G. Mark Mickelson, President/Owner

G. Mark Mickelson founded Mickelson & Company, LLC based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in early 2006. Mickelson & Company’s practice includes arranging in excess of  $100 million in annual financings in the rail industry for over 150 railroads and a growing practice in the area of renewable energy and the associated environmental incentives. Mickelson is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive) and a member of the South Dakota State Bar Association.

Prior to starting Mickelson & Company, Mickelson and his partner at Mickelson & Newell handled the corporate divestiture process for over 50 locations in a mechanical sub-contracting subsidiary owned by Lennox International, a Richardson, Texas, based Fortune 500 Company. From 1997 through 2003, Mark was employed by Northwestern Corporation, a public utilities company headquartered in Sioux Falls and from 1993 to 1996 he was an executive with Hegg Companies, a Sioux Falls real estate development company (where he arranged his first tax credit based financing).  

Since 2004, Mickelson has also been involved as an active owner in the ongoing development of 200 acres of land (light industrial, office and commercial) in northwest Sioux Falls, SD.

In 1993, Mickelson graduated Magna Cum Laude from Harvard Law School in Cambridge, Massachusetts and became a licensed member of the South Dakota State Bar.  In 1988, Mickelson graduated with the highest honors from the University of South Dakota with a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration and Accounting. From 1988 to 1990, Mark was an audit staff member for Deloitte & Touche in Minneapolis, MN. 

Mickelson serves on the South Dakota Governor's Board of Economic Development, is Treasurer of the Sioux Falls Development Foundation, President of the Downtown Sioux Falls Rotary Club, Chair of the South Dakota Community Foundation and a trustee and supporter of the University of South Dakota Foudation.

Mark and his wife, Cynthia Hart Mickelson (who serves as Treasurer for U.S. Senator John Thune's campaign organization) have three young boys and live in Sioux Falls.

Mark has run one marathon (Boston- 1993), is an eagle scout, and is the son South Dakota's late Governor George S. Mickelson, and Linda Mickelson Graham.  Mark enjoys hunting, fishing, golfing and his children's activity of the season.

Ryan T. Pidde, Director

Ryan Pidde joined Mickelson & Company in May of 2008. From May 2004 through April 2008, Pidde worked as a Business Development Representative for the South Dakota Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) where he was involved in business recruitment and advised and arranged financings for a variety of energy, manufacturing and technology companies.

Prior to working for the GOED, Pidde interned with the South Dakota Investment Council as an Investment Analyst.

In 2004, Pidde graduated from the University of South Dakota with a Bachelors of Business Administration and Finance. Pidde received additional education at the University of Arizona (January 2005), and University of Oklahoma (Graduate of Economic Development Institute, 2006).

Pidde is involved in Sioux Falls Synergy, a young professional's organziation in Sioux Falls, and serves as a member of the executive committee. His other interests include golf, snow skiing, live music, reading, and the Chicago Cubs.

Cynthia H. Mickelson, General Counsel

Cynthia joined Mickelson & Company in June 2006.  She is an active member of the South Dakota State Bar Association.  Her background as an attorney specializing in real estate, trusts and tax work fits the needs of Mickelson & Company.  She also has been a successful grant writer, focusing on Rural Development projects in South Dakota.  Through this practice, she has helped cleints receive over $7,000,000 in grant funds.

After graduating from Miller High School in Miller, South Dakota, she attended the University of South Dakota as a Presidential Alumni Scholar.  She graduated with an Honors Degree in History and Political Science and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.  She then attended the University of South Dakota School of Law, where she was the Symposium Editor for the South Dakota Law Review and inducted into The Order of the Barristers.  In addition, she was a semi-finalist at the Pace University National Environmental Law Moot Court Competition.

Following graduation, Cynthia was the law clerk for the Honorable Robert A. Amundson, Justice for the South Dakota Supreme Court.  She then joined Richard Cutler, Kent Cutler and Brian Donahoe to form Cutler, Donahoe & Mickelson, LLP.  After having her first son, she retired from private practice.

Cynthia is married to G. Mark Mickelson and they have three sons.  Now that her children have entered school, she is enjoying the work at Mickelson & Company.  In addition to her work, she enjoys volunteering at her sons' schools, traveling and running.