august 2018
ADAM MARTIN F5 Project Founder
// AUGUST 2018
26 COVER STORY
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F5: A True Passion Project Meet Adam Martin, a Fargo social entrepreneur who wants the community and business owners alike to look at felons in a different light, and, more importantly, see how their unique experiences and skill sets can actually be an asset.
40 FEATURES 11 Fargo INC! Editorial Board 20 Faces of Fargo Business Erica Johnsrud - Ronald McDonald House Charities Jane Schuh - North Dakota State University Brian Halverson - Heartland Trust Company 40 Getting Real About Business with Mark Puppe: Career Transitions Austen Schauer - ProSource Skyler Dutton - Fargo Coffee 44 Carelessness or Ignorance: Which Is Worse? Josh Christy - Codelation
Visit FargoInc.com for extended content covering Fargo-Moorhead's business community and articles from past issues of Fargo INC!
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48 Welcoming a Few Wonderful Women to Upcoming Chamber Events Craig Whitney - FMWF Chamber of Commerce
62 A Simple Solution to Investing in the Arts: Just Ask Sanford Dayna Del Val - The Arts Partnership
50 Meet Java Chews: A ND Company Making Big Waves in a Fledgling Industry John Stearns - Java Chews Ryan Botner - Java Chews
66 Ladyboss of the Month: Milk Made Owner Megan Lewis Megan Lewis - Milk Made 70 Event Recap: Ladyboss Summit
54 Don't Lose a Legal Battle Before Entering the Ring: What to Do If You're Served Todd Zimmerman - Fredrikson & Byron Brandt Doerr - Fredrikson & Byron 58 Your Business Journey: Cash Flow Josh Hoper - TorchLight AE
74 Tech Corner: Protect Company Data with a BYOD Strategy Jared Finkelson - Giga-Green Technologies 76 Business Events Calendar Downtown Developments The Nuts and Bolts of Succession Planning Lean Business Planning
editor's note
NEW
Beginnings For those who have been following along on Fargo INC!'s journey for the last two and a half years, there is one person that has been vital to our success and that is former editor Nate Mickelberg. We wish him the best of luck as he begins his new career at Dakota Medical Foundation. We know that him and the rest of the team at DMF are going to do a great job helping our community. As we embark on this new path of our journey, I'd like to take this time to update you on a few things that are happening with Fargo INC!
1.
Updated FargoInc. com While it is still in the early versions of the launch, we are excited about the potential with fargoinc.com. We have updated the site recently to allow people to more easily contribute content to our site. If you are interested in writing, email me at andrew@ spotlightmediafargo.com.
2.
Increased Focus on our Readers A couple years ago, we put together an editorial advisory board. This board is composed of FMWF Chamber of Commerce President Craig Whitney, Dakota Medical Foundation Executive Director Pat Traynor, FM Area Foundation Executive Director Tim Beaton, SVP of Finance and Entrepreneurial Development at the Greater FM Economic and Development Corporation John Machacek and United Way of Cass-Clay President Kristi Huber. With this group, we are constantly discussing the best way to provide impactful and engaging content for our readers.
Andrew@SpotlightMediaFargo.com 8
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3.
4.
As a magazine, the best way we can serve our readers is by providing content in a form that you wouldn't expect. We hope to keep experimenting with the ways that we're telling stories. Expect more infographics, timelines, polls and different ways of telling stories.
The last thing that we want Fargo INC! to be is something that sits in your bathroom. We know our readers are businessmen and women who are overworked, overstressed and overloaded. Well, we want to make a difference in your life. Is there some sort of business problem that keeps you up at night? Let us know. We'll do our best to help you sleep easy.
Engaging Editorial
Impactful Content
Thanks so much for continuing along on this journey with us. As all trips, it's evolving and we hope to discover the destination with you, dear reader. Thank you,
Andrew Jason Andrew Jason, Editorial Director
EDITORIAL BOARD We at Fargo INC! want to make sure our content is unbiased and reflects the FMWF business community. That's why we meet regularly with our five-member editorial board to discuss local business issues and trends and ensure we are living up to our core values.
CRAIG WHITNEY
PAT TRAYNOR
FMWF Chamber of Commerce
Dakota Medical Foundation
President and CEO
Executive Director
TIM BEATON
Executive Director
FM Area Foundation
JOHN MACHACEK
SVP of Finance and Entrepreneurial Development
Greater FM Economic Development Corporation
KRISTI HUBER President
United Way of Cass-Clay
AUGUST 2018 Volume 3 Issue 8
Fargo INC! is published 12 times a year and is available at area businesses and online at FargoInc.com.
Publisher Mike Dragosavich Drago@SpotlightMediaFargo.com
Chief Operations Officer Steve Kruse
CREATIVE
Editorial Director Andrew Jason Andrew@SpotlightMediaFargo.com
Editor Nate Mickelberg Nate@SpotlightMediaFargo.com
Designers Sarah Geiger, Sarah Stauner Photographers Hillary Ehlen J. Alan Paul
Jesse@jalanpaul.com
Contributors Paul Jarvis, Danyel Moe, Laura Caroon, Craig Whitney, Dayna Del Val
Social Media Nate Mickelberg Web Jessica Ballou
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Fargo INC! is published by Spotlight Media LLC, Copyright 2018 Fargo INC! & FargoInc.com. All rights reserved. No parts of this magazine may be reproduced or distributed without written permission of Fargo INC!, and Spotlight Media LLC, is not responsible for, and expressly disclaims all liability for, damages of any kind arising out of use, reference to or reliance on such information. Spotlight Media LLC, accepts no liability for the accuracy of statements made by the advertisers.
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Meet THE TEAM
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NATE
STEVE
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ANDREW
BECCA
NOLAN
SARAH
DAN
CHANTELL
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RYAN
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JESSICA
COLLEEN
JENNY
HILLARY
SARAH
Learn more about us at BRUCE
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CHECK OUT SPOTLIGHT MEDIA'S OTHER PUBLICATIONS
Summer isn't over yet, and this month, we encourage you to make the most of the season. Featuring lovely landscaping, a pretty poolside party, charming exteriors and a whimsical garden, this issue is sure to make your heart beat faster for the elegant outdoors. Then, come along with us as we tour a Perham home that is breathtakingly beautiful, inside and out.
Take a trip to Downtown Fargo as we explore 50 hidden treasures to discover downtown. Also, is rap gaining in popularity in Fargo? Find out here. Finally, North Dakota First Lady Katherine Helgaas Burgum explains why North Dakota shouldn't live up to its reputation as the drunkest state in the U.S.
SPECIAL ALUMNI ISSUE COMING LATE AUGUST
For our annual Where Are They Now? issue of Bison Illustrated, we pulled names from all eras of Bison athletics. We focus on former players that still live in Fargo, alumni that are currently working in the non-profit sector and we choose some of the most familiar faces in recent NDSU athletics too. It is an allencompassing look at the vast scope of Bison athletics through the eyes of former players and coaches.
ERICA JOHNSRUD
My leadership role model I'm fascinated by the leadership of Ronald McDonald House Charities global CEO Sheila Musolino. As she strategically leads, she has set new standards and processes with the help and input of her team and a global system. She is charismatic, has a heart for the cause and isn’t afraid to have tough conversations.
Development Director Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Red River Valley "Oh, so you ask for money all day?" It's a question Erica Johnsrud gets a lot when she tells people about her role as development director for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Red River Valley. "I have to explain that yes, I do ask for money, but it's more about creating relationships," says the Dawson, Minnesota, native and Concordia College alumna. "When a person gives their time, talent or treasure, it’s a very personal thing. My job is to make sure that when they trust us with their resources, it's aligning with their goals and is meaningful to both their and our organization."
meeting with donors, planning fundraising events and working on marketing and communication strategy for RMHC, which supports families whose children are receiving medical care in the Fargo-Moorhead area. She says she's especially proud of the organization's brand new facility near the new Sanford hospital in South Fargo. "(The new house) is such a labor of love," says Johnsrud, who's also active with the member relations and leadership arms of the FMWF Chamber of Commerce. "It's able to keep families near the hospital and with each other when it's needed most."
Johnsrud spends her days
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"Include nonprofits in your conversations to make sure you're making the most impactful and budget-relieving impact possible. It's important to bring nonprofits to the conversation right away instead of assuming an idea would be great for them." -Johnsrud Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Red River Valley RMHCFargo.org
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What I'd use an "easy button" on Data entry. Such a necessary evil!
"Required watching for all humans" "Won’t You Be My Neighbor? The Mister Rogers Documentary." There's so much we can learn from the way Mr. Rogers lived his life. There are lessons on leadership and life, and I think it’s a wonderful reminder of how a little kindness can go a long way. Don’t forget to bring some tissues!
Faces of
Fargo Business
An essential leadership trait Courage. It takes courage to take on projects and to trust a team to come together for a common purpose. It takes courage to stand up for a mission or vision that's important to you.
A program you should know about
2 Ways We Bolster Creativity 1. "Crazy idea" time. My
team has a monthly brainstorming time purely dedicated to thinking of crazy ideas, not worrying about the details and just getting them out into the universe. You never know when a crazy idea could become reality. 2. "Unsquashed ideas” whiteboard. We need to make sure we don’t squash ideas and stifle people’s creativity and sense of belonging in an organization. When someone has an idea, we write it on a whiteboard. Then, when we’re stuck or looking for something new and fresh, we can go to those ideas.
The North Dakota State Tax Endowment Credit has been of great benefit to us at RMHC. We started our endowment in October 2012, and it's been a fantastic way of introducing new donors to our mission. It's also a unique way for donors to give back in a mutually beneficial way, and as the endowment grows, it's a reliable source of income for the future and a long-lasting legacy for those who give in that way.
