Lila Mehlhaff
Executive Director
Lila DeMarrias - Mehlhaff was born and raised in the village of Little Eagle on the Standing Rock Indian reservation. Her family on her mother’s side is One Feather, Shields, and Allison. On her father’s side are the Spotted Horse, DeMarrias, and Jordan families. She is Hunkpapa Lakota and Wahpekute Dakota.
Mehlhaff’s professional background involves mostly small business development, franchising, and a startup; but also includes nonprofit experience with the founding of the South Dakota Center for Enterprise Opportunity based at Black Hills State University and Warrior’s Circle, a Native American ministry. Mehlhaff has worked for the United States Congress as a tribal liaison and is also a South Dakota licensed real estate agent. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science with an Indian Studies minor and a Master of Science in Strategic Leadership (MSSL), both from Black Hills State University. Mehlhaff and her husband are partners in the two Qdoba Mexican Eats restaurants in Rapid City and are also inventors with a provisional patent pending.
She and her husband, Stewart, have four children, four grandchildren, and Isabel the cat.