Prairie Business December 2021

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Fr omone of fi ce in Gr an d Fo rk s to 10 in fo ur st at es ; fr om tw o fo unde rs to 16 0 em pl oy ee -o wne rs ; fr om ye ar on e to ye ar 32 we th riv e, no t be ca us e we ’v e do ne it all , be ca us e we st ill ha ve mo re to do . Th ank yo u fo r su pp or ti ngou r pa ss io n to re de fi ne wo rk pl ac e we ll -b ei ng , re ig ni te rur al Ma in St re et , an d tr an sf or m all co mmuni ti es in to th riv in g co mmuni ti es .

Fr omone of fi ce in Gr an d Fo rk s to 10 in fo ur st at es ; fr om tw o fo unde rs to 16 0 em pl oy ee -o wne rs ; fr om ye ar on e to ye ar 32 we th riv e, no t be ca us e we ’v e do ne it all , be ca us e we st ill ha ve mo re to do . Th ank yo u fo r su pp or ti ngou r pa ss io n to re de fi ne wo rk pl ac e we ll -b ei ng , re ig ni te rur al Ma in St re et , an d tr an sf or m all co mmuni ti es in to th riv in g co mmuni ti es .

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NE WFER TILITY OP TI ON SATE SS ENTI AH EA LTH

NE WFER TILITY OP TI ON SATE SS ENTI AH EA LTH

Firs tcomeslove, then marriage, then ababy in thebaby carriage. It seems so simple ands traightforward.However, li fe doesn’ talway sgoasplanned.W hat happensw hen thebaby carriageis empt y? There’snocry st al ball revealing whow ill struggle wi th fertility andw ho won’ t. It might be you, though youwon ’t know untilyou have tr iedfor several months to getpregnant.

Firs tcomeslove, then marriage, then ababy in thebaby carriage. It seems so simple ands traightforward.However, li fe doesn’ talway sgoasplanned.W hat happensw hen thebaby carriageis empt y? There’snocry st al ball revealing whow ill st ruggle wi th fert ili ty andw ho won’ t. It might be you, though youwon ’t know untilyou have tr iedfor several mont hs to getpregnant.

Infert ili tya ffec ts menand women and canbebot hprimary,meaning pr iorto apregnancy,orsecondary,w hich is the inabili ty to conceive af terasuccess ful pregnanc y. Adiagnosisofinfert ili ty generally comesafter at tempting to conceive unsuccess full yfor at leas tone year.According to theA mericanS ociety for Reproduc ti ve Medicine, infert ili ty affec ts 10 -15% of couples. Thismakes it oneoft hemost common conditions forpeople bet ween theagesof20- 45. Addi tionally,t helonger awoman tr ies to getpregnantw ithou tconcei ving ,t he lowerherchancesare to getpregnant wi thou tmedical treatment. Abou t85% of couplesw it hnor malfer tili ty will conceive wi thin ayearoftry ing. If acouple doesn’t conceive in the firs tyear, theirchance of doing so gets lower eachmont h. This accelerates as thewoman ages.

Infertili tyaffec ts menand women and canbebothprimary,meaning pr iorto apregnancy,orsecondary,w hich is the inabili ty to conceive af terasuccess ful pregnanc y. Adiagnosisofinfertili ty generally comesafter at tempting to conceive unsuccess full yfor at leas tone year.According to theA mericanS ociety for Reproduc ti ve Medicine, infertili ty affec ts 10 -15% of couples. Thismakes it oneofthemost common conditions forpeople bet ween theagesof20- 45. Addi tionally,thelonger awoman tr ies to getpregnantw ithou tconcei ving ,the lowerherchancesare to getpregnant wi thou tmedical treatment. Abou t85% of couplesw ithnor malfer tili ty will conceive wi thin ayearoftry ing. If acouple doesn’t conceive in the firs tyear, theirchance of doing so gets lower eachmonth. This accelerates as thewoman ages.

At Es sentia Heal th, ourmission isto make ahealthy di fferenceinpeople ’s li ves. Many of ourproviders ,includingall gy necologis ts ,are trainedtotreat fertili ty concer ns among theirpat ient s. We ’realso exci tedtoshare that we ’vepar tnered wi th Minneapolis -based CCRM Fertili ty to offerad vanced fertility options prev iously unavailable in Fargo.

At Es sent ia Heal th, ourmission isto make ahealthy di fferenceinpeople ’s li ves. Many of ourproviders ,includingall gy necologis ts ,are trainedtotreat fert ili ty concer ns among theirpat ient s. We ’realso exci tedtoshare that we ’vepar tnered wi th Minneapolis -based CCRM Fert ili ty to offerad vanced fert ili ty options prev iously unavailable in Fargo.

CCRM Minneapolisis dedic ated to providing patients wi th industryleadingpatient care andoutcomes. “CCRMisawell-k now n, wor ld leader in fertilit yresearchandadvanced fertili ty treatments ,includingall aspect sofin vi trofer tiliz ation,”s aid Dr.Stephanie Dahl,areproduc ti veendocr inologis t. “It’s exci ting tooffer theseserv ices to patients in theFar go -Moorheadarea. We can’t wai ttohelpthem realizetheirdreamsof becoming pregnant andraising children.”

CCRM Minneapolisis dedic ated to providing patients wi th indust ryleadingpat ient care andoutcomes.

“CCR Misawell-k now n, wor ld leader in fert ilit yresearchandadvanced fert ili ty treatments ,includingall aspect sofin vi trofer tiliz at ion,”s aid Dr.Stephanie Dahl,areproduc ti veendocr inologis t. “It’s exci ting tooffer theseserv ices to patients in theFar go -Moorheadarea. We can’t wai ttohelpthem realizetheirdreamsof becoming pregnant andraising children.”

Dr.Dahl will be on -siteatEssentia Heal th forin- person appointments andalsoavailable forteleheal th /v ir tual appointment s. Patients will be able to complete theirconsul tations, treatment planningand most ul trasoundsand blood wor kinFar go,but will need to travel to Minneapolis forsome fertili ty testing, eg gretrieval andembryo- transfer appointment s.

Dr.Dahl will be on -siteatEssentia Heal th forin- person appointments andalsoavailable forteleheal th /v ir tual appointment s. Patients will be able to complete theirconsul tations, treatment planningand most ul trasoundsand blood wor kinFar go,but will need to travel to Minneapolis forsome fert ili ty testing, eg gret rieval andembryo- transfer appointment s.

We know that patients wanttoreceive care closetohome.T hroughthis partnership,wehopetoaccommodate thosew ishes. “Our goal is to keep as much care locall yaspos sible,only travelingtoCCR MMinneapolis for essentialv isi ts ,” Dr.Dahl said.“ Hopef ull y, this will keep theprocess more convenient ,les se xpensi ve andless stress fulforourpatient s.”Dr. Dahlloves encountering past succes ss tories .“ The bes tpar tofmyjob is seeingthe babies that I’vehelped br ingintotheworld, especially when I’mout shopping ata grocer ys tore or eating at ares taurant andi t’scompletely unexpec ted,”she said. “S oifyou see me,come say‘ hello ’. That makesmyday !”

We know that patients wanttoreceive care closetohome.T hroughthis part nership,wehopetoaccommodate thosew ishes. “Our goal is to keep as much care locall yaspos sible,only travelingtoCCR MMinneapolis for essent ialv isi ts ,” Dr.Dahl said.“ Hopef ull y, this will keep theprocess more convenient ,les se xpensi ve andless st ress fulforourpat ient s.”Dr. Dahlloves encountering past succes ss tories .“ The bes tpar tofmyjob is seeingthe babies that I’vehelped br ingintot heworld, especially when I’mout shopping ata grocer ys tore or eating at ares taurant andi t’scompletely unexpec ted,”she said. “S oifyou see me,come say‘ hello ’. That makesmyday !”

If youwould liketoschedule anappointment with Dr.Dahl, please call (9 52)2 25 -163 0and choose option2.

