vWELCOME continued from page 5 the opportunity to do what she loves professionally in her hometown area. Besides the amazing opportunity, she is most excited about the parallels culturally between Omaha and Yankton. Yankton and Omaha both have festivals, lakes and the river, numerous community organizations, and the ambiance of the downtown area. “So I think when Yankton, as a whole, can get its retail and dining game pumping on all cylinders it will definitely be a force to be reckoned with in the Southeast South Dakota/Northeast Nebraska retail landscape.” Although Yankton and Omaha are similar, Kasi said there still is a difference between them market wise. One of the biggest differences Kasi notices is the sense of community within Yankton. “I have received such a wonderfully warm welcome from everyone I’ve met so far and these connections allow me to market the shopping center much more effectively.” When shopping at a mall or shopping center, most people aren’t thinking about all the background work that takes place to keep the place running and keep us interested in shopping. Most people don’t think about the marketing director of the mall. As the marketing director, Kasi works with the mall manager, Gary Sudbeck. Gary is based out of Sunset Plaza Mall in Norfolk, so on a day-to-day basis Kasi is the main one at the mall. Kasi’s job duties cover a wide range of tasks; such as driving sales for retailers, driving visits to the mall, facilitating a positive relationship with the community, visual merchandising of the property, advertising, supporting leasing efforts, day-to-day tasks, and reporting any urgent matters that may pose a risk to shoppers or the mall in general. The creative aspect is Kasi’s favorite and most exciting part of the job. She loves forging community partnerships and creating exciting events for people to enjoy. She also gets to think outsidethe-box and create surprises for the customers and retailers to enjoy. Kasi really loves the satisfaction of bringing a new retailer to the market and enjoying all the excitement that surrounds a new store opening. One of the more challenging aspects of the job is attracting new retailers. Leasing reps in a larger market have an easier time attracting new retail to their markets. However, Kasi believes in her team with Dial and is impressed so far with the dedication and commitment. Kasi views her time in Omaha as a bonus to what she can bring to Yankton and the Yankton Mall. “Working for the second-largest mall developer in the nation provided me with access to numerous tools and ideas that have been implemented across the country. I understand what shoppers in the larger markets are looking for in a retail destination and I definitely plan to incorporate some of those same ideas here.” Growing up in a small town also gave her a unique advantage for working in Omaha and now here. “I think people in small towns have an overwhelming drive to succeed. I think that small towns instill a sense of responsibility because you are not able to hide in the crowd and this too fosters the importance of honesty. I think that growing up in a small town sometimes drives you to think outside-the-box because you don’t have as many resources. These qualities are absolutely important in today’s business landscape; you have to be self-driven, honest, resourceful, and creative.” Kasi sees exciting opportunities for the Yankton Mall and what lies ahead. She views the mall as a blank slate which gives her a lot of flexibility to make it even better. Right now, Kasi is focusing on the visual standards of the mall; which would not only include the current vacant spaces but to also work with the current retailers individually on their visual merchandising. With the warm welcome and community support, Kasi has already started to make a lot of connections which will allow her to begin reintroducing the mall as a community hub. To do this, she wants to incorporate a lot of community events with local organizations centered at the mall. And she’s in talks with several partners about a new bridal show that she hopes to execute this fall. One thing Kasi really hopes to bring to Yankton is a new retail option for all categories; men’s, women’s, and children. She would also love to see some new home décor, beauty supplies, and sit-down and fast-casual restaurants. In Kasi’s down time from cultivating a new and exciting shopping center for Yankton, she loves to volunteer. In Omaha she served on several different boards and committees in various positions. She was the Vice President of Communications for the Fashion Institute Guild; she served on the Habitat for Humanity Restore Advisory Committee; she served as Operations Chair for the International Council of Shopping Centers-Omaha Chapter; and she also vWELCOME continued on page 12 Complete Dentistry For The Whole Family •Friendly Staff • Great Environment • Beautiful Smiles Missing teeth? Trouble chewing? Dr. Reardon has extensive experience in Dental Implants. Schedule an appointment today! 8vHERVOICEvJULY/AUGUST 2016 You can view our website at yanktondentist.com to find out more about our office William Reardon, DDS 1100 Broadway Ave., Yankton • (605)-668-CARE:)2273 Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8am-5pm • Closed Saturday & Sunday