Carol E. Axtman is a licensed, accredited financial advisor with American Express Financial Advisors. In addition to completing the American Express Financial Advisors accreditation program, Carol is a licensed Certified Financial Planner. Carol earned her BA in Business from Northern State University in 1978, and her MBA at the University of South Dakota in 1981. She was named to Beta Gamma Sigma honor society the same year.

For the past three years Mrs. Axtman has taught Survey of Business for Northern State University through Capital University Center in Pierre SD. She has taught Management for CUC, and was part of the mentoring program sponsored by Business and Professional Women.

Prior to her appointment as an American Express financial advisor in 1995, Axtman was employed for nearly 13 years by the South Dakota Department of Education & Cultural Affairs as administrator of numerous federal food and nutrition programs. In that position she developed and taught business short courses to school food service directors.

Previous to that she held the position of Investment Analyst for the South Dakota Retirement System. She received the South Dakota Small Business Support award for 1993 because of the mentoring for the Small Business Administration's WNET program for women in business. Carol has also worked as Office Administrator for the South Dakota Attorney General, and as staff for the South Dakota Indian-State Government Task Force.

Carol is a past president of Business and Professional Women, served 3 years on the Board of Directors of the Pierre Ft. Pierre United Way, and is a member of the Pierre Area Chamber of Commerce. She is currently an officer on the South Dakota Lions Foundation Board of Directors, and is President of the Pierre Area Retired Senior Volunteer Program Advisory Board.

Carol is married to Seb Axtman, and has four children and seven grandchildren. She enjoys gardening and playing the piano, golf, and reading.