If youwould liketoschedule anappointme nt with Dr.Dahl, plea se call (9 52)2 25 -163 0and choose option2.

Learnmoreaboutobstetrics andg ynecology serv ices at Es sentiaHealth by visiting us at Es sentiaHealth.or g.

Formoreinformationabout infer tilit yand reproduc ti ve health ,pleasev isit reproduc ti ve fact s.or g.

Learnmoreaboutob stetrics andg ynecology se rv ices at Es sentiaHealth by vi siting us at Es se ntiaHealth.or g.

Formoreinformationabout infer tilit yand re produc ti ve health ,pleasev isit reproduc ti ve fact s.or g.

Dr.S

SCHE DU LE ANAPPO IN TMENT

LE ARN MORE

Dr.Ste phanie Dahl

SCHE DU LE ANAPPO IN TM ENT

This year’s fantastic 40

It’s difficult to describe a successful career in just a few short paragraphs, but every December that’s what Prairie Business publishes – 40 miniature biographies of accomplished individuals, all under the age of 40.

As in years past, Prairie Business staff is excited about those named to this year’s 40 Under 40 list.

They come from a wide variety of backgrounds and industries, all of them with impressive credentials. What especially stood out to me was not only how busy these young professionals are in their industry, but how much they seem to cram into their daily and weekly schedules on top of their busy work demands.

Take a look and see. Most, if not all, juggle a fair amount on their plates between work, family, church, committees and board meetings, and community and volunteer work. And yet the examples reinforce the belief that these individuals are just right for the 40 Under 40 list. A person has to be busy in work and in life to become accomplished. Success doesn’t happen by being idle.

Something else: Despite their busyness these individuals seem genuinely happy about their positions and accomplishments, as they should be. It goes to show that contentment, both with oneself and the person’s career, is another factor of success.

Some may say they are happy because of their success. While it may indeed go both ways, it is not difficult to imagine that happiness and contentment come before much success.

Prairie Business congratulates all of this year’s winners, and thanks those who nominated them. We also appreciate those who were nominated but did not make the list. We realize they, too, are accomplished and contribute much to the region, helping to make it a great place to live and work.

And that’s the other neat thing about the 40 Under 40 list – it publishes every year. So if a person nominated this year did not make the list, and if they are still within the appropriate age bracket, feel free to nominate them again next time.

Until then, enjoy reading about this year’s recipients. They are, in a word, fantastic!

As always, thanks for reading!

Andrew Weeks

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

PUBLISHER

KORRIE WENZEL

AD DIRECTOR

STACI LORD

EDITOR

ANDREW WEEKS

CIRCULATION MANAGER

BETH BOHLMAN

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.

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Protecting your assets, business and otherwise

Why businesses and families should consider umbrella liability insurance

By Andrew Weeks

Insurance professionals say now might be a good time to consider an umbrella liability policy if a business or person doesn’t already have one in place.

An umbrella policy helps protect a person or business’s assets, and in this “sue-happy world,” as one insurance provider proclaimed, it only makes sense to have it in one’s toolbox.

DJ Colter, in what he calls the old days some 18 years ago when he started in the industry, said back then he’d ask his clients if they had enough liability to cover their home and autos.

“In the old days that $100,000 liability was more than enough,” he said. “Well, those days are gone. Now what I tell people is here we have Minnesota, nice people. North Dakota, nice. People are nice in the Midwest, right? But we’re living in a sue-happy culture and it’s not your neighbor that you have to worry about. … It’s the hospitals and the insurance companies.”

Colter, who owns DJ Colter Agency Inc. of American Family Insurance in Fargo, has seen the scary side of someone not having an umbrella policy.

A few years ago he represented a couple who had been involved in an automobile accident. Another person in the crash was injured and sent to the hospital. In the end, that hospital bill totaled some $150,000. Guess who was liable for the bill? The couple had enough insurance to cover their home, and Colter wrote a check for $100,000, but the remaining $50,000 were garnished from both the husband and wife’s paychecks, a lien was put on their assets — their home, autos, their retirement accounts.

“It was terrible,” Colter said. “I never want to see that again.”

In a nutshell, umbrella insurance covers losses beyond what’s covered by other insurance policies. Colter said umbrella liability insurance typically is sold in million-dollar increments, beginning at $1 million, and can be surprisingly inexpensive for the amount of coverage it provides. It also can provide peace of mind to the business owner.

As an example, an employee gets in an auto accident while making a delivery for work. “Your employee is at fault and the accident costs from property damage and bodily injury damage exceeds the liability limit on your commercial auto insurance policy,” reads a May 17, 2021, article by Forbes. “Without a commercial umbrella policy, you would need to pay for those expenses out of your business funds, putting your business at risk.”

Commercial liability insurance is an extra layer of protection for that business.

“Umbrella insurance is like backup insurance for your other insurance policies,” according to an Insider story dated Oct. 1, 2021. “The extra insurance is common for people who are concerned that they may be sued for any reason that could threaten their net worth. It covers liability for injuries, libel, vandalism, slander, invasion of privacy and other scenarios.

Marilyn Ternes, vice president of the Bismarck branch of EMC Insurance Companies, said she believes there is more demand for umbrella policies these days than in the past.

“I would say there’s probably more demand because businesses want to protect their assets more with today’s legal environment the way it is,” she said. “The demand has always been there, but it is increasing.”

The best way to find out about umbrella policies, and what might be right for a business or family, is to talk with a professional insurance agent.

“An umbrella policy is a layer above your primary policy, liability and auto policy,” Ternes said. “It could be over those two lines of business. We work strictly through the independent agency system. It’s a conversation you have with your professional producer, who you’re working with, and then the company would take a look at it and underwrite it based on exposures, whether they would offer an umbrella and what limits they would be willing to offer.”

She said the cost of umbrella liability is based on the limit a person or business selects as well as their primary exposures. The number of employees of a business also may affect the cost.

“There could be a correlation there, yes,” Ternes said.

The question remains: Who should get umbrella liability insurance?

According to Colter, everybody with assets.

He said it is always better to have it in a person’s toolbox and never have to use it than to one day need it only to find it missing.

“Umbrella policies are really smart to have,” he said. “I advise every single person out there to have one. … An umbrella gives you that extra layer of protection.”

NextBlue expands Medicare Advantage in North Dakota

By Andrew Weeks

Over the past year, Beth West has seen something exciting happen across North Dakota.

She has seen doors open for NextBlue of North Dakota to expand across the state, bringing Medicare Advantage to areas that previously did not have the option.

NextBlue, an affiliate of Blue Cross Blue Shield North Dakota, started by serving five counties in the state in 2021, but the company’s map will look much different in 2022.

“We’re very excited,” West, plan president of NextBlue in Fargo, N.D., told Prairie Business. “In 2021, our inaugural year, NextBlue entered five counties. We’ve worked diligently throughout the year to be able to expand our footprint for 2022, adding 35 other counties.”

Not bad, if she does say so herself.

The expansion is helped by adding participating providers to its network. Existing

health systems in the NextBlue network include Essentia Health and Sanford Health, but now there will be the additions of Altru Health System and Trinity Health, among other critical access hospitals and rural health clinics.

What is Medicare Advantage?

Medicare Advantage, also known as Medicare Part C, combines traditional Medicare — parts A and B — into one plan with additional health-enhancing benefits. According to information from NextBlue, these plans fit the needs of seniors by offering low premiums and expanded benefits.

Plans often include coverage for prescription drugs, routine vision and eyewear coverage, dental coverage, hearing aids, fitness center memberships, overthe-counter medications and supplies, and clinical support.

The company said enrollment in Medicare Advantage plans is growing year over year.

According to the 2021 Deft Research Medicare Shopping and Switching Study, 42.5% of people nationwide who are Medicare eligible have chosen Medicare Advantage plans for their coverage. With the NextBlue expansion, it now will be available to 87% of North Dakotans eligible for Medicare.

Painting North Dakota in Blue

Increasing the number of counties served from five to 40 in a year’s time is not bad, but West would like to see the North Dakota map eventually covered in blue.

