January BHLD Luncheon | Leading Locally: Balancing Business and Community

Date and Time: January 21 at 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM

Location: The Rushmore Hotel 445 Mount Rushmore Rd, Rapid City, SD 57701

Leading Locally: Balancing Business and Community
Join an inspiring conversation with small business leaders who are deeply connected to their communities. This panel will discuss how these local entrepreneurs grow their successful businesses while making a meaningful impact locally. Panelists will share their personal journeys and challenges.

Featured Panel Speakers:

Courtney Vesely: Owner & CEO of Livewell Medical Aesthetics

Courtney Vesely, CNP, MSN, RN, BSN, is the founder and CEO of LiveWell Medical Aesthetics, established in Rapid City in 2020 after more than eight years in dermatology and aesthetic medicine. A proud Black Hills native, Courtney is passionate about loving where you live and raising her family of three boys in the community she calls home alongside her husband Tait. Her approach blends science-driven care with a holistic philosophy, helping patients age gracefully through aesthetic injectables, regenerative medicine, and personalized skincare, all while fostering a culture of care, confidence and wellbeing in the region.

Kayleigh Dixon: Owner of Dixon Coffee Company

Kayleigh Dixon is a seasoned hospitality professional and entrepreneur who has dedicated her entire career to the customer service industry, with more than 20 years rooted in the coffee industry—work that she considers both her calling and her craft. Known for her ability to blend operational excellence with genuine human connection, Kayleigh is passionate about creating spaces and experiences that foster community, consistency, and care.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in business after attending South Dakota School of Mines & Technology and Black Hills State University. Her entrepreneurial journey is marked by a love for building and nurturing small businesses that reflect strong values, thoughtful design, and long-term sustainability.

Kayleigh married her best friend, whom she met through the coffee shop, and together they are raising three children. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time in the Black Hills mountain biking, playing pickleball, and staying active on the soccer field. Her work and life are deeply intertwined with the region she calls home, and her leadership style reflects the grounded, people-first approach she brings to every endeavor.

Mike Albin: Owner of Black Hills Running Company

In 2026, Mike celebrates 21 years as a dedicated runner - a passion that has taken him around the world and connected him with lifelong friends. The dream of owning a run specialty store lived quietly in the back of his mind for years, but it wasn’t until 2020, during the shift to remote work, he decided to seriously pursue it. Eighteen months later, in June 2021, he opened the doors and stepped into an exhilarating new chapter.

Mike credits the success of the store to his exceptional staff, each bringing unique expertise and genuine care to the customers they serve. Building a business rooted in community, movement, and joy has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of his life.

Known for his early morning training sessions - affectionately called “Albin O’clock” - Mike treasures the quiet pre-dawn hours where he reflects, resets, and often comes up with his best ideas (many of which he jokes he forgets before reaching the store). His commitment to running is matched only by his commitment to fostering a welcoming, uplifting environment for everyone who walks through his doors.

Kelsey Parker: Owner of Sol Vibe Fitness Studio & In-House Counsel, RCAS

Rooted in Rapid City, Kelsey Parker, JD, brings a thoughtful blend of legal expertise, entrepreneurship, and community leadership to the Black Hills. She earned her law degree from USD and currently serves as In-House Counsel for the Rapid City Area School District, where she provides practical, solutions-focused legal guidance. Kelsey and her husband own Sol Vibe, a local boutique fitness studio grounded in movement, connection, and community. Most mornings, she can be found leading classes in the hot room. Kelsey previously owned Black Hills Woman Magazine, where she championed women, entrepreneurship, and community stories. Kelsey serves on the board of the Club for Boys and is dedicated to contributing meaningfully to the place that shaped her.

Tickets for this luncheon will be on sale until Monday, January 19 at 12pm.

Our featured corporate partner this month is Black Hills Energy. Thank you for supporting Black Hills Leadership Development!

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

The Rushmore Hotel Rapid City, 445 Mount Rushmore Road, Rapid City, United States

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

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