Incubator programs help entrepreneurs launch, grow

BY RICH NASER

Over the past decade, the South Dakota communities of Sioux Falls, Brookings and Rapid City have developed business incubators to assist entrepreneurs in successfully launching and growing their businesses By both directly providing entrepreneurial training and by serving as connectors to other resources and activities, these incubators are helping our state’s entrepreneurs thrive in an ever-changing environment The direct economic impact of these business incubators is both measureable and significant Today the companies and graduates of the South Dakota Technology Business Center, located in Sioux Falls, employ 673 people at an average annual salary of more than $60,000. In addition, these same companies achieved combined annual sales exceeding $200 million in 2013

The SDTBC’s Accelerator Program is an example of how public and private resources are being brought together to support entrepreneurship. The goal of the program is to fast-track entrepreneurs ’ efforts to bring their unique products or services to market

Eight companies were competitively selected for the 2014 accelerator program from a pool of more than 20 applicants The industries represented by these entrepreneurial teams range from software and manufacturing to medical and security technologies, some of which were developed at South Dakota universities The companies currently participating in this program are: AMI (Antimicrobial Materials) Inc.; Credentialing USA LLC; Picki; ODIN Hunting Products Inc ; The Weston Group; SPACT (Security Printing and Anti-Counterfeit Technology); 7400 Circuits, and Global Thinking Laboratories.

This year ’ s Accelerator kicked off in May with a three-day business launch boot camp and concludes in September when the participants have completed four monthly one-day sessions focused on key aspects of business development and growth

During the program, the companies learn how to be successful in business from some of the region’s top experts in entrepreneurship, sales, finance, intellectual property, business law and more. They also receive in-kind incubator services at the Technology Business Center for the duration of the program, gaining access to mentors and professional guidance from attorneys, accountants and marketing experts

In addition to gaining a wealth of knowledge, participants have the opportunity to pitch for up to two $5,000 project grants per company made available by the South Dakota Governor’s Office of Economic Development through a Small Business Administration FAST grant. Companies seeking equity funding also have the opportunity to pitch to angel and venture capital investors

Through its investment in incubators and programs like the SDTBC Accelerator, Giant Vision, Innovation Expo and efforts to establish angel investment funds, South Dakota has laid a foundation for continued growth in entrepreneurship While there are many more steps to take in this exciting journey, we are now well underway More information about the SDTBC and its accelerator program can be found at www.sdtbc.com or by contacting the center at (650) 275-8000 PB

Rich Naser Executive Director, South Dakota Technology Business Center President, University of South Dakota Research Park richn@sdtbc com

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United adds Williston-Houston flight

United Airlines will begin offering United Express service from Williston, N.D., to Houston beginning Aug. 19 with one daily roundtrip flight on a 50-seat regional jet Sen John Hoeven, R-N D , made the announcement, noting that he has worked closely with Williston leaders and the airlines to expand jet service to the area to support the state’s robust economy

Book offers tips to encourage entrepreneurialism

A book recently released by the Center for Rural Entrepreneurship in Lincoln, Neb , offers tools and resources to help economic developers encourage entrepreneurial growth in their communities.

“Energizing Entrepreneurial Communities: A Pathway to Prosperity” is a follow-up to a book published by the center in 2005 which made the case for entrepreneurship development This second installment on the topic provides examples of communities that have embraced the concept and provides economic developers pathways to increase the impact of entrepreneurialism Authors Don Macke, Deborah Markley and John Fulwider make their case for supporting entrepreneurial development in five parts, providing readers with multiple case studies from communities throughout the Midwest and self-analysis quizzes that can be used to help evaluate a community’s current status and develop strategies to encourage entrepreneurial growth The book also offers tips on identifying and coaching entrepreneurs.

