Fargo INC! July 2023

july 2023

Why 4 Companies Chose Fargo

Meet the Latest gener8tor Cohort

Improving Manufacturing in North Dakota

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Q&A PG.40

FROM SMALL-TOWN NORTH DAKOTA TO THE WHITE HOUSE? Why Governor Doug Burgum is making a bid for the American Presidency

Meet Our Experts

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FEATURES

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Ask the Expert: How to Stay Ahead of AI-Powered Cybersecurity Risks

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Sponsored Content: From Humble Beginnings to Mortgage Excellence

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Sponsored Content: Navigating the Shifting Landscape

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Sponsored Content: Events Done Differently

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From Small-town North Dakota to the White House?

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Investing in Our Future

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Need Some Advice, Inspiration, or Mentorship?

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Why Fargo?

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Job Service ND: Helping One Citizen at a Time

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From Broadway to Brewhallla— and a Lot of Coffee in Between

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10 Questions With John Machacek: Pinky Promise

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Women You Should Know: Paige Breidenbach

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Simply Patents

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North Dakota is Open for Business

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Awesome Foundation: Moorhead Police Athletics and Activities League

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All our stories in one place

Business events calendar

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E d i t o r ’s n o t e

Striving in the Sun

S

ummertime is frequently associated with relaxation and outdoor fun, potentially making maintaining productivity at work a challenge. But fear not, with a dash of planning and a pinch of flexibility, this seemingly uphill task can turn into a refreshing endeavor.

A notable first step is embracing a flexible schedule.

If your organization permits, shift your work hours to align with your most productive times of the day. This move can free up valuable daylight for outdoor activities. If this is not an option for you, as is the case for many of us, try to take advantage of that early sunlight by going for an early morning walk or run.

Secondly, harness technology to your advantage. Use productivity apps and project management tools, and don't let things slip through the crack just because the sun is beaming. Equally important is maintaining a healthy work-life balance. The summer is short— make sure you take those trips you've been waiting to take all winter.

Lastly, make hydration and nutrition your allies.

Summertime can take a toll on your health if you neglect these, especially if you aren't getting enough water.

Check all of these boxes and you'll be striving in the sun.

Brady Drake Fargo INC! Editor

Brady Drake, Fargo INC! Editor

fargoinc@spotlightmediafargo.com

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BRADY

KIM

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TY

GENEVA

GRANT

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PAUL

AL

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TORI

HAILEY

MIRANDA

JESSICA

NICK

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BEN

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Learn more about us at

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JULY 2023

JULY 2023 Volume 8 Issue 7

Fargo INC! is published 12 times a year and is available at area businesses and online at FargoInc.com.

Publisher Mike Dragosavich EDITORIAL Editorial Team Lead Brady Drake Brady@SpotlightMediaFargo.com Editors Geneva Nodland, Grant Ayers, Sam Kise Art Director Kim Cowles Editorial Graphic Designers Ty Betts, Levi Dinh Creative Strategist Josiah Kopp Content Specialist Gary Ussery Contributors John Machacek, Ladyboss Lifestyle, Brandi Malarkey, SW&L Attorneys INTERACTIVE Business Development Manager Business Development Associate Videographer Director of Digital Advertising Results Director of Creative Strategies Graphic Designer Web Developer Social Media Specialist

Nick Schommer Kellen Feeney Tommy Uhlir Jonathan Chicka Megan Bergeson Ben Buchanan Kory Powell-Oliver Ryne Bigelow

ADVERTISING VP of Business Development Paul Hoefer Paul@SpotlightMediaFargo.com Sales Representatives Al Anderson Al@SpotlightMediaFargo.com Devan Maki Devan@SpotlightMediaFargo.com Sales & Marketing Advisor Tori Helland Tori@SpotlightMediaFargo.com Marketing Associate Hailey Bebler Hailey@SpotlightMediaFargo.com Client Relations ClientRelations@SpotlightMediaFargo.com Client Relations Manager Jenny Johnson Marketing Coordinator Jessica Mullen Operations Assistant Miranda Knudson DISTRIBUTION Delivery John Stuber Fargo INC! is published by Spotlight LLC, Copyright 2023 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 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 LLC, accepts no liability for the accuracy of statements made by the advertisers.

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Bison Illustrated is your number one source for all of the behind-the-scenes action inside the North Dakota State University Athletic Department. bisonillustrated.com facebook.com/bisonillustrated Twitter: @bisonmag Instagram: bisonillustrated

Trendsetters magazine is our newest publication which highlights influential and trendsetting, people, places, events and more!

Instagram: trendsettersmagazine facebook.com/TrendsettersMag

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Fargo Monthly is an award-winning publication dedicated to highlighting Fargo-Moorhead and what makes it a truly enjoyable place to live. fargomonthly.com facebook.com/fargomonthly Twitter: @fargomonthly Instagram: fargomonthly

You may already be familiar with our Faces of Fargo-Moorhead-West Fargo publication which we publish once per year in order to highlight the faces behind all of the great businesses in the community.

Future Farmer is our farming publication which brings great tech-focused content to readers across North Dakota and Minnesota. futurefarmermag.com facebook.com/FutureFarmerMag

Are you overwhelmed trying to plan for your big day? You're not alone. We've done our best to provide all types of local resources, expert guidance, de-stressing tips and everything in between. Your wedding day is one of the mos important days of your life. Hopefully, this issue will help you prepare for that day so it's all about you.

ASK THE EXPERT

How to Stay Ahead of AI-Powered Cybersecurity Risks rtificial Intelligence (AI) has many benefits for organizations, but it has also created new vulnerabilities that cybercriminals can exploit to carry out intricate cyberattacks that are difficult to detect and mitigate. Using AI, hackers can create convincing phishing emails that bypass spam filters. Cybercriminals can also leverage AI to manipulate security systems and gain unauthorized access. All of this can cause irreparable damage to your business and your reputation.

This evolving threat landscape can be tough for organizations that do not have a dedicated IT security team equipped with the necessary advanced tools to mitigate complex cybercrimes.

Fortunately, there is a lot you can do to strengthen your organization’s cybersecurity. Read on to explore

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ways to improve your preparedness against AIpowered cyberattacks.

Here are some practical tips for improving your organization's cybersecurity posture against emerging AI threats:

Provide continuous, real-time cybersecurity training for your team AI technology is evolving faster than ever, and so are cyberthreats. Mix the two together without continuous cybersecurity training for your team, and you’ll have a security disaster on your hands.

When a hacker targets an organization, an employee often gets blamed for clicking the wrong link or downloading an infected file. However, instead of blaming an individual, create a strategy to ensure all your employees have the knowledge and training they need to make the right decisions.

For example, you can use real-time scenarios or simulations to help your employees identify phishing emails so they don’t fall for malicious attempts. You can even set up regular, ongoing security awareness training to educate your employees about persistent threats like ransomware and social engineering attacks. By making cybersecurity training an essential part of your work culture, you can have all your employees invested in organizational security.

Improve security policies and enforce them As AI-powered cyberthreats evolve, take proactive steps to improve cybersecurity policies and strictly enforce them through consistent communication that emphasizes the need for good cyber hygiene. Your IT and HR teams can also work on cybersecurity strategies and policies that ensure your employees stay vigilant and aware of the latest AI cyberthreats. For example, you can have weekly newsletters sent out to employees to keep them updated on emerging threats.

Additionally, you can carry out regular risk assessments and implement multifactor authentication to enhance your cybersecurity. Businesses that don’t have IT teams or security resources have been able to build a strong IT security stance with the help of a trusted IT service provider.

Partner with an IT service provider An experienced IT service provider will have the inside scoop on all the latest developments in AI and can help you build a formidable cybersecurity posture that protects your business from AI-related threats. Since an IT service provider has the advanced resources and tools to combat threats, you can focus on crucial business decisions without having to worry about managing your IT security.

We are here to help! northstartechnologygroup.com /NorthStarTG @NorthStarTechno

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SPONSORED CONTENT

Photo Courtesy of Abby Anderson

Greg Dean,

Co-Owner of First Class Mortgage Dan Van Winkle,

Co-Owner of First Class Mortgage

From Humble Beginnings to

Mortgage Excellence The Remarkable Growth of

First Class Mortgage

By Grant Ayers |

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by Josiah Kopp

irst Class Mortgage, a small venture that began with just two employees, has defied the odds and emerged as a leading player in the industry. I sat down with co-owners Dan Van Winkle and Greg Dean and discussed how they crafted a dedicated team committed to setting new standards.

Opening in 2003, First Class Mortgage operated as a mortgage broker for nearly the first decade of business before transitioning to becoming a true mortgage banker using their own funds. After making that transition, they can now operate as both mortgage brokers and bankers, maximizing a customer’s options for products and services.

“The driving force behind becoming a mortgage banker was that it allowed us to offer more products to our borrowers, as well as more flexibility from using our own money versus someone else’s finances,” Van Winkle said.

According to Van Winkle and Dean, it was the same line of work with slightly different mechanics. While there were some substantial changes surrounding new guidelines and rules for them to follow, it allowed for more growth and success as a team.

One year into business, the duo found enough growth and stability to bring another employee onto their team, Dawn Johnson. Johnson began working with First Class Mortgage at 21 years old, managing her time with them, class, and homework, as well as her personal life.

“Dawn is the first employee we hired, and she's been with us nearly the entire time. Since hiring her, we’ve grown and added some special people that we’re grateful to have on our team. The majority of our employees have been with us long-term, which I credit as a truly significant part of our success. As customers get used to working with us, they know who to call and feel comfortable with our team members,” Van Winkle said.

With a small team of passionate individuals, the company went in facing a struggling economy and a highly competitive market. However, their dedication and customer-oriented approach set them apart, laying the foundation for their future growth.

As they made an impact and cemented themselves further into the Fargo-Moorhead mortgage industry, they found themselves with the opportunity to further expand their team, along with their reach. What began as a small team of two, then three, slowly grew to 35 dedicated employees. As their team grew, their dedication and care for the team never waned. “We have a fun, laid-back office where we all get along.

We’ve grown up together through becoming parents, going to graduation ceremonies, and so much more,” Dean said.

“Since joining Dan and Greg, everyone at First Class Mortgage has been wonderful to work with. I’ve learned a lot as I’ve grown professionally with them.

When you first enter the business world at 21, you don’t have much credibility in your resume. They’ve helped me build confidence in my mortgage skills, as well as finance in general.”

- Dawn Johnson, Mortgage Consultant

“We're a big believer in putting family first. Work will always be there. If you have a sporting event, choir concert, or whatever else it may be, we want them to be able to go out and have fun. People already spend a lot of time at their office, so we want to make sure that family comes first in ours,” Van Winkle said.

They expanded not only in the size of their team, but also in their reach and impact on other states.

When they first began, Van Winkle and Dean were only licensed in North Dakota and Minnesota. Since then, the team has added South Dakota, Montana, and Arizona over the years. Now, they’re looking into expanding to Florida next.

CONTINUED

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SPONSORED CONTENT “There have been so many changes in the mortgage industry, from constantly-changing guidelines and technology to historical moments, such as the 2008 recession. With constantly changing rules and regulations, our tagline is 'Our expertise, your peace of mind.' We believe that a customer shouldn’t have to do the work. If they have questions, they can call us and our experts are happy to help, no matter their situation.

We’ll listen, ask questions, and find them the perfect product for a solution.”

- Dan Van Winkle, Co-Owner of First Class Mortgage

As First Class Mortgage grew, their dedication to providing outstanding service became their defining quality. Focused on being open, communicative, and developing strong client relationships, they earned a reputation for excellence in the mortgage industry. Through referrals and positive feedback, the company expanded its customer base, establishing itself as a trusted and dependable mortgage provider.

“Since starting, we’ve always focused on and taken care of the purchase market. We know that if you take care of the homebuyer, they’ll call back for your service when it comes time to refinance. We’ve always followed the model of doing the right thing for the customer and always being there for them, from the application to after their closing.

If any customer ever has questions, they can always walk in here and get it taken care of. Dan and I have been here since day one, and we’ll be here to service those clients for as long as we can,” Dean said.

Their care and attentiveness to their industry reputation goes beyond their customer-oriented approach with a strong focus on industry-backed credibility and experience. First Class Mortgage continues to learn and grow with consistent continued education through online classes, webinars, and national conventions. Two years ago, Van Winkle and Dean became certified mortgage advisors, which is an advanced designation for mortgage professionals.

