in January of 2020.  She is a commercial real estate broker licensed in South Dakota.  Before joining Van Buskirk Cos., Autumn was employed for nearly two decades as a radio advertising executive where she not only enjoyed meeting new clients and discussing their business goals, but also working on the creative side developing ear catching commercials that had coherent and memorable messages.  Autumn has taken her love of working with business operators and combined it with her creative talents to become a client favorite in the field of commercial real estate.  These talents serve her well when buying, selling, and leasing retail, office and industrial properties throughout South Dakota.  Autumn, along with her family, lives in Sioux Falls SD, where she has resided for the majority of her life.  She enjoys spending time with her family, especially traveling to new and interesting places, trying new restaurants, tending to the welfare of numerous houseplants, and doting on her small pup, Loki.

Mike Knudson

Mike Knudson is a licensed commercial real estate broker with Van Buskirk Companies. Mike assists his clients with buying, selling and leasing office, retail and industrial properties in South Dakota.

Mike is a Sioux Falls native who graduated from the University of South Dakota with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. He is a graduate of Leadership South Dakota and Leadership Sioux Falls. Mike is currently a board member for the Harrisburg School Board and is also on the Harrisburg School District Education Foundation board.

Mike and his wife Kylie have two sons, Carson and Coy.

To learn more about how Mike can help your business grow, visit his website HERE.

Lori Olson

Lori began her career with Van Buskirk Companies in early 2013 as an Executive Assistant and Licensed Broker Assistant, bringing  many years of experience as an executive assistant, in office and human resource management. Lori provides licensed brokerage assistance to the VBC brokerage team and executive assistance to the company principals. In 2016, Lori received her professional certification from the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) and coordinates all human resource related items for VBC. In her time at VBC, Lori has appreciated the ethical and thoughtful leadership along with unparalleled teamwork and professionalism amongst the staff. In her spare time, Lori enjoys spending time with her husband and family, including her three children, their spouses, and four grandchildren. She also enjoys spending time outdoors fishing or hiking, or simply sitting down and reading a good science fiction novel.

Tammy Baumgartel

Logan Callahan

Logan grew up in Minnesota and attended SDSU in Brookings, receiving a degree in Construction Management. His hobbies include hunting, fishing, woodworking, being outdoors and spending time with his dog, Willow.

Amy Cassling

Amy holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of South Dakota.  Amy joined Van Buskirk Companies in January of 2022.She is responsible for multiple properties financial reporting and assisting the accounting department as needed. Outside of the office, Amy loves biking, hiking, visiting her children and traveling with her husband, Jeff.

Mara Day

Mara Day is the Leasing Agent for the Van Buskirk Companies apartment communities. She came to Van Buskirk Companies as part-time Administrative Assistant for Residential Property Management, while also attending Southeast Tech.  After completing school and receiving her Business Degree, Mara accepted a full time position here and has been instrumental in assisting with the implementation of some new processes to make paying rent smoother by offering a tenant portal that accepts card payments, as well as assisting in decisions to update apartments and grounds to stay competitive with the local industry. In her spare time, Mara enjoys spending time with her mini Australian Shepherd, Elsie Mae, playing volleyball and hanging out with friends or reading a good book.  Mara also enjoys volunteering with her church and the St. Francis House.

Kevin Haakinson

Kevin manages our maintenance at all of our apartments in the region with over 20 years experience in the field. He is a Sioux Falls native with a degree in Business Administration from NAU in Rapid City. He is married with 2 children, Kaden and Kendal, and enjoys volunteering to help coach their sports teams. He enjoys the outdoors and takes advantage of all the activities SD has to offer like boating, hunting and fishing. He also raises AKC pointing labs on his acreage outside of Humboldt.

Jordan Hefner

Jordan Hefner joined Van Buskirk Companies in February 2022 as a Project Manager and was promoted to Residential Construction Operations Manager in February 2024. He has an Associates Degree in Architectural Drafting and Building Construction and brings 14 years of experience in the construction industry. Jordan is a member of the State Board for South Dakota Home Builders Association and was elected the state representative for South Dakota at the National Association of Home Builders in 2024. In his spare time, Jordan enjoys woodworking, hunting and spending time with his wife, two kids (Addison and Gunner) and his three dogs.

Brian Jackson

As the Land Development Manager for Van Buskirk Companies, Brian provides expertise as a licensed real estate auditor and years of experience within the banking industry, which is an asset in his role dealing with real estate. He oversees all of the residential neighborhoods and works hard to help clients find the right piece of land for their new home construction. When not at work, Brian loves spending time with his family and riding his motorcycle.

