Governor Noem Announces Leadership Changes

Pat Powers

Governor Noem Announces Leadership Changes

PIERRE, S.D. – Governor Kristi Noem today announced the departure of Herb Jones as Chief of Staff to the Governor’s Office and the appointment of Joshua Shields to serve as Chief of Staff and Beth Hollatz to serve as Deputy Chief of Staff. Jones served on the campaign for governor last year, participated in the transition team, and served as Chief of Staff since January.

“Herb is a special gift to this state. Time after time, he’s stepped up and answered the call to public service, to advance South Dakota, and I am thankful for his leadership on my team,” said Noem. “It takes a special set of skills to help get a governor’s office up and running, and I will be forever grateful to Herb for putting in the hours to help get our office going so we can accomplish some big things for South Dakota.

“It’s been a great honor to help lead Governor Noem’s team,” said Jones. “I won’t miss the 4-hour commute from my house in Yankton, but I will miss all of the great people on the governor’s team. It was always my intention to get things set up and then get back to being a grandpa. We had some big wins in the first year like improving broadband, expanding pheasant habitat, and ramping up efforts to address the meth crisis. Governor Noem cares deeply about the next generation of South Dakotans, and the team is set up to continue delivering on the agenda she’s outlined.”

Shields has served as the Chief of Policy & Communications in the Governor’s Office since January. Previously, Shields worked in politics, policy, and communications in varying capacities including roles with U.S. Senator John Thune, then-Congresswoman Noem, and in the private sector. Shields also served as Noem’s campaign manager for her first congressional run in 2010, and for Thune’s re-election bid in 2016.

“It’s an honor to serve Governor Noem and our state in this capacity,” said Shields. “Whether it’s economic development, putting families first, or increasing transparency and connectivity, Governor Noem is focused on delivering results for South Dakotans. It’s my job to help her make that happen.”

Hollatz has served as Senior Advisor to Governor Kristi Noem since January. Prior to her current role, Hollatz spent eight years with then-Congresswoman Noem, first as Northeast director and then as state director. Hollatz also worked on all four Kristi for Congress campaigns.

“When I first met the governor years ago, I knew she was going to do big things. It’s been a huge privilege and, at times an adventure, to help her along the way,” said Hollatz. “Governor Noem wakes up every day thinking about how to make South Dakota better, I’m excited to be a part of that work.”

“I’ve known Josh and Beth for years. They know how I work and what I want to accomplish. I’m excited to have them leading my office as we lead the state,” concluded Noem.

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33 thoughts on “Governor Noem Announces Leadership Changes”

  2. This is the most uneducated administration ever. Shields is a paranoid spook that is painful to try and talk to. Where did Hollatz come from??

    1. If you have to ask, you should probably educate yourself.

      https://sd.gov/governor/staff/staff.aspx and I know there are things they left out. Josh has plenty of experience in both the private & public sector, and is a good pick. Beth is literally on everyone’s list of favorite people in South Dakota politics.

    1. Where was she educated at and what experience does she bring to the administration? Who got her senior advisor position?

      1. Beth has been with Kristi since day 1. If you don’t know her then you have no business asking about her.

        1. I thought that that is why you would ask about Ms Hollatz, if you do not know her or where you she was educated, and what her experience was before joining Noem. Herb Jones is a big loss.

        2. And from day 1 means she was with Kristi since Kristi started her campaign for Congress years ago. Beth is a very capable, hard working individual who stays in the background.

  4. If leadership in the legislature thought that the administration was difficult to work with last session, wait till the next one.

    2. Beth is a pro. Former small business owner with real common sense. She has more street smarts and integrity than anyone I know. Pierre needs more like her.

  5. Not impressed.

    I like Herb always friendly, I agree with the other comments Shields is totally overrated I have NEVER understood why he is so well liked

      1. This is literally your 4th or 5th post under this topic attacking Josh. We get it. Your ax has been sufficiently ground.

  6. I don’t get the concern about personality. Is it required?
    I worked with somebody who had a lot of personality. Poorest excuse for a nurse I ever encountered; she would sit at the desk, hold court, entertain the paramedics and EMTs all night long, but she never took care of her patients. Never did the required assessments (just copied the previous shift’s) never checked on them, nothing. But she had lots of fans who thought she was great fun to spend time with, who failed to notice she never did any work.
    If I were hiring somebody the last attribute I would be looking for is personality.

  7. The vitriol by a few here and on FB concerning everything Governor Noem puts out or is written about her isn’t just disrespectful but also disingenuous. 8th grade skill sets at best.

    1. Caveman, her detractors are all dopers who are mad because she vetoed the hemp bill. Hence the inane complaints. The more we hear from them the more evidence we have that marijuana causes stupidity.

      1. Oh Anne, it may be time to lay off the bottle for a bit…

        You realize that a majority of the legislature (and the populace) support legal hemp, right?

    1. Not since college. I used to put away entire Sara Lee Cheesecakes all by myself. With cherries. I Could consume entire bunches of bananas and cans of Hershey’s syrup.
      When I say marijuana makes you stupid, I speak from experience.

      There’s a book titled Child’s Garden of Grass. I recall a story in it about how once the author thought he had solved the great mystery of the universe, (the reconciliation of general relativity and quantum mechanics, I suppose) while high, so he wrote it down. It turned out to be the observation that whether or not you like pickles, they are the only thing you can make out of cucumbers.

      Marijuana makes you stupid. Really stupid.

  10. Anne makes a good point in her first post. When the Judicial Qualifications Commission does background interviews for judicial candidates, they will always ask if the person has a good “judicial temperament”. A buddy of mine made a good point — who cares! Its like an umpire. I don’t care if he’s frowning or smiling when calling balls and strikes – I just want him to get it right. Competency is the key. Personality is less important than competency, although you shouldn’t construe that as a comment anybody’s personality – Anne’s well-taken point is that it is a secondary consideration.

  11. Maybe she needs to clean up some jobs so she can give more raises to her daughter and son-in-law. Gotta get everyone on the payroll even if they don’t do anything, just like Gear-up.

    1. The Hunter Biden business makes me think the Governor’s daughter could make a lot more money working for a health care system or energy company.

  12. Herb Jones served well with class in the transition and throughout this past year. He deserves our sincere appreciation. While Herb cannot be duplicated, the Governor’s appointments of Josh Shields and Beth Hollatz are nothing short of terrific. Josh’s broad based experience and work ethic will serve our Governor well and Beth’s strong loyalty, attention to detail and close relationship with Kristi will only enhance this administration’s fast paced common sense style. Heartfelt congratulations to these two public servants.

      1. Typical cowardly comment. No substance, no refutation of anything noted, not even the intestinal fortitude to own it.

  14. Personality matters a lot. The Chief of Staff has to work with the other cabinet members and have interaction with the legislature.

    Considering he’s super quiet and has no personality I see difficult times ahead

  15. I just wonder what is the next big thing she is always taking about? Does she have anything that is the next big thing?

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