“We are always continuing to learn, understand, and improve the processes within First Class Mortgage. Before we opened, we had a company do a survey on what FargoMoorhead residents needed from a mortgage company.

One of the main takeaways was that there was very little communication with the agents. We focus on the purchase market with agents, along with the purchase itself, and make it run efficiently. One of our most significant factors of success has stemmed from how we differentiate ourselves from others, which is through communication,” Van Winkle said.

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Every week, the team at First Class Mortgage is one of the few lenders that send out status reports to agents and customers on purchase transactions to keep them informed at all times. This way, they never have to check on the progress of their application, as they already get status updates.

Furthermore, they’ve always looked at customers as “borrowers for life,” according to Van Winkle. They aim to educate customers, help them understand the processes, and listen to their goals and needs. With word of mouth playing such a crucial role in their industry, they know that one experience can help or hinder their reputation across the community.

“Word of mouth is a large factor in this business, and no plan is ever one-size-fits-all. We try to tailor-make the loan product based on a customer’s wants and needs. At the end of the day, we feel that if we do what's right for the borrower, they’ll reach out to us with any questions they may have or refer other customers. Rather than spend money on advertising or marketing, we spend money on caring for our borrowers. If you do that, at the end of the day, the borrowers will take care of you,” Van Winkle said.

Despite First Class Mortgage’s growing success and reputation, the company still holds the same values as it did at the beginning. Van Winkle and Dean continue to work on getting to know the people around them on a personal level.

“We’ve been to Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Florida, and other places to meet account executives to see where the process takes place. We enjoy getting to know the underwriters personally. You can pick up the phone and talk to them, but you’re not going to get to actually know them as well. We've had a group from Chicago fly out just to see our office and hang out with us because we have a great personal relationship with them,” Dean said.

Client Testimonials Photo Courtesy of Michelle Warren Photography

Photos Courtesy of Dan Van Winkle

The First Class Mortgage team regularly involves themselves with charitable organizations and causes, such as Giving Hearts Day and Realtor Ring Day!

“I love working with Dan at First Class Mortgage! My clients have received exceptional service across the boards.

Whether they are purchasing for the 1st time or the 10th time, I know they will receive the same great care and quality service each and every time.

The best thing is that I never have to worry about my clients and their experience with First Class. They are the real deal!”

- Jenny Schuster, Park Co., Realtors

Outside of working relationships and maintaining their care for the customer, First Class Mortgage understands the importance of engaging with the local community and making meaningful contributions to improve the Fargo-Moorhead area. First Class Mortgage often works with local charities such as Make-A-Wish North Dakota. Their involvement has impacted countless lives across the community and created a significant positive impact on our community members.

“In addition, each year around the holidays, we buy presents for families in need as a team. We like to give locally so that we know where it’s going and it's directly supporting our community. We break into two groups, each group buys gifts for those in need, and then we share why we got each gift and deliver them. It's a fun bonding experience and a great way to give back to our wonderful community,” Van Winkle said.

“I've done quite a few mortgages with First Class Mortgage over the last 17 years. It's easy to go back to them again and again because they’ll jump any hoops needed to get their clients the best deal and educate them on what a mortgage is all about. The entire First Class Mortgage team works as much as they need to get the best deal for any client.”

- Rob Lee

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SPONSORED CONTENT

Did You Know?

Giving back to the community is one of the few ways that Van Winkle, Dean, and the rest of the First Class Mortgage team can thank the Fargo-Moorhead community for helping them find success and growth over the last 20 years.

“One of the keys to our success that we always credit has been the growth of the Fargo-Moorhead community. We've always been very active with the Realty Association, and they’ve always been great to us in return. We live and work in such a great, growing community and this area has expanded in so many directions over the last 20 years and isn’t slowing down. Fargo-Moorhead is big enough to be a notable business community, but yet small enough to remain locally owned and community-oriented,” Van Winkle said.

From its modest start in 2003, to its growth into a respected company figure in Fargo today, First Class Mortgage's story showcases the importance of persistence, outstanding customer service, and community involvement. By staying true to their principles and adjusting to industry developments, the company has achieved impressive progress. As they keep serving Fargo residents and extending their influence, First Class Mortgage remains dedicated to providing exceptional service and upholding their status as a local mortgage industry leader.

The team at First Class Mortgage is celebrating their 20th anniversary this summer!

Contact First Class Mortgage - Fargo 701.356.9898 877.375.2016 (Toll Free) 701.356.0344 (Fax) firstclasscorp.com directors@firstclasscorp.com /FirstClassFargo 2300 13th Ave S, Fargo, ND 58103

NMLS#2520

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SPONSORED CONTENT

NAVIGATING THE SHIFTING LANDSCAPE: HUB International Hosts a Knowledge-Packed Event to Equip Businesses for the Year Ahead

By Grant Ayers |

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Geneva Nodland

Insights from the 2023 Fargo Compliance and Benefits Summit

a year marked by change and new beginnings, HUB International successfully hosted the highly anticipated 2023 Fargo Compliance and Benefits Summit on April 13. Held at the Radisson Blu Fargo, the full-day event brought together industry leaders, professionals, and experts for a comprehensive exploration of employee benefits compliance, health and wellness strategies, and more.

Did You Know?

Cory Jorbin, Esq. presenting the morning keynote.

With a packed agenda featuring renowned speakers and a range of informative breakout sessions, the summit aimed to provide attendees with the latest guidance on federal and state mandates, necessary disclosures, benefits reporting, and evolving employment regulations. As an added bonus, all sessions were certified for continuing education credit through the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI).

The summit commenced with an engaging morning keynote presented by Cory Jorbin, Esq., Chief Compliance Officer of West Region at HUB International. Jorbin shed light on the critical updates regarding employee benefits compliance for 2023, equipping attendees with the knowledge needed to navigate the complex regulatory landscape.

HUB by the Numbers 5th largest insurance broker in the world 7th largest employee benefits broker in North America 2M+ clients around the globe 530+ offices across North America 15,000+ employees throughout North America

Rachel Thurs, an employee of HUB International, was included among YWCA Cass Clay’s 2023 Women of The Year nominees!

Throughout the day, participants had the opportunity to attend breakout sessions led by industry experts.

Topics covered a wide range of essential areas, ensuring attendees received comprehensive insights into key compliance and benefits subjects. Among the sessions, "The SECURE Act 2.0 – Key Provisions Affecting Retirement Plans" presented by Pat Fay, Retirement Plan Advisor at HUB International, addressed the latest developments in retirement planning. Another informative session, "Workforce Absence Management: What Employers Need to Know in 2023," delivered by Trevor Watson, AVP of Workforce Absence Management at HUB International, provided valuable guidance on navigating employee leave laws and absence management.

New Name, Same Great Service HUB International expands employee benefits solutions with the acquisition of Great North Insurance Services of West Fargo, ND. With this move, the team is excited to have HUB’s vast resources and in-house expertise at their fingertips—known for their creativity in building benefits programs to maximize value for clients.

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SPONSORED CONTENT

Trevor Watson presenting the ‘Workforce Absence Management’ breakout session.

The lunch session, "QEX: The Modern Approach to Employee-Centric Benefits," featured Brett Sesker and Jeff Jorth of HUB International, who introduced attendees to the innovative concept of Qualifying Employee Experience (QEX). Exploring how employee-centric benefits can drive organizational success, Sesker and Jorth showcased strategies designed to attract, engage, and retain top talent.

The afternoon breakout sessions continued to deliver actionable insights. "Pharmacy Trends: What Benefit Pros Need to Know in 2023" by Jack Tew, VP of Business Development at RxBenefits, provided a comprehensive overview of the evolving pharmacy landscape and its implications for benefits professionals. Walter Fagan, VP and Regional Director of Employee Benefits Technology at HUB International, led a session titled "Workforce Technology Vendor & Platform Selection: How to Avoid Vendor Regret!" This session gave attendees the tools to make informed decisions when selecting technology solutions to meet their workforce needs.

Fran Scott, Health and Performance Practice Leader at HUB International, closed the summit with an impactful keynote on "Mental Health as a Business Strategy." Scott highlighted the increasing importance of mental health

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initiatives within organizations, emphasizing their role in driving productivity, employee well-being, and overall business success.

“The era of one-size-fits-all benefits is over. Our team at HUB offers a full range of products & services custom fit for each of our client's needs. Our top priority is helping employers put together a benefits package that not only positively supports each culture, but offers a wide variety of services to help navigate any HR challenges that come up. Rely on HUB for the expertise, capabilities (HR technology), and analytic tools you need to meet your changing employee benefits needs.”

Trish Sorenson, Account Administrator

The summit's lineup of esteemed speakers brought a wealth of expertise and knowledge to the event, ensuring attendees received valuable insights from across the industry.

Tailored Employee Benefits Solutions to Meet Your Changing Employee Needs Manage Costs

Avoid the annual renewal fire drill when you partner with us. We’ll help you understand your cost drivers and develop a multi-year plan to achieve sustainable results and optimize every dollar spent.

Strategic Benefits Planning Healthcare Cost Management HR Technology and Benefits Administration Benefits Compliance Pharmacy Benefits Management Workforce Absence Management

With its focus on delivering practical solutions, fostering networking opportunities, and providing continuing education credits, the 2023 Fargo Compliance and Benefits Summit proved to be a valuable resource for businesses seeking to stay ahead in the ever-changing compliance landscape. The event not only equipped attendees with the latest information but also empowered them to develop effective strategies for the year ahead.

As organizations adjust to changing rules and focus on employee well-being, the Compliance and Benefits Summit provided a valuable opportunity to explore new ideas, share thoughts, and build relationships.

HUB International's strong dedication to hosting this event shows its unwavering support for businesses in the Fargo community and beyond.

Would you like to be included in our next HR Compliance event?

Email Trish at trish.sorenson@hubinternational.com to learn more.

Personalize Benefits

The era of one-size-fits-all benefits is over. We’ll help you craft affordable employee benefits options that meet the unique needs of your workforce, wherever they are in their life and career journey.

Strategic Benefits Planning Voluntary Benefits Employee Retirement Plans Executive Benefits Global Benefits Benefits Analytics

Engage Your People Delivering a positive experience is key to retaining talent, and that means ensuring your team understands its employee benefits. We’ll bring the right tools and resources to help your people achieve their health and financial goals.

Benefits Communication Employee Health and Performance Employee Value Proposition

hubinternational.com

HUB International Website

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SPONSORED CONTENT

Studio Freshly

Events Done Differently

By Geneva Nodland

othing sticks with guests or clients more than an impressionable event or having your organization be remembered for putting together said event. Now that's exceptional business. But it's not exceptional business that should drive you to host a good time, it's building a curated moment for your community—and there's no better way to do that than with a memorable space to enjoy the time in.

Jasper Hotel has positioned itself in the center of the metro cities' heart, offering a shimmering look at the prairie both inside its towering walls and out from the tallest Terrace view. The boutique hotel is part of the multi-use Block 9 tower, neighboring the bustling Broadway Square, and surrounded by the vibrant community of downtown Fargo. It's no coincidence that the hotel, which places high significance on the history of North Dakota, sits in such a purposeful position in town; or that it interprets the state in countless ways including through the decor, composition, and even food. No, it's all by design that Jasper is so reflective of its surroundings while flaunting a modern feel to the edges, and that, of course, does not exclude its diverse meeting spaces.

You may have heard the word "dynamic" used to describe a space, but what does that really mean?

By definition, dynamic means something that shows change, activity, or progress, and when applied to a space it simply means that it has the ability to accommodate a wide variety of setups and visions for different events. What makes dynamic spaces so important is that they are adaptable, so attendees' needs are not only met but have room to grow and flourish—no matter if the event is a conference to share ideas, a dinner to commemorate a team's achievement, or any other unique celebration.

The best part? A complete team to bring your vision to life, to work with you to find the best space, best additions, and best way to execute your event's mission.

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The Details: • 656 square-feet • Seats 18 • Leather swivel chairs

Let's take a tour through the dynamic spaces that Jasper Hotel offers, bridging class with comfort, adventure with home, and prairie with city life.

Lounge

The Details: Reserving spaces at the Jasper Lounge is a customized experience.

Reach out directly to their sales team at sales@jasperfargo.com to discuss your next event!

Your first steps into the Jasper will bring you into one of the hotel's main purposes—community. As Jasper's Director of Lifestyle Emily Olsen put it, "Our lounge is designed with company in mind."

You immediately see a warm environment, complete with various seating and a bar arched underneath a beautifully tiled design. The aroma of the hearth fire pulls you further into the inviting space.

