Prairie Business December 2020

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WHAT A PAST 40 UNDER 40 RECIPIENT IS DOING TO HELP OTHER BUSINESSES

PAGE 16 40 UNDER 40 RECIPIENTS CHECK OUT THIS YEAR’S

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A salute to 40 of the region’s Emplary young professionals

Welcome to one of the most special editions of Prairie Business – the December issue, in which the magazine shares profiles of this year’s 40 Under 40 recipients. It’s a list of young professionals who are making a difference in their careers and communities, all of them under the age of 40.

Every time the nomination period rolls around, Prairie Business staff is excited to learn about the many young leaders around the region. This year was no exception, pandemic or not.

While the individuals listed here are, indeed, exceptional leaders and worthy to be included in this celebratory issue, that didn’t make the selection process any less difficult. The magazine received well more than 100 nominations, making the selection process challenging. We walked away encouraged to see so many qualified professionals, and how they continue to impact the organizations and industries in which they work and lead.

We can all learn something valuable from their examples, and Prairie Business thanks and congratulates each and every one of them for setting the bar high.

We also salute those individuals who did not make the list this year. Their contributions and successes also are noticed and deserve recognition. For those whose nominations did not make the list this time, please submit again next year.

For now, we put our best foot forward and did our best selecting this year’s recipients.

You can read about some of their successes in the pages that follow. Keep reading, because there also are stories about what’s trending with insurance, website and cybersecurity tips from a recent technology conference, and what one former 40 Under 40 recipient is doing to help other businesses develop and grow their leadership teams.

It’s enough to keep you reading for a while, and we hope you enjoy the experience.

Since it is December, Prairie Business also extends the warmest of holiday wishes to each of you, our readers. Thanks for all you do.

Until next time, Andrew Weeks

I look forward to hearing from you at aweeks@prairiebusinessmagazine.com or 701-780-1276.

AD DIRECTOR STACI LORD EDITOR ANDREW WEEKS

CIRCULATION MANAGER BETH BOHLMAN

LAYOUT DESIGN JAMIE HOYEM

ACCOUNT MANAGER

NICHOLE ERTMAN 800.477.6572 ext. 1162 nertman@prairiebusinessmagazine.com

Prairie Business magazine is published monthly by the Grand Forks Herald and Forum Communications Company with offices at 375 2nd Avenue North, Grand Forks, ND 58203. Subscriptions are available free of charge. Back issue quantities are limited and subject to availability ($2/copy prepaid). The opinions of writers featured in Prairie Business are their own. Unsolicited manuscripts, photographs, artwork are encouraged but will not be returned without a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

SUBSCRIPTIONS

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ADDRESS CORRECTIONS

Prairie Business magazine Box 6008 Grand Forks, ND 58206-6008

Beth Bohlman: bbohlman@prairiebusinessmagazine.com

ONLINE www.prairiebusinessmagazine.com

Insured in uncertain times

Some items to keep an eye on with commercial insurance

By Andrew Weeks

The coronavirus pandemic has certainly impacted businesses across the country, including those that work in insurance, creating some new trends in the industry.

In interviews with Prairie Business, several insurance professionals in the region highlighted some of the trends they are noticing currently and what owners should keep an eye on as they prepare to move into a new year.

Commercial property insurance

Something that seems to be trending in the commercial property market is increased rates. That market “has been much more difficult,” said Kevin Bowen, marketing director for Vaaler Insurance. “Rates have gone up and seem to be continuing that way.”

Bowen, located in the company’s Bismarck office, said rates have increased by as much as 10% throughout the year on various lines of business.

The increase is driven, in part, because of business losses across the country caused by natural disasters. Mass riots, in which many businesses were vandalized this past summer, also contributed to higher rates. “The property losses in particular. I don’t know by how much,” Bowen said, “but I have heard from carriers that riots have contributed to property rates increasing.”

That might be difficult for some people to understand. Business owners may question how hurricanes in Florida or wildfires in California affect their insurance premiums in North Dakota. It basically is a ripple-effect scenario: When natural disasters and mass riots affect one part of the country, the waves in insurance are felt across the nation.

“It really comes down to the basics, the fundamentals of how insurance works. Essentially, it’s a large group of individuals and businesses sharing risk. For the companies that write insurance, those that we write with, that includes most of the states throughout the country and so that in turn impacts everybody’s insurance rates on a smaller scale.”

One question many businesses have asked, according to the insurance firms that Prairie Business interviewed, is if policies cover business loss related to COVID-19.

The short answer is, unfortunately, no.

The industry is threatened with litigation to retroactively alter insurance policies to cover the economic cost of the pandemic and widespread business closures, according to Marilyn Ternes, vice president of the Bismarck office of EMC Insurance Companies.

“However,” she said, “the industry’s policies generally exclude virus and bacteria exposures, and therefore insurers did not collect premium to cover these types of losses.”

She said requiring them to do so retroactively would be severely detrimental to the stability of the industry and all insurers. Instead, firms continue to help businesses in other ways during the pandemic.

“Insurers have placed great emphasis on serving and supporting customers, agents, employees and communities during the crisis,” she said, “through means such as return of premiums, payment term flexibility, donations to nonprofit organizations, no-layoff pledges, work-from-home solutions to protect employees and prevent community spread, and more.”

Some positive news for pandemic coverage might be on the horizon, according to Tom Tvedt and Steve Ness of Moorhead Insurance, but if so it’d be a while before it is realized and won’t do much for those businesses impacted now.

“We’re seeing some legislation being put forth to see if there would be some type of coverage available under commercial business policies,” Tvedt said. “Right now there is not.”

Ness explained that if civil authority prohibits access to an insurance location because of direct physical damage, under a covered cause of loss, the civil authority coverage could be triggered. “However,” he said, “viruses and bacteria are excluded causes of loss in most policies industry wide.”

He and Tvedt operate a small business, as do many of the clients they work with, and have empathy for what many are experiencing right now. They are hopeful that items will be put in place to cover future losses related to viruses. As they explained it, after the terrorist attacks in 2001 legislation was developed to include acts of terrorism in some insurance policies. Because COVID-19 has affected so many businesses, future policies may cover pandemics.

“A policyholder for a small business could then say, well, I’d like to purchase pandemic coverage,” Tvedt said. “It’d be exactly like what they did when we had 9/11.

continued on page 14

CO NGRATULATIONS

Congratulations to ChrisDahlonbeing recognizedin thePrairieBusiness202040Under40list!

ChrisDahlhasbeenplanning,designing,delivering,andconstructing roadsandbridgesinNorthDakota andMinnesota forthepast14 years.Heisanenergeticandpositiveleaderthatengagesstaffand takesgreatprideinmentoringanddevelopingtheabilitiesofhiscoworkers.Thefundamentalsofhis personalityaretobehonestandsincere, respect everyone’s opinion,listenandunderstand,admitwhen youare wrongandlearnfromit,andmostimportantlychallenge yourself

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continued From page 12

All of a sudden there was coverage for terrorism, where that was not in place before.”

Cybersecurity policies tick upward

Auto insurance, which has been increasing for a while because of the bad habits of drivers, continues to trend and so does insurance for cybersecurity, especially since many companies sent their employees home to work remotely this year.

As more people now work remotely, Bowen said, there is greater risk of exposure to company networks and systems whereby important data could be compromised. As such, many more businesses are inquiring about cybersecurity policies, a trend that will likely continue into the foreseeable future.

Ness and Tvedt did that very thing this year — sent their employees home to work.

“We had extra expenses to incur with that, Tvedt said, “but we now have cyber liability on exposures that may be present because people are working from home. It’s another trend, if you will, that we started

seeing not too long ago, where you can buy a cyber liability endorsement. It costs more money, but it protects you in case somebody hacks into your network or gets a hold of your client database.”

Looking ahead

Insurance is a topic to revisit because, as Ternes said, the pandemic “will no doubt have a large impact on insurers, just as it will impact all individuals, businesses and the economy as a whole. The pandemic’s impacts cannot yet be fully known, as we remain in a rapidly changing environment.”

One thing seems to be certain, however, she said: Insurers will play a critical role as businesses reopen and operate in this ever-changing environment.

“Insurers will continue to provide important financial protection for the businesses that depend on them for the risks they insured as stated in their insurance policy,” Ternes said.

“In terms of overall outlook for the industry, in 2021 we expect to see a firming of the insurance market due to rising catastrophe and reinsurance costs, as well as social inflation like increasing jury verdicts and legal costs. 2020 was an unusual year with COVID-19 challenges, but the industry remains fundamentally strong.”

Bowen has some advice for businesses, large and small: “I would say keep an eye on increasing rates,” he said. “Unfortunately, I hate to say it that way, but I don’t see it changing for the better. Insurance rates are likely to continue to increase over the next year at least. It’s called a hard market -- that’s the term for it -- and that’s really what we’re heading into, where basically insurance premiums increase, the rates increase, and the capacity that insurance companies are able to offer decreases. So it really tightens up the market.”

He also suggests business owners review and keep up with their insurance policies, even four to five months in advance of renewal to make sure they have the items they want and are able to obtain the best rates available. Owners also should do what they can to protect their business by implementing appropriate risk management strategies. Vehicle, building and equipment maintenance programs are examples, he said, as is having a formal safety program in place.

“I would probably say the last thing is, work with an insurance agent who can help you implement effective risk management strategies,” he said, “the things you don’t have.”

ANDREW WEEKS

EDITOR

David boll

David Boll

Age: 38

Team Manager/Principal Developer

Stoneridge Software

Fargo, N.D.

David Boll is a Team Manager/Principal Developer at Stoneridge Software. He is responsible for high quality delivery for the Enterprise Development team. He has a rare combination of skills with the deep technical chops required to take on difficult projects, while managing a team of elite individuals to achieve their best, and also providing a world-class client experience.

Boll graduated from NDSU with a computer science degree and a software engineering graduate certificate. Over the past 16 years, he has filled roles as a web developer, QA, ERP consultant developer, trainer, manager, and sales technical resource. Within the community, Boll is a licensed soccer coach and referee with TriCity United Soccer Club. In the past, he also served on the ITCND board, taught computer science as part of the TEALS program, and has helped with his son’s local scouting group. He views his roles within the workplace and outside of it as a service to others. He strives to help others achieve their goals in every situation and circumstance.

Jordan burbach

Prairie Business is pleased to announce this year’s winners of its annual 40 Under 40 contest.

While the individuals listed here are exceptional leaders and worthy of this recognition, that didn’t make the selection process any less difficult. The magazine received well more than 100 nominations, making the selection process challenging. It was encouraging to see so many qualified professionals, each of them making a difference in their careers and communities.

We put our best foot forward selecting this year’s recipients, and believe all of them are some of the region’s best and brightest up-and-coming young professionals, all of them under the age of 40.

From all of us at Prairie Business, congratulations!

Jordan Burbach

Age: 33

Principal Architect Architecture Incorporated

Rapid City, S.D.

Juggling family, career and community involvement is no easy undertaking, and Jordan Burbach does it with a smile on his face.

