Bis-Man INC! April 2023

SHARK TANK'S KEVIN O'LEARY SEES BIG-TIME OPPORTUNITY IN ND

HARDWORKING BENEFITS FOR HARDWORKING PARENTS

Good news: North Dakota is matching employer-led child care benefits.

This program could make a difference in helping you attract and retain hardworking parents. To opt in to offer these benefits or enhance the child care benefits you may already offer, visit hhs.nd.gov/childcare

2017 Certified Angus Beef International Steakhouse of the

HEALTH PLANS THAT SHOW YOU MEAN BUSINESS.

KEEP YOUR BEST EMPLOYEES YOUR EMPLOYEES

WHEN YOU CARRY

BLUE.

Employees stick around when they feel valued, and that’s the message you give when you offer BCBSND health insurance. And we’ll help you feel valued with easy-to-administer, affordable plans.

BCBSND.com

CARRY BLUE. CARRY ON.

Speak Volumes.

To all the movers, shakers, and difference makers — JLG Architects takes your story beyond the building to empower the people who reflect your passionate journey. We’re talking about dynamic design that speaks volumes about your mission, your culture, and your community. See how First International Bank & Trust embraces transformative design for the greater good at JLGarchitects.com.

CONTENT

Sponsored Content: Developing Downtown Fargo

Sponsored Content: The Stroh & Associates Advantage

Mr. Wonderful Sees Big Things in North Dakota

Local Entrepreneurs: Reflecting on 2022, While Looking Ahead to 2023 and Beyond

Bread Poets: An Old Bakery with New Ambitions

MooveGuru Acquires Relocator

Nonprofit of the Month: Designer Genes of North Dakota

You Have a Business Idea, Now What?

Women You Should Know: Janelle Stoneking

Publisher EDITORIAL Editorial Team Lead Editors

Art Director

Editorial Graphic Designers Creative Strategist Content Specialist

Contributors

INTERACTIVE Business Development Manager Business Development Associate Videographer Director of Digital Advertising Results

Graphic Designer Web Designer Social Media Specialist

ADVERTISING VP of Business Development Sales Representatives

Mike Dragosavich

Brady Drake Brady@SpotlightMediaFargo.com

Geneva Nodland, Grant Ayers, Sam Kise

Kim Cowles

Ty Betts, Levi Dinh

Josiah Kopp

Gary Ussery

Wendy Klug and Julie Hinker, Ladyboss Lifestyle

Nick Schommer

Kellen Feeney

Tommy Uhlir

Jonathan Chicka

Ben Buchanan

Kellan Benson Ryne Bigelow

Paul Hoefer Paul@SpotlightMediaFargo.com

Al Anderson Al@SpotlightMediaFargo.com

Devan Maki Devan@SpotlightMediaFargo.com

Sales & Marketing Advisor

Marketing Associate

Client Relations

Client Relations Manager Marketing Coordinator Operations Assistant

DISTRIBUTION Delivery

Tori Helland Tori@SpotlightMediaFargo.com

Hailey Bebler Hailey@SpotlightMediaFargo.com

ClientRelations@SpotlightMediaFargo.com

Jenny Johnson

Jessica Mullen

Miranda Knudson

John Stuber

INSPIRATION COMES IN ALL SIZES Editor's Note:

inspiration. When O'Leary tells us that our business landscape is in "a golden period for North Dakota," it can be inspiring to those looking to climb the ranks in the business landscape, both locally and regionally.

Inspiration can come from a metaphorically larger-than-life figure such as O'Leary himself, a former boss, or a neighboring business just down the street from you. Regardless of where it comes from, what matters most is that inspiration makes a beneficial impact on you and your aspirations.

IIn this month's issue of Bis-Man INC!, we had the honor of including one of the most famous investors and television personalities, Mr. Kevin O'Leary. As he makes significant investments across the state of North Dakota, O'Leary is also planting the seeds of hope and inspiration for owners of small businesses.

Oftentimes, local business owners may look toward those around them for tips, tricks, and

Whether a local entrepreneur is looking to launch their startup, expand their small business, or make a significant deal to push growth, they can look towards their peers, mentors, and other figures for the knowledge or confidence needed to make that push to a new level. No matter the level of your business, we hope that this magazine inspires you to have greater ambitions and goals to take your venture to the next level.

Happy reading!

Bis-Man INC! Editor

MIKE BRADY KIM

LEVI TY

GENEVA

GRANT

SAM JOSIAH

JENNY

AL DEVAN TORI

HAILEY MIRANDA

JESSICA

KELLEN BEN

TOMMY KELLAN

JONATHAN RYNE JOHN

Downtown Fargo

Since 2006, Kilbourne Group has been on a mission to revitalize downtown Fargo, North Dakota. As a vertically integrated development company, Kilbourne has redeveloped historic buildings and turned parking lots into mixed-use communities full of character, serving as settings for one-of-a-kind experiences you can only have in Fargo. Creating a blend of retail, office and residential properties has infused energy into the downtown core and created spaces designed for all people to enjoy.

Downtown Fargo is an 18-hour city, defined by economists as a mid-size city with attractive amenities, higher-thanaverage population growth and a lower costs of living and doing business than the biggest urban areas.

At its heart, downtown Fargo is a mixed-use, walkable environment that fosters life on the sidewalks for 18 hours a day.

Now you can find active tree-lined streets, intersection bump-outs, and bike lanes all serving to slow traffic and create an enjoyable and safe experience for those on foot.

Rich with local arts, creative endeavors, craftspeople, and entrepreneurs, downtown provides a new experience around every corner. Downtown Fargo employees and residents are within walking distance of the city’s finest arts, entertainment, food, offices, and shops.

Photos provided by Kilbourne Group

People enjoying Folkways' Night Bazaar event at Broadway Square.

A family biking through downtown Fargo, enjoying the improved recreational opportunities.

Downtown Fargo Could Be Right for Your Business!

Kilbourne Group is looking for five new businesses to join the downtown Fargo neighborhood! These five new businesses may also be eligible for construction cost fit-up assistance.

Kilbourne Commercial Real Estate specializes in finding the perfect match between businesses and unique spaces and is welcoming new clients looking to make the move! From small turnkey office space to buildings on Broadway for sale, there is a space for any sized business.

“18-hour cities faired relatively well during the pandemic recession, a testament to their enduring appeal. These medium-sized cities continue to attract in-migration due to lifestyle, workforce quality, and development opportunities.’’

- 2023 Emerging Trends Report of Urban Land Institute

People enjoying downtown Fargo's Coffee & Cocoa Crawl.

Beer & Fish Company staff welcoming downtown Fargo customers to Roberts Alley.

The Schnase family inside their downtown Fargo business, Replay Games, a family-friendly arcade experience on Broadway.

The Stroh & Associates Advantage

North Dakota veteran owned and operated; Stroh & Associates is an independent brokerage firm specializing in employeroffered benefits. Founded by Sheyna (Stroh) Weisenburger, who has worked in insurance, human resources, and employee benefits since 2004, Stroh & Associates is going on their eleventh year of partnering with employer groups in developing, negotiating, and maintaining affordable employee benefits packages and providing human resource and insurance-related compliance guidance.

The idea of developing Stroh and Associates stemmed from identifying a much-needed employer-based service back in 2012 when more carriers started to become available within North Dakota. Sheyna was working in Western North Dakota and had several employers ask her about different options which piqued her interest. North Dakota was a unique environment in that there wasn’t a strong presence of brokerage firms, so with the market competition developing she thought it an ideal time to create one. After seeing firsthand how numerous out-of-state large firms operated, Stroh and Associates developed with the focus of a more client-centric approach.

