2017 Conference

Keynote Speaker

My name is Erica Horvatin and I am a Meteorologist

Erica Horvatin

I work at ABC 57 News in South Bend, Indiana. My love for weather sprouted at a young age. Unlike most people, I knew exactly what I wanted to do by the time I was in elementary school. I dreamed of being a broadcast meteorologist, so I attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and studied Atmospheric Sciences and Communication. During college I participated in a stormchasing trip, where I fell in love with weather even more and saw my first tornado! I also interned with WCIA, a local news station. After graduating, I accepted my first meteorologist position right here in Rapid City! While in Rapid City, I worked as a weekend meteorologist and reporter at NewsCenter1. (I was the only female meteorologist in South Dakota!) It was a lot of fun - I reported live, talking about blizzards, tornado damage and fire weather. I also spoke to students at the Women in Science Conference last year, because I believe it is so important for girls to overcome obstacles and follow their dreams! At the end of August, I decided to take a new weekend meteorologist position in South Bend. I love preparing people for their day by telling them the forecast, and keeping the public safe during severe weather events. One quote that has inspired me throughout my life, and has helped me get to where I am today is: "The future belongs to the those who believe in the beauty of their dreams" by Eleanor Roosevelt. I am thankful to be here today, and I hope I am able to inspire some of you to follow your dreams too!.

Schools Attending

Sponsors

Exhibitors

  • American Engineering Testing
  • Black Hills National Forest
  • Black Hills Power
  • Black Hills State University
  • Casey Peterson and Associates, Ltd.
  • Caterpillar Corporation
  • CRETEX Concrete Products
  • Delta Dental of South Dakota
  • Dynamic Kids Therapy
  • Ferber Engineering
  • Hotel Alex Johnson
  • Interstate Engineering
  • Ketel Thorstensen
  • Midcontinent Testing Laboratories
  • Rapid Precious Metals
  • RBC Wealth Management
  • RESPEC Consulting and Services
  • South Dakota Dental Association
  • South Dakota Engineering Society
  • South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
  • South Dakota Space Grant Consortium
  • Summit Signs and Supply
  • West River Electric Association
  • Western Dakota Technical Institute
  • Zonta Club of the Black Hills
  • Black Hills Corporation
  • Black Hills National Forest
  • Black Hills State University
  • Black Hills State University - W.I.S.E. & Chemistry
  • Caterpillar Corporation
  • Clinical Laboratory
  • The Mammoth Site
  • Midcontinent Testing Laboratories
  • NOAA, National Weather Service
  • Natural Resource Conservation Service
  • Rapid City Fire/EMS
  • SD DOA Wildland Fire Suppression
  • SD National Guard
  • SDSU West River Nursing Department
  • Star Base
  • USD, Nursing
  • US Geological Survey
  • Western Dakota Technical Institute
  • SDSM&T Army ROTC
  • SDSM&T CAMP
  • SDSM&T Chemical and Biological Engineering Department
  • SDSM&T Civil and Environmental Engineering Department
  • SDSM&T Electrical and Computer Engineering Department
  • SDSM&T Industrial Engineering
  • SDSM&T Geology and Geological Engineering Department
  • SDSM&T Materials and Metallurgical Engineering Department
  • SDSM&T Mechanical Engineering
  • SDSM&T Mining Engineering and Management
  • SDSM&T Museum of Geology
  • SDSM&T WISE