The book is available in paperback and digital editions For more information, visit http://www energizingentrepreneurs org/

BCBSND, Flint receive PR award

Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota and Flint Communications received a Silver Anvil award from the Public Relations Society of America during an awards ceremony held June

12 in New York City BCBSND’s Bolder Shade of Blue campaign earned the award in the Reputation/Brand Management category, which honors companies and their public relations firms for programs designed to enhance, promote or improve the reputation of an organization either proactively or in response to an issue or event The focus of BCBSND’s campaign was to improve communication, provide better customer service and help explain the complexities of health care and health insurance

Lake Region Healthcare adds exercise tips to walking trail

Fergus Falls, Minn.-based Lake Region Healthcare recently opened a Be Fit Circuit on the Lake Alice walking path as part of its commitment to community wellness The circuit consists of four signs illustrating two exercises for participants to complete in two laps

Fargo firm attracts $500M acquisition deal

Fargo-based Evolution1, a cloud-based technology and payment solutions provider for the health care industr y, has agreed to be acquired by WEX Inc for $532 5 million in cash WEX, headquartered in South Portland, Maine, employs 1,400 people and is a multi-channel provider of corporate payment solutions As part of the agreement, Evolution1 will retain its 300 employees and offices in Fargo, Minneapolis, St Louis, Mo , and Hartford, Conn The company will continue to be led by Jeff Young, current chairman and CEO

For more on Evolution1, read “Evolving with health care ” in the May issue of Prairie Business magazine

Arvig Enterprises expands again

In May, Perham, Minn.-based telecommunications provider Arvig Enterprises announced its intent to purchase the operations of the St Olaf Telecom in Northfield, Minn , from St Olaf College. St. Olaf Telecom provides telecommunications services to St Olaf College, Carleton College and businesses in the city The terms of the purchase agreement were not released. Northfield is located about 40 miles south of Minneapolis-St Paul and about 50 miles northeast of Rochester, Minn

Earlier this year, Arvig acquired Grand Forks, N D -based CD Communications, which specializes in phone system sales, installation, network management and other services.

Cornerstone bank announces merger

Cornerstone Holding Co , a banking group with offices in Fargo and Grand Forks, N D , has agreed to merge with New Town, N.D.-based Lakeside Bank Holding Co , effective in late 2014 Cornerstone had $238 2 million in assets as of March 31; Lakeside had $374.2 million. The merger makes Cornerstone one of the 10 largest financial institutions in North Dakota, according to the bank

Valley City State University’s L.D. Rhoades Science Center in Valley City, N.D., houses the university’s science and math departments and IT services, as well as the Great Plains STEM Education Center and VCSU’s collaborative nursing program with Dakota College at Bottineau, N.D. PHOTO: JLG ARCHITECTS

VCSU Science Center earns LEED certification

The U S Green Building Council has awarded LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification to the L D Rhoades Science Center at Valley City (N.D.) State University. The center, designed by JLG Architects, is 17 5 percent more energy efficient than other structures It features low-flow faucets, showers and sensors and dual-flush toilets, which saves 72,000 gallons of water annually, a no-mow lawn and a high-efficiency mechanical system, which reduces air pollution by 25 percent and increases fresh air and airflow by nearly 50 percent

The center was the first capital construction project for an academic facility at VCSU in 40 years VCSU is now the fourth higher education institution in North Dakota with a LEED building on campus.

Kraus-Anderson, JLG win Watford City high school, event center project

Kraus-Anderson Construction Co will build a new district high school and adjoining event and recreation center in Watford City, N.D. The combined project costs are estimated to exceed $100 million The construction of the high school is a joint venture between KA and Grand Forks, N.D.-based Construction Engineers Inc Both the hig h school and event center are designed by JLG Architects

Construction is expected to be complete in early 2016

SDSMT reports 98 percent placement

The South Dakota School of Mines and Technology’s Career and Professional Development Center has found that the average starting salary for its 2012-’13 graduates was just over $62,000, with a 98 percent placement rate Geological engineers had the highest average starting salary about $70,000 and reported a 100 percent placement rate

Beginning this fall, the school will offer a minor in petroleum systems as a way to help meet the needs of the region’s energy sector and continue to attract students to the sector It will serve as the educational component of a broader Energy Resource Initiative, which will serve upstream and downstream energy industries and encompass a laboratory for petrophysics/geomechanics work

Avera announces building plan for Mitchell

Avera Health and Avera Queen of Peace Hospital announced in June plans to build a three-story medical office building in Mitchell, S D , with expectations of also building a new hosptital and related facilities on the 30-acre property in the future.

