Caring for people has been the common thread in Will Brown’s career. From work with assisted living residents to various ministry settings and corporate care, Brown has enjoyed the opportunity to connect with people.
He recently brought his skillset to SDN Communications as the new corporate chaplain, replacing John Warden, who left for a full-time job.
“I love building relationships with people. With corporate chaplaincy you’re getting out of a typical surrounding, you’re not at a church where everyone has similar belief systems,” he said. “I enjoy connecting with people on a purely personal and human level and trying to find things that connect us rather than what people would suggest divides us. That’s something I think we need more of in our world.”
Brown started with SDN in October 2024, but SDN Communications has had a corporate chaplain since 2019. Brown works for Corporate Care, which has been around for about 12 years and works with businesses primarily in Sioux Falls and the surrounding area. Corporate chaplains enter a workspace in a unique way, Brown said — they aren’t part of human resources and they aren’t anyone’s boss. Instead, they are a neutral supportive party that can be a listening ear and source of support and comfort during hard times.
“I love that we have someone onsite whose purpose is dedicated to helping us, celebrating with us or counseling us in any area of life,” said SDN HR Director Amy Preator.
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Having a chaplain is an additional resource when employees want it — when both good things and tough things are happening in their lives, Preator said. Even though SDN has other resources, like an Employee Assistance Program, speaking to someone in person can be much more personal, she said. Warden, Brown’s predecessor, helped employees through the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and during a time when there were several deaths in the SDN Communications network.
“A couple of years ago, we had multiple employees and employees’ relatives pass away during a very short time,” Preator said. “Our chaplain at that time was able to meet with people who were struggling. He helped tremendously as we went through the grieving process.”
Chaplain program a 'great benefit' for employees
While Brown has only been at SDN for a few months, he is impressed with the team at SDN Communications.
“To me, any business that is pausing from focusing on efficiency and profit and the usual items and taking a moment to consider how our people are doing mentally, emotionally, personally — that shows a lot of heart and dedication to SDN’s employees and staff," he said. "That shows that this is more than just a job and more than just a workplace. Bringing in Corporate Care and investing in employees in a more personal way is one of the things that benefits long-term retention of people and enjoyment of work.”
Plenty of statistics point to challenges when employees struggle with burnout or work-life balance. According to SHRM, 44% of U.S. employees feel burned out at work and 45% feel emotionally drained. Burnout can lead to physical and emotional exhaustion, lower job satisfaction and increased absenteeism. Employees take around 18 days off a year to deal with stress, depression or anxiety, according to research from Spill, a platform focused on workforce mental health. However, Preator said that promoting a culture of self-care and finding ways to assist with that can be a benefit, which is why SDN has added an onsite chaplain.
“Most employers want to hire good people and keep good people. SDN is no different in that regard,” she said. “Having great benefits and resources helps with that. But even more than that, we want our employees to be healthy physically, spiritually, mentally and emotionally. This is one way we can help in that area.”
And Brown feels blessed and honored to be a part of ensuring healthy employees. He works at the office on Thursdays, meeting with employees individually or walking around and checking in on staff. He’s also been able to take part in weekly luncheons with small groups of employees to get to know the staff and for them to get to know him.
“I’ve seen at every turn both Amy and (CEO Ryan Punt) trying to bring Corporate Care and corporate chaplaincy in on the culture at SDN. They’ve been very accommodating, very supportive,” Brown said.
Caring for people a 'calling' for Brown
Brown grew up in the Twin Cities with two supportive parents. He said his mom’s faith was influential early in life and that he also learned from his father’s conversion to faith later in life. These experiences encouraged his interest in exploring ministry and faith as a vocation and not just a belief system. Brown earned a bachelor’s degree in youth and social ministries from Crown College in St. Bonifacius, Minnesota. He then worked for churches in various ministry settings as well as care settings providing physical and relational care to people in nursing homes and dementia
“It wasn’t until I got out of college that I saw a calling in my life that caring for people was something I was naturally gifted at and maybe an area to further pursue,” he said.
Brown and his wife, Erika, moved to the Sioux Falls area seven years ago. They live in Garretson with their 3-year-old daughter, Ramona. Brown is also on staff at their family’s church, King of Glory in Sioux Falls. He said he enjoys both the traditional and the corporate setting to connect with people.
“I’m thrilled to be getting the opportunity to connect with people this way. It is a special blessing to be allowed in people’s life, to be trusted to gain a relationship and pray for them and encourage them, throughout the journey that is their life,” Brown said. “People are able to carry on the rest of their day with more of a lightness about them and less of a burden and move forward with positive direction.”
