Debra Owen

Senior Advisor, South Dakota

With a passion for advocacy relating to community needs, Debra Owen works with public officials by helping solve problems using facts that are put into context. She has skills when demonstrating how issues are interconnected and helping affected communities understand how policies can be strategically beneficial to residents and taxpayers.

As a licensed attorney with more than 20 years of advocacy at the local, state, and federal level, Debra has implemented strategies utilizing relationships with one-on-one discussions with elected officials, community stakeholders, and influencers.

As an example, while working as vice president of government relations of the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce, Debra led a statewide effort in South Dakota to provide driver’s license manuals and examinations in Spanish. She built a statewide coalition that led to the passage of the bill. Later her efforts were recognized with the award of “Policy of the Year” from chambers of commerce across the Midwest.

Debra has worked as the chief administrative officer for the City Council of Sioux Falls, senior attorney for South Dakota Department of Human Resources, vice president and chief lobbyist for the South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations, and vice president and chief lobbyist for the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce.

Debra Owen is active in her community and serves as a mentor through the Sioux 52 Mentoring Initiative. She serves as a deacon at Westminster Presbyterian.

• Public Relations