Amplify Rapid City

I would have never dreamed my second interview with Patrick Dame would be a discussion of how we would get our once-skyrocketing air service "back on track". That's all part of finding our new normal. Nothing is unaffected by the pandemic. Join us for a conversation that promises to NOT be ALL "gloom and doom"! Good times are ahead!

As Stephen Gurgel puts it, "the Black Hills is the best place to be quarantined!". Even in troublesome times, the optimism inherent among us hearty folks from Rapid City can't be contained forever. Joe Avvampato, this week's other guest, echoes that sentiment. Listen and find out why.

Join us for a very candid visit with four major leaders in our Rapid City Hospitality sector.Listen as they share their accounts detailing how the COVID virus hit their businesses, how they view their challenges, their efforts to adapt, and their reasons to be hopeful for the future.

We're all asking the same question...in Rapid City, in South Dakota, all across America, all over Planet Earth! What will our 'New Normal' be in the wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic? Join us for a candid conversation with nationally-known Economist & Author Jonathan Williams, local Community Leader Darren Haar, and local Business Owner Trevor Johnson.

It's the "talk of the town" in Rapid City...the new organization called Elevate Rapid City!Learn how this innovative concept is taking our city to new heights! Join me for a conversation with Elevate Rapid City Board Chair, David Lust!

New career options for School of Mines graduates and entrepreneurs from all over are available in a big way right here in Rapid City! That's because of the fast-growing organization called Ascent Innovation! Join us for an enlightening visit with Ascent Executive Director, Terri Haverly!

Most folks in the Rapid City, the Black Hills, and our neighboring states are familiar with the name "Black Hills Energy". It's a company that has quietly, gradually grown and evolved over its history of nearly 140 years from a small, local power company into a significant, publicly traded utility that now serves over 1 million customers in 8 states! Join me for a very revealing conversation with Black Hills Energy President and CEO, Linn Evans.

Whether people agree or disagree with his policies, Mayor Steve Allender is dedicated to doing what he feels he was elected to do....lead. And he does so with a style all his own. Meet our dynamic and driven mayor in this hour-long candid interview covering many topics of interest!

Look across Rapid City's landscape and ask yourself..."What was here 140 years ago that is still here today?" One answer that may surprise you is...The Rapid City Journal! Meet Publisher Matthew Tranquill and Editor Kent Bush. Find out why they compare our newspaper (very fittingly) to a crocodile!

Chris has a Holiday message for you!Here's a big "thank you" to all you Amplify Rapid City listeners!Pleased stay tuned in the New Year of 2020 for more great weekly episodes!

What in the world does one of the 15 funniest movies of all time have to do with Rapid City and the Black Hills? As it turns out... A LOT! Join me for a fun-filled visit with Napoleon Dynamite Producer, Sean Covel. Find out the surprising ways he is applying his success, both here in Rapid City and all over America!

IF YOU WERE A YOUNG FAMILY GETTING ALL GEARED UP TO MOVE TO ANOTHER CITY….…ITS PRETTY SAFE TO SAY THAT CHECKING OUT THE K-12 SCHOOLS IN YOUR NEW CITY WOULD BE PRETTY CLOSE TO THE TOP OF YOUR LIST OF PRIORITIES. WELL...HERE IS YOUR CHANCE! JOIN ME AS I VISIT WITH RCAS SUPERINTENDENT, DR. LORI SIMON!

We want to grow and develop as a city. And we want to do it the right way. So how do we make that happen? The first step is to get familiar with some important facts. Join me for the first installment of an ongoing series and learn why I call it The “Sculpture Within The Stone”. CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO FOLLOW OUR CONVERSATION BY REFERENCING HIS BOOK DURING THE PODCAST!https://www.alec.org/app/uploads/2019/04/2019-RSPS-State-Pages_FINAL_WEB_R1.pdf

In years gone by, local theaters were always to be found in a city's downtown area. In larger cities, you may have had several to choose from. Now...not so much. And if you do find one, it would be pretty difficult to beat the experience you are sure to have when you visit this downtown Rapid City "Hidden Gem". Find out all the reasons why as we visit with owner Curt Small.

What takes 100 volunteers, draws 10,000 people every Thursday night to Downtown Rapid City, and consists of 3 hours of fun for the whole family? It's Rapid City's signature summer weekly event, Summer Nights! Learn all about it from Summer Nights President, Dave Goodwin!

Rapid City is probably the world's most famous example of a weather term known as the "Banana Belt" effect. For most purposes, that's great news if you live here, but it can be delightfully confusing (and amusing) as well. Here to explain is Rapid City's own Emmy-nominated Chief Meteorologist for KOTA TV, Mike Modrick!

Many larger cities have a zoo...Rapid City included...Our zoo, however is a zoo like no other ANYWHERE! As a matter of fact, Rapid City is home to the world's largest REPTILE zoo! You heard right! Meet the man behind this very unique, trademark Black Hills attraction...Rapid City's own Johnny B!

A great city just wouldn't be a great city without a really great college. By any standard, The South Dakota School of Mines & Technology fits that description. President Jim Rankin, SDSM*T's first President who is also an alumnus, joins us to explain many of the reasons why!

