Workforce Development Center fills training need

MOORHEAD, Minn. – A new Workforce Development Center will help M State expand its employee training opportunities.

The just-opened center at the Minnesota State Community and Technical College in Moorhead is part of M State’s Workforce Development Solutions division, which delivers more than 100,000 hours in workforce development training to over 6,000 men and women annually.

WDS has provided worker training for more than 500 companies in northwestern Minnesota and eastern North Dakota during the past 20 years, M State reported.

The new center will expand on-campus opportunities for both credit and non-credit hands-on training in the Fargo-MoorheadWest Fargo area.

“We’ll now have the flexibility to deliver training either on site or on campus for our business and industry partners – whatever meets the needs and objectives of our partners,” said WDS Executive Director G.L. Tucker.

WDS offers training in the areas of business technology, electrical, leadership development, mechanical/technical, safety and compliance, transportation and health care.

The mobile classrooms deliver on-site training for area businesses and industries in safety, welding, manufacturing and commercial driver’s license. PB

With this issue, Prairie Business announces our 2017 list of 40 Under 40 -- 40 high achievers from across our region, all of whom are under 40 years old.

We received more than 100 nominations for the award, and with so many exceptional nominees, narrowing the list down to 40 was difficult. But we did our best, and we emerged more confident than ever in the quality of the up-and-coming leaders of the Dakotas and western Minnesota.

At the end of each biographical note, we’ve included a quote in italics from that person’s nomination form. The forms were submitted by one or more of the individual’s peers.

Katie Andersen has served as mayor of Jamestown since 2010. In 2017, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum appointed her to the State Water Commission. She is the 2017-2018 president of the North Dakota League of Cities.

Andersen is a board member for the Jamestown/Stutsman Development Corp., Jamestown Regional Airport Authority and Jamestown/Stutsman County Joint Law Enforcement Center. She is president of the Jamestown Regional Entrepreneurship Center and past president of the Jamestown Rotary Club.

She has a bachelor’s degree in political science from South Dakota State University. She is a downtown business owner, and she and her husband, Ryan, have two children, Camron (11) and Keira (6).

“As a young person, Andersen was elected to the top position in Jamestown government. … She identified top community needs and addressed them. She acted as a change agent for economic development and created new and better processes that lead to better outcomes.”

Katie Andersen

AGE: 36 MAYOR, JAMESTOWN, N.D.

Mike Angland

AGE: 39 ARCHITECT

VICE PRESIDENT AND SHAREHOLDER, WIDSETH SMITH NOLTING BAXTER, MINN.

Architect Mike Angland, AIA, is a vice president and shareholder of Widseth Smith Nolting, as well as the architectural team coordinator in the firm’s Brainerd/Baxter office. His notable recent projects include Mills Fleet Farm stores in Hermantown and Monticello, Minn.; Cuyuna Brewing Company, Crosby, Minn.; Crow Wing County (Minn.) facilities; Timberlake Hotel, Staples, Minn.; and many others.

A 2001 graduate of Iowa State University’s College of Design, Angland came to the Brainerd area in 2004. He joined Widseth Smith Nolting in 2012 with 12 years of experience in the fields of architecture and construction. He is a registered architect in Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin.

“As vice president in the firm and architectural team coordinator and with his leadership roles and involvement throughout the community, Mike is a solid asset to Widseth Smith Nolting and one of the firm’s next generation of leaders.”

Justin Axness

AGE: 37

OWNER AND PRESIDENT, TF POWERS CONSTRUCTION CO. FARGO, N.D.

Since 2003, Justin Axness has worked with TF Powers, one of the region’s oldest general contractors. He became president of the company in 2013 and sole owner in 2017.

TF Powers has built more than 1,100 structures in the region, and Axness has worked on several distinctive projects including North Dakota State University’s Wallman Wellness Center Aquatics Addition, Minnesota State University Moorhead’s Livingston Lord Library and Discovery Elementary in Grand Forks.

Axness graduated from Minnesota State University Moorhead with a degree in construction management. He is a founding member of Vistage International Group 4057 and belongs to the Fargo-Moorhead-West Fargo Chamber of Commerce and Greater Fargo Moorhead Economic Development Corp., among other groups. He and his wife, Rachel, are the proud parents of four children under the age of 10.

“The firm will soon celebrate its 125th year of business in Fargo. Justin took sole possession in early 2017. … It’s hard to understand how dynamic the firm is and the role that Justin plays unless you understand TF Powers’ exceptional history, reputation and clientele.”

Carrie Biondi

AGE: 31

VICE PRESIDENT OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & CLIENT SERVICE, LAWRENCE & SCHILLER SIOUX FALLS, S.D.

Carrie Biondi began her career at Lawrence & Schiller – a marketing and advertising agency – as an account coordinator, with clients that included the South Dakota Department of Tourism.

After being promoted to account executive, account supervisor and business-development director, she began serving as vice president of business development and client service.

In this role, she’s overseen a period of agency growth and the acquisition of multiple key clients.

