Not long ago, Emily Van Lith did not picture herself back in Britton, much less opening her own business on Main Street. Like many who grow up in small towns, she had her sights set elsewhere. Life, family and a few well-timed opportunities had other plans.
Today, the Britton native and 2002 graduate is the face behind Creative Concepts, a new venture aimed at helping individuals and small businesses bring their ideas to life. The business may be in its early stages, but Van Lith said the response so far has been more than she imagined.
“I’ve been overwhelmed with the amount of support,” she said. “It’s a little scary in a small town to take a big swing and hope people show up, but they really have.”
Van Lith’s path back to Britton was not a straight line. She has long had a passion for healthcare, working at the local hospital at a young age before eventually becoming a nurse. Her career took her to a variety of settings.
She and her husband, Mike, were living in Sioux Falls when they started their family, later moving to Watertown where she continued nursing. But as her husband’s work in seed sales shifted north and her family began spending more time back in Marshall County, the pull toward home grew stronger.
“Every time we came back, the kids loved it,” she said. “It became pretty clear my dad needed more help on the farm, and the timing just felt right.”
In 2021, the family made the move back to Britton. It did not take long for Van Lith to become immersed in the community. An opening at the local clinic brought her back into nursing, and she soon became involved with the Britton Area Chamber of Commerce, where she now serves as executive director.
That role helped reignite another side of her professional identity.
“I’ve always kind of had two sides,” she said with a laugh. “I went the nursing route, but I’ve always had that creative and business side, too.”
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