The location, named Grassland Health Campus, was purchased from the Mitchell Area Development Corp approximately two years ago for $1.6 million. The medical office building will be a 70,000-square-foot, three-story building and is expected to cost $16 5 million In June, the organization anticipated breaking ground on the facility this month

BWBR Architects designed the campus concept, which includes multiple buildings, green space, walking space and a greater focus on health and wellness, according to Avera.

GrandStay Hotel to be built in Valley City

GrandStay Hospitality LLC recently signed a franchise agreement with VC Lodging LLC, a group of Valley City, N.D., residents, to develop a hotel in Valley City The property will be operated by Fargo-based Discover Lodging Management Inc. In a press release announcing the development agreement, GrandStay said the hotel will be located near Interstate 94 The company also noted Valley City’s “thriving and robust business community,” which includes John Deere Seeding Group, Eagle Creek Services Software, Valley City Regional Technology Center. Valley City State University is also a draw in the community, having been ranked 2014’s second best regional college in the Midwest by U S News & World Report

NRHA names top 20 US critical access hospitals

The National Rural Health Association recently announced the top 20 critical access hospitals in the U.S., as determined by iVantage Health Analytics Included on the list were Carrington Health Center in Carrington, N D , Madison Community Hospital in Madison, S D , and West River Regional Medical Center in Hettinger, N.D.

Hospitals were selected based on eight criteria, including: competitive strength, competitive intensity, market size and growth, quality, outcomes, patient perspective, cost and charge and financial stability

“Our focus has been quality care for the patient and it’s truly gratifying to be recognized nationally for our efforts and success in quality patient outcomes and efficiency,” West River Regional CEO Jim Long said in a statement.

Center for Innovation offers federal grant workshop

The University of North Dakota Center for Innovation has received a $90,000 grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration to encourage more North Dakota businesses to participate in the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technolog y Transfer programs The center will host a workshop Aug 13 to explain the programs and provide advice on grant writing. For more information, email tyler@innovators.net.

Eide Bailly acquires Colorado firm

Eide Bailly has acquired For t Collins, Colo.-based Sample & Bailey CPAs, bringing the firm's number of employees to 1,449, including 211 partners Eide Bailly CEO Dave Stende says the addition of Sample & Bailey compliments the firm’s other locations and provides a gateway into northern Colorado and Wyoming

Eide Bailly now has 23 offices in 11 states.

Daktronics to upgrade Xcel Energy Center tech

Brookings, S D -based Daktronics has partnered with the Minnesota Wild to upgrade the technology at Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minn. The upgrade will include a custom HD LED center-hung video board that is nearly six times larger than the current video board as well as new outdoor marquees and ribbon displays. The new elements will be largely manufactured at Daktronics’ Redwood Falls, Minn , facility The upgrade is expected to be complete prior to the Wild’s first home preseason game on Sept. 27.

Stanley Consultants selected for NDDOT signage project

Global consulting engineering firm Stanley Consultants has been selected by the North Dakota Department of Transportation to assess the condition of all regulatory and warning signs in the Bismarck District that are older than 10 years to determine if replacement is necessary.

