Lori Cowman has been employed by Planning & Development District III in Yankton, SD for the past 25 years. She was named Executive Director in November 2023. Her main duties include the overall responsibility of management and performance of the staff, implementation of policies and procedures, maintenance of professional relationships with government agencies and partnering entities, securing revenues for operations, and serving as the Administrator of the Areawide Business Council, Inc., a regional revolving loan fund that serves 15 counties in Southeast and Southcentral SD. Before joining the staff at District III, Lori worked for First National Bank South Dakota in lending for 9 years. Lori is a graduate of the University of SD (BA-Accounting) and has earned the designation of Economic Development Finance Professional from Grow America fka The National Development Council. She is also a graduate of the American Bankers Association National Consumer Credit School and was named Minority Small Business Champion of the Year in 2005 by the South Dakota Small Business Administration.