Building on a stable base

BY BRIAN RITTER

You don’t need to consult one of the many “top ten” lists that North Dakota has appeared on recently to know that from the Bakken to the Red River Valley, our state’s economy is booming. And the same goes for us here in Bismarck-Mandan!

In addition to being the state capitol, which provides a stable base of employment, our community is also home to two state-of-the-art health care facilities at Sanford Health and St. Alexius Medical Center, which combine to employ thousands of highly skilled professionals. Our area’s education systems are also growing with four new K-12 schools opening between January 2014 and August 2015 to complement dynamic institutions of higher education at Rasmussen College, United Tribes Technical College, Bismarck State College and the University of Mary. And while it’s easy to focus any discussion on energy to our state’s oil and gas resources, Bismarck-Mandan is also home to the headquarters of MDU Resources Group and Basin Electric Power Cooperative, which have been involved in all facets of energy generation for decades and promise to be for many more.

These four industries alone — government, health care, education, and energy — make for an envious economy. But there’s more. Bismarck-Mandan is a regional economy that supports the area’s farmers and ranchers whether it be through equipment sales, specialized services or retail amenities. Convention and tourism also play a large role in the community’s economy. This is supported by hundreds of new hotel rooms and multimillion dollar expansions of the Bismarck Civic Center, North Dakota Heritage Center and Bismarck Community Bowl. And our manufacturing sector is expanding with the continued success of MAC Heaters, the expansion of Bobcat through its exciting new Acceleration Center and the anticipated construction of Midwest Manufacturing’s newest production facility.

World-class employers like National Information Solutions Cooperative, which develops technology solutions for utility cooperatives; telecommunications companies like Aetna, which employs hundreds of area residents to serve health insurance customers and engineering firms like KLJ, which now has 22 offices in a five-state region, are also an integral part of Bismarck-Mandan’s economy. Employers like this have helped the Bismarck-Mandan metropolitan statistical area (MSA) maintain the lowest unemployment rate of any MSA in the country as of November 2013, increase our population to an estimated 114,000 and set records for airport passenger boardings while we add new carriers and destinations. But we’re not done.

The Bismarck-Mandan Development Association has recently developed a new strategic plan, mission and vision statements. Focusing on innovation, leadership, commitment and excellence, the BMDA is ready to lead the community to even greater heights. In addition, we’ve partnered with the BismarckMandan Chamber of Commerce to create the Prosperity Agenda, a plan to address community-wide issues such as infrastructure, talent attraction and workforce development.

There’s no denying that things are going well here in Bismarck-Mandan, but the BMDA, our community’s leaders and its residents are committed to ensuring that we do even better in the future.

Brian Ritter President/CEO Bismarck-Mandan Development Association britter@bmda.org

Fargo air equipment maker doles out $100K to employees

Spectrum Aeromed, a Fargo, N.D.-based designer and manufacturer of custom air medical and air ambulance equipment, announced recently it is distributing about $100,000 in profit sharing bonuses to 21 employees, including interns, at its Fargo location. The bonuses are a reward based on growth in LEAN principals and production initiatives, efficiency, quality, continuous improvement mindset, teamwork and attitude, according to the company.

The company has experienced a three-year revenue growth of 213 percent and was one of the fastest growing companies in North Dakota in 2013. President and CEO Dean Atchison attributes much of the company’s success and growth to its employees. “We could not have achieved this level of success and growth without their dedication, optimism and drive to reach a level of high performance,” he says.

This is the fourth year Spectrum Aeromed has distributed profit sharing bonuses to its employees. The company has paid out approximately $350,000 since 2010.

South Dakota launches interactive aggregate website

The South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources has launched a new gravel, sand and construction aggregate mining website featuring an interactive map with information about every mine in the state. Information now available on the website was previously available only by request through the DENR. To view the website, visit http://arcgis.sd.gov/server/denr/conagg/.

MSU entrepreneurship academy to focus on Bakken business

Minot State University’s Severson Entrepreneurship Academy recently announced plans to expand its services and projects to include a focused effort to research business opportunities in western North Dakota to assist area businesses in planning for new business ventures. Students will conduct surveys and interviews under the supervision of faculty. Faculty will also provide expertise in developing research methodology and analyzing information received.

Data collected through the project will be maintained by MSU’s College of Business and will be made available to businesses, students, faculty and staff exploring Bakken business opportunities.

Fargo-Moorhead metro construction sets record

Total construction value in the Fargo, N.D.Moorhead, Minn., metro area topped $663 million in 2013, surpassing the previous year’s record by 15 percent, according to the Home Builders Association of Fargo-Moorhead. The metro area includes Fargo, West Fargo, N.D., Moorhead and Dilworth, Minn. Housing starts in Fargo totaled 521 in 2013, up nearly 30 percent from the previous year. The majority of the growth is attributed to single-family and twin-home construction. West Fargo recorded 487 housing starts in 2013, 399 of which were for singlefamily homes. Moorhead saw 133 housing starts, 91 of which were single-family homes.