Remaining independent is important to Sheyna and has allowed Stroh and Associates to truly remain autonomous and represent the employer's best interests. They are licensed with all major carriers and work tirelessly to ensure the best price

is provided year after year. Her team provides state-of-the-art technology, access to independent underwriters, data reports, and compliance resources; however, more cost-effective, efficient, and with less staff turnover than larger companies. Sheyna's main business goal was to create a well-rounded team driven by servant leadership that could both assist employers in understanding their current benefit structures, as well as assist them in making educated decisions each year as their needs and options changed.

As the business grew, Sheyna continued to reinvest and expand staying ahead of the technology and compliance trends. This ensures that their clients have the best support, technology, and resources provided to their Human Resources team to ensure efficiency and compliance. This portion of the business has continued to grow and has become an important resource for clients as the regulations continue to change. They provide a vast variety of expertise and guidance ranging from providing the much-needed Summary Plan Wrap Document to all-size employer groups (yes, even an employer with only one employee needs one) to assisting with the required filings of the ACA (Affordable Care Act) for large employer groups. Her expertise on top topics can be found in future additions of “Ask an Expert” and will provide additional valuable information pertinent to all employers.

701.751.0141

contact@strohandassociates.com

StrohAndAssociates.com

Sheyna Weisenburger President & CEO

Amy Privratsky Senior Account Manager

ADAPTABILITY BASIN ELECTRIC

POWERING THROUGH WHATEVER COMES YOUR WAY

Each day brings its own challenges, and Basin Electric will help you power through all of them. We have the strength and versatility to adapt so you can keep your operation running, your business doors open, and your family safe and sound. Reliable Energy for Our Way of Life.

By Brady Drake

The man known as Mr. Wonderful maintains he wouldn't have taken the opportunity if he didn't see a chance to succeed.

"My first connection with North Dakota came almost 10 years ago with my investment in PRx Performance, which has been one of the most successful deals in Shark Tank history," O'Leary said. "That really opened me up to the possibilities of what we can do in Fargo, Bismarck, and everywhere else in North Dakota. It's really about policy. I would never do a fund like this in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, or California. Those states are uninvestable and I wouldn't take the risk of trying to attract other capital to places that are uninvestable. I'm not having a hard time bringing capital in with me into

North Dakota. Who deserves the credit for that? That's Governor Burgum, the senators, and the people themselves who are voting for policy that's very pro-business—that's the bottom line. I couldn't do this if I couldn't attract more capital. North Dakota is very competitive, particularly now when you could headquarter in North Dakota and hire people from all over the world. Because of the pandemic, we have all of this technology where 30-40% of our staff doesn't work in the office anymore. This is a golden period for North Dakota, it really is. It's going to come out swinging as a competitive state. It's no longer just Texas or Florida anymore."

If it sounds like O'Leary is excited about what our state has to offer, it's because he is. And he's not just

pumping our tires, he's also letting the whole world know—something North Dakota Department of Commerce Commissioner Josh Teigen sees as an added benefit of choosing O'Leary.

"One of the biggest reasons we chose the application of the O'Leary Ventures is because we believe the biggest need in the state is early-stage capital," Teigen said. "Kevin has a ton of experience underwriting early-stage venture risk. Most venture companies, especially in our area, like to do later-stage deals where the risk profile is reduced. One of the intangible benefits of working with O'Leary, that we didn't really realize that we were getting when we went down this path, is that there's a news clip just about every other day where Kevin O'Leary is on a national news outlet

North Dakota Department of Commerce Commissioner Josh Teigen (left) talks to Kevin O'Leary (right).

talking about how businessfriendly North Dakota is. In my mind, that's worth a lot more than an asset management fee. I believe, in North Dakota, we're not very good at telling our story. We're almost humble to a fault. And so to have someone from the outside that can look at us and say, 'there's world-class talent, world-class companies, and therefore a need for world-class capital allocation in a state like North Dakota,' there's tremendous value to that."

"I am traveling the world talking to people about North Dakota— there's plenty of capital that needs to be put to work on a long-term basis that knows nothing about the policy of North Dakota," O'Leary said. "My job is to be an ambassador of that policy and I do it willfully because the policy is stable, the government is supportive of businesses, and taxes are competitive. Those are the things you want if you are putting money to work for 7 to 11 years."

Photo by J. Alan Paul Photography

One of the most successful companies to receive investment on Shark Tank, Fargo's PRx performance, which received an $80,000 investment for 20% equity in the company from Kevin O'Leary, was featured as the cover story of our April 2016 issue.

Kevin O'Leary and Wonder Fund North Dakota made its first investment in LandTrust, an online land-sharing marketplace based out of Bozeman, MT, that connects landowners with outdoor enthusiasts.

"When you are doing a venture investment, particularly a series A investment, I ask myself, 'What moat does the business have around it? What protection does it have? If it's a great idea, what do they have in equity that others are going to have a hard time duplicating?' That's really important," O'Leary said. "What I found with LandTrust and their business plan was all of the previous work they'd done to arrange access to these hundreds of thousands of acres. What took me over the top was when I found out [that] the Wilks family out of Texas, who have millions of acres in Texas, were willing to put in hundreds of thousands of acres and become my partner in the deal. That sealed it for me because what really makes that model work—I don't care if you are a hunter, a fisher, or if you are hiking and just like the outdoors—we got it for you. We've got anything you could possibly want because we have such a diversity of land. So now the job of the company is to acquire customers and that's where I can help—obviously, we have a massive social media following. That deal checked the box on everything I like about new startups and they have a fantastic management team who really understand this business. One of the things I love about it is that it's part of the share economy. It's one of those deals where I looked at it and thought, 'Why didn't I think of this?' I love it. I think it's great."

If you asked LandTrust Founder and CEO Nic De Castro as a child what he wanted to be when he grew up, he says he would have told you that he wanted to be a professional hunter or fisherman because that's what he loved to do growing up in the Laguna Beach area. He hunted, fished, surfed, and spear-fished before heading out east to attend Boston University, where he barely graduated.

"I graduated with basically a 2.3 GPA," De Castro said. "I didn’t like school."

But, a degree is a degree and De Castro found himself on the path to LandTrust quickly after graduating, grooming himself by taking on sales and partnership roles with technology startups in New York City. However, he didn't know that those jobs were preparing him to one day found his own tech startup.

"I did a lot of traveling, I did a million miles by the time I was about 28," De Castro said. "I was just traveling around talking to big brands and working with

big brands, selling digital advertising and marketing technologies. Which provided a great background for learning how to acquire customers online. That was very foundational for me. I moved up to Montana from Colorado at the end of 2016."

De Castro eventually moved from the Big Apple to Colorado and then on to Montana, taking on the same kinds of technology startup roles all along the way. "Quickly after moving to Bozeman, I was

LandTrust Founder and CEO Nic De Castro

Photo provided by LandTrust

would've been to go knock on a stranger's door. Even as a sales guy, I didn't enjoy doing that and, after speaking with thousands of farmers and ranchers over the past 3 years, most of them don’t enjoy or have the time for it either."

De Castro didn't move on with the idea right away. Instead, he continued to toy with it and think it through.

"Thankfully, I didn't do it in 2017," De Castro said. "Timing is everything for startups and that wasn't the right time."

But in November of 2018, the time was right for De Castro and he began to build out his deck and started pitching to investors.