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JANE SCHUH, PH.D. VP, Research and Creative Activity North Dakota State University You know what they say around here: Once a Bison, always a Bison. After earning both her bachelor's and Ph.D. from North Dakota State University, Jane Schuh returned to the NDSU campus in 2004 following a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor. An immunologist by trade, Schuh directs NDSU’s cellular and molecular biology interdisciplinary graduate program and also serves as associate director of the North Dakota Experiment Station. She's assumed a number of administrative responsibilities during her time at NDSU — including a stint as the interim dean of the College of Business — and just last month, she began a one-year appointment as the school's new Vice President of Research and Creative Activity. "I see opportunities to partner with the fantastic community of Fargo to make our world better from right where we
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are," says Schuh, who, as part of the appointment, will also serve on the board of directors for the NDSU Research and Technology Park and NDSU Research Foundation. Schuh, who is herself a frequent attendee at local entrepreneurial events such as 1 Million Cups, says she believes the Fargo business community and NDSU have an important, symbiotic role to play in each other's lives. "One of the best things our business community can do is support higher education," she says. "(NDSU is) an investment in the future of this state. We recruit bright minds and give them the tools and opportunities to stay in the state and make it better by creating new economic diversity and filling critical jobs. Everyone should support higher education because we help to sustain other important aspects of life such as a vibrant arts community that we need to attract and retain great talent. In short, help us to help you!"
Read "Man’s Search for Meaning” by Viktor Frankl This is hands down the most impactful book I’ve ever read. You may want some tissues nearby when reading it.
Watch “Start with Why” by Simon Sinek Understanding our own personal “why” allows us to align with meaningful work and a fulfilling life. Helping an organization recognize its “why” allows the group to be focused, consistent, and clear about decisions and planning (great also as an audio book read by the author).
Listen Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 “Ode to Joy” by Ludwig van Beethoven It is well-known and wellloved but very personal, too. I adore classical music — really, I like music of every type – but this choral symphony makes my heart soar. Listen to it with your eyes closed and the sun on your face. There’s nothing you can’t do.
Faces of
Fargo Business
Words of Wisdom On Rules Don’t get me wrong. I value rules and work within them. Good rules are important to help us function safely and efficiently, and, above all, they help remove uncertainty. However, I'm also a scientist. Science is about asking questions, and sometimes my questions are: Why not? Does this serve the purpose? Can we do this better? On Resilience I have seen so many instances where resilience is the difference between success and failure: graduate school, entrepreneurship, balancing work and home lives, new Americans assimilating to their environment. It's the community you build that allows you to move successfully through hard times and come out stronger on the other side. Also, contributing to that community in your own good times is an important part of the resilience cycle. For me, the Fargo community provides exactly this resilience cycle. I love this place! On Meaning For me, doing meaningful work has always been important. Wherever I am and whatever I’m doing, I want to focus on moving the needle toward “good.” I have been blessed to have wonderful mentors, family and friends in my life who have helped me in that ongoing pursuit.
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BRIAN HALVERSON President Heartland Trust Company HeartlandTrust.com
Heartland Trust Company
Fargo
Moorhead
Brian's Path 2007 Graduates from Concordia College, moves to Minneapolis for a job with Wells Fargo
2008 Economy crashes, pivots to dentalsupply industry, is offered sales job with VOCO America His dad's advice? "Take it! If you find something you love to do, great. If not, you gain some valuable business experience working for a multinational company. And if you ever want to get back into the financial world, the markets change every day, but the forms stay the same."
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2012 Moves home to Fargo to serve as VP of family business, Heartland Trust Company
2018 Promoted to president of Heartland Trust
Minneapolis
Faces of
Fargo Business
What's on your nightstand? "The Decision Maker" by Dennis Bakke "The Go-Giver" by Bob Burg
A local company you admire Appareo
What should leaders be good at? Adaptability
What would you give a TED Talk on? Keeping business personal
A local resource you'd recommend? FMWF Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program
Bonafides
What keeps you up at night? Knowing there's something I didn’t get done that I said I was going to do. The only way I can get over it is to write it down so that it's No. 1 on my list the next day.
• Board of Directors -
Plains Art Museum
• Company Sponsor -
Plains Art Museum's Arts & Business Breakfasts • Chair, Next Generation Network - Association of Trust Organizations • Lake Agassiz Exchange Club FARGOINC.COM
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F5
The Ultimate Passion Project Meet a Fargo Social Entrepreneur Changing the Conversation About Felons Five years ago, Adam Martin was jobless, car-less and just getting out of his latest stint in prison when he decided to apply for a sales job at a local technology company. It wound up not only becoming the impetus for him turning his own life around but allowed him to launch an organization that's now helping fellow felons do the same. In 2016, he founded F5 Project, a Fargo nonprofit that helps the incarcerated transition back to civilian life through housing, mentorship and other services. With his new company, F5 Ventures, which specializes in top line sales funneling, Martin hires many former felons. In fact, in the last six months, Martin has hired six felons and the business is quickly taking off. Here are 10 things to know about the organization and the individuals it represents.
By Nate Mickelberg
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01 01 It was after a speech he gave at a United Way event that Adam Martin realized just how badly the local business community needed a face of addiction and incarceration.
Project Founder Adam Martin Originally from Moorhead, Adam Martin jokes that, being the son of parents who met in a treatment facility, he was "pretty screwed from the start." After years of troublemaking and recreational drug use, in 2013, Martin made a decision to turn his life around and was hired on as a sales rep at a local technology company. After doing that for a few years, he decided to pursue something closer to "where his heart was" and founded F5 Project, a Fargo nonprofit that helps area felons transition from incarceration to civilian life.
Martin: "I spoke at that United Way event, and before I even got off the stage, my inbox was full, as were my Facebook updates and tweets. There were people coming out of the woodwork who had been my clients for a long time telling me, 'I have a brother in prison. I have no idea what to do.' That was kind of how (F5) started, just by having conversations with loved ones."
Excitement and enthusiasm, though, soon gave way to the burden of true responsibility. Martin: "I liked the limelight. I enjoyed being in the paper and having people blogging and tweeting about how awesome I am. To be honest, those first couple months, I lived it up. It felt awesome. I felt like a rockstar and was 'Fargo Famous.' "The problem, though, is that when you put yourself out there like that, people ask for help. And it humbled me big time. Because the local papers wanted to write about me, so I had to go do an interview, but then at the same time, one of the guys who just gotten out of jail called and asked if I could help him. And I could justify in my mind that I need to get (F5) out there more, or I could actually do what I said I was going to do."
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03 Martin credits a lot of F5's success to his past sales experience. Martin: "I applied a lot of for-profit thinking into the nonprofit world. Every industry I've come in contact with has people who say one thing and do another. "There are crappy salespeople everywhere, but there are really good ones, too. And the really good ones do exactly what they say they're going to do. So that's what we do. When people call us, we answer. When people ask us for help, we provide solutions. When people need solutions, we custom-fit them."
He says his biggest competitor isn't other organizations that do the same thing as his own. Martin: "My biggest competitors are drug-dealers and people who don't give a crap about our community. They would rather sell you dope than let you have a good life. Our prisons and jails are filled with drug addicts, not drug dealers. Because the addicts are the ones who have to run the dope, and they're the ones who have to put in the time and the grunt work and the backpacks full of dope."
The Five Pillars of F5 Communication
Housing
Employment
Healthy Socialization
Transportation
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05 05 Rethinking the landlord-tenant relationship has been a key driver of success for F5. Martin: "There's a lot of power in being a property manager or an owner. You can say who lives somewhere, and you can evict someone any time you want. A lot of these guys have evictions and felonies, so I thought, 'I wonder what it would look like if we treated them like they didn't? What if the property manager is the one who's supposed to be providing the solution?'
What Does F5 Mean, Anyway? Commonly known as the function keys on a computer keyboard, F1 through F12 may have a variety of different uses, but F5 is special for one reason: It's the refresh key. No matter what data you have on your computer screen, when you hit F5, it all gets deleted. "This is really what any person with a (criminal) background wants," says F5 Project Founder Adam Martin, "to start over, clean and refresh."
"Instead of just showing up whenever there's a problem with a dishwasher or to collect rent, why don't we show up and see if there's anything we can do for them? And go about it proactively. And it was crazy: 98 percent of the guys in the houses all of a sudden had jobs. A bunch of them were in recovery; a bunch of them were going to 12-step based meetings; and a lot of them were texting us every day just to let us know that they were doing okay."
There's probably no one who can understand the felon experience as well as entrepreneurs, Martin says. Martin: "Starting up your life without any investments and starting up a company without any seed money are very similar. You're going to have to knock on doors; you're going to have to fill out applications and grants — and with no data and no experience. It's all the same. "And when I talk to felons about that, they get it. When I try to pitch that to business owners, they have to really be brought through it to understand and remember what it was like when they started their company. You're eating ramen. You have no money. You don't know how you're going to make it to the next week. Now imagine living like that for years."
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07 07 Martin: Many felons possess a number of unique and highly sought-after skills that can be applied to the workplace. They're unconventional thinkers. Martin: "Their outside-the-box style of thinking and creativity are insane. It may not always be the 'correct' way to do something, but it gets done, and you don't have to worry about it." They're go-getters. Martin: "I know that if I go to any of our guys (at sister company F5 Ventures) and say, 'I need you to knock on 10 doors and set up a meeting with someone to meet with one of our clients,' they'll leave that moment and go knock on 10 doors. They're not prone to sit there and try to strategically research and figure out how to knock on the door or know what to say. Execution is king." They're emotionally intelligent. Martin: "I've come to believe that people who are formerly incarcerated are very high with emotional and social intelligence. They're the guys you don't want to play poker against. Because they can read you. Just imagine a guy who, for his whole life, grew up in juvenile detention and then had case managers, social workers, psychologists and now he's in prison. (It's a survival skill)."
