PRAIRIEPEOPLE

Alerus Hires Heilman as Senior Financial Guide

FARGO, N.D. — Alerus has hired Jessica Heilman as a senior financial guide at the company’s South Fargo office. Heilman has more than 15 years of experience in the financial services industry, including consumer and business lending, credit underwriting, risk management and Small Business Administration and U.S. Department of Agriculture loan-program management.

She has a bachelor’s degree from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn., in child and family studies, and a master’s in child development and family science from North Dakota State University.

She is a graduate of the Dakota School of Banking and earned a certificate of completion in advanced credit analysis and business financing from the North Dakota Bankers Association.

DSG hires Hicks as vice president of operations

FARGO, N.D. — Dakota Supply Group has hired Rod Hicks as its vice president of operations. Hicks will be responsible for leading many of DSG’s corporate operations, including purchasing, logistics, warehousing and fleet operations. Before joining DSG, Hicks served in a number of leadership roles at Best Buy, Target and Advanced Auto Parts. He received his undergraduate degree from California State University and earned his MBA from the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia.

Rod Hicks

McGinniss named dean of law school at UND GRAND FORKS, N.D. — Michael McGinniss, associate professor of law at the University of North Dakota, has been named dean of the School of Law.

McGinniss joined the UND faculty in 2010. He teaches courses on professional responsibility, evidence, conflict of laws, remedies and legal ethics. He has served as the faculty advisor for the North Dakota Law Review for the past seven years, has received the J. Philip Johnson Faculty Fellow Award and has received faculty achievement and other awards.

McGinniss earned a bachelor’s degree at Washington College, and graduated third in his class at the College of William & Mary, Marshall-Wythe School of Law. He served as a law clerk for the Supreme Court of Delaware, then worked at a law firm in Delaware, where he focused on intellectual property litigation.

Kulesa Promoted at BCBSND

FARGO, N.D. — Chris Kulesa has been promoted to director of sales at Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota.

Kulesa is responsible for leading all sales and retention efforts across all product lines in BCBSND’s small and mid-sized employer group markets, as well as all individual product lines in the company’s individual consumer market.

Kulesa began her BCBSND career in 1996 as a support staff in marketing and has worked in a series of other posts throughout her career.

Kulesa earned a bachelor’s degree from Minot State University in Minot, N.D.

Alerus Hires Schulz as Public Relations Manager

FARGO, N.D. — Alerus has hired Kelly Schulz as public relations manager at Alerus’ office in Fargo. In this role, Schulz is responsible for leading the company’s public relations efforts to advance market visibility. She manages the company’s overall public relations plan, including communication initiatives and management of company donations and sponsorships.

Schulz has more than 10 years of experience in the marketing industry. She has a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from Minnesota State University Moorhead and an MBA from the University of Mary.

What is Lesson 1 for a small business that’s interested in the growing marketing trend of ‘voice search’?