No matter if an event is held right in the lounge itself, or all the way to the fifthfloor Terrace, guests will be captivated at first impression.

Great Northern Boardroom Jason Thomas Crocker Photography

With a picturesque view overlooking Broadway Square through floorto-ceiling windows, the Great North Boardroom is sleek yet historic with notes of Nordic quilts in the carpet designs.

Named after the Great Northern Railroad, this 5th-floor space was designed with the same idea—to be a connector of people, places, and ideas.

The room is equipped with a 75-inch TV and state-of-the-art Neat Bar® technology for easy-to-use virtual meetings.

Gary Ussery FARGOINC.COM

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SPONSORED CONTENT

Continental Ballroom & Terrace Studio Freshly

Open and airy with floor-to-ceiling windows covering over half of the walls, the Continental Ballroom is a large space with even bigger potential. The variety of events that have been held here range from wedding celebrations, one-act dinner shows, birthday celebrations, and more.

Proving its dynamic qualities, the Ballroom's large space can be divided to further customize an event.

This space also serves a banquet menu from the Nordic-inspired, contemporary restaurant, Jasper's own Rosewild.

Beautiful, modern chandeliers decorate the ceilings, but those won't be the lighting that guests will be concerned with. The Ballroom is surrounded by the 5th-floor Terrace, giving you a spectacular panoramic view of the Red River Valley.

Studio Freshly

The Details: • 3800 square-feet • Pre-function space available • 250 guest capacity • Access to Terrace

Studio Freshly

Under the North Dakota skies, the Terrace provides guests with an open-air concept as the space connects with the Ballroom. Not much compares to the expansive sunsets that stretch across the state, and guests elevate that golden hour experience by experiencing it from an unbeatable view.

Dan Francis Photography 36

JULY 2023

Jasper's Two -Year Celebration!

Last month, the Jasper celebrated two years with a Big Sleepover Event! The night filled with nostalgia included everything a good sleepover should, pajamas, pillows, a VHS classic—Ferris Bueller's Day Off—popcorn, snacks, spiked punch, a slice of pizza, and a dance party DJ'd by DJ 1PrettyRicky! Showcasing the perfect example of just how creative and detailed Jasper's team can get for any event!

The Details: Geneva Nodland

• 1500 square-feet • 90 guest capacity • Available for rental with Continental Ballroom

Rosewild Patio & Private Dining An endless amount of pages could be filled with the delicious details of Rosewild, from its farm-to-table dining, homey hearth cooking methods, traditional produce preservation, and crafted seasonal menus; but something that truly sets this space apart is the potential for collaboration within these spaces.

The Rosewild Patio unites a personalized experience with community engagement.

Bridging together the floral-decorated reserved area and the lively Broadway Square, the patio itself gives a front-row seat to the community.

Studio Freshly

CONTINUED > FARGOINC.COM

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SPONSORED CONTENT

Groups can reserve the patio for their own experience, without being disjointed from the action of downtown.

The Details: • 75-person maximum • Perimeted by floral to separate at edge of Broadway Square, but gives full access to all events.

• Twinkling lights above patio to ease into the evening.

• Both table seating & Adirondack-style chairs for more lounge-style gatherings.

• Best for corporate cocktail events, work gatherings, and casual large groups wanting a cocktail and appetizer-style experience rather than full dinner.

Inversely, there are events that warrant some privacy, yet want a catered experience. Inside Rosewild's Private Dining area, guests will find just that.

The Private Dining at Roeswild offers the same delectable flavors, same picturesque interior, and same quality service that you'll find in Rosewild, but in a customized, intimate experience, hosting events like bridal and baby showers, pharmaceutical dinners, and private dinners for large group events, and more!

The Details: • 18-person maximum.

• Floral-decorate wall for photos.

Dan Francis Photography

Why are these spaces important?

"Jasper Hotel presents the community with variety— our city has amazing meetings space opportunities all around us, but Jasper Hotel's meeting spaces are truly unique in their offerings," Emily explained.

"Not only are the spaces gorgeous and intentionally designed, they provide guests with a space to meet a step away from phenomenal local businesses, destinations, and experiences that can be enjoyed off the clock. Plus, at the end of a day of gathering, guests can hit the hay in the same space for a supremely convenient experience."

Book any of these exclusive meeting spaces for your event by visiting: jasperfargo.com/meetings-spaces/

• TV complete with HMDI & Screen Share capabilities.

• Large picture window looking out at Broadway Square.

• Best for more formal style events with full brunch, lunch, or dinner coursed service.

• Features frosted windows to allow for privacy.

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701.532.2150

/jasperhotelfargo

215 Broadway N, Fargo

@jasper.fargo

FROM SMALL-TOWN NORTH DAKOTA TO THE WHITE HOUSE? Why Burgum is Making a Bid for the American Presidency

By Brady Drake

native of North Dakota is making a run for the highest office in the nation's executive branch—North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum is running for President.

No matter your political leaning, our Governor's bid for the presidency, which was announced Wednesday, June 7 at the Sanctuary Events Center in Fargo, is a monumental moment for the state of North Dakota and its entrepreneurs. The fact that one of our own is in the running is proof that ANYTHING can be accomplished in this state.

But why run now? What impact is he trying to make? We had a chance to ask him a few of those questions ourselves in a brief interview.

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Photos Provided by The Doug Burgum Campaign

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With Doug Burgum

Q: Why do you want to run for President of the United States?

Why now? Why had you not thrown your hat in the ring previously?

A: The presidency offers an opportunity to unlock

the best of America and improve every American life. To do that, we need new leadership that prioritizes the economy, energy, and national security. That’s exactly what I’ll do as President.

The economy needs to be our main focus. A strong American economy propels everything else. We need to get inflation under control, cut taxes, lower gas prices, reduce the cost of living, and help citizens realize their fullest potential.

Energy also must be a top priority. We need to stop buying energy from our enemies and start selling energy to our friends and allies. America produces energy cleaner and safer than anywhere else in

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the world. When we become truly energyindependent, we stabilize the globe and restore America as the leader of the free world.

We need to recognize the real threats to America and strengthen national security.

Our neighbors down the street aren’t our enemies. Our enemies are countries that want to see our way of life destroyed. We should be fighting to unite the country against our common enemies like China and Putin.

If we get the economy, energy, and national security right, we will unlock the best of America, empower our citizens, and improve every American life.

Arthur

Fargo

Did You Know?

Governor Doug Burgum is from Arthur, ND, a town of just over 300 people located about 30 minutes from Fargo.

Q: What do you think separates you from the rest of the candidates running for office?

As a governor from a small town in the heartland and a business leader who has created thousands of jobs, my priorities are laser-focused on the economy, energy, and national security.

Small-Town Grit While growing up, Burgum shined shoes, worked at a grain elevator, and worked as a chimney sweep.

Q: How has your time growing up, working, and serving in North Dakota prepared you to take on this challenge?

A: Growing up in Arthur taught me the

small-town values that guided me through an ‘only in America’ story. I “bet the farm” to grow a small startup into a billion-dollar software company with over 140,000 customers in 132 different countries. The values I learned in Arthur and from building a world-class business with team members from 220 small towns across North Dakota are the same ones that are rooted in our campaign and driving my run for President.

Similarly, as governor, we’ve centered our administration around a shared purpose: to empower people, improve lives, and

NDSU Pride After graduating High School, Burgum got his undergraduate degree at North Dakota State University, where he acquired the skills and knowledge necessary to enroll in one of the best business schools in the country, Stanford University, where he would eventually receive an MBA.

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inspire success. In North Dakota, we’ve made great strides in everything from addiction recovery and cutting red tape, to diversifying and strengthening the economy. We can do the same for America, unlocking the best of our country and improving every American life.

Big Bucks Burgum eventually sold his company, Great Plains Software, to Microsoft for $1.1 billion. This is why you will find Microsoft's second-largest field campus in the world right here in Fargo, ND.

Q: What will be the central focus of your platform?

A: The economy, energy, and national security.

We need a President who can strengthen the economy, shrink government, and lower costs for American families. We need a President who understands that we should be selling energy to our allies, not buying it from our enemies. We need a President who will rebuild our military to win the Cold War with China.

Q: Energy and agriculture are huge components of the North Dakota economy. Do you think your understanding of these sectors will aid you if elected?

A: Energy and agriculture aren’t just vital to North

Dakota’s economy; these sectors are the lifeblood of America’s economic and national security interests. Energy security is national security. Food security is national security.

Doug Burgum has been featured twice on the cover of Fargo INC!

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In shoring up our domestic food supply and energy sources, we not only will create a more prosperous America, but we also will become a beacon of strength to our allies as well as our enemies. As North Dakotans, we are blessed to live in one of the top energy and agriculture-producing states in the country, and we understand how important agriculture and energy are to our standing in the world.

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self-love ~ sensuality ~ strength

N OW O P E N euphorialingerie.com

D O W N T O W N FA R G O 74 B R O A D WAY N . ( 7 0 1) 6 3 9 - 4 1 8 9

By Sam Kise

hen you’re surrounded by the same people and in the same place every day, it’s easy to get stuck in a rut in regard to your business, creativity, or even your personal life. Sometimes the best decision you can make is to interact with new people with different perspectives from you. But, as a busy entrepreneur, it often feels impossible to find those outside connections you need. That’s why this month, I have compiled a list of local and regional networking groups that can help you find those unique connections that just might push you or your business forward—whether that's through advice, sales and business relationship building, mentorship, inspiration, or just a new perspective on something. Take a look at the networking groups that the area offers!

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submitted by TheraTec

Why Fargo?

Learn About Why These Businesses Decided to Make a Home in Fargo

By Sam Kise

TheraTec Information provided by Tony Hyk, CEO

hen starting or expanding a business, location is one of the first considerations. The business owner might ask themselves: where will this business thrive? Where will our clients be able to access our products or services without stress or burden? Which location is financially ideal for the company? As readers of Fargo INC!, you know that the Fargo area has a thriving business scene that is consistently growing—making our community a great place for a new or relocating business to put down some permanent roots. We see new businesses popping up all the time, filling niches and exceeding expectations at every corner. This month, we talked to some of the business owners and operators that decided to bring their company to the FM and surrounding area—whether that meant opening a new location or completely relocating to the region.

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Relocated from: Bloomington, MN

Horace, ND

What does your business do?

We provide technology for physical therapists to remotely monitor their patients while they do their prescribed exercises at home.

What are some facts about your business that would make us say "wow" or impress us?

Using our technology can make physical therapy "fun" if you can believe that! Our wearable sensor easily tracks the motion of the exercises so you know when you have reached your target.

If you have ever had physical therapy, you know it can be lonely, and having that connection to your provider with technology really helps you get to your desired outcome.

When was your business founded?

Originally in 2008, but in its current form, it was 2019.

Can you take us through the business’s story arc? How did you get to where you are today?

We started as a company called WellClub, which used behavior change methodology to help people with healthy living, weight loss, etc. When that technology was presented to an orthopedics group, they liked it but wanted it for PT and they wanted a wearable sensor.

TheraTec was born at that point.

Since I took over, we have pulled our software development back to the US from overseas and beefed up security, stability, and capacity. We are commercializing primarily in the Midwest for the moment and we target any provider organization that gives their patients a home exercise program (HEP).

Why did you choose to relocate the business to Fargo?

The people, the business environment, and the incentives. The last two really don't exist in Minnesota in any practical way. There is also the desire to start a legacy in healthcare technology in North Dakota, to be a founding member of the community that spurs more product ideas and companies.

What did that relocation process look like? What were the difficulties you faced while relocating?

We were actually without an office in Minnesota because of COVID, so it really wasn't that bad. We currently sublease space in Horace, but we'll likely outgrow that towards the end of the year and will be looking for a new home. Our space in Horace is for the people we've hired in the Fargo area since last May.

Since you got here, how have you been supported by the business community? What organizations/individuals have assisted you?

The support has been great and I'm afraid I'll leave somebody out, but here it goes: • Greater Fargo Moorhead Economic Development Council - Ryan Aasheim • Minnkota Power - Matt Marshall • ND Commerce Department and ND Development Fund - Hannah Lange, Shayden Akason, Brian Opp, Josh Teigen • City of West Fargo - Casey Saunders • BIOND - Richard Glynn • Bank of North Dakota - Joel Erickson • Signum - Ed Schwind

Now that your business has been established here for some time, what have you found to be the benefits of having your business here?