Burbach is a principal architect and partner at Architecture Incorporated, who leads the Rapid City office. He joined the firm in 2011 and since day one has proven himself an integral member of the team. He has an unrivaled work ethic and ensures that his clients receive the best service possible, often going above and beyond to ensure that clients’ expectations are exceeded in their interactions with the company’s team. Burbach is also a loving father of two young children and is involved with the Young Professionals Group of Rapid City. For the past several years he has assisted with planning the annual Design in the Hills Conference put on through the South Dakota chapter of the American Institute of Architects. He received his Master of Architecture and Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Design from Montana State University.

Ev olve d.

Perfectlydesigned to thriveinitsenvironment. Adaptableenoughtoevolvewiththetimes. Buildingsmar tfor asolidfuture.It’ssecond natureatKLJ.

LeeA nn Sta ff ne hasbeen cr it ical in ma inta iningtea mmoralea nd keepi ng Aler us of fices in Fa rgoa nd West Fa rgoopen du ri ng thepandemic. Herleadershipa nd passion forc lientser vice is inspirat ion al .A lerusisproudtocongrat ulateher for beingnamed one of Prai rieBusinessmagazine’sTop 40 Under4 0.

LEEANN STAFFN E LE AD FI NAN CIAL GUIDE

jessica Crist

Jessica Crist

Chris dahl

Age:

31 Chief Financial Officer

Lighthouse Commodities

Bismarck, N.D.

Jessica Crist has led Lighthouse Commodities through unprecedented growth since its inception in 2015. As Chief Financial Officer, Crist oversees regulation, finance, tax, accounting and human resources functions that support more than $100 million annually in international grain sales.

With several business structures, hundreds of counterparties, numerous commodities, multiple currencies and high volumes of daily transactions, all done with thin margins, the demands on a grain trading CFO are immense and require a skillset only a handful of people possess. Crist has rose to this challenge by developing a robust set of standardized procedures, a framework of controls and separation of duties, and regular internal audits to ensure Lighthouse remains in compliance with its regulating bodies and auditors while providing transparency for company stakeholders.

Moving forward, Crist’s primary focus is to utilize technology, automation, and data analytics to address companywide inefficiencies and reduce time spent on execution as well as make decisions that are fully informed by available data. A graduate of University of North Dakota, she resides in Bismarck with her husband, Matt.

Chris Dahl, P.E.

Age: 37

Transportation Project Manager Bolton & Menk, Inc. Fargo, N.D.

derek degeest

Derek DeGeest

Age: 39

President

DeGeest Corporation & LestaUSA

Tea, S.D.

Derek DeGeest is an innovator. As third generation President of DeGeest Corporation, his vision pushes the conventional boundaries of what’s possible in manufacturing. As a result, DeGeest Corporation is seen as a technology leader through software development, data analytics, automation, and the use of robotics throughout the steel manufacturing process.

Chris Dahl has been planning, designing, delivering, and constructing roads and bridges in North Dakota and Minnesota for the past 14 years. Since graduating from NDSU, he has gained experience across many facets of the civil engineering field and specializes in fixing problems. He has a passion for understanding why things don’t work and won’t rest until solutions are found. He is an energetic and positive leader that engages staff and takes great pride in mentoring and developing the abilities of his coworkers.

Dahl is also a believer in lifelong learning and strives to take on new challenges that get him out of his comfort zone to grow as both a professional and a person. He has an excellent balance of technical and interpersonal skills. The fundamentals of his personality are to be honest and sincere, respect everyone’s opinion, listen and understand, admit when you are wrong and learn from it, and most importantly challenge yourself. Dahl lives in Moorhead with his wife Jennifer and two daughters Madilyn, fifth grade, and Kaitlyn, third grade.

His entrepreneurial spirit also led him to seek a better solution for the North American finishing industry. As such, he has partnered with Italy-based Lesta Self-Learning Painting & Finishing Robots and now serves as President of LestaUSA. DeGeest is active in the community and is a vocal advocate for his industry, partnering with area technical colleges, high schools and middle schools to encourage students to choose rewarding careers in manufacturing and to develop the skills needed to succeed.

In 2019, he was named in Washington D.C. as Small Business Administration (SBA) Small Business Person of the Year for South Dakota.

DeGeest truly believes a rising tide lifts all boats. His accomplishments offer proof that he’s genuinely helping to ensure general manufacturing succeeds in the USA.

erin dickson

Erin Dickson

Age: 39

Senior Vice President, Strategy

Ten Acre Marketing Grand Forks, N.D.

Erin Dickson is an ag economist turned marketer, with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Economics and Master of Business Administration, both from North Dakota State University. She has spent nearly 20 years in the marketing field where she has sat on both sides of the desk, as a client and as an ad agency account manager.

Today, she is the Senior Vice President of Ten Acre Marketing, where she leads strategy and accounts. Driven by a passion to see her clients and the agriculture industry thrive, Dickson has built a reputation of being strategy-focused, yet always thinking outside the box.

A strong believer in the power of community, she has devoted her expertise to local organizations such as Rollin’ on the River Inline Skate Marathon, United Way of Greater Grand Forks, and the Grand Forks Downtown Rotary Club. She most recently helped her local rural community establish the Mini Monarchs Daycare Center, where she continues to serve as a board member.

Dickson and her husband, David, are raising their three children on their family farm near Gilby, N.D.

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Matt Dunlevy

Age: 33

CEO & Chairman SkySkopes Grand Forks, N.D.

matt dunlevy

Matt Dunlevy is the CEO, chairman, and founder of SkySkopes, a nationally leading unmanned aircraft systems flight operations company with offices across North Dakota and the United States. SkySkopes is North Dakota’s first unmanned aircraft startup certified by the Federal Aviation Administration to fly drones commercially and offers aerial inspections, energy audits and other aviation services. SkySkopes was ranked in 2020 as the No. 1 Drone Service Provider (DSP) in the United States by Drone Industry Insights, one of the world’s leading UAS market analyst firms.

A graduate of UND, Dunlevy has taught numerous courses at the University of North Dakota, including UAS in Business, UAS in Engineering, and the Ethics of UAS. Gov. Doug Burgum appointed Dunlevy to the board of the North Dakota Development Fund and the board of the State Historical Society of North Dakota. A member of numerous national boards for unmanned aircraft, Dunlevy was elected to a seat on the board of the Greater North Dakota Chamber nearly two years ago and serves as co-chair of military affairs in Grand Forks, N.D.

Craig A. Ehrmantraut

Age: 34

Senior Vice President/ Chief Credit Officer

Cornerstone Bank

Fargo, N.D.

craig A. ehrmantraut

Craig Ehrmantraut serves as the Chief Credit Officer for Cornerstone Bank and is located in the company’s Fargo market. He joined Cornerstone Bank in 2009 as a credit analyst and has served in a variety of roles throughout the organization, including financial analyst and business banker, giving him a strong foundation for his current role. Throughout his time at Cornerstone, he has proven himself to be an invaluable leader and part of the team.

Sean Elsner

Age: 33

Moorhead President

First International Bank & Trust Moorhead, Minn.

Sean Elsner has been with First International Bank & Trust since May 2010, starting just after he graduated from North Dakota State University. He has worked tirelessly over the past decade to grow his role at the bank and grow the bank’s reputation in the Fargo-Moorhead area.

As president of the bank’s Moorhead location, Elsner enhances existing relationships with the bank by ensuring the highest caliber of service. He has welcomed countless new customers into FIBT, with a focused concentration on new deposits and loans, as well as referrals to its insurance, wealth management, mortgage, and retail teams. Since he was named to the position in 2017, Elsner has overseen the growth of the location’s assets by approximately 700%.

Beyond his role at FIBT, he is active on the family farm in western Cass County and is hands-on and supportive of his wife’s business, Page Seed & Agronomy in Page, N.D. Elsner is active in his daughters gymnastics programs, Rotary Club, and volunteers countless hours at other community organizations. He enjoys hunting, fishing, and spending time with his wife, Paige, and their two daughters.

Ehrmantraut is a Fargo native and graduated from Minnesota State University Moorhead with a degree in economics. He is also a 2015 graduate of the FMWF Chamber Leadership program, 2016 graduate of the Dakota School of Banking, and a 2016 and 2017 mentor for the FMWF Chamber’s Young Entrepreneurs Academy. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife and their two kids.

Nick M. fiecke

Nick M. Fiecke

Age: 37

Senior Project Manager

Construction Engineers

Fargo, N.D.

Nick Fiecke is a Senior Project Manager based out of Construction Engineers’ (CE) Fargo office and lives in Hawley, Minn., with his wife, Brittani. Upon graduating high school in 2002, he enlisted in the Army National Guard as an engineer. Shortly after enlisting, he was deployed to Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom. After his return from Iraq, Fiecke attended Minnesota State University, Mankato, where he completed his bachelor’s degree. He went on to work for the Department of Veterans Affairs, serving veterans and their survivors. While working for the VA, he also pursued and completed his master’s degree at NDSU. Fiecke started working for CE in 2011 as an on-site quality control manager for the Consolidated Security Forces Facility at the Grand Forks Air Force Base. Since then, he has provided leadership and coordination on many successful projects including the UND Law School Expansion & Remodel, Watford City High School, Clay County Jail & Law Enforcement Center, and recently the new Fox Hills Elementary School in Watford City, N.D. Fiecke was also instrumental in establishing CE’s downtown Fargo office in 2015.

Sarah Chatelain-Gress

Age: 38

Executive Director & Cofounder

The Lotus Center, Inc.

Moorhead, Minn.

sarah chatelain -Gress

Sarah Chatelain-Gress entered the veterinary and medical world as a Phi Theta Kappa and National Dean’s List recipient in 2006. She returned to school at MSUM in 2010, earning a BA in social work with a master’s certificate in addiction counseling. She has dedicated the past decade to working alongside those faced with mental health and chemical dependency issues. Personal experience and loss ignited her passion to provide any individual seeking a better way of life a reprieve from their dependence on substances, which resulted in the co-founding of The Lotus Center, INC. in 2017, a harm reduction-based recovery center serving the Fargo-Moorhead area. She believes addiction is not solely a personal affliction, but a societal problem whose resolution lies within a supportive community and advocates there is not a black and white approach to addressing the disease. By entering “the gray zones,” accepting one’s ambivalence to the concepts of total abstinence, and compassionately cultivating opportunity to find self-betterment, recovery is possible.

A proud mother of three girls, Chatelain-Gress also has been involved in independent film “My Sister Sarah & Sundogs” and has been an honored speaker at public events in Los Angeles, and Austin, Texas.

Jon Griffin Age: 39

Chief Operations & Risk Officer Capital Credit Union Bismarck, N.D.

Jon Griffin joined Capital Credit Union in 2010 as director of risk management. He was promoted in 2014 to vice president of risk management and 2019 to his current position of Chief Operations and Risk Officer.

Throughout his 10 years at Capital Credit Union, Griffin has always exhibited a firm belief in credit union values. Although he doesn’t work directly with members in his current role, his work behind the scenes enriches members’ lives. He is an active participant in the Bismarck-Mandan community as a member of the Finance Council for Light of Christ Catholic Schools and pack and den leader for Cub Scouts. He is also a member of the North Dakota Governmental Affairs Committee and sits on the State Investment Board Audit Committee.

