Chesney Garnos

Chesney Garnos

Chesney Garnos

Strategic Government Relations Advisor

Phone
Email

Chesney joined Redstone as a Strategic Government Relations Advisor in July 2025 and is based in our Sioux Falls office. Before joining the Redstone Government Relations team, she served as the Executive Director of Government Affairs for the Dakota Credit Union Association, where she led advocacy efforts at both the federal and state levels. Her work included policy analysis, political fundraising, and grassroots mobilization. Chesney also brings valuable Capitol Hill experience, having served as a Communications Specialist for U.S. Senator Mike Rounds and as a Staff Assistant for U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune in Washington, D.C.

Your Title Goes Here

Your content goes here. Edit or remove this text inline or in the module Content settings. You can also style every aspect of this content in the module Design settings and even apply custom CSS to this text in the module Advanced settings.

Chesney reflects our core values

Here is what colleagues say about Chesney:

  • “Chesney has the ability to bring people together in ways that is always for a greater good. She will accomplish many more great things as a leader and a mentor in the years to come. Her humble servant leadership style is evident and yet not lost in her forward-looking vision of the future.”
  • “Since I have been able to work with Chesney, it has become apparent that this young lady is destined for greatness. She portrays herself in a confident yet humble way that lights a fire in others to get behind what she is advocating for.”
  • “Chesney has a very bright future in advocating for the financial industry. She has a unique strength of connecting with people, forging relationships built on trust and integrity.”
  • “Chesney continues to grow personally and professionally by keeping an open mind to learning and navigating change by creating paths for others to follow.”

Chesney’s professional background

  • Executive Director of Government Affairs for Dakota Credit Union Association
  • Communications Specialist for U.S. Senator Mike Rounds
  • Communications Manager for Bertelsmann Foundation
  • Staff Assistant for U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune

Chesney’s educational background

  • University of South Dakota: Master of Arts in Communications, Summa Cum Laude (2021)
  • University of South Dakota: Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Marketing, Cum Laude (2017)

Chesney's favorites

Most interesting place she’s visited in South Dakota: Chesney’s favorite place is her grandparents’ house, which is also the family hunting lodge. As an avid coffee lover, she enjoys sitting on the deck at sunrise, overlooking Medicine Creek Golf Course – there is truly no better view! The land holds even more meaning, as it’s where her ancestors originally homesteaded five generations ago from Norway.

Little known fact about Chesney: Chesney has traveled to 46 states and 10 countries!

  • TV Shows: Outer Banks, Designated Survivor, Madam Secretary, Tom Clancy’s: Jack Ryan, Yellowstone
  • Books: The Outsiders, To Kill a Mockingbird, We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed with Our Families, The Hunger Games and Twilight Series
  • Podcasts: Crime Junkies, Transform, 9 to 5ish with theSkimm, Up First, The Journal

While not at the office working with the Redstone Team, Chesney enjoys: Spending quality time with her fiancée Chad, family, friends, and dogs, especially when they’re out exploring hiking trails or checking out locally owned coffee shops. Outside of work, she enjoys group fitness classes and is part of a book club. A proud member of a sports-loving family, she’s a diehard Minnesota Vikings fan and still roots for her hometown team, the Lyman Raiders!

Places where Chesney is serving to Make It Better: Chesney is deeply committed to giving back to the next generation through her involvement with Junior Achievement, The Humanity Launch Project, and the Miss South Dakota Organization. She is also a passionate advocate for mental health and disability awareness. In addition to her community work, Chesney is a member of Downtown Sioux Falls Rotary.