- Up-And-Comer
Staff
1 month ago
March 25, 2025
This week’s Up-and-Comer is Erin VanderVeen, technology adviser for Marco Technologies.
Name: Erin VanderVeen
Age: 29
Hometown: I originally grew up in St. Joseph, Minnesota. From there, I went to college in Marshall, Minnesota, at SMSU and graduated with my degree in marketing. I lived in Marshall since 2013 until recently relocating to Harrisburg.
What brought you to Sioux Falls?
Ultimately, my career was the driving force for moving to the Sioux Falls area. As my work territory expanded to include Sioux Falls, my family and I decided it would be the right time to move across the border to South Dakota to be more centralized for my customer base.
What keeps you in Sioux Falls?
We are looking forward to living here long term for not only work-related reasons, but we also have friends in the area, family closer to us than we did before, and the food scene is a huge perk that we did not have prior in a rural community!
What’s your favorite thing about your job?
I have been selling print and technology services at Marco for six years now, and I don’t think I could pick one favorite thing about my job. I truly love that every day is different, and my customers drive my schedule. If they need me on-site, on a virtual meeting or a phone call, I’m ready to service them! There is something satisfying about building those relationships to the point where a customer will lean on me as their main industry expert when it comes to their print infrastructure and technology needs.
How did you get connected to your industry?
I sold food service prior when I graduated college, and deep down, I always knew that it wouldn’t be my long-term career. I was searching LinkedIn one day, and a sales position opened in southwest Minnesota for Marco. Growing up near the headquarters, I knew that Marco was a growing business that had a great brand reputation around the Midwest area. I took a leap of faith, applied and was hired shortly after!
Describe your workplace in three words.
We love coffee.
What is something someone might be surprised to learn about you?
All four of us — my husband, my 2.5-year-old daughter and my 10-month-old daughter, including myself — all have red hair! I’m also a total foodie and love cooking/baking. There is nothing I’ll shy away from eating or try making at home. My “specialty” would be cheesecake.
What’s your favorite way to give back to your community?
Since we just moved, I’m starting to learn about all the different organizations that Sioux Falls offers in order to give back. When I lived in Marshall, I loved baking for our church whenever there was an event or funeral in need of treats. I am also a huge advocate for the WoMen’s Rural Advocacy program in southwest Minnesota. Every time I have a chance, I’m always finding ways to donate for the women, men and children that need assistance through their organization. Families and children especially have a place in my heart, and I hope to help more in the Sioux Falls area as we settle in.
What’s one business you’d like to see in Sioux Falls that isn’t here now?
I don’t know what would be missing quite yet, but I will say one business that I was so happy to see available for this area would be Flourish Wellness & Birth Co. I’m a huge supporter of all things regarding informed birth options, lactation consulting and women’s health! I’m that friend that loves to sit down for coffee and hear all about a birth story and support mamas that need to be lifted up! More areas should offer supportive businesses like these, and I hope to see this industry grow more and more. Marshall has the Nurturey Parenting Studio, and they were a godsend for me with my children.
If you had $1 million to start a business, what kind of business would it be?
I would use that $1 million to help my husband’s landscaping business, Solid Stone Landscaping, get off the ground a little bit, and the rest would go towards additional day care locations/resources for parents.
Tags: Marco