"The first investors came in June of 2019 and I quit a well-paying consulting job," De Castro said. "My wife and I had our first child about a month later on

two days were really nerve-racking, but it wasn't a big question of if there was a need for this because some version of this has been happening forever. People have always been knocking on doors and paying fees for access to private land to hunt. They've called them trespass fees, historically. It was more of a question of if people will do this online in this manner and if they will they do it with us."

“COVID shook up a lot of things and made a lot of things possible that were hard to imagine before. Because of COVID, we now are able to do Zoom calls with farmers and ranchers. That would have been pretty hard to imagine happening beforehand. Since that time, LandTrust has put over 1 million acres on the platform.

"The cool thing is that almost all of our one million acres are from multigeneration farm and ranch families.

and will likely be developed, those are just facts. We're really a rural economic development company. We bring new money to these rural landowners and we bring new money to their rural communities through tourism."

De Castro and LandTrust, which previously had no customers in the state of North Dakota, first became aware of the North Dakota Development Fund in 2022 through their first Fargobased investor, Erik Barner. Barner encouraged the young entrepreneur to explore some of the programs the state had in the works.

"I went out to Fargo about a year ago and met a lot of really great people. Hannah Lange at the Development Fund has been great to work with. Josh Teigen has been great to work with. The Fargo startup scene is really amazing. The people there like Jenny Sheets are pretty awesome. There's great stuff happening in Fargo from a startup perspective," De Castro said.

"The Bank of North Dakota and the North Dakota Development Fund came together to offer us a really great debt package to incentivize us to bring business to North Dakota and we decided to do that.

"North Dakota has phenomenal waterfowl habitat that I think is a really good opportunity not just for hunting, but for bird watching. There are a lot of people that love looking at birds, not over the barrel of a gun," De Castro said.

De Castro received more support from the state after and introduction to Paul Palandijan, the CEO of O'Leary Ventures. De Castro made a pitch to Palandijan, O'Leary, and the rest of the team, securing a $1.25 million investment in the process, contingent on establishing a base in Fargo which will be happening soon.

Some highlights and features from the LandTrust website

Local Entrepreneurs

REFLECTING ON 2022, WHILE LOOKING AHEAD TO 2023 AND BEYOND.

By Grant Ayers

Throughout 2022, we interviewed a wide variety of entrepreneurs and successful business owners alike as they elaborated on their journeys to success and what advice they would recommend to others. We reconnected with a handful of these recently-featured entrepreneurs to learn about their biggest successes and struggles from the past year, as well as what’s on the horizon for them professionally. Over the next few issues, we’ll unveil some of these entrepreneurs' goals, ambitions and more for their 2023 business year.

GO PROMO

OWNER & GENERAL MANAGER

Casey Glandt

WHAT WAS YOUR BIGGEST BUSINESS ACCOMPLISHMENT IN 2022?

Crushing our sales goal of $4 million was a huge accomplishment for our small business. Our dedicated staff surpassed $4.5 million this calendar year. That is a lot of t-shirts and swag!

Photo by Geneva Nodland

HOW HAS YOUR BUSINESS GROWN IN 2022?

Go Promo expanded to Western North Dakota by acquiring a small Bismarck promo agency called Dakota Promotions. By implementing Go Promo's efficient workflows and internal systems paired with aggressive prospecting, we've doubled our Bismarck sales in our first year! Go Promo's West Fargo office has also grown its clientele and the need for more staff, as we recently added two new employees.

WHAT HAS YOUR BUSINESS DONE FOR THE BIS-MAN COMMUNITY IN THE PAST YEAR?

We donate to local charities and take part in the Bis-Man chamber events. By being an officially licensed vendor for Bismarck Public Schools, we create popup stores for team and fan apparel. We donate 10% of sales back to the team that organizes the store with us.

WHAT ARE YOUR BUSINESS GOALS

Our goals for 2023 are to continue to serve our current clients with the best service they've ever seen and to keep growing sales with a 2023 goal of $5+ million. This goal may be achieved through grassroots efforts and/or

WHAT'S YOUR BIGGEST SETBACK CURRENTLY AND HOW DO YOU PLAN ON OVERCOMING IT?

Go Promo's biggest setback currently is product inventory. The supply chains continue to have issues with keeping stock available. Our team continually overcomes this by finding similar brands and styles that meet our client's needs.

DO YOU HAVE ANY PLANS TO FURTHER ENGAGE WITH THE BIS-MAN COMMUNITY?

Our Bismarck staff will continue to participate in all of the Bis-Man Chamber events, donate to local charities, and work with local business marketing leads and schools to promote their brands through custom apparel and promotional products.

WILL YOU BE MAKING ANY SIGNIFICANT EXPANSIONS IN 2023?

We are always on the lookout for another acquisition to grow the Go Promo brand. Acquiring businesses is the fastest way to grow. We've gone through two of them now and we have a great blueprint for a successful transition.

WHAT IS ANOTHER BUSINESS THAT BIS-MAN COMMUNITY MEMBERS SHOULD LOOK OUT FOR AND SUPPORT IN 2023?

Silicon Plains is a great client of ours that offers top-notch IT services.

CONTACT GO PROMO

(701) 219-7310

justgopromo.espwebsite.com

orders@JustGoPromo.com

/JustGoPromo

@JustGoPromo

@GoPromo3

/company/go-promo-llc

Bread Poets:

By Grant Ayers

As a child, Jessica (Neigum) Dargis grew up with the smell of freshly purchased Bread Poets bakery bread in her home. As an adult, Jessica moved away from home to the Twin Cities where she met her husband, Peter Dargis. The two married and returned to Bismarck, and Jessica was quick to introduce Peter to the fresh deliciousness of Bread Poets.

Peter and Jessica Dargis now have a family of their own who they’re sharing the joy of Bread Poets with. However, they’ve moved a step past the average Bread Poets-loving family and purchased the Bread Poets business. I sat down with Peter and Jessica Dargis to discuss taking over Bread Poets’ reins, what they’ve improved upon, their shot at work-life balance, and more!

Bakery Photos Courtesy of Ben Weisbeck Family Photo Courtesy of In Time Photography

Meet the Dargis family!

Pictured: Jessica (Wife), Peter (Husband), and kids, Belle and Hope Dargis

The Beginning of Bread Poets

The origins of Bread Poets began when Jon Lee, founder of Bread Poets, made a conscious decision to try and get back to Bismarck, ND after work had taken him away. "I simply wanted to do something fulfilling in a place that I truly love! I chose to locate this business in BismarckMandan because it's my hometown. I can’t think of anything more exciting than sharing the best bread in the world with the community I grew up in!" Juanita, a native of Flasher, ND, joined her husband and the bakery staff full-time in January 2000, followed by their three children: Jayce, Jessa and Jamison, who all spent time working at the bakery.

Prior to the couple's purchase of Bread Poets, Peter Dargis had been working remotely in the field of medical software installation with his mobile workload increasing since the spread of COVID-19. With everything being done from his own home, and interactions primarily being through video calls, Peter felt disconnected from the community that he was eager to reconnect with.

“I’ve always preferred in-person work and moving around using my hands. The idea of owning a local business has always been something I've wanted to do. It was a fantasy and seemed like a dream for a while, but last year, I got to a point where I had to do something and couldn’t just wait around for the perfect moment. I needed to be more proactive, so I reached out to a business broker and talked to him about something local in the food service industry. He connected us with Jon Lee, the original owner of Bread Poets,” Peter said.

Did You Know?

Bread Poets employs eight people at the time of writing.

Together the Lee family ran Bread Poets for 24 years until they sold the business and passed on the legacy of Bread Poets to the Dargis family.