That means more work is in store for West and her team, but she says they are up for the challenge. She is trying to be patient.

“Medicare requires that a health plan meets network adequacy requirements,” she said. That means there has to be an available network “that is sufficient to ensure its membership has access to health care when they need it, and at a reasonable time and distance. That’s the standard. We have 13 counties that we’re still working on in our network, building that out, and we hope to be able to expand it statewide in the future.”

West said she and her team have learned some things over the past year, primarily that underserved people in rural communities are excited to have more options with their health care insurance.

“We learned a lot about what’s happening with health care costs in the state. We’ve learned that there is a lot of interest in Medicare Advantage in rural North Dakota,” she said.

“Historically, many (Medicare eligibles) of these counties have had very few options for their health care coverage. They’ve been very limited in that way. As we’ve started the enrollment period for 2022 in these expansion areas, it’s been met with a lot of openness. People are signing up, they’re very excited to learn more and know that they have new options.”

40 Under 40 2021’s

It’s difficult to believe we’re at the end of another year again, but here we are at the tail end of 2021. And with that comes the annual 40 Under 40 list that Prairie Business publishes every December.

This year the magazine received more than 120 nominations. It is not always easy selecting only 40 from the nomination pool, but, as we do every year, we did our best. In short, we’re pleased with this year’s recipients.

They are fine examples of what it means to put one’s best foot forward to achieve career aspirations and impact work and community, and we are happy to name them here.

We know the Dakotas and Minnesota remain in good hands with these accomplished young professionals.

From all of us at Prairie Business

Aaron Wimmer

Age: 39

Owner & President

Wimmer’s Diamonds Fargo, N.D.

Aaron Wimmer is continuing the legacy of the 102-year-old local and family-owned business, Wimmer’s Diamonds. Along with his fantastic team by his side, he is leading Wimmer’s into the next generation with their recently completed showroom in Fargo’s new retail hub on 32nd Avenue and 45th Street.

Born and raised in Fargo, Wimmer is a 2001 graduate of Fargo South High and went on to earn his undergraduate degree in business and entrepreneurship from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn.

Wimmer is very passionate about the jewelry industry and running a small business. From scrubbing the floors to dusting off the showcases, no job is beneath him. His true passion, however, lies in seeing his team succeed and working one-on-one with clients to find the perfect piece of jewelry to fit their needs.

Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family and friends. He recently finished his year-long term as president of the Kiwanis Club of Fargo and continues to be an active member of the club.

Yo ur Pa rtnerfo r Success.

Alex Dawson

Age: 36

Private Client & Select Business Team Leader

MMA Dakotas Fargo, N.D.

Alex Dawson, AU, is a fourth generation insurance professional, growing up in the business his entire life. He graduated from North Dakota State University with a degree in Economics and worked as a company underwriter in the years following graduation.

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dawson raised his hand for a newly created position charged with leading Dawson/MMA’s Private Client Services and Select Business Unit. He quickly earned the trust of his team with his well-thought strategy and by developing direct relationships with each member of his team. The keys to his success are meeting each colleague where they are in development, empowering each to achieve their full potential and aligning that skill with the missions of his department.

Dawson has lived up to the Dawson Insurance/MMA commitment to community. He has been active in a variety of community outreach opportunities, serving organizations such as Down Home, Feed My Starving Children, Clara Barton Lunch Buddy, Churches United and Kiwanis International. He and his wife, Raime, and their two young children, James and Lily, reside in Fargo.

Amy Hass

Age: 31

Chief Executive Officer

EPIC Companies

West Fargo, N.D.

Alan Kemmet

Age: 39

Project Manager, Principal Houston Engineering, Inc.

Bismarck, N.D.

Alan Kemmet, PE, is is a licensed civil engineer, principal, and project manager with Houston Engineering’s Bismarck Office. He leads teams responsible for the design and construction of water treatment supply and distribution projects.

Most of his daily work revolves around the $325-million Northwest Area Water Supply (NAWS) project, which he has been heavily involved with since joining the company in 2008. This ongoing project provides water to numerous rural communities, Minot, and the Minot Air Force Base along with several water districts.

Kemmet grew up on a fifth-generation family farm and ranch near Tappen, N.D., where he still finds time to help with calving, harvest, and running parts. He is a graduate of North Dakota State University and, along with his wife, Amber, and their two boys, spends his free time enjoying the outdoors and cheering on the Bison.

He also stays engaged in his community by serving as treasurer for his church, trustee for the North Dakota Section of the AWWA, participates in activities such as Discover Engineering, and volunteers on several committees for social and professional organizations.

In 2016, EPIC Companies, a startup development company, hired its first full-time employee, Amy Hass. Since that day, she has never looked back. Hass, along with a few other part time, and eventually full time employees, began with the basics of organizing a company that does real estate development, management, capital and entertainment.

Today, Hass oversees EPIC Companies, a $150 million/year development company with more than 60 full-time employees. While the company has grown, Hass has instilled the small company culture, keeping it a family that works to achieve success for its customers and investors, yet remains very humble.

Hass is originally from Fargo, graduated from North Dakota State University, and while she is busy overseeing EPIC, she finds time to continue to pursue her education in a Master of Arts in Leadership program and, of course, spend time with family and friends.

On any given day, you can find her in the trenches with leasing agents, accounting department, and even learning from the maintenance and construction team. All part of the EPIC family that she loves.

Andrea Sutheimer

Age: 39

Clinical Risk Analyst

Sanford Health Bismarck, N.D.

Ashley Ross

Age: 35 Environmental Planner

KLJ Engineering Bismarck, N.D.

Ashley Ross is an environmental planner with 13 years of experience in conservation, environmental planning, environmental health and safety, and project management in both federal and private roles. She has managed the environmental components of transportation, transit, municipal, oil and gas, and mining projects across North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota.

Ross earned her bachelor’s degree in natural resources management from Dickinson State University in Dickinson, N.D., and a Dale Carnegie Certificate of Achievement in Effective Communications and Human Relations. She is a member of the North Dakota Chapter of the Wildlife Society and the National Association of Environmental Professionals.

She is currently on the Mandan Horse and Saddle Club Board of Directors, is involved in several local horse clubs, and participates in rodeos across the state.

Born a farmer’s daughter, Ross has a passion for the outdoors and loves helping her clients at KLJ conserve the environment while making their projects a reality. She loves encouraging a love for the outdoors in the next generation and building confidence in kids through equestrian sports and horsemanship.

Andrea Sutheimer is a clinical risk analyst at Sanford Health, serving all of western North Dakota. She analyzes systems to assess and minimize risk to ensure patient and staff safety. She is a champion of healthcare safety initiatives and a genuine example of Sanford’s vision statement, “Improving the human condition at every stage of life through exceptional care, spiritual enrichment, innovation, and discovery.”

In addition to her career, Sutheimer is an active volunteer in the community in which she lives. She has been an active volunteer in United Way’s Day of Caring, United Way’s Backpack for Kids, Heaven’s Helpers Soup Kitchen, Bismarck Mandan Little Free Pantry group, Bismarck Aquastorm Swim Club, Junior Achievement, church, and children’s schools.

Sutheimer grew up in New Salem, N.D., and obtained bachelor’s degrees in nursing from MedCenter One School of Nursing and industrial engineering from North Dakota State University. She resides in Bismarck, N.D., with her husband, Jason, and three children, Anya, Brynlee, and Koy.

Austin Morris

Age: 35

Co-founder & CEO of Development

Enclave

West Fargo, N.D.

Austin Morris is co-founder and CEO of Development at Enclave, a fully integrated development, construction and property management company that celebrated a decade of business in 2021, and has been teeming with growth since its inception, growing from a two-person startup to more than 120 team members.

A passionate visionary who treasures people, Morris holds all relationships in high regard and always acts out of the best interest of team members, clients and partners. In turn, he’s helped create a people-focused culture and Prairie Business Best Place to Work for three years in a row.