Griffin graduated from UND in 2005 with bachelor’s degrees in accounting and finance. He also earned an MBA from the University of Mary in 2015. He and his wife, Kelly, and their three children enjoy spending time with family and friends and camping. He also enjoys softball and distance running.

Jordan guck

Age: 31

Technical Manager

Ulteig

Detroit Lakes, Minn.

Jordan Guck is a licensed professional engineer with Ulteig, leading a team responsible for the planning, designing and construction of power substations. For his team, Guck oversees strategic direction, leadership, and technical services; resource planning; and professional development. His job also includes maintaining and developing positive relationships with existing and potential clients. In addition, he is involved in several company-wide initiatives and is a key member of the committee that drives Ulteig’s highly engaged employee-ownership culture.

Guck served as the design lead engineer for a recent complex expansion and rehabilitation of a power substation that was congested and plagued with deteriorating foundations. The significant challenge was to keep power uninterrupted while foundations were replaced. He presented on the remarkable success of this project at the 2019 Minnesota Power Systems Conference, and the project was selected for a 2020 American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) Honor Award for Minnesota.

Guck resides near Perham, Minn., with his wife, Donna, and four children, where they enjoy hunting, fishing and everything outdoors.

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Erin Dickson

skyler johnson

Ashton Hansen

Age: 33

Managing Director of Talent Acquisition

Allegro Group

Fargo, N.D.

Ashton hansen

Ashton Hansen is Managing Director of Talent Acquisition at Allegro Group, where she oversees the company’s talent acquisition division and team as they perform executive and professional searches on behalf of clients throughout the region and nationally. She has a decade of experience in talent acquisition strategy and excels at defining growth strategies and identifying talent that makes teams successful.

Throughout Hansen’s career, she has interviewed thousands of leaders and been a vital partner to more than 100 companies, giving her first-hand exposure to best-in-class talent and many of the region’s top organizational structures. Her work as an internal leader and external consultant spans from start-up companies to multi-billion-dollar organizations, and her dedication to helping those organizations succeed is unrivaled.

Hansen is passionate about helping organizations, leaders and her community grow. In addition to her professional role, she is a CTB board member, graduate of the United Way of Cass-Clay’s 35 Under 35 Women’s Leadership Program, past president of the Continuum Toastmasters Club and serves on volunteer committees for the YWCA and FMWF Chamber of Commerce.

Elliot Hitt

Age: 35

CPA, Tax Partner

Eide Bailly LLP

Sioux Falls, S.D.

elliot hitt

Elliot Hitt, a graduate of North Dakota State University with a BS in accountancy, has been working in public accounting for the last 11 years. As a tax partner with Eide Bailly, he serves clients in a wide variety of industries, including hospitality, retail, and manufacturing. Hitt also spends considerable time working with high net-worth individuals. He has a passion for helping clients meet their goals by utilizing planning and consultative techniques. Additionally, he has had great success mentoring the firm’s internal staff by providing opportunities to help them grow as professionals.

Skyler Johnson

Age: 36

Managing partner & Co-owner

Sage Legal, PLLC

East Grand Forks, Minn.

Skyler Johnson is an attorney, co-owner and managing partner with Sage Legal, PLLC. She helps clients in North Dakota and Minnesota gain peace of mind through business and estate planning. Her niche practice is uniquely client-centric, offering pricing transparency, a tech-forward process and clear communication. She truly is a likeable lawyer and tries to defy all the lawyer jokes.

Johnson received her Juris Doctor degree from the UND School of Law and her undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. (Don’t worry, she cheers for the Fighting Hawks now.) She is passionate about championing other female entrepreneurs and is the co-founder of the LadyBoss League – Greater Grand Forks, as well as a member of the Greater Grand Forks Women’s Leadership Cooperative.

Johnson is the current treasurer of the Greater Grand Forks County Bar Association and is a board member-elect for the 2021 Chamber of Grand Forks-East Grand Forks. When she is not lawyering, she enjoys working out, dining out and target shooting. She resides with her husband, Mark, and their three children.

Hitt is passionate in his service to clients, recruiting efforts and involvement in the community. He enjoys collaborating with clients to get the best outcome as individuals and business owners. He has long been active in the recruitment of new talent for Eide Bailly. He is involved in the creation and delivery of higher education presentations about public accounting. Outside of work, you may see him coaching a youth hockey game or teaching in a junior achievement classroom.

eric kittelson

Eric Kittelson

Age: 36

Marketing/ Product Information Director Fisher Industries Dickinson, N.D.

Eric Kittelson is the Marketing/Product Information Director for Fisher Industries. A 2007 graduate of the University of North Dakota, he started working for the company more than nine years ago in the General Steel and Supply Parts and Purchasing departments. Four years later, he became trained in the engineering software Solidworks Composer and started creating online parts and operation manuals for General Steel and Supply & Fisher Sand and Gravel’s equipment fleet.

Kittelson was promoted to his current role in 2017 and now spends most of his working hours handling donation and sponsorship requests, coordinating advertisement campaigns, monitoring social media accounts, planning employee appreciation functions, and producing parts and operation manuals of all the aggregate processing equipment in the Fisher Sand and Gravel/General Steel & Supply fleet. He also serves as the coordinator of the Southwest ND Manufacturers Group’s Junior Ambassador Program, a group that promotes careers in manufacturing to area high school students.

Kittelson is a certified high school volleyball official. He and his wife, Nicole, and their two daughters spend most of their free time at the lake or on the softball diamonds.

Scott Kolbinger

Age: 34

Civil Engineer Project Manager

KLJ

Fargo, N.D.

Scott Kolbinger

Shailoh kovash

Shailoh Kovash

Age: 36

Regional Vice President

Western Cooperative Credit Union

Dickinson, N.D.

Shailoh Kovash serves as the Regional Vice President of Western Cooperative Credit Union, overseeing the Human Resources & Payroll department. He started as an IT administrator and over the past eight years has continuously taken on new roles and responsibilities.

Kovash was born and raised in Dickinson, N.D. He graduated from Dickinson State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a minor in management information systems.

Kovash recently served on the Trinity Athletic Booster board and coached youth flag football.

Outside of work, he spends time enjoying the outdoors with his wife, Aimee, and their two boys, ages 10 and 7.

Scott Kolbinger has already accomplished a great deal in his young career. A graduate of North Dakota State University’s civil engineering program, he is a civil engineer project manager with KLJ. Many of his projects have affected a variety of the communities in the Upper Midwest, from small commercial sites to multimillion-dollar event centers and sports complexes.

Kolbinger is a registered professional engineer and has been active in the Fargo-Moorhead Engineers Club’s programs promoting engineering to the public and students. He is also a member of the National Society of Professional Engineers and the American Water Works Association.

Kolbinger gives his time to his community through his membership in the Hawley Jaycees, a group of young men who donate their time to give back to their local community. He is also a member of the Fargo Rotary Club and other service clubs in the Fargo area. His commitment to improving his community makes him a great example of a young professional making a difference in the world around him.

Chase kramer

Chase Kramer

Age: 34

Architect

TSP, Inc.

Sioux Falls, S.D.

Chase Kramer’s award-winning work as an architect has shaped Augustana University with its Froiland Science Complex and Hamre Recital Hall renovation, Jewett Regional Science Education Center at Northern State University, and Beacom Institute of Technology at Dakota State University. These campus projects have been honored in statewide American Institute of Architects design competitions. A graduate of Augustana and Iowa State University, Kramer joined TSP, Inc. in 2013. In 2017 he was the only architect in the Dakotas selected to take part in an AIA Practice Innovation Lab. He promotes the mentorship of aspiring architects and is active within South Dakota State University’s Department of Architecture as a guest juror and Forensic Studio project facilitator. Intensely interested in the arts, Kramer serves on the board of the Sioux Falls Arts Council and is chair of the Washington Pavilion Visual Arts Center advisory board. An accomplished musician, he sings with the South Dakota Symphony Chorus and in a Renaissance polyphony choir at St. Joseph Cathedral. He lives in Sioux Falls with his wife, Rachael, and their three children.

lora larson

Max Kringen

Age: 33

Founder and Chief Storyteller

Tellwell

Fargo, N.D.

Max Kringen is the Founder and Chief Storyteller of Tellwell, a Fargo-based storytelling marketing agency. From starting his first web design company while in eighth grade in Enderlin, N.D., to launching Tellwell back in 2014, Kringen has always been passionate about sharing the stories of his community in a way that is authentic, engaging, and impactful.

In addition to his work at Tellwell, Kringen is a seasoned public speaker and consultant. With his sense of humor and unique talent for simplifying the complex, he is able to connect with people of all ages and skill levels. He is also a proud Cobber, dog dad to Kevin (@kevinfromfargo on Instagram), and passionate supporter of Destination Imagination.

Kyle Kvamme

Age: 37

Director of Project Development and Community Engagement

ICON Architectural Group

Grand Forks, N.D.

Kyle Kvamme is the Director of Project Development and Community Engagement at ICON Architectural Group. ICON is a Midwestern design leader with seven offices throughout the region. Throughout the last five years, Kvamme has led development efforts at ICON by partnering with local organizations, securing projects that align with ICON’s values, and engaging the surrounding communities.

Kvamme spends time getting involved in various community events and collaborating with key stakeholders and, because he’s wired differently, finds enjoyment in seeking out opportunities to speak to the public or

Lora Larson

Age: 30

Development Coordinator

Downtown Community Partnership Fargo, N.D.

Lora Larson took her love of the historic Downtown Fargo neighborhood and made it into a career as the development coordinator at the Downtown Community Partnership. She truly believes that downtowns are the beating hearts of communities and need to be both developed and preserved for cities to thrive.

During the two years in this role, she has led many projects including growing the Downtown Fargo Gift Card Program, co-creating a small business support site called FMstrong.com, created and executed the outdoor dining concept Alfresco Islands during the summer of 2020, and other projects to support vibrancy downtown. Through teamwork and strong partnerships, she has been able to co-produce downtown events such as Bridge Bash, Holiday Winterfest, the Downtown Fargo Street Fair and more.

Outside of work, Larson loves to spend time with her husband, Jacob, and dog Barkley exploring their city. She also loves to travel the world, as she strongly believes it opens your mind to new ideas and allows you to bring those experiences back to your own community.

present to a crowd on various topics. His enthusiastic efforts have played a role in ICON’s expansion into new markets and its growth, with the firm almost doubling in size since he joined the team. As a wearer of many hats, he is also involved in several other entities, such as being a member of Grand Forks City Council, the president of the Greater Grand Forks Young Professionals Board, and a committee member of the Northern Valley Law Enforcement Memorial.

In his free time, Kvamme can be found in Grand Forks chasing his children Kiera and Knox with his wife of 10 years, Kate.

meleah LaPlante

Meleah LaPlante

Age: 37

Owner

Dance Elite Fargo, N.D.