In July of 2022, Peter and Jessica Dargis purchased Bread Poets Baking Company from Jon Lee and the Lee family to continue the legacy and tradition of great breadmaking. After getting married in 2017, Peter and Jessica moved from Minneapolis, MN back to Bismarck. Jessica herself was born and raised in Bismarck, went to Century High School, then attended Bismarck State College (BSC) before completing her college degree at the University of North Dakota (UND) in Grand Forks. Jessica grew up eating Bread Poets and introduced Peter to Bread Poets' bread and it became the only bread eaten in the Dargis household. Peter and Jessica have two daughters, Belle and Hope, who both love being taste testers for the delicious treats that are made at the bakery! Jessica has a background and works in accounting, while Peter worked in various IT roles for medical software companies, including a stint at St. Alexius Hospital in Bismarck before making the career change to owning and operating Bread Poets.

• Bread Poets Website

One year into ownership, and being much more settled into the business, the Dargis’ bread ambitions are in full swing. Peter faces a new normal every day, with different challenges coming each shift. Peter is up around 4:30 every morning to begin the product’s creation, while Jessica gets their daughters ready for their day and then heads into her office, where she is a Chief Financial Officer at a local nonprofit.

Did You Know?

“We grind our own wheat daily in our own Stone Burr Mill. This process ensures the absolute freshest product possible. In bread-baking circles, wheat from this region is considered to be the best in the world! We think you'll taste why.”

- Bread Poets Website

“As an owner-operator, I'm here on a daily basis, working alongside my employees. When we bought the business, I had to start going through the processes and learning more than just the ownership side of it. I learned every production duty so that I can jump in and do any of the jobs or whatever is needed at a moment’s notice,” Peter said.

“I also do the invoicing, deliver to grocery stores, and create dough and delivery plans for the following day. That’s where we figure out how much of each kind of bread we're going to make and deliver. I also try to get on the registers and be upfront a little bit each day. Getting to help out and interact with the customers is one of the most fun parts for me. We have a lot of regulars that come in often, so it’s great to get to know some of them and what their favorites are.”

While the business takes a certain amount of priority in the family’s schedule, according to Jessica, they still always make sure to put their daughters first.

“My late-night work counteracts his early mornings to make sure that we're balancing the business. He goes to bed early, while I stay up late to wrap up other aspects of the business,” Jessica said.

Peter Dargis checks the temperature of Bread Poets' bread, ensuring that it's up to the Bread Poets standard.

Did You Know?

Their variety of bread and other products often depends on the day, as only so many products can be made in one day!

Stay updated with the latest at breadpoets.com/bread-calendar/

Hot, Fresh Bread!

“Bread Poets only sells the freshest bread. All breads are sold at the bakery within 30 hours of being pulled from the oven so you are guaranteed a fresh loaf every time! We do not sell 'day-old' breads. All breads left after 30 hours are donated to local homeless shelters.”

- Bread Poets Website

Kneading the dough is one of the most important (and fun) parts of making bread at Bread Poets!

Did You Know?

Bread Poets kneads every loaf by hand, rather than having machines carry out the process. With that in mind, there’s a (sanitized) human hand caring for every loaf sold by Bread Poets!

As mentioned, Bread Poets was taken over from Jon Lee, rather than being developed from the ground up by Peter and Jessica. While it can be intimidating to take over a beloved business with high standards and expectations, the Dargis’ felt they were in the safe hands of those they were surrounded by.

“Building the Bread Poets team from the ground up would have been a nightmare, to be honest. We have a handful of experienced employees who have been here for five years or more and have been extremely helpful in making this transition of ownership a success. It’s been great for us to have them to ask questions to and lean on in a sense. We couldn't have done it without them, and it would have been much more difficult if we had to start from scratch,” Peter said.

While Peter and Jessica have received immense support from those in Bread Poets’ orbit to ensure the business’s success, that’s not to say that they haven’t faced obstacles in the transfer of ownership to an already-successful business. Now finally able to settle into their ownership roles with a sense of confidence, the owners are able to reflect on their journey and look forward to new and exciting opportunities within Bread Poets.

“Getting through the transfer of ownership was a huge accomplishment for us. This is a local, familyowned, small business, and it can be a difficult thing to keep that high-level standard the same, but I think that we've done that successfully. I think the response from the community has been strong so far, as we still have our repeat customers and regulars supporting Bread Poets. Change can be scary, but we’ve been able to successfully keep it going and have our own ideas along the way, such as our Caramel Bites that we released,” Peter said.

“Our Caramel Bites were a recipe that I grew up on, ever since I was young, and we knew that it’d be great to include at Bread Poets. My mother is a big part of why we moved back to Bismarck, so we wanted to include one of her recipes that people would love. We kept the majority of the products the same as when [Jon] started the business, but it’s a great feeling to come up with new products and find success in those as well. It feels great to tell people that the business is continuing to grow after 24 years,” Jessica said.

Now having Bread Poets in a secure position and continuing to search for greater financial successes, the Dargis’ are keeping their business goals focused and oriented for 2023, including an exciting remodeling project.

Bread Poets bread coming straight out of the oven!

“We're working on a little remodel project for the interior of the business that we’re super excited to show. We want to keep building a relationship with the community and develop our community outreach even further. We do a lot of community things individually but want to do more as a staple business in Bismarck,” Jessica said.

“I have numerous other products and types of ideas and it's just finding the time to implement them. My first year was just learning what it means to run a business and do it successfully. Regarding that community involvement, we donate a lot of bread to different organizations and people and will continue to do so,” Peter said.

Behind the scenes of Bread Poets’ operations, Peter and Jessica are both busy in their respective roles. Peter is running the “day-to-day” operations, being up early and managing all aspects of their operations daily, while Jessica is handling more of the backend operations that often include crunching numbers late at night. Outside of Jessica’s handling of the backend operations, she also goes the extra mile in community involvement.

Did You Know?

To keep the “family feel,” Bread Poets is closed on weekends to spend time with family away from work!

“I'm on a couple of different boards and organizations in Bismarck, as well as greater North Dakota, representing local, small business owners. I’m on the Dakota Children's Advocacy Center board. I was elected by the governor to be on the North Dakota Early Childhood council, which represents the whole state,” Jessica said.

“Our oldest daughter has disabilities, so we do a lot of things to give back to community organizations that help individuals with disabilities. We’re always wanting to help people in any way that we can, and using Bread Poets as a platform gives us an opportunity to continue to do that.”

“We're baking bread, connecting with the community, and making products for people, so it felt like it was the perfect fit right away. When you truly believe in the business and its products, it really motivates you to do the best you can. It's been almost a year since this whole crazy adventure started.”

- Peter Dargis

The bread is ready to be packaged and sold!

While the Dargis’ are still on their path to success and discovering further opportunities for the business, they’ve certainly picked up a few pieces of beneficial advice over the last year. While some of the advice applies directly to entrepreneurial hopefuls aiming to take over a business rather than start from scratch, much of this advice can be consumed universally.

“We all win if people are going to shop locally, but we set ourselves apart from standard, store-bought bread as being freshly baked, homemade-style bread without preservatives. You can just tell the difference in quality when you're eating something fresh.”

- Peter Dargis

“I don't think people consider taking over an existing business as much as starting their own, but there are a lot of baby boomers looking to retire, and our generation needs to start taking ownership and being community leaders. You just have to jump into it. It's scary to take that risk, but you have to want it,” Peter said.

“When you're leaving financial stability and a reliable career, it can be pretty nervewracking, but it definitely helps if you have the motivation behind it. One of the main reasons that we moved back to Bismarck was that [Jessica’s] father passed away. That made us think about the legacy that we're going to leave with our girls. Owning a business gives you more of an opportunity at a personal level to leave a family legacy, as well as have an impact on a community close to you.”