The people we have hired so far have been fantastic. I'm impressed how everyone will make time for you at any business or any level of government—I've never seen that before. We've also met some great partners that can help us bring purchases from China back to the US.

What are your favorite things about FargoMoorhead at large?

The city is really easy to navigate and traffic isn't crazy. There are some great restaurants and breweries.

What are some of your favorite places/activities around town?

We haven't done a whole lot of casual things yet—it's been mainly dining out, and Maxwells and Cedar Creek were awesome. Scoop N Dough is amazing as well!

theratec.com /TheraTec @Theratec_

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Why Fargo?

Wooshii

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

Boson Motors Information provided by Naveen Thomas, Product & Operations Manager Expanded from: Mountain View, CA

Fargo, ND

What does your business do?

When was your business founded?

Boson Motors is a startup in the sustainable energy space. We are working on solving farming/agricultural automation problems by creating robust electric vehicles and stationary energy storage systems for industrial and farming applications.

The company was founded on March 1, 2017.

What are some facts about your business that would make us say "wow" or impress us?

We have office locations in the US across North Dakota, California, and Texas!

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Can you take us through the business’s story arc?

How did you get to where you are today?

The two co-founders, Arun Seelam and Suri Bhupatiraju, previously worked at Google as software engineers before starting Boson in 2017. At Google, they worked to develop Android Auto, a software platform that mirrors the features of an Android phone to a car's display on the dashboard. Arun and Suri saw a wide-open opportunity to bring innovative technology to the

automotive space, especially in the agricultural industry, so they decided to start Boson.

They received a lot of encouraging feedback on the initial prototype and were accepted into the Techstars Farm to Fork Accelerator in Minneapolis.

This is where Arun met Brian Carroll, the Director of Grand Farm in Fargo.

Brian showed Arun the Grand Farm Grower Pain Point report from 2020, which highlighted a set of challenges faced by existing farmers in the Upper Midwest, including workforce shortage and reliability in the agriculture industry. Boson took these challenges seriously in the refinement of the existing prototype by focusing on building an easy-to-use vehicle with robust autonomous technology that can perform essential tasks on the farm while saving labor costs. This

led to the creation of an affordable, light electric utility vehicle that starts at under $25,000 with the ability to retrofit autonomous technology for added cost later down the line. Sales are anticipated to begin in 2024 following an extensive test pilot program.

Why did you choose to relocate the business to Fargo?

Fargo has a huge AgTech presence, and Boson specializes in just that area, making it a logical fit for some of our operations. After Boson’s CEO, Arun Seelam, reconnected with Grand Farm director Brian Carroll at a Techstars conference in Minneapolis in 2022, Arun was compelled to make a visit to Fargo. With the wonderful ecosystem Grand Farm had to offer and the state incentives the Greater Fargo-Moorhead Economic Development Corporation referred us to, we decided to officially expand our operation to Fargo starting in June 2022.

What did that relocation process look like? What were the difficulties you faced while relocating?

The relocation involved shifting a couple of employees from California to Fargo. The main difficulty was the lack of nearby family members for the team members who relocated.

The lack of seeing family frequently was a major adjustment, but overall we settled in comfortably and adapted well to the weather conditions and to the community as a whole.

Did you look to any organizations for assistance in making the move?

We looked to Emerging Prairie to provide us with some office space in the Prairie Den, where we now have a dedicated office.

Since you got here, how have you been supported by the business community? What organizations/individuals have assisted you?

The business community has been very supportive! First and foremost, Emerging Prairie has put me in a great position to attend many events like StartupBREW, where I get to network with so many individuals across numerous domains. It has been exciting to learn about all the entrepreneurial activity taking place in Fargo! The folks at the Greater Fargo-Moorhead Economic Development Corporation (Ryan Aasheim and John Machacek) have played an instrumental role in getting me acclimated with the Fargo community and directing me toward resources that provide incentives for our newly relocated startup.

Now that your business has been established here for some time, what have you found to be the benefits of having your business here?

demoing their technology on the farm has greatly inspired us to do the same when the time comes for us to keep one of our products in the area at the new Grand Farm innovation campus in Casselton.

What are your favorite things about FargoMoorhead at large?

The people in Fargo-Moorhead are super friendly and willing to go out of their way for just about anything.

Also, it is nice to experience extremely variable seasons, which offers the ability to do a variety of activities at different times of the year.

What are some of your favorite places/activities around town?

I really like Brewhalla because it offers so many tasty local food options in a single area—definitely gives me Pike Place Seattle vibes.

Additionally, Broadway Square is fantastic, especially when they host the Folkways Night Bazaar in the summer and perform the ice skating rink conversion in the winter.

bosonmotors.com

One key benefit to having Boson here is being able to connect with the AgTech ecosystem at large via Grand Farm. Seeing multiple companies

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Why Fargo?

Micah Zimmerman of Amdak Productions

NuTek Natural Ingredients Information provided by Anna Biehn, VP of Marketing & Strategy Expanded from: St. Louis Park, MN

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Fargo, ND

What does your business do?

When was your business founded?

levels of sodium in ultra-processed packaged and restaurant foods.

We are a manufacturer of cleanlabel ingredients for the food and pet food industries.

The business was founded in 2006, and we opened our Fargo facility in 2016.

What are some facts about your business that would make us say "wow" or impress us?

Can you take us through the business’s story arc? How did you get to where you are today?

As a company rooted in science and harnessing the power of science to develop new products, NuTek quickly innovated additional ingredients to fill out the portfolio and meet the growing demand for clean-label solutions.

Our Salt for Life salt substitute can reduce your sodium in food by 75% with the same great taste as common salt. Our Beyond Himalayan salt combines the pure taste of pink Himalayan salt with potassium salt resulting in a perfect culinary salt with 30% less sodium. Also, our clean-label preservatives can be found in pet treats to eliminate food waste in a healthy way.

NuTek Natural Ingredients was founded in 2006 by two food executives centered around one idea: created by nature, nurtured in science. The first technology they developed was a proprietary process to reduce sodium in packaged food products. NuTek began with the single vision of reducing sodium in food formulations by swapping potassium salt for sodium salt.

NuTek was at the forefront of creating a solution to the unhealthy

JULY 2023

Today, NuTek Natural Ingredients has three primary ingredient platforms including flavor, taste, and preservatives and they are continuing to fulfill their mission, one ingredient at a time.

Why did you choose to relocate the business to Fargo?

We chose Fargo as our manufacturing location in 2016 for several reasons including proximity

Why Fargo?

NuTek Natural Ingredients

to our raw materials, a good labor market, and a favorable business community. As demand for our products continued to grow, so did our need for more capacity and equipment—so we made the choice to expand our site in Fargo in 2021.

As part of this expansion, we built an R&D lab onsite and relocated some of our team to work in Fargo to be close to our manufacturing team and the development work.

Additionally, North Dakota offers a rich agricultural base for raw materials for future products.

What did that relocation process look like? What were the difficulties you faced while relocating?

While Fargo has many positives when it comes to the community and business environment, there are also some realities—like the weather—that can give pause to newcomers as they assess the opportunity. We were very open in our recruiting visits with our potential employees to have them meet with resources locally to understand the great assets of the community including the schools, people, and the housing market.

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Since you got here, how have you been supported by the business community?

What organizations/ individuals have assisted you?

We were fortunate to meet Ryan Aasheim and the team from the Greater Fargo Moorhead Economic Development Corporation (GFMEDC) and they were very supportive of our expansion efforts. They hosted an event with several business, financing, and government groups from the area for us to share our growth plans and to understand more about the programs offered in the FargoMoorhead area for businesses like ours. It was a great connection and has created several additional relationships with organizations like NDSU, Dakota Business Lending, ND Jobs, APUC Committee, and many more. We have also had the opportunity to work with a few nonprofit organizations like The F5 Project, the Great Plains Food Bank, the YMCA, and the YWCA. The Fargo-Moorhead business community is like an extended family where everyone knows everyone and is very supportive and willing to make connections.

We have been delighted with the support and help we have received.

Now that your business has been established here for some time, what have you found to be the benefits of having your business here?

We continue to find the community very supportive with good resources to help businesses grow. The labor market is tight for everyone right now and that is evident here as well, so we continue to be creative with our people resources team to find ways to attract new employees.

What are your favorite things about FargoMoorhead at large?

Our team enjoys the variety of restaurants and activities to do in the area including dog parks, community events, and connections with the local universities.

nuteknatural.com /company/nuteknatural

Why Fargo?

provided by North Dakota Soybean Processors

Bill McGee and his wife visiting downtown Fargo.

North Dakota Soybean Processors Information provided by Bill McBee, Commercial Manager Expanded from: Mt. Vernon, IN & Brewster, MN

What does your business do?

North Dakota Soybean Processors (NDSP) is a joint venture formed

by CGB Enterprises, Inc. (CGB) and Minnesota Soybean Processors (MnSP) for the ownership and operation of a state-of-the-art soybean processing plant currently under construction near Casselton, North Dakota. The new facility, expected to open in the fall of 2024, will crush 42.5 million bushels of soybeans in the first year, providing a more competitive and viable market within North Dakota for soybean production that previously left the state.

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Casselton, ND

What are some facts about your business that would make us say "wow" or impress us?

Can you take us through the business's story arc?

How did you get to where you are today?

NDSP will crush/process 42.5 million bushels annually. This translates into approximately 3100 acres of soybeans crushed a day! To do this, the plant will create 60-70 new jobs with aboveaverage wages and excellent benefits packages.

NDSP is an exciting project that has been in the works for CGB and MnSP since 2019; CGB and MnSP created the joint venture to both build and operate the plant that will not only produce soybean meal for the livestock industry and soybean oil for consumers, but also serve the increasing demand from the renewable fuel industry. MnSP’s General Manager, Jeramie Weller, said, “We are pleased to partner with CGB to build this facility that will complement our current operations in Brewster, MN. The combination of these assets positions us to meet demand domestically and globally for meal

When was your business founded?

North Dakota Soybean Processors will open in the Fall of 2024.

and oil while providing a consistent, competitive market for locally grown soybeans for local farmers.” CGB has an existing Soybean Processing plant in Mt. Vernon, IN that was built in 1997 and recently underwent a significant expansion to increase its soybean processing capabilities in Southwest Indiana. MnSP started crushing soybeans in 2003 and added a biodiesel refining facility in 2005.

Why did you choose to relocate the business to Fargo?

North Dakota is such an ag-friendly state with highly productive soybean growers. We are excited to provide a local market for soybean growers throughout the Red River Valley, while also benefiting from the Casselton location. With access to the interstate system, as well as to the BNSF Railroad and Red River Valley Railroad, NDSP will bring new market options for local farmers as well as build connections between the agriculture and energy industries.

This means increased economic activity not only for growers but also for the residents in the surrounding communities.

What did that relocation process look like? What were the difficulties you faced while relocating?

We have had a great experience setting up the NDSP plant in Casselton. Now, visiting Casselton in March when there was 4 feet of

snow on the ground was new for us, but we love it here. When we did experience obstacles, both state and local support provided the assistance needed to navigate those challenges.

We are grateful for the support and look forward to serving the great people in the community.

Since you got here, how have you been supported by the business community? What organizations/individuals have assisted you?

The North Dakota Soybean Council and the North Dakota Soybean Associations have invited us to connect and speak with their groups.

This is an excellent opportunity for NSDP to listen to the needs of the local growers and learn about one another. We have learned about the various export markets and facilities that will be more available to the local producers once NDSP opens.

What are your favorite things about FargoMoorhead at large?

You can’t beat the friendliness of the people in the Fargo-Moorhead area!

As folks from CGB relocate here, we all appreciate the great reception we have experienced. My wife and I have enjoyed seeing how active downtown is—there are so many festivals and recreational activities available to participate in. We are looking forward to enjoying the Fargo-Moorhead area and meeting the locals.

Did you look to any organizations for assistance in making the move?

We received knowledgeable guidance from the Greater Fargo Moorhead Economic Development Corporation and its CEO, Joe Raso. The group connected us to the right people to advance the process for approval and construction of the plant. We send our sincere thanks as well to Melissa Beach (the Economic Development Director for the City of Casselton), both the Casselton and Everest Township leaders, as well as the City Commissioners. We were very pleased as well to receive support from Casselton Mayor Michael Faught and former mayor Lee Anderson, as well as Governor Doug Burgum and his excellent staff.

What are some of your favorite places/activities around town?