Dean Jaton

Dean joined the construction team in 2003 and worked his way to a superintendent role.  He directs and coordinates the construction field activities, ensuring projects are completed on schedule, within budget and to a high level of quality.

Terry Kelley

Terry Kelley is a Sioux Falls native that joins VBC with over 40 years of experience in the industry. He graduated from Black Hills State University with a degree in Secondary Education with an emphasis on Technical Education. He and his wife, Lynette, have two kids, Alyssa and Dan, four grandchildren, and three rescue pets. When Terry isn’t working, he enjoys hunting, watching high school sports, and is a Minnesota Viking season ticket holder. He has served on the AGC of SD Building Chapter Board for 30 years and is a Lifetime member of the Nation AGC Board of Directors.

Chad Larson

In 2013, Chad joined the construction team as a field worker and in 2016 was promoted to a superintendent role. He directs and coordinates the construction field activities, ensuring projects are completed on schedule, within budget and to a high level of quality. When he’s not at one of the construction sites, you can find him refereeing high school basketball.

Kara Lilly

Kara joined the Van Buskirk Companies accounting team in March 2022.  She grew up in Yankton and moved to Sioux Falls in 2002. Kara earned a degree in accounting from Kilian Community College of Sioux Falls and brings 15 years accounting experience as well as being a QuickBooks certified pro user. Kara has also worked as a trainer in the past and has 8 years experience in property management.  In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her three children and her parents, fishing and camping.

Connor Mennis

Connor is a South Dakota native, growing up in the Brookings area. Connor is excited to launch his career in property management at VBC and when he’s not working, he enjoys playing video games, studying history and spending time with his friends and family.

Angela Merritt

Angela works on all things marketing for Van Buskirk Companies’ many divisions.  She holds a degree in Advertising from South Dakota State University and brings to the team experience in marketing and a background in ad agencies, media sales and real estate marketing.

Redgie Olson

As an experienced handy man, Redgie provides maintenance support to the commercial property management team. From picking up trash to troubleshooting issues, he ensures clients receive excellent service and keeps the properties shining. Off the job, he enjoys spending time with his wife and family.

Jolene Smith

Jolene joined Van Buskirk Companies as the Director of People and Culture in October of 2023 with over 30 years of experience in human resources. She grew up in Worthington, MN and attended Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, IA where she obtained her degree in Management & Corporate Communications. After graduating, she moved to Sioux Falls and has been living here ever since. She and her husband, Jeff, have two sons together, Ty and Jacob. Her hobbies and interests include quilting, the MN Vikings and spending time with family and friends at their cabin on Pickerel Lake, SD.

Russell Sorensen

With twelve years of experience in property maintenance, Russ is a valuable part of the commercial property management team. He helps coordinate property improvements, day-to-day maintenance and ensures that all tasks are done in accordance to property standards. He is an outdoorsman with a love of camping, fishing and golfing.

Kaylene Sudrla

Kaylene is the Controller for Van Buskirk Companies.  She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of South Dakota and has over 30 years of leadership and accounting experience.  Kaylene oversees the accounting department and all accounting functions including AP, AR, payroll, and financial reporting.  Kaylene’s work in construction accounting and multi-family housing management has provided her with the specific skills required for her role and necessary for supporting our company in these areas.  A season ticket holder to both College World Series and Iowa Hawkeye football, Kaylene enjoys watching sports as well as participating in sand volleyball and coed softball.  Supporting her teams, camping, boating, her two cats, Esther and Pearl, and black lab, Cooper, keep her busy when not at work.

Jennifer Thompson

Jennifer is the property manager at our Wheatridge Apartments in Mitchell, SD. She is a Minnesota native with a degree from Votech in nursing and 4 years experience in property management. She is happily engaged and has 2 children and 6 grandchildren. When she isn’t working, Jennifer enjoys gardening in the summer months and is an avid reader.

Chad Van Buskirk

Chad Van Buskirk manages and works directly on projects that come through Van Buskirk Construction. His background as a civil engineer and a decade of experience working on world class projects including Project Management positions on Major League Baseball stadiums, convention centers, and automotive plants has prepared him well for bringing an entirely new level of skill and professionalism to the Sioux Falls market. Chad’s deep knowledge of the construction industry and history of results combined with the expertise gained at Van Buskirk Construction makes him a strong asset to any project.