Meleah LaPlante grew up in Crookston, Minn., graduated in the top of her class, and then obtained her degrees in business management and marketing from the University of Minnesota, Crookston.

At the age of 19, she had the opportunity to purchase a small studio in Fargo, N.D. Dance Elite began in a small, one-room rental and today, has built a brand-new, state of the art facility featuring three large studios with sprung flooring, cameras in each room for safety and parent viewing, and a convenient location just south of 32nd Avenue.

Through her work with community theater and Moorhead High School, she’s won numerous awards and has traveled to Scotland where her work has been seen in the Fringe Festival.

After educating thousands of young men and women, she has former students at Disney, with the Timberwolves and Vikings, teaching for her, and owning their own studios.

LaPlante sees dance as being holistically beneficial to the communities as well as adding to the business fabric of the Red River Valley, in that young men and women can find themselves through performance art.

Kristen Lotvedt

Age: 39

Project Engineer

Houston Engineering, Inc.

Fargo, N.D.

kristen lotvedt

Kristen Lotvedt is at the forefront of one of North Dakota’s largest flood protection projects: the Mouse River Enhanced Flood Protection Project (MREFPP) in Minot. The MREFPP began after the devastating 2011 flood in Minot, which destroyed homes, displaced residents, and crippled businesses while causing more than $690 million in damage. As design lead and construction manager for multiple phases of this project, she is a key part of the team leading multimillion-dollar investments into flood protection and civil infrastructure improvements that will remove approximately 60% of Minot’s residents from the floodplain once completed.

Lotvedt doesn’t let her work slow down her other ambitions, though. She constantly seeks out new ways to give back to her community, from volunteering for STEM programs aimed at inspiring young thinkers to donating more than four gallons of blood since 2011. She even seeks out volunteer opportunities where she and her daughters can work alongside each other to make a difference.

Lotvedt inspires those around her to find that balance between demanding professional responsibilities with rewarding and important charitable activities.

brianna ludwig

Brianna Ludwig

Age: 33 Deputy State Auditor

North Dakota State Auditor’s Office

Bismarck/Fargo N.D.

As the Deputy State Auditor for the State of North Dakota, Brianna Ludwig serves citizens across our great state championing efforts to bring transparency and awareness of how tax dollars are spent. Her team works to audit billions of state dollars on an annual basis.

Through her efforts to further develop a culture of excellence, the office has been awarded a 50 Best Places to Work from Prairie Business and Top 10 Workplace from the Bismarck-Mandan Young Professionals Network. Additionally, her work received national recognition for superior government communication through the National Association of Government Communicators.

In addition to her job responsibilities, she volunteers as a board member for the Great Plains Chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators, bringing professional development and learning to communicators across the Midwest region.

She and her husband, Garrett, have two children and reside in Bismarck. When they aren’t running after kids, their favorite place to spend time is at Lake Ashtabula.

nikki massmann

Nikki Massmann

Age: 39

Director of Communications

Energy & Environmental Research Center at UND Grand Forks, N.D.

Nikki Massmann is the Director of Communications at the Energy & Environmental Research Center at UND. She serves on the leadership team and manages communications and outreach initiatives. She spent 15 years of her career working in quality assurance, communications, and community engagement in the health research field as well, specifically pharmaceutical research and rural health.

Massmann’s interest in communications started early, having spent time at the radio station in Crookston, Minn., where her dad works as a broadcaster. Working at the station herself during high school and college cemented her commitment to the field, and she earned her bachelor’s degree in scientific and technical communication from the University of Minnesota, Crookston. Connecting science and research to our everyday lives through communication is her favorite part of her career. She is passionate about community involvement and servant leadership. Massmann serves as an advisory committee member for the Women’s Fund, is a board member of MyAlly Health, and co-chairs Valley MarComm. She lives in East Grand Forks, Minn., with her husband, Brent, and their three children.

Atchison Companies is an investment firm operated by the wife & husband team of Sarah & Dean Atchison. We work with & invest in small businesses. We understand small business. We have owned, operated & built successful companies. We work with small business owners who are concerned about their strategy, anxious about their exit plan or who are stuck in a rut & want to engage experienced small business leaders to find a new way forward.

218.303.5151 Dean@AtchCos.com

shawn peterson

Ben Meland Age: 37

Co-founder Enclave Fargo, N.D.

In 2011, Ben Meland co-founded Enclave, a Fargo-based development, construction and property management company with his business partner, Austin Morris. Having worked on projects across a variety of industries including commercial, healthcare, industrial, and multi-family, Meland has an in-depth understanding of how structures of all types come together. He combines his innovative vision and commitment to exceptional craftsmanship to inspire team members and deliver the highest in reputation to Enclave’s partners and clients.

It is his dedication to people that makes the difference. He encourages team members to always challenge the status quo to deliver an exceptional work product and experience that can be seen across projects like 300lime, Fargo Center for Dermatology, MEDPark Medical Center, Uptown & Main, and E.W. Wylie, among others across the Midwest.

With a focus on doing the honorable thing, Meland embodies Enclave’s values in a transparent manner, always putting others before himself. An active member of the community, he serves on the board for Pulse and The Dakota Medical Foundation, and supports his church community through his time, talent and treasure.

Reed Montgomery

Age: 33

Vice President

Adams Incorporated

Fargo, N.D.

montgomery

Reed Montgomery is the Vice President at Adams Incorporated with an impeccable sales record over the past seven years. He has increased his sales total yearly, from $200,000 his first year to more than $2 million this year. His customer service-centered and solution-based approach, over product based, makes him stand out in the industry.

Montgomery is self-motivated and competitive, whether at work, on the softball field, or cheering on one of his favorite sports teams. He is a natural leader that leads by example, not being afraid to get

Shawn Peterson

Age: 33

Chief Executive Officer

Liberty Business Systems

Fargo and Grand Forks, N.D.

As a mentor, coach and passionate leader, Shawn Peterson aims to help everyone around him reach their full potential. His goal is to leverage his platform as the Chief Executive Officer at Liberty Business Systems to create as much positive change in the community as possible. He prides himself on his vision and ability to see things for what they can grow to become, including the amazing people he supports within his organization.

Peterson is a 33-year old leader with vision, drive and a commitment to building a company culture of transparency, communication and team-bonding. With the mentality of a competitive athlete, Peterson’s high-energy level and competitive drive instills a culture of “winning” that is motivational and rewarding for those all around him.

When he is not working on the business or in the community, you can find him spending time with his family, including three beautiful daughters or investing in meaningful relationships. For fun, he is always up for boating, traveling, hot yoga or a coffee.

his hands dirty. Always going above and beyond to help anyone.

He is always looking for the best solution for his customers while diligently looking how to save them money. Treating all his customers equally, no matter if they are a one-time, $1 sale or a million-dollar repeat customer, he values his relationships with all of his customers.

Montgomery is a devoted husband, father, and step-father. He has been a volunteer coach for his stepdaughter’s softball team the past two years.

meland

meredith quinn

Age: 37

Project Engineer

AE2S Grand Forks, N.D.

Meredith Quinn is a Project Engineer at AE2S, where she has embodied the firm’s “Think Big. Go Beyond” motto for more than 13 years. She is passionate about partnering with communities to provide the best solution to address their water, wastewater, and public works needs. Quinn makes it a priority to guide clients to solutions that are fiscally responsible, environmentally sustainable, and beneficial to their communities.

She is active with the international American Water Works Association (AWWA) organization and North Dakota Section of AWWA. In fact, she is the youngest person ever to receive the prestigious George Warren Fuller Award in the history of AWWA. The award honors distinguished service to the water industry.

Quinn is also an advocate for children with special healthcare needs, serving on Gov. Doug Burgum-appointed North Dakota Interagency Coordinating Council and as a Family Voices board member. In addition, she is a devoted wife and mother of three, who gives generously of her time to her community and church.

Meredith Quinn

NIKKI MASSMANN NIK K I M ASSMA NN DirectorofCommunications,EERC

YO UI NSP IR EU S.

40Under40Honoree BENMELAND Co-Founder of Enclave

rob remark

Rob Remark

Age: 34

Fargo Market Leader/ Senior Project Manager

JLG Architects Fargo, N.D.

Rob Remark is a passionate architect and design leader helping JLG Architects’ clients thrive locally, regionally, and nationally. A licensed architect, project manager, office manager, and Board of Directors member at JLG, and a proud husband to Amber and father to two boys, Louis and Leo (with one more on the way), Remark puts his heart and soul into everything he does.

If you know him, the word “energetic” might resonate. Remark is having the most fun when he is supporting, mentoring, strategizing, and emceeing a group or community event. Local to the Fargo-Moorhead area where he grew up, he wandered west to Montana where he graduated with his master’s degree in architecture from Montana State University, and launched one of JLG’s western North Dakota locations before moving home to lead the JLG Fargo office.

A passionate and active community member, Remark has supported numerous service groups such as Best Friends Mentoring, Downtown Dickinson Association, and Rotary.

Sean Rinkenberger

Age: 31

Chief Financial Officer

First Community Credit Union

Jamestown, N.D.

sean rinkenberger

tina fricke robinson

Age: 38

Senior Environmental Planner/ Project Manager

HDR Bismarck, N.D.

Tina Fricke Robinson is an Environmental Planner/Senior Environmental Project Manager with HDR, Inc. She is a graduate of North Dakota State University, where she received her B.S. degree in Natural Resources Management. At HDR, Robinson leads the environmental program for the state of North Dakota, managing environmental documentation and permitting for a wide variety of projects, such as transportation, aviation, water resources, power, and waste. She enjoys complex projects and helping younger staff tap into their strengths so they can develop their careers.

Sean Rinkenberger serves as the Chief Financial Officer for First Community Credit Union, the largest Credit Union in North Dakota. Rinkenberger is passionate about solving problems and believes his team can always find ways to do things better. He oversees accounting, balance sheet strategy and facilities management for the nearly billion-dollar credit union.

In the community, Rinkenberger has spent time serving on numerous boards including the Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce, the Young Professionals of Jamestown and is a founding board member of the Jamestown Regional Entrepreneur Center. He currently serves on the Dakota Credit Union Association Board of Directors as a Multi-State-at-Large director.

Originally from Bottineau, N.D., Rinkenberger is a CPA and a graduate of the University of Jamestown with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. He is a recipient of both the President’s Key Award and the Young Alumni Medallion from the University of Jamestown. In his personal life, Rinkenberger enjoys outdoor adventures with his wife, Katie, and their two boys.

Outside of work, Robinson uses her love of the outdoors and conservation to serve as co-secretary for the Capital City Lake Birds, North Dakota’s first women’s-only chapter of Pheasants Forever, dedicated to female hunter recruitment and outreach, conservation advocacy, education, and creating a community of sportswomen. She is a member of the National Association of Environmental Professionals, a past member of the Bismarck Mandan’s Young Professionals Network, and an organist at Bethel Lutheran Church.

She resides in Menoken, N.D., with her husband, Andrew, and their rescue dog Sadie.