Adam Martin in his past life CASS COUNTY JAIL
They're unafraid to fail. Martin: "Every college kid or every person I've hired who hasn't been locked up, I have to walk them through things, give them scripts, sometimes even teach them how to dial a phone. They're afraid to fail. Whereas, us (felons), we've known nothing but failure." They're great networkers. Martin:"People who have grown up in institutions are constantly surrounded by people. In prison, you're not 'in the hole' all the time; you're around people. You have to learn how to adapt and talk to them. "I have four guys who work for me on the (F5) Ventures side. I give them a list of phone numbers and say, 'I need you to call these people and set up appointments for our clients to go do introductory meetings and go pitch their products.' I walk away, and they're already doing it."
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08 08 F5 is a great community investment. Martin: "It's anywhere from $40,000 - $77,000 a year to lock somebody up. We're creating an investment that, when they come out of jail or prison, it saves insane amounts of money. "The status quo is always: Have more beds available in the prisons and jails. Why? Because they're forecasting it's only going to get worse. Why? Because we don't have the resources readily available to the people coming out. There are no re-entry programs. A guy gets out at 8 o'clock in the morning, gets put on a bus and gets sent to Fargo. Now what? "It's also why our homeless shelters are insanely packed because we're having to fill them up for people who don't need to be there. So what we're doing is taking guys out of there who I think can do really well really fast if they have the right investments and letting the homeless shelters and detoxes and treatment centers focus on those high-priority maintenance people."
Martin believes felons are the missing piece to workplace development. Martin: "This is the piece we're missing in the workforce is guys with really high emotional intelligence who aren't scared to fail. That's the entrepreneur mindset. I would rather start a company with a guy who's been formerly incarcerated any day of the week because I know things are going to get done.
Paying It Forward While F5 residents don't pay for housing or any of the services they receive, they are encouraged to "extend the grace" in other ways to the community. Here are a few examples. Many of them: • Mentor new F5
residents
• Mentor juvenile
delinquents
• Get involved with
church or 12-step groups • Start businesses
"I was at Microsoft recently, and we talked about this with a group of people, how emotional intelligence is something they're looking for because it's not very high today like it used to be. Every person who's not a felon that I've hired to do sales has quit. NDSU also brought me over to talk about how to be engaging to people. Because the common trend they're seeing in the workforce is that you can no longer just let a college kid loose to go do their job because they need to have complete direction given to them: 'Do this. Now do this. Now do this.'"
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"I would rather start a company with a guy who's been formerly incarcerated any day of the week because I know things are going to get done."
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Martin has one question for business owners when considering a felon for a job: What's the worst that can happen? Martin: "The first thing that I'd like to say is that if you had a bad experience with a felon, chances are it's only been one, and you gave up. How many people who aren't felons have you hired who have either lied or not shown up? "Really question your thinking and your biases when it comes to people who have been formally incarcerated. Am I treating them the way I would anyone else, or am I completely blanketing a whole group of people? "The second thing is: Do you think they're ready? Ask them what they've done since they've gotten out of prison. Did they show up at your workplace first? Do they have identification? Are they ready for this? What are their charges? That's a big one is: Do their charges have something to do with a daily activity they'd be doing? "If you're a bank, and you're thinking of hiring a felon and he's been charged with embezzlement, you might want to reconsider. If they've been in recovery or been out of prison for five years and they've built a good reputation of doing well financially, give 'em a chance. There's nothing wrong with getting personal in an interview."
Housing Resources • F5 Project House • Lakes and Prairies Community Action Partnership • Moorhead Public Housing • Clay County Housing Authority • Cass County Social and Family Services • Clay County Social Services • Fargo Housing and Redevelopment • Southern ND Community Action Agency Second-Chance Employers • Wanzek Construction • Solid Comfort • Quality Concrete • K + L Concrete Healthcare Resources • Family Healthcare - Homeless Services • Fargo Cass Public Health • Planned Parenthood • FM Good Neighbor Project • Clay County Public Health Veteran Resources • Fargo VA Medical Center • Veterans Justice Outreach • Supported Employment for Veterans Fitness • MetroFlex Landlord List • Personal Touch Management • Danbury Office • Goldmark Properties • Roers
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If you're a decision-maker at your business and are interested in joining the list of second-chance employers (see above) or just want to learn more about F5 Project or F5 Ventures, contact Adam Martin directly. "I'll take all the time in the world to walk you through the tax credits and walk you through why the felon in the Fargo-Moorhead area is the fastest way for our economy to continue to build, as long as we're willing to take second chances on them," Martin says. Adam Martin Founder, F5 Project/F5 Ventures Adam@F5Project.org 701-412-1664
Meet an F5 Guy
Mike Broadwell
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Mike Broadwell says it was a "perfect storm of nothing" that led to him catching his case in 2011. "I was in between jobs; in between girlfriends; in between cars, dogs and cats," says Broadwell, who, at the time had recently moved from his native California to small-town Ashley, ND. "I was in between everything and didn't have any attachments for the first time in my life." An altercation with some locals landed him a 10-year prison sentence, and when he got out early in August 2017 with nothing to his name and nowhere to go, it was F5 Project and Adam Martin that were his saving grace. "I was walking out of the prison gates with a birth certificate and a social security card," Broadwell says. "And a handful of prison t-shirts and underwear. And that was it. I had nothing. The day I got out of prison, Adam met me, picked me up, brought me to the house and got me in a room. They give you the opportunity to fix your life and the opportunity to network with other guys who are going through the same situation." Less than a year later, Broadwell has started his own business, Goodfellas Flooring; gotten his drivers license back; opened two bank accounts; is insured; and has his own vehicle.
What Mike Says About F5 "With the opportunities and tools that F5 gives you, they're not going to do it for you. You have to go out and do it yourself. I'm lucky to be alive and to be in the position I'm in right now, with people backing me and pulling for me. It all comes down to wanting it. That's what F5 stresses. It's up to you. We're not going to help you any more than you want to help yourself, and all I can say is that I have so much loyalty and dedication for this organization because they've helped me help myself."
"I've also re-established connection with at least threequarters of my family," he says, "people I've lost track of over the last 10 or 15 years."
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Meet an F5 Guy
Matt Becker
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When Matt Becker was in federal prison in Colorado a couple years ago, he had a realization. "I was just like, 'Man, I'm so tired of this,'" he recalls. "I'm spending my whole life in a box. Something's gotta change, but I didn't know what. "So I started making an inventory of things in my life that were holding me back: No. 1 was my attitude. No. 2 was the people I hang around with. No. 3 was that I'd never really given myself a shot at doing the right thing." It was a moment of true self-reflection for the Fargo native who'd spent most of his 20s locked up, first for an armed robbery in West Fargo in 2009 and then for possession of a firearm a few years later. When he got out the last time, he says he made up his mind that he was really going to change for good, even if it meant he had to wash dishes. He ended up getting a job washing trucks, and not long after, met Adam Martin through a mutual friend. After sitting down with him, he realized quickly that F5 was where he wanted to be. Martin offered Becker an unpaid internship, an opportunity that he jumped at, despite the crazy hours it would require. "I would sleep like 3 hours a day, but I was dedicated to it," says Becker, who, after the internship, was able to quit the truck wash and came on full-time as a business development representative for F5 Project's sister company, F5 Ventures. "I had in my head, 'I'm going to do this. If I can dedicate my whole life to being a gangster and doing dumb stuff, I can dedicate some time to doing the right thing.'
What Matt Says About F5 "F5 absolutely changed my life. It's given me a purpose and a drive, and every single day, I get up and look forward to coming to work. If you would've told me a few years ago, 'You're gonna have an office job, and you're gonna love it, and you're gonna enjoy work and coworkers,' I would've told you you were crazy. But I do. Every day, I love coming here; I love the people I work with; I love my bosses; I love what I do. It's given me something to focus on in my life."
"I've taken so much from the community. It's only right to do what I can to give back."
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BY Mark Puppe
Getting Real About Business with Mark Puppe
WHY 2 FARGO OWNERS TOOK THE LEAP
H
ow many of us really understand the behindthe-scenes work of business owners?
Not only do they assume the bulk of the risks and liabilities for the business, they never really get a day off and are always the last ones paid. Stack sales, taxes, staffing, regulations, and innumerable other uncertainties on top of that, and we get a little better idea of what business ownership truly entails. Industry expertise lightens the load, and most aspiring business owners have it at the get-go. Whether it’s personal history, formal education, or employment, that experience prepares people for the issues they encounter and the decisions they make as business owners. Some, though, have entrepreneurial spirit and beliefs strong enough to depart from established, salaried careers to immerse themselves in a new industry and plunge into the realm of business ownership and unpredictable income. Fargo Coffee's Skyler Dutton and Prosource's Austen Schauer are loving every minute of it.
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Meet Mark Puppe Fargo native Mark Puppe has advocated for small business owners professionally at the Professional Insurance Agents of North Dakota and National Federation of Independent Business and is the founder of writing and strategic communications business Master Manuscripts. In his contributed pieces, he says he plans to introduce, showcase, and personify real, imminent, yet often overlooked and unknown responsibilities that small business owners experience, endure and strive to overcome.
I
didn’t drink coffee until I needed somewhere to meet business clients. Settling in my native North Fargo concerned me because I only remembered coffee and tables in church fellowship halls. This made stumbling upon Fargo Coffee a few blocks from home a relief, but I prayed for the owners. The shop is nestled between Little Caesar’s and a gas station; the last business here was a coffee shop; and the space was dormant two years before Fargo Coffee opened. Things were very quiet. Nonetheless, it had tables, so fine by me.
HILLARY EHLEN AND J. ALAN PAUL
Then, one day in early May, my coffee costs 50 cents more and the ever-sweet barista apologetically reports: “New owners.”
