Feb. 12, 2018

Make-A-Wish South Dakota has named Sue Salter as its new president and CEO.

Salter was chosen by the statewide board of directors following a search to replace Paul Krueger, who has taken a role with Make-A-Wish America, the national organization.  She will begin Feb. 26.

Salter has 15 years of municipal and nonprofit management experience, combined with eight years of professional fundraising experience. She is a certified fundraising executive and comes to  Make-A-Wish from the Sanford Health Foundation, where she has served as a major gifts officer since 2014. While at Sanford she helped raise $10 million to construct Ava’s House, a multigenerational hospice center in Sioux Falls that is one of only four in the nation to offer dedicated pediatric hospice care.

She served as the executive director of the Ice Sports Association in Sioux Falls from 2010 to 2014. Before that, she was an independent consultant, providing services related to public relations, marketing, communications, fundraising, strategic planning and management. From 1998 to 2003, Salter served as the president and CEO of the Sioux Empire Fair Association.

“We are happy to welcome Sue to the Make-A-Wish team and are excited for the future under her leadership,” said Gina Hopkins, chair of the Make-A-Wish board.

The statewide chapter that creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses is headquartered in Sioux Falls and has an office in Rapid City. It has a staff of six and 250 volunteers.

“Make-A-Wish South Dakota has a proud history of bringing joy and hope to courageous children and their families at times they need it most,” Salter said. “Its dedicated board of directors and the stalwart leadership of Paul Krueger have placed it among the most important benevolent organizations in our state.”