Tina Fricke Robinson

Leeann staffne

LeeAnn Staffne Age: 38

Lead financial guide Alerus Fargo, N.D.

LeeAnn Staffne played a key role in ensuring Alerus’ Fargo and West Fargo offices remained open during the COVID19 pandemic. She frequently collaborated with various teams across multiple locations to maintain continued top-notch client service, while prioritizing employee safety and accommodating changing needs related to the pandemic.

As lead financial guide, Staffne develops and assists her team in providing high-level, holistic financial advice, while maintaining her own book of private clients. Since joining Alerus in 2004, she has served in a variety of roles. She leads by example and is a mentor for many colleagues. Staffne holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Dickinson State University. She is currently serving her third term as a board member for Junior Achievement of the Upper Midwest and is an active supporter of the United Way of Cass Clay.

In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, attending her children’s sporting events, snowboarding, and family vacations. She lives in West Fargo, N.D., with her husband and three children.

stuart stein

Stuart Stein

Age: 38

President

ESCO Manufacturing & Stein Sign Display

Watertown, S.D.

Stuart Stein still has his first time card from 1991. His original job at the family business was shredding paper and sorting the mail for invoices and checks. As of 2/4/20, he is the third generation owner.

Founded in 1952, Stein Sign Display is a retail sign provider that sells, services, and installs any type of signage, including static and digital billboards. In 1965, ESCO Manufacturing was created as an international wholesale sign manufacturer that specializes in custom signage of all sizes, including channel letters that are commonly placed on retail storefronts. Through strong partnerships, ESCO has manufactured signs found in Madison Square Garden, MetLife Stadium, Target Center and even Ethiopia. Thousands of signs in this region are fabricated at ESCO.

A graduate of Augustana University in 2005, Stein worked in finance a number of years before joining the family business. He is in his sixth year serving on the local school board and plays bass with the church praise team. Also active within the sign industry, Stein serves on a committee for the International Sign Association.

THINKINGBIG& GOINGBEYOND!

CongratulationstoMeredithQuinn onbeingnamedoneofthe Top40Under40inBusiness!

Meredithisnotonlyan exceptionalengineerbuther passion forhelpingisunmatched. Fromhelpingclients asiftheywerefamily,totheenthusiasmshehas for encouraging youngpeople to entertheengineeringand drinking waterprofession,Meredithistrulymolding the waterindustry.Thank you,Meredith, for alwaysthinkingbigand goingbeyond!

joshua swanson

Aparna Subramanian

Age: 33

Systems Engineer

DCN (Dakota Carrier Network)

Bismarck, N.D.

Aparna Subramanian is the Systems Engineer at DCN (Dakota Carrier Network), a North Dakota fiber optic network owned by 14 independent broadband service providers that serve more than 164,000 customers.

Joining DCN in June 2014 as an Ethernet/IP Technician II, she was in that role for nearly three years before being promoted to sales engineer and in 2020 was promoted to systems engineer. In the systems engineer role, her responsibilities include sales engineering, leading product development activities, acting as a point of escalation for technical design and service fulfillment, and providing engineering input to optimize network architecture.

Subramanian earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science and mathematics with a minor in leadership studies, graduating summa cum laude, from Dickinson State University. She has since earned multiple professional certifications including MEF CECP, Cisco CCNP, and Nokia NRS II.

In 2019, she gained her U.S. citizenship and currently resides in Bismarck, N.D., with her family. Outside of work, her favorite pastimes are adventuring with her son Dylan, 7, cooking, reading, and running the occasional half-marathon.

Jason Sutheimer

Age: 39

Human Resource Director Job Service North Dakota

Bismarck, N.D.

jason sutheimer

Jason Sutheimer is the Human Resource Director at Job Service North Dakota, where he leads human resources strategies including talent acquisition, employee engagement, learning and development, total rewards, employee relations, diversity and inclusion, risk management, employment law compliance, and agency communications. He is also an instructor at Dakota College at Bottineau, director of ND SHRM, and government affairs chair of the Central Dakota HR Association. He holds an MBA from the University of Mary, dual

Joshua Swanson

Age: 38

Shareholder

Vogel Law Firm

Fargo, N.D.

Growing up in Maddock, N.D., Joshua Swanson learned the power of service leadership and small town values that have carried over into his law practice at Vogel Law Firm. To Swanson, a shareholder at North Dakota’s largest law firm, the law provides a platform to better its communities and serve others.

Based out of Fargo, he represents clients from all walks of life, and all corners of North Dakota and western Minnesota. His practice focuses on energy law, land use and property law, and business law.

Swanson is one of the co-chairs of Vogel Law Firm’s mentoring committee, where he leads a mentoring program for associates at the firm, and also serves on the firm’s recruiting committee.

Thompson Reuters has recognized him as a “Rising Star” in its SuperLawyers program every year since 2014. Swanson volunteers his time at the UND Law School, writing law journal articles and speaking to student groups; he has taught constitutional law at Concordia, and has served in several mentoring and advising roles for students at North Dakota State.

bachelor’s degree from NDSU, and is certified as both a Senior Professional in Human Resources and Society for Human Resource Management – Senior Certified Professional.

His passion for helping individuals, communities, and organizations achieve success is evident through his extensive service and advocacy work. This passion also led him to co-founding DisruptHR Bismarck, an information exchange to energize, inform and empower HR professionals, and being a recipient of the ND Award for Professional Excellence in Human Resource Management.

Sutheimer grew up in Zap, N.D., and resides in Bismarck with his wife, Andrea, and three children, Anya, Brynlee and Koy.

aparna

steve watson

Steve Watson

Age: 38

Development Strategist

ISG Sioux Falls, S.D.

Steve Watson, who helped lead ISG’s efforts to establish a new office in Sioux Falls in 2018, collaborates with a talented team at the firm to provide innovative architecture, engineering and planning solutions to clients throughout the Great Plains.

Watson is passionate about bringing positive change to the individuals, organizations and communities he has been given the opportunity to serve. His commitment to service extends beyond the office. He is honored to serve on the board of directors for the Sioux Falls Development Foundation and Zeal Center for Entrepreneurship. Additionally, he also sits on the Joint Advisory Board for the Community College for Sioux Falls, and serves in an advisory capacity to the Volunteers of America – Dakotas.

Watson earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Augustana University in Sioux Falls. He is also a graduate of Governor Daugaard’s Leadership Development Program and the University of Oklahoma’s Economic Development Institute.

He and his wife, Amanda, live in Sioux Falls, where they share a love for the great outdoors.

Some takeaways from NCI’s virtual technology conference

By Andrew Weeks

FARGO, N.D. • A number of timely business discussions were offered in November during Network Center Inc.’s 2020 nVision conference.

Unlike other years, the technology and business conference this time was held virtually, with three track sessions that participants could join: business, technical and cybersecurity.

It would have been easy to forgo the conference this year, but doing so, NCI President Ben Carlsrud said, kicking off the meeting on Nov. 12, would be against the core values of the company. It has been a tough year for employers and their employees, not being able to attend social events. Carlsrud said he’s felt some of that disappointment, too.

“How do we bring the new normal into the abnormal? How do we get some normalcy back into our lives? Today is about that,” he said,

giving a nod to those who helped plan this year’s conference.

“Even though it’s virtual doesn’t mean there wasn’t some pain and suffering that went into (planning it),” he said. “Maybe even more so.” Each presentation was about 50 minutes long, and participants could ask questions of the presenters virtually. There were many takeaways from the conference, everything from change management to collaboration tools to cybersecurity and the importance for organizations to have a web presence, among a number of other timely topics.

Benefits of a Web Presence

Have you ever Googled yourself or your company? asked Andrew McKenzie, NCI’s interactive service advisor, during the presentation titled “Understanding the impact of a strong web presence.”

ANDREW MCKENZIE, INTERACTIVE SERVICE ADVISOR FOR NETWORK CENTER INC., LEADS A VIRTUAL PRESENTATION ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF BUSINESSES HAVING AN EFFECTIVE WEB PRESENCE DURING NCI’S 2020 NVISION CONFERENCE, HELD VIRTUALLY THIS YEAR ON NOV. 12. IMAGE: ANDREW WEEKS/PRAIRIE BUSINESS

Having a website for any business is important because it creates a place for customers to find the company and its services. It is, in fact, the most informative platform available digitally. McKensie said a website is the most flexible platform to portray an organization, and serves as the hub in which other platforms should drive traffic. It also is a great place to showcase a company’s products and services, builds credibility, and should include a call-to-action, such as inviting visitors to sign up for a newsletter. An effective website also should conform to Google analytics.

Everyone wants to be on the front page of Google when a customer looks up the name of an organization, McKenzie said. Perception is important. But how do you get to be number one?

“Google can do a lot for you, but you have to give it information,” he said. “Having a presence that interacts with Google is important.”

An effective website should draw distinctions between your business and others, such as what makes yours stand out?

Also, use tools to make it easier for customers to get in touch with you, which in turn help the customer experience. He said customers these days are looking for easier and quicker engagement with businesses.

An enhanced website might contain a blog, which is one way to engage with audiences, and there is no question that social media is a must-have in this day and age.

It also is extremely important that websites are mobile friendly, as mobile use continues to surge upward and is a highly-used source of internet searches. It is the most popular way people tap the internet these days.

“Choosing to not have a good mobile experience is not a good place to be in these days,” McKenzie said.

Cybersecurity

While online, businesses and their employees need to make sure their assets are protected from cyber threats.

“There are unknown vulnerabilities that are being discovered all of the time,” both inside and outside a company’s network, said Sean Todd, NCI’s director of security, during another presentation.

“Put together some kind of vulnerability program, scan all of the time, and understand vulnerabilities both inside and outside the network,” he advised, noting several tools are available for businesses to leverage.

He said organizations should test against vulnerabilities frequently, and always use caution when opening emails. About 90% of the risk incidents the company responded to this past year for other businesses involved phishing -- a solicitous email that, when opened, encrypts the computer in an effort to steal important information.

John Mess, NCI’s senior security advisor said during the same presentation that executives should train their employees against cyber threats, such as when not to open an email. Educating employees “is your quickest and cheapest way to protect yourself,” he said.

Threats not only come from the internet, such as malware, but from outside sources, including people and weather, which could

knock down power. What would you do in that instance?

Companies should make decisions based around those types of scenarios, too. Tood said by defining risk, owners and managers can make better decisions.

“It’s a lot less expensive to be proactive instead of requiring an incident response,” he said.

Future Conference

Carlsrud said during his introductory remarks that he hopes world conditions will be such that NCI will be able to bring back the in-person experience to next year’s conference. It is something he looks forward to and is hoping to that end.

For this year, he said is excited that NCI was still able to provide this service to the region’s business professionals. He hoped the conference would help business leaders gain some insight that will better prepare them for the approaching new year.

“As soon as we can bring people back together,” he said, “we are going to do that.”

Providing What Matters

By Matthew Mohr

Employee-employer expectations on pay and benefits often seem to be far apart. Determining what to offer employees in addition to their basic pay is not an easy task. Benefit options and employee desires are constantly changing, and it is hard to cost justify new benefits or price increases on existing benefits.

