February Chamber Connection

CHAMBER CONNECTION Bismarck-Mandan

February 2016

PARTNERING EDUCATION & INDUSTRY: NDUS Chancellor Mark Hagerott

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Member Profile Imperial Flooring

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Chamber to Host Town Hall Meeting Meeting to be focused on infrastructure funding.

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Ambassador of the Year Shannon Schneider announced Ambassador of the Year at Annual Dinner.

CHAMBER CONNECTION EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Perrie Schafer..................................................................................................................... Chair Brenda Nagel ........................................................................................................... Chair-Elect Ron Day....................................................................................................................... Secretary Craig Larson.................................................................................................................Treasurer Rick Matteson............................................................................................................ Past Chair

CHAMBER NEWS

Chamber to Host Town Hall Meeting Leadership Bismarck-Mandan: "Kids Are Resilient" Ambassador of the Year Awarded

CHAMBER EVENTS BOARD OF DIRECTORS Annette Behm-Caldwell.....Open Road Honda Perrie Schafer ���������������� Schafer Financial Inc. Brenda Nagel ������������������������������������������Aetna Jeff Herman ������������������������������������Petro Hunt Sandi Tabor �������������������������������������������������KLJ Craig Larson ���������������������������Starion Financial Molly Barnes............... Northern Improvement Kevin Magstadt ������������������ Wenck Associates Jeff Albers ��������� Schwan Buick GMC Cadillac Paul Brucker ������������������� Railway Credit Union Chris Jones ����������������� CHI St. Alexius Health Stacey Breuer ��������������������������Bobcat/Doosan Chris Brown �������������������������������������������� Motix Mike Nathe................ Bismarck Funeral Home Marc Taylor...........Northern Plains Equipment Tracy Kindem...........H.A. Thompson and Sons Rick Matteson �������������MDU Resources Group Joe Duperre ������������������������������Kirkwood Mall Dan Pearson �����������������������������Northwest Tire Jasper Schneider ������������������������������������ NISC Wayne Munson �������������������� Indigo Signworks Dr. Blake Feil ����������������������� Feil Orthodontics Greg Vetter �������������������������University of Mary Nick Hacker................. ND Guaranty and Title Ron Day......................Tesoro Mandan Refinery Heather Fried ..... Fried Financial Services Inc.

CHAMBER STAFF Annie Bergrud.........................................................................................Chief Financial Officer Mary Masters................................................................................. Office Support Professional Ryan Parsons..............................................................................Vice President of Membership Rebecca Rattei................................................................................ Communications Specialist Amanda Schwieters......................................................................... Member Services Director Chelse Simon..................................................................................Membership Sales Director Cathryn Sprynczynatyk Anderson ........................ Communications Specialist/ LBM Director Mikalah Dahl ....................................................................................Marketing & Events Intern

Lunch and Learn presented by Andreas Widmer February Membership Mixer: KLJ Economic Outlook Forum Chamber Spring Mixer

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Chair’s Corner

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FEATURES

Cover Story 4 Member Profile 10 Ask-A-Pro 26 Chamber Perks 28 1640 Burnt Boat Drive P.O. Box 1675 Bismarck, ND 58502 701.223.5660 • www.bismarckmandan.com CONTACT INFORMATION Content: The Chamber - 701.223.5660 rparsons@bismancc.com

Advertise: Ryan Parsons rparsons@bismancc.com

MISSION STATEMENT: Leaders for prosperity. Advocates for business.

www.BNCbank.com

Dave Hoekstra

CCO and President, BNC North Dakota

Wayne Harvison

Chad Scott

SVP Business Banking

Craig Hanson

VP Business Banking

Business Banking Officer

Marc Menge

Rheannon Huber

Business Development Manager

Bismarck: 322 E Main Avenue • (701) 250-3000 & 801 E Century Avenue • (701) 250-2700

2 | Chamber Connection

16 16 17 17

COLUMNS

BUSINESS B ANKING The biggest difference between BNC National Bank and the new banks popping up all over — is our people — solid professionals who make up an experienced team providing financial solutions business people demand.

That comes from hard work, straight talk, sound advice and solid financial guidance.

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Personal Banking Officer

Kevin Stadler

Jason Arenz

SVP Business Banking

SVP Business Banking

Clay Brosz

Nate Palczewski

Business Banking

Janelle Feist

Personal Banking Officer

Retail Manager

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Deposit Operations Supervisor

Mandan: 2711 Sunset Drive NW • (701) 663-5448

Chair’s Corner

2

016 is upon us. We have a full agenda for the year. First item is to hire a new Chamber president. I want to update you on the plan, the timeline and the process.

While things appear quiet publicly, there is substantial activity behind the scenes preparing for the public face. In December the Board of Directors appointed a search committee that is led by Chair-elect Brenda Nagel. Other members of the group are past-Chairs Leslie Oliver and Terry Kraft and Board members Stacey Breuer, Lee Pierce and David Hoekstra. There is also an advisory board of 10 members and advisory representatives of various economic factors in our Bismarck-Mandan area.

The Board also has hired a third party to assist the search. Dowell Management led

by Larry Dowell is on contract with the Chamber to provide staffing and support for the search. Larry Dowell and his firm assisted the Chamber in formation of our strategic plan and enabled us to form the Prosperity Agenda with the BIsmarck-Mandan Development Association in 2013. We are confident that we can find the right person to lead the Chamber.

This brings me to the timeline. Dowell Management visited Bismarck in January to conduct member interviews and focus groups to determine the skills and abilities the communities are seeking for our next Chamber President. The job will have been posted nationally by the end of January. There will then be a quiet period before the real work of Brenda’s group begins, which is to interview the candidates.

We expect this process to take approximately four months. In light of that, the Board did consider hiring an interim President, but decided not to pursue that option for three reasons. No. 1, it would take some time to find a person to fill that slot, and it was not within our budget. No. 2, as I am sure you are aware, our Chamber is a well-oiled machine with a professional staff that understands the issues. We’re going to lean heavily on the staff led by Ryan Parsons and Annie Bergrud to help carry us through this transition. Your Executive Board meets with Ryan and Annie every Monday to help guide and assist. No. 3, while Kelvin Hullet is departing the Chamber he is still in the area, and he will be able to assist the Chamber through this transition. However, if there are any questions, comments or concerns with the process, please feel free to get in contact with me.

I want to thank our 2015 Chair, Rick Matteson of MDU Resources for his great vision and leadership. Rick, our Executive Board, Board of Directors and Chamber team have given us great service over the past year. 2016 will be an exciting journey, and I am privileged to serve as Chair.

- Perrie Schafer

Cover Photo Credit: Glasser Images

Chamber Connection | 3

FEATURE

NORTH DAKOTA UNIVERSITY SYSTEM CHANCELLOR: DR. MARK HAGEROTT

PARTNERING EDUCATION AND INDUSTRY TO CREATE A STRONG WORKFORCE

By Kylie Blanchard, Clearwater Communications

Long before Dr. Mark Hagerott became Chancellor of the North Dakota University System (NDUS), he knew the importance of education’s role in building a strong workforce. “Twenty years of my career was in engineering and technology,” he said. “I fully appreciate the technical work and technical credentials of the workforce.”

The interaction of technology and the workforce brought Hagerott to a career in higher education, and his deep family ties to North Dakota brought him back to the state.

“My family has been farming in North Dakota for 140 years, and after starting my early years living here, I spent the summers here for many years.”

With education and workforce difficulties across the United States, he says North Dakota was a bright spot in the nation. “We can still address these problems in North Dakota, and it is significant from the national perspective.

My home state is a place you are going to make people’s lives better.”

The Road to Higher Education

Hagerott’s experience in both the military and the workforce played a key role in preparing him for a career in higher education. As a certified naval nuclear engineer in power generation and distribution, he served as chief engineer for a major environmental project involving the defueling of two atomic reactors.

He also held many leadership positions in the U.S. Navy, both aboard ships and in administrative positions in the Department of Defense. Most recently, he served as the senior civilian and deputy director of the Center for Cyber Security Studies at the Naval Academy and served on the Defense Science Board study of unmanned systems.

More than a decade ago, Hagerott began to notice technology’s growing impact on the workforce and the need for education and training to prepare the workforce for these changes. “Technology was becoming the driver.

It takes 18 years to grow a high school graduate and two to four additional years for a college graduate, but technology changes much faster,” he says.

He saw a strong need for education to also change with technology and decided to make his move to higher education. “There was a lot of pressure for me to not leave the Navy front line. I had all the things to keep me going and to continue promoting,” said Hagerott. “But I was realizing the world was going to change through the minds and work of young people. How people research and think about things were going to be changing and I wanted to be a part of it.”

In pursuing his doctorate, Hagerott began his research into the evolution of technology, education and the changes in career and the workplace.

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The interaction of technology and the workforce brought Dr. Mark Hagerott, Chancellor of the North Dakota University System (NDUS), to a career in higher education.

“My research shows technology is becoming an ever-faster driver of changes, and technology accelerates within the lifetime of a single person,” he said. “You need education to be adaptive and this is going to create entire new industries and jobs which are going to change rapidly.”

Hagerott has held many academic leadership roles, including dean of humanities and social sciences, special assistant to the provost, chair of the admissions board, chairmanship of senior faculty senate committees pertaining to assessment and accreditation, and as a planning and strategy director in one of the largest U.S. Army educational organizations.

He notes the higher education system and workforce continues to evolve because of changing technologies; however, the focus is now on learning to control technology through cyber security and the development of the laws, norms and policies guiding new technologies. “It is an exciting time,” said Hagerott.

Higher Education in North Dakota

“Higher education in North Dakota is strong, and we want to get stronger.

We are totally motivated, in addition to creating knowledgeable and critical thinkers, to creating jobs, workforce development and economic development,” said Hagerott.

The focus of the NDUS is to first teach students how to learn, he says, then create critical thinkers and good citizens with a focus on technology.

“Businesses play into the technology component,” Hagerott noted. “We are a state that is vulnerable to commodities, both agriculture and oil, and we need to diversify. The best way to diversify is through education.”

When oil prices began to fall in North Dakota, the NDUS responded quickly with its Bakken U initiative.

