PIERRE - U.S. Sen.-Elect Mike Rounds announced Tuesday his choices for leadership positions at his South Dakota and Washington offices.
Rounds hired Katie Douglas, a Pierre native, as press secretary. She'll be based in Washington and work with South Dakota media. Douglas has a political science degree from the University of South Dakota and is a former press assistant for U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem.
Others joining his staff include:
- Jeff Marlette, West River director in Rapid City. Currently superintendent and elementary principal for the New Underwood School District, Marlette retired from the South Dakota Army National Guard.
- Kim Olson, central South Dakota director in Pierre, has worked for more than a decade under Gov. Dennis Daugaard and for Rounds when he was governor.
- Mark Johnston, East River director in Sioux Falls, was Rounds' press secretary from 2002-2006 and has been an executive at Sanford Health for the past seven years. Johnston is retired from the U.S. Army.
- Josh Haeder, senior field manager, will operate satellite constituent offices in Huron and Aberdeen. He spent the past five years as chief operating officer for Allen Credit & Debt Counseling Agency and also owns a voiceover production company.
- Connie Tveidt, state scheduler and director of administration in Pierre, has worked for the state for more than 25 years, including eight as deputy chief of staff for Rounds.
Rounds takes office on Jan. 6.