The Duttons have committed their livelihoods to upholding their core belief that everyone deserves a good cup of coffee. “If people want to visit downtown shops, we’re very happy, but people like to go where everyone knows your name," Skyler says. "That’s a core value we uphold and make a driving force. We haven’t codified it because we live it." That I can appreciate, but what reasonable mind forfeits a career to purchase a business for the sake of doing favors to others? After all, successful business owners typically cite customers rather than friends as key to their success.
Skyler Dutton
Co-Owner, Fargo Coffee
Skyler agrees. “A friend advised us to send out canoes to test the waters instead of making our business a supertanker,” he recalls.
Before long, I learn that former police officer Skyler Dutton had abandoned a salaryand-benefits package to buy Since July 2017, the Duttons’ this seemingly mobile catering sputtering coffee business, shop with his Thunder Coffee, Fargo Coffee Cowife, Nicole. To has been testing Owner Skyler Dutton be fair, Skyler the waters as a dons a t-shirt from was a cop and serving station the coffee shop he word on the that they tote to opened in North Fargo street is that special events. with his wife, Nicole, cops like coffee. 10 months of and brother, Dexter. Plus, his brother that convinced Dexter, who quit the Duttons that college to help their time to out, was a partpurchase a bricktime barista as a and-mortar student. business had arrived. Today, Still, Skyler has Fargo Coffee some talking is theirs, as is to do.
every reality that accompanies business ownership.
Thunder Coffee has confirmed Fargo to be a viable market.
Fargo Coffee, which served more than 200 people during its grand re-reopening in June, was a classy shop when purchased, so Skyler foresees mostly modest changes. However, putting pen to paper for a permanent address means all remodeling costs come out of Fargo Coffee’s bottom line, just like the essential and expensive specialty equipment used every day (Nicole says she does her part to keep Skyler’s creativity in check).
Skyler says his DUI training neglected inventory management, and he no longer has the red-and-blue lights needed to expedite a drive to Oklahoma if his supply ever runs out. There have been some close calls, each enlightening Skyler to something he won’t need to learn twice. Shifting from law enforcement to coffee shop ownership has introduced Skyler to abrupt and unique changes and challenges but also provided opportunities for him and Nicole to embrace, manage and maximize them how they themselves — rather than job descriptions or supervisors — determine.
Fargo Coffee exclusively serves coffee brewed from beans roasted in Oklahoma — so the product is unique — and
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A
nyone living or working in the Fargo broadcast area between 1980 and 2013 saw Austen Schauer reporting or broadcasting on television routinely. There was no remote during much of that period, so when the news was on, it was on, and he would probably be part of the show. So when I saw Schauer at a recent public event holding a cup of coffee rather than a microphone, it seemed a little off to me. “What’s he doing at this event for business enthusiasts and inspiring entrepreneurs?" I thought to myself. "He must be signing books or something.” I had to find out. He revealed how after a 30-year media career and a few years in fundraising, he'd found his entrepreneurial spirit and jumped into the business development manager’s seat at ProSource, a Fargo-based staffing agency founded in 2016. His belief that “indulging in risk inspires us to ascend from good to great” directed him to assume businessmanagement
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responsibilities, he says. Schauer explained how running a business is far more complicated than he anticipated but that uncertainties excite him because “comfortability is dangerous.” That’s potent wordage for a news report or fundraising campaign, but what about this loop in livelihood and away from the media industry in which counterparts agree he had always been ascending to greatness? Plus, what business development manager doesn’t pursue the comfort afforded by profit? Schauer then divulged how sacrificing a media career for business development has given him a newfound respect for salespeople because he's responsible for ProSource’s sales and subject to the brutal truth that his own income "is unpredictable and fundamentally 100 percent commission.” There’s that discomfort and ascension to greatness he alluded to earlier and why new responsibilities in an entirely new industry appealed so strongly to him.
Establishing profit as a secondary priority can actually generate greater profitability because people appreciate valuebased interactions.
After more than 30 years of being salaried to speak at audiences, Schauer's new
Austen Schauer
Business Development Manager, ProSource career is his opportunity to undertake a challenge that so many people dread but one that destines every business for the red if neglected: sales.
That’s opposite from how a lot of salespeople think. So I asked him: How do you plan to keep ProSource afloat if you’re letting prospects slide?
Neither sales nor profitability directly impacted Schauer's own checkbook until 20 months ago, and he’s spoken about his own respect for salespeople, but now that he's responsible for sales, what does he believe is required for customers and prospects to respect salespeople?
"It’s the entrepreneurial spirit that motivates people to go in," he says. "Being passive gets the sale, and that means treating prospects as if they're already customers."
“Doing it right the first time,” he says. “That means being ethically sound rather than trying to make a quick buck.”
Establishing profit as a secondary priority can actually generate greater profitability because people appreciate value-based interactions. And Schauer believes that’s why ProSource has done so well during its first 20 months in business.
Master Manuscripts MasterManuscripts.com
Fargo Coffee 1020 19th Ave. N, Fargo
ProSource AskProSource.com
The Startup Journey A BLOG By Josh Christy Photo courtesy of "The Startup Journey"
Josh Christy is the founder of "The Startup Journey" blog, which he started to help fellow founders step around some of the holes he's fallen into.
Carelessness or Ignorance? Your client is looking for you to be the expert. They want you to tell them what to do and why. I'm pissed. I'm so frustrated by companies that have the power to drastically change the direction of another company and don’t do their part to educate their client. Let me explain. Recently, one of our clients emailed me and asked if we could help with the
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transition of their website to one that a vendor had created for them. We were contacted by the vendor's account manager asking if we had the password to the site to get it live, and after a little clarification, we sorted out what was needed. It was a bit strange that they didn’t know what needed to happen to launch the
In short, it would torpedo months of dedicated work and a site that had been in place for over a decade. site, but I just chalked it up to a non-technical team member doing what they could to keep the ball moving forward. Fast-forward 24 hours. We get the OK from the vendor to update on our end and launch the site. We throw the switch and begin to look at the new site they’ve created. I’ll spare the technical details. All I can say is that it left me upset. Our client had been working hard for the past 18 months to grow their online presence: • They created content and drove good organic traffic to their site. • They had hundreds of pages indexed in Google. • The site had good structure, and technical details were all in place. The new site was completely devoid of any
of these technical details. Google would surely remove the indexed pages shortly after the site launch. Any links that previously existed would show up as broken or say the content didn't exist. In short, it would torpedo months of dedicated work and a site that had been in place for over a decade. All of this was about to be thrown away because .. • ... they were under a deadline to get the project up? • ... they were over budget and weren’t willing to stick it out? • ... they didn't know the impact of what was happening? • ... they didn't care? What I do know is that I got an email forwarded from the CEO with a series of excuses about how this was expected to happen and that they hadn't completed things yet but that they would. This was followed up with a multiple-page
Being in the Upper Midwest, sometimes, I think we confuse having an opinion with being arrogant.
email about how we were disgruntled and how our site is terrible. Honestly, it was comical to read, but I feel sad about it at the same time.
opinionated. You can have an opinion, respect others' input and collaborate. Your client is looking to you for direction. You need to lead with your experience.
Our job as a consultant goes far beyond just creating something; the website or the app is part of it.
I use this as a cautionary tale. Our client didn’t know the right questions to ask. They didn’t fully understand the impact of the changes the vendor was recommending. They just ... trusted.
The core of everything we do is to manage expectations. Imagine if everyone is on the same page with what a project will cost, how long it will take and who needs to do what. What is left to do at that point? I’ll tell you: Just get the work done. It’s not rocket science. If the expectations aren’t communicated, it immediately begins to erode trust. Being in the Upper Midwest, sometimes, I think we confuse having an opinion with being arrogant. That shouldn't be the case at all. If you need it, I’m giving you permission to be
BUSINESS
WISDOM KRISTINA HEIN Marketing/Brand Management Director
And that is the key when someone puts their trust in you as an expert: They are trusting your expertise, sometimes, even blindly. This isn’t meant to be a holier-than-thou speech. I’ve had my fair share of mistakes and missteps. I know I’ve dropped the ball and caused frustrations or even setbacks because of a lack of communication over the past decade. But at the end of the day, which is worse: carelessness or ignorance?
To check out past "Startup Journey" posts and to have them sent directly to your inbox, visit Codelation.com/Blog.
A Daily Routine "Review my calendar to prep for the next day, and remember to write down in my gratitude journal three things or people I'm grateful for." FARGOINC.COM
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Welcoming a Few
Wonderful Women
To Upcoming Chamber Events By Craig Whitney | Craig Whitney is the president and CEO of the Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber of Commerce.
A
s our Chamber is in the final month of our current fiscal year, there are several things we are looking forward to in the months ahead.
SAVE THE DATES Annual Meeting and Legacy Leader September 19 Voices of Vision November 14 Women Connect January 22, 2019
This time of year is when we plan our Voices of Vision event and book a national speaker, and it's one of the most exciting announcements we get to make each year. We’ve hosted an incredible lineup of speakers at this event in the past (remember last year’s event with NBA legend Shaq?) but every year, we get a consistent request from attendees: a woman to deliver the keynote. This year, we’re making that a reality. 2018 will be the first year we welcome a woman to the Voices of Vision stage. It’s about time, right? While I can’t tell you exactly who she is yet, I know that she's going to provide great inspiration, discussion and share her powerful story with everyone in attendance. Stay tuned because, in September, all will be revealed. We also have two other exciting announcements this month.
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AMAZON
Best-selling author of "Girl, Wash Your Face" Rachel Hollis will be speaking at Women Connect in January 2019.
First, we’re welcoming a bestselling author to the Women Connect stage in January. Perhaps you’ve heard of Rachel Hollis and her book, "Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies About Who You Are So You Can Become Who You Were Meant to Be." My staff and our Women Connect committee has been buzzing about her, and she's been topping the best-seller lists and taking the speaking circuit by storm. A documentary about her will even run at two local movie theaters in Fargo on August 2. This January will mark our fifth year of Women Connect programming and events, and Hollis is a perfect fit for our keynote speaker.