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FEATURE With 50,000 students in the NDUS, Hagerott says the higher education system’s greatest strength is its people. “It is our students, faculty and staff,” he noted.

Photo Credit: Glasser Images

The program provides both employed and laid-off oilfield workers and their spouses the opportunity to increase their education and training at the state’s colleges and universities.

The initiative, focused on the five western NDUS institutions, recently awarded its first Bakken U scholarship for $5,000 to a new Dickinson State University student. “The campuses came together to welcome students by the fall semester,” said Hagerott.

“We want to put out the welcome mat for oil workers to get into the university system.”

The NDUS is also looking into opportunities to incorporate and develop emerging industries, including unmanned aircraft systems, data storage and cyber security, he said. “We want to build on these with our universities.”

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6 | Chamber Connection

SEA² Strategy

The vision of the State Board of Higher Education’s strategic plan, the NDUS Edge, is unleashing the potential of students and the state through higher education. Its goals are to: • Deliver degrees that are the best value in the nation; • Provide programs people want, where and when they need them; • Equip students for success; and • Maximize the strengths of a unified system.

Hagerott boils the plan down to a formula called SEA², aimed at continuing the successes of the university system and creating new opportunities in the state.

• S – Superior System “In a state our size, we have to work as a system and share our services,” he notes.

• E – Excellent Education “You want to have excellent preparation of the workforce,” says Hagerott.

• A – Accessibility and Affordability “You can have a great program, but not if people can’t get to it,” he says. “Affordability is key.”

Looking to the Future

The NDUS will continue to be successful, said Hagerott, as long as the state continues to invest in its programs.

“It’s exciting. We’ve had an incredibly thoughtful legislature that has funded a strong system and created a great foundation.”

www.bismarckmandan.com He says there will be an increased focus on student retention and making the cost of the state’s two-year programs more in line with the region’s average cost. Hagerott has initiated six studies led by the Chancellor's Cabinet, made up of the system's college and university presidents, which are examining ways to improve the state’s higher education system and policies. Several of these complement current legislative studies.

With 50,000 students in the NDUS, Hagerott says the higher education system’s greatest strength is its people. “It is our students, faculty and staff,” he noted.

Continued investments in the NDUS colleges and universities and their people will be the key to its continued success, Hagerott said. “With the changes in our economy, budgets may tighten in some areas and efficiencies will need to be found. But we have built a great system with legislative support, and we must continue to invest wisely in our system, and in some cases, increase our investment."

Hagerott embarked on a listening tour during his first months on the job. He met with state, business and campus leaders, and gathered valuable feedback about NDUS’s role in the state's future. He plans to continue traveling the state and incorporating feedback as the NDUS vision is fine-tuned and collaboratively molded into its final shape.

North Dakota has great opportunities to be at the forefront of emerging technologies and industries, said Hagerott. “Our schools may create things that businesses didn’t know were coming.”

He says a strong university system helps to create a strong workforce, and the NDUS will continue to help build one of the best workforces in the country. “I look forward to working with businesses and chambers of commerce,” said Hagerott. “We want to know what they want for their workforce.”

NEW CLASSES AT UNIVERSITY OF MARY HELPING TO MEET WORKFORCE DEMANDS

By Kylie Blanchard, Clearwater Communications

“As the economic and workforce demands shift in our state and in our country, the University of Mary must respond,” said Michael McMahon, assistant vice president for enrollment services. “We are a nimble university, capable of shifting our offerings to match what is needed in North Dakota and beyond.”

He says the university has added several new programs in recent months and has partnered with the University of North Dakota to allow students to complete a bachelor’s degree in civil, chemical, mechanical, electrical and petroleum engineering. “Additionally, we’ve added several new programs in the Gary Tharaldson School of Business, including degrees in computer science with an emphasis in cyber security,” he noted.

“We’ve also launched new or adjusted programs specifically designed for the working adult,” McMahon continued. “One is an undergraduate degree completion program in business management, and we’ve also launched a master’s in public administration.”

A concentration in virtuous leadership is now also available for all students in graduate business programs. “This concentration is in partnership with the Havard Virtuous Leadership Institute, and internationally renowned speaker and author Alexandre Havard himself will be teaching for us.”

McMahon said expanding class offerings is important to the mission of the University of Mary. “Our founders and sponsors, the Benedictine Sisters of Annunciation Monastery, established our mission as one of service,” he noted. “The University of Mary strives to identify the needs of the people in this region, and to respond with relevant academic programs that meet those needs.”

Chamber Connection | 7

FEATURE

HOEVEN HOLDS YEAR-END ROUNDTABLE AT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

By Cathryn Sprynczynatyk

Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., held a roundtable at the Bismarck-Mandan Chamber of Commerce on Dec. 30 to close out 2015. Hoeven met with local officials and business leaders to outline key legislative accomplishments of the past year and that Congress included in legislation passed at the end of 2015.

“It’s always a wonderful experience being able to spend time face-to-face with Sen. Hoeven,” said Bismarck mayor Mike Seminary. “He’s always Sen. John Hoeven met with local officials and business leaders to discuss legislation that passed this year very approachable and provides in Washington D.C. wonderful, timely information. I always appreciate his openness and willingness to take any and all Seminary voiced similar thoughts. questions. He’s always willing to spend that time with us.

Frankly all of our delegation does that.

“We have to find a way to strip away some of the stifling regulatory constraints that are being put on our economy,” “He’s always right to the point, he’s very candid and direct Seminary said. “People say we're doing this to protect the and you know exactly where he stands on any position, but environment — clean water, clean air — and everyone wants particularly in regards to the questions that you’re asking.” that. But we're really, really going too far. I see this as a mayor — what it does at the city level and how it impacts Hoeven’s office said he worked with his congressional development. I see this at my day job at an engineering colleagues to address North Dakota’s priorities and meet company in the reporting we have to do and what the the needs of the state’s families, schools, businesses and clients have to do. It is an expensive process, and a fair farmers across a wide variety of areas, including energy, amount of it could be dealt with differently." tax, education, transportation and regulatory policy.

Among the issues discussed at the roundtable event, “We secured important priorities for our state and nation,” energy issues were also a major concern.

Hoeven said. “We lifted the ban on crude oil exports, provided tax relief, restored local control over education “The Clean Power Act could really have an adverse effect standards and ensured stronger funding for long-term on the state of North Dakota along with other energy infrastructure projects. These accomplishments will related issues depending on their outcome in future provide considerable benefits for our businesses and our legislative sessions,” Mantz said. families by promoting greater economic growth and local autonomy.”

Energy was also among the top issues named by Seminary.

Among the local business leaders present at the roundtable event, Keith Mantz, chief retail officer for “Especially in light of this very unique Iran treaty, I think Capital Credit Union, the federal regulatory environment a comprehensive national energy policy is critically was one of most important federal issues that face the important,” Seminary said. “It must be based on all-oflocal business community. the-above solutions. It's because of how that impacts our everyday lives and our economy."

“I thought that Sen. Hoeven‘s comments on reducing government regulation and setting long-term tax parameters really would help businesses in planning going forward,” Mantz said.

8 | Chamber Connection

www.bismarckmandan.com Hoeven highlighted the following measures passed by Congress at the end of 2015: Lifting the ban on crude oil exports • Hoeven, a member of the Senate Energy Committee, repeatedly called for the repeal of the crude oil export ban and cosponsored bipartisan legislation earlier this year to do just that.

• Hoeven said allowing crude oil exports will support domestic energy production, grow the nation’s economy, provide good jobs for workers, reduce fuel costs for consumers and enhance the security of the U.S. and its allies.

Providing flexibility in school nutrition requirements • Approved Hoeven’s school nutrition reform amendment, which gives flexibility to schools struggling to comply with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) whole-grain and sodium standards during the 2016-2017 school year.

• Allows schools to retain the original USDA whole-grain requirement of 50 percent, rather than requiring that 100 percent of all grains served be whole-grain rich.

• Prevents the Administration from requiring further reductions in sodium, which have already been brought down to the Target 1 level.

Tax relief for small business and farmers • Approved tax relief totaling $680 billion over ten years • Included a permanent extension of Section 179 with the $500,000 limitation and a five-year extension of bonus deprecation, important provisions that provide small businesses certainty and flexibility in planning their long-term finances • Extended permanently the Low Income Housing Tax Credit, a dollar-for-dollar tax credit for private investments made in affordable housing. The credits are used by the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency alongside state programs to ensure an adequate housing supply is available for the state’s workers and their families.

• Provided relief from Obamacare’s costly and burdensome mandates, including a two-year delay of the tax on businesses that pay their employees’ health care plans and a two-year delay of the Medical Device Tax.

Passing a five-year highway bill • Passed the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, a five-year highway bill that is fully funded • Provides North Dakota with more than $1.3 billion, increases annual funding for the state by $23 million per year, up to $263 million, provides $76 million over five years for transit projects in the state and enables more than 100 projects in the state to move forward.

• Includes Hoeven’s Driver Privacy Act, legislation that establishes in law that the owner of a vehicle is also the owner of any information collected by an Event Data Recorder (EDR).

• Restores the $3 billion that was cut from crop insurance earlier this year.

Regulatory relief for farmers and ranchers • Blocked the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from reinstating the Waters of the U.S. Interpretive Rule, preserving the general agriculture exemption under the Clean Water Act for farmers and ranchers.

Restoring local control over education • Passed the Every Student Succeeds Act, education authorization legislation that repeals No Child Left Behind, restores local control over education standards, replaces one-size-fits-all accountability requirements with state-designed systems and ends the Common Core mandate.

• Strengthened Impact Aid for schools affected by the loss of property taxes due to nearby military bases and other federal land.

• Included a provision based on legislation offered

by Senators Hoeven and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) to bolster Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education.

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Chamber Connection | 9

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Kris Svanes of Imperial Flooring.

MEMBER PROFILE Featuring Kris Svanes

IMPERIAL FLOORING INC.

Q: Tell us about yourself and your role within the organization.

A: Imperial Flooring is a locally owned, one stop shop for floor coverings. From the full design staff to the full service installation services. We strive to make your floor covering experience the best we can.

Q: Have there been any monumental changes in the industry that you've had to deal with?

