About the team

Thursday, March 22, 2007

Our team, like all other Group Study Exchange teams, is made up of a leader who is a member of Rotary, and team members recruited from outside the organization.

Team leader Kate Campbell retired last fall from Wells Fargo Banks where she worked for sixteen years in Human Resources and Learning and Development. This spring she will be teaching a business writing class at the University of Sioux Falls, bringing her back to her original career as a writing teacher. She is dedicated to lifelong learning, holding an undergraduate English/music degree from Concordia College in Moorhead, an MA in Education from University of Minnesota, and an MBA from University of South Dakota. She also does a lot of volunteer work, currently with South Dakota Humanities.

Team member David Feuerstein has worked at Wells Fargo Bank in Sioux Falls for many years in a variety of roles. He is currently a project manager dealing with equipment rollouts to banking stores. He is looking forward to “[enhancing and building] upon his leadership, communication, and presentation skills” on this trip and to “gaining an appreciation . . . of the South Korean culture and vocation.” Dave graduated from SDSU in mathematics and education. He visited Japan for a week within the past year or two.

Team member Kyle Quanbeck has been employed at Wells Fargo Education Finance Services since 2001 as a marketing consultant. He is long-time organist at Peace Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls. He explains that his teacher in an International Business class sparked his interest in this trip by recommending that students get “immersed in the global marketplace.” Kyle is also looking forward to “learning the musical style and traditions” of South Korea. He is an Augustana College graduate who has completed his MBA coursework at University of Sioux Falls and is working on his thesis.

Team member Jessica Walters has worked at the USD Alumni Association in Vermillion since 2004 as a student, a volunteer, and now as an employee. She is a USD graduate in English and history and plans to pursue a graduate degree to prepare herself to become a Dean of Students or Director of Alumni in higher education. She “[believes] in the values behind this trip” and wants to help open up the communication barriers between people. She declares that this trip will “change my life and the lives of those around me for the better.”

Team member Doug Rohde is a lifelong musician and currently teaches piano and guitar at his studio in Denison, Iowa, at Conner’s Corner Bed & Breakfast, which he co-manages. He spent two years writing and conducting music for original theatrical works at Interact Center in Minneapolis, in addition to twenty years playing jazz piano and Hammond organ in Twin Cities clubs. Doug also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from Michigan State University (1983). He got involved in this effort because “music, like language, is deeply rooted in culture. We grow up with the music of our families, our faith communities, and our countries. I hope to return home with new friendships, new music, and new ways of bringing music to my students.”

Alternate team member Steve Lawson works in Brookings at Rural Technologies, Inc. as a viral immunologist and grants manager. He has specialized in swine diseases during his graduate and professional career as a research microbiologist, studying at the South Dakota State University and at the University of California—Davis. He seeks “to improve agricultural production and society as a whole” with his work, and is passionate about the impact “biological altruism” can have on the world. Steve works with colleagues from many other countries at Rural Technologies, Inc., and has traveled internationally within the Western hemisphere. He and his wife live in Sioux Falls.