Avera Leadership and Board of Directors

Avera Leadership Team

Avera Executive Leaders are accountable to Avera’s sponsors – the Benedictine and Presentation Sisters – and the Board of Directors for directing activities and initiatives of the organization in accordance with the Avera Mission.

Jim Dover, FACHE
Jim Dover, FACHE

President and CEO

Dave Belde, PhD.
Dave Belde, PhD

Chief Mission Officer

Dzenan Berberovic
Dzenan Berberovic

Chief Philanthropy Officer

Dan Bjerknes
Dan Bjerknes

Regional President and CEO
Avera St. Luke's Hospital

Kendra Calhoun, Senior Vice President of Marketing
Kendra Calhoun

Senior Vice President
Marketing, Communications
& Digital Experience

Sandy Dieleman
Sandy Dieleman

President and CEO
Avera@Home

Doug Ekeren
Douglas Ekeren

Regional President and CEO
Avera Sacred Heart Hospital

David Flicek, Chief Administrative Officer, Avera Medical Group
David Flicek

Chief Operating Officer

Shantel Krebs
Shantel Krebs

Regional President and CEO
Avera St. Mary's Hospital

Julie Lautt, CFO
Julie Lautt

Chief Financial Officer

Kim Jensen
Kim Jensen

Chief Human Resources Officer

Bruk Kammerman
Bruk Kammerman

Chief Information Officer

Richard G. Korman Esq., General Counsel
Richard G. Korman, Esq.

Chief Legal Officer
General Counsel

David A. Lemperle
David A. Lemperle

President and CEO
Avera Health Plans

Sr. Mary Kay Panowicz
Sr. Mary Kay Panowicz

System Member Chairperson

Dr. Ron Place
Dr. Ron Place

Regional President and CEO
Avera McKennan Hospital
& University Health Center

Tad Jacobs, Chief Medical Officer, Avera Medical Group
Dr. Kevin Post

Chief Medical Officer

Dr. Hilary Rockwell
Dr. Hilary Rockwell

Regional President and CEO
Avera Queen of Peace Hospital

Rachael Sherard, Senior Vice President Rural Health Institute
Rachael Sherard

Senior Vice President
Rural Health

Steve Statz, Senior Vice President of Business Development
Steve Statz

Senior Vice President
Business Development

Debbie Streier
Debbie Streier

Regional President and CEO
Avera Marshall Regional
Medical Center

Avera Health Board of Directors

  • Lori Essig, Sioux Falls, Chair
  • Doneen Hollingsworth, Pierre, Vice Chair
  • Robert Fouberg, Aberdeen
  • Clark Sinclair, Madison
  • Jacquelyn Johnson, Mitchell
  • Jason Wickersham, MD, Parkston
  • James F. Dover, FACHE, Sioux Falls
  • Sr. Mary Jaeger, Sioux Falls
  • Luis Rojas, MD, Sioux Falls
  • Sr. Roxanne Seifert, Sioux Falls
  • Katherine Wang, MD, Sioux Falls
  • Sr. Lucille Welbig, Sioux Falls
  • Sr. Candyce Chrystal, Yankton
  • Sr. Debra Kolecka, Yankton
  • Sr. Mary Kay Panowicz, Yankton