“Many people either don't know that our bread is sold at grocery stores, or they don't know about our physical storefront with sandwiches and more. A lot of people don’t know about the unique twist that we put on sandwiches that people love. We have the bakery here and these amazing, unique sandwiches that people really love and that we wish more people knew about.”

- Peter Dargis

Bread Poets is available for sale in grocery stores, as well as in their storefront!

Sandwiches for Sale!

Did you know that Bread Poets offers popular sandwiches including The Shakespeare, The Poe, The Dickinson, and The Frost!

“Find your community and people who will support you. The Bismarck-Mandan community has almost become our tribe in a sense, as they've been super supportive of us along the way. Even when we first bought it, everybody wanted to know if we were going to be open on weekends now. We weren’t going to change that, as we wanted to keep that family feel. Since we’ve taken over, our customers have always shown up for us. Making sure that you have that support system in your community is really what helps you going forward,” Jessica said.

“I think diving into social media and getting your name out in the community will help any business owner. I think that the Bismarck-Mandan area, and North Dakota as a whole, prefer to support local businesses and shop locally. I think that the pandemic pushed people to shop from big box stores, but it always makes me feel so happy to hear that people are shopping more locally.”

Did You Know?

Bread Poets offers catering services for large gatherings! Although many are unaware they offer catering services upon request, Bread Poets recently catered a 200-person event!

While the Dargis family and Bread Poets have small projects underway and remain focused on the quality of Bread Poets’ product, Peter and Jessica are focused on creating a lasting legacy not only for their family but also for the Bis-Man community. Supporting Bread Poets not only means supporting a small business but also supporting the local economy. Stay up to date with the latest from Bread Poets via their website and social media, visit their storefront or shop for Bread Poets at your local grocery store!

Hours:

- Friday: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“Getting to help out and interact with the customers is one of the most fun parts for me. We have a lot of regulars that come in often, so it’s great to get to know some of them and what their favorites are.”

- Peter Dargis

By Grant Ayers

MooveGuru Acquires Relocator

MMooveGuru and Relocator are both companies that aim to help moving consumers connect utilities and ease the burdens of moving that have been dominating their respective markets for the better part of a decade. Today, the companies have merged together, as MooveGuru has acquired Relocator. With MooveGuru operating as the lead or parent company, Relocator will become a functionality of MooveGuru, alongside other operations acquired, such as HomeKeepr.

The business deal offers exciting opportunities for all parties involved, including a new call center based out of Fargo, ND. I spoke with Scott Oakley, CEO of MooveGuru, and Andy Solheim and Mark Johnson, CEOs and co-founders of Relocator. Together, we discussed the merger between MooveGuru and Relocator, their ambitious goals moving forward as one, what this merger brings to Fargo, and more.

Did You Know?

“The process of moving from one home to another is ranked as the third most stressful life event for Americans. The top two are death and divorce, while losing a job ranks fourth.”

Companies MooveGuru and Relocator have been healthy competitors for upwards of six years now, according to Oakley. Both companies have always aimed to help real estate agents, mortgage loan officers, title representatives, and home inspectors support their clients through their moving journey.

Oakley shared how the process behind their company’s technology works. While marketed towards real estate agents and other prominent figures in the industry, this technology can be revolutionary to anyone moving in the future.

“Moving is a pain and we aim to help the consumer through that process. We streamline that process and take away a lot of their anxiety by helping them connect utilities, including electric, gas, water, phone, internet, television, home security, homeowners insurance, and even garbage and recycling. What would usually take the consumer 6 hours to complete will take us 45 minutes to help price compare those utilities,” Oakley said.

“Once we have an address, our system can identify every supplier for each category. We’ll show the different opportunities available for that address and give a comparison, including speed, pricing, and other details. You may see one for $69, which may be a great deal, but it might only be at 200 megabytes of speed. That’s where you have to take into consideration how many household members there are and if they’re streaming games or television, or using more data.”

If a customer is in search of homeowners insurance, which most people need in order to close on a home, the company can compare homeowners insurance between 50 different carriers according to Oakley. Their process assists the consumer through a stressful time. Furthermore, Oakley states that this is being done on behalf of the realtor loan officer, so it’s at no additional cost to the homeowner.

- The National Association of Realtors

Scott Oakley CEO of MooveGuru

Andy Solheim CEO and co-founder of Relocator

Mark Johnson CEO and co-founder of Relocator

Courtesy of Scott Oakley

Geneva Nodland

Courtesy of Mark Johnson

What is HomeKeepr?

HomeKeepr is a platform designed to connect homeowners and real estate professionals. HomeKeepr showcases valuations, home services, finances, utilities, and more on the platform. Oakley has described the acquisition of HomeKeepr as the “all-encompassing piece” that MooveGuru remains focused on improving with Solheim, Johnson, and others.

MooveGuru and Relocator have both been assisting people in the real estate industry for years, finding their own success and excelling in markets that were similar, yet unique from one another. According to Oakley, Relocator was known for its selfservice platform, where the client has the ability to connect everything on their own, directly from their phone.

On the other hand, MooveGuru was “more of a full-service consignor,” according to Oakley, with a sales center and fully staffed office in Atlanta who connected customers to utilities all day long. MooveGuru has also acquired HomeKeepr, a home ownership portal that gives consumers a portal to manage every aspect of their home.

“It was just such an obvious match between the two companies. Around six

months ago, Andy, Mark, and I noticed that and got on the phone and asked if everyone was interested. From there, the rest is history,” Oakley said.

Relocator will become a piece of technology implemented within the parent company, MooveGuru, with the Relocator brand being phased out.

“Essentially, MooveGuru will be the parent company to Relocator and the others, and HomeKeepr is going to be the brand or company underneath that we're going to focus on, as it's the all-encompassing piece,” Oakley said.

As exciting acquisitions are underway for the company to push MooveGuru to new heights, expansion is also being pushed physically with new centers coming close to our home.

With a new call center planned for Fargo, Andy Solheim and Mark Johnson, the leading charge behind Relocator, are excited to take this new deal and bring its expansion to the Fargo-Moorhead area. Both Solheim and Johnson have significant ties to North Dakota, as their wives and some family are from Bismarck and Minot, respectively.

Another big part of their expansion to North Dakota is the availability of programs that can be used to their advantage. As a tech platform, while expansion is key for nearly any company, a collaborative environment isn’t always necessary in their industry.

Photo Courtesy of MooveGuru

“Another big part was the availability of programs in the state with the North Dakota Development Fund. The access to capital in North Dakota offers a really good discount for startups in the state. We also think that there's a really good labor pool in Fargo with a great work ethic, which is another great reason for expanding this way,” Solheim said.

“To jump off that, most of MooveGuru’s executives are strategically located around the country. We're a tech platform, so it's all online and doesn't really matter

Did You Know?

where you are outside of the call center. We meet very often, but it's mainly through Zoom or another portal. As a tech company, you don't really need to be in the same building all the time,” Johnson said.

With the merger underway and a call center in development for Fargo, the three behind the operation are looking forward to bringing this merger to life. Moving forward together, they can focus on maximizing their potential and impact across the industry.

"From our standpoint, we’ve had a lot of success, but we can get a lot more done when we bring these platforms together, like we did with HomeKeepr," Johnson said. "The beauty is that these standalone products all work together. What we added was great for the moving experience, as we can bring value to the realtors, lenders, and moving companies that we work with. What Scott and his team have built, along with the other companies that he's purchased, there's this allencompassing group of products that aren’t like anything I've seen.”

