SMSU Foundation Staff

Nathan Polfliet received his undergraduate degree from SMSU in 2000 and returned to receive his MBA in 2011.  After working at the South Dakota State University Foundation for over 11 years, Nathan started a consulting business and has worked with nonprofit organizations across the country.  Nathan met his wife Angel while attending SMSU and they have three children, Noah, Nicholas, and Alexis. Nathan’s family has deep roots in Marshall and he is proud that Nicholas is following in his parent’s footsteps by attending SMSU to pursue a degree in Computer Science.

A native of Minneota, Rustin is an SMSU Graduate with a BA in Speech Communication with a Marketing Minor. He spent over a decade in the sports industry working for professional and summer collegiate baseball teams. He also has experience working for a non-profit and had success in positions with two corporations.

Prior to joining the SMSU Foundation in the spring of 2022, Rustin was Assistant General Manager of the Kenosha Kingfish. He was a key member of the front office that was named 2015 Northwoods League Organization of the Year. With his role, Rustin oversaw in season media, baseball analytics and statistics, served as Executive Producer for webcasts and led the club’s outside ticket and groups sales efforts in Southeast Wisconsin and Northeast Illinois.

Rustin was a senior member of the Omaha Storm Chasers front office when the team was named Pacific Coast League Organization of the Year. He was a major part of team’s rebranding and the opening of their new stadium, Werner Park. With the Storm Chasers, he did outside ticket and group sales including off day events and luxury suite leases. He designed and managed the team’s summer internship program and raised funds for the Ronald McDonald House through a game day promotion. He volunteered at Boys and Girls Club baseball clinics, Open Door Mission and organized a community service day with coworkers. After working with the Storm Chasers, Rustin was with MDA in the non-profit sector. As Fundraising Coordinator at MDA he ran the annual Gala, managed the outbound call center and tripled revenue as lead of the Casey’s Mobile Shamrock promotion.

Rustin started his career in Sioux Falls, SD. His first positions were with corporations Esurance and Revonet. He then worked with the Sioux Falls Canaries baseball team. With the Canaries, as Director of Group Sales he was an integral part of the front office being named American Association Organization of the Year as the team set club ticket sales, revenue and attendance records. He also managed off–site food and beverage as the Canaries partnered with the University of Sioux Falls to provide concessions and catering at USF sporting and social events. In Sioux Falls, he volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and served one season with the Sioux Falls Storm indoor football team as game day music coordinator.

Kim Guenther joins the Southwest Minnesota State University as Assistant Director of Development, bringing a deep commitment to higher education, community engagement, and relationship-centered philanthropy.

Before returning to SMSU, Guenther served as an Educator with University of Minnesota Extension, where she worked closely with communities across Minnesota to design leadership development and civic engagement programs. Her work emphasized collaboration, inclusive leadership, and connecting university resources to local needs.

Guenther previously spent ten years at SMSU as Director of Concurrent Enrollment, leading statewide partnerships with high schools and driving significant enrollment and revenue growth.

She holds a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Minnesota State University, Mankato, and a bachelor’s degree in Corporate Communications from Simpson College, along with certification in Emotional Intelligence assessment.

Kim lives in Marshall with her husband, Christian, and their three sons—McCoy, Coby, and Cade.

Devin Gorter joined the SMSU Athletics department in December 2021, as the Assistant Athletic Director- External Affairs. His responsibilities include organization and implementation of athletic department fundraising, corporate sponsorships and the athletic department scholarship endowment program. He also assists in fundraising and marketing strategies for special events hosted by the SMSU Athletics Department.
 
Prior to joining SMSU, Devin was a corporate partnerships executive with the Minnesota United FC for two years. He was responsible for developing & maintaining corporate relationships with new and existing clients and was part of the inaugural season at Allianz Field in 2019. He was also a member of the team that earned the 2019 MLS (Major League Soccer) Corporate Partnerships Team of the Year award. He was also was a digital advertising manager at ScoreVision from 2016-19, helping develop and oversee its Digital Media Sales Department.

Devin earned his bachelor’s degree in sports and recreation management with a minor in business and marketing from South Dakota State University in 2015. He served an intern with the SDSU Athletics Department, the Sioux Falls Canaries and Daktronics.
 
Devin and his wife, Amber, live in Marshall with sons, Hayes, Camden, and Jase.