In addition to his people-centric approach, he combines an unmatched business acumen with creativity and ingenuity to orchestrate teams of engineers, architects, and consultants to create spaces people desire to be part of, while always keeping the needs of a community top of mind.

Beyond his commitment to teamwork and creating spaces, Morris is an incredible community builder. He is committed to making positive contributions to the areas in which we live and work through his role at Enclave and as a community member, serving on the board for both the Downtown Community Partnership and Unseen.

Becca Cruger

Age: 35

Workforce Development Manager

Grand Forks Region Economic Development Corp.

Grand Forks, N.D.

By day, Becca Cruger serves as the workforce development manager for the Grand Forks Region Economic Development Corp. By night, she works as a crisis line advocate for the Community Violence Intervention Center.

Cruger devotes her time to building a vibrant community and leads the Greater Grand Forks: Way Cooler than You Think! recruitment and retention effort. She never shies away from crazy projects, exemplified by helping launch Longest Table: Grand Forks, a 1,000-person community dinner meant to spur civic engagement. She donates her time and talents to numerous community organizations, serving as the vice president of the Community Foundation of Grand Forks, East Grand Forks, and Region, and as the secretary for the Women’s Fund.

Her past roles have included serving as the vice president of Evolve Grand Forks, the president of Greater Grand Forks Young Professionals, and Honorary Commander at Grand Forks Air Force Base. In 2020 she was named the North Dakota Nonprofit Emerging Leader by NDANO and in 2021 her work was recognized with Gov. Doug Burgum’s 21st Century Workforce Main Street Award.

Blake Christianson

Age: 35

Realtor

Greenberg Realty

Grand Forks, N.D.

Blain Johnson

Age: 31

Owner & President Paramount Planning Grand Rapids, Minn.

Blain Johnson is the owner and president of Paramount Planning, a public safety consulting group serving the upper Midwest. The company specializes in the development of emergency and disaster plans, training, and exercises as well as in public information enhancement, human rights, and tribal engagement.

Paramount works with first-response agencies, governments, businesses, and industry to help strengthen communication, preparedness, response, and resiliency capabilities. The company has helped develop more than 100 response plans, policies and procedures, with a core focus on tailored quality.

Johnson is a strong believer in the power of community. He grew up along the Red River south of Fargo and assisted in numerous flood-fighting and volunteer efforts since 1997. Johnson interned in Ramsey County, N.D., in 2011 and for Sen. John Hoeven in 2013 during times of record flooding. The experiences of helping neighbors sandbag and personally dealing with disasters led to his interest in emergency response and the founding of Paramount Planning in 2015 in Bismarck, N.D. Johnson currently serves as the vice president of the Association of Minnesota Emergency Managers.

Blake Christianson is a Realtor at Greenberg Realty in Grand Forks, N.D. Since starting his career in 2005, he has consistently been a top-producing agent and is always striving to improve his business. In 2017, he started Team Blake Christianson, which has now grown to a team of four Realtors. His success is attributed to his hard work ethic and excellent customer service skills. He has won numerous Greenberg Realty awards.

Christianson is a strong supporter of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. He loans his trailer to Altru Health System’s Safe Kids program every year. Along with donating to CVIC, Special Olympics and YMCA Parkinson’s program, he’s competed on Dancing for Special Stars. He rings bells for the Salvation Army during the holiday season and delivers cookies to nursing homes. He is a member of the Grand Forks Association of Realtors, and owns several investment properties in the community. In addition to selling real estate, Christianson and his wife, Brittany, are local foster parents.

His proudest accomplishment is of his three sons Cruze, Corbin and Colt.

Brandi Nelson

Age: 39

Director of Academic Affairs

Lake Region State College

Devils Lake, N.D.

Brandi Nelson is a Devils Lake native and began her career at LRSC as a student employee while earning her A.A. degree. After a brief hiatus while pursuing her B.S. in Business Administration from Mayville State University, she rejoined LRSC full time as an admissions associate in 2006.

For the past 15 years she has continuously challenged herself by taking on new responsibilities. After earning her MBA from the University of North Dakota, she was promoted to director of Academic Affairs, where she leads accreditation, assessment, and institutional effectiveness.

Nelson takes great pride in being a member of the LRSC team. While much of her work is done behind the scenes, she thrives on knowing that her role at LRSC really does change lives.

Nelson and her husband, Chad, have three sons: Weston, Tucker, and Ryder. She spends her evenings and weekends running the boys to sporting activities. And if they weren’t already busy enough, they recently welcomed two new puppies to the family. Her personal passion is CrossFit and she has competed in countless local and regional CrossFit competitions.

Brandon Conkins

Age: 38

Director of Managed Services

High Point Networks

West Fargo, N.D.

Brandie Haugen

Age: 29

Assistant Vice President, Retail Manager

Gate City Bank Fargo, N.D.

Brandie Haugen is currently the retail manager of four Gate City Bank locations in Fargo. She started her career with Gate City Bank nine years ago and quickly discovered her passion for leadership and helping people reach their financial dreams.

Haugen is dedicated to developing lasting relationships in many ways: teaching financial education to high school students, providing support and financial resources to women who are starting over through a partnership with the YWCA, and working with the communities of Fargo and West Fargo through the Neighborhood Revitalization Program, which provides loans to revitalize aging neighborhoods and help stimulate homeownership.

Haugen actively supports the Fargo and West Fargo communities by giving back and volunteering with a variety of different organizations, including LadyBoss and Giving Hearts Day. She is also a champion for our education system, volunteering with local schools to provide financial education courses and dedicating her time to North Dakota State University for events such as NDSU Welcome Week, NDSU Fan Corner and NDSU Women in Business.

Brandon Conkins is the director of managed services for High Point Networks, where he develops managed IT solutions, service contracts, and the engineering teams to support them. In this role, Conkins has taken a unique approach to managed services that pairs existing IT departments with expert help where they need it most.

His innovation and leadership has resulted in more than 600 partnerships with organizations across the US, ranging from state governments, health care institutions, and manufacturing to renowned concert halls.

Conkins received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from North Dakota State University and has spent 14 years since then in channel development, operations, and leadership roles. The cumulation of these years of experience have been key in developing the unique balance of sales, operations, and organizational development that has helped make him successful today.

Conkins has served as a youth mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America for 10 years, and in 2020 was named Volunteer of the Year for the State of North Dakota and a finalist for the national award.

Brent Muscha

Age: 37

Project Manager

Apex Engineering Group Fargo, N.D.

Brent Muscha is a project manager at Apex Engineering Group, providing professional engineering services on transportation projects for public agencies across the region. Muscha graduated from North Dakota State University and worked for North Dakota Department of Transportation before joining Apex in 2013, the company’s third year of business.

Muscha has been instrumental in building Apex’s company culture and reputation for superior client service. He helped start the Brand Ambassador program, which leads Apex’s effort to foster company culture through team-building activities and community involvement supporting local charities. He also led the charge to bring drone technology to Apex by becoming one of the company’s first licensed drone pilots.

Muscha recently became a certified Professional Traffic Operations Engineer, allowing Apex to provide expanded traffic analysis services to clients.

He is a dedicated and professional leader. Because of those attributes, he was selected to become an associate owner at Apex in 2018. He is highly respected by his peers and coworkers and a role model for younger engineers. Muscha lives in West Fargo with his wife, Ashley, and their two children.

Dragon Pride

David Frank

Age: 37

Partner in Charge of Aberdeen, S.D., Office

Eide Bailly LLP

Aberdeen, S.D.

David Frank is a proud graduate of Northern State University in Aberdeen, S.D. He began his career with Eide Bailly in 2007 and has been providing tax and consulting services to clients for 15 years. He became a partner in May 2016 and Partner-In-Charge of Aberdeen in May 2020. Frank serves clients from a wide range of industries including agriculture, cooperatives, lodging and retail, to name a few. He takes a great deal of pride in continuously seeking opportunities to help his clients be more successful.

Outside of the office, Frank’s pride and joy is his family – his wife, Natalie, and children Abby, Hailey and Mason and dog Kya are his life. He is also an avid sportsman, who enjoys hunting, fishing and the outdoors.