Biondi is one of the youngest members of Lawrence & Schiller’s executive team. She has volunteered for the Sioux Empire United Way and served on the board of Compassion Song, an organization that gives local children the chance to play a musical instrument.

She’s a member of the USS South Dakota’s Commissioning Committee and a graduate of Leadership Sioux Falls.

“Carrie thinks eight steps ahead as a group director and VP of business development. … There’s no mistaking her passion for travel and tourism or her deep knowledge of the industry.”

Jim Boulger

AGE: 32

OWNER AND FUNERAL DIRECTOR, BOULGER FUNERAL HOME, FARGO, N.D.; WILDEMAN-BOULGER FUNERAL HOME, HILLSBORO, N.D.; FREDRIKSON-BOULGER FUNERAL CHAPEL, KINDRED, N.D.

A Fargo native, Jim Boulger returned home to take over the family business and now acts as licensed funeral director and owner of Boulger Funeral Home and two other funeral homes.

Boulger graduated from the University of St. Thomas with a business-administration degree and the University of Minnesota with a degree in mortuary science.

In recent years, he has added technology upgrades, redesigned the website, modernized the facilities and manages everything from family and client relations to marketing and human resources.

He’s involved in the community, with the goal to grow his business as Fargo grows while maintaining the family and service focus for which Boulger Funeral Home is known.

“Jim always says that funerals are for the living, and he lives by that. …Unfortunately, death isn’t scheduled, and a funeral director’s work isn’t 9 to 5. But whether you call Jim at 9 a.m. or 3 a.m., you’ll get the same compassion, empathy and service.”

Benjamin Brandt

AGE: 33

CHIEF LEGAL COUNSEL, ALTRU HEALTH SYSTEM GRAND FORKS, N.D.

Meghan Compton is chief legal counsel for Altru Health System. She and her team are responsible for legal affairs, regulatory compliance, privacy and risk management.

Additionally, she has oversight of credentialing and privileging providers, patient relations and governmental affairs for Altru Health System.

Compton graduated from the University of North Dakota with a degree in philosophy and communications and went on to graduate from the University of North Dakota School of Law. Before she joined Altru in 2012, she worked in private practice.

She currently serves as a board member for the Grand Forks Downtown Development Association and the Valley Memorial Foundation Board.

“Meghan is a member of Altru’s executive team – the youngest member. … Yet she is always poised and calm and ready to take on whatever comes next.

“Not only that, but she also has a husband and three little boys at home. She is a wonder woman.”

AGE: 36 FOUNDER, CAPITAL CITY WEALTH MANAGEMENT BISMARCK, N.D.

Benjamin Brandt, a certified financial planner, is the founder of Capital City Wealth Management, a retirement planning company.

Brandt teaches people how to retire through his popular podcast, “Retirement Starts Today Radio,” and blog. He also teaches retirement topics as part of Bismarck State College’s Adult Enrichment programs.

Brandt served in the National Guard under the 1st Infantry Division during a 15-month deployment to Iraq, tasked with clearing improvised explosive devices.

His firm was the first in North Dakota to be recognized by the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors for the company’s “fee-only” status, which means that it refuses to sell financial products for sales commissions.

Brandt and his wife, Kristen, have three children and are also a foster family.

“With episodes twice per month, listenership of RST Radio has grown rapidly, making the podcast one of the fastest-growing retirement planning podcasts on iTunes with over 2,500 downloads per month.”

Holly Gruhlke

AGE: 32

CHAIR AND ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF BUSINESS, DICKINSON STATE UNIVERSITY DICKINSON, N.D.

Patrick Gulbranson is the CEO of Family HealthCare, a nonprofit primary medical and dental care organization with locations in Fargo, West Fargo and Moorhead.

Gulbranson earned his master’s degree in public, human service and health administration from Minnesota State University Moorhead and his bachelor’s degree in health care and long-term care administration from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn.

He previously served as Family HealthCare’s COO before becoming CEO in 2014.

Gulbranson serves on the boards of Quality Health Associates of North Dakota and the Community HealthCare Association of the Dakotas. He’s also a member of the Moorhead Rotary Club, and he and his wife, Alicia, enjoy attending their three kids’ various activities.

“Gulbranson is a direct reflection of the broad value of what the region has to offer. … He is visionary, dedicated and humble, and he demonstrates servant leadership at every turn.”

In the past six months, Holly Gruhlke defended her dissertation, completed her doctorate and was named chair of Dickinson State University’s nationally recognized School of Business and Entrepreneurship.

Gruhlke teaches management and strategy. In 2016, DSU recognized her as the Outstanding Teacher of the Year in Education, Business, and Applied Sciences, and in 2017, she was given the university’s highest honor, Distinguished Educator of the Year.

Gruhlke’s research has been published in the Leadership & Organizational Management Journal, Ethics Journal and Career Journal, among others. She has presented at national conferences, serves on CHI St. Alexius’ Patient and Family Advisory Board and is a member of the Power of 100 Women.

“To be named a chair at age 30 is an incredible accomplishment. … Gruhlke’s teaching philosophy, which she lives every day, is: ‘Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.’”