FMWF CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
State Sen. Lee has been an active and engaged Chamber member for decades and is a tireless and relentless advocate for Fargo and North Dakota.
Next, we’re thrilled to announce and honor Judy Lee as our 2018 Legacy Leader, the Chamber’s most prestigious award for individuals who have led and positively impacted our community. State Sen. Lee has been an active and engaged Chamber member for decades — serving several terms on our board — and is a tireless and relentless advocate
for her city, her district, the metro and the entire state of North Dakota. She's been a champion for health and human services over her entire legislative career. I hope you’ll join us at our annual meeting in September as we honor her and present this award. We’ll also share the Chamber’s accomplishments of the past year and look ahead to the next. Of course, there will be lots more to come. We’ll have a few new faces joining our board of directors, new committee chairs and volunteers, more exciting events and programs, and a renewed commitment to our members and community. Stay tuned, and I hope to see you around!
FMWF Chamber of Commerce Learn more and register for any FMWF Chamber of Commerce events at FMWFChamber.com.
Meet
Java Chews A North Dakota Company Making Big Waves in a Fledgling Industry BY Nate Mickelberg
J
ohn Stearns and Ryan Botner first met when Botner was coaching Stearns' son in baseball, and it didn't take long before the pair's post-practice chats turned from talking double plays to trading sales advice.
"I was always mesmerized by his operation (J&S Marketing in Valley City)," says Botner, who's based in Fargo and serves as CEO of Physicians National Financial. "He's a direct distributor to 500 gas stations around the area, and he had multiple sales guys — very similar to my business." The two eventually decided to get into business together and cofounded Java Chews, a Valley City, North Dakota-based company that sells a coffee-based pouch alternative to regular tobacco chew. The company has seen massive growth during its first year and a half of operation and can already be found in thousands of stores across the country. Learn more about them here.
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Java Chews is sold in more than
40 STATES Each pouch of Java Chews is equivalent to
1/4 CUP OF COFFEE
One of Java Chews' biggest markets right now is
LONG DISTANCE TRUCK DRIVERS who Botner says like not having to stop and use the restroom frequently.
Each can contains 15 pouches
100%
of Java Chews' distribution and dayto-day operations are done right here in North Dakota.
Stearns says the company is developing a non-traditional flavor that he believes has the potential to be "revolutionary" and do
$25-30 MILLION
in sales right away.
J. ALAN PAUL
Java Chews Cofounders John Stearns (L) and Ryan Botner (R)
The majority of Java Chews' business is done on the
AMAZON MARKETPLACE FARGOINC.COM
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Addiction Misunderstood A common misconception about nicotine addiction, Stearns says, is that it's entirely chemical, when, in fact, a big part of it is habitbased. "With chew, half the problem is having it in your lip," says Stearns, who has himself been a dipper for decades. "It's just a habit. If the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning is put in a tobacco chew, make it a Java Chew instead. Then, try to alternate it throughout the day and start taking steps and setting goals. Maybe you start 25 percent tobacco, 75 percent non-tobacco and slowly get yourself there."
You can now find Java Chews in more than
3,000 STORES nationwide. A testament to how popular Java Chews has become with young people, Stearns says one store in Cincinnati across from a high school was selling about
150 CANS
While Stearns and Botner expected Java Chews to mostly appeal to people looking for a
CHEWING-TOBACCO ALTERNATIVE they say they've been pleasantly surprised that coffee-lovers are buying it, too.
of the coffee pouches per week.
Because Java Chews is a food-grade product and, as Stearns explains, they didn't want to cut any corners, Java Chews spent nearly
4 MONTHS
finding an FDA-approved manufacturing facility they were comfortable with to produce their product.
Java Chews' first-big name endorser is NASCAR Truck Series driver Josh Reaume. The company sponsored the Canadian for two races last year and plans on at least another one this year.
By the end of the year, Cofounders John Stearns and Ryan Botner predict their product will be in
20,000 STORES and that they'll sell about
2 MILLION CANS 52
AUGUST 2018
=
Java Chews come in 4 flavors: Mocha, Wintergreen, Caramel and French Vanilla.
The 5-hour Energy Model While Java Chews has seen faster growth than any other product in its category, Stearns says the company knows how important it is to keep itself top of mind for consumers looking for coffee pouches. "I'll give you an example: 5-hour Energy came out with a two-ounce energy shot and killed it right out of the gates," explains Stearns, who's always sold large quantities of the product to convenience stores in the area. "And next thing you know — it only took about six or nine months — I'm getting samples of everything: 6-hour energy, 8-hour energy, Tweaker, and all these other brands. And 5-hour Energy held them off because of brand awareness. "We need that same brand awareness, so that when people go into a store and see 'Farmer Joe's Coffee Chews' or something, they see our product and think, 'I've heard of Java Chews. I recognize it.'"
Java Chews JavaChews.com FARGOINC.COM
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BY Todd Zimmerman and Brandt Doerr
Don’t Lose a
Legal Battle
Before Entering the Ring
Todd Zimmerman Todd Zimmerman is a Fredrikson & Byron shareholder and litigator who represents a wide range of business and individuals. He can be reached at TZimmerman@FredLaw.com.
Tips for What to Do If You're Served with a Summons or Complaint*
A
business owner can be faced with uncertainty and dread when served with a summons and complaint, especially when it occurs without warning. Getting served can be jarring, even embarrassing, if it happens while you're working with customers at your place of business. Unfortunately, along with the freedom and economic potential that comes with owning a business, there's always some risk of incurring liability. Whether the complaint arrives from a customer, an individual claiming to have been injured while at your business, or from another business, it's reasonable to be concerned and unsure of what steps to take to protect yourself and your company. Lawsuits can arise from a wide range of issues, from a simple slip and fall to contract disputes to complicated matters involving competitors, business governance and securities issues.
Brandt Doerr Brandt Doerr is a Fredrikson & Byron associate who works on commercial litigation, as well as employment and labor matters. He can be reached at BDoerr@FredLaw.com.
When you get served, there are certain actions that should be taken promptly. Being proactive under these circumstances will give your business the best chance of avoiding potential liability and bringing about a swift resolution to the dispute.
QUESTION #1 Can I ignore the summons and complaint?
*Disclaimer: Since each situation is different, readers should consult a qualified attorney for legal advice. This article addresses common issues on the topic but should not be considered legal advice.
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No! This is never a good idea. A failure to respond to a complaint exposes a defendant to entry of a default judgment. In federal courts and in North Dakota state court, a defendant has 21 days to respond. In Minnesota state court, a defendant has 20 days to respond. A default judgment can be entered simply on the basis of failing to answer a complaint, and even though it didn't result from a trial or a decision on the merits of your case, a default judgment can still be used to collect money from you. Ignoring a complaint has the effect of admitting to the allegations in the complaint and, simply put, exposes your business to financial liability. While it's possible to ask a court to re-open a case that's had a default judgment entered, it's not something the court will do without good reason. A court may relieve a party from a default judgment for excusable neglect, but the court is by no means required to do so. Without unique circumstances that show some attempt to answer a complaint or a unique excuse for not answering it, simply ignoring a complaint is generally not grounds for re-opening a case after a default has been entered. In other words, by ignoring the complaint, you will likely lose your legal fight without even entering the ring.
QUESTION #2 What does it mean to have a judgment entered against me or my business?
QUESTION #3
A court can enter a judgment upon a default, after granting a party’s formal legal reques — called a motion — or after a trial is held. Any judgment, whether by default, on a motion, or at trial, is a publicly recorded event. The judgment creates a lien on your real property, and it entitles the other party to collect money from you by garnishing wages, bank accounts or receivables. In some instances, they can even gather up your property — including real property — and have it sold to collect upon a judgment. Ignoring a legal action or failing to properly defend yourself is just not a viable option.
The answer to this question ranges from: “It is not advisable to do so.”
Should I answer the complaint myself?
to “You are prohibited from doing so.” Individuals may choose to represent themselves in a lawsuit. However, if your business is a corporation, an attorney is required to answer the complaint. An individual who is not a licensed attorney cannot represent a corporation in litigation, and that includes answering a complaint. Without an attorney present, savvy plaintiffs can draw the court’s attention to a corporation’s lack of licensed representation and use it to their advantage. We believe it's wise to contact an attorney immediately after being served with a summons and complaint, whether your business is a corporation, sole proprietorship or another form of business entity. Attorneys are trained to carefully answer the allegations in a complaint in a way that protects your rights, and while you, as the business owner, may feel the complaint is frivolous and the situation easily explained, an inadvertent mistake in answering can have wide-ranging implications for the lawsuit. In addition, an attorney can best evaluate whether certain defenses may be raised to quickly resolve the litigation. Many defenses can be waived if they are not asserted at the outset of a case or within other specific time requirements. An attorney can also better evaluate whether your business has any potential counterclaims against the plaintiff and properly assert them early in litigation.
QUESTION #4 Will my insurance cover the potential liability from the case, as well as my attorneys' fees?
Any insurance policy that you or your business has should be carefully examined at the outset of a lawsuit. Homeowners insurance and umbrella policies may cover more than you expect. Businesses may have a variety of different coverages, both for the business entity itself, as well as its officers or directors. If you have coverage or if there is even the possibility of coverage, you typically need to promptly notify your insurance company and request that they provide coverage under the terms of any potentially applicable policy. Also, failing to put your insurance company on notice that you are being sued may result in you losing coverage. Many policies have express requirements regarding what you can and cannot do if you are sued. You should advise your insurance agent of any claim that could possibly be covered and let your attorney know of any policies that might provide coverage, so they can be properly considered.
