Using internships to find employees in a hot job market

BY HAROLD STANISLAWSKI

The job market is mighty hot for certain skills in our region. As an economic development official, workforce is one of my highest priorities to grow and retain the region’s economy. I want to highlight what the hottest jobs are according to one useful and credentialed source we use, the Minnesota Regional Career Supplement, published by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.

This publication shows the potential job availability and wages for the hottest occupations in west-central Minnesota. The information in the publication can help users find the right job or college program and understand which skills employers in the region will be looking for.

The occupations featured in this publication are selected because they have a bright outlook, or are in high demand in the west-central region and are projected to stay that way. Many of these jobs also offer high pay compared to other occupations in the region.

The occupations in this article, however, are not the only good career opportunities in this region. Visit www.iseek.org/jobs/regional.html to see job availability and salary information for more than 400 occupations in the west-central region and other parts of Minnesota.

Some of the good career opportunities in this region include: construction equipment operators; bookkeeping and accounting clerks; executive secretaries; teacher assistants; accountants and auditors; emergency medical technicians, licensed practical nurses, medical and health services managers, and registered nurses; institution and cafeteria cooks; network and computer systems professionals; computer-controlled machine tool operators, industrial machinery mechanics, inspectors and machinists; industrial engineers, electrical engineers and technicians.

Fergus Falls, Minn., is hosting a Career Expo on Dec. 5 at the Fergus Falls High School for grades nine through 12. The event features IT jobs with Best Buy’s GEEK Squad, which routinely has positions available in our region, along with health care institutions, manufacturers and a host of agricultural and business entities.

I am told that in 2014 more businesses will begin offering job shadowing opportunities, as well as internships, to both college and high school students. The Minnesota High Tech Association is offering a dollar-for-dollar matching stipend of 50 percent of a student intern's wages (up to $2,500) on a first-come, first-hired basis. The students are recruited and prescreened by MHTA. To qualify, students must be at least 18 years of age, a Minnesota resident or attending a college in Minnesota, and have good grades. They must be in their second year in a two-year school or a junior in a four-year school and must be pursuing science, technology, engineering or math degrees.

Qualifying businesses must be a for-profit business and have 250 employees or less. The internship must offer hands-on industry experience and be involved in one of these industries: aerospace/defense, agriculture, food, forestry, biotechnology and life sciences, engineering services, fuels, energy, energy management, IT/computer technology, mining, materials, manufacturing and processing.

One of the best ways to find an employee is through an internship. I encourage employers to take a look at this program offered through the private sector Minnesota High Tech Association. PB

Harold Stanislawski Executive director Fergus Falls Economic Improvement Commission Harold.stanislawski@ci.fergus-falls.mn.us

Minot, Williston engineering/architect firms merge

Minot, N.D.-based engineering firm Ackerman-Estvold has merged with Williston, N.D.-based civil engineering firm AmeriTech Engineering Corp. and Williston-based architectural building planning and construction facilitating services firm ABC Building Concepts LLC. Ackerman-Estvold President and CEO Ryan Ackerman says the merger will expand the firm’s on-the-ground presence over a larger geographical area. The firm now includes more than 75 employees in Minot and Williston.

Valley Imports gets Porsche award

Fargo-based auto dealership Valley Imports was recently awarded Porsche’s 25 Years of Service award. Valley Imports has sold an estimated 1,750 new and pre-owned Porsches since opening in 1975. Many unique models have been sold through the dealership over the past 38 years, including one of only 124 Carrera GT2 RS models sold in the U.S.

VCSU celebrates completion of science center renovation

State officials, including Lt. Gov. Drew Wrigley, and Valley City State University faculty, staff and students recently dedicated the university’s newly renovated Rhoades Science Center, The center, which is focused on STEM

(science, technology, engineering and math) education, underwent a $10.3 million renovation using funding provided through the 2011 legislative session. The renovation included a complete interior remodel of the center, which was originally built in 1973, and a 27,000square-foot addition.

Fargo, Williston, Denver companies form JV for Williston Jet Center

Fargo Jet Center has formed a joint venture with Denver-based Ross Aviation and Williston, N.D.-based Overland Aviation to purchase the assets of Williston’s current fixedbased operation (FBO) and operate it as Williston Jet Center. Tanner Overland has been named general manager of the new operation. Aircraft maintenance and air taxi charter services will be provided in cooperation with Fargo Jet Center. Jim Sweeney, president of Williston Jet Center, says plans are underway to improve the FBO’s existing facilities to accommodate Williston’s growth in demand.

Essentia gets top grade in ACO accreditation

Essentia Health is one of the first two organizations in the U.S. to receive the highest level of accreditation as an Accountable Care Organization. The level 3 designation from the National Committee for Quality Assurance recognizes Essentia’s efforts to protect patient rights,

Sanford Pentagon opens for business

The five-sided, 16,000-squarefoot, 3,200-seat Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D., opened in October with an NBA exhibition game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Milwaukee Bucks. The facility, which features nine basketball courts, including a 1950s-‘60s-inspired Heritage Court, is expected to host a variety of events that will draw attendees from the entire upper Midwest.

offer accessible health care, have a solid foundation of patient-centered primary care, use care coordination to manage populations of patients, and monitor practice patterns and use performance data to improve quality.

SDSU offers biochemistry Ph.D

South Dakota State University has received approval from the South Dakota Board of Regents to offer a doctoral degree in biochemistry. The university has offered a biochemistry track within its doctoral program in chemistry since 2005, but found it difficult to recruit students to the program who wanted to pursue a biochemistry degree. The new degree is expected to assist in recruitment and retention, and to support the state’s emphasis on bioscience as a sector for development.

