Tyler Tordsen is the President & CEO of the Sioux Metro Growth Alliance, South Dakota’s largest regional non-profit economic development organization. In this role, Tyler oversees the day-to-day operations of SMGA’s staff and mission in its efforts to serve its 17 member municipalities, 5 counties, and multiple chambers of commerce, economic development offices and more in the greater Sioux Falls region.
Before taking this role with SMGA, Tyler spent eight years serving in the Office of U.S. Senator Mike Rounds as the Southeast Regional Director and State Director of Tribal Affairs. His duties included helping South Dakotans through issues arising with the federal government, promoting communication to and from the Senator’s office and overseeing the operations and management of Senator Rounds’ Sioux Falls office.
He is a lifelong South Dakotan who was born in Sioux Falls, grew up in Rapid City and is an enrolled member of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe. He has a Bachelors of Science in political science and economics from the University of South Dakota, where as an undergraduate he served as the president of the USD Student Body, Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, and Tiospaye Student Council. He also holds a Master of Military Operational Art and Science with concentrations in Leadership and Warfare from Air University.
Tyler was elected to the South Dakota House of Representatives for District 14 in 2022 and was sworn into office on January 7, 2023. During his first term, he served as a member of the House Education and House Judiciary Committees, and in 2024 was appointed to the Select Committee on Legislative Relationships with Ellsworth AFB. During his legislative service Tyler also served as a commissioner to the Midwestern Higher Education Compact representing South Dakota, along with being selected as a 2023 National Conference of State Legislatures Youth Homelessness Fellow. In October 2023, Tyler was chosen as a “50 Under 50” of up-and-coming conservative state legislators in the nation by the American Legislative Exchange Council and in 2024 was named a “Legislative Champion” by the Foundation for Government Accountability.
Service and community are important to Tyler. He has previously served on the SD Board of Educational Telecommunications and the Sioux Falls YMCA Board of Directors. He currently serves as a commissioner on the SD America 250 Commission, the USD Alumni Association Board of Directors, the Midwest Food Bank – Tristate Advisory Board, the Issues Management Council of the Sioux Falls Chamber, the Friends of the Outdoor Campus, and is also a member of Downtown Sioux Falls Rotary Club and the Sales and Marketing Executives of Sioux Falls.
Tyler and his wife Erika currently live in Sioux Falls with their three children.