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QUESTION #5 If I win the case, will the other side have to pay back my attorneys’ fees and expenses?
QUESTION #6 How long is this going to take?
While that seems like a fair result, the answer is that even a complete victory will likely not result in you being repaid for attorneys’ fees and other costs. Generally, you can only recover attorneys’ fees and costs if there is a specific contractual provision with the other party that allows the prevailing side to make such a recovery or if there is a specific statute allowing for such a recovery. Careful contract drafting at the start of business relationships can give you that right. You and your attorney should carefully consider whether there is any statute that might give rise to the recovery of attorneys’ fees and costs.
Unfortunately, longer than you would like. Courts are not designed to move rapidly. They are designed to give parties the ability to thoroughly consider their cases and then have them presented to a judge or jury. Depending on the court, you will likely not have a trial date for at least one year and perhaps substantially longer than that. The time, costs and drain on personnel can be substantial. While the usual inclination once you are involved in a lawsuit is to fight and vindicate yourself, practical considerations may require that you consider options other than a full-scale lawsuit extending for months and perhaps years.
QUESTION #7 This case is frivolous. Can’t I just get it thrown out of court?
The answer is probably not. A plaintiff’s factual claims are presumed to be true at the outset of a case. Only cases that lack any legal merit, even given that presumption, will be dismissed on an early motion. Otherwise, a detailed factual record will need to be presented to the court on what is a called a summary judgment motion to obtain a dismissal. Even then, the rules are structured such that every benefit of the doubt is given to the party not seeking dismissal. In summary, being sued puts you and your business in a complicated, costly, and likely time-consuming process. Discussions, negotiations and other efforts may well be advisable before you get to that stage. You can be even more proactive by discussing strategies to avoid litigation by addressing potential risks with your attorney long before you see a complaint. Once a lawsuit has been started, you need to get good counsel right away to make sure all your legal rights are protected and to avoid putting your assets and your company’s assets at risk.
BUSINESS
WISDOM THAN BAARDSON Cofounder/ Executive Director Unseen 56
AUGUST 2018
Fredrikson & Byron FredLaw.com
My Why "We can actually make a difference, and I get to work with the greatest rescue organizations around the world every single day (with) an incredible team right here in Fargo."
By Josh Hoper
Meet
Josh Hoper TorchLight AE Founder Josh Hoper has been a part of giant corporations and a solopreneur. "I’ve known the pain of being miscast in roles and the joy of finding the right fit," he says. "I’ve been very bored and very challenged. I’ve felt extremely isolated and very well connected. I’ve learned a lot about other people and a lot about myself along the way." Hoper's current primary work is providing business consulting for small commercial companies — up to about $20 million in annual revenue — local nonprofits and, more recently, the public sector.
J. ALAN PAUL
Your Business Journey | Pt. 1
The Short Term:
Cash Flow Coming Up Pt. 2 | The Medium Term Pt. 3 | The Long Term
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I
n my professional life, I try to help clients understand their company's situation, but there are hurdles I must overcome. Not everyone has a finance or accounting background, and many entrepreneurs don't want to learn all the esoteric financial jargon that's common among financial experts. I don't pretend to be a financial expert, but I've been around it long enough to understand most of the fundamentals and many of the details. I've gotten many chances to translate what I've seen as important concepts and turn them into ideas that are relatable. In part one of a three-part series, I will illustrate for you an approach I've used to explain the financial reality of any organization. Perhaps it will make your own company's financial reality clearer, and maybe it will give you tools to help explain your company's financial reality to people in your organization whose eyes roll every time you mention any financial terminology. In this article, I will share the first of three ideas that illustrate the short-, medium- and long-term aspects of your organization.
Your Business as a Trip: An Analogy Close your eyes for a moment, and picture the last trip you went on. Chances are you did a bit of planning, took steps to move from your original location to your destination and probably had to resume your normal routine once you returned from the trip. The financial reality of your company has key things in common with the journey you just recalled. The most common lens from which I see people looking at their company's financial health is the one that represents an important (and the most urgent) part of their financial picture: cash. After all, cash is king, right? "If I have enough in my bank accounts, my business must be doing just fine." When you think of the journey of your business, try thinking of cash flow like you think of your fuel gauge. If the needle is above empty, you're in good shape. In fact,
you need to make sure your gas tank never goes empty during your trip. Sure, you might have a reserve gas tank or roadside assistance available with a quick phone call, but what if you're 100 miles away from the next station and your phone battery dies? If you run out of gas and don't have any more ways of replenishing your supply, your trip is over. Companies don't go out of business because they didn't have a good enough idea or because they didn't sell enough products or services. It's not uncommon for profitable companies to go out of business. Companies go out of business because they've run out of cash. About 80 percent of startups survive the first year. Often, they're funded with someone's savings, and if the business isn't making much money, that saving starts to get depleted. In extreme scenarios, people can burn through retirement savings or inheritances. They typically survive two or three years, but once the cash runs out, the business is done.
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Treat Your Budget as Sacred To give a business the highest probability of having strong cash flow, it's critical that leaders and managers keep a close eye on their financial information. The most successful companies I've seen create budgets and review them regularly. Companies with the strongest cash flow have developed the ability to predict where money is coming and going. They can create budgets that are realistic and attainable, and they place heavy scrutiny on decisions that deviate significantly from their budget. Depending on how heavily traveled your trip route is, you'll often need to understand how far apart fueling stations are and how far you can travel with your vehicle's fuel capacity. Additionally, you should also consider what types of fuel are available at each station.
BUSINESS
WISDOM PETER SCHOTT Cofounder Genesis Feed Technologies
• Do they have the types
of fuel that are usable for your vehicle? • Which types of fuel give you the best fuel efficiency? • Which types of fuel make your vehicle perform better? In your business, you need to know what financial resources are necessary to fund the everyday operations of the business. Researching these things before you start can help you avoid a lot of headaches.
THE MOST SUCCESSFUL COMPANIES I'VE SEEN CREATE BUDGETS AND REVIEW THEM REGULARLY.
• Are there any strings
attached to the funding sources for your business? • How important is it that your funding sources have values that are aligned with yours? You should have clarity about the answers to these questions even if you've been in business for a while. If you're like most businesses, the answers can change over time.
Each month, I'll provide you with an action item that you can take back and implement with your own company and team. This month? Cash flow challenge: If you haven’t already, review with your team the most critical transactions your business does that most affect your cash flow this time of year.
TorchLight AE TorchLight.ae
A Favorite Tool Headspace "Mediation has been key to my growth and success. Everyone should be doing this at least 10 minutes a day (to start)." FARGOINC.COM
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TAP: A Simple Solution to Investing in the Arts Just Ask Sanford
By Dayna Del Val
T
here’s no question the nonprofit sector is growing in the metro, and in nearly every case, we're performing tasks and standing on the front lines of keeping our special interests supported, safe, fed, housed, advocated for and more.
But with that growth comes more demands for funds from the corporate sector. With state government agencies seeing drastic cuts to their budgets, we in the nonprofit sector are having to find ways to engage with businesses that no doubt feel there's a long line out the door of those waiting to make an ask. Frankly, when I sit down with
Dayna Del Val is the president and CEO of The Arts Partnership. She contributes to Fargo INC! a monthly column that explores the ways the local arts and business communities can work together to create economic opportunity and add aesthetic value to Fargo.
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Think of it like this: If something sounds funny with my car, I don’t try to fix it myself. I take it to my tried-and-true mechanic. I know he'll assess the problem, provide me with a solution and price, and then actually take care of the problem. The same can be true with funding the arts and The Arts Partnership. Let’s say you're the person at your business whose job is to take meetings with nonprofit leaders making a pitch for
business leaders, I can often see the wariness in their eyes. It’s not that they don’t want to support my cause or the long list of other worthy causes in the community, but even the deepest well eventually runs dry. So what's the solution? I’m here to pitch a simple one, a solution that works in many other communities: Let The Arts Partnership manage your funding to the arts.
support. For the purposes of the metaphor, that makes you the driver of the funnysounding car. You're driving the car, and you hear the funny sounds. You might even have an instinct as to what it is, but you don’t know how to fix it. And why would you? Unless you’re a trained mechanic or had someone in your life who taught you how to be handy with cars, your knowledge of cars is likely pretty limited.
You might say yes to everyone, but then your well is going to dry up pretty fast. So what do you do with these people sitting hopefully across from you, making a pitch about supporting their arts organizations? You might say yes to everyone, but then your well is going to dry up pretty fast. You might, from time to time, weigh the various organizations based on their presentation and materials, but that’s kind of like knowing where the gas tank and dipstick are, thinking that tells you everything you need to know about the camshaft.
"We've come to depend on The Arts Partnership to be our eyes and ears in the FM arts community," says Sanford Fargo Director of Public Affairs Dave Anderson.
So who is the mechanic in this too-long metaphor? The Arts Partnership, of course. Did you know we have a highly formal grant process that has been in place for more than 30 years with the city of Fargo (and eventually Moorhead and West Fargo)? We also have a director of operations who
has years of expertise in grant programs and who continues to refine and finesse the grantapplication process. She also manages the five-member panel that reads the online grant applications from arts nonprofits and others making art. The panel has a strict rubric and set of criteria, which means they are looking as objectively as possible at the various organizations, whose budgets range from $5,000 to more than $2 million.
Applicants must not only attend mandatory preapplication meetings; they also must submit final reports and keep in touch with The Arts Partnership throughout the year so that we can monitor the progress they are making with these dollars. But the three cities are not the only entities
You might say yes to everyone, but then your well is going to dry up pretty fast. that utilize The Arts Partnership in this way. One of our region's largest employers, Sanford Health, does, too.
serve those of you taking all the meetings from nonprofits making asks in other ways:
When I first sat down with Sanford Fargo Director of Public Affairs Dave Anderson, we discussed why support from Sanford was so important, both for the arts community and Sanford itself.