Frank is also a member of the AICPA, SD CPA Society Practice Advisory Council, Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors, National Society of Accountants for Cooperatives, ADC Executive Roundtable, and chair of Bethlehem Lutheran Church’s Financial Resources Team.

Derek Goebel

Age: 38

Director of Finance and Supply Chain

Altru Health System

Grand Forks, N.D.

Deidre Beck

Age: 29

Staff Engineer

Banner Associates, Inc. Brookings, S.D.

Deidre Beck, EI, works to make herself and the world around her better. A staff engineer at Banner Associates Inc., Beck works on a variety of water and wastewater projects to find solutions for local communities. She balances this with time in class as she pursues a master’s degree in civil engineering at South Dakota State University.

On top of her career and education, Beck devotes her time to helping others. She is an active member of the Eastern South Dakota Branch of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), where she has served as president, vice president, and outreach chair for the organization. Other members of the organization recognized Beck in 2019 as the Outstanding Younger Member of the local Branch and Region, which comprises seven states.

In the Brookings community, Beck has been part of the Brookings County Youth Mentor program for more than three years and currently serves on the organization’s board. When she finds time for herself, Beck enjoys riding her bike, gardening, and traveling.

Derek Goebel serves as the director of Finance and Supply Chain at Altru Health System. He is committed to continuous improvement through the empowerment of data and the invitation of input from others. In his role, he helps guide the financial direction for Altru Health System, the largest employer in Grand Forks County.

He is a trusted and respected expert in the organization, focused on balancing growth with financial stability. He excels at maneuvering through complex situations effectively and quietly while promoting the engagement of the team and success of the organization.

Goebel served in the National Guard for 13 years, which included mobilizations both overseas and stateside, committing time to serve his country while also managing a successful career.

In his 11 years at Altru, Goebel’s impact has been felt across the organization. He is a thoughtful communicator and has strong values. He has led initiatives to support Altru’s financial turnaround, while also being an integral part of the command center team who led the organization though the COVID pandemic.

Grant Kuper

Age: 31

Project Engineer

Bolton & Menk, Inc. Fargo, N.D.

Grant Kuper is a project engineer at Bolton & Menk. Throughout his civil engineering career, he has been involved in all facets of municipal planning, preliminary design, funding applications, 3D design, plan preparation, and construction administration.

Kuper values honesty, sincerity, and transparency when serving clients to create beautiful and sustainable communities. He uses open communication to put himself in his client’s shoes, which helps him envision how the product should look, feel, and function.

Mentoring and developing fellow engineers early in their careers is another task he enjoys. He always strives to learn while passing on knowledge and experience he has gained throughout his career. His leadership and development will continue to grow this year through the 2021 FMWF Chamber Leadership course.

Kuper graduated from North Dakota State University with a civil engineering degree in 2013. After graduation, he worked for a Christian college ministry, Cru, until 2015. He then joined Bolton & Menk and has loved every minute of it.

Kuper lives in Moorhead, Minn., with his wife, Brittany, daughter Esther, and two doodles Dexter and Winnie.

CONGRATULATIONS DEIDRE!

Above andBeyond

Congratulationstoour very own DeidreBeck, EITonbeinga 40 Under 40 honoree!Bringingout thebes t in ever yone she work swith, Deidre goes aboveandbeyondinevery thing shedoe s. We are proudtohave her on our team!

Heather Leas

Age: 35

Director of Health, Safety, and Public Relations

West Fargo Public Schools

West Fargo, N.D.

Heather Leas serves West Fargo Public Schools as the director of health, safety, and public relations. The diversity of her portfolios means that no day is ever boring, which is why she’s been a proud #districtofchoice staff member since 2007!

She leads and coordinates the district’s emergency preparedness efforts, including oversight of the school resource officer and nursing teams; serving as the district’s PIO; managing software, hardware, and programs that support safe learning and working environments for staff and students; and facilitating annual drills, exercises, and trainings.

Her department consistently uses communication strategy, media relations, and community partnerships to keep the stakeholders of the fastest growing district in North Dakota informed. Since March 2019, Leas has also served as the district’s pandemic response coordinator.

Leas holds a bachelor’s degree in professional communications from Valley City State University, as well as multiple certifications related to school safety and public information, including the distinction as the only individual in the state to have completed the Master PIO course through FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute.

Jill Nelson

Age: 39 Director of Operations & Community Relations

Grand Forks Park District

Grand Forks, N.D.

Jarda

Solc

Age: 37 Civil Practice Leader

AE2S

Grand Forks, N.D.

Jarda Solc’s 15-year career in the engineering industry includes a wide variety of civil engineering projects. A proud University of North Dakota grad, Solc joined AE2S 10 years ago and was quickly promoted to the civil practice leader position in his early thirties.

As the civil practice leader, he manages the firm’s civil workload across the Midwest, leading the team of passionate engineers in solving infrastructure challenges in innovative ways and presenting sustainable solutions.

Solc is a registered professional engineer in the states of North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Colorado. He’s also a member of the American Public Works Association (APWA) and the North Dakota Society of Professional Engineers (NDSPE).

Solc and his wife, Tabitha, have four children and have also opened their home to foster children. In addition, he has made a positive impact on Grand Forks by volunteering for the Special Olympics, and coaching and mentoring kids in both soccer and hockey.

Originally from the Czech Republic, Solc and his family love to travel to his native country to visit his relatives each year.

Jill Nelson is not your typical leader. From launching the first golf course drone delivery service in the U.S. to building award-winning, life-enhancing facilities, Nelson has been behind some truly amazing projects.

As the director of Operations & Community Relations for the Grand Forks Park District, Nelson oversees everything from fundraising to cultural programming, and marketing to golf courses. Her positive, innovative leadership style and collaborative approach is the key to Nelson’s ability to make a lasting impact within her community. Through her philanthropic work, she helped build ICON Sports Center, Choice Health & Fitness, Scheels Sports Complex, and more. Nelson is currently raising funds for a fallen-officer police memorial, children’s museum, and destination playground.

As a seasoned broadcaster, she can also be found in front of the camera, co-hosting radio shows, and public speaking. Nelson is passionate about volunteering and serves on boards like the Public Arts Commission and Public Health Coalitions.

Nelson attributes her success to the support of her husband John, their two daughters, and to the inspiring community of Grand Forks.

Dr.

A native of Scranton, ND, Dr. Ranum attended college at Jamestown College in ND and finished at North Dakota State University, Fargo, where he received his bachelor of science degree. He received his medical degree from the University of North Dakota School of Medicine, Grand Forks and did his internship through Altru Health in Grand Forks, ND and completed his Internal Medicine residency at a Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners in Michigan.

Jon Rentz

Age: 36

Senior Business Advisor

Alerus

Grand Forks, N.D.

Jon Rentz’s agriculture and commercial clients trust him to help guide their business’ financial wellbeing, and he takes that responsibility seriously. During the pandemic, his proactive outreach to clients helped many secure Paycheck Protection Program loans and other pandemic-specific lending, ensuring they could stay afloat during uncertain times.

As a senior business advisor, Rentz generates new business opportunities and manages significant client portfolios in lending, deposits, retirement plans, and wealth management. He is the primary contact for his clients and collaborates with specialists across Alerus as needed to provide his clients with holistic financial services.

Rentz holds bachelor’s degrees in accounting and managerial finance/corporate accounting from the University of North Dakota. He is a graduate of the Grand Forks Area Chamber of Commerce leadership program and currently serves on the agribusiness committee. He is a long-time volunteer for Junior Achievement and contributes his financial expertise to his church, where he is past treasurer of the finance committee and current member of the foundation committee.

He and his wife, Bethany, live in Grand Forks.

Josh Ranum

Age: 39

Physician, Internal Medicine

West River Health Services

Hettinger, N.D.

Josh Herbold

Age: 38 Vice President, Business Banking Team Lead Bremer Bank

Fargo, N.D.

