Our Board
Bringing different perspectives to the table to support a common mission.
Dixie Olson, Board Chair
Broker Owner at Properties Unlimited Realty and Owner of Lucy’s Nearly New Shoppe
Dixie joined the VVIP board in September of 2023. In addition to running her real estate and consignment businesses, she currently sits on the Monument Health Advisory Board in Sturgis. She is a founding member of Realtors for Kids, served as an advisory board member for First Interstate, past Chamber of Commerce board member, past South Dakota CEO board member, and regularly volunteers her time and talents to local causes she supports. When she is not working, Dixie most enjoys spending time with her family, especially her 5 grandchildren, reading, traveling, and being outdoors. She is looking forward to serving on the VVIP and Artemis House Board.
Tara Heairet, Vice Chair
State of South Dakota Department of Health
Tara joined the board in March 2024. She is a South Dakota girl that grew up in Chamberlain S.D. with the Missouri River as her playground. She is currently employed with the State of South Dakota with the Department of Health in Spearfish. As a wife and mother of 3, she believes each child deserves to be given opportunities in life to help them succeed. Tara has have been involved in numerous fundraisers through children’s sports, served on the Jr. league basketball board and taught Sunday school.
“I am looking forward in making new connections and giving back to the community and surrounding areas that has given us a beautiful place to live and raise a family.”
Drew Skjoldal, Treasurer
Attorney at Nies Karras & Skjoldal, P.C
Drew joined the VVIP Board in June of 2023. He is a graduate of Black Hills State University and Northern Kentucky University. He practices in area of Business and Estate Planning, Guardianships/Conservatorships, Probate, Real Estate, General Contract Law. He grew up in Bison, South Dakota and currently resides in Spearfish with his family.
Drew bring a passion for connecting businesses to our agency through sponsorship support.
James Vande Hey, Secretary
UPS Store Owner
James joined the VVIP Board in August of 2021 and has been a member of the Spearfish community since 2011 when he moved here to attend Black Hills State University. He graduated from BHSU with a degree in Mass Communications with an emphasis in photography. He managed the The UPS Store in Spearfish and is now an owner. As an open member of the LGBTQIA+ Community James has witnessed that Violence can not only break down a person, but an entire community. He is dedicated to his new role as a board member and looks forward to the future of working with the VVIP Board and it’s members.
Shelby Crown
Human Resources, Northern Hills Training Center
Shelby Crown is a dedicated human services professional with over a decade of experience supporting individuals with diverse needs. She currently serves as the Director of Human Resources at Northern Hills Training Center (NHTC), where she has been employed since 2013. Throughout her tenure, Shelby has held a variety of roles including Direct Support Professional, Direct Support Supervisor, Positive Behavioral Support Specialist, and Safety Care Trainer—each contributing to her comprehensive understanding of person-centered care and staff development.
Originally from Wall, SD, Shelby moved to Spearfish in 2010 to attend Black Hills State University, where she earned a degree in Human Services. Her academic background and professional journey reflect a deep commitment to advocacy, empowerment, and community well-being. In her free time Shelby enjoys reading, spending time with her family, as well as camping and kayaking with her partner, Justus.
Joining the Board of Directors in June of 2025, Shelby brings her passion for trauma-informed care, organizational leadership, and community collaboration to support survivors and promote safety and healing.
Jenny Yackley
Banking, Sundance State Bank
Jenny joined the VVIP board in December of 2024. Jenny is a Spearfish native and has worked in the banking industry for 19 years. Jenny is a mom of two children and two dogs and enjoys being outdoors, spending time with friends and family, and traveling when she can.
During her time in banking, she has been heavily involved in the community, volunteering for NeighborWorks, Special Olympics, Feeding South Dakota, Kenadi Jean Weis Foundation, United Way, Spearfish Senior Center, Meals on Wheels and other various organizations.
Jenny is a former board member for United Way of the Black Hills and is still an active supporter of this organization, and she is also a graduate of Leadership Spearfish and South Dakota CEO Women in Leadership. Jenny has been involved in other projects as well, such as, Teach Children to Save, Junior Achievement, and with the local schools and sports teams that her children previously attended and were a part of in the Spearfish area.
Jenny also runs her own annual memorial fundraising event (Smiles on Faces) in honor of two special people, and from this, funds are given to two local nonprofits in their names.
Feeling called to serve, Jenny hopes to support and bring more awareness to the cause, to be a part of their mission, and to help to help make an impact through her service on the board.
Wendy Boone
Aflac Regional Director
Wendy joined the VVIP Board in June of 2025.
Sheri Gunderson
Director of Grants, Black Hills State University
Sheri joined the VVIP Board in October 2025. Having worked and volunteered for nonprofits for nearly 30 years, she has a deep appreciation for the essential role they play in helping people and communities thrive. She brings a background in grant writing, nonprofit development and advancement, and she has served in board leadership roles for various youth and healthcare organizations. "I believe strongly that nonprofits meet essential needs that aren't met elsewhere, and it's a community's responsibility to support those efforts. I'm honored to be serving the Artemis House and the wonderful work they do." In her free time, Sheri enjoys reading, running or walking in the great outdoors, and spending time with her husband, two daughters, and multiple pets. They recently relocated to the Black Hills from Worland, WY.
Mandi Leite
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, Monument Health Lead–Deadwood Clinic
Mandi Leite joined the VVIP Board in April 2026. She is a psychiatric nurse practitioner at the Monument Health Lead–Deadwood Clinic, where she provides comprehensive mental health care across the lifespan. Mandi earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Grand Canyon University and her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Arizona. She further specialized her clinical training by completing a post‑master’s Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) certification at South Dakota State University.
Originally from eastern South Dakota, Mandi brings deep regional ties and a strong commitment to community mental health. Her early life included time spent in Phoenix, Kansas City, and Sioux Falls before she ultimately settled in Spearfish. There, she continues to serve patients across the northern Black Hills region. Mandi is dedicated to expanding access to high‑quality psychiatric care and advancing integrative, patient‑centered behavioral health services within her community.
Outside of her professional work, Mandi enjoys spending time with her husband, their three daughters, and their dog. She also enjoys golfing, reading, and spending time outdoors. Taking advantage of everything the Black Hills have to offer. ”
Amanda Roy- Vitto
Mental Health Therapist for Lyra Health and Owner of Soul Purpose Specialty Services, LLC
Amanda is a Wyomingite whose roots grow from a family of cattle and sheep ranchers living the authentic cowboy way of life for generations. Her ancestors created a legacy of ranching that will continue to bless their children’s children for decades. Her higher education aspirations earned her bachelors and masters degrees in the field of social work. The death of her older brother initially sparked her interest in counseling following her experience with his Hospice caretakers. Called to support and serve others in their challenging moments to date has evolved into an 19 year career in mental and emotional health services with a variety of populations and diverse needs. She currently serves clients in both Wyoming and South Dakota with plans to expand through her recently established private practice called Soul Purpose Specialty Services. Under that umbrella, she provides life coaching, individual and couple's counseling, premarital counseling, and officiates both weddings and funerals. Writing is a second calling for her, with her first book, To the Woman Reading This... 40 Devotional Tales of Healing. She is a proud mother to two daughters, one by birth and the other through marriage, spawning her relocation to the beautiful Black Hills area, calling Spearfish home for a little over 3 years now.