There is no shortage of great restaurants and places to enjoy a cold (or hot!) beverage. It’s very unique to see the culture here—you don’t get many curling clubs and ice fishing huts in most parts of the country. We look forward to visiting and seeing all Fargo has to offer!

ndsoy.com /NDSoyProcessors

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Job Service ND: Helping One Citizen At A Time

By Grant Ayers Photos Courtesy of Job Service ND

JSND provides workforce and unemployment services across the state through nine different Workforce Centers, as well as their central location in Bismarck, ND. JSND offers a variety of services for both job seekers and employers. JSND has its roots in the Social Security Act of 1935 when Congress established unemployment insurance as part of an employment security system designed to provide an economic safety net during the height of the Depression.

Since then, the service organization has broadened its mission to involve all areas of workforce development including individuals, businesses, and community leaders. I sat down with Carey Fry, Fargo Workforce Center Manager, and Amy Arenz, Bismarck Workforce Center Manager, to discuss JSND’s origins, its impact on the state, and much more.

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JSND Success Story “JSND provides regular workshops to justice-involved individuals within North Dakota’s correctional facilities, assisting them in their transition from incarceration to become contributing members of the state’s workforce. In November 2022, JSND staff delivered a workshop to 20 inmates at the James River Minimum Unit (JRMU)/James River Correctional Center (JRCC) facility in preparation for a job fair that was to follow. Topics covered included interview goals and strategies, preparation tips, greetings and introductions, do’s and don’ts, and much more. Following the presentation, staff recommended that, upon their release, inmates stop by their local JSND offices for additional assistance with job searching. In January 2023, Karl, a former inmate at JRMU, stopped by JSND-Fargo for assistance with his resume. He participated in the November 2022 workshop and introduced himself to some of the JSND employees he recognized from the workshop.

Karl was then provided with additional resumes, job searching, and job application assistance. The very next day, Karl phoned the JSNDFargo office to share that he had accepted a maintenance position that paid $28/hour with full benefits. Staff at JSND-Fargo joined Karl in celebrating his excitement over his new job offer. It is success stories like these that make for very exciting days at JSND.” Provided by Job Service ND

Job Service ND aims to provide the opportunity for North Dakota residents to improve their job skills and help with career exploration.

They do so by sitting down with people in need, getting to know who they are and what they want to be, then mapping out a course of action to do so.

“We work with older youth, adults, or anyone who’s been laid off or fired from a job to get them the help they need. There’s a wide variety of things that they can get training in. We fund training in over 79 different occupations in North Dakota. Currently, we're helping about 170 people with training, the majority of which are in the healthcare/nursing industry,” Fry said. “[Job Service ND] is a great program. We do a lot of outreach across the state, as each of our offices covers a number of counties. We offer everything from career readiness and helping with resumes to cover letters and interview skills training. We have five different workshops that we do to cover interview skills, resume preparation, how to fill out applications, and how to look out for job scams,” Arenz said.

The Bismarck Workforce Center team!

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) “Assisting people with training through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) is an important part of the work we do at Job Service North Dakota. WIOA is designed to assist people to access employment, education, training, and support services to succeed in the work world. It also helps to match employers with the skilled workers they need.

"Job seekers visiting a Workforce Center receive skill assessment, career counseling, and labor market information.

Job Service staff recommend on-site development tools to help improve an individual's interviewing skills, soft skills, and computer skills. Staff also recommend short-term industry training or degree programs through WIOA services and other partner referrals.

"During the most recent year, we helped 604 people throughout the state with their training needs. This included training in the following targeted industries: energy, manufacturing, healthcare, transportation, and technology.

More than 39% of that training was in the transportation industry and 25% in healthcare.

"At the Fargo Workforce Center, 104 people are enrolled in WIOA-funded training. This training includes classroom training, on-the-job training (OJT), and paid work experience for adults and youth ages 16-24. Upon completion, they are entering the Fargo-Moorhead area workforce with skills to meet the current needs of employers. We partner with training providers in our area including ND State College of Science, Minnesota State Community and Technical College, Lynnes Welding Training Inc, and Commercial Education and Safety LLC. The list of occupations we are able to fund and a full list of training providers can be found on our website jobsnd.com.”

Provided by Fargo JSND (Job Service Business Service Newsletter)

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Top 10 In-Demand Occupational Groups (In Openings) Healthcare 3,500 (Practitioners and Support Openings Combined)

Transportation 1,100

Sales 1,000

Management 1,000

Carey Fry

Fargo Workforce Center Manager About Carey: “22 years ago, I started working in the Job Opportunity and Basic Skills (JOBS) Program, which is a program that's attached to receiving Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF). When someone applies for a public assistance program such as TANF, they are referred to JSND to participate with us in skill training and assistance from us in getting them to a more self-sufficient place.”

Administration 900

Food Prep and Serving 800

Production 600

Construction 600

Amy Arenz

Engineering

Bismarck Workforce Center Manager

600

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About Amy: “In 2009, I began as a temp in the Reemployment and Eligibility Assessment (REA) program, which works with unemployed individuals to find employment. Over the years, I’ve gradually moved up to become the office manager of the Bismarck Workforce Center.”

Job Service ND often hosts job fairs to boost the likelihood of making the connection between employer and hopeful employee.

The aforementioned workshops are far from the only method of outreach that JSND takes pride in. On the first Wednesday of every month, JSND holds a “Workforce Wednesday” hiring event across their locations. During the event, companies currently hiring will come into JSND’s office and offer people a chance. Furthermore, JSND employees will oftentimes go to North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (NDDOCR) facilities and hold various classes and presentations.

“We do industry-wide and community-wide job fairs regularly throughout the year at our bigger offices in Grand Forks, Bismarck, Minot, Dickinson, and Fargo. Our Bismarck office is responsible for 10 counties, so we do a lot of outreach and help connect employers and employee hopefuls,” Fry said. “We can see anywhere from 300 to 500 applicants come in looking for work, and 50 to 150 employers are looking for workers

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at those events, so it’s amazing to bridge both sides of the workforce coming together. We also work with businesses to discuss labor market information, such as what they should be paying. We have a lot of data that will show someone what their competitors would be paying someone to do that same job.”

One of their largest annual events, the Second Chance Job Fair, took place on Thursday, June 8. At this event, employers come to give individuals who have faced, or still do face, significant barriers to employment. Five of JSND's offices participate simultaneously across North Dakota.

WIOA Success Story

Lt. Governor Tammy Miller using a Career View XR virtual headset from JSND and Be More Colorful to view a wind turbine technician job shadow experience. JSND has headsets in both Bismarck and Fargo that showcase virtual job shadows of North Dakota businesses with occupations on the in-demand occupations list. Through this, they are able to show what it is like to be on top of a wind turbine, which is something not possible in an in-person job shadow. It also allows individuals to view multiple job shadows to learn about different occupations or industries in a shorter amount of time.

“We’re heavily advertising that it’s that “second chance,” whether there was an injustice, or they’re simply looking for a different career opportunity. People on work release are able to come to the job fair as well. They come dressed for success and ready to meet employers, and it’s great to make that happen,” Arenz said.

“The employers come here knowing that this is about hiring somebody that could use a step up. Ultimately, employers are willing to give people a second chance at employment, and we’re happy to bridge those groups together.”

No matter the employer’s needs or potential employee’s past, Job Service ND is looking to make a change across the entire state in any way possible. As they strive to lower the unemployment rate and fill jobs across North Dakota, the impact being made

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through job fairs, training sessions, and other opportunities is immeasurable.

“For me, this job is about giving people all the tools, resources, and knowledge they need in order to become independent. I thoroughly enjoy being there to help people take that next step to be self-sufficient and successful. My heart has always been in serving the public and getting people to a better spot in life.

It's intrinsically rewarding to help somebody who may be living in their car find housing, get the necessary training, and get a good job. Not only does that help that person get to a better spot in life, but it also helps businesses get better-trained workers.

Whether someone requires training for improvement in their current job, or they’re looking for a different job entirely, we’re happy to help anybody who reaches out to us,” Fry said.

Contact JSND Web: jobsnd.com Phone (Fargo): (701) 239-7300 Phone (Bismarck): (701) 328-5000 Facebook: /JobServiceND Facebook (Fargo): /JobServiceNDFargo Facebook (Bismarck): /JobServiceNDBismarck

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by Studio Freshly

From Broadway to Brewhalla— and a Lot of Coffee in Between

By Ashley Morken, Owner, Unglued ack in early spring of 2021, I was setting up little rose gold name plaque holders to have our one and only Unglued “board” meeting. I had made a desktop name holder for each person with collage paper and foam sticker letters—Justin, Kristina, Kevin, McKaila, Morgan, and myself to make it a super official night of decisions.

That night started with each of us writing down three words that came to mind when the name “Unglued” came up. The results were crazy

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consistent—community, experience, and magic. Later that night, we “voted” to fully pursue moving our shop of 10.5 years on Broadway to the up-and-coming new construction of Brewhalla and what it might look like.

FACTORY on the premises. Plus, we are fully equipped on the 2nd floor with our Unglued Craftatorium—our 2nd space in the building to make all the things, meet new people, and go crazy with hot glue and glitter.

Fast forward 2+ years later and our little shop of 200+ local and regional makers has opened (and fully relocated) into our brand-spankin'new Unglued space at Brewhalla—the new literal epicenter of community experience with a literal MAGIC

What is Unglued?

Super quick catch-up, though, if you aren’t familiar with Unglued. We’re a modern handmade gift shop that connects you to over 200 local and

Ashley Morken (left) stands at the front of her newly opened storefront with McKaila Allora, Unglued Crew and Party Planner

regional makers. We also organize crazy awesome events to inspire creativity with things like our epic sleepaway summer camp for adults, kids craft camps, private and public workshop parties, and our annual craft fest. We’re kind of like Etsy in real life and all the inspiration you need to want to get creative again. We spent our first 10.5 years as a shop on Broadway, totally obsessed with our 400 block and neighbors. Now, our old space is the new home to the perfectly imperfect artisticallydriven hands of Scribble Lady as we embark on our journey to create new experiences and magic at our new location in Brewhalla!

The crazy thing about this all is in early 2020, we had considered quitting the year-round retail life and focusing on events and pop-ups. For a variety of reasons—I get restless, but the retail side was just proving to be trickier to keep sustainable. So as we were

getting to the official end of our old lease, we started to think about what our crafty future could hold and maybe making a crazy change.

But, once a full-on pandemic hit, we saw a renewed effect our crafty maker shop could have on people and the makers. We got unexpected feedback on a daily basis that our shop vibe or our virtual workshops or an extra special gift they received from someone is what kept them going. I realized we REALLY WANTED this shop to continue to exist on a daily, year-round basis in all its glitter and blood-sweat-and-tears glory.

More people in our community were also starting handmade businesses with their new pandemic craft skills they gained! But, clearly, something needed to change as our teeny back room could barely hold an 8-person workshop and we knew this was an area of our world that the community clearly now wanted more of.

If Drekker would have approached us any other time prior to mid-2020 we would never have been able to see the (hot pink) forest through the trees.

But by some kind of magic, as my risk tolerance was finally ready to go balls to the wall and we had a renewed desire to be a year-round shop and workshop space, we found ourselves being offered a chance to join this band of misfits and weirdos to create a new community experience.

So back to the unofficial Unglued board meeting in January 2021—name plaques, sticky notes, beer, and all. We made the decision that night to dream up new possibilities and go forward.

We cheers’d to the great unknown of moving our shop off Broadway and into a concept that hadn’t existed yet in this area.

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The Unglued Craftatorium

Then as the year went on and we looked to make this a reality, we kept learning about other vendors being added to the market and all the crazy connections that just led to too many full-circle moments:

First off, Drekker.

The whole captain of this magic factory ship had been involved in our summer camp since day one, eight years ago now. But even further back, Mark Bjornstad (a co-owner of Drekker) had taught me to start IVs on the night shift back in the cardiac ICU when we were both nurses and before we knew our future in small business.

Thunder Coffee was going to be the coffee shop! We had danced on speakers at our 21+ summer camp with them as the caffeination sponsor and had been doing occasional craft workshops in their West Fargo space.

They also kept our dreams alive a la damn delicious coffee continually.

The Plant Supply and Livin the Dream Pottery were in! We had known them both as makers in our shop and vendors in our annual Craft Fest since basically the inception of their handcrafted businesses!

Blackbird Pizza was going to craft up their insane food as The Bird! We had collabed with them for our kid's camp to walk down Broadway to learn to make pizza dough and earn their kitchen ninja merit badge. Plus, I had settled open heart patients with Casey Absey (The Bird’s owner) way back in the day—once again, as a nurse.

