Ellen Harmon

Board Member

RLH Inc.

Ellen Harmon is Co-Owner and CEO of RLH Inc., a Lakota-Woman-Owned company she has led alongside her sister, Serena, for more than a decade from their headquarters on the Rosebud Reservation, where she is an enrolled tribal member. Under their leadership, RLH has grown into a multi-division company serving the region through Rosebud Building Products, RBP Supply, and Rosebud Rental, and was named the 2026 SBA South Dakota Women-Owned Small Business of the Year.

Ellen earned a bachelors degree in Cultural Resource Management from Sinte Gleksa University, where she was name Native American College Fund’s student of the year. She is also an organizing & managing member of Hanwi Holdings LLC, serves on the South Dakota Native Homeownership Coalition’s Physical Issues Committee and the St. Francis Indian School CTE Advisory Board, and recently joined Western Dakota Technical College’s Catapult Stakeholders Group, a statewide cohort focused on strengthening workforce development and building stronger talent pipelines. She is passionate about tribal economic development, workforce development, homeownership, and creating opportunities that strengthen communities across Indian Country. She is honored to bring her business and community experience to the Great Plains Housing Initiative board.

Outside of work, Ellen enjoys a simple life with her beloved dog, Piia, and cat, Deborah. She is a lifelong learner who also loves to spend time with family and friends just visiting or traveling, experiencing new landscapes, cuisines, and cultures.