Josh Herbold has been with Bremer Bank since 2007 and is currently Business Banking Team Lead in the Fargo-Moorhead market. He knows the important role business plays in our communities’ growth, and he understands the unique challenges business owners face.

Herbold and his team provide solid financial guidance and innovative solutions to be a valuable and strategic partner. By working in sync with external and internal partners, he can help to identify financial risks and opportunities. Herbold has the experience, organizational resources and tools necessary to help individuals, families, and businesses establish and meet their financial goals.

Before assuming his current role, Herbold served as business banker and credit analyst with Bremer. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from North Dakota State University.

He is a volunteer with Make-A-Wish North Dakota, Junior Achievement, United Way, West Fargo Exchange Club, and Habitat for Humanity. A Fargo native, Herbold is married with two kids and enjoys golfing, hunting and camping.

A native of Scranton, Pa., Dr. Joshua Ranum returned to Hettinger in 2012 after completing his internal medicine residency. It didn’t take him long to become fully engaged with a comprehensive rural medicine practice, his local community, and medical leadership.

A vibrant rural community requires engaged volunteers, and Dr. Ranum has served on multiple boards including those of West River Health Services, Adams County Development Corp., and the Hettinger United Methodist Church. He is the volunteer medical director for three ambulance services, is a football official, and plays in the local Cowboy Band.

Involvement in the broader medical community also started early in his career. He was a member of the state trauma committee and has ascended the leadership ladder of the North Dakota Medical Association, recently being elected its president.

As the pandemic hit the state, Dr. Ranum quickly became a familiar face. He has given numerous media interviews and serves as an advisor to the Health Department and Governor’s office on the coronavirus response.

Ranum lives with his wife, Dr. Carrie Ranum, and three daughters.

Julianne Horntvedt

Age: 35

Executive Director

ND State Council on Developmental Disability Bismarck, N.D.

Julianne Horntvedt is the executive director of the North Dakota State Council on Developmental Disabilities, which supports community inclusion and promotes health, wellbeing, job opportunities and self-advocacy of individuals with developmental disabilities.

Under her leadership, the council drafted and testified on the Supported Decision-making bill that North Dakota lawmakers passed in 2019, which offers an alternative to guardianship.

Horntvedt is serving her second term as chair of the North Dakota Disabilities Advocacy Consortium and is treasurer of the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities. She is also a member of the state’s Olmstead Commission, which supports in-home and community-based support services for people with disabilities.

She participates in the BisMan Mentor Squad and has been matched with the same individual for eight years. She also volunteers with the Junior Achievement program in local schools and the Community Action Backpack for Kids program, and is a past vice president of the North Dakota Breastfeeding Coalition.

Horntvedt enjoys boating on the Missouri River with her husband and their two sons, and she teaches part-time at a fitness studio.

continued on page 34

FeedingInto Something Better

GateCityBankContributes Volunteers, $120,000 to Help LaunchFirst-of-its-KindHunger Relief Programin West Fargo

Nooneshouldhave to go hungr y. That’swhy GateCityBank hasdonated more than$120,000 and deployedmanyteammembervolunteersto transform apop-upfoodpantr yintoa permanenthunger relief programin West Fargo, ND –the firstofitskindin NorthDakota.

West FargoEatsislargelymadepossiblebecause of theFoodShare Alliance,whichismadeupof Gate CityBank, LutheranChurchoftheCross, YWCACassClayand GreatPlains Food Bank. Each organizationbringsuniqueexpertise to thetablethat helps ensuresustainability, Fora BetterWay of Life®.

These community partnersare helping to ensurethat the West FargoEats food pantr ymaintains enough cannedgoods,cereal,rice,noodles,bread,dair y productsandprotein to provideatleastthreedays’ supply forthose inneed.Hygieneitemsarealso offered.

“Whenindividualsand families experience unexpected foodinsecurity,theyare facedwithimpossiblefinancial choices,” says KevinHanson,GateCityBankPresident &CEO.“Throughoursupportof West FargoEats,in the form offinancialgiftsand teammember volunteer hours, we aregiving familiesthehelptheyneed today forabetter tomorrow.”

Strategic Community PartnershipsMaketheDifference

The West FargoEatspop-uplocation startedinMay 2020, andthe FoodShareAlliance wascreatedin 2021 to helpcreateamuch-neededpermanentspace.

TheBankappreciateshavingbeenable to partnerwith LutheranChurchoftheCross,YWCACassClayand GreatPlains FoodBank to help theoperationgrow since itsinception.

GateCityBankhasdeployedmanyvolunteersand donated more than$120,000 to helplaunch West FargoEats.

Lutheran Church of the Cross committed 2 5% of its

capitalcampaign forongoingfunding,alongwiththe physicalspaceforthenewpermanenthunger relief programandthevolunteerswhodriveit.

GateCityBankhasalsobeen alongtimesupporterof YWCACassClay, helpingthenonprofitbuild transitional housingin 2010 andaneconomicenrichmentwing in 2015.In 2017,theBankstepped up again to pledge $1.5 million (the largestdonationin YWCA CassClay’s history) toward theGraceGarden expansion, aproject that LutheranChurchoftheCross wasalsoinstrumental in bringingtolife.The 30-unit women’ssupportive housinginitiative promotesanenvironmentofsafety, stabilityand community forwomenandchildrenwho have experienceddomestic abuseandpoverty

yy gg d partnerofGreatPlains FoodBankin supportinghunger reliefthroughoutthe region.One exampleiswhen theBankprovidedfunding fora semi-truck to travel acrossNorth Dakota andwesternMinnesota to provide food forrural communities.TheBankalsoprovided volunteersaspartofthiseffort.With38 yearsof experience,GreatPlains FoodBankisthesustainable foodsource forWest FargoEats.

TheGrowingNeed foraHunger ReliefProgramin West Fargo

Increaseddemand forlocal emergency foodsupplies in recent yearshasmadetheneed fora permanent hunger-reliefprogram evident.The West FargoEats pop-up food pantr yresponded to communityneeds by operatingoutofthebackof arefrigeratedtruck inthe LutheranChurchoftheCrossparkingloton

Fridayafternoons.Duringsummer2020,thepantr yfed nearly3,500peoplewith55,000poundsof food

Therewas aday whenWest FargoEatsser ved767 peoplein90minutes. Withincreasingdemand, organizersknewtheyneededtodomore.The new permanentoperationisnowopen,located atthecurrent LutheranChurchoftheCrosspropertyin West Fargo.

The$120,000donated by GateCityBankhasgone toward design, constructionandfurnishing costs forthe newpermanent food pantr y, whichopeneditsdoorson October25,2021. To date, West FargoEatshasser ved approximately150,000poundsof food to more than 13,000people,andit’s operatedentirely byvolunteers.

“We’reblessed to have suchanamazingopportunity to work withGateCityBankandtheother Food Share Alliancepartnersonthislife-changingmission,”says JoelBaranko, Lead Pastorat LutheranChurchofthe Cross.“Together,we’reworking to endhungerinour communityandbringhope to somanywhoneedit.”

More informationabouthoursofoperation and volunteeropportunitiescanbe foundby visiting LCC-WF.com/West-Fargo-Eatsorcalling 701-532-0394.

Additionally, Gate City Bank is a longstanding, truste

GateCityBankparticipatedintheribbon-cutting ceremonyfor West FargoEatsonOctober25.

The $120 000 donated Gate City Bank has gone

GateCityBankandothershave helpedensureWestFargo Eats maintainsthreedays’worthofcrucialfood pantryitems.

West FargoEatshasservedapproximately150,000 pounds of food to morethan13,000people.

OUTHERE,THEBESTRENEWABLESTRATEGY BEGINSWITHRELIABILITY.

At BasinElectric,webelieve in abalancedapproachtoelectricity forourruralcommunities.Weare 100%committedtodelivering responsible,affordableenergytoday,evenaswecontinueto investinrenewablesources foramoresustainabletomorrow.