Employee’s expectations in our region have grown over the years and few organizations adequately use their benefit packages to entice new employees.

Younger employees have grown to expect many benefits, yet when evaluating a prospective employer, rarely consider the value, cost or necessity of those benefits being offered.

Health insurance is expected to be offered as part of a person’s employment, but as time has progressed, the cost of providing health insurance has increased dramatically and is becoming hard to justify.

With the myriad of health insurance plans, employees or prospective employees can hardly be expected to adequately evaluate the difference between two offerings. The result is generally a quick comparison of the expected annual out-of-pocket cost rather than the actual coverage. Few people expect to get sick, so they naturally evaluate the cost of healthcare under the assumption they need no immediate care and they may never need to utilize the insurance. As a result, the benefit of one health insurance plan over another is minimized.

A few years ago, an employee in my organization had a major health issue, leaving him unable to work for more than three months. Social Security and state disability rejected any claims. Our disability policy provided him with an amount less than his regular pay. Shortly after receiving money from the insurance company, he complained it wasn’t enough and was upset because he expected the insurance to be equal to his full normal paycheck.

The employee attitude made it clear to me we had not done a very good job explaining the benefit nor the value of the benefit to him. In this circumstance, the employee’s attitude was a big surprise, since he had acknowledged his previous employer provided no insurance, so had he not joined our organization, he would have received nothing; yet what he got wasn’t enough!

BSE (Border States Electric) is one of the best organizations in our region, which uses its benefits and legal ownership structure (ESOP) to attract and retain employees. The folks at BSE do a superb job of showing prospective employees “Look at all you will get,” along with reinforcing current employees with “look at all you got.”

Few business owners are smart enough to promote benefits that resonate with employees, but those who do take the time, generally receive positive results.

New book offers marketing tips to navigate the pandemic storm

By andrew weeks

“How brands prepare today for a return to some form of normalcy can make all the difference in the recovery of your business. Companies that are using this time to develop a re-entry marketing strategy will have the advantage.”

Wise counsel for any business trying to navigate the pandemic. The words, in their original form and followed by several strategy tips, are found in “Marketing in the Moment,” a quick-read ebook published by Insight Marketing Design in Sioux Falls, S.D.

After the pandemic was declared, “we decided we needed to provide some guidance, some quick tips for marketing people, who were faced with something that no one has ever faced before,” said Candy Van Dam, the company’s chief strategy officer.

By April, the South Dakota-based marketing firm started publishing a weekly e-newsletter offering one-minute-read marketing tips for businesses. The posts were archived so readers could access them later, she said, but by the time September rolled around the company had published enough tips to compile them in a handy reference for business and marketing professionals.

“We thought we should make a book,” Van Dam said. And so that’s what it did.

The book, perhaps really more like an extended newsletter, is available for free download on the company’s website and offers helpful tips, insightful analyses and practical tactics to help business, marketing and public relations professionals better weather the pandemic storm.

The book is 23 pages – one page per chapter, including the cover, introductory and end pages – and is purposefully designed for quick perusal. It takes only about one minute, if that, to read each of the 20 chapters. But the 20 minutes it takes to read “Marketing in the Moment” might be the best 20 minutes the reader has spent preparing her or his next business strategy.

Some of the chapters include “Take a Moment to Conduct a Brand Audit” (Chapter 1); “Employees Should be Top of Mind” (Chapter 3); “Go Further When people Are Going Without (Chapter 12); and “Share Your Know-How” (Chapter 17).

“The key to everyone benefitting from your efforts is that the knowledge you share reflects your brand positioning and provides real value to the participants,” reads one chapter, offering several tips.

Van Dam said the book is currently available only on the company’s website, though it might make it available on other online platforms in the future. Additional chapters may also be added to the book, since the

newsletter continues to be pub lished every Tuesday with addi tional tips.

“I think if this pandemic continues, we’ll probably do an addendum to it, maybe chapters in groups of 10 or something,” she said. “But yes, I can see a new set of chapters coming up.”

Van Dam said what is most exciting for her is that for every book downloaded through the end of the year, the company will donate $1 to the Feeding South Dakota food bank.

“We decided if we were going to do the book, we wanted to be able to help a nonprofit as well,” she said. “We’re not making any money on the book, but we are going to donate $1 for every download. … The response has been very positive.”

Using business skills in athletics

Minot State University graduate shares experiences with marketing and leadership

By Andrew Weeks

MINOT, N.D. • Brody Myers decided he wanted to take his career out of the clinic and put it in the weight room and on the field.

He’s bringing some business skills with him.

Myers currently works as assistant health conditioning coach for Heilman’s Performance, and is contracted to work at Minot State University and Minot High School. He graduated thrice at the university, first with a bachelor’s degree in athletic training in 2017, and then with a bachelor’s in corporate fitness in 2018, and most recently with a master’s in sports management this past spring. Along the way he learned some of the same skills that leaders in other businesses apply, such as communication, leadership, and organizational skills.

Myers is determined to bring his best efforts to the athletes with whom he works. As he does, another aspect of business — this one in branding — may serve him well down the road.

“I think one of the most important business skills that I learned in my time as a Minot State University student is the importance of branding,” he said. The school’s athletic department wanted a unified presentation of MSU athletics and has done more branding recently. “Some things that have been implemented thus far is one unified logo across all athletics, having program-wide themes, and one central hashtag for all athletics. All of these seem like simple changes, but because every athletic team uses all of these things, it creates a sense of togetherness among the department and shows a unified front to the community.”

Originally from Murrieta, Calif., Myers received a scholarship to Minot State University in 2013. Along with the coursework and field

hours, and a number of games in between, he achieved a level of success that has only deepened his drive. This is only the beginning for this young man with tattooed sleeves. He wants to be an effective leader and, being an athlete himself, shares some perspective. He knows he cannot brainwash his charges.

“I think effective leadership is important and is something I could bring,” he said. “I think, especially in coaching, you have to be able to lead. Athletes are really good at sniffing out the BS that coaches could potentially be telling them. Athletes live in a different sort of bubble, I think, and if something feels wrong to them they’re really quick to understand that.”

Only this year did he become a full-time salaried employee at Heilman’s Performance, but he’s already applying the skills he’s learned in school. On the job experience also is a great teacher and he continues to learn from his coaches, the athletes, and life experiences. One of his focus points while at Minot State: velocity-based training, something he remains excited about.

“I came across velocity-based training, which is essentially measuring how fast athletes move a barbell. Then you use that information to determine what weights to put on the mark, depending on whatever the goal is,” he said. “It was a concept that really interested me,

BRODY MYERS, A GRADUATE OF MINOT STATE UNIVERSITY, WORKS AS A STRENGTH-CONDITION ASSISTANT COACH BUT SAID HE LEARNED VALUABLE BUSINESS LESSONS AT SCHOOL THAT HELPS IN HIS WORK WITH ATHLETES.

IMAGE: COURTESY OF BRODY MYERS

Brody Myers

because in the weight room it’s tough for a strength conditioning coach to eyeball an athlete and say whether or not his moving the bar fast enough; that’s completely subjective. With velocity-based training there is objective feedback. …

“I got into it going into my last year of school, and then I was able to turn that passion into my science experiment with our football team here at Minot State. That meant looking at the effects of velocity-based training on the athletes. It’s something I think will take a little time for our athletes to get used to, but there have been some who have been consistently using it since last winter. … The athletes that have been using it consistently have seen a drastic change in how they move and act athletically. But it’s so hard to quantify without somebody seeing the difference, because they’re getting bigger, faster, and stronger at rates we would not have been able to do, I think, without this system.”

Myers said strength and conditioning is a growing career option and is even starting to be recognized as a science-driven, health-centered profession that encourages qualified professionals to join the field.

“The biggest challenge follows suit with that; strength and conditioning used to be very basic in nature and was not backed by much scientific research,” he said. “Now that it has grown throughout the years, science drives new innovations. And while that’s a good thing to progress the profession and the athletes that it’s impacting, it also makes it difficult to stay on top of all the new scientific trends if you’re not paying attention to the new studies. If you don’t pay attention to the trends, you won’t progress as a professional and your athletes could suffer athletically as a result.”

Myers said his biggest contributions to the school and his chosen field of study and pay is his passion for athletics, his increasing knowledge about his profession, and his excitement about velocity-based training.

The California native said he wouldn’t mind staying in North Dakota if the opportunity presented itself, which so far it has, a decision that still seems to baffle some family and friends back home. He said he wouldn’t mind staying at Minot State.

“I like it a lot. I like the city, I like the people,” he said. “Some people back home are like, why do you like it so much there, it’s so cold? Well, that’s a fair point. But the kindness of people here is different; random people will genuinely be interested in your day and how you’re doing. … I’ve had 10-minute conversations with grocery store clerks at the cash register.”

For now he is enjoying his position with Heilman’s at the university and high school and continues to look forward to working with athletes, now and in the future.

His advice for those considering pursuing the same profession: “Obviously, get as much as experienced as possible, as soon as possible. I don’t know if it was necessarily told to me or not, but that’s one thing I have learned,” he said. “Be proactive in trying to learn more about the profession and not being afraid of (sharing your viewpoint). The more experience you can get, and quicker, I think, the better. … I have six years of experience now with dealing with college athletes in some capacity, either in the athletic training room or in the weight room and coaching them. I think that experience has helped me be the professional that I am today.”

New CornerStone Bank facility gets underway in Bismarck

By Prairie Business

• Spying growth, CornerStone Bank broke ground this fall on a new facility in Bismarck.

BISMARCK, N.D.

The company already has three locations in the Bismarck/Mandan area, according to the company. But the future larger facility, which will be 22,000 square feet, will bring team members together in one location and provide ample room for future growth.

“Our new location will allow us to bring our team together, give us room to grow and most importantly provide excellent customer service,” said Executive Vice President Jerry Hauff. “The new building will also include technology for an innovative customer and team member experience. We are committed to the Bismarck and Mandan communities and our new building will allow us to serve customers well into the future.”

Huff said the facility, located on State Street just a block south of the company’s current North Bismarck location, will have an open design with accessibility to lots of natural light.

Cornerstone Bank dates back to 1936 in North Dakota, and has been located in Bismarck since 2007, according to company Chairman Gary Petersen. “Our new bank is a demonstration of our continued commitment to the Bismarck and Mandan communities, our customers, and our team members,” he said in a prepared statement.

Bank leaders and team members attended a socially-distanced groundbreaking ceremony in October.

The company is “proud to reinvest in this great community,” said Kristine Melby, Bismarck market president. “Our new bank will allow us to provide innovative customer service well into the future.”

The project will take about 12 to 14 months to complete, with an opening date slated for late 2021.

