Travis Schaunaman
For the past six years, Travis Schaunaman has served as the Mayor of Aberdeen, South Dakota, leading with a vision to support small businesses and foster innovation. Born and raised in rural Westport, South Dakota, Travis has always considered Aberdeen home.
Travis's professional journey began with a degree in graphic design and communications from Brown College. Starting out as a designer at a sign shop, his natural creativity and entrepreneurial spirit led him to marketing roles and political campaigns in Minnesota and Aberdeen. It was this diverse background that inspired him to launch Production Monkeys, a graphic design and website development company.
As a small business owner, Travis quickly realized how local ordinances could stifle innovation. Regulations prohibiting home-based businesses made it harder for entrepreneurs to take that first step, while bans on digital billboards and restrictive drone policies brought to light the town's dire need for modernized business policies. Determined to remove these barriers, he entered local politics with a clear purpose: to make it easier for Aberdeen's residents to create, innovate, and grow.
As Mayor, Travis has delivered real change:
He worked to lift the home-based business ordinance, empowering aspiring business owners to test their ideas affordably.
He led the effort to remove the downtown sign ordinance and to allow digital billboards that now add vibrancy to Aberdeen's landscape.
He worked with the council to scale back the prohibitive and expensive greenspace ordinance that was stifling business expansion.
He pushed forward an effort to clean up the Moccasin Creek for the first time in over 40 years.
While these reforms have supported economic growth, Travis's vision extends beyond policy—it's about building a community where future generations feel excited to stay and build their lives. Growing up, he often heard that success meant leaving for bigger cities. "I was told my skills would take me further somewhere else," Travis reflects. "But I chose to pursue my professional career here, and I want our youth to know they can thrive here too."
As someone who was named Aberdeen's 2018 Entrepreneur of the Year, Travis understands the value of a supportive environment where ideas can grow. He believes young people deserve the chance to pursue their ambitions without feeling they need to leave town. "We shouldn't be losing our best and brightest to other places. Aberdeen has everything to offer—if we create the right opportunities."
A key part of this effort lies in supporting programs that empower young people to dream big while staying local. Travis's advocacy for the Aberdeen Startup Center reflects this vision. The center provides resources for entrepreneurs, connecting them with tools and mentors to turn ideas into thriving businesses. "Seeing the creativity and drive of our local entrepreneurs—and knowing our youth can be a part of that—it's exciting," Travis shares. "The opportunities we build today will shape Aberdeen's future."
Despite the demands of balancing his mayoral duties, business ownership, and family life, Travis approaches leadership with a focus on strategic timing, delegation, and big-picture thinking. He acknowledges the challenges he faced early in his tenure, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, but has remained steadfast in his commitment to his "north star"—doing what is best for the community and moving Aberdeen forward.
The parallels between running a business and running a city are clear to Travis. Both require structure, effective delegation, and a careful balance of responsibilities. His entrepreneurial experience has taught him the importance of fostering innovation, creating a supportive environment for growth, and addressing challenges with pragmatic solutions.
Travis Schaunaman's leadership is driven by a singular mission: to make Aberdeen a great place to live, work, and grow. He envisions a future where the town's economic development continues to thrive, supported by policies that encourage entrepreneurship, innovation, and community pride. By addressing the challenges faced by local businesses and fostering a culture of opportunity, Travis has positioned Aberdeen as a model for small-town growth and resilience.
As Aberdeen continues to evolve, Travis Schaunaman's dedication to its residents, businesses, and overall prosperity remains unwavering—a commitment to ensuring that Aberdeen is not just a place where people succeed but where they choose to stay, thrive, and grow.
