# Scott Lawrence

> Scott Lawrence is a Sioux Falls advertising executive, author and community leader who joined Lawrence & Schiller as an account executive in 1984, became CEO in 2002 and stepped down in April 2025 after a deliberately staged succession. A former high-school band director and bass player, he made music the working metaphor for a leadership style built on trust, clear roles, individual attention and shared performance.

- **Role:** Former President and CEO of Lawrence & Schiller
- **Organizations:** Lawrence & Schiller, Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce, South Dakota Symphony Orchestra, National Music Museum, Sioux Empire United Way, South Dakota Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Sanford International
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** Bachelor of Fine Arts; music education, University of South Dakota
- **Known for:** Led Lawrence & Schiller as president and CEO from 2002 to April 2025., Named the 2022 South Dakota Sales and Marketing Executive of the Year by SME Sioux Falls., Authored The Leader of the Band: Leadership Lessons from the Kids Who Made Me a Better CEO.

## Career timeline

- **Before 1984** — Taught band at Wakonda High School and also directed an award-winning band in Marion.
- **1984** — Joined Lawrence & Schiller as an account executive, working for the agency founded by his older brother Craig Lawrence and Paul Schiller.
- **1980s-1990s** — Advanced through account service, vice president of sales and chief operating officer roles.
- **1999** — Helped write the succession plan that would lead to his promotion and began treating leadership transition as a long-horizon responsibility.
- **2002** — Became president and CEO of Lawrence & Schiller and reorganized the agency around Directed Teams.
- **2010** — Served as campaign chair for Sioux Empire United Way.
- **2018** — Published The Leader of the Band: Leadership Lessons from the Kids Who Made Me a Better CEO.
- **2020** — Shifted daily management and operations to a six-person leadership team while remaining president and CEO.
- **2022** — Named South Dakota Sales and Marketing Executive of the Year by SME Sioux Falls.
- **2023-2024** — Served a one-year term as chair of the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce board.
- **2025** — Stepped down as CEO; Micah Aberson became CEO and Laura Mitchell became president and COO, with Lawrence remaining through the transition.

## Achievements

- Led Lawrence & Schiller as president and CEO from 2002 to April 2025.
- Named the 2022 South Dakota Sales and Marketing Executive of the Year by SME Sioux Falls.
- Authored The Leader of the Band: Leadership Lessons from the Kids Who Made Me a Better CEO.
- Helped reorganize Lawrence & Schiller into Directed Teams focused on creative performance and client service.
- Served nine years as chair of the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra board and led it through its 100th season.
- Served as chair of the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce board for the 2023-2024 term.
- Held leadership or board roles with Sioux Empire United Way, the National Music Museum, South Dakota Chamber and Sanford International.

## Latest updates

- **2025-04** — Stepped down as CEO of Lawrence & Schiller. Micah Aberson returned as CEO, Laura Mitchell became president and COO, and Lawrence stayed on through the transition.
- **2023-10** — Began a one-year term as chair of the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce board under the theme Working in Concert.
- **2022** — Received SME Sioux Falls' South Dakota Sales and Marketing Executive of the Year award.

## Links

- Website: https://l-s.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-lawrence-2b83298

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/scott-lawrence
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-09-22