Sanford Health completes clinic projects in region

Sanford Health recently opened new clinics in Dickinson, N.D., and Bagley, Minn. A new clinic in Moorhead, Minn., was expected to open March 3 but has been delayed.

The nearly 11,000-square-foot clinic in Bagley opened in early March. The $1.5 million facility, designed by MJ Architectural Studios and constructed by Kraus-Anderson Construction Co., includes 12

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ND, China province strengthen trade partnership

North Dakota Lt. Gov. Drew Wrigley recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with China’s Shandong province, signifying an official sister-state relationship between the two. As part of the MOU, both governments are committing to support and encourage economic and trade cooperation and mutual investment between North Dakota and Shandong, especially in the areas of energy exploration and agricultural exam rooms, lab space, treatment rooms and office space. The project was developed by Greater Bemidji, which will lease the facility to Sanford.

Sanford’s Dickinson super clinic opened Feb. 17. The approximately $30 million facility is six times the size of Sanford’s previous Dickinson clinic. The clinic offers 62 exam rooms, six procedure rooms, office space and expanded space to accommodate new services and extended walkin clinic hours. The facility was designed by REH Architects and built by Mortenson Construction.

The Sanford Moorhead clinic was initially scheduled to open March 3 but an explosion at the facility has delayed the opening. At press time, a new opening date had yet to be determined. At 49,000 square feet, the $17 million facility is three times the size of the organization’s current Moorhead clinic. Designed by JLG Architects and built by JE Dunn Construction development. The agreement also calls for the promotion of multidisciplinary education and science and technology cooperation, especially in clean energy, ag technology and aviation training.

Shandong is a coastal province in eastern China. In 2011, gross domestic product for the province was $711 billion.

Group, it includes 52 exam rooms and room for future expansions. The facility is also the first Sanford location to utilize technology developed by Fargo-based Intelligent InSites to better manage patients’ and employees’ time. The technology is expected to be rolled out at other Sanford sites later this year.

St. Alexius, CHI to form partnership

Bismarck, N.D.-based St. Alexius Medical Center and Englewood, Colo.-based Catholic Health Initiatives recently signed a non-binding agreement to form a new affiliation to build on their strengths in rural and faith-based care to better serve communities in the region. The new affiliation could be created by the end of the year. CHI is a nonprofit, faith-based health system that operates in 18 states and comprises 87 hospitals. St. Alexius includes a 306-bed full-service medical center in Bismarck as well as hospitals and clinics in Garrison, Turtle Lake, Mandan and Minot, N.D. The organization also manages the hospital and clinics owned by Mobridge Regional Hospital in Mobridge, S.D.

Dakotas top nation in well-being, Minn., 4th

According to a Gallup-Healthways WellBeing Index, North Dakota residents had the best well-being in the U.S. last year. South Dakota ranked second in the index, followed by Nebraska and Minnesota. Montana rounded out the top five. Survey results were based on participants ranking six domains on a 1-10 scale, including life evaluation, emotional health, work environment, physical health, healthy behavior and basic access.

Gallup also ranked North Dakota first in the nation for job creation for the fifth consecutive year in 2013.

Western State joins Minn. housing lender network

Western State Bank has been approved as a Minnesota Housing Start Up and Step Up lender and will join a network of more than 80 lenders statewide that work with the programs to offer affordable home financing for low- to moderateincome Minnesotans. Start Up is the Minnesota Housing first-time homebuyer loan; Step Up provides purchase and refinance loans for nonfirst-time homebuyers. Western State Bank’s participation in the programs is expected to benefit the Moorhead, Minn., community.

USDA’s ND investments top $500M in 2013

An annual progress report released by North Dakota’s U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development office shows the agency invested more than $500 million in projects throughout the state last year.

Of the money invested through loans and

SDSU Foundation smashes fundraising record

Donors committed more than $63 million to the South Dakota State University Foundation in 2013, topping the previous single-year fundraising record by more than $10 million. The recordbreaking year comes on the heels of a six-year campaign which generated more than $255 million in gifts and pledges. The campaign, called “It Starts with STATE,” officially ended April 24, 2013.

Fargo construction firm opens

David Karels and Paul Johnson recently launched G6 Construction Services LLC, a construction management, development, consulting and general contracting services firm based in Fargo.

Karels most recently served as chief operating officer and partowner of Nor-Son Inc. and has nearly 25 years of industry experience. He serves as president of G6 and manages the day-to-day operations.

Johnson worked most recently as construction manager and superintendent at Nor-Son and has more than 35 years of experience in the construction industry. He serves as director of field operations for the new company.

