A Firm Legacy of Service, Rooted in Community Care
A Firm Legacy
of Service
At Woods Fuller, service is more than a tradition—it’s a commitment woven into the fabric of who we are.
For generations, our attorneys have supported nonprofit organizations, community projects, and local causes across the Midwest. Through lasting relationships and quiet efforts, we’re proud to help strengthen the communities we call home.
Over $1 Million
Donated since the beginning of 2020.
We’ve given back over
$115K
to the hungry and homeless—12% of giving since 2020.
We’ve donated almost
$150K
to women, children, and family causes—16% of giving since 2020.
We’ve contributed more than
$135K
to education-related organizations – 14% of giving since 2020.
Shared Values
Across the Firm
Not only is our commitment to community a part of our firm’s beliefs, our attorneys and team members exemplify this in their own community service involvements. Learn about our attorney’s individual commitments to community.
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![Dan Harmelink]()
DAN HARMELINK
"One of the benefits of being a lawyer is that non-profit organizations often love to have lawyers on their boards, so there is ample opportunity to be involved and use our skills in a way that gives back to the community. There is a very rich tradition of lawyers taking advantage of these opportunities, and that tradition is still going strong today."
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![Justin Smith]()
JUSTIN SMITH
“I serve in municipal, political, and nonprofit roles in order to give back to the community. Throughout my professional life, I have been fortunate to live and work in a community that offers so many opportunities. Serving in these roles allows me to provide voluntary support and create the same types of opportunities for others.”
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![Jesse Flynn]()
JESSE FLYNN
“I have been grateful for all of the help and support that I have received over the years, and owe a debt of gratitude to the community. By giving back, my hope is that it will improve the local area and lead to tangible, positive changes. Woods Fuller has always encouraged volunteering and serving others, and has a strong tradition of supporting local organizations.”
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![Melanie Carpenter]()
MELANIE CARPENTER
“My interest in community involvement lies heavily with organizations focused on children and families. With the busy schedules everyone leads today, organizations that promote and support families spending time together, learning, and being active are so important. I have had a lot of fun working with these organizations and am privileged to have been able to work with them.”
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![Justin Bergeson]()
JUSTIN BERGESON
“I like the sense of community that volunteer and community organizations develop. Both volunteers and recipients benefit from community members helping each other.”
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![Heather Springer]()
HEATHER SPRINGER
“Woods has a deep level of community commitment. We consider ourselves part of the community that we serve through legal services in South Dakota and Iowa. I personally use my volunteering time to support the personal commitments I believe in by serving and advocating for persons with disability and supporting my church and my children’s schools.”
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![Lisa Maguire]()
LISA MAGUIRE
“I hope the Woods Fuller legacy is reflective of its strong community involvement. Our lawyers and staff support many community organizations in various ways, as we all feel supporting our community is truly important and makes for a better city (and surrounding areas) in which to live.”
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![Craig Krogstad]()
CRAIG KROGSTAD
“As a member of the Sioux Falls community, I think it is important to give back to the community that supports us. At Woods Fuller, we have been blessed with many years of success, and it is important that support the many important organizations that support Sioux Falls.”
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![Tom Schartz]()
TOM SCHARTZ
“I give back to my community because I want to help make it a better place to live. The organizations I belong to do that in a variety of ways—by fostering positive relationships, providing opportunities for growth, and helping those in need.”
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![Amanda Bahena]()
AMANDA BAHENA
“I enjoy community involvement, because I believe we’re made to live in community and to serve and support each other. I view it more as being involved and living within the community, and not as giving back. I usually leave any community “service” project feeling uplifted and refilled.”
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![Sander Kline]()
SANDER KLINE
“Sioux Falls has always been, and continues to be, graced by an extraordinarily proactive and involved business community. I hope that Woods Fuller continues this legacy and maintains a reputation of not simply being a good business partner, but a great community partner.”
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![Susan Rasmussen]()
SUSAN RASMUSSEN
“Through its commitment to community outreach, Woods Fuller provides an exemplary model of the positive impact a successful business can have on its local community. Woods achieves this impact not only with monetary donations, but with direct encouragement and support of staff and attorneys to volunteer for local organizations.”
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![Gabby Kauk]()
GABBY KAUK
"I am grateful for Woods Fuller’s emphasis on community involvement and that it encourages attorneys and staff to serve our community. Being from Sioux Falls, this community is important to me, and it is exciting to see the impact community involvement has had, and no doubt will continue to have, on Sioux Falls and the surrounding area."
Purpose in Practice
Get to know our attorneys through their stories of service, support, and the people and causes that inspire them most.
Melanie Carpenter
“I tell young attorneys what I was told when I started; Sioux Falls has been good to us as individuals and as a firm, and it’s rewarding to give back to the community that supports you.”
Melanie is a dedicated board member at Embe, Melanie supports programs that empower women, children, and families.
Amanda Bahena
"I see myself as just being a human in a community... Sometimes I'm the one that needs support, and then sometimes I'm in a place that I can support others—and it's just being human to me."
As Board President of Vi Bella Serves, she’s helping guide an organization that creates life-changing opportunities through meaningful work and community development.
Jim Wiederrich
“If what was instilled in me by those in charge when I started continues for another generation, that’s all the success there needs to be.”
From volunteering at McCrossan Boys Ranch to serving on the Sioux Falls Housing & Redevelopment Commission and working with Sioux Empire United Way, Jim leads with heart, purpose, and a deep commitment to helping others.
J. Vincent Jones
"The values and principles that drive my community service are just the desire to leave things better than the way I found them and to make this community a better place.”
Heath Oberloh
“I'm hopeful that, through our work not only for our clients but also for the community here at Woods Fuller, our firm can also have a long-lasting effect on the community.”
Jen Wosje
"I'm passionate about community involvement because it brings a sense of fulfillment and inspires others. By leading through example, we can inspire a new generation of lawyers to value and prioritize community service alongside their professional responsibilities."