When you see a new development or major building project just getting underway, do you think..."I wonder what they are putting in there?" You wouldn't be alone. This week's episode, "It's All About Us...Us...Us!", puts a face, and a voice to the "they" in that question. Meet Rapid City Developer Hani Shafai.He'll be sure to give you some answers about the process of creating a new development, and will inspire you, for sure, with his story! Enjoy! Visit www.dreamdesigninc.com

Here's an idea! Round up 6 sculptors (they all have to be from South Dakota) and get them to work together for 20 years doing life-size bronze likenesses of all the U.S. Presidents from Washington to Obama. Then...get the city of Rapid City to cooperate with placing them all downtown and...if you don't mind...come up with a way to pay for getting it done without any government funding. Meet two of the people who boldly stepped up to the challenge! A truly amazing, uniquely RAPID CITY story!

What do you get when you mix the world's richest ingredients with a "quirky" girl from California who suddenly found herself living in South Dakota? The answer is nothing short of amazing, but you may find yourself ordering up a box to really find out! Get your first taste by taking a listen!

Who doesn't have fond memories of going to "The Fair"? Ron Jeffries, General Manager of Rapid City's Central States Fair, has not only the job of helping create those memories every year for attendees, but he does it all over again every winter by managing the famous Black Hills Stock Show. Get to know Ron this episode. He's a real cowboy with a real great story!

On June 9 and 10, 1972, Rapid City went down in history as the site of one of the worst natural disasters to ever occur in America. The Rapid City Flood, as it is now known, forever changed the course of this popular city in the heart of the United States. Join me for a special and revealing conversation (including bonus episodes) with the person who stood in the proverbial "center of the storm"....Rapid City's legendary Mayor Don Barnett.

On June 9 and 10, 1972, Rapid City went down in history as the site of one of the worst natural disasters to ever occur in America. The Rapid City Flood, as it is now known, forever changed the course of this popular city in the heart of the United States. Join me for a special and revealing conversation (including bonus episodes) with the person who stood in the proverbial "center of the storm"....Rapid City's legendary Mayor Don Barnett.

On June 9 and 10, 1972, Rapid City went down in history as the site of one of the worst natural disasters to ever occur in America. The Rapid City Flood, as it is now known, forever changed the course of this popular city in the heart of the United States. Join me for a special and revealing conversation (including bonus episodes) with the person who stood in the proverbial "center of the storm"....Rapid City's legendary Mayor Don Barnett.

For Troy Kilpatrick, Executive Director of Rapid City's Journey Museum & Learning Center, life has been a very meaningful adventure. In particular, Troy's life has been a "journey" which has led him to ultimately lead (what many would consider) a world-class museum into a new age and a new paradigm! The Journey Museum and Learning Center has so much to offer to its visitors, we had to record an "overtime edition" of Amplify RC in order to capture the truly magnetic energy that reverberates throughout this MUST-SEE attraction!

Over the last 5 years, the number of non-stop destinations offered to travelers flying in and out of Rapid City Regional Airport has increased dramatically, while boardings are seeing record numbers. This episode, we visit with airport Director, Patrick Dame to learn what is behind this new growth!

Craig Baltzer, Executive Director of the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, has his hands full these days. And he couldn't be happier! Craig is enjoying the privilege of heading up what most would consider the project of a lifetime....the construction of a new $130Million arena, which will serve as the centerpiece of our great civic center. Craig has a contagious air of optimism about the project and the city he lives in. As Craig says (at the beginning of EVERY Amplify episode), "What a great time to be living in Rapid City!" Listen and enjoy!

Join us for the VERY FUN and VERY LIVELY conclusion of our exploration into the many craft beer venues across Rapid City, SD!

In just the last 10 years, Rapid City's craft beer Industry has mushroomed into a full menu of new, innovative, and enjoyable breweries and craft beer taprooms. This week's episode plays host to 3 owners of these very cool venues. Featuring Sam Papendick, Justin Henrichsen, and Jesse Scheitler.

Whitney Rencountre grew up on the Crow Creek Reservation in central South Dakota. From there he went on to graduate from Black Hills State University in Spearfish, SD. That experience of involving himself with a new and diverse group of people led him to develop innovative ways to educate and bring people from Native and Non-Native cultures together with amazing success!

Meet Darren Haar, former Global Business Director of a $1Billion+ division of the DuPont Corporation. Hear why Darren and his wife, at the height of their careers, made a life-changing decision to walk away from what most would consider the apex of corporate success and return home to Rapid City and the Black Hills of South Dakota.

Kristy Nemetz, a lifelong resident of Chicago, tells a compelling story of the circumstances that led her to decide to leave the busy metropolis and make a new life in a place she had read about, but had never been to.

Dan Senftner has seen it all! (When it comes to Main Street Square, that is). Dan took the project from vision to completion, and now serves as CEO of Downtown Rapid City's busiest venue. Dan now finds himself in high demand across America, representing this true success story in his efforts to assist communities of every size in their efforts to revitalize their downtown districts.