1. If you meet annually with The
Remember: The arts are a big piece of what attracts and retains employees, which Sanford and just about every other business in town are in a constant scramble to find and keep. Sanford got it immediately. Anderson saw the value because he was drowning in ask meetings and had no way to assess which arts organizations should receive funding and at what level. “We've come to depend on The Arts Partnership to be our eyes and ears in the FM arts community," he says, "allowing us, then, to lend our voices and resources where we can best be supportive in providing this critical building block for the community’s health, growth and prosperity." Beyond the fact that The Arts Partnership ensures your dollars are being spent strategically, this relationship can also
BUSINESS
WISDOM CHRIS EDGERLEY Founder Imagination Builders
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Arts Partnership, that’s the only meeting you need to take. Anderson routinely thanks people for inquiring about a funding meeting and directs them to The Arts Partnership website and grant information. Of course, if Sanford wants to have an additional relationship with an arts nonprofit, which we highly encourage, he and Sanford are free to do so, separate from and in addition to the funding relationship they have with The Arts Partnership. 2. Your dollars, when combined with other business’ dollars, create a significant pool of money to help sustain and grow the arts in the metro. This is good for everyone, and this collective support means that no single business bears the brunt of ensuring the success of the local arts organizations. 3. It’s truly reciprocal. Whether you support the arts currently or not — and as I've written about before – your business is benefitting from the work the sector is doing in the metro. It's only appropriate that you would contribute to that work.
All in all, supporting The Arts Partnership by supporting the grant program to nonprofits making art just makes good sense. If you want to know more about this, don’t hesitate to contact me. I’ll talk about the value of this investment any time, any place and with anyone. I look forward to helping you see the importance of saying that you and your business #SupportLocalArt, too!
The Arts Partnership TheArtsPartnership.net
Sanford Health SanfordHealth.org
What I'd Give a TED Talk On "Demystifying love as a way of life and leadership tradition for those that want to make the world a better place to live."
Milk Made Catering Owner
Megan Lewis
hen Megan Lewis graduated from culinary school in 2010, she wasn't quite sure where her food journey would take her. After a stint in catering, Lewis left the culinary world for a while, eventually returning to launch a cheese program at a local boutique.
BY LAURA CAROON AND DANYEL MOE HILLARY EHLEN
"Having always loved cheese, I finally felt like my education and real-life met and fell in love," says the owner of Milk Made Catering, a local cheese-centric catering company that focuses on quality artisan producers and community education. "When given the opportunity to create a cheese platter, I was hooked. Hence Milk Made, a beautiful combination of cheese, food styling and people."
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J. ALAN PAUL
"
Laura Caroon
Originally, I was a little worried that what I was doing might be too niche for our region, but I’ve found that people here are really excited about new things." Danyel Moe Being an entrepreneur, what's your favorite part of what you do? It’s the creativity. Everyday is a blank slate. I have creative reign over my entire business, which I love. I get to choose, handpick, and pair every product and see it go out to someone who’s going to love it and enjoy it. That’s very fulfilling. How do you stay current in your industry? I’m a food documentary, podcast and book
Milk Made Catering recently celebrated its first birthday in May.
junkie. I also eat a lot. I go to food shows and conferences, where I get to talk with the niche of people who are just as excited about cheese as I am. Locally, I’ve been trying to get more involved with First Fridays at the B, volunteering with food-based organizations in Fargo and sourcing more local products. And currently, I’m studying to be a certified cheese professional. What's the best part about running a business in Fargo-Moorhead? Fargo-Moorhead is a very supportive community for people who are trying to do something unique and different. Originally, I was a little worried that what I was doing might be too niche for our region, but I’ve found that people here are really excited about new things. People are genuinely
Laura Caroon and Danyel Moe are the cofounders of Ladybosses of FargoMoorhead, a local networking group for women that's focused on creating a casual atmosphere and making genuine connections. Each month in Fargo INC!, they spotlight one of the members from the group.
appreciating what I do, and that’s been so humbling and rewarding. It’s also fun to network and meet other people in this community. I’ve already done a lot of collaborations with other businesses in the area, especially other really small businesses like mine. I love when other entrepreneurs and community organizers come to me with ideas for ways we can work together. Who's a typical Milk Made customer? My customer base is really a wide range of people. People who tend to take my classes and participate in events are those who have taken an interest in food and have a little bit of knowledge about what quality cheese is but want to broaden their knowledge base.
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A sample Milk Made Catering platter
A lot of Millennials have become interested in where their food is coming from, so they take my classes to be better educated consumers and create those connections with where their food is coming from. The best part of being a cheesemonger is knowing the story of where the cheese is made and then getting to share that story with others. What's the best career advice you’ve ever received? And yours to offer? When I first started Milk Made, someone told me that, “You don’t want to be a shooting star in your business because you’ll fade out.” I wanted to be decisive about my business and started out small and under the radar. I had to have confidence in what I was doing, the quality of my product, and know that what I was offering was different and unique. I was okay with the business taking time, growing through word of mouth, and having a trajectory of its own. My advice to others is to find what you love and do it unapologetically. You first have to have the passion, drive, and vision and eventually people will get on board and see it, too.
How can the local business community support you? Partnerships and collaborations, coffee dates, advice, encouragement, those things go a long way and are things you can do to help out any Ladyboss. It’s important for women to support other women-run organizations. Where can people find you? I prep my platters out of Square One Kitchens, an incubator kitchen in Fargo co-owned by Ladyboss Casey Steele. Online, you can find Milk Made on Facebook and Instagram and at our website, MilkMadeCatering.com, for the full menu, a gallery of products and to learn more about why I’m doing what I’m doing. You can also find cheese and pairing classes and education on my page. They tend to sell out quickly, so the best way to make sure you’re the first to hear about them is to sign up for our newsletter.
Milk Made Catering MilkMadeCatering.com
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PHOTO RECAP
1st Annual
SUMMIT
Check out some great shots from the Ladybosses of Fargo-Moorhead's first-ever summit, which was held this summer at Wild Terra Cider and Brewing in Downtown Fargo.
MADDIE MALAT
Sixty women gathered for a morning of inspiration, networking and empowerment at Wild Terra Cider House in Fargo. The event was driven by the desire that CoFounders Danyel Moe and Laura Caroon had to uplift and connect professional women in the area. Throughout the event, women learned from local leaders and built relationships with fellow Ladybosses. The conference gave women actionable takeaways that empowered them in their Ladyboss lifestyle – however they define it. 70
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Six speakers addressed the room, the first of the day being Jessica Thomasson who serves as the CEO of Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota, a nonprofit corporation that helps people and communities across the state of North Dakota. Jessica’s talk begged the question, “Is Diversity Enough?”
The second speaker of the day was Bethlehem Gronneberg, Founder and CEO of uCodeGirl, a non-profit organization that empowers young girls to pursue opportunities in tech. Betty is a seasoned software engineer, public speaker, author and a social entrepreneur working to expand the inclusion of diverse voices. Betty talked about “Dreaming in Color” – how she went from software engineer to social entrepreneur. In the spirit of supporting women and girls, part of the event’s proceeds went toward sponsoring a young Ladyboss to attend the uCodeGirl Crack the Code: Summer Tech Camp for Girls. The Ladyboss Scholarship was awarded to Mackenzie, a veteran uCodeGirl who attends Cheney Middle School in West Fargo.
The last speaker of the first session was Chelsea Thorson, Founder of Make Room Fargo, an art studio for adults and kids alike to take classes and explore their creative side. Chelsea paired her talk with a craft, and encouraged women in the room to create freely and unapologetically. Chelsea’s claim is that everyone is inherently creative, and that there is no “creative bone” that only some are born with. FARGOINC.COM
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Wild Terra provided a beautiful customizable toast bar and mimosas. During the midmorning break, women were able to eat, craft and connect with one another.
The final speaker of the morning, Jodi Duncan, President of Flint Group, talked about being a Good Bwitch or a Bad Bwitch. She believes that we need to rethink how we use the term, and how we can see it as a positive. Jodi has spent over 25 years in marketing and advertising, and In the last few years, Jodi realized she has had experiences that could help women grow in business and leadership.
The first speaker of the second session was Simone Wai, a Community Builder and Co-Founder of Folkways, which supports culture creators in the area by building unique experiences. Though she is a student of marketing and business, the theme of her career has been working with artists, musicians, makers, and creators of all kinds. Simone talked about “Why Community Matters� and the importance of finding your place within this community. Simone reminded us that the most effective way to make a difference in your life and in your community is to vote.
Anna Lee, Minnesota-based designer and owner of Workerby workshops and coaching, has a heart for the community and a passion for independent fashion and the arts. As a lifelong connector, creator, and learner, Anna talked to the audience about how to create your own budget based on different forms of value. She explained that there is currency beyond monetary: such as cultural and social currency. Each Ladyboss left with a worksheet mapping out what sort of projects they will say yes to, and which ones they will not based on their own personal core values. FARGOINC.COM
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TechCORNER
PROTECT COMPANY DATA WITH A BYOD STRATEGY
As the imperative to protect sensitive company data gains importance, the phenomenon of employees using their own personal devices at work has paradoxically increased. Employees using their own device at work can range from adding a work email account to iOS Mail to them bringing their own laptop and cell phone to work and spending their entire day working on them. Bring your own device (BYOD) has advantages such as increased employee satisfaction and productivity, but it's also a data-security liability when there's not a company strategy to manage that risk. Continuing last month’s theme of protecting company data, there are several steps you can take to protect company data while allowing (or just accepting the inevitable of) employees to bring their own device.
Step No. 1 You need a policy. Now, you may be reading this and dismissing the idea of allowing employees to use their personal devices for work, but to be honest, unless you have completely locked down your IT environment, your employees are already accessing company data from their personal devices anyway. Heck, the IT guy was probably the first person to add his email account to his phone! BYOD is not something that will go away by ignoring it.