Kate Black

Age: 34

Vice President

Inland Oil & Gas Corp.

Bismarck, N.D.

Kate Black is busy writing the third generation’s chapter at Inland Oil & Gas. After graduating from North Dakota State University in 2010 with a degree in mechanical engineering, she was lured back to the family’s business with hopes of capitalizing on the opportunities of the booming Bakken in western North Dakota.

Today, as vice president, she manages the exploration and drilling on Inland’s leasehold and directs future acquisitions. In addition to her operational duties at Inland, she applies her engineering skills towards appraising mineral rights for attorneys, tax and estate planners. She especially enjoys assisting mineral owners in managing their mineral assets.

Black is the past president of the Landman’s Association of North Dakota, serves on the board of directors for the North Dakota Petroleum Council, and is a member of the inaugural cohort of LeadershipND.

As a lifelong learner, “Be curious, and ask good questions!” is the mantra she recites daily to her three daughters. She and her husband, Wyatt, and their daughters are avid sports fans and enjoy staying active.

Lance Monson

Age: 38

Preconstruction Manager

Construction Engineers

Grand Forks, N.D.

Kristen Henderson

Age: 36

Business Owner/Educator

Midwest Veterinary Service

Watertown, S.D.

Kristen Henderson is an engineer, entrepreneur, and educator. With master’s degrees in engineering and business, she worked in medical device R&D in Minneapolis for nearly 10 years in various leadership roles, including an international assignment in Costa Rica.

Henderson moved back to her hometown of Watertown, S.D., to support the expansion of her family’s business, Midwest Veterinary Service, integrating three clinics into its operations in three years. In addition to managing marketing efforts for the company, she teaches leadership and business courses at Lake Area Technical College and Mount Marty University.

Henderson has devoted her talents to numerous community endeavors, including a $5 million project to save Watertown’s 130-year-old Goss Opera House from demolition.

The need to attract and retain workforce leaders inspired her to co-create Excite Watertown, which works to engage professionals through development opportunities and networking.

Henderson serves on the board of directors of the Watertown Area Community Foundation, Prairie Lakes Healthcare System, Friends of the Goss, and Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce Ag Committee. She and her husband, Brooks, have two young children.

Lance Monson is a preconstruction manager for Construction Engineers (CE) in Grand Forks and lives in Thompson, N.D., with his wife Taylor and four children. He graduated from North Dakota State University in 2007 with a B.S. in construction management and a minor in business. In the preconstruction manager role, Monson oversees all of CE’s pursuits.

Monson and his team develop detailed cost estimates at all phases of a building project’s design. He has completed over $1 billion in cost estimates and overseen an additional $750 million-plus from his team. Monson takes pride in his teams’ product, which is accurate, detailed estimates that look beyond the surface to provide owners the information they need to maximize the value of their projects.

Monson served in the North Dakota National Guard for 15 years. He deployed to Iraq as part of OIF III, and to Washington DC in support of Operation Noble Eagle. He currently serves in the Reserves as a captain. He is a board member for the Grand Forks Builders and Traders Exchange, and is involved in several industry groups.

Lauralee Tupa

Age: 39

Chief Executive Officer

Circle of Friends Animal Shelter Grand Forks, N.D.

Lindsay Mack

Age: 37

SVP/HR & Training Director Cornerstone Bank Fargo, N.D.

Lindsay Mack joined Cornerstone Bank in March 2014 as the HR director and currently serves as the senior vice president of HR & training director, and on the management board. She has worked in human resources for more than 14 years.

Mack earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting with a minor in business administration from Minnesota State University Moorhead. She earned her Professional in Human Resources certification in 2009 and her SHRM Certified Professional certification in 2015. She is a graduate of the Human Resource Management Graduate School of Banking.

Mack currently serves on the Board of Directors for The Rape & Abuse Crisis Center in Fargo and has volunteered with the United Way.

She and her husband, Chad, have three boys and reside in West Fargo. They enjoy running after kids and spending time with family and friends at the lake and in Arizona.

Lauralee Tupa has spent the past 10 years honing her skills in nonprofit development and caring for her community. After transitioning from the corporate world to the nonprofit world in 2012, Tupa has never looked back.

She enjoys lending her skills and experience to improving the lives of others -- both people and animals!

Over the past five years as CEO of the Circle of Friends Animal Shelter, Tupa and her team have faced hurdles that have turned into opportunities. Tupa and her team approach each day with the mentality of serving others and strengthening their community. Whether it is increasing community outreach programs or completing an animal medical suite, along with adding two staff veterinarians, she really does live by COFs mission: To enrich the lives of pets through healing, education, and connecting companions.

A graduate of the University of Minnesota Crookston and the College of St. Scholastica, she resides in Grand Forks with her husband, Jay, and their seven children, who inspire her every day to serve God and the community.

Luke Heck

Age: 32

Attorney Vogel Law Fargo, N.D.

Luke Heck is a partner at Vogel Law Firm. He runs a successful criminal defense practice, where he zealously advocates for his clients to achieve positive outcomes in their cases. Luke also serves on the firm’s Marketing committee and Strategic Planning Committee.

Since becoming licensed, Heck has tried over 20 jury trials, including serious felony allegations and misdemeanor offenses. Between North Dakota and Minnesota, he has handled hundreds of DUI/DWI cases, as well as multiple criminal appeals in both states. Heck has also presented at a number of continuing legal education seminars.

Heck attended the University of Jamestown, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration with concentrations in economics and global business. After graduating from the University of Jamestown, he attended the University of St. Thomas School of Law in Minneapolis, where he was selected by his class to give their commencement speech.

Outside of his practice, Heck enjoys spending time with his wife, Holly, and their children, while remaining active in the Fargo-Moorhead community.

Macy Francisco

Age: 25

Marketing

BIO Girls

Fargo, N.D.

Director

Macy Francisco has a passion for positivity, creativity, and marketing. In 2018, she found all three at BIO Girls. She is the director of Marketing at BIO Girls, a nonprofit that began in Fargo, and now spans across the Midwest.

BIO stands for Beautiful, Inside and Out. The mission at BIO Girls is to improve the self-esteem of adolescent girls through empowerment of self and service to others through their proven 12-week program.

Francisco received her degree in marketing from the University of North Dakota. Quickly discovering a knack for storytelling, she has had the privilege for the last three years to share the story of adolescent girls finding their confidence through BIO Girls.

In addition to her professional role, Francisco is a mentor for UND’s Pancratz Mentor Program, BIO Girls volunteer site director, graduate of United Way’s 35 Under 35 Leadership Program, and keeps her creativity firing in her spare time by illustrating pets with her small business, Doodling Diggsy.

Francisco resides in Fargo with her fiancé, Dominik, and rescue dog Diggs.

Mark

Age: 36

Honzay

Principal Architect

JLG Architects

Fargo, N.D.

Maggie (Smith) Brockling

Age: 35

Executive Director

Evolve Grand Forks

Grand Forks, N.D.

Maggie Brockling, native Vermonter, is the executive director of Evolve Grand Forks. She is on the Greater Grand Forks Young Professionals Board of Directors; a member of the Nonprofit Business Alliance serving on their Social & Economic Impact Committee; a member of the Grand Forks/East Grand Forks Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Committee and a Chamber Ambassador.

Brockling holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of North Dakota and a Bachelor of Forestry from the University of Tennessee. Previously, she served the Board of the Chicopee Chamber of Commerce and the Young Professionals Society of Greater Springfield, Mass. She is a graduate of the Leadership Institute for Political and Public Impact from the Women’s Fund of Western MA.

Brockling is a retired yoga teacher (RYT 200hr) and a lifetime member of Girl Scouts of America, having received her Gold and Silver Awards. As an outdoor enthusiast, she enjoys hiking with her dog, Jim, and husband, Austin. She has a penchant for loose leaf teas, crafting cooking creations, and decaf coffee.

Mark Honzay, JLG Architects, is a registered Architect in North Dakota, Minnesota, and South Dakota. He earned his Master of Architecture degree from North Dakota State University in 2009 and was promoted in 2021 to principal-in-charge, specializing in the design of medical and healthcare projects with JLGmed’s practice studio.