Iowa manufacturer expands to South Dakota

Granite, Iowa-based Agile Manufacturing LLC, a manufacturer of material handling equipment for agricultural and industrial applications, is expanding its operations to Worthing, S.D. The expansion will create 10 jobs initially. The South Dakota Governor’s Office of Economic Development provided low-interest financing to assist with the expansion.

Granite is located just outside Sioux Falls, S.D. Worthing is located in Lincoln County and is a suburb of Sioux Falls.

Hoge named interim director of NDSU research park

Long-time board member Chuck Hoge has been named interim executive director of the North Dakota State University Research and Technology Park. In this role, he will be responsible for supporting the park’s clients by maintaining programs, especially for startup companies in the technology incubator. He takes the place of previous interim executive director Brenda Wyland, who accepted a position as director of marketing for Appareo Systems.

Hoge has served on the board of directors for the NDSU Research and Technology Park for most of its existence. He brings executive-level leadership experience as former president and CEO of Bobcat Co. and former CEO of Otter Tail Corp.’s manufacturing platform.

The park is initiating a strategic planning process to determine its future direction and will search for a permanent executive director after the strategic plan is developed in early 2014.

Rapid City Regional Hospital announces COO

Michael “Mick” Gibbs has accepted the position of chief operating officer at Rapid City (S.D.) Regional Hospital. Gibbs served most recently as vice president for the heart, vascular, surgery and radiology programs at Sanford Health in Fargo. He also served as vice president of clinic operations at Sanford Health in Fargo from 2008 to 2010. Prior to that, he spent eight years at Regional Health, serving in various positions including CEO of Gordon Memorial Hospital in Gordon, Neb., and vice president of professional services at RCRH.

Ressler named ND IT chief information officer

North Dakota Gov. Jack Dalrymple named Mike Ressler chief information officer (CIO) of the state’s Information Technology department. Ressler has served as interim CIO since June. Prior to being appointed interim chief, Ressler served as deputy CIO and director of operations since 1997. For the past 16 years, he has been responsible for the department’s overall strategic planning, management and operations.

EAPC adds Schimke as health care services director

EAPC Architects Engineers has hired Stanley Schimke as director of health care services. He has 27 years of experience in medical architecture and was most recently employed with Mohagen | Hansen Architectural Group in Wayzata, Minn., where he was director of health care. His focus at EAPC will be on building longterm strategic relationships, marketing health care projects and clients, and leading project teams and staff mentoring.

Anderson to head public relations at KK BOLD offices

Debra Anderson has been selected to serve as director of public relations for KK BOLD offices in Bismarck and Minot, N.D. She brings 25 years of experience in health and education public relations and marketing to the position. She is a graduate of the University of North Dakota and a native of Westhope, N.D.

WBI Energy promotes 3

WBI Energy Inc., a subsidiary of MDU Resources Group Inc., has promoted three of its employees.

Scott Fradenburgh has been promoted to vice president of operations. He began his career with the company in 1981 and has held numerous positions since that time, most recently as director of pipeline operations.

Rob Johnson has been promoted to vice president of market services. He has been with the company since 1983 and served most recently as director of market services and system planning.

Stephanie Barth has been promoted to controller. She joined the company in 1996 and served most recently as director –financial planning and reporting.

Rachel Contracting names Klimmek vice president/ND group manager

Minneapolis area-based civil contracting firm Rachel Contracting has promoted Kevin Klimmek to the position of vice president/North Dakota group manager. The newly created position is in response to the continually increasing level of activity in northwest North Dakota, according to the company. The company is currently involved in several projects in the area. Klimmek served previously as a senior project manager/estimator for the company. He has 20 years of construction-related experience in the heavy civil industry primarily in Arizona, Minnesota and North Dakota.

School of Mines music director named SD professor of the year

James Feiszli, director of music at the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology has been named the 2013 South Dakota Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The awards program celebrates outstanding instructors across the country and is sponsored by the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

Feiszli received the award in recognition for his success in building a music program at a school for engineering and technology, recognizing the connections between music learning and engineering/science learning and demonstrating the advantages of learning both disciplines simultaneously, according to the judging panel.

Feiszli joined the school in 1983. In 2011, he received the presidential award for outstanding professor.

Home Federal Bank hires F-M regional president

Sioux Falls, S.D.-based Home Federal Bank has hired Brent Wersinger as Fargo-Moorhead regional president. In this position, he will lead and expand the bank’s business development efforts in North Dakota. Wersinger served previously as vice president/business banking manager at Western State Bank.

MSU Moorhead professor named Minn. professor of the year

Brian Wisenden, a biosciences professor at Minnesota State University Moorhead, has been named the 2013 Minnesota Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The awards program celebrates outstanding instructors across the country and is sponsored by the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

Wisenden joined MSUM’s biosciences department in 1998 and is credited by his peers for playing a crucial role in creating a vibrant research community throughout the department. He is the 10th professor at MSUM to be recognized by the Carnegie Foundation and the third member of MSUM biosciences department to receive the award in the past eight years.

Marco promotes Pflepsen

Marco Inc. has promoted Dan Pflepsen to IT sales manager for the northwest region. Plfepsen has more than eight years of experience in the IT industry and has a sales and management degree from St. Cloud (Minn.) Technical College. He has been with Marco since 2005.

SDSU Foundation expands development staff

Reid Jensen has joined the South Dakota State University Foundation as development director for the student affairs division. He has 15 years of experience in financial services, trust administration and banking.

Amanda Nielsen has joined the foundation as development director for the College of Education and Human Sciences. She previously served as a development manager for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in Sioux Falls, S.D.