News & Updates
Highlights, press, and recent milestones from across our divisions and community partnerships.
RLH Inc Named South Dakota Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year
RLH Inc has been named the South Dakota Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration. The award was announced on March 30, 2026, recognizing the company’s impact, growth, and commitment to community.
The recognition traces back to a vision that began over 20 years ago in memory of the company’s matriarch, Lora Moran, a foundation that continues to guide the business today.
Founded in 2005 and led by sisters Ellen and Serena Harmon, RLH has grown from a small family operation into a multi-division company serving the Rosebud Reservation and surrounding region, and beyond. Through its three divisions: Rosebud Building Products, Rosebud Rental, and RBP Supply, the company provides building materials, equipment rentals, and procurement services to homeowners, contractors, and tribal and federal programs.
Throughout its growth, the company has remained rooted in its mission to strengthen the community it serves. Operating in a rural and tribal setting, Rosebud Building Products plays a critical role in improving access to essential materials, tools, and expertise. From supporting large-scale housing projects to helping customers complete everyday repairs, the company focuses on making it easier for people to build, maintain, and improve their homes locally.
The journey has not been without challenges. Like many small businesses, the company has navigated economic shifts, operational hurdles, and the realities of building in an underserved area. Despite this, its leadership has remained committed to steady growth, reinvestment, and long-term impact.
The award also reflects the contributions of the company’s staff, whose daily work and dedication have been central to its success. Leadership emphasizes that the recognition belongs not only to ownership, but to the entire team and the community that continues to support the business.
Rosebud Building Products also highlights the role of the SBA in its early development. At a time when traditional lending options were not accessible, SBA resources helped make it possible to establish and grow the business. Today, the company hopes its story can serve as an example for others considering starting or expanding their own ventures.
A public recognition event will be held on May 8th at the company’s Mission location during National Small Business Week. Community members are encouraged to attend and celebrate the achievement.
As the company looks ahead, it remains focused on its core purpose: supporting the community, expanding access to resources, and continuing to build opportunities locally.
Ellen and Serena Harmon Featured in HBSDealer’s Top Women Profile Series
Owners Ellen and Serena Harmon are featured by HBSDealer as part of their Top Women in Hardware & Building Supply series, recognizing women leaders who are shaping the future of the industry.
The article shares their journey building Rosebud Building Products on the Rosebud Reservation, from humble beginnings to serving contractors, Tribal programs, and the broader region, and highlights our commitment to access, integrity, and community-centered growth.
We’re proud of our team, grateful for our customers, and excited to continue growing alongside our community.
Read the full article here
CEO Ellen Harmon Graduates from the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program
We’re excited to share that our CEO, Ellen Harmon, has graduated from the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses (10KSB) program on December 5, 2025.
As a leader, Ellen is always looking for ways to strengthen our business, support our team, and expand the services we provide to our community. Through 10KSB, she was able to dive deep into growth strategy, financial analysis, leadership development, and the tools needed to scale a local business in a sustainable, community-centered way.
The program also brought together an incredible network of entrepreneurs from across South Dakota, business owners who are building, innovating, and problem-solving in their own corners of the state. Ellen was proud to learn alongside them and to represent the Native business community in a national program where Native participation is still rare.
“As a Native-owned business serving rural communities, opportunities like this aren’t just about growing revenue, they’re about learning how to build stronger systems, create more jobs, and keep resources circulating locally,” Ellen shared.
“I’m grateful for the knowledge, the mentorship, and the connections through Goldman Sachs and ND/SD leadership faculty. And I can’t wait to bring what I learned back to our team.”
We’re proud of Ellen’s accomplishment and excited for the new ideas and momentum this brings to RLH/Rosebud Building Products as we continue working to serve our community with integrity, innovation, and heart.
RLH Inc Co-Owners Named National Rising Stars in Hardware and Building Supply
Ellen (left) and Serena Harmon (middle), pictured with event organizer and HBS Dealer publisher Amy Grant, were selected as Rising Stars in the national Top Women in Hardware & Building Supply Awards, chosen from more than 1,000 nominations across the country.
This recognition is really about our team, our community, and the work we’re all doing together out here.
"It was an incredible experience meeting other inspiring, dynamic women and representing our community and showing what Native-owned businesses operating on the reservation are capable of." -Ellen
RLH Team Members Complete Do it Best Rental School in Fort Wayne, Indiana
Two of our team members, Stephanie Wright (third from right) and Kendall Sharkey (second from left), recently completed the Do it Best Rental School at Do it Best headquarters in Fort Wayne, Indiana!
This multi-day training brought together rental professionals from across the country to strengthen their skills in equipment management, maintenance, safety, and customer service, all key to keeping a rental department running strong.
We’re proud of Stephanie and Kendall for representing Rosebud Rental with dedication and professionalism. They’ve returned home with new ideas and best practices that will help us continue improving our rental operations here in Mission.
Lakota Times Highlights RLH Inc.’s Growth and Community Impact
RLH Inc. was recently featured by Lakota Funds for its continued expansion as a Native-owned, women-led company on the Rosebud Reservation. With support from Lakota Funds, a Native CDFI dedicated to expanding access to capital in tribal communities, Ellen and Serena were able to purchase and reinvest in their commercial property, creating long-term stability and future growth for their business.
Native entrepreneurs often face barriers to financing through conventional banks, and this feature underscores the critical role Native CDFIs play in making economic sovereignty and locally owned development possible in Indian Country.
Golden West Highlights Rosebud Building Products as a Native Women-Owned Anchor Business
Golden West recently featured Ellen and Serena Harmon for their leadership as one of the only Lakota women-owned building supply and equipment rental centers in the country. Rooted in service, Rosebud Building Products provides essential materials, rentals, and hands-on support to help local families, contractors, and programs successfully complete their projects close to home... without leaving the reservation.