Honzay leads high-performance planning, design, sustainable design practices, and technical execution for projects ranging from stand-alone multimillion-dollar new construction to complex renovations. His work is driven by an urgency to create impactful healthcare environments for community, understanding the broader effect on patient access to health services, as well as the health and growth of our region.

Furthering his passion for community, Honzay contributes his time to mentorship of emerging and young architects, volunteerism through regional advisory panels, as well as pro bono architectural design for non-profit organizations throughout the Midwest.

Honzay grew up on a farm in central Minnesota and has lived in Fargo/ West Fargo since 2004. He currently lives in West Fargo with his wife of nearly 10 years, Alysia, and their two children, Will and Kate.

Matthew Eaton

Age: 37

Dental Director

Family HealthCare Fargo, N.D.

Melissa Frohlich

Age: 39

AVP/Digital Banking Manager

First International Bank & Trust Bismarck, N.D.

Melissa Frohlich is the assistant vice president and digital banking manager at First International Bank & Trust (FIBT), where she leads online and mobile services for all consumer and business customers. Throughout her seven-year tenure with the bank, she has worked tirelessly to spearhead FIBT’s focused digital application with cutting-edge functionality, usability, and customer experience.

Frohlich stays in touch with trends and drives efforts to keep the bank relevant to customer demands. She has the innate ability to take complex technical ideas and make them simple and customer-friendly.

Frohlich strongly believes in financial education and spreading knowledge about digital banking throughout her organization. She developed a training platform dedicated to digital banking knowledge that helps FIBT customers Live First by banking when and how it works best for them.

Frohlich graduated from North Dakota State University in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in mass communications. Beyond her role at FIBT, she is the secretary of the Mandan Soccer Club and is a member of the local Eagles Women’s Auxiliary.

Matthew Eaton, DDS, is a Fargo native who is passionate about dentistry and his community.

His professional accomplishments include work as a dental practitioner, public health director, published researcher, and national speaker. He has earned advanced study designations in dental sleep medicine and dental implantology.

After time working as dental director for a large health system in Wisconsin, he returned to Fargo in 2015 where he accepted the position of dental director at Family Healthcare.

Additionally, he focuses on implant care and dental sleep medicine at a private office, Valley Dental, with his wife.

Family Healthcare’s dental department has more than doubled in size since his appointment. In addition to tremendous growth, his most recent achievement was obtaining the first medical/dental mobile unit within the state of North Dakota. Family HealthCare’s Dental program cares for more than 10,000 unique dental patients a year.

Dr. Eaton is the father to three busy children. He also serves as a board member of the Angels Hockey Program and the Vector Control board within the community.

Shawn Crowley

Age: 34

Architect, Office Manager

EAPC Architects Engineers Sioux Falls, S.D.

Shawn Crowley, AIA, has has been a staple at EAPC Architects Engineers since starting as a student intern in 2008, and since then has worked to continuously improve both himself and the firm. Through his hard work and determination, he quickly became a licensed architect and worked his way up to his newest role of Sioux Falls office manager in 2021.

Crowley has shown great leadership and judgement throughout his young career, allowing him to be entrusted with the management and design of many significant projects on the SDSU campus, including the Raven Precision Agriculture Center and the First Bank and Trust Arena renovation. He is passionate about design for higher education and strives to improve the campus environment for every student.

Crowley works to promote leadership and an active lifestyle through his commitment as a volunteer Cub Scout Den leader. When he isn’t at the office, he enjoys playing softball, volleyball, and doing home improvement projects.

He lives in Sioux Falls with his wife, Elizabeth, and their two children.

Skyler Severns

Age: 31 President

Fargo Moorhead Adult Hockey Club LLC Fargo, N.D.

Skyler Severns, 31, has 17 years of experience in technology, with eight years specifically geared toward excess and specialty insurance. While his professional life is quite impressive, what Severns does in his spare time shows real drive.

Severns moved to Fargo in 2017 from Seattle with his wife and quickly jumped into hockey. He played for the Fargo Parks District for a few years, but it was around 2020 that he began his club, Fargo Moorhead Adult Hockey Club (FMAHC). With more than 200 players this year, FMAHC is not like anything you have seen in the area. In addition to personalized jerseys and playing cards that display your stats, you can participate in beginner skaters/goalies training, play more than 15 games per season, and four pick-up games per week. The club rents ice at the Fargo Scheels Arena for all their practices and games; additionally, each game is broadcast online with commentary through Facebook, Vimeo, and YouTube. He says FMAHC is the perfect club for avoiding the gym and playing hockey with fellow adults.

Wylie Wenschlag

Age: 39 Engineer, Associate Director-Substation

Ulteig Fargo, N.D.

Terri Miller

Age: 37

Architect Architecture Incorporated

Sioux Falls, S.D.

Terri Miller has earned her reputation as one of the most reliable and knowledgeable architects around. She has an unrivaled work ethic and is passionate about providing her clients with the best service possible, often going above and beyond to ensure that their expectations are exceeded.

In addition to being a wife and mom of three active children, she has also taken on leadership roles within the American Institute of Architects and the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. She juggles all of these roles without missing a beat while constantly embracing a growth mindset to stay ahead of industry trends and advancements in technology.

Miller graduated with a Master of Architecture and Bachelor of Environmental Design degrees from North Dakota State University. She was raised on a farm in southwest Minnesota, which she credits for significantly shaping her personality and how she approaches problem solving. She learned at a young age what it means to work hard, reap rewards, suffer loss, and sometimes have no control over any of it.

Wylie Wenschlag is a licensed Professional Engineer with Ulteig, where he leads multiple teams responsible for planning, design, and construction of power substations. As an Associate Director, Wenschlag oversees strategic direction at the department and enterprise-level as well as execution of technical services, resource planning, and professional development for his teams.

In 2021 a project team reporting to Wenschlag received a National Recognition Award in the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) Engineering Excellence Awards (EEA) competition for substation design.

In partnership with Ulteig’s company-wide leadership team, Wenschlag supports client relationships, quality, revenue growth, and expansion of services. He also serves as a member of the enterprise risk council and local safety committee. He consistently displays exceptional strengths in communication, delegation, empowerment, and decision-making.

Wenschlag holds a BS in civil engineering from North Dakota State University. He lives near Detroit Lakes, Minn., with his wife and two children, where he enjoys lake time with the family, sports, hunting, and fishing.

Culture Creation

By Matthew Mohr

The lack of available employees to fill open job positions is currently a national topic. Unfortunately for employers, most are having a difficult time finding workers to fill their staffing needs. Despite the challenge of finding employees, we highlight this month 40 individuals under the age of 40 who are top-flight producers. How do employers find and keep exceptional talent?

Every business owner wants the very best employees and constantly works to find a way to be highly successful with each employee. Despite both employer and employee desiring long-term success, a recent study found 42% of new hires leave their employer within 18 months. This statistic demonstrates the transient nature of our current workforce. Although staying with one employer for many years is still the best way to achieve success, actions do not support this fact. Before the COVID19 pandemic, our unemployment rate was slightly above 3%; now it’s around 5%. Despite the higher unemployment rate, we have more job openings in the country than people seeking employment.

Individuals born in the depression (1930s), called “depression babies,” experienced a life of uncertainty and often feared not having enough food to feed their family. This fear lead to a strong desire to work hard and achieve financial security. The baby-boom generation sought security in family and material wealth. Material possessions and working to acquire them became a reason for family discord, so naturally work was to blame in many people’s minds. Rather than the quest for a better life filled with possessions, attitudes have shifted to other things.

The current environment seems to have people concentrating on what is being called a work-life balance, or, in other words, how much time one works compared to how much time one is not working; doing more favored things like being with family, relaxing, or pursuing hobbies. Prior generations focused on how a good career could enhance their family life, and especially their family’s relative economic position. As evidenced by a record number of workers leaving employment in 2021 