Kriese earns kudos

Prairie Business magazine has announced 2022’s Top 25 Women in Business.

Recipients were selected through a nomination process that emphasized professional achievement, community contributions and volunteerism. The 25 women listed come from finance, health care, manufacturing and a number of other industries and professions.

Included on the list is DWU interim president Theresa Kriese.  Kriese has been employed at DWU since 2008, and since June 2021, serving as interim president and executive vice president/CFO simultaneously.  According to the Prairie Business article, “During this time, Kriese successfully spearheaded multiple projects and events, including the construction and opening of a new state-of-the-art business building, The School of Business, Innovation and Leadership. She has also been instrumental in leading COVID mitigation and vaccination efforts and a successful nationwide presidential search campaign while continuing to strengthen the university’s financial position.

“Kriese is a well-respected leader not only on the campus, but within the community where she has served in multiple capacities including two terms on the Mitchell Board of Education, one as president, and with numerous other non-profit organizations.  Her talents reach beyond the Dakotas where she helped found the NAIA Multiple Employer Aggregation Program.”

Profiles of each recipient are included in the March issue of Prairie Business, including the digital edition.

The annual project was created to draw attention to the many creative and successful businesswomen in North Dakota, South Dakota and western Minnesota, and the impact they have on industry and economy in the region. Twenty-two of the 25 were from North Dakota.  In addition to Kriese, Kara Kayser of Mitchell’s Trail King, and Wendy Wills representing First International Bank & Trust of Sioux Falls were recognized.

“Prairie Business is excited to announce the recipients for 2022’s Top 25 Women in Business,” said Andrew Weeks, editor of Prairie Business. “It is exciting for us to recognize such accomplished women, each of whom demonstrates ambition and professionalism of the highest level. It’s exciting to learn what they have accomplished, and it is exciting to consider what they will yet accomplish. We thank each of them for their contributions in the region and congratulate them for being among this year’s Top 25.”