2022 South Dakota Sales and Marketing Executive of the Year™ award.

Scott Lawrence, President & CEO, Lawrence & Schiller

What’s the ideal training ground for an ad agency president?   If you answered, “being a marching band instructor”, you’ve no doubt spent some time with Scott Lawrence, the President and CEO of Lawrence and Schiller.

Our 2022 SME Marketing Executive of the Year has spent over 35 years applying the same principles he used to lead award-winning bands in Marion and Wakonda to impact the fields of marketing and community service.  Scott has the unique ability to bring together a diverse group of people, define roles and expectations, and then drive their performance to excellence through the force of his high-energy personality.

Scott began with L&S in 1984, joining the agency founded by his older brother Craig and partner Paul Schiller.  He quickly established himself as an effective account executive and soon became Director of Account Service, forming rock-solid relationships with his clients and making sure they always had direct contact with their creative team members.  This set the stage for great work and strong client relationships that have lasted for years – sometimes decades – with organizations like Sanford Health, First PREMIER Bank, the South Dakota Office of Tourism, the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, the South Dakota Lottery, Heartland Energy, Lewis, Pure Fishing, DAKOTACARE and many more.

in 2002, Scott became the agency’s President and CEO.   He led the charge in reorganizing the agency into Directed Teams to generate higher levels of creative performance and client service.  Today, he continues to play a strategic role for L&S and maintains key relationships with business and community leaders throughout the region.

Scott has held many leadership positions over the years with multiple organizations.  He has chaired the United Way Board and was Campaign Chair in 2010.  Scott has been President of the Symphony Board of Directors for the past eight years, leading the organization through its 100^th season.  Scott also currently serves on the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee, sits on the South Dakota State Chamber Board, the Sanford International Board, and is Chair of the Board of Trustees for the National Music Museum.

Scott’s boundless passion and unflagging enthusiasm have made a dramatic difference everywhere he’s shared his talents.  The leader of the band has proven to be a first-rate leader in every sense of the word.