A: We have seen a lot of products come and go as with any industry. It is nice to see the natural products being used more often. The products we are currently selling now are a lot better for our environment.

Q: Briefly tell us the history of Imperial Flooring.

A: We have been in the Bismarck-Mandan community since 2001. We started as a small retailer/installation company and it has evolved into a full design, one stop shop for floor coverings.

Q: What does the future of Imperial Flooring look like and the industry as a whole look like to you?

A: I think the future for Bismarck-Mandan looks strong!

We have a very strong community that is pretty resilient to national financial trends. Between agriculture, oil, gas and other industries we have to offer, I am confident we will continue to grow as a community.

Q: What differentiates Imperial Flooring from its competitors?

A: We are home grown, from start to finish, providing all of our own installation services.

Q: How has the growth of Bismarck-Mandan impacted Imperial Flooring?

A: It has been great to see our community grow, and it's been fun to see our company and personnel grow with it.

Q: What industry trends are taking place?

A: We are seeing lots of modern trends, clean lines and cool colors. Also, we are seeing a lot of products that are more environmentally friendly being used.

10 | Chamber Connection

Q: Imperial Flooring has been a member since 2005, why do you continue to renew each year?

A: The Bismark-Mandan Chamber of Commerce is a great organization that helps bring businesses together and keep us aware of national business trends and other things that can effect our companies.

Q: What should Chamber members know about Imperial Flooring that may assist them?

A: We appreciate their input and are always available to provide any info that might benefit any other local businesses.

www.bismarckmandan.com

CHAMBER TO HOST TOWN HALL MEETING ON INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING The Bismarck-Mandan Chamber has announced it will host a town hall discussion on Infrastructure funding on Thursday, February 11 in the Bavendick Stateroom at the BSC National Energy Center of Excellence (NECE) Building on the Bismarck State College campus. The meeting will begin at 5:30pm and is scheduled to conclude by 7:00pm.

In late 2015, Mayor Mike Seminary brought forward the idea of a one-cent sales tax increase to fund street and road construction.

This is one of four options identified in the Growth Management Plan developed by the city. The other mechanisms identified in the plan are: an increase in property taxes; a utility fee or additional impact fees on development.

The town hall is open to Chamber members and the public. It will include a presentation on the issue and then a discussion of the various alternatives.

WELCOME TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

In December, eight new board members were welcomed to the Bismarck-Mandan Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

Stepping down from their three-year terms were:

Stacey Breuer

Mike Nathe

Tracy Kindem

Chad Moldenhauer - K&L Homes Dave Hoekstra - BNC National Bank Ken Rutter - Basin Electric Power Cooperative Norm Clark - Gate City Bank Lee Pierce - Al Fitterer Architects Jeff Essler - HIT Inc. Mike Schmitz - Widmer Roel, PC

Joe Duperre

The incoming board members include:

Jasper Schneider

Dr. Blake Feil

Nick Hacker

Stacey Breuer - Bobcat/Doosan Mike Nathe - Bismarck Funeral Home Tracy Kindem - H.A. Thompson and Sons Joe Duperre - Kirkwood Mall Jasper Schneider - NISC Blake Feil - Feil Orthodontics Nick Hacker - ND Guaranty and Title Heather Fried - Fried Financial Services Inc.

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Chamber Connection | 11

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Thank You for

The Bismarck-Mandan

What a wonderful evening of laughter at the Bismarck-Mandan Chamber of Commerce’s 26th Annual Dinner celebration on Thursday, January 14th at the Bismarck Event Center!

Thank you to all our guests for braving the cold weather and slick roads to attend our honorary 1940s evening; recognizing our leaders, volunteers and comedy night with staff pranks and Upright Citizens Brigade Touring Company Improvational skit! Thank you to our wonderful Bismarck Mayor Mike Seminary and Mandan Mayor Arlyn Van Beek for their attendance and always inspiring speeches.

Also, thank you to our outgoing Chair, Rick Matteson for giving the recap of Bismarck-Mandan Chamber of Commerce’s accomplishments in 2015 and to our incoming Chair, Perrie Schafer, for providing the details of what to expect in 2016 and a breakdown of the search for our new Chamber president.

The staff had a wonderful time roasting the Chamber President, Kelvin Hullet and continued to show our respect for the work and amazing leadership he’s paved for the community and our office during his nearly 13 years of employment. There were many laughs had and a fabulous evening of mingling with nearly 900 attendees all dressed to impress.

Lastly, thank you to all our sponsors who make this night possible! Without your support and commitment these events would not be successful.

12 | Chamber Connection

Perrie Schafer and past Board Chairs presented Kelvin and Amy with an authentic Coca-Cola Fridge.

www.bismarckmandan.com

Attending the

Chamber of Commerce

Platinum Sponsors:

Entertainment Sponsors:

Silver Sponsors:

KXMB CBS 12 Stinson Leonard Street LLP Tesoro Mandan Refinery

Gold Sponsors:

Reception Sponsors:

Photography Sponsor:

Environmental Services LTD First International Bank & Trust Schafer Financial Group Touchmark on West Century

Table Sponsors: Aetna Bank of North Dakota Bartlett & West Baymont Inn & Suites Bismarck Cancer Center Bismarck Event Center Bismarck State College BNI Coal, Ltd. Brady Martz & Associates Candlewood Suites Capital Chiropractic Capital City Construction Capital Credit Union

CHI St. Alexius Health City Air Mechanical Inc. CornerStone Bank COUNTRY Financial - Jen Janecek-Hartman Crowley Fleck PLLP Dakota Appraisal & Consulting Dickinson State University EAPC Architects Engineers H.A. Thompson & Sons Hampton Inn & Suites Holiday Inn Houston Engineering JLG Architects

KLJ Farm Credit Services of Mandan KFYR TV Kirkwood Bank & Trust Liberty Business Systems NISC Northern Improvement Co. Northern Plains Equipment Inc. Northwest Tire, Inc. North Dakota Safety Council Odney Open Road Honda The Painters

Railway Credit Union Schmidt Insurance Agency Schwan Buick GMC Cadillac Skeels Electric Company Starion Financial Ulteig Engineers, Inc. United Tribes Technical College University of Mary U.S. Bank Vaaler Insurance Vogel Law Firm Wells Fargo Bank Wenck Associates, Inc.

Chamber Connection | 13

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LEADERSHIP: “KIDS ARE RESILIENT" Tom Schmidt, principal of Legacy High School guides the Leadership BismarckMandan class on a tour of the LHS facility during Education Day on Dec. 16, 2015

Education Day

Legacy High School took center stage during Leadership BismarckMandan Education Day on Dec. 16, 2015. In addition to touring the new Legacy High School facility and hearing from administrators, Leadership Education Day was treated to presentations by LHS students.

The Legacy High School culinary arts class catered lunch for Leadership Bismarck-Mandan as a part of their class curriculum. The culinary arts students were tasked with planning the menu, budgeting for groceries, preparing the shopping list, cooking lunch and serving the meal.

Although the menu started at double the allotted budget, the culinary arts students refined their project until they were within budget. The result was Stuffed Shells Marinara, Fresh-baked Breadsticks, Caesar Salad made from scratch and Chocolate Lava Cakes with Crème Anglais.

Education Day concluded with another presentation by high school students. The LHS Gold Standard choral ensemble performed Christmas carols for Leadership Bismarck-Mandan as part of a dress rehearsal for their December concert.

With all of the changes in facility and scheduling that Legacy High School students have experienced in the past three years, the message from LHS educators was that “kids are resilient.”

In between the festive lunch and musical performance, Leadership Bismarck-Mandan learned about community education issues from the following presenters: Post-secondary panel Dr. Leander McDonald, President of United Tribes Technical College Dr. Larry Skogen, President of Bismarck State College Private schools panel Travis Jordan, Superintendent of Shiloh Christian School Gerald Vetter, Superintendent of Light of Christ Catholic Schools of Excellence 14 | Chamber Connection

Child care and preschool Carmen Traeholt, YMCA Youth Development Center Director Superintendents panel Mandan Public Schools Bismarck Public Schools

Health Day

Leadership Bismarck-Mandan reconvened in the new year for Health Day on Jan. 6.

Representatives of Bismarck-Mandan’s major health facilities provided a CEO-level view of “The Changing Landscape of Healthcare.” Dr. Craig Lambrecht of Sanford Health, Kurt Schley of CHI St. Alexius Health and Marvin Lein of Mid Dakota Clinic spoke on the CEO panel.

Dr. David Field of Sanford Health spoke to the leadership class on “A New Model: Preventative Health’s Impact on Hospitals, Businesses and Individuals.”

Finally, representatives from Archway Mental Health, Mental Health America of North Dakota and Heartview Foundation spoke in a panel discussion on “Mental Health Issues in North Dakota.”

OUR MANY THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING: Presenting Sponsor:

Gold Sponsor: Program Sponsor: Binder Sponsor: Capital Trophy Education Day Chairs: Melissa Artlip - University of Mary Joyce Hinman - Retired Educator Lynn Wolf - Sunrise Elementary School Health Day Chairs: Kilee Harmon - CHI St. Alexius Health Marnie Walth - Sanford Health Breakfast/Lunch Sponsors: Legacy High School (Education Day) CHI St. Alexius Health (Health Day) Sanford Health (Health Day)

www.bismarckmandan.com

AMBASSADOR OF THE QUARTER AWARDED Congratulations to Fred Koenig as the Ambassador of the fourth quarter recognition in 2015!

Fred Koenig, center, is the Ambassador of the fourth quarter.

Fred Koenig is the President of Transworld Business Advisors of Bismarck and he has been an ambassador for the Chamber since October. Since joining the committee, he has been extremely active in attendance and keeping the group up-todate on new businesses.

Prior to Fred’s current position he has been a Customer Service Representative at Ameripride Linen, Route Sales at Midwest Tire and a Manager for A & B Pizza for 13 years. Born and raised in Helena, MT., Fred eventually made the move to ND where he attended Bismarck High School and graduated from Bismarck State College with a Business Management degree. Fred and his wife Darlinn have lived in the Bismarck area for 35 years, along with their son Korbin. In the last 18 years doing sales, Fred has earned a reputation as a very personable individual with customer satisfaction always being his No. 1goal and proved that by achieving the “Top 5 Award for Customer Service Representatives 5 consecutive years” at Ameripride Linen.