Stanley Consultants was founded in Muscatine, Iowa, in 1913 and has since expanded to include locations around the world The company opened a Bismarck office in 2012 and has since provided transportation services on several local projects It is currently redesigning intersections on U S Highway 83

Essentia Health CEO to retire

Essentia Health CEO Dr Peter Person announced he will retire in 2015. Person joined the Duluth Clinic as an internist in 1981. In 1995 he was named Duluth Clinic president and in 1997 he became CEO of the SMDC Health System, an integration of the Duluth Clinic and St. Mary’s Medical Center He continued seeing patients until 2000, when he moved to administration full-time

SMDC was the first of several successful system integrations Person facilitated during his career, including the formation of Essentia Health in 2004 The largest integration added Fargo-based Innovis Health in 2008. Person has served as Essentia’s CEO since its inception in 2004

Essentia’s board of directors has launched a national search for Person’s replacement, with a focus on finding a physician with extensive administrative leadership experience

Rapid City Regional Hospital names VP, medical affairs

Dr Robert Houser has accepted the role of vice president of medical affairs at Rapid City Regional Hospital. In this role, he will provide physician perspective on the administrative team and serve as a physician advocate promoting effective physician, hospital and system relationships.

Houser has been an RCRH hospitalist since June 2008 and currently serves as the co-medical director of hospitalist services.

Schuler joins AE2S

AE2S (Advanced Engineering and Environmental Services Inc.) has hired Stacey Schuler as an engineering technician in its Moorhead, Minn , office She is part of the firm’s water practice and is responsible for drafting plans for various projects, including the Breckenridge, Minn , water treatment plant and the Western Area Supply Project in northwestern North Dakota

Before joining AE2S, Schuler was a civil engineer on various land planning and underground utility layout projects in Florida She has more than 20 years of experience as an engineering designer, drafter and technician.

Hoskins named Ulteig COO

Jason Hoskins has been promoted to the position of chief operating officer at Ulteig. In this role, he will be responsible for aligning the strategic direction and prioritizing company investments across the technical departments

He joined Ulteig in 1999 and previously served as market leader, senior vice president, sector leader and, most recently, technical director for the substation He has a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from North Dakota State University.

He will continue to be based in the St Paul, Minn , office and will report to CEO Eric Michel

Feil to lead Starion’s Bismarck-Mandan market

Jay Feil has been named Bismarck-Mandan, N.D., market president for Starion Financial. He has been market president of the Mandan branch for more than 22 years and will now oversee both markets. As market president, he is responsible for the management of all branch locations including staff, financial and sales performance

Feil joined Starion when the bank opened its Mandan branch 25 years ago. He has 36 years of industry experience

First International Bank & Trust promotes Elsner

First International Bank and Trust in Fargo has promoted Sean Elsner to assistant vice president Elsner joined the bank in 2010 and is a commercial and ag lender at its 25th Street branch, where he is responsible for examining, evaluating, authorizing and recommending approval of customer applications for commercial and ag loans

Ackerman-Estvold welcomes civil engineers

Minot, N D -based Ackerman-Estvold has hired former interns Nathan Amick and Eric Merck as civil engineers

Amick joined the firm in 2009 as a part-time intern and served in that capacity for five years He graduated from North Dakota State University this year with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. He currently works in the firm’s water resources division.

Merck joined the firm in 2011 as a part-time intern and served in that capacity until his graduation from NDSU in May with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. He currently works in the firm’s transportation division

Ulteig adds 3 to Fargo office

Ulteig recently hired Paul Deutsch and Kory Kleinknecht as graduate engineers in civil services and Derek Spitzer as a project manager All are based in the firm’s Fargo,N D , office

Deutsch previously worked as a graduate student design assistant at DOT Support Center in Fargo He has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from North Dakota State University, where he is pursuing a master’s degree in civil engineering

Kleinknecht previously served as a student design assistant for the North Dakota Department of Transportation Support Center. He has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from NDSU

Spitzer worked previously as a project manager for D&M Industries in Fargo He holds a bachelor’s degree in hospitality and tourism management from NDSU and a master’s degree in project management from the University of Mary in Bismarck