By Jared Finkelson
Jared Finkelson is cofounder and vice president of GigaGreen Technologies, an independent IT consultancy in Fargo.
A BYOD policy sets the ground rules for employees and turns your overall strategy
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into something tangible. Even if you plan to severely limit employee access to company data on personal devices, it's important to communicate that policy to both IT and end-users. You should also include instructions and contact information in the event that a device is lost or stolen. This is also a good time to set acceptableuse policies to define business use of personal devices and personal use of devices, as well as what is acceptable personal use of devices (if any) such as social media and other apps.
Jargonator Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) A policy of permitting employees to bring personally owned devices to the workplace and use those devices to access privileged company information and applications Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) The set of people, processes and technology focused on managing mobile devices, wireless networks and other mobile computing services in a business context
Step No. 2 A good BYOD strategy and overall security go hand-in-hand. Your BYOD strategy should augment your overall data protection strategy: • Enforce the use of lock screens to ensure
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that, if a device is lost or stolen, company data will be safe. This also enhances the security of call- and text-based multifactor authentication. Leverage server-based email-transport rules that will automatically encrypt messages that contain sensitive data or block email that appears to be improperly sharing company data. Encrypt data at rest, and deploy tools to enforce rights management so that company data is only available to users who should have access, both on company and personal devices. Ensure that company data is only available to apps which you have determined to be secure. It's one thing to allow employees to bring their own iPhone or Android device and a completely different story when it comes to allowing employees to pick which email client they'll use. Make sure that personal devices with company data have the latest updates to ensure that your data is less vulnerable to known exploits.
Step No. 3 Determine the best tools for your company. Without the right tools to implement your BYOD policy, it's essentially just run on the honor system. For full implementation of your BYOD policy and ensure compliance, you will need additional tools. There's a plethora of solutions on the market that allow you to protect your company data on personal devices. With mobile-device management, you can secure access to the company network via WiFi. And with mobile-app management, you can control which apps are allowed to access company data and set policies for how that data can be used. For example, you can limit company email to the Outlook Mobile app and prevent attachments from being saved to the personal device and even prevent copying and pasting of text.
Mobile Device Management (MDM) Industry term for the administration of mobile devices such as smartphones, tablet computers, laptops and desktop computers Mobile App Management (MAM) Software and services responsible for controlling access to internally developed and commercially available mobile apps used in business settings
Step No. 4 Plan for employee exit. With company-owned devices, employees can simply turn in their device before leaving, but in a BYOD scenario, the process is more complicated. So plan ahead. Even if you disable that employee’s email and file-sharing accounts, there may still be local copies of the data on the device, so when you are selecting an MDM solution, look for one that compartmentalizes company data and allows you to selectively wipe that data without touching any personal data.
In the worst case scenario, you can remotely wipe company data from a lost or stolen device.
Some Popular MDM Options
Citrix XenMobile
Microsoft Intune
IBM MaaS360
VMWare AirWatch
Giga-Green.com FARGOINC.COM
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AU G U S T
CALENDAR
BUSINESS EVENTS
2018
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AUGUST 7 Downtown Developments 7:30-9 a.m.
Get the lowdown on our downtowns at August’s Eggs & Issues, as leaders share the economic development and growth in our three major downtown communities, as well as the challenges that we face. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear about all the exciting plans for our vibrant communities through the revitalization of our downtowns. Registration (includes breakfast) Chamber Members • $30 in advance • $35 at the door Non-Members • $40 in advance • $45 at the door
Derrick LaPoint Downtown Moorhead Inc. President/CEO
Matthew Marshall West Fargo Economic Development/ Community Service Director
FMWFChamber.com Courtyard by Marriott 1080 28th Ave. S, Moorhead Melissa Rademacher Fargo Downtown Community Partnership President/CEO
AUGUST 8 The Nuts and Bolts of Succession Planning 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
The emerging post-boomer workforce is a topic on everyone’s minds. The Social Security Administration now estimates an average of 10,000 Baby Boomers are retiring each day, half of which occupy leadership roles. The great generational shift in leadership is here, but are we ready? Join for a session to understand how to strategically navigate succession planning to ensure the values, culture and achievements of your organization will be sustained. You’ll hear how other companies are tackling the generational shift in manageable and innovative ways and walk away with practical tools and resources. This training qualifies for two CPE credits for the ND CPA Society. Registration (includes lunch) Chamber Members • $30 in advance • $35 at the door Non-Members • $40 in advance • $45 at the door FMWFChamber.com Delta by Marriott 1635 42nd St. S, Fargo
Bethany Berkeley Dale Carnegie of ND and MN Performance Consultant
AUGUST 9
Par Tee! Moorhead Business Association Golf Tournament 11:30 a.m.
Join for the third Annual Moorhead Business Association golf tournament at The Meadows golf course. Registration and driving range open at 11:30 a.m. Four-person scramble begins at 1 p.m. Awards and meal following the tournament. Registration • Dinner only $25 If you don't have the time to golf, join in the clubhouse at 5 p.m. for the awards ceremony and dinner.
• Individual Registration $100
Individual Registrants will be paired with three other individual registrants.
• Driving Range Sponsor $150
• Hole Sponsor $200
Includes a sign on the hole recognizing your company as the sponsor.
• Team Registration $550
Includes two golf carts, four green fees, four meal tickets and hole sponsorship. MhdMBA.org The Meadows 401 34th St. S, Moorhead
MBA will provide a sign recognizing the driving range sponsor.
AUGUST 15 Lean Business Planning AUGUST 10 Entrepreneur EcoSummit* 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Presented by Emerging Prairie, the North Dakota Department of Commerce, North Dakota Small Business Administration, and North Dakota Small Business Development Centers, the first-ever Entrepreneur EcoSummit is happening in Watford City, North Dakota. The event will feature speakers from across the state, including North Dakota Lt. Gov. Brent Sanford. At the workshop, attendees will: Learn why entrepreneurship matters Learn how to build an entrepreneurial ecosystem Network with other community and economic developers Receive free coffee and a free lunch For more information or questions contact Malachi at 712-301-3822 or malachi@ emergingprairie.com *The next EcoSummit will be held in Minot on Friday, September 28. Stay tuned! Cost • Free NDSBDC.org/NewsEvents.cfm Various locations Watford, City, North Dakota
11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
The philosophy is simple: Keep your plans clear and concise, and use your planning process to improve execution and drive results. A business plan doesn't have to be all encompassing. You'll discuss the elements that you really need and why it's important to maintain, revise and continually monitor your plan. Fleshing out your business in such detail can be a worthwhile exercise for an entrepreneur, but the truth is that it's not likely anyone else will ever spend the time to read it, whether you're competing in a business plan competition or trying to raise money from investors. That's why you also should be thinking about how to put together a summary or short-form business plan that ranges anywhere from 2-4 pages. Cost • $50 The100.work Avalon Events Center 2525 9th Ave. S, Fargo
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AUGUST 16 Business After Hours 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Business After Hours continues to set records as the region’s largest networking event. Booth space is often sold out, and attendees can connect with their peers and exhibitors, ranging from cell phone companies to financial institutions and more. Join for a great time over apps, networking and fun! Registration* (includes appetizers and two drink tickets) • $25 Register prior to midnight the Wednesday before event • $35 All registrations after Midnight the Wednesday before event
AUGUST 16 10 Steps to Become a Workplace Investigation Pro... and 5 Mistakes to Avoid 1-4 p.m.
What happens when something goes wrong at work? Well, this class will tell you how to deal with properly investigate the problem. Josh Heggem, a partner at Pemberton Law in Fergus Falls, MN, will lead this class.
DOWN THE ROAD Big Iron Farm Show September 11-13
CO.STARTERS Fall Course September 18 - November 13
FMWW Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting September 19
MN State Community and Technical College Oscar Bergos Center Northwest Room (A11) 1900 28th. Ave. S, Moorhead
LOCAL BUSINESS MEETUPS
*Chamber members only, must be 21 or older
More information for most meetups can be found at Meetup.com
FMWFChamber.com Hilton Garden Inn 4351 17th Ave. S, Fargo
• Blockchain Meetup • Cass-Clay Subcontractor Sales & Marketing Meetup
AUGUST 28 Mean Girls & Catfights: The Power & Perils of Female Friendship 3:30-5 p.m. (social: 5-6 p.m.)
AUGUST 21 Emerging Leaders Skill-Building Event Anyone can become an Emerging Leader at any time. Learn more about becoming an Emerging Leader at UnitedWayCassClay. org, or email EmergingLeaders@ UnitedWayCassClay.org. UnitedWayCassClay.org TBD
This presentation unpacks representations of female friendship and success in popular culture and the impact of these messages on personal and professional relationships. You'll confront the pressures and double standards that women often face in the workplace and the sometimes-toxic relationship patterns they develop to try to cope. You'll learn simple ways women can raise one another up and strategies for effective communication and conflict resolution. Chamber Members • $25 in advance • $30 at the door Non-Members • $35 in advance • $40 at the door FMWFChamber.com DoubleTree by Hilton 825 E. Beaton Drive, West Fargo
• Geek Meet FM • Girl Develop It • Fargo 3D Printing Meetup • Fargo Cashflow Game Night • Fargo Entrepreneurship Meetup • Fargo Virtual Reality Meetup • Fargo-Moorhead Content Strategy
• The Fargo-Moorhead Real Estate Investing Meetup
• Master Networks – Fargo Business Referral Group
• Mobile Meetup Fargo • Moorhead Entrepreneurship Meetup
• Prairie Dawg Drupal • Red River Valley Big Data –
Midwest Big Data Hub Meetup
• Stampede: A Meetup for the
Young, Determined & Restless
• YMCA Brighter Futures
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