According to G6, its core markets will include municipal, production/manufacturing, light industrial, education and financial.

grants in 2013, the majority — more than $346 million — supported electric and telecommunications projects.

More than $75 million was invested through housing programs. Nearly $29 million was invested through business and cooperative programs to support rural business development. About $33 million was invested in community programs to support various projects including hospitals, nursing homes and child care facilities. Water and environmental programs received about $22.5 million in financial support.

The North Dakota USDA Rural Development office manages a loan portfolio of more than $4 billion.

MSUM graduate program enrollment climbs

Minnesota State University Moorhead reported in February that new student enrollment in its graduate programs has more than doubled compared to the previous year, up to 87 new students this year. A total of 500 graduate students are enrolled at the university.

MSUM has added new graduate programs in the past year including master’s degrees in business administration with health care emphasis, health care administration, nursing administration and accounting and finance. The majority of its graduate programs are available online or in hybrid formats.

Cirrus Aircraft reports strongest sales in 5 years

Cirrus Aircraft delivered 276 new aircraft in 2013, marking a nearly 10 percent increase over 2012 and making it the company’s best aircraft shipment performance year since 2008. The key driver to the company’s increase has been strong customer response to its Generation 5 model, which was introduced in 2013, according to the company. Cirrus Aircraft’s customer base also expanded in 2013, which is expected to continue positively impact the company in 2014.

Securian ND names Wald advisor of year

David Wald has been named advisor of the year for 2013 by Securian Financial Advisors of North Dakota. Wald has worked for the firm since 2008 and is based in Bismarck, N.D. He was a recipient of Securian’s President’s Club award in 2013. The award is given in recognition of outstanding sales growth and commitment to client satisfaction. He was also named one of Prairie Business magazine’s 40 under 40 for 2013.

Rasmussen joins Starion Financial

Marc Rasmussen has joined Starion Financial as its vice president of credit administration. In this role, he works with the chief credit officer to lead and oversee the credit department regarding underwriting, collateral valuation, loan policy adherence, documentation/commercial operations and project administration, among other duties. He is based at the bank’s downtown Bismarck, N.D., location.

NDSU Development Foundation/Alumni Association adds 2

The North Dakota State University Development Foundation/Alumni Association has added two people to its staff. The organization appointed Nonda Mack as chief of staff and Julie Wanzek as coordinator of customer care.

Mack will oversee the operations of key association and foundation functions, coordinate internal resources and external partners and assist in the executive goals and activities of the organization. She has served both the NDSU Alumni Association and Development Foundation in previous capacities.

Wanzek brings a background in sales and customer service to her new position, serving most recently as senior retirement consultant/business development at Touchmark Retirement Community in Fargo.

Helgeson joins Starion Financial

Trish Helgeson has joined Starion Financial as the marketing and communications manager. In this role, she leads the development and implementation of marketing strategies and oversees advertising, public relations, internal communications, digital strategy, event planning and product development. She is based at the bank’s Mandan, N.D., location.

Helgeson has more than 20 years of marketing and public relations experience in banking, health care and tourism industries.

Fargo Jet Center flight school manager wins national award

Mike Paulson, flight school manager at Fargo Jet Center, recently received the Excellence in Pilot Training award from the National Air Transportation Association.

Paulson has been a flight teacher for more than 30 years and has taught all levels of flight. In addition to serving as flight school manager at FJC, Paulson has also taught aviation classes at North Dakota State University for the past 23 years. He has logged more than 18,500 hours of flight time, of which 11,000 hours have been logged as flight instruction hours.

EAPC’s Wilke named young engineer of the year

Sam Wilke, a structural engineer at EAPC Architects Engineers, has been named the Chapter 3 young engineer of the year by the North Dakota Society of Professional Engineers. Awards are given based on the candidate’s educational achievements, professional society activities, technology society activities, civic and humanitarian activities, continuing competence, engineering achievements and professional experience.

Wilke has worked for EAPC since 2009 and has more than eight years of engineering and project management experience.

Sibson becomes Wheat Growers’ operations talent manager

Brad Sibson has been named operations talent manager for Wheat Growers and will be responsible for helping the operations group identify and assess employees, create and assist with development plans, mentor team members and participate in succession plannings and other employee-related functions.

Sibson has worked for Wheat Growers for more than 30 years and has served as location manager in six different locations. He most recently served as location manager at Huron, S.D., for 13 years and has also been managing the Wolsey, S.D., location for the past three years.

Kyle Richards

Richards joins Regional Health Network as COO

Kyle Richards has joined Rapid City, S.D.-based Regional Health Network as chief operating officer. He replaces Glenn Bryant, who recently retired after 20 years of service with Regional Health.

Richards most recently served as CEO at Waverly Health Center in Waverly, Iowa, a role which he had held since 2011. He has more than 15 years of leadership experience and is a certified Lean Healthcare facilitator.