We Know Rural

Berk is our Director of Policy and Communities where he helps rural communities tackle workforce challenges like housing, childcare, and employee attraction. Originally from Beresford, SD, he grew up across the Dakotas and earned his degree in Communication, Legal Institutions, Economics, and Government from American University in Washington, D.C. Berk’s career has taken him from South Dakota political campaigns to national advocacy work in D.C., where he helped secure funding to fight global infectious diseases. Most recently, he led a major political nonprofit in South Dakota, where he revitalized operations and expanded the organization’s impact. He now lives in Sioux Falls with his wife, Keeley.