And let’s just say how enamored we were to hear about everyone else involved. One-by-one as we’d find out a new vendor it continually solidified just how epic and delicious our future could be in this Brewhalla wonderland.

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Photo from a past Unglued Kid's Camp

We get to drop it like it’s hot in our Unglued Craftatorium now with: Kids Summer Camps are back!

Fully loaded local maker craft workshops schedule!

Kids Make It Club is back!

DIY Kit expansion! Basically, treat us like a DIY bar—grab a kit, a glass of wine, and go create in the Brewhalla gathering spaces!

Private craft parties!

Whatever else we dream up while we spill our next Thunder Coffee cup with excitement.

Sign up for a workshop at ungluedmarket.com/events!

When we dreamed and schemed how we might glam up our shop and actually have a full-on workshop classroom, Brewhalla became this lightning bolt lighting the way to get people more creative and connected to the creative community in town. It had always been our mission to be a place to “buy creative and get inspired” and suddenly we could create a crafty room that had a giant craft sink, pull-down ceiling extension cords, a garage door for expansion, and a big ol’ chalkboard door to give the project low-down with.

Our new shop got a glam up of windows, disco balls, arches, and murals to showcase the crazy talent of our creative community and beyond. We got a blank slate to keep it scrappy with old displays we refreshed, but go big with new things like an arch

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with lesleydidthat. This kick-butt refresh helps people discover makers new and old, connects makers to resources through us and beyond us, and a bonus of being in Brewhalla is we get to grow the tri-annual Brewhalla Makers Market. Plus, our counter is still strong enough to support our social media counter dancing with #putyourbackintoit.

realized that this next adventure— with all of its unknowns—was surely going to be full of community, experiences, and magic for not just all of our small businesses, but also all of you. A new place to belong and gather and definitely hold more “board” meetings and sticky notes to ignite the next match of magic.

When opening day came and the doors opened at 10 a.m. on March 18 this year, I’ll never forget looking around the hot pink-infused, atrium-lit, small business-packed space and seeing the lightning bolt lit up down the wall across from us. Then "Wake Up" played as people started pouring in, Tom (Drekker brewer) walked by tearyeyed making me cry more—in both exhaustion, pride of the new space, and the surrealness of it all, and I

Connect with Unglued ungluedmarket.com /ungluedmarket @ungluedmarket @ungluedmarket @UngluedMarket

10 Questions

10

Questions ohn Machacek, Chief Innovation Officer for the Greater Fargo Moorhead Economic Development Corporation, has worked with countless startups throughout our community over the years. He knows their ups, and their downs, but most of all, he knows the questions to ask them. Here are John Machacek’s 10 questions for Jessamine Burgum, Founder/CEO of Pinky Promise.

By John Machacek Photo by Abby Anderson

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01 Will you please tell us your Pinky Promise elevator pitch?

I founded Pinky Promise in 2020 as a way to pave a path for underdogs in the film industry. As an actress, I was disappointed by the lack of dynamic roles written for women and motivated to develop stories that elevate voices of those who are historically not represented. At Pinky Promise, we produce films with heart, creativity, and a bit of magic! Our team provides the experience, tools, and financing to make a storyteller's vision come to life.

02 The idea to interview you came after I sat by your brother at a luncheon.

He was correlating how you run and fund Pinky Promise is similar to how venture capital funds will raise money to invest in a variety of startups, and not just one startup, as it balances the risk and diversifies the portfolio.

So in your case, you raise the funds to invest in a portfolio of film projects, aka the “startups,”

because like startups, no one can predict what will be successful. Do you agree with that correlation?

Yes, that was the plan all along!

Pinky Promise is what happens when an actress grows up in a house of entrepreneurs and investors. We are a production company with a VC-style film fund. The way we see it, each film is a startup and each director is the CEO. Our investors believe in our creative vision and our financial model. Rather than giving money for a specific movie, they invest in the fund. Pinky Promise has a disciplined selection process that allows us to find, nurture, and launch new storytellers, and our LP’s trust us to do just that. They are excited to invest in a company that gives them a strong return, champions first-time filmmakers, and prioritizes stories you don’t often see on screen.

By divvying up one large fund across multiple projects, we mitigate risk. Also, this model allows us to take on diverse projects. If one film is shaping up to be highly commercial, that allows us to devote other resources to projects that some view as higher risk. In truth, those “riskier” projects can surprise you and yield unexpected returns.

and we know we have a lot to learn. In fact, this is one of core principles: "Admit We Don’t Know, Then Find Out." Humility and curiosity are incredibly important to our team. We are lifelong learners who bring others along for the ride by being interested, not interesting. This core belief has led us to meet some pretty exceptional, like-minded people in the industry.

I also did not anticipate how much being kind helps in business. We are concerned not only with what movies we are making, but also HOW we are making them. We’re a people-centric operation. In fact, Pinky Promise has won some deals because the partner liked the experience of doing business with us. We’re getting noticed for how well we treat people.

On that note, I want to acknowledge that right now, new development is on pause because of the Hollywood writer’s strike. Part of caring about creatives is standing with the writers in their pursuit of a fair deal. We’re dedicated to supporting the creatives we work with in all aspects of the industry.

03 What has surprised you about running a production company that you had not anticipated?

Hmmm, so much surprises me, but that’s true of many startups. Lots of surprises! We’re a young company.

We’ve been around for about 2.5 years

WHAT IS PINKY PROMISE? Pinky Promise is a production company with a Venture Capital-style film fund founded

by Fargo native Jesse Burgum.

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10 Questions

04 In your business, there must be a million moving parts to produce each project, including collaborating with other production and service companies, agents, actors, and whatnot. How have you gone about keeping yourself organized and creating partnerships to get all of this done effectively?

Easy! Hire people better than you, smarter than you, and more organized than you. Don’t be afraid to be the dumbest person in the room. I have such an incredible team—and they're all women, too, which is rare but hopefully becoming more common. We found employee #1 via ZipRecruiter. She started as an assistant and is now our fantastic VP of Creative Development. I always encourage my team to speak up about their goals and interests, because internal growth is a huge pillar of Pinky Promise.

As a team, we rely heavily on Google Calendar, with two team members managing almost all of the scheduling.

My company was basically built from sitting in bed with my laptop during COVID, and it was designed to be virtual from the start. This also allows team members to live where they want and keeps overhead costs low. I’m primarily based between Fargo and LA, and

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wherever shooting takes me. Right now, about half of my team is in the LA area and the other half is in New York. We have weekly team meetings to touch base, and, of course, a company group chat called the Pink Ladies.

05 I ran into you at SXSW in Austin, where you were involved with three films being shown there— congrats by the way. How important are festivals like this on the business side of getting films marketed or picked up for distribution?

Thank you! We were so proud.

It’s been exciting to see audiences, and the industry as a whole, getting to know Pinky Promise through our work. We are unique in that we have five films right now and they've all premiered at top festivals. So we’re five for five! Also, we are one of only four companies to have back-to-back films at Sundance. We’re keeping good company with the top players in this space, A24 and Neon.

Festivals are highly competitive and a huge part of the independent film pipeline. Because indie films lack the financing and marketing assistance of studios, festivals provide an opportunity to drum up buzz and support.

Depending on the festival, it may also be a great sales market. Typically, representatives from big streamers, studios, and distributors will attend screenings and reach out to begin negotiations if they think a project could be a welcome addition to their slate.

If you want to get into the weeds—and this a really broad explanation—if you don’t sell a film directly out of a festival, there are several other strategies to bring films to market. In a “negative pickup” deal model, distributors may agree to buy a film before it is entirely completed. Other times, a film can sell earlier if a star is attached to it. We’ve been very lucky, "The Starling Girl" sold to the theatrical distributor Bleecker Street this past January, and "Honk for Jesus" sold to Focus Features and Monkey Paw the year prior.

06 Speaking of the Sundance Film Festival, how was the experience of being invited and participating in the festival?

I was so honored and excited. This was the second time we had a film at Sundance, but the first time I was able to attend in person due to COVID. There were almost 16,000 submissions this year, with 100 getting selected. Of those, 12 were selected in the Dramatic Competition Category, which included Pinky Promise’s film, "The Starling Girl."

It was so special to be competing in this category. "The Starling Girl" writer/ director Laurel Parmet put so much of herself into this film, and I was delighted to support her throughout the festival both as a producer and as an actress. The film’s success also fulfilled a personal dream of mine: to act in a Sundance film.

My heart has yet to feel as full as it did sitting at the premiere beside my family,

the Pinky Promise team, and the film’s cast and crew—everyone erupting into cheers when the Pinky Promise logo came up on the big screen. A true “pinch me” moment that I will not soon forget.

PINKY PROMISE FILMS OUT NOW! THE STARLING GIRL

07 That’s so cool. It must have been a surreal moment.

You mentioned you acted in that film, too. I’m aware that you studied acting at the University of Minnesota Guthrie program as well as the Shakespeare Globe in London. Looking back, how did this education and the experiences prepare you for your work, not just on the stage and screen but off as well?

Oh gosh, so vital. The Guthrie program is world-class with incredible and passionate faculty, and a cool part of the program is you get to participate in the Shakespeare Globe program for a semester.

So many people can offer acting advice!

For me, what matters is that you don’t do it unless you really love it, work hard, and be kind to people.

My training at The Guthrie program really informs my producing work now.

It prepared me to break down scripts and characters, understand story structure, and so much more. These are skills I use regularly at Pinky Promise.

"17-year-old Jem Starling struggles with her place within her Christian fundamentalist community. But everything changes when her magnetic youth pastor Owen returns to their church."

THE GRADUATES "A year after her boyfriend dies from gun violence, a young woman prepares to graduate high school as she navigates an uncertain future alongside a community that is searching for ways to heal."

HONK FOR JESUS. SAVE YOUR SOUL. "In the aftermath of a huge scandal, Trinitie Childs, the first lady of a prominent Southern Baptist Mega Church, attempts to help her pastor-husband, Lee-Curtis Childs, rebuild their congregation."

IF YOU WERE THE LAST "Adrift in their broken-down space shuttle with little hope of rescue, two astronauts argue over whether they're better off spending their remaining days as friends or something more."

ART FOR EVERYBODY "After Thomas Kinkade's passing, his daughters uncovered a trove of unseen, dark paintings, launching a search for the true man behind the brand. It uncovers the real Thomas Kinkade."

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10 Questions

08 If you could go back in time to Jessamine from several years ago, what hindsight advice would you give yourself?

I would tell myself to focus on the things I can control, like working hard and being kind. Also, I would encourage myself to begin before I feel ready. So often, things come together because you took the leap, not because the circumstances were perfect.

09 What are you excited about for you and Pinky Promise for the next year and the future?

I am so proud of all the positive attention "Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul." has received. We got to celebrate it at the Independent Spirit Awards this past March, cheering on our director Adamma Ebo who got a "Someone to Watch" nomination. And our lead actress Regina Hall was nominated for Best Lead Performance. You can stream it on Peacock now.

"The Graduates" just premiered at Tribeca, and provides a beautifully authentic depiction of a school community coming together and processing their shared grief following a tragic event. Pinky’s romantic comedy about two astronauts stuck in space, "If You Were the Last", debuted at SXSW to favorable reviews. Our first

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documentary, "Art for Everybody," traces the legacy of Thomas Kinkade, the most collected painter of all time, as his entire image is upended following the discovery of a vault containing never-before-seen paintings.

Earlier this year, we finished shooting a dark comedy in Rome called "I Don't Understand You," starring Nick Kroll and Andrew Reynolds. It’s shaping up to be quite the romp! We have a lot of diverse projects in our slate thus far that I’m thrilled for people to see.

10 Lastly, what can we do as a community to help Pinky Promise succeed?

Watch Pinky Promise’s films inperson and online! Two of our films are available to watch now. "Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul" were released theatrically and on Peacock in September 2022. It is also now streaming on Amazon. Our most recent release, "The Starling Girl," is currently playing in select theaters.

In general, it’s great to support and pay for independent cinema, even if it’s not a Pinky project. Definitely follow us on Instagram @pinkypromisefilms and online at pinkypromisefilms.com for festival updates, release dates, and news on upcoming projects!

pinkypromisefilms.com @pinkypromisefilms

About John

WOMEN YOU SHOULD KNOW: EMPOWERED BY

Paige Breidenbach

OWNER AND INTERIOR DESIGNER AT MOSAIC INTERIOR DESIGN 114

JULY 2023

By Arielle Windham | Photo by Josiah Kopp

Building Her Own Mosaic;

FARGO WOMAN REDEFINING LOCAL INTERIOR DESIGN “If the opportunity presents itself, you can’t be afraid to take a leap,” says Paige Breidenbach, Owner and Interior Designer at Mosaic Interior Design.

