One of former Mayor Mike Huether's top cabinet members has joined Legacy Developments executive team.

Daren Ketcham, the former Sioux Falls city official who played a key role in picking Legacy Developments to lead a $50 million mixed-use building project in downtown Sioux Falls, began his role as vice president with that same company Monday.

Ketcham last month resigned from his position as Sioux Falls community development director after being hired by former Mayor Mike Huether in May 2016. Ketcham had previous leadership roles with Metro Communications Agency and the South Dakota state government.

PREVIOUSLY:Huether's community development head, Daren Ketcham, resigns

Ketcham said he grew up in a small, family run business, an experience he missed after years of working in about 20 years of working in government agencies. Norm Drake, CEO of Legacy Developments, approached Ketcham about a potential private-sector position in mid-April.

"I had an opportunity. Norm gave me an overview of the organization and that small business, close-knit feel, that family oriented thing. It felt like home to me," Ketcham said. "it was just one of those things –I had to take the opportunity. You don't get many of those in life, so I'm excited about going back to small-business roots."

During his two years at City Hall, Ketcham oversaw the selection of private partners for various public-private development projects with the city, including the controversial selection of Legacy Developments to lead the Village on the River mixed-use building project in downtown Sioux Falls two months after another one of its development project, the former Copper Lounge, collapsed and killed a construction worker.

Aaron Hultgren, whose construction company was remodeling Copper Lounge at the time of the collapse, stepped down from his role as director of operations and development at Legacy Developments in February.

More:Ketcham interviewed for Legacy Developments position while still at City Hall

Ketcham will be responsible for strategy, development, administration, company culture and communications.

"I've spent quite a bit of time with Daren when he was at the city, and I got to see how he can lead a team, and manage the people and the projects," said Drake. "I think that Daren exemplified tremendous leadership skills and organizational skills and that's what drew me to asking Daren in the first place."

Ketcham told the Argus Leader he was in employment talks with his new employer a month before his resignation in May. But he said he won't work on the mixed-use project to avoid a conflict of interest barred by city ordinance and Legacy Developments' conflict-of-interest policy, Ketcham said.

"We have no intention of me having a role in Village on the River," he said. "I'll focus on other developments we're working on in the area and then on the day to day operations of the company."

Ketcham said while Legacy Developments is a small company, it is doing many, large and complex projects in Sioux Falls, a challenge which drew him to the job.

"If I didn't have confidence in Legacy, I certainly wouldn't be here today. If I didn't have confidence in Norm Drake, I wouldn't be here today," he said. "So I've got nothing but the highest regard for Norm and the team, and I think this is going to be a great opportunity."