EQUIPPED WITH GARDEN TOOLS AND EVEN A COUPLE OF TONKA TRUCKS, CORNERSTONE BANK TEAM MEMBERS SHOWED UP THIS FALL TO MOVE DIRT AT A GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY FOR A NEW BANKING FACILITY IN BISMARCK, N.D. IMAGE: COURTESY OF CORNERSTONE BANK

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CORNERSTONE BANK IS BUILDING A NEW BANKING FACILITY IN BISMARCK, N.D., WHICH WILL BRING ALL OF ITS TEAM MEMBERS TOGETHER UNDER ONE ROOF. THE MODERN BUILDING WILL HAVE LOTS OF NATURAL LIGHTING AND IS SLATED FOR COMPLETION SOMETIME LATE NEXT YEAR. IMAGE: COURTESY OF CORNERSTONE BANK

Business news briefs and accolades from around the region

By Prairie Business

HEI projects recognized with national awards

GRAND FORKS, N.D. • Houston Engineering Inc. (HEI) worked on three projects that were recently recognized with awards from the American Council of Engineering Companies of North Dakota: the North Dakota State Mill and Elevator Expansion project, the Pembina County Drain 66 GIS Database project, and the Walsh County Drain 22 Improvements project.

The company said it is proud of its employees for their great work on these award-winning projects.

North Dakota State Mill and Elevator Expansion Project –Transportation Category

HEI constructed about 16,000 feet of new track, allowing the Mill to land trains roughly twice as large as before as well as store cars on its own tracks, saving on demurrage costs. In addition, this project made numerous non-rail improvements in the area to help offset some of the inconveniences of having new rail crossings. This included restoring 27th Avenue North and a new box culvert on English Coulee. This brought the roadway back into use after years of being out of service due to the previous crossing’s poor conditions.

Pembina County Drain 66 GIS Database –Building/Technology Systems Category

Monitoring infrastructure in the Pembina County Water Resource District (PCWRD) was once a tedious and slow task. This changed when the PCWRD retained HEI to create a GIS database into which data could be logged remotely and immediately from the field.

The PCWRD put this new tool to use on Drain 66, completing a significant inventory of the many culverts and other pieces of infrastructure along the drain. The PCWRD will be able to not only inventory and update records about its infrastructure more quickly than before but also have a more robust set of data that can help inform future decisions and projects.

Walsh County Drain 22 Improvements –Water Resources Category

Drain 22 in Walsh County (which is really three separate laterals that outlet directly into the Red River) exhibited significant head cutting and erosion at its outlets. This was partly due to the steep grade of the laterals. Landowners petitioned the Walsh County Water Resource District to undertake a set of improvements to fix these issues.

The District and HEI worked together to identify solutions that would resolve the issues landowners were experiencing. This included installing riprap at the outlets to prevent erosion, completing a clean out project for two of the laterals, and widening the third lateral to accommodate greater flows. All in all, HEI surveyed and designed four miles of drain for this project.

N.D. STATE MILL PROJECT. IMAGES: COURTESY OF HOUSTON ENGINEERING INC

PEMBINA COUNTY PROJECT.

WALSH COUNTY PROJECT.

Apex Engineering Group celebrates 10-year anniversary

FARGO, N.D. • Apex Engineering Group, a civil engineering firm specializing in water, transportation, municipal, and electrical services, celebrated its 10-year anniversary in November.

Apex was founded in 2010 by a group of entrepreneurial engineers and technicians with a long history in the engineering consulting business. In 10 years, the company has grown from 22 employees in two offices to more than 90 professionals and four offices in Bismarck, Fargo and Dickinson, N.D., and Detroit Lakes, Minn.

JLG Architects named to national architecture list

GRAND FORKS, N.D. • JLG Architects has been named No. 101 on the Architectural Record Top 300 Firms list, which ranks architecture, architecture/engineering, and architecture/engineering/construction firms headquartered in the United States by revenue.

JLG is an employee-owned, full-service architecture firm, founded in 1989. The firm today has grown to 12 offices in Minnesota, South Dakota, and North Dakota with more than 120 employees.

JLG was No. 104 in 2019, and has been consistently on the list since 2014.

SkySkopes named top drone service provider in the country

GRAND FORKS, N.D. • SkySkopes, a drone company based in Grand Forks, N.D., was named this fall the top drone service provider in the country by market analyst, Drone Industry Insights. It also has been named one of the best globally.

SkySkopes, which focuses on utility line inspection and data collection, was recognized out of 750 global drone companies for its size, growth, industry development and market share.

Matt Dunlevy, company owner, is an occasional guest writer for Prairie Business, informing readers about the drone industry. In recent columns he wrote about how unmanned aircraft can help during the global pandemic and the ways in which oil companies can benefit from drone use in the Bakken.

North Dakota is home to the Northern Plains UAS Test Site, one of seven Federal Aviation Administration unmanned aircraft systems test sites.

Mandan plans third Business Pitch Challenge

MANDAN, N.D. • Entries are now being accepted for Mandan’s third Business Pitch Challenge to be held March 24, 2021. The entry deadline is Jan. 28.

Major prizes for the winner include the chance to be eligible for a $10,000 forgivable loan from the Mandan Growth Fund plus $750 in cash. Competition rules, format information, selection criteria and a full list of prizes are posted at www.cityofmandan.com/businesspitch.

The Mandan Tomorrow — Economic Opportunity and Prosperity Committee is hosting the challenge to spark new ideas and encourage business start-ups and expansions in Mandan. The challenge is being conducted with assistance from the city of Mandan Business Development, the Bismarck Mandan Chamber EDC and CTB. Organizers are looking for aspiring entrepreneurs who could use a boost on their entrepreneurial journey.

UMN Crookston receives $1.35 million in upgrades

CROOKSTON, Minn. • The University of Minnesota Crookston received $1.35 million of High Education Asset Preservation and Replacement (HEAPR) funding in a capital investment bonding bill signed by Gov. Tim Walz. The bonding bill includes $38.5 million worth of HEAPR improvements to the University of Minnesota system campuses, research and outreach centers and field stations.

UMN Crookston will utilize the funding for electrical and water main infrastructure upgrades on campus, exterior facade upgrades, fire

suppression and code upgrades to Owen Hall. The commitment by Gov. Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, the state legislature, and the University of Minnesota to UMN Crookston will make a lasting impact and improve iconic campus buildings so they can be available for future generations.

HEAPR funding is available to maximize the effectiveness and life of the University of Minnesota’s 29 million square feet of infrastructure. The University of Minnesota allocates HEAPR funding in four categories: health, safety and accessibility; building systems; utility infrastructure; and energy efficiency.

International Peace Garden raises nearly $15,000 through virtual event

DUNSEITH, N.D. • The International Peace Garden, during its Virtual Gala in the Garden event this past fall, raised nearly $15,000.

The IPG planned the Virtual Gala in the Garden with hopes of lifting up members and attendees during what has been a difficult year for many. The event included empowering messages of peace and togetherness from Nadine Strossen, author and former president of the ACLU. Nadine shared how free speech can fight hate and promote peace. The message was resounding, particularly as the event was held on the Global Day of Peace.

More than 100 registered bidders from multiple states and provinces in the United States and Canada, collectively, made more than 550 bids on nearly 50 items, which included travel, unique experiences, handcrafted goods, gift baskets and more.

mark Millage reid vander Veen

Two join Furniture Mart USA

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. • Reid Vander Veen and Mark Millage have recently joined the corporate team at Furniture Mart USA, the nation’s 35th largest furniture retailer based in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Vander Veen will serve as the new director of marketing, leading the team responsible for driving sales across all media platforms on behalf of Furniture Mart USA’s four divisions: Furniture Mart, Ashley HomeStore, Unclaimed Freight, and Carpet One. Vander Veen comes with an impressive background in sales and marketing across a wide range of industries including agriculture, home goods, technology, and education. He holds a master’s degree in marketing, and teaches graduate-level marketing and sales courses at the University of Sioux Falls.

Millage is taking on a new position as director of community relations. He is responsible for forging new relationships within local retail communities, executing media engagement strategies, and leading philanthropic efforts to support charitable causes across the upper Midwest. Millage most recently served as vice president for Institutional Advancement at Dakota State University, where he led its foundation and marketing/communications. He is a past president of Kilian Community College and former news director at KELO-TV in Sioux Falls.

DCN hires new commercial account executive

FARGO, N.D. • DCN (Dakota Carrier Network) has hired Valerie Schwantes as commercial account executive for its Fargo office. In this role, she serves as the main point of contact for current and prospective business customers, providing customized solutions in the areas of networking, ethernet, dedicated internet, data center/co-location, hosting services, cloud services, cybersecurity, and disaster recovery and backup.

Schwantes has 13 years of telecommunications experience determining how to best serve her customers. Her experience includes extensive work with commercial and multi-dwelling unit accounts.

A Fargo native, she earned a bachelor’s degree from North Dakota State University and is a graduate of the Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program.

Alerus welcomes senior financial guide

Chris ellefson

Valerie schwantes

FARGO, N.D. • Alerus welcomes Chris Ellefson as senior financial guide. In this role, he is responsible for assisting clients in identifying their specific financial needs and providing comprehensive advice to help them achieve their financial wellness goals.

Ellefson works closely with experts across Alerus to ensure every client has access to its full suite of diversified services to meet their needs. He is based at Alerus’ office at 3137 32nd Ave., Fargo, N.D.

Ellefson has more than six years of financial industry experience, specializing in client service. He holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from North Dakota State University and lives in Fargo. He is actively involved in his church and contributes his musical talents to contemporary worship bands.

DAVID SOGGE

EMILY GRUBER

Two join ICON Architectural Group

GRAND FORKS, N.D. • David Sogge and Emily Gruber have joined the team at ICON Architectural Group. Sogge is a project manager at the firm’s West Fargo office and Gruber is a marketing coordinator at the Grand Forks office.

With more than 20 years of architectural and project management experience, Sogge brings great design expertise in the retail and hospitality industries. He is originally from Northwood, N.D., and graduated from Montana State University in Bozeman with a Master of Architecture degree. He spent many years in the Las Vegas area, collaborating with architectural firms across the country.

Gruber is originally from Big Lake, Minn. and graduated from the University of Minnesota Crookston with a Bachelor of Science in Communication. She has spent the last two years in the Grand Forks area working in the marketing field.

KLJ welcomes new market manager

MINNEAPOLIS • With a diverse project delivery background, KLJ Engineering is proud to welcome Ben Dzioba as its newest market manager, overseeing Alternative Delivery and Contractor Services. An expert in design-build methodology and alternative contracting, he will fulfill a critical role in the company by providing unique and integrated solutions for clients.

Dzioba is a registered Project Management Professional (PMP), Professional Engineer (PE) and Design-Build Professional, which recognizes his superior knowledge of risk, cost, schedule, resource, scope, and communication management, and his ability to effectively implement these processes in multiple project delivery methodologies. His experience includes design, critical path method scheduling, change documentation, environmental compliance, public information coordination, and construction management.

Dzioba’s leverages his experience with strategic planning, quality management and project management to deliver successful outcomes for his clients. As a future-focused individual, he is always looking for new technologies and processes to incorporate into his projects.

SeanElsner Moorhead Branch President

Growth in Leadership

A Fargo-based talent acquisition and leadership consultant firm helps other businesses grow

By Andrew Weeks

FARGO, N.D. • Kara Jorvig likes adventure, and to prove it she once jumped out of an airplane with U.S. Navy SEALS.