According to Oakley, the average real estate agent has around 250 contacts that can be analyzed, while the average mortgage loan officer will have around 500 contacts!

“We’re very excited and committed to opening up a sales center in Fargo. We want to bring our open jobs to Fargo and the North Dakota Business Development Center has been very supportive and fantastic to work with. We're looking for space right now and plan to start off with 10 employees and grow together along the way,” Solheim said.

One feature that will boost the potential behind this merger is MooveGuru’s “revolutionary, sophisticated” artificial intelligence that they use. This AI analyzes a consumer’s likelihood of buying or selling their home based on an algorithm implemented by MooveGuru.

“If you're a real estate agent or loan officer insurance agent, you're kind

of at the whim of the consumer and when they decide to move. There is something that we call the five D’s, which are the main reasons why anyone buys or sells a home in America. The five D’s are diapers, death, diamonds, divorce, and diplomas

“This AI is happening on a daily basis, but it was a feature that was missing in our industry. Everyone’s talked about something and seen an advertisement for it on their phone 10 minutes later. This happens to us every single day with our Alexas and other devices. We use the same kind of technology and tweaked it for the real estate and mortgage industry.”

Talk About Growth!

“Prior to [the merger], our utility segment alone had been blowing away estimates. We’ve grown the utility connection side of our business by 300% year over year. We fully expect that that trend will accelerate and we expect to increase by about 500% over the next 12 months, which means that the 10 people that we're hiring for our Fargo center will probably be more like 20 or 30 in a year from now. For a small company of our size, we’re hoping to make quite an impact on the area.”

- Scott Oakley, CEO of MooveGuru

How MooveGuru’s AI Works

“Our AI takes all of an agent’s contacts and brings them into our system. The AI then analyzes every single one of those contacts for predictive behaviors that lead to someone buying or selling. We scan every one of those contacts' social media accounts for over 2,000 keywords that relate to the five D’s, then we go into public records data to look for marriage and divorce certificates, spending habits, and more.

After putting that information into our AI system, we deliver the agent a score between 1 and 100 which shows how likely they are to buy or sell a home in the next 30 days to 6 months. The

higher the score gets, the more likely they are to buy or sell a home, and 60 to 95 is the sweet spot for loan officers and insurance agents to concentrate on.

Everybody has a database, but very few are doing anything productive with it, aside from maybe a birthday email. This is a way to both stay in front of past clients, as well as getting in front of future prospects. It allows us to plant those seeds and get in front of everybody well in advance to ensure that they get that business.”

- Scott Oakley

Did You Know?

“We have one of the largest networks of home pro contractors in the country that people can schedule with. If someone needs to find an electrician, they can go into their homeownership portal and search for an electrician in their zip code. Every agent and loan officer gets one of these portals for free for each of their clients. It's similar to Carfax, but for your house!”

- Scott Oakley, CEO of MooveGuru

View property values, confidence scores, tax assessments, and much more in HomeKeepr.

While this merger is a milestone accomplishment to recognize, this is far from the end of these companies ambitious plans ahead. One aspect of MooveGuru’s plan is Oakley’s unique franchise model program that has been put in place.

Rather than raising millions to create a sales force all over the country, Oakley’s team instead created a system to sell off franchises, with the majority being sold off to mortgage and real estate brokers. These franchises can be sold off in the Bismarck-Mandan community and further other areas of our state, as well as on a national scale.

While the merger is likely to heavily impact real estate agents, mortgage loan officers, and more across the area within the industry, it’s also likely

to impact the everyday consumer and potential mover in a unique way. From a consumer standpoint, one of the largest benefits of this merger and acquisition, as well as the implementation of AI through MooveGuru, is the homeownership portals available to the consumer at no additional cost.

“We bring all public records data on their home, including maps, floodplain information, the year the home was built, square footage, and more into their portal, and the consumer can go in and manage it with receipts for repairs and maintenance. A home is the largest expense that anyone has in their lifetime, with the average consumer spending three to four percent of the home value on maintenance every year,” Oakley said.

“This tool is to not only budget for that maintenance, but also find the right people to do that maintenance. Everything including the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, paint colors, swatches, and any sort of construction project can be kept track of with receipts in this portal, then transferred to the next homeowner. It's like a digital filing cabinet or wallet for your home.

”While much of this technology may sound radically new and different from what past movers have expected to face, Oakley stressed the benefits of MooveGuru’s process and efficiencies that his team brings to the table for consumers, as well as agents and lenders in the industry.

“People will say that they never want to move again after finishing, but they

Get an all-embracing dashboard with the forward-thinking platform.

do it again seven or eight years later and it’s even worse for them. The beauty of this is if you've done this before, then you see the value in what we're trying to do. Get on the phone, spend 45 minutes with us and you’ll get everything done without stress. The impact that this has on making agents and lenders look good is really what it comes down to,” Oakley said.

“We’re not there for us; we're there on behalf of their agent or lender, making them look good, taking stuff off their plate, and bringing value to them. Hopefully, those good experiences will lead to more referrals and word-of-mouth promotion for us. It’s easy for anyone involved, whether or not this is your first time buying a home. First-time homebuyers that may miss a step can be walked through the whole process very easily,

as there’s a professional guide to make sure everything gets done correctly.” Nearly through the merger and acquisition phase, the team is moving forward with sights and standards set high with a focused approach to their future in the industry. With the leader’s heads held high and confident on the new path, there’s no shortage of reasons to consider MooveGuru’s easy process.

As Oakley discusses the future of the business following this merger, he states that customer expansion is anticipated, as Relocator brought a new segment of the industry that was barely touched by MooveGuru, which primarily consists of larger mortgage companies.

“Some of these companies have 600 or 700 locations, with loan officers

in each location. With MooveGuru and Relocator together, we have the scope and ability to go out and work with companies that have a national footprint. Growth, both in revenue and customer base, is our primary focus. We're going after new customer acquisition and getting deeper into the customers that we already have, and leveraging that to bring in more revenue for the Fargo sales center,” Oakley said.

As MooveGuru and Relocator merge, the leaders remain focused on positively changing the moving process for real estate agents, consumers and everyone else involved. “We’re making sure that we're delivering the best product to the consumer that we've both done,” Solheim said.

Nonprofit of the Month: Designer Genes

of North Dakota

By Grant Ayers |

and Designer Genes

Designer Genes is an organization that was launched in 1986 by a small group of families who had children with Down syndrome. When launching, their main objective was to create a community and support one another. Today, that message and inspiration has grown immensely, with an estimated 260 families across North Dakota involved.

I spoke with Roxane Romanick, Executive Director of Designer Genes of North Dakota, Inc. , to discuss the nonprofit’s journey since the beginning, what sets Designer Genes apart from other organizations, how they’re impacting the Bis-Man community, and more.

Designer Genes has found success since its creation in 1986, yet the team behind the organization decided to expand further just over a decade ago to push the boundaries of its message and impact on North Dakota. Since 1986, Designer Genes has broadened its work to include advocacy and education for North Dakota providers, medical outreach for new diagnoses, and collaborative efforts in delivering services across the state.

Photos Courtesy of Roxane Romanick

Designer Genes’ leaders created a board in 2009 and incorporated Designer Genes in 2011 with the intention of advancing the original vision of support for every family in North Dakota. With the creation of this board came the position of Executive Director, which is currently held by Roxane Romanick. According to Romanick, since Down syndrome is typically diagnosed before or at birth, the organization aims to be there for families from the beginning."