Fred is not only is an ambassador for the BismarckMandan Chamber, but also is a Business Network International member (BNI), involved with Lincoln JC’s and Cub Scout master.

Fred enjoys serving as an ambassador because of the wonderful opportunity to celebrate people’s dreams to become a new entrepreneur or opening up a new location. “It is great to see owners so full of enthusiasm and spunk. Seeing Bismarck-Mandan bring in new and different business as well as the growth of the community is a wonderful feeling and I love to meet all the new people.”

Congratulations again, from Bismarck-Mandan Chamber staff and thank you for your dedication to this very active committee!

AMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR AWARDED Congratulations to Shannon Schneider, Bismarck –Mandan’s 2015 Ambassador of the Year! Shannon is an account representative with Spherion Staffing and has been an outstanding ambassador. Shannon’s commitment to this committee does not go unrecognized. A special thank you to his employers for allowing him the time to dedicate to the Ambassador Committee.

Each year the ambassadors of the Chamber participate in more than 150 ribbon cuttings welcoming new businesses to the community, congratulating business expansions, recognizing new business owners, and acknowledging business re-locations. They also serve as greeters at our monthly membership mixers, Holiday Mixer and many other Chamber events.

Shannon Schneider of Sperion Staffing.

At the end of the quarter an outstanding member of the group is recognized for their attendance and involvement as the “Ambassador of the Quarter”. At the end of the year one of the four is selected by the Ambassador Committee as the “Ambassador of the Year”.

Chamber Connection | 15

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events

LUNCH & LEARN PRESENTED BY ANDREAS WIDMER Date: Location:

Fees:

Tuesday, February 23, 2016 University of Mary Tharaldson School of Business, RM 212 Time: 11:00AM - 1:00PM Free to Attend

Don't miss this month's speaker Andreas Widmer. He is the Director of Entrepreneurship Programs at Catholic University of America’s School of Business & Economics.

He is the author of The Pope & The CEO: Pope John Paul II’s Lessons to a Young Swiss Guard, a book exploring leadership lessons that Widmer learned serving as a Swiss Guard protecting Pope Saint John Paul II, and refined during his career as a successful business executive.

Seating is limited, RSVP online at www.umary.edu/ lunchandlearn.,

16 | Chamber Connection

MEMBERSHIP MIXER: KLJ

Date: Location:

Time: Fees:

Thursday, February 25, 2016 KLJ 4585 Coleman Street, Bismarck 4:30PM - 6:30PM Free to Attend

KLJ will be hosting this month’s Business after Hours event during Engineers week on Thursday, February 25.

Members of the Bismarck-Mandan Chamber will enjoy getting a closer look at some of the projects that have helped shape our community. KLJ making a world of difference in the Bismarck Mandan Community.

Mixers are free for Chamber members to attend. Please consider joining us and bring along colleagues as you are all members! You can RSVP by calling Amanda at 701-223-5660 or online at bismarckmandan.com/ events.

www.bismarckmandan.com

ECONOMIC Outlook Forum

ECONOMIC OUTLOOK FORUM Date: Location:

Time: Fees:

Presenting Sponsor:

Wednesday, March 9, 2016 Ramkota Hotel 800 S 3rd Street, Bismarck 7:30AM - 11:30PM $35.00 — Members $40.00 — Non-Members

In January, the Bismarck Mandan Chamber distributed a survey for the fourth year to gauge business performance in the Bismarck-Mandan area and national level. Join us on Wednesday, March 9th to find out what factors are influencing the local economy. This half day presentation will feature a large panel of professionals, in a variety of different industries that will inform us on the current community. Some specific topics of discussion this year will be agriculture, housing market, finance and energy, just to name a few.

CHAMBER SPRING MIXER

Date: Location:

Time: Fees:

Thursday, April 12, 2016 Ramkota Hotel 800 S 3rd Street, Bismarck 5:00PM - 7:30PM $5.00 + Business Card

April may seem far away, but spring will be here before we know it! Plan ahead and don’t miss out on the opportunity to showcase your business in front of more than 700 attendees that are anticipated to browse over 70 member booth displays at our Annual Spring Mixer scheduled for Tuesday, April 12th, 2016 at the Ramkota Hotel from 5:00pm to 7:30pm. Attendees not only have the opportunity to network and learn about local businesses, but they also have the chance to win door prizes and sample excellent hors d’oeuvres.

Contact Amanda Schwieters at the Chamber to get more details at 701-223-5660.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to hear from experts in their industries, listen to a variety of panelists and see the valuable survey data firsthand.

Find out what our community business leaders are saying about the topics covered in our: 2015 performance, anticipated performance of 2016 and reasons attributed for successes and challenges for our local businesses. Some of the key economic indicators: • Technology changes • Local finances • Staffing issues • Housing market • State and federal government regulations Cost to attend the Economic Outlook is $35 for members; $40 day of the event and $40 for nonmembers; $45 day of the event. If you are interested in having a table sponsorship contact Amanda at aschwieters@bismancc.com or call 701-223-5660 to find out more details. You can register online at www.bismarckmandan.com/events/calendar.

Chamber Connection | 17

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GIVING HEARTS DAY:

PERKS

INSPIRING DONORS. EXPANDING CHARITY IMPACT. Charities and donors are watching the clock for Giving Hearts Day, a 24-hour online event to take place February 11, 2016.

Giving Hearts Day was started in 2008 by Dakota Medical Foundation and Impact Foundation as the first one-day “virtual” charity fundraising event of its kind in the region. Donors can easily give on Giving Hearts Day in just a few minutes without regard to weather or need to attend an event. The 24-hour window creates urgency that spurs people to action. There will be 338 nonprofits participating in 2016, a 17% growth over last year.

Giving Hearts Day is the region’s biggest giving day, raising $6.9 million last year in 2015.

The event now spans the entire state of North Dakota and western Minnesota. It is hosted by DMF, Impact Foundation and Alex Stern Family Foundation and sponsored by Bush Foundation, Gate City Bank and Scheels.

Generous community donors have pledged to match donations of $10 or more up to at least $4000 for each participating nonprofit in the Bismarck area.

On February 11, contributions can be made at impactgiveback.org, an online comprehensive guide to nonprofit organizations, developed by Dakota Medical Foundation and Impact Foundation so that donors can easily learn about charities, make donations, find volunteer opportunities and register events online. The site profiles more than 500 North Dakota charities and has been used to raise more than $14.2 million since 2008.

2016 is the fifth year Bismarck charities have been invited to participate in the annual event. The 27 area charities that participate in Giving Hearts Day provide services to over 45,000 people in the Bismarck-Mandan community each year, providing everything from a safe place to stay to medical treatment, to unforgettable experiences through learning and the arts.

Bismarck area nonprofits that will be participating in Giving Hearts Day include Abused Adult Resource Center, Anne Carlsen Center, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bismarck-Mandan, Bismarck Cancer Center, Bismarck Public Schools Foundation, Central Dakota Children’s Choir, Charles Hall Youth Services, Cystic Fibrosis Association of North Dakota, Elks Camp Grassick, First Choice Clinic, Gateway to Science, Kidder County Community Health Center, Martin Luther School, Missouri Valley YMCA, ND Center for Nursing, ND Coalition for Homeless People, Inc., ND FFA Foundation, ND Safety Council, ND Teen Challenge, ND Women’s Network, Northern Plains Dance, Ronald McDonald House, Ruth Meiers House, Salvation Army, The Arc, Welcome House, and Youthworks. Each of these nonprofits has its own profile site at impactgiveback.org, where donors can learn more about the missions and programs that the charities offer.

Questions specific to the Bismarck area’s participation in Giving Hearts Day can be directed to Mackenzie Schmaltz, Marketing Manager at Northern Plains Dance, at 701-530-0986 or schmaltz@northernplainsdance. org. Questions about Giving Hearts Day by donors, businesses or others can be directed to Sara Stolt, director of strategy and initiatives, at 701-356-3149 or at sarastolt@dakmed.org.

18 | Chamber Connection

www.bismarckmandan.com

NEW VIDEOS HIGHLIGHT MANDAN’S VISITOR ATTRACTIONS & EVENTS

“FUN: MADE IN MANDAN” is the theme of Mandan’s latest community marketing initiative, a set of videos for online and mobile devices. The videos feature attractions and events to help potential tourists and area residents further discover the possibilities in Mandan.

Check out the videos on YouTube via a “Great Things: Made in Mandan” channel. They are also linked on the city website, www.cityofmandan.com/thingstodo, plus on Facebook pages for the City of Mandan and “Made in Mandan,” a source of news about community progress, events, local achievements and sources of fun.

The purpose of the videos is to strengthen the image of Mandan as a fun place with a variety of things to do year-round for people of all ages. Marketing goals are to attract tourists to increase attendance at events, admissions at various activities, as well as hotel and restaurant spending. The videos will reach an audience beyond North Dakota’s borders, thanks in part to funding being provided by a North Dakota Tourism marketing grant.

Content showcases Mandan community events like the Buggies-n-Blues classic car and music festival, Mandan Rodeo Days including Art in the Park and the Independence Day Parade, Wild West Grill Fest, Slide the City, and OktoberFest; plus attractions such as Raging Rivers Water Park, golf courses, Dacotah Speedway, and the Missouri River.

Additional videos are forthcoming focusing on winter fun and Mandan’s Fourth of July activities.

The videos were created at the direction of the Mandan Business Development and Communications Department with guidance from the Mandan Tomorrow — Leadership, Pride and Image Committee, which helps execute a community marketing plan.

Juniper was looking for an extra hand.

At American, they got six.

When these archeologists needed advice and support, American dug in. Consider us a 3-in-1 partner, dedicated to helping your small business get the banking, coverage and asset management it needs to thrive.

Watch how American helps any way we can at YouTube.com/ABCweareamerican

John Morrison & Beth Nodland Juniper LLC, Bismarck

Chamber Connection | 19

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BSC’S CONTINUING EDUCATION DIVISION WINS AWARD The Continuing Education, Training & Innovation Department at Bismarck State College was honored for excellence in the Best Brochure category by the Learning Resources Network (LERN), the world’s largest lifelong learning association.

Judging criteria required awardees to be at the leading edge of lifelong learning, as evidenced by innovation and documented success of the submitted entry. Other criteria were originality, appropriateness as a model for other programs, replicability and measurable outcomes.

BSC won with its Enrichment Catalog, which was included in a showcase of internationally exemplary programs at the 2015 LERN annual conference in New Orleans in December.

LERN representatives said the judges loved the innovative theme and images of the brochure, whose retro look appealed to Gen Y, as well as Baby Boomers.

Allison Zarr accepts the LERN award at the 2015 LERN Conference.

Information about the submission was on display in the Hall of Learning throughout the threeday conference. It will also be featured in future LERN publications and on its website.

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“The double market appeal made this a timely theme and look that captures interest and imagination of the audience,” said Julie Coates, LERN’s senior vice president of information services.

BSC’s entry was selected from more than 100 nominations from four countries. The brochure was designed in collaboration with BSC’s College Relations Department.

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20 | Chamber Connection

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HOUSING AGENCY SAYS THERE IS STILL TIME TO EARN A 2015 STATE INCOME TAX CREDIT

State taxpayers interested in supporting affordable housing development can still earn a credit on their 2015 state income tax as long as the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency receives their contribution by Dec. 31, 2016.

Agency officials accepted a $500,000 check for the state’s Housing Incentive Fund from Starion Financial. The bank’s contribution will support development in Bismarck, Mandan and Fargo.

“Having a mix of housing, from market-rate homes to affordable rental units, ensures opportunities for all North Dakotans to improve their economic situation and contribute to their community positively,” said Jolene Kline, NDHFA executive director. “We are thankful for Starion’s support and for the support of all of our Housing Incentive Fund contributors. It is with their help that we are able to advance the state’s efforts to provide housing that’s affordable for all of our residents.”

Starion split its contribution between 100 West Main, Sierra Court and FiveSouth in Bismarck; Jeremiah Program Apartments and North Sky III in Fargo; and Shoal Creek Apartments and Trails West Townhomes in Mandan.

Between the seven developments, affordable housing will be created for seniors with limited incomes, lower-wage workers, single parents seeking a way out of poverty through education, and essential community workers.

“It’s a privilege to be able to help create affordable housing in communities we serve,” said Craig Larson, president/CEO of Starion Financial. “To paraphrase my father and Starion founder, Frank Larson - as a community bank, we’re in business to help our communities grow and thrive. These projects will go a long way to serve the housing needs in Bismarck, Fargo and Mandan.”

Capitalized by contributions from state taxpayers, the Housing Incentive Fund provides developers of affordable rental housing with low-cost financing if they agree to set-aside units for essential service workers and low- to moderate-income households. Individuals and businesses that make contributions to the program receive a dollar-for-dollar state tax credit.

Contributions can be targeted to a specific project or community.

NDHFA Executive Director Jolene Kline accepts a $500,000 check for the state’s Housing Incentive Fund from Starion Financial President/CEO Craig Larson. The bank’s contribution will support affordable housing development in Bismarck, Mandan and Fargo.

NDHFA must raise $30 million

by Dec. 31, 2016, to fully capitalize the fund. To date, the agency has received more than $24 million.

www.bismarckmandan.com

PLENTI{FULL} At Touchmark, residents say living well means …

Having more friendships.

Worrying less.

Exercising more.

Eating healthier.

Being more social.

Independent Living Cottages & Apartments Assisted Living · Memory Care Health & Fitness Club Learn more: 701-557-9289 TouchmarkBismarck.com/info TOUCHMARK ON WEST CENTURY Full-service Retirement Community 1000 West Century Avenue • Bismarck, ND 58503 1512059 © Touchmark, LLC, all rights reserved

Chamber Connection | 21

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NORTH DAKOTA YOUNG PROFESSIONALS RECOGNIZE APPLIED ENGINEERING AS 2015 BEST PLACE TO WORK Through the Best Place to Work awards, North Dakota Young Professionals Network (NDYP) recognizes businesses that provide high quality jobs and a work environment enticing to and in support of young professionals in order to support ongoing economic, workforce and community development initiatives across the state.

NDYP has chosen Applied Engineering, Inc. as the 2015 Best Place to Work.

“We are very proud to present Applied Engineering with the Best Place to Work award for 2015,” explains Laurie Morse-Dell, NDYP Coordinator. “Time and again we hear that company culture is the number one draw for young professionals when considering a place to work. Applied Engineering has taken that to heart and crafted an organization where employees are receiving advanced professional development with personal focus in a team environment and it has proven to be successful for all involved.”

Another factor that set Applied Engineering apart from the crowd are their efforts to create an organization with long-term retention of their young professionals by providing in house technical training, challenging professional experiences, mentoring, and career advancement opportunities from within.

Applied Engineering also understands that young professionals desire to get involved and interact with their communities. Volunteering and giving back to the

22 | Chamber Connection

local community has been an important part of their company culture for many years. Recently Applied Engineering developed a formal charity program that encourages employees to join efforts in all organization locations to volunteer for a local charity to make the strongest impact in their communities. In turn, Applied Engineering provides a matching monetary donation to the charitable organization taking into account employee time spent volunteering and employee donations made.

Applied Engineering was nominated for the award

by Hannah Manstrom, HR Assistant and Intern at the company. She sums up the company culture of open communication, team environment, workplace flexibility, and employee owned by sharing what she believes is the best part about working at Applied Engineering; “It’s in the little things we do, and creates the question in all of us, “What can I do better?” It makes you think and act a bit differently. It’s motivating and rewarding, not only financially, but in the way we each contribute every day.”

Runners up as Top Places to Work include the following employers: Braun Intertec, Bismarck; Capital Credit Union, Bismarck; Choice Financial Group, Grand Forks; HDR, Bismarck; JLG Architects, Grand Forks, KLJ, Bismarck; Marco, Fargo; Ulteig, Fargo; and University of North Dakota, Grand Forks. The runners up each reflected true creativity and innovation within meaningful employment opportunities for young professionals.

HIGH POINT NETWORKS GROWS ITS PAY IT FORWARD PROGRAM

“Pay IT Forward” is an employer/employee matching contribution program that offers High Point Networks’ employees the opportunity to make contributions to charitable organizations of their choice. This year, which was the third year of the program, the company's employees made contributions to more than 34 different charities, foundations and nonprofit organizations totaling $48,750. Employees are encouraged to support a charitable cause that is personally meaningful to them, which included schools and churches, as well as local, regional and national organizations. The total contributions increased by 20% from the previous year.

High Point Networks believes that vibrant, healthy communities have strong charitable and educational organizations. These are supported by the volunteer time and financial contributions of community citizens and local businesses. The company understands the importance of a high quality of life to a healthy business environment.

High Point Networks is a leader in business and in the communities they serve. They empower their employees to stand up for a cause which often inspires others to get involved.

www.bismarckmandan.com

STARION FINANCIAL RECEIVES SBA DIRECTOR’S AWARD

Starion Financial received the Director’s Award from the North Dakota District Office of the Small Business Administration (SBA).

Lenders are chosen annually for their commitment to small business financing using SBA programs. Starion is among the top six North Dakota lenders being recognized and was the third largest lender of SBA loans in the state. In fiscal year 2015, Starion approved 18 loans and nearly $1.7 million in small business financing under the SBA’s loan program.

“As a family-owned business, it has always been ingrained in Starion’s culture to partner with local businesses,” explains Craig Larson, Starion president/ CEO. “We work with them to ensure long-term success because when small businesses flourish, entire communities benefit. That support is important at every stage of business and Starion is proud to provide the support and services small businesses need to grow and succeed.”

This is the sixth year that Starion has received the SBA Director’s Award

"We believe that character is one of our strongest attributes, and part of character is observing the needs of those around you," said Tom McDougall, President/CEO of High Point Networks. "Contributing to organizations and community groups that our team cares about enables High Point Networks to promote a culture of character and build shared pride in the company’s role in the community."

Owners look forward to watching the growth of this program in future years.

"High Point Networks had another record setting year in 2015, and we are inspired by the opportunity to 'Pay IT Forward’," McDougall said.

Chamber Connection | 23

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UNIVERSITY OF MARY RECEIVES $750,000 DONATION The Tom and Frances Leach Foundation has gifted three-quarters of a million dollars to the Vision 2030 Capital Campaign at the University of Mary.

“We are extremely grateful to the foundation and feel very blessed by their continued partnership and support,” remarked Monsignor James Shea, president of the University of Mary. “We are humbled that over the course of our relationship, the University of Mary has been the largest single recipient of gifts from the foundation. How providential and appropriate that the Leach Foundation, which has spent decades building community in our midst, is helping the University of Mary to break ground on our new campus center this spring — a place dedicated towards bringing together in community students, faculty and guests for fellowship.”

In May 2016, construction will begin on the new twostory campus center that repurposes the current field house and connects it to the McDowell Activity Center (MAC).

24 | Chamber Connection

This 80,000-square- foot structure features a new Founders Hall with one of the grandest views in all of North Dakota, overlooking the Missouri River Valley and accommodating over 600 dinner guests for corporate and private meetings, conferences and banquets.

Students cross “Main Street” from Founders Hall into one of the country’s only 24/7 dining centers. Other amenities include a book and retail store, individual conference rooms, student lounges, coffee shop, bank, clinic, Hall of Fame concourse and much more.

The campus center, along with a new residence hall and field house that are currently under construction, is part of phase one of a $272 million Vision 2030 Capital Campaign at Mary.

For their past and ongoing generosity, The Tom and Frances Leach Foundation will receive a prominent naming opportunity and a memorial to Tom and Frances Leach within the campus center.

www.bismarckmandan.com

BISMARCK CANCER CENTER RECEIVES RE-ACCREDITATION FROM THE JOINT COMMISSION

Bismarck Cancer Center has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for reaccreditation by demonstrating compliance with The Joint Commission’s national standards for health care quality and safety in ambulatory care organizations.

The re-accreditation award recognizes Bismarck Cancer Center’s dedication to continuous compliance with The Joint Commission’s state-of-the-art standards.

Bismarck Cancer Center initially went underwent a rigorous on-site survey in December, 2012. In December of 2015 Joint Commission expert surveyor evaluated the Bismarck Cancer Center for compliance with standards of care specific to the needs of patients, including infection prevention and control, leadership and medication management.

Since 1975, The Joint Commission has developed state-of-the-art standards for outpatient ambulatory care organizations. Nearly 1,900 freestanding ambulatory care organizations maintain Joint Commission accreditation.

"We recognize Joint Commission accreditation as the Gold Seal for providing safe, high quality patient care.

Achieving accreditation from The Joint Commission is a team effort that will bring confidence to our patients and give us a framework to provide the best care possible,” said Ken Dykes, Executive Director of the Bismarck Cancer Center.

The Joint Commission’s ambulatory care standards address important functions relating to the care of patients and the management of an ambulatory care organization. The standards are developed in consultation with health care experts, providers, measurement experts and patients.

AFTER DECADES OF HELPING YOU TELL YOUR BRAND STORIES, IT’S TIME FOR A NEW CHAPTER.

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Chamber Connection | 25

COMMUNITY

NEWS

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Perks

Ask a Pro with

DR. RUSSO at

500 N 8th St, Bismarck, ND 58501 • 701-222-6100

Q: SHOULD I GET A NEW YEAR CANCER SCREENING? A: The New Year has come and it’s time

for a reminder to get your annual cancer screening. If you haven’t had a screening before, there is no time like the present!

For women, screenings can include mammograms to detect breast cancer and possibly Pap smears to detect cervical cancer. Men should discuss a PSA (a lab test) to screen for prostate cancer. Both women and men should discuss having a colonoscopy to detect pre-cancerous polyps and screen for colon and rectal cancer. Those who currently smoke cigarettes or have smoked in the past should discuss lung cancer screening. A thorough skin check is recommended for those with a history of sun exposure, like farmers and ranchers.

These tests are widely available, minimally invasive, paid for by insurance and are proven to save lives. For more information, schedule an appointment with your primary care physician.

26 | Chamber Connection

with with

CHAD MOLDENHAUER at

JOEL BLANCHARD, MD at

PO Box 7188, Bismarck, ND 58507 • 701-220-1821

2603 E. Broadway Ave, Bismarck, ND 58501 701-323-5222

Q: HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO BUILD A HOME? A: In our region, home construction

Q: HOW DOES HEART DISEASE AND HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AFFECT COMMERCIAL DRIVER GUIDELINES? A: Heart disease and strokes are two

typically begins between April and October and can take anywhere from four months to a year. The size and complexity of the home are the largest factors which contribute to the time of construction. However, each builder will have a slightly different approach to the construction process and their level of organization will tend to streamline the process. Although the weather in our region is largely unpredictable, delays are less likely when builders have a set group of subcontractors, suppliers and employees dedicated to projects.

For example, the cost of a typical home build by our company is somewhere between $500-650k and takes between five and six months to complete.

Generally every additional $100k in project cost will result in another month on the schedule. Custom builds are unique in that the schedule is also dependent upon the client’s ability to make timely selections and stay within budgets. It is important to be realistic when setting the schedule for a build because many factors such as the children’s school year, work schedules, movers, interest rate locks and even the closing of the client’s current home are usually coordinated with the closing of the new home.

of the most serious medical conditions that can lead to sudden incapacity of a commercial motor vehicle driver and potentially an accident on our highways.

If a driver has heart disease, it’s important that it’s treated so the driver is no longer at risk for sudden incapacity. When a driver is diagnosed with a heart attack or angina (chest pain from the heart), certain extra tests are required.

Immediately after a heart attack, there is a two-month waiting period before your employee can drive again. The driver needs an echocardiogram to make sure there is no heart failure and a stress test to make sure the heart disease is under control.

Then every two years the driver needs a stress test to make sure they aren’t at risk for another heart attack. If the stress test shows signs of blockage to the heart, your employee can’t drive until this has been treated and stabilized.

If a driver has undergone a heart bypass, he is disqualified from driving for three months. The driver is not required to have a stress test until 5 years after the bypass. Then the driver is required to have an annual stress test to make sure the blockage has not returned.

www.bismarckmandan.com

Ask a Pro with

PAT BRUNELLE with

&

with

at

at

at

WAYNE YEAGER

1355 Airport Road, Bismarck, ND 58504 701-557-3698

ALLISON R, PHARMD

3101 North 11th Street Bismarck, ND 58503 701-224-9521

STEVE KELSCH

1661 Capitol Way, Suite 102, Bismarck, ND 58501 701-250-9400

Q: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE Q: FEBRUARY IS AMERICAN Q: SHOULD I UPGRADE TO BETWEEN AN ARCHITECT AND HEART MONTH. WHAT WINDOWS 10?

A DESIGNER/DRAFTSMAN? CAN I DO TO REDUCE MY A: Great news! In a surprise move, CHANCES OF DEVELOPING Microsoft will offer a free upgrade to A: There is a place and context for both CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE? Windows 10 for qualified new or existing architects and designers (or draftsmen).

Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Windows Both can design aesthetically, and both A: Cardiovascular disease is usually Phone 8.1 devices that upgrade in can create a workable vision from your concepts. However, while a designer may have some education and training as an architect, they have not taken or passed the Architect Registration Exam and completed state licensing to legally call themselves an architect. It’s similar to passing the Bar examination for the legal profession, with fairly low passing rates (around 65%) that weed out those who haven’t thoroughly prepared to take on legal responsibility for their work.

What’s in a credential? From a purely economic standpoint, architects are trained to maximize the programming of your new surroundings, making your design investment more profitable in the long run. They ensure structural integrity and code compliance, and are trained to maximize energy and operational efficiency. Architects recommend the best materials and methods for construction, and monitor construction practices throughout the life of the project – keeping an eye on your capital investment.

Architectural designers can be an invaluable resource when working sideby-side with a licensed architect, but ultimately there are significant reasons why architects have earned the right to officially sign and seal their plans.

referred to as the narrowing or blockage of arteries with plaque. Along with eating healthy, exercising regularly, not smoking, and reducing stress, keeping blood pressure at goal is one of the most important factors in reducing cardiovascular risk. According to the CDC, uncontrolled high blood pressure is the leading cause of heart disease and stroke and patients are 4 times more likely to die from these events than those with blood pressures at goal. However, many people don’t know they have high blood pressure because usually there are no symptoms. Checking and knowing your blood pressure is easy and very accessible. Many pharmacies have self blood pressure machines or a pharmacist can check it manually, or people can purchase a home blood pressure machine that is easy to use and very accurate. If a person does have high blood pressure, decreasing salt in their diet, exercise, and daily medication can help get it to goal and keep it there.

the first year! And even better: once a qualified Windows device is upgraded to Windows 10, we will continue to keep it up to date for the supported lifetime of the device, keeping it more secure, and introducing new features and functionality over time – for no additional charge. More information on this upgrade offering will be made available in the coming months. As an FYI, free Windows 10 upgrades will only be offered until July 16, 2016.

Chamber Connection | 27

COMMUNITY

NEWS

CHAMBER Perks

ASK-A-PRO

PERKS

Feland Joins Capital Credit Union

JP Feland recently joined Capital Credit Union as a compliance specialist.

In his role, Feland will be responsible for ensuring the credit union is compliant with federal and state laws and JP Feland regulations. He has nearly Sanford Health seven years of financial Physician First in experience, including five years in a compliance role.

Originally from Bismarck, N.D., Feland graduated Region to Implant MRI Safe ICD Device from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, Timothy Pansegrau, MD, Sanford cardiovascular surgeon, majoring in banking and financial economics. is the first physician in central Timothy Pansegrau United Blood Services and western North Dakota and eastern Montana to implant a Names Radenz magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) safe implantable Business Source cardioverter defribrillator (ICD). Until now, patients Production Manager with ICD systems have not been able to have MRI

United Blood Services is proud scans because of potential interactions between the to announce Stephanie Radenz MRI and the device function. as Business Source Production Sudden cardiac arrest is one of the leading causes Stephanie Radenz Manager for the region based of death in the United States. For patients at risk for a out of its Bismarck office. serious cardiac arrhythmia or sudden cardiac arrest, Radenz previously served as a Donor Recruitment ICDs may be prescribed to continuously monitor heart Manager with United Blood Services for the western rate and deliver a signal to correct a life-threatening part of North Dakota. In her new position, she will heart rate if detected. ensure the efficient utilization of staff and resources, The new device also has a longer battery life and forecast resource needs to meet blood usage compared to previous devices. It can last up to 11 demands for operations based out of North Dakota, years, 25 percent longer than other ICD devices.

South Dakota, and Wyoming.

Radenz has 17 years of management experience Bianco Realty Sales Awards and has been in the blood banking industry for seven Bianco Realty has named Shirley Thomas and Judy years. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from University of Mary.

Maslowski “REALTORS® of the Month”! Thomas and Maslowski had the most closed sales at Bianco Realty for the month of December 2015. Thomas has been a licensed REALTOR® since 2001 and Maslowski has been a licensed REALTOR® since 2007.

28 | Chamber Connection

Wenck Associates Welcomes Stenehjem

Wenck Associates, Inc. is pleased to announce Jason Stenehjem has been hired.

Jason Stenehjem started with Wenck in November.

Jason Stenehjem Stenehjem joins Wenck as a Civil Technician assisting the Real Estate & Development Group with his primary focus on CAD support, field survey and inspection work. He has over two years of experience as a civil technician as well as close to a decade on the construction side of the industry working as a project manager.

Stenehjem has an Associates degree in Engineering from Bismarck State College in Bismarck but has also spent time studying at UND and hopes to complete his Bachelors in Civil Engineering while working at Wenck.

In his spare time he enjoys a wide variety of activities such as fishing, softball and home improvement projects, but by far his favorite hobby is spending time with his family.

Eide Bailly Technology Consultant Receives NetSuite ERP Certification

Regional CPA and business advisory firm Eide Bailly LLP congratulates Trina Michels on becoming a NetSuite Certified ERP Consultant.