She also has proven it in other ways, such as opening her own business. Jorvig founded and is the chief executive officer of Allegro Group, a talent acquisition and leadership consulting firm based in Fargo, N.D.

Long before she started the company, she already possessed some notable traits. A personable disposition and collaborative mindset helped break down barriers, for instance, but early career experiences helped focus her inner drive and develop leadership skills.

She is now helping other businesses to do the same.

Jorvig started interviewing people and observing business models in her first professional roles.

“I observed and I learned and I listened and I wrote down a ton of information because I was very much drawn to it,” she said.

She worked for a company that eventually allowed her to start an entrepreneurial venture under its umbrella. That began her journey to consultant work, and she continued to increase her opportunities that finally led her to form Allegro, a name that means “performed at a brisk pace.”

“I saw an incredible opportunity to support North Dakota businesses and that’s really how this all started,” she said.

She leads a team of five. Most are in the Fargo office, but one is in Texas; she hopes to grow that number as the company reaches more clients in other states. Allegro Group is fortunate, she said, because it has grown organically.

“We started this business to support North Dakota businesses, but we’re growing nationally because of the work we’re doing, because of the networks and the people we’re meeting,” she said. “If you do a good job, hopefully organically, your business grows through referrals. That’s where we’re at right now, which is really exciting. We’re doing business not only in North Dakota but on a national basis.” Jorvig teaches businesses how to build and develop high-performance teams that deliver results. She does this through high-energy workshops, impactful coaching sessions, and interactive business retreats.

The success of any business begins at the top, she said, and so she likes to build relationships with professionals who are in the top 15% of their field and who want to advance.

“It always starts with a face-to-face relationship,” she said, explaining the process of how these relationships often begin. “I’m very passionate about doing business where we have an alignment of values and belief systems, around people and leadership teams with a high-performance culture.”

She teaches them how to attract and assemble their own teams, and how to grow them into high-caliber employees.

“My focus is spending time with businesses getting their teams in place,” she said. “Once you have all the right people, now you have to align them and you have to activate them with inspiration and energy and development opportunities.”

One way she keeps them inspired is by inviting them on business retreats, which are an important part of her model, because they serve as a way to help clients get back to the basics while pushing to the next level. “Sometimes people need rest. Sometimes people need clarity. Sometimes people need a boot camp to get them fired back up and refueled and rebooted,” she said.

The company offers corporate business retreats, but also “experiential learning opportunities for individual leaders.” The pandemic has temporarily altered the way retreats are held these days; instead of traveling to the warmer climes of Arizona or California, for instance, events are now more localized.

“These experiences are meant to provide all of that for leaders that are truly invested in growth and change, and we try to accelerate that by doing high-energy workshops or a couple of days of immersion experiences. … It’s a ton of fun, and when I have personally invested in these, which I have many times in my career, it’s been life-changing for me. I come back better, not only a better leader but a better human being. … I love that work and I can’t wait to get to some of that going again as we get closer to 2021. … We’re still going to offer them and that’s probably what I’m most excited about right now — some of the

JORVIG CONDUCTS A LOT MORE VIRTUAL MEETINGS THESE DAYS, A NECESSITY OF THE TIMES, BUT STILL TRIES TO GET IN FRONT OF CLIENTS WHENEVER POSSIBLE. IMAGE: COURTESY OF ALLEGRO GROUP

KARA JORVIG SAYS SHE PUSHES HERSELF IN AREAS SHE ONCE SHIED AWAY FROM. HERE SHE IS SEEN JUMPING OUT OF A PLANE WITH MEMBERS OF A U.S. NAVY SEALS TEAM. IMAGE: COURTESY OF ALLEGRO GROUP

experiences that we’re providing leaders, because they’re game-changers.” Conversations with executives have taught her that a common denominator with clients is they believe their own people and their specific services are the differentiator in the marketplace. As it should be, she said. But how do you make individuals better leaders?

“I think the clients we’re working with are really figuring out ways to better invest in their leaders, how to better engage them,” she said. “They want to invest in their people because they are the differentiator.”

Many executives often look for hybrid leaders, “meaning they’re big-picture thinkers” but not afraid to tackle day-to-day tasks. “There’s a lot of value in that competency, being able to contribute to strategy but also shift back down to the tactical side of the business. I would say from a competency standpoint, that would be one area of focus in which we do a lot of work.”

Allegro is poised for growth, even with a pandemic raging outside the office, and its focus remains on serving clients. More virtual meetings are being held these days than there used to be, but that’s a necessity of the times. Jorvig still tries to get in front of people whenever she can and looks forward to being able to do more of that in the future.

In the meantime, she continues to pursue growth opportunities in her personal life and her business, and continues to tap those businesses that also are seeking to develop.

Success doesn’t happen overnight – something Jorvig knows firsthand – and often not without some growing pains.

“I truly believe the only way you can grow is through change,” she said, noting that the pandemic has certainly “forced all of us into change.”

“I want to explore things that push me out of my comfort zone,” she continued. “I grew up in a small town in North Dakota, and there were a lot of things I didn’t do early in my life because I was scared. I was afraid of being uncomfortable. Now I seek those things because I’m trying to challenge and grow myself, and I think our clients value that we take them on that adventure with us.”

KARA JORVIG, OWNER AND CEO OF ALLEGRO GROUP, BASED IN FARGO, N.D., HELPS BUSINESSES IN NORTH DAKOTA AND BEYOND GROW THEIR LEADERSHIP TEAMS. SHE ALSO IS A PAST PRAIRIE BUSINESS 40 UNDER 40 RECIPIENT.

IMAGE: COURTESY OF ALLEGRO GROUP

Q.

INSIGHTs & INTUITION

Reviewing the past year, what is something you’re most pleased with that your company or team accomplished in 2020?

Steven L Eberle, PE Vice President / COO Ackerman-Estvold Minot, N.D.

As many in our country have found, 2020 has been a year of unprecedented change. Amid a nationwide pandemic, a substantial economic downturn, and a rapidly changing business environment, our firm has continued to find stability. Although we have endured the same hurdles as many, we have remained fluid with adjustments to our practice. This has allowed our people the same stability with continued benefits, secure employment, the ability to provide for their families and themselves, and yet have the opportunity to work professionally at a high level. Many in the firm have had success in expanded roles within the organization during this time adding new skill sets to their knowledge bank. We are proud of our people for their steadfast commitment to our clients throughout 2020, which has been anything but typical. Our people have changed the way they approach projects, interact with clients, and manage budgets. Our people’s tenacity has truly become the real success of 2020. Without the commitment and buy-in of everyone in the organization, we would not have the ability to be fluid and adaptive to the changes we have experienced in 2020.

We’ve been so pleased and awed by how nimbly and thoroughly our teams have adapted to the rapidly changing conditions this year has presented. The investments we’ve been making in technology have really allowed our work-from-home transitions for office employees to be virtually seamless. At the same time, our field has truly led change, creating and enforcing a host of new Covid safety protocols on job sites and thinking creatively to address client needs.

Kraus-Anderson gets involved in the very early stages of project planning for schools, government, healthcare and other clients, and we’ve continued to provide value as we help them evaluate existing conditions, consider options and prioritize needs. Plans for a few larger commercial projects for now are paused, but our backlog of work aggressively continues to move forward. In addition, our teams are being tasked with retrofitting workplace and other built environments to better accommodate distancing, handsfree surfaces and other safety protocols.

While no one would have asked for these challenges, we truly believe we will emerge stronger coming out of the pandemic.

Lif eisd riven by purpose

Rich Jacobson Executive Vice President Kraus-Anderson Construction Minneapolis, Minn.

Our greatest accomplishment was how our Minot State University community pulled together quickly to transform our University to meet the needs of students.

Our transformation was two-fold. First, we had a week in March to become an online university. Our faculty and student support staff created ways to connect with and teach students in a difficult situation. The second phase allowed us more time to plan and examine how to deliver education and services in a format that would meet students’ array of expectations. Students could choose to learn from a distance, face-to-face, or in a HyFlex combination model. Throw in dealing with hundreds of students, faculty, and staff testing positive for or being a close contact of a COVID-19 case, and every day was unique and challenging.

I’m proud to be a part of our team; members of our University community were selfless in volunteering and working seven days a week for months to make sure our campus was a safe place to learn and live. 2020 has pushed us to the edge of service and innovation; it made us stronger!

Paul Eidenschink

Co-President and Chief Operating Officer Steffes

Dickinson, N.D.

Kevin Harmon Vice President, Student Affairs

Minot State University Minot, N.D.

2020 has been a year filled with challenges for everyone. Many of our basic assumptions for how we interact with each other and even how we conduct business were forced to change. During difficult times like these, culture and an entrepreneurial spirit can flourish and become strengths in new growth. The thing I’m most of proud of at Steffes in 2020, is the way our teams have come together in this unprecedented time doing whatever it takes to change, forge ahead and create a brighter future.

With sleeves rolled up, the Steffes staff tackled a comprehensive company-wide ERP software launch, explored new markets for diversification, developed energy conserving products, and answered the call from those customers with strong demand. Being open to significant change and pivoting to support new markets increased our chances for success. Many Steffes team members took on new role responsibilities, volunteered to search for new business, or worked on improvements. We are so proud of our dedicated and creative employees. Some of the new markets look promising. Some of the old markets show signs of resurgence. The future looks brighter here at Team Steffes. We are in this together.

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 638,000 in October, and the unemployment rate declined to 6.9%, according to the most recent number by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. These improvements in the labor market reflect the continued resumption of economic activity that had been curtailed due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and efforts to contain it. In October, notable job gains occurred in leisure and hospitality, professional and business services, retail trade, and construction. Employment in government declined.

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) was unchanged in October on a seasonally adjusted basis after rising 0.2% in September, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Over the past 12 months, the all items index increased 1.2% before seasonal adjustment. Component indexes were mixed, with many offsetting increases and decreases. The food index rose 0.2%, with the food away from home index increasing by 0.3% and a smaller 0.1% rise in the food at home index. The energy index rose 0.1% in October as the index for electricity increased 1.2%.

TRAVEL DATA

U.S. airlines carried 23.7 million systemwide (domestic and international) scheduled service passengers in August, seasonally-adjusted, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics’ (BTS), up 11.8% from July. It is the most recent number available, released in mid-November.

BTS says it was withholding the scheduled release of estimated traffic data for September and October because the statistical forecasts are based on previous trends and do not account for the impact of the coronavirus. The bureau reported 22.5 million domestic passengers and 1.2 million international passengers on U.S. airlines flights in August.

Passengers on US Airlines in August 2020 23.7 Million

From same month of previous year: -54 M

One Month: 2.5 M

IMPORT PRICES

U.S. import prices edged down 0.1% in October, after rising 0.2% the previous month. The October decline was driven by lower fuel prices that more than offset higher non-fuel prices. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said that in contrast, prices for U.S. exports increased 0.2% in October following a 0.6% advance in September.

Seasonally Adjusted

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