As the Executive Director of Designer Genes of North Dakota, Inc., Romanick has extensive experience in developmental disabilities and special education, as well as a Master’s Degree in Social Work. Furthermore, she has a 23-year-old daughter with Down syndrome and looks for endless ways to support families on a wide variety of topics, spanning from prenatal through the lifespan.

“When looking to expand, we envisioned a paid staff that could provide support and connect families through activities, social media, and other ways. We also felt like we could influence public policy and improve the capacity of North Dakota's providers who are in a position to support both individuals with Down syndrome and their families,” Romanick said.

Since the expansion and incorporation that took place just over a decade ago, Designer Genes’ journey has been “steady as it goes,” according to Romanick. Designer Genes has seen consistent growth in its impact, reputation, work with families, and ability to fund the organization. This is due, in part, to “consistent leadership since 2009 and a strong, committed board of directors and sponsor base.”

We aim to carve out a niche to be experts on the topic, as there are no other Down syndrome associations in North Dakota.”

- Roxane Romanick

Roxane Romanick, Executive Director of Designer Genes of North Dakota, Inc.

Designer Genes’ Circles of Support

Three circles of support shape the work of the organization: Learning, Earning, and Belonging. These circles represent the triplicate copy of the 21st chromosome, as well as wholeness, completeness, and protection. Designer Genes embraces people as they are, aiming to create supportive and protective communities.

Learning

Designer Genes believes learning is a powerful tool and works to empower and educate professionals, parents, and the community.

Earning

Designer Genes strives to find earning opportunities for members and the organization through education, employment, independence, and support.

Belonging

Designer Genes believes everyone has the right to belong and works to create connections, opportunities, and outcomes.

- From Designer Genes of North Dakota

Over the years, the team behind Designer Genes has also been able to overcome plenty of obstacles to find growth, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic. They did this by converting all activities into a virtual setting. Their goal, within this journey, is to ensure that families of all types have a “North Star” to look toward regarding all things Down syndrome, according to Romanick.

As they aim to be the hub for all Down syndrome resources and knowledge across the state, they don’t wish to do it alone as there’s strength in numbers. Designer Genes is continually interested in collaborative partnerships, as they often work together with other organizations in conferences, trainings, and more. No matter who they associate themselves with for various partnerships and events, they remain committed to the original goal at hand.

“Our mission is to improve the ability of individuals with Down syndrome and their families to earn, learn, and belong. We do this by supporting families and their individuals in the best way possible. We also offer families in BismarckMandan an opportunity to connect through family activities,” Romanick said.

“Our Walk for Down Syndrome is held annually each September and brings families from across the state to participate. We are also closely involved with planning and supporting various educational opportunities for families and professionals, such as a threepart webinar series [we did] last fall on

Understanding Individual Education Plans.”

Aside from supporting their annual walk and other events, readers interested in contributing to the cause can also donate monetarily. Furthermore, they can rest assured that their money will go to support the aforementioned work and efforts being made across the state.

“The only money that leaves our organization is an annual donation made to a national initiative of the board's choosing. Over the last couple of years, Designer Genes has been supporting the development of health guidelines for adults with Down syndrome that are being developed by the Global Down Syndrome Foundation in Colorado. This work has already benefited North Dakota residents,” Romanick said.

For those interested in contributing to the cause non-monetarily, Designer Genes is continuously in need of supplies for their baby support packages. They also have various volunteer opportunities throughout the year, including the annual Walk for Down Syndrome, which remains their largest event. They also run the iCan Bike Camp, which will take place from July 31 to August 4 this year, and will require roughly 40 volunteers throughout the week.

Aside from financial donations and volunteering, Romanick is also appreciative of people simply doing

Check out Designer Genes’ Walk for Down Syndrome!

Designer Genes' Annual Walk for Down Syndrome

The event is held annually on the third Saturday of September with over 70 community teams in attendance.

Gross Revenue: $94,000

Attendance Estimate: ~1,500

Stay updated on the latest regarding this year’s event through their Facebook page at /DesignerGenesND

their part within the community to push the cause further and spread awareness.

“Continue to consider the public policies needed to keep individuals living in their homes and communities. People can also like our Facebook page and share our messages from there. We want folks to think about what they can do at the places they frequent, such as work, school, church, and other places to make those locations more inclusive and accessible for someone with a cognitive disability,” Romanick said.

Contact Designer Genes to learn more about how you can help support this wonderful cause and make a difference in your community.

Designer Genes’ Reach

Designer Genes has: Impacted 260 people with Down syndrome

1 2 3

Gained 1,500 Facebook followers

Touched 82 North Dakota communities

You Have a Business Idea, Now What?

By Wendy Klug, VBOC of the Dakotas Director and Julie Hinker, VBOC Veterans Business Specialist

About the VBOC

The Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) program is designed to provide entrepreneurial development services such as business training, counseling, and resource partner referrals to transitioning service members, veterans, National Guard, and Reserve members and military spouses interested in starting or growing a small business. U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has 22 organizations participating in this cooperative agreement and serving as VBOCs.

AAre you thinking about starting a new business?

Do you have an amazing idea and are ready to get started? Well, what are you waiting for? Just go to the bank and tell them you have an idea that is going to make you big bucks. They will give you money right there and you will be on your way, right? If only it were that easy.

There are many steps to starting a small business. It takes months to get all your ducks in a row! So, how do you get started? Before we get into the grits of a basic startup checklist for starting a business, let me start by telling you that you don’t have to be on this journey alone. You have a team of Small Business Administration advisors located in your state that can help you at no cost. From assisting with a business plan that makes you bank-ready, to

creating an in-depth marketing plan that helps you get off on the right foot, to choosing a business name that will represent your business, to helping you promote yourself to your ideal customer, the SBA team can help you achieve your dreams of starting that small business. Veterans Business Outreach Center of the Dakotas, North Dakota Small Business Development Center, SCORE, and Women’s Business Center are a team of experts to help see you succeed!

What’s next? Where do you start? While everyone will need to register their business with the secretary of state, not everyone will need to go to the bank for a loan. This makes it hard to come up with a list of items that fit everyone’s needs. Here are some of the steps, but do understand that it may not include every step! These steps are often done in conjunction with one another. Use this list to get started, but make sure you reach out to that SBA resource partner too! We will be able to tailor the list more specifically to your wants and needs.

Conduct Market Research

How do you know that someone would buy your product or service? How do you know that there aren’t a million others selling the same product or service? Market research will tell you if there’s an opportunity to turn your idea into a successful business. It’s a way to gather information about potential customers and businesses already operating in your area. Start by conducting primary research. Primary research is the first-hand collection of data where you go directly to a source instead of relying on existing information. Some of the ways to complete primary research include interviews, observational research, trials or experiments, surveys, and focus groups. You will also want to conduct secondary research where you identify and use existing information or research for analysis. We use IBIS World, a market analysis report which can show you industry research specific to your region and business. This report is free for all my clients.

JulieHinker,Veterans Business Specialist

Photos CourtesyofVBOCofthe Dakotas

Choose the Correct Business Structure

The legal structure you choose for your business will impact your business registration requirements, how much you pay in taxes, and your personal liability. This will be one of the most important decisions you make for your business. While I can guide you to information on the different legal structures, I am not able to tell you which one to pick. My best suggestion is to reach out to an accountant and ask them what they suggest. Choose an accountant that works with small businesses so they can tell you the “why” and “how” to choose LLC over sole proprietorship. They should also be able to talk you through tax deductions and how to prepare to pay business taxes.