NetSuite ERP certification recognizes one’s expertise Trina Michels in the implementation and integration of NetSuite ERP solutions to meet business requirements. Covering advanced enterprise resource planning (ERP) practices and multi-company implementations, as well as analytics, platforms and data strategy, this certification verifies one’s knowledge and understanding of NetSuite’s vast scope of solutions.

www.bismarckmandan.com

John Dempsey

Galen Halverson

Cristine Wittman

Cedric Theel Toyota Staff Additions John Dempsey has been

hired as a Sales and Leasing Consultant. Dempsey is a Bismarck native and 1991 graduate of Bismarck High School. He has 29 years of customer service experience.

Galen Halverson has joined Cedric Theel Toyota as a Service Advisor. Halverson is a Sioux Falls, SD native. He previously was employed as a Sales Manager for a mobile home parts warehouse.

Cristine Wittman has joined Cedric Theel Toyota as a Reconditioning Specialist.

Wittman is a 2013 graduate of Berthold High School.

Josh Hulm recently joined Cedric Theel Toyota as a Sales and Leasing Consultant.

Hulm is a Minot, ND native and graduate of Minot State University. He was previously employed at West Dakota Fox.

Josh Hulm

Glas Named Wells Fargo Business Banking Manager for Bismarck and Minot

Jeff Glas has been named

Business Banking Manager for Wells Fargo in Bismarck and Minot. In his new role, Glas leads a six-member Business Banking team and works with business customers to Jeff Glas help meet their deposit, cash management and credit needs.

Glas began his Wells Fargo career in 2010 as a Business Banking trainee in Des Moines, Iowa. He then worked as a business relationship manager in Colorado before transferring to his most recent role, senior business relationship manager for Bismarck, in 2013.

A Grand Forks native, Glas has a bachelor’s degree in business management and a master’s degree in business administration, both from the University of North Dakota. He is an active community volunteer for the Bismarck Cancer Center and United Way. Glas is based at Wells Fargo’s 400 E. Broadway Ave. location in Bismarck

Peterson Elected Chairman of North Dakota State Health Council

Wade Peterson, Sanford

Oster Joins Firside Office Solutions Sondra Oster has joined

Health Sunset Drive Continuing Fireside Office Solutions as Care Center administrator, a Sales Executive. She has was recently elected chair of over 10 years of professional the North Dakota State Health Sondra Oster business to business relationship Council. This council serves as experience. Sondra will be the North Dakota Department of working with our Kyocera line of Wade Peterson Health’s governing and advisory products. body. The State Health Council’s other duties include monitoring the quality of health Great Plains Food Bank Announces care in North Dakota and monitoring overall health New Hire care costs. The council’s 11 members are appointed by

Gary Hummel has been hired the governor for three-year terms. as the Director of Finance & Peterson has been with Sanford Health for 17 Administration. Hummel’s years. role at the Great Plains Food Bank includes handling Wilson Joins the finance/accounting, human United Printing Team resources, risk management, of Professionals Gary Hummel and information technology.

Matt Wilson recently joined Hummel’s broad background in the team of seven sales both the private and nonprofit sectors provides a solid associates at United Printing. base to support the mission of the Great Plains Food Wilson is a graduate of the Bank. Hummel is a certified public accountant and Matt Wilson University of Jamestown where holds a degree in Accounting from Minnesota State he was a multi-sport athlete. “I University, Moorhead. came to Jamestown College on a sports scholarship where hard work and dedication were essential to my Hilzendeger Selected success both on and off the field,” said Wilson. “I’ve as Director of Imaging carried these work ethics into my professional career.”

Services Wilson, a native from the State of Washington, has lived in the Bismarck-Mandan area for two years.

CHI St. Alexius Health recently “We’re building a talented team at United Printing named Bruce Hilzendeger that will help us take our business to a new level,” said director of imaging services.

President Ken Bischof. “Matt adds several skills that Hilzendeger began his career Bruce Hilzendeger present many opportunities to assist our customers at CHI St. Alexius Health in and bring new ideas within our organization.”

1988. He has worked in the areas of MRI, CT, Nuclear Medicine and Ultrasound.

In early 2015, Hilzendeger was promoted to Mack Completes Certification manager of radiology services. As director of imaging Training services Hilzendeger is responsible for directing and

Dr. Sarah Mack of Chuppe coordinating the operations of CHI St. Alexius Health’s Clinic recently completed radiology imaging services to assure high quality the Webster Technique service, effective operations, and staff development. certification program through Hilzendeger earned a Bachelor of Science in the International Chiropractic Radiologic Technology from University of Mary. He Pediatric Association (ICPA). is certified with the American Registry of Radiologic The Webster Technique Technologists and registered with the American Dr. Sarah Mack certification is a 180 hour Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography in physics/ program dedicated to the instrumentation and abdominal sonography. chiropractic care of children, pregnant women and general family wellness care. The technique has been Credit Collections Bureau determined to correct positioning of the baby inutero which affects birth outcome and decreases the Announcements potential for undue stress to the baby's developing Credit Collections Bureau is proud to announce spine and nerve system. that Cassidy Wanner has been named employee of Dr. Mack is also working to complete additional the month for December 2015. training through ICPA to become certified in pediatric chiropractic care.

Dr. Mack graduated with Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology and Hispanic Studies from the College of St. Benedict and St. John's University. She earned her Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Northwestern Health Sciences University and joined Chuppe Clinic in 2013.

Chamber Connection | 29

COMMUNITY

NEWS

Zander-Woock Joins Capital Credit Union

ASK-A-PRO

Eide Bailly Hires New Administrative Assistants

Kay Zander-Woock recently

joined Capital Credit Union as an Internal Auditor.

In her role as internal auditor, Zander-Woock will review and Kay Zander-Woock audit operational, contractual, technical and financial areas Stacey Wahl within the credit union.

Originally from Mandan, N.D., Zander-Woock graduated from the University of Mary in Bismarck with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and received her certified public accountant certificate. She has 30 years of accounting experience and spent the last 10 years as Chief Financial Officer for Dan’s Supermarket Inc.

Wenck Associates, Inc Announces New Staff

PERKS

Kiffin Howard

Eide Bailly LLP, a regional certified public accounting and business advisory firm, has hired Stacey Wahl and Kiffin Howard to join their Bismarck office.

Wahl serves as a Financial Services Administrative Assistant and is a graduate of Bismarck State College in North Dakota and holds a degree in Information Processing.

Howard serves as a Tax Administrative Assistant and is a graduate of Bismarck State College in North Dakota and holds a degree in Applied Science.

Wenck Associates, Inc. Dakota Eye Institute pleased to announce Samantha Team Members Comp Swanberg and Mark Davidson have been hired.

Two members of the Dakota

Swanberg joins Wenck as Eye Institute team recently an Environmental Scientist completed Certified Ophthalmic assisting the Environmental Assistant (COA) training. Sara Samantha Swanberg Compliance & Permitting Bitz and Stacey Muth have Sara Bitz Group with her primary focus completed an accredited on providing assistance with training program and passed environmental field work and certification examinations. report writing. Swanberg has Training for COA is generally over 1.5 of experience as an one year. They work under the Environmental Consultant. Also, supervision and direction of she interned with the Natural an ophthalmologist to perform Resources Conservation Service ophthalmic clinical duties.

Mark Davidson (NRCS) and River Keepers.

Following certification, they can Stacey Muth

Samantha has a degree in Soil perform advanced tasks in the Science from North Dakota State University (NDSU) eye care field.

Fargo, ND and has two years of graduate work in Two more members of Watershed Science (emphasis in Hydrology) from the Dakota Eye Institute Southern Illinois University (SIU) in Carbondale, IL. team, Cindy Dockter and Mark joins Wenck as a Geologist assisting the Real Pam Gutknecht earned their Estate & Development Services Group with his primary Ophthalmic Coding Specialist focus on conducting site assessments, investigations, (OCS) certification from an remediation and emergency response services. accredited training program Cindy Dockter Mark has over 10 years of experience working and passed certification around the United States, the Caribbean and Central examinations. OCS is designed America working on hazardous site assessments and to test the knowledge of remediation with consulting firms. creating and maintaining Mark has also worked for the Minnesota patient medical records Department of Natural Resources expanding under the supervision of an the observation well network in Minnesota, for ophthalmologist. These records the Household Hazardous Waste program in include the documentation Hennepin County and taught a senior level class of a comprehensive patient Pam Gutknecht in Environmental Assessment at the University of history, physical examination, Wisconsin - River Falls. medications, lab results, and Mark has a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from the other essential patient information.

University of Wisconsin - River Falls and a Master's degree in Hydrology from the University of Minnesota Credit Collections Bureau Promotions - Twin Cities.is currently pursuing his Professional Credit Collections Bureau is proud to announce Geologist certification in Minnesota.

Angel Green has been promoted to Collection Associate and Matt Ray has been named Gold Collector of the Year 2015.

30 | Chamber Connection

Marco Announces Recent Promotion

Fritz Wensel was promoted to Senior Director of IT Service.

Wensel has over 33 years of experience in the IT industry.

He joined Marco in 2009 Fritz Wensel and will be responsible for Marco’s IT service initiatives and strategies. Wensel is based in Marco’s Fargo location.

Kupper Chevrolet-Subaru Welcomes New Staff

Kupper Chevrolet-Subaru welcomes new members to its automotive staff.

Rick Duguette (Bagley, MN) brings 32 years of Sales & Management experience to his new position as Sales & Leasing Rick Duguette Consultant at Kupper Chevrolet.

Duguette and wife Diana have three boys and two girls.

He enjoys baseball, football, travel, fitness & reading, and is looking forward to selling vehicles and developing relationships with guests.

Jackson Frazier (not pictured) (Bismarck) joins our Body Kelsey Hanson Shop with experience from BSC's Auto Body Department.

Frazier is ASC & GM Certified.

He enjoys fishing and riding bike and is looking forward to helping guests and getting their vehicles fixed and back in good shape again.

Zachariah Herslip Kelsey Hanson (Bismarck) joins our Kupper ChevroletSubaru staff as Office Manager.

Hanson joins the team with previous experience in Accounting and Business Administration. Hanson and husband Cody have a son, Gage, and daughter, Grace, and they enjoy camping, hunting Matt Sebelius and fishing. She is looking forward to learning something new in the fast-paced environment of the auto industry.

