Billy Mawhiney

Executive Director

Billy Mawhiney grew up on a farmland in a rural Missouri town of 113. On the farm is where he learned a strong work ethic and how to be a caring neighbor. He is a member of the Wyandotte Nation, the tribe instrumental in the founding of Kansas City, Kansas and Detroit, whose tribe language family comes from the Northern Iroquoian. He began his career in afterschool while in college at the Boys & Girls Clubs in Springfield, Missouri. He spent 8 years at that developing impact programming. He would eventually take a leap into licensed school age programs at the YMCA for the next 4 years. He and his now husband Kyle would eventually move to Brooklyn, New York, where he fell in love with cooking. Billy taught cooking classes for high school students at Validus Prep in the Bronx. They moved to South Dakota to be closer to family, start a family of their own and eventually find his way back to the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sioux Empire where he was the Director of Operations.

Billy has spent his formative years in South Dakota working on advocacy at the state and federal level, expanding capacity for his organization and will now turn that energy into all afterschool programs throughout the state of South Dakota. In his spare time you can catch him in his heirloom tomato garden or teaching a cooking class at Plum’s Cooking Company in Downtown Sioux Falls.

Jeff Sebern

Director of Programs

Jeff Sebern is our new Director of Programs for the South Dakota Afterschool Network. He holds a B.S. in Biology Education with a coaching endorsement. Jeff started his career as a science teacher in the Alcester-Hudson School district where he also served as Head Girls Track Coach.

“During my time there my passion for working with kids extended into the afterschool arena as I worked part-time in the program at the school which served youth in grades K-6,” Sebern said. “After four years in the school system I began to think about alternative ways I could still work with students but in a way that affords more flexibility and focuses on the student as a whole person.  As Club Director and eventually Teen/Outreach Director with the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Sioux Empire, I was able to find that holistic strategy applied towards the kids we served.  OST programs are crucial to the development of children as they become well rounded, resilient, and ultimately successful adults.  With an additional four years of experience working in this environment, I believe I bring a unique perspective to SDAN that can help support OST programs throughout the state.”

Some of his passions outside of work are spending time with his family and pets as well as outdoor activities such as hiking and fishing. As the spring brings warm weather, you can frequently find him in his waders fishing at an area lake and enjoying the sunset and peaceful environment that comes with it.

Lisa Verdin

Director of Marketing & Engagement

Fifteen years ago, after working post-college in for-profit marketing roles, Lisa landed in the nonprofit world by chance and has spent every moment since falling in love with the missions she been able to serve.

“I have always felt fortunate to hold what I see as the best job in an organization, the storyteller. After spending the past eight years telling the story of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sioux Empire, my passion for the mission of supporting youth has become synonymous with my personal mission to spend my life doing what I can to create a better tomorrow for others. I’m excited to join SDAN to continue telling the story of the importance access to quality afterschool programming plays in creating a better tomorrow.”

Lisa holds a BA degree in Journalism/Advertising from South Dakota State University. She enjoys spending time with her husband and teenage son Dylan. 

Lisa Verdin

Director of Marketing & Engagement

Fifteen years ago, after working post-college in for-profit marketing roles, Lisa landed in the nonprofit world by chance and has spent every moment since falling in love with the missions she been able to serve.

“I have always felt fortunate to hold what I see as the best job in an organization, the storyteller. After spending the past eight years telling the story of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sioux Empire, my passion for the mission of supporting youth has become synonymous with my personal mission to spend my life doing what I can to create a better tomorrow for others. I’m excited to join SDAN to continue telling the story of the importance access to quality afterschool programming plays in creating a better tomorrow.”

Lisa holds a BA degree in Journalism/Advertising from South Dakota State University. She enjoys spending time with her husband and teenage son Dylan. 

Dawn Marie Johnson, MSW

Director of Leadership & Culture

Jake Danielson

Youth Success Manager

Jake has made it his mission to make an impact on mental health and change the way we look at it. After multiple suicide attempts and being diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and psychosis, Jake looked to create new programs and spaces to help others not feel so alone. Jake received his bachelors degree from the University of South Dakota in 2020. He works to actively change the stigma surrounding mental health through hosting the Destroying Depression podcast and co-founding the WeCan Movement. The WeCan Movement is a mental health organization that aims to bring programs and safe community spaces to young adults throughout South Dakota, building a network of supportive individuals.

“The hard part about mental health is when you struggle with it you believe truly that no one understands you. We hold these feelings in, in fear of not being heard. It’s up to us as leaders to create spaces and bring opportunities and hope to our youth struggling with these issues.  It’s my belief that the  majority of lives would be saved if we had one person we felt we could talk to.”

Jake Danielson

Youth Success Manager

Jake has made it his mission to make an impact on mental health and change the way we look at it. After multiple suicide attempts and being diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and psychosis, Jake looked to create new programs and spaces to help others not feel so alone. Jake received his bachelors degree from the University of South Dakota in 2020. He works to actively change the stigma surrounding mental health through hosting the Destroying Depression podcast and co-founding the WeCan Movement. The WeCan Movement is a mental health organization that aims to bring programs and safe community spaces to young adults throughout South Dakota, building a network of supportive individuals.

“The hard part about mental health is when you struggle with it you believe truly that no one understands you. We hold these feelings in, in fear of not being heard. It’s up to us as leaders to create spaces and bring opportunities and hope to our youth struggling with these issues.  It’s my belief that the majority of lives would be saved if we had one person we felt we could talk to.”

Karla Johnson

Grant Writer

Karla Johnson has been the Network Lead of South Dakota Afterschool Network since August 2018. Karla is the former Business Development Director of EmBe in Sioux Falls and CEO of Youth Enrichment Services. Karla is one of the pioneers of South Dakota’s School Age Care industry, creating programs in elementary schools as early as 1980. She established before and after school programs in numerous public and private elementary schools throughout southeast South Dakota and provided technical assistance to several school districts across the state as they created before and after school programs for their students. She is a past president of the South Dakota School Age Care Alliance board, a past Chair of the South Dakota Afterschool Network, and a past member of the National Afterschool Association Board of Directors. Karla is also a past President of the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra League and former member of the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors.

Karla Johnson

Grant Writer

Karla Johnson has been the Network Lead of South Dakota Afterschool Network since August 2018. Karla is the former Business Development Director of EmBe in Sioux Falls and CEO of Youth Enrichment Services. Karla is one of the pioneers of South Dakota’s School Age Care industry, creating programs in elementary schools as early as 1980. She established before and after school programs in numerous public and private elementary schools throughout southeast South Dakota and provided technical assistance to several school districts across the state as they created before and after school programs for their students. She is a past president of the South Dakota School Age Care Alliance board, a past Chair of the South Dakota Afterschool Network, and a past member of the National Afterschool Association Board of Directors. Karla is also a past President of the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra League and former member of the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors.