Avera McKennan Announces Board Appointments
Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center announces appointments to its Board of Trustees for its new fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025.
Pat Costello continues serving as chair and Jennifer Bunkers will continue serving as vice chair.
Pat Costello is the market manager for Builders FirstSource. Prior to that he was President / CEO of Schoeneman’s Building Materials Center (now a division of Builders FirstSource) in Sioux Falls and has served as Commissioner of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and Sioux Falls City Councilor. He is past chair of the Sioux Falls Development Foundation Board Executive Committee and holds a degree from Arizona State University.
Jennifer Bunkers is a partner at Redstone Law Firm and has 18 years of experience in law, with previous experience in health care billing and reimbursement. She holds a law degree from the University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law and bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Sioux Falls. She previously served as chair of the Avera Foundation Board, and currently serves on the board of directors for Volunteers of America – Dakotas Foundation, Inc., South Dakota Governor’s Trust Task Force, and the South Dakota Ag Foundation.
Tamera Sturm, DO, joins the board as incoming Chief of Staff at Avera McKennan. She is a hospitalist at Avera McKennan, specializing in care for inpatients. She holds a medical degree from Des Moines University Osteopathic Medical Center and completed residency in internal medicine in Sioux Falls through the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine.
Avera McKennan thanks outgoing board member, Laurie Knutson and outgoing Avera McKennan Chief of Staff, Brenda Kallemeyn, MD. Jeff Gordon is an outgoing member of the board due to the end of his term as chair of the Avera McKennan Region Philanthropy Council. Current board member Harriet Yocum will now serve as chair for the Avera McKennan Philanthropy Council as well. Yocum is known as a business owner, civic volunteer and an advocate for social justice.
“Service on the Board of Trustees is an important aspect of the Avera Health ministry. People from within our organization and the greater community bring their talents and experience together to provide guidance and direction,” said Ron Place, MD, Regional President and CEO of Avera McKennan. “Avera McKennan patients, families and staff ultimately benefit from the insights they share and we are so grateful for their service.”
