Joni Ekstrum, executive director
Joni Ekstrum serves as executive director of South Dakota Biotech. She oversees its advocacy, communication, education, and membership services, representing more than 60 members in industries from food and agriculture to human health and renewable energy.Since she assumed this role in 2012, Ekstrum has grown the membership and increased gross profit while maintaining and expanding membership benefits. Her collaborative approach has provided connections for networking and led to new business and partnering opportunities for both members and individuals. Her passion for the industry and charismatic personality have helped build relationships with other states and parent organization BIO, legislators, other advocacy groups, venture capital, economic development, and other industry partners.
During her tenure, Ekstrum has made a significant impact on the biotech industry in South Dakota and energized the association. She is a tireless advocate and enthusiastic promoter for the association, its members, and affiliates. She has brought attention to the significant economic impacts of an innovation-driven economy and served as an effective liaison in advocacy issues to keep the progress of biotech moving.
As executive director of South Dakota Biotech, Ekstrum represents the interests and provides input on behalf of the biotech industry on many boards, including:
- Council of State Bioscience Association Board of Directors;
- Sioux Falls Downtown Rotary Board of Directors;
- Sioux Empire Boys & Girls Club Board of Directors;
- South Dakota Development Corporation Board of Directors;
- South Dakota State University Institutional Biosafety Committee
Ekstrum remains active in the business community by attending various events across the state and volunteering as TeamMates mentor and EmBe Women's Leadership Mentor.
Before South Dakota Biotech, Ekstrum served as POET's political action committee administrator. In that role representing one of the world's largest ethanol producers, Ekstrum grew PAC membership from 100 to 700 members, making it the largest PAC in the renewable fuels industry. She also is a veteran of many statewide political campaigns.
Ekstrum has a B.S. in Psychology from South Dakota State University and has three children and two step-children.
Kara McCormick, PhD, director of science and operations
From board leader to full-time role, the newest member of South Dakota Biotech's leadership team brings a strong background with the organization and a variety of industry experience.
Kara McCormick has joined South Dakota Biotech, the state affiliate of the international BIO organization, as director of science and operations.
Dr. Kara McCormick previously of Sanford Research oversaw both the internal and external communications for the non-profit research arm of Sanford Health, which has a team of more than 250 researchers on staff. She earned her undergraduate degree in physical science with a Business and Chemistry Specialization from Dakota State University. Kara then pursued her Ph.D. in Basic Biomedical Sciences with a specialization in Infectious Diseases at the University of South Dakota. After graduate school, she joined Newport Labs in Worthington, MN, as a Research Scientist managing complete life-cycle vaccine development projects, from research design to product safety trials and product licensing. While at Newport Labs, a subsidiary of Sanofi and then Boehringer Ingelheim, Kara handled change management, gaining industry insight and experience working on collaborative projects throughout the region and company transitions. Most recently, she served the state of South Dakota as an Epidemiologist for the Department of Health, holding roles as a Safety Officer, Data Visualization Lead, and Education Partner during the Emergency Response to the COVID-19 pandemic. With experience in academia, industry, and government, she enjoys bringing together innovative ideas that cross multiple disciplines to support community connections and progressive developments.