Heath Shields
For South Dakota State Treasurer
Campaign Advisory Cabinet
Trusted advisors bringing real-world financial perspective, accountability, and leadership experience to the campaign.
Heath Shields
For South Dakota State Treasurer
Trusted advisors bringing real-world financial perspective, accountability, and leadership experience to the campaign.
The Campaign Advisory Cabinet supporting Heath Shields is made up of respected professionals who bring experience in finance, business, policy, and community leadership. Their role is to offer strategic perspective and real-world expertise as the campaign advances a vision of responsible stewardship for South Dakota.
This advisory cabinet reflects the same values at the heart of the Shields 777 Plan: integrity, stewardship, transparency, accountability, service, courage, and faith-led leadership.
Additional advisors will be announced as they join the campaign.
These advisors bring decades of experience in finance, banking, business leadership, and public service.
Financial Strategy & Credit Markets Advisor
Michael V. Lombardo is a veteran banking executive and lending strategist with more than 25 years of experience managing loan portfolios, credit risk, and financial operations across community banks and multibillion-dollar credit unions in the United States and the United Kingdom.
He previously served as Chief Lending Officer for a $2.5 billion credit union and held senior executive roles overseeing residential mortgage, consumer, commercial, and commercial real estate lending programs. Lombardo has advised boards of directors and executive leadership teams on lending strategy, asset quality, and capital planning.
During the financial crisis, Lombardo worked with the FDIC as a Senior Strategic Operations Specialist, helping lead the closure and resolution of 35 failed financial institutions. As a member of the Campaign Advisory Cabinet, he provides guidance on financial systems, lending markets, and risk oversight to support responsible stewardship of South Dakota’s financial resources.
Real Estate Market & Economic Growth Advisor
Jeffery Christians is a South Dakota real estate leader, entrepreneur, and business owner with extensive experience in residential housing markets, new construction, land development, and long-term community growth. As founder and owner of Christians Team Real Estate, he has built one of the most recognized real estate organizations in the Black Hills region, serving clients across western South Dakota while contributing to conversations surrounding housing demand, responsible development, and private-sector investment.
Over the course of his career, Mr. Christians has been involved in the sale of more than 1,700 properties, including residential homes, luxury estates, new construction developments, land holdings, and investment real estate. His experience working directly in the marketplace provides practical insight into the economic forces that shape communities, including population growth, workforce migration, housing supply, lending conditions, and investor confidence.
As a member of the Campaign Advisory Cabinet, Mr. Christians provides guidance on housing markets, real estate investment, and economic development. His perspective helps ensure the campaign’s vision for the South Dakota State Treasurer’s Office reflects real-world business experience, responsible financial stewardship, and a clear understanding of the economic drivers shaping South Dakota’s future.
Members of the Campaign Advisory Cabinet serve in an informal advisory capacity and do not participate in the day-to-day operations of the campaign. Their role is to provide independent perspective, professional expertise, and strategic insight as policy ideas are developed.
If you are a leader in finance, business, agriculture, energy, technology, or public service and would like to contribute your expertise to the campaign, we welcome the opportunity to connect.