Zachariah Herslip (Deering) joins the sales staff at Kupper Chevrolet. Herslip and his wife, Jodi have a daughter, Savanna, and son, Kaj. Herslip brings previous sales experience to our dealership and is most looking forward to getting to work with new people on a daily basis.

Matt Sebelius (Minnewaukan, ND) joins the Body Shop team as a Metal Technician. Sebelius attended NDSCS in the Auto Body Repair & Refinishing program. He has been doing auto body work since 2000. Sebelius and his wife Kristy, have one daughter, Macie. He is most looking forward to having a better schedule that enables him to spend more time with family and friends.

www.bismarckmandan.com American Bank Center Names Nesvig Bismarck Business Banking Supervisor

Scheurer Hired as Communications Project Manager at Agency MABU

Capital Credit Union Promotes Bacon

Rikki Bacon was recently promoted to mortgage processor at Capital Credit Union.

American Bank Center is

Stephanie Scheurer recently

Bacon has been with Capital pleased to announce Jacob joined Agency MABU as Credit Union since 2010 Nesvig has joined their team communications project Jacob Nesvig Stephanie Scheurer when she began as a teller. in Bismarck as the Business manager.

Rikki Bacon She later served as the help Banking Supervisor. Nesvig Scheurer has experience in desk representative and most will be responsible for developing and maintaining interviewing, writing, video production and social recently electronic payment specialist. In her new role relationships with business clients as well as staff media management. She will be coordinating and development and training within the Business producing marketing materials in print, online, TV and as mortgage processor, she will process and service mortgage loans and process payments.

Banking Department. radio.

Originally from Wibaux, Mont., Bacon obtained her Nesvig brings many years of banking and Scheurer was previously a news reporter for KX bachelor’s degree from the University of Montana in supervisory experience to American Bank Center, News. She is a 2013 graduate from the University Missoula. most recently serving as the Director of Clinic Finance of North Dakota with a Bachelor of Arts degree in at Sanford Health. Nesvig also brings significant Communications.

Kaseman Joins Dakota experience from previous years in the financial services industry.

Eye Institute Wald Named Advisor of the Year for Originally from Grand Forks, North Dakota, Nesvig 2015

Terri Kaseman joins Dakota earned both his undergraduate degree in Banking Eye Institute as an Ophthalmic David Wald of Bismarck has been named Advisor and Financial Economics and his MBA from the Scribe, assisting with of the Year for 2015 by Securian Financial Advisors of University of North Dakota. procedures and transcribing North Dakota. This award is given to the advisor based exam findings. Originally from upon his production and service to his clients. Wald Terri Kaseman Jamestown, Kaseman returned is a Financial Advisor with Securian Financial Advisors to North Dakota after living in of ND, Inc. located inside Capital Credit Union at 1550 Minnesota for 18 years. She has a Medical Assistant Burnt Boat Drive in Bismarck. He has been with the degree. firm since August 2008.

FEBRUARY TELEVISED LIVE GOVERNMENT MEETINGS

Monday, 1st 5:00 pm Burleigh County Commission Monday, 1st 5:30 pm Mandan School Board (recorded) Tuesday, 2nd 5:30 pm Mandan City Commission Monday, 8th 5:15 pm Bismarck School Board Monday, 8th 5:30 pm Mandan Park Board (recorded) Tuesday, 9th 8:00 am Burleigh County Water Resource District Tuesday, 9th 5:15 pm Bismarck City Commission Wednesday, 10th 5:15 pm Burleigh Planning Commission Thursday, 11th 5:30 pm Morton County Commission (recorded) Tuesday, 16th 2:30 pm Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Brd Tuesday, 16th 5:00 pm Mandan City Commission Tuesday, 16th 7:00 pm Mandan School Board Wednesday, 17th 5:00 pm Burleigh County Commission

Thursday, 18th 5:15 pm Bismarck Park Board Commission Monday, 22nd 5:15 pm Bismarck School Board Monday, 22nd 5:15 pm Mandan Planning Commission (recorded) Tuesday, 23rd 5:15 pm Bismarck City Commission Tuesday, 23rd 5:30 pm Morton County Commission (recorded) Wednesday, 24th 5:00 pm Bismarck Planning Commission Thursday, 25th 3:30 pm Burleigh County Social Services Meetings can be viewed LIVE (unless otherwise indicated) and are replayed several times on Government Access, cable channel 2 and HD602. Government meetings are also available for online viewing (LIVE and Video on Demand) at www.freetv.org.

Chamber Connection | 31

Ribbon Cuttings

Ribbon cuttings are conducted by a committee of Chamber volunteers called Ambassadors. Businesses qualify for a ribbon cutting if they open, move, and remodel, are under new ownership, change their name, or offer a new product or service. To schedule a ribbon cutting, please call Amanda Schwieters at 701-223-5660 or email aschwieters@bismancc.com.

PANERA BREAD Matt Kloser, Manager, at their new business on 1016 S. 7th Street in Bismarck. Phone: 354-6454.

LONGHORN STEAKHOUSE Cale Bolinger, Manager, and staff at their new business on 1070 East Interstate Ave in Bismarck. Phone: 223-6465. Member.

32 | Chamber Connection

HTS INTEGRATION Jason (Jake) & Jerrod Anderson, Owners, at their new location on 1830 E. Century in Bismarck. Phone: 855-845-6200. Member.

THE BARBER'S WIFE David & Hannah Vetter, Owners, at their new business on 116 N 5th St. #101 in Bismarck. Phone: 223-3190

www.bismarckmandan.com

Schedule Your Ribbon Cutting Today!

TRADEMARK REALTY

LABOR FINDERS

Jeni Grunseth, Vice President; Chad Wachter, Owner and Derek Wachter at their new location on 1400 W. Century Ave in Bismarck. Phone: 223-3030. Member.

DAKOTA NUTS & CANDY

Ross Ottenbacher, Assistant Branch Manager and Deborah Mosset, Branch Manager, at their new location on 804 S. 18th St. in Bismarck. Phone: 258-6007. Member.

BAM - BRAND AWARE MARKING

Michael Iken, Owner, at his new business on 218 N 4th St. in Bismarck. Phone: 751-7881.

Taylor Rash, Owner, at his new business on 204 N 4th St. in Bismarck. Phone: 390-4495. Member.

For All Your Banking Needs Brittany Lenertz, Private Banker 1533 N 12th St • Bismarck, ND blenertz@firstintlbank.com

701-751-8582 0188_02-15

www.firstintlbank.com Chamber Connection | 33

Welcome new members

The Chamber of Commerce encourages all members to do business with each other. The following companies and organizations have recently made an important investment in their business by joining the Chamber. Please consider them for your professional and personal needs.

To find a complete listing of Chamber members, view the Member Directory online at www.bismarckmandan.com.

Overlook Ridge Apartments 55+ 2200 Koch Drive Bismarck, ND Carman Bomasuit (701) 751-4335 Maintenance free living for those 55 and better.

Coulee Creek Gateway Mall 2700 State St. Unit M-1 Bismarck, ND Melanie Luger (701) 471-1537 Coulee Creek Designs is hand-made jewelry with original, one-of-a-kind designs.

IPAT - Interagency Program for Assistive Technology 400 East Broadway Ave. Suite 501 Bismarck, ND Connie Rawls (701) 258-4728 Non-profit organization that strives to bring assistive technology into the lives of all North Dakotans that need it.

Fried Financial Services Inc. 1003 Sunset Dr. Mandan, ND Heather Fried (701) 663-4360 Our goal is to help protect your physical assets, liquid assets, and your income against the financially catastrophic versus the financially inconvenient.

Farmers Insurance District Office / Brian Daniels 521 E. Main Ave Suite 250 Bismarck, ND Brian Daniels (701) 204-6334 As our identity we reflect our belief that by helping customers make smart, informed decisions, we provide confidence, security and peace of mind. Like you, we believe planning for tomorrow is smart.

Epic Sports 411 Fraine Barracks Rd. Bismarck, ND Collin Kemmesat (701) 221-9833 Offering world class gear for cyclists, swimmers, runners, and all-around adventure seekers. Featuring a highly qualified staff and top of the line service shop.

Extraordinary Care

For Extraordinary People EdgEwood Vista Independent Living | Assisted Living Memory Care edgewoodseniorliving.com 3 Locations in Bismarck & Mandan - Call 701.751.5300 34 | Chamber Connection

www.bismarckmandan.com

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If it’s your business, it’s big — simple as that. Go with Midco® and get to work making something great. Just like you, we’re driven by innovation, grounded by reliability and built for success at any size.

Get the technology that takes you places. Contact us today.

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Chamber Connection | 35

Bismarck-Mandan ChamberConnection 1640 Burnt Boat Drive P.O. Box 1675 Bismarck, ND 58502

Upcoming Chamber Events TOWN HALL MEETING

Date: 2/11/2016 • Time: 5:30pm - 7:00pm Location: Bavendick Stateroom in the NECE Building – BSC

LUNCH AND LEARN FEATURING ANDREAS WIDMER Date: 2/23/2016 • Time: 11:00am - 1:00pm Location: Gary Tharaldson School of Business, Rm 212 – U-Mary

FEBRUARY MEMBERSHIP MIXER: KLJ

Date: 2/25/2016 • Time: 4:30pm - 6:30pm Location: KLJ – 4585 Coleman Street, Bismarck

ECONOMIC OUTLOOK FORUM

Date: 3/9/2016 • Time: 7:30am - 11:30am Location: Ramkota Hotel – 800 S. 3rd Street, Bismarck

JA CASINO NIGHT

Date: 4/1/2016 • Time: 6:00pm - 10:00pm Location: Bismarck-Mandan Elks Lodge 1199 – 900 S Washington St, Bismarck

CHAMBER SPRING MIXER

Date: 4/12/2016 • Time: 5:00pm - 7:30pm Location: Ramkota Hotel – 800 S. 3rd Street, Bismarck

Sue Swanson Manager Managed IT Service Marco, Inc.

passionate employees Get empowered at marconet.com

taking technology further marconet.com

#mpowering