Choose Your Business Name

It’s not easy to pick the perfect name. You’ll want one that reflects your brand and captures your spirit. Before you decide on a final name, run it by others to see what they think. Also, Google that name and see what pulls up on the web. For example, if you use the name McDonalds because your last name is McDonalds, it is going to be nearly impossible to rank higher than Big Mac advertisements. You’ll also want to make sure your business name isn’t already being used by someone else. We can help you see if your business name is available and go over some methods to make sure you are 100% sure on your business name during our advising sessions!

Write Your Business Plan

Business plans are like road maps. It is possible to travel without one, but that will increase the odds of getting lost along the way. A business plan will include information

on your business structure, product, marketing strategies, market research, and finances, helping you define and focus on your business ideas and strategies. Your business plan will be a well-thought-out document that you put hours of work into. I have access to LivePlan, a business planning software program that helps you get the work done in half the time, which clients can access for no charge. Between using LivePlan for business planning and advising with SBA resource partners, you will develop an investor-ready business plan.

Find Funding for Your Business Venture

If you are looking to get financed through a bank, you will need a business plan in hand! They are going to look closely at your financial projections in your business plan along with the 5 C’s: capacity, capital, collateral, conditions, and character. Of course, going to a bank is not the only way to gain funding. I suggest working with your local Small Business Development Center (SBDC). They are local experts in your community that are aware of grant programs and other funding opportunities.

Register Your Business and Get Federal/ State IDs

This is where everything starts to feel real! You now have the perfect business name and need to make it yours. You will need to fill out the correct paperwork with the state and possibly the federal government. You will also register for an EIN (Employer Identification Number). It’s like a social security number for your business. Several states require you to get a tax ID as well. This is the step that makes you a legit business with the state.

“Before you invest your valuable time, make sure you conduct market research. Nobody wants to put hours of work into a project that turns out to be a deadbeat idea.”

-Wendy Klug

“We are a team of business advisors that can help you get your business off on the right foot!”

-Julie Hinker

Apply for Licenses and Permits

If you are going to be starting a business that provides services to the public, you will want to make sure you find out if there are any special licenses, and permits you need. For example, if you are going to be running a bakery you will need to make sure you not only follow all health codes, but you will also need a building health permit, food service license and more! The licenses and permits you need for your business will vary by industry, state, location, and other factors. You will want to make sure you understand exactly what you need when it comes to licenses and permits so you don’t become incompliant.

If you are looking to start a business, you certainly could use Google to help you get well on your way to preparing the paperwork you need to start your business. However, you can’t always trust what you read online—sometimes you just want someone there to share your ideas with who can help make sure you are on the right track. Remember at the beginning of this article how we told you there would be one important thing to remember? Here it is: you have a team of SBA advisors that are going to help you with your venture by offering confidential, no-cost business advice through advising sessions tailored specifically to your business venture.

Ready to get started? Just have a few questions? Reach out to us today!

Photo Courtesy of Lydia DeJesus

Women You Should Know

Janelle Stoneking

Empowered by Ladyboss Lifestyle

Janelle Stoneking, Training and Development Specialist for ABLE Inc., has a natural gift for recognizing and celebrating people and their unique narratives. Whether it's through her work, art, or community initiatives, Stoneking’s passion for listening, learning, and helping others has inspired her to pursue a more connected, compassionate world.

“There are so many different chapters in my life,” Stoneking said. “When I think back, I can see how they all intertwine to create the story of who I am now.”

Now, Janelle Stoneking is a woman whose life has been defined by her dedication to understanding other people's personal stories and using them to empower individuals and communities.

The Art of Passion

A Transformational Profession

Although she entered college with plans to teach kindergarten, Stoneking never stepped foot in a classroom as a teacher. Instead, she took a job at ABLE Inc. 25 years ago and has remained with the company, dedicating her life to supporting people with disabilities. ABLE Inc. provides day-to-day support for people with intellectual disabilities.

Stoneking has held various positions with the company, and she currently serves as the agency's training and development specialist. Stoneking focuses on behavioral health and trauma, where she trains employees to support people’s journeys, discover who they are, and find solutions for them to succeed.

“Positive relationships have the power to transform lives,” Stoneking said. “I am so fortunate for the opportunity to witness the impact of these relationships every day. By helping one individual, you can transform so many people, families, and communities. It’s such a beautiful thing to be a part of.”

A lifetime dedicated to understanding people’s stories and creating connections.

Training and Development Specialist, ABLE

Inc.

Women You Should Know:

“Tomorrow” by Janelle Stoneking

“This piece depicts the journey of finding oneself through the most difficult times. It is about the hope tomorrow might bring when the heaviness of today is what is felt.” - Janelle Stoneking

“Sunday Morning” by Janelle Stoneking

“The piece is a depiction of my father reading the Sunday paper and pointing out his favorite comics. We must search out the things that bring color in a world of negativity.”

- Janelle Stoneking

Photos Courtesy of Shutter Rose Photography by Dakota Olson

Janelle Stoneking with her husband and three children.

Embracing Passion

Stoneking’s passion for people extends beyond her work. “Most people don’t know this, but I became a foster parent in my early twenties when a family member needed placement,” Stoneking said. “That experience holds an important place in my journey, and it taught me to recognize the beauty in life, even amidst pain.”

Janelle and her husband Bobby are now parents of three children, and she hopes that they learn to recognize the passion and beauty in life as well. “As mothers, we want our children to understand that life doesn't require them to be experts at anything, but rather to dedicate themselves to being explorers of where their passions lead. I want my children to find great joy in discovering new things and pursuing their dreams because that’s what truly matters in life.”

An Accidental Artist

Stoneking heeds her own advice and finds happiness in expressing herself through mixed media art. “I actually became an artist by accident,” she said. “I had no idea what to do with my energy, and I’ve always been intrigued by creativity, so I thought ‘why not tell stories and express my feelings through the beauty of art?'”

So, with no prior experience or training, Stoneking embarked on her creative journey. As time passed, her confidence and abilities began to grow, and something that started off as an accident had become a passion. It’s a passion that she’s become quite skilled at, winning awards and selling pieces in addition to the work she donates to various nonprofit organizations.

“Life is a journey of choices and moments, and each of these moments has the potential to become a story that we can share through art,” she said. “These stories reflect our experiences, our struggles, and our triumphs, and they have the power to inspire, heal, and bring us together.”

Bridging Divides

As part of her journey, Stoneking is currently working to help open the Southwest Art Gallery and Science Center in Dickinson, ND. This permanent art gallery will enable those with a love of art

Janelle Stoneking

and science to share their creativity. Her dedication to community building has provided Stoneking with additional opportunities for growth and development, such as her recent selection for the ND Change Network cohort.

With the group’s support, Stoneking has coordinated “Illumination Stations” at Dickinson High School. These lock-in experiences provide an opportunity for students to engage in activities related to the arts, sciences, music, and mental health.

“Life is full of big emotions that we often don't have the capacity to handle,” Stoneking said. “Artistic expression is a universal language that allows us to communicate beyond words and connect with one another on a deeper level. Illumination Stations are designed to provide an environment where students feel safe to express themselves.”

Continued Connections

In a world that can sometimes feel divided, Stoneking and her passions remind us of our shared humanity and the power of connection.

“No matter how different we are, it is possible to come together as a human family. Life is about nurturing one another’s spirits and helping each other grow into confident and compassionate individuals. It is about sharing our experiences and wisdom, while also discovering our own unique paths. By doing so, we have the power to create inclusive, diverse, and welcoming communities.”

Stoneking’s unwavering dedication to empowering individuals and recognizing the power of collective action makes her a true force for good—in any community she touches.

Connect with Janelle

janelles@ndsupernet.com

/JanelleStonekingArtist