Paige knew she’d own a design-andbuild business one day, she just didn’t quite expect it to happen so soon at age 25. “It’s the scariest thing I’ve ever done, but there’s no growth in comfort.”

Paige and her fiancé, Nicholas Perez, purchased Mosaic Interior Design earlier this year and have continued to develop the brand into a full-service, customer-focused design firm. From 90-minute in-home consultations to start-to-finish project management, Mosaic is transforming into a onestop shop for highly personalized commercial and residential design.

Now, this entrepreneur is focused on building her portfolio and reputation as a designer and business owner.

Blended Aesthetic While she inherited the name Mosaic, there’s no better description for the unique perspective Paige brings to the local design community. Her resume is impressive. She is a graduate of NDSU’s CIDA Accredited Interior Design program and has a minor in Entrepreneurship. While in college, she had an internship with a design firm in Florida. Once she graduated, she worked for Trever Hill Design and most recently with Melanie Iverson, former owner of Mosaic Design and Build. Paige’s aesthetic pulls together elements from these experiences to

create a one-of-a-kind design tailored to her clients.

Paige admits she enjoys residential projects a little more because of the close connection she’s able to form with clients.

curate beautiful spaces for clients of all aesthetics. Their continued support through this transition says a lot about the inclusive design community in Fargo.”

“Not every profession comes with the opportunity to directly impact people’s lives,” Paige said. “Home is a valuable and sacred space. It’s where we feel safe and make our best memories. As a designer, I give people a space that reflects their aesthetic in an elevated, cohesive way that truly feels like home.”

In addition to building Mosaic’s portfolio, she and Nicholas are currently renovating their own home. Going through this process themselves allows them to relate and connect with renovation clientele in a special way that many people can’t.

“That HGTV moment is what many people imagine when you talk about interior design,” Paige said. “I love being there for the reveal when the client sees the final product. That being said, the little moments are just as impactful. For example, finding the perfect table for a family with little ones that is both stylish, yet practical and safe. Most people don’t realize interior design is everything from full renovation, like we see on TV, to helping someone restyle their space for an important event. Each project comes with its own moments.”

Being the Boss Paige credits her mentors, Trever Hill and Melanie Iverson, with providing her with a solid foundation as a new business owner.

“Learning under both of them has really opened up my eyes to what I want my brand and business model to be. Their varying design styles have expanded my knowledge and skill to

Paige stands with her, Co-Owner, teammate, and fiancé Nicholas Perez

provided by Ladyboss Lifestyle

Designing her own future Business ownership might not have been on Paige and Nicholas’ to-do list this year, but they are embracing the opportunity.

“You have to be ready to leap when the moment arrives, even if the timing isn’t expected,” she said. “If you know you can achieve something and believe in yourself, you don’t have to listen to the people who tell you to wait till you’re older or until you’re settled. Be confident in what you know. Evaluate your situation. Make an informed choice based on your current resources.

Surround yourself with people that see your talent and support your dream.

Success is a result of experience, not age.”

For more information on Mosaic Interior Design, visit: mosaicfargo.com Search "Mosaic Interior Design" @mosaicfargo

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SIMPLY PATENTS: An Idea Can be Both Simple and Patentable.

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BY JOSHUA KRANK Attonrey, SW&L Attorneys veryday life is filled with inventions that have become so deeply ingrained in our routines that we often take them for granted.

What many people may not realize is that behind these seemingly ordinary objects lie remarkable stories of innovation and the protection of intellectual property. In this article, we delve into the world of everyday simple inventions that are or formerly were protected by patents, unveiling the hidden tales and exploring the significance of patent protection in fostering innovation. From the zipper that secures our clothing to the simple bottle cap that keeps our drinks carbonated, the extraordinary patents behind these seemingly ordinary objects show that one need not invent the 3-D printer, or the light bulb to have a great patentable idea.

March 20, 1917. Sundback's design revolutionized the way we close and open garments, containers, coolers, and much more, providing a convenient and efficient alternative to buttons, strings, and latches.

THE ZIPPER: UNLOCKING CONVENIENCE Name a single person you know, who doesn’t own a piece of clothing with a zipper on it, you probably can’t. That is because the zipper has become a critical fastening device in our clothing and accessories. It’s a product of pure inventive genius. The story of the zipper begins in the late 19th century when Elias Howe (who also invented the sewing machine, but who’s counting) designed the predecessor to the modern zipper. While Howe received a patent for his invention in 1851, it failed to gain traction in the market due to manufacturing challenges and lack of public interest. It wasn't until the early 20th century that the zipper, as we know it today, began to take shape.

Gideon Sundback, a Swedish-American engineer, dedicated his efforts to improving upon Howe's initial concept.

Sundback's breakthrough came in the form of adding interlocking metal teeth, which improved the design dramatically. This modern zipper was patented with the name “Separable fastener,” US Patent 1,219,881 on

A popular and well known American company called B.F. Goodrich were the first to license and use Sundback’s design. They actually used them on boots before anything else. They were also the ones who coined the term “zipper” that has now become the common label for this invention. As one might imagine, the name is based on the noise a zipper makes when used.

adhesive properties that allowed the notes to be easily attached, removed, and repositioned. These two guys came together, each with their own problem to solve. Their invention did in fact solve both of their problems.

Spencer Silver was a 3M scientist tasked with researching strong adhesives, but inadvertently discovered an easily removable light sticking one.

The problem was Silver didnt know what to do with it. That is where Arthur Fry comes in. Fry was another 3M scientist. His problem was that, while singing in his church choir, he would constantly lose the small bits of paper used to bookmark the hymns they were going to sing. Fry later attended a lecture given by Silver on the adhesive and they ended up coming together to create the modern Post-it Note.

Funny enough, the yellow look was an accident, it was the only color paper they had nearby at the time.

THE IDEA THAT STUCK Post-it Notes, those colorful and versatile sticky notes that cover our desks and bulletin boards, have become indispensable tools for communication and organization. The invention of the Post-it Note comes from Spencer Silver and Arthur Fry, whose patent from 1974, named Repositional Pressure-Sensitive Adhesive Sheet Material, U.S. Patent No. 5,194,299, protected the unique

THE BALL POINT PEN: MIGHTIER THAN THE SWORD The ballpoint pen, a writing instrument found in the pockets of millions

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worldwide, owes its existence to a man named Laszlo Biro. Before that though, a man named John J. Loud obtained what is technically the first patent for a ballpoint pen, US Patent Number 392,046, on 30th October 1888. Loud, being a guy who worked on leather, found his invention useful for marking thick leather, but, unfortunately, it was too rough and messy on paper.

Loud’s patent eventually lapsed, which opened the door for better iterations of the pen.

That is where Biro came to the rescue.

He was fed up with the writing tools of his time and needed to find a way to write in a cleaner, more consistent way. The first hurdle that stemmed from Loud’s version of the pen was the ink. Pens of the time used an ink/water mixture that would not work for what Biro was looking to accomplish. During summer, the ink would overflow. In winter, the ink didn’t flow at all and froze. If you changed elevation, ink would seep out of the pen due to the change in air pressure.

As a result Biro created an ink/paste mixture that would make the ink thicker, and subsequently better for his pen design. The ink/paste mixture did not leak, did not bleed through paper paper, and dried almost on contact.

The design of the pen was modified only slightly to be less abrasive on paper. Thus, the modern ballpoint pen was born.

Thanks to a man named Marcel Bich, Biro’s pen was sold in the US. While Biro himself never really achieved mass market success with the pen, Marcel Bich licensed the designs of the

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ballpoint pens by Biro for two million dollars. After obtaining the licenses to make, use, and sell Biro’s patented pens, he formed the Bic Company in 1953.

with two parallel loops at the ends, allowing for easy insertion and removal of papers. However, Fay's patent did not gain significant attention or commercial success.

The most common type of wire paper clip still in use is known as the Gem paper clip. This is the one we all recognize as the paper clip.

Funny enough, this design was never patented, but it was most likely already in production in Britain as early as the 1870s thanks to "The Gem Manufacturing Company".

PAPER CLIPS: THE REUSABLE STAPLE The humble paper clip, a staple in offices and households worldwide, has its own history of patent protection.

The history of the paper clip patent dates back to the late 19th century when the need for a reliable and efficient means of securing paper documents became increasingly apparent. Although the exact origins of the paper clip are somewhat disputed, it was during this time that several inventors were striving to develop a practical solution.

In 1867, Samuel B. Fay, an American inventor, was the first to receive a patent for a bent wire clip, which was originally intended primarily for attaching tickets to fabric. His invention featured a single piece of bent wire

By 1899, Definite proof that the modern type of paper clip was well known. This is because of a patent granted to William Middlebrook for a "Machine for making wire paper clips."

Middlebrook's design aimed to enhance the manufacturing process, allowing for more efficient and cost-effective production of paper clips. He made the machine for the Gem Manufacturing Company.

Then came Johan Vaaler, who had at one point in time been erroneously labeled as the inventor of the paper clip. He was granted a patent in 1901 for a paper clip of similar design to the gem paper clip. However, Vaaler’s design was less functional and practical, because it only used a once turned wire, which would pierce paper and didn’t hold papers together as well.

His version was never manufactured and never marketed because the gem paper clip was already available.

BOTTLE CAPS: BOTTLED UP SUCCESS The history of the bottle cap patent is closely tied to the rise of the bottled beverage industry and the need for an effective sealing mechanism to preserve the freshness and carbonation of drinks. In the late 19th century, the bottling industry faced a significant challenge in finding a reliable closure system for their products. Traditional methods such as corks and stoppers were inadequate for preserving the carbonation in carbonated beverages.

In 1892, an inventor named William Painter revolutionized the bottling industry with his invention, the crown cork.

Painter's design featured a metal cap with corrugated edges and a rubber lining. The cap could be securely sealed onto a bottle using a capping machine, creating an airtight seal and effectively preserving the carbonation inside. They were designed to be inexpensive, one-time use devices. They also proved to be completely leakproof, which worked perfectly for sealing carbonated beverages.

Painter received U.S. patent no.

468,258 for the invention in 1892. Painter also patented the first bottle cap lifter, which is commonly known as the “bottle opener.”

Everyday inventions protected by patents are far more than meets the eye. From the zipper to the bottle cap, these inventions have permeated the way most live their lives and become integral to modern society. They embody the power of human ingenuity, problem-solving, and creativity.

Delving into the stories behind these seemingly ordinary objects reveals a deeper appreciation for the simplicity of ingenuity.

These inventors didn’t require advanced degrees or other specialized knowledge to create their inventions. They only required problems that needed to be fixed, or something to improve upon. As we embrace the convenience and reliability of everyday inventions, we should remember that behind each lies a patent, an inventor, and an idea.

SW&L ATTORNEYS 4627 44th Ave S STE 108, Fargo 701.297.2890 swlattorneys.com /SWLattorneys /company/swlattorneys

North Dakota is Open for Business

By Rich Garman, Director of Economic Development & Finance, North Dakota Department of Commerce North Dakota Department of Commerce

orth Dakota, with its abundant energy resources, picturesque prairies, and rich agricultural heritage, has experienced a remarkable transformation in recent years. Gone are the days of “flyover” state status and population outmigration. The state has become a shining example of diverse economic development, harnessing its natural resources and fostering value-added innovation across various sectors. With a proactive approach and forwardthinking policies, North Dakota has successfully diversified its economy, attracting businesses, entrepreneurs, and a skilled workforce.

What is propelling North Dakota’s rise to the top?

• Policy – North Dakota prides itself on an “Innovation Over Regulation” way of doing business. We work with industry to develop innovative solutions to today’s issues and then get out of the way while industry implements these solutions.

• Accessibility – North Dakota has been consistently tagged with the phrase “North Dakota Nice” in terms of its hospitality and accessibility.

For businesses considering locating here, this means they have access to connect with virtually anyone

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they need in North Dakota state government or business.

• Primacy – North Dakota is one of only two states in the nation with the ability to permit its own CO2 injection wells. This is incredibly important with today’s push to lower carbon footprints. Only North Dakota and Wyoming currently have this permitting ability, saving companies years of development time.

• Geology – North Dakota has unique geology under most of the western portion of the state that allows for the permanent sequestration of carbon dioxide, critical for companies looking to lower their carbon footprint.

The portfolio of projects considering locating to North Dakota range across nearly all sectors of the economy.

Here is an overview of some of these projects.

Energy North Dakota's energy sector has played a pivotal role in driving economic growth and diversification. The Bakken shale formation, one of the largest oil and natural gas fields in the United States, has turned the state into a major energy player. The development of advanced drilling techniques, such as hydraulic fracturing, has unlocked

vast reserves of oil and natural gas, creating job opportunities and attracting significant investments. The energy sector has not only boosted employment but also contributed to infrastructure development and increased tax revenues for the state.

Natural Gas to Liquids The proposed gas-to-liquid (GTL) facility in northwest North Dakota, which is estimated to cost $5.5B, will be one of the largest of its kind in North America. The facility will be capable of producing a range of liquid fuels and chemicals from natural gas, including diesel, naphtha, gasoline, mixed alcohols, and other valuable by-products. The production process involves the conversion of methane gas from natural gas into these liquid fuels and chemicals.

One of the key features of the proposed facility is that it will be coupled with carbon sequestration technology. This means that the facility will capture and store carbon dioxide emissions produced during the conversion process. By doing so, the facility will be able to significantly reduce its carbon footprint, making it one of the cleanest operating GTL facilities in the world.

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Fertilizer Production North Dakota is the largest U.S. producer of many crops, including durum wheat, flaxseed, canola, barley, sunflowers, honey, dry edible peas, and lentils. The robust agricultural economy requires ammonia-based fertilizer to maintain the volume and quality of harvested crops. Even though North Dakota has an abundance of natural gas, it has a great deficit of ammoniabased fertilizer. North Dakota farmers pay more per ton than anywhere else in North America for fertilizer.

This demand and abundant natural gas make for a natural fit to develop ammonia fertilizer plant facilities in the state. Currently, several proposed fertilizer plants hope to take advantage of this opportunity and start projects very soon.

Plastics Production A proposed sustainable plastics production facility, expected to cost $1.5B, will utilize methane and oceanbased microorganisms to produce biodegradable plastics. This project is one example of a potential project that would utilize the outputs of the gasto-liquid plant. These potential facilities would greatly diversify the North Dakota economy as well as create jobs and provide new value-added markets for the state's abundant natural gas resources.

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is a crucial component of the aviation industry's efforts to reduce its carbon footprint. North Dakota is home to several initiatives working on creating a sustainable aviation fuel industry. A very viable approach is to add SAF facilities to existing ethanol biorefineries in the state. North Dakota has six ethanol plants that could potentially have SAF facilities incorporated into their design.

This approach leverages existing infrastructure and expertise in ethanol

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production to produce SAF as well. In addition, there are several standalone projects proposed for building biorefineries that will directly produce SAF. Carbon Capture Use and Sequestration (CCUS) North Dakota is making significant investments in carbon capture and sequestration technologies to achieve its goal of carbon neutrality by 2030.

While the potential revenue generated from these projects will depend on the number of tons of CO2 captured and the price per ton, they represent an important step towards reducing the state’s carbon footprint.

North Dakota has abundant underground storage potential for CO2. The state's geology offers suitable rock formations, such as deep saline formations and depleted oil and gas reservoirs, which can securely store captured CO2 and potentially accommodate large-scale CCUS projects. The state's regulatory framework includes guidelines for permitting and monitoring the safe and permanent storage of CO2.

Agriculture and Agribusiness Agriculture has been the backbone of North Dakota's economy for well over a century. The state's fertile soil and favorable climate make it an ideal location for crop cultivation and livestock farming. In recent years, North Dakota has witnessed a surge in agribusiness and valueadded agriculture. Farmers and entrepreneurs have capitalized on the growing demand for organic products, specialty crops and livestock genetics.

Additionally, the state has focused on promoting agricultural research and innovation, fostering partnerships between universities, farmers and industry experts.

Soy Processing Facilities North Dakota currently has three soybean processing facilities planned across the state, with a projected capital cost of more than $1.8B. These projects will allow North Dakota to add value to their leading crop by producing valuable feedstock for biofuels (to be processed into renewable diesel at facilities in North Dakota).

These facilities will create the demand for a refining facility to process the soy oil into value commodities such as renewable diesel fuel. The soy processing facilities will also produce a significant volume of animal feed with soy meal. This supply opportunity coupled with recent changes to animal agriculture regulations in the state will allow for significant growth in animal agriculture in North Dakota.

Grand Farm Development The Grand Farm Development aims to advance the use of technology in agriculture and develop a network of smart farms that use advanced technology such as sensors, drones and machine learning to improve crop yields and reduce costs. The farms would serve as testbeds for new technologies and provide valuable data to help farmers make more informed decisions.

The Grand Farm Development also includes plans for an Ag Innovation Campus, which would provide a space for companies and researchers to collaborate on new agricultural technologies. The campus would include labs, offices and shared facilities to support research and development in the field. An additional Entrepreneurial Center would provide resources such as mentoring, training and funding to help startups get off the ground.

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Technology and Innovation

Manufacturing and Value-Added Industries

North Dakota has embraced technology and innovation as catalysts for economic diversification. The state has actively fostered an entrepreneurial ecosystem, providing support and resources for startups and technologydriven enterprises. Grand Forks and Fargo have emerged as thriving technology hubs, attracting talented professionals and venture capital. North Dakota's commitment to innovation is evident through initiatives like the North Dakota Centers of Excellence program, which funds research and development projects in key sectors such as energy, agriculture, and healthcare, and Grand Sky Business Park, the first commercial Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) focused business and aviation park in the United States with infrastructure and facilities for UAS operations, testing, research and development.

Manufacturing serves as an important pillar of the state's economy, providing employment opportunities, driving innovation, and diversifying the industrial landscape. The sector's growth is supported by favorable business conditions, energy resources, research collaborations, and a commitment to fostering a vibrant manufacturing ecosystem.

Moreover, North Dakota has leveraged its agricultural resources to develop value-added industries, including food processing, biotechnology, and advanced manufacturing.

Data Centers North Dakota is quickly emerging as an attractive location for data centers due to its favorable climate, affordable energy prices, and strong fiber connectivity. A proposed $2.2B data facility in northwest North Dakota would take advantage of the area's abundant natural gas resources, which can provide reliable, cost-effective power for the data center. Additionally, the facility would leverage the state's strong fiber connectivity to ensure fast and reliable data transfer.

Another proposed $1 billion data center facility in northeast North Dakota would also benefit from the state’s favorable energy prices and fiber connectivity. In addition to the two major data center projects, several smaller data center facilities are planned for other parts of the state.

Together, these data center projects would help bring new investment to North Dakota while leveraging the state's resources and infrastructure to support the growing demand for digital services.

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Mineral Processing North Dakota has not traditionally been a producer of mined or processed minerals, apart from lignite coal.

However, there are now several initiatives aimed at diversifying the state's mineral processing industry.

One such initiative is the proposed nickel processing facility. This facility will bring mined ore to North Dakota to process into battery-grade nickel. The facility is expected to create jobs and economic opportunities for the state.

Another initiative is the proposed iron ore processing facility. This facility will bring iron ore tailings to North Dakota to process into crude iron. The facility will produce the lowest carbon per pound of steel in the world.

In addition to these initiatives, there are also efforts underway to develop a plan to extract rare earth minerals and valuable carbon forms (fibers, nanotubes) from abundant lignite coal. This could potentially create a new industry in North Dakota, with opportunities for both mining and processing. Developing these mineral processing facilities will require significant investment and development of new infrastructure.

However, they have the potential to bring new economic opportunities to the state.

Incentives Commerce works to improve the quality of life for North Dakota citizens by leading efforts to attract, retain and expand wealth. In addition to program and service offerings, Commerce offers opportunities that can help incentivize business starting or relocating to North Dakota.

• North Dakota Development Fund • Wonder Fund North Dakota • Angel Match Program • Biotechnology Research Grants • Legacy Investment for Technology Loan Fund • InnovateND • Agricultural Products Utilization Committee • Agricultural Diversification and Development Fund • Clean Sustainable Energy Authority • Renewable Energy Council • Automation Tax Credit • State Income Tax Deferral • Sales Tax Exemption • Property Tax Exemption In summary, business incentives, government accessibility and workforce performance, combined with North Dakota’s favorable position as one of the lowest cost states for operating a business, are driving top companies to establish operations in the state. North Dakota is open for business, and the future looks bright.

AWESOME FOUNDATION GRANT AWARD WINNER

Moorhead Police Athletics and Activities League or many Minnesotans, summer is an opportunity to head to the lakes. For the Moorhead Police Department, it’s an opportunity to head to the gym—and bring some area teens with them.

The Moorhead Police Athletics and Activity League (PAL) has teamed up with EHP Performance to create a pilot program designed to encourage healthy lifestyles and facilitate conversations between the officers and area youth.

The teens selected by the Moorhead School Resource Officers, with recommendations from teachers, have been meeting with volunteer police officers for a two-hour session twice a week since June 6to work out, participate in a short lesson, and spend time with each other.

“Up until now, our programs have mostly been 'one and done' type of events— like our Cops and Kids hockey games, providing bikes for kids, and the ShopWith-A-Cop program. Those are all positive contacts, but this is the first time focusing on something that really has

that one-on-one mentoring,” explains Sergeant Scott Kostohryz, Executive Director of the Moorhead PAL program.

The National Police Athletics and Activity League has a grant from the Department of Justice that allows sub-awards to local PAL programs. Moorhead PAL received one of the sub-awards in May which allowed them to move forward with the pilot program, which is unique to both Moorhead and the National PAL program.

“Of all the PAL programs in the 38 states available for this sub-award, no one’s ever tried something like this—the workout session, followed by positive messaging.

We’ve been working with EHP to help us bring about this program, but it’s all really new,” Kostohryz says.

The 14 teen participants have been meeting up with Moorhead officers twice a week since June 6 to work out together, share a short lesson on positive attitudes and healthy habits, and then just visit.

“The educational curriculum is really designed to create conversations together rather than reading from a book. We’re trying to get to know the kids on a personal level. A lot of times that isn’t even a conversation. It means just

BY Brandi Malarkey, Owner, It’s All Malarkey

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listening. We’re really trying to learn from each other,” continues Kostohryz.

In addition to their enthusiasm for working with kids, EHP Performance was chosen to pilot the program due to their location in the old industrial park which places them within biking distance for the kids selected for the program.

“The biggest barrier for kids that need something constructive to do in the summer is transportation. You can’t hope to have a successful program without thinking about that first," Kostohryz said.

As the May 2023 grantee of the Cass Clay chapter of the Awesome Foundation, Moorhead PAL was able to cover the small amount not covered by the Department of Justice sub-award. In addition to curriculum costs and discounted gym rental fees, the funds provide participants with their own workout gear—including clothing, grips, chalk, jump ropes, water bottles, and backpacks. The seven Officers participating are donating their time.

“Being short-staffed, the officers are working 50-60 hours a week,” states Kostohryz. “So asking for an additional four is a big ask. But positive community

Photo provided by Brandi Malarkey

relations have never been more important than now when negative behaviors in schools are on the rise.

With COVID everyone kind of shut down, and our youth especially have struggled. We see this as an opportunity to address that a little bit. Our staff is volunteering for this because they really see the value.

We don’t want to preach to these kids. It’s not a babysitting club. We’re having conversations. We hope we’re connecting with them in a positive way.”

Participants and officers are learning as they go, and trying to be flexible as they continue into July for the second half of the program. While partnering with EHP Performance and Moorhead Public Schools specifically, Kostohryz credits the ability to try out the new initiative to the overall community.

“All the programs we do—the bikes, the shopping, this—can’t happen unless we have community support.

Moorhead is an amazing community.

It’s really comforting that between private businesses, banks, nonprofits, and the public, we have a strong base to rely on. I’ve never had anyone tell me ‘no’ when we’ve needed something. That support, knowing

that other people are there to help you, really helps energize your goals.”

Community members who wish to learn more about the Moorhead Police Athletics and Activities League are encouraged to contact Sergeant Scott Kostohryz directly.

218.299.5283 scott.kostohryz@moorheadpolice.com

moorheadpal.org /MoorheadPAL

The Cass-Clay chapter of the Awesome Foundation awards a $1,000 gift each month for awesome ideas of all sorts. Grant recipients do not need to be associated with a nonprofit. Applications can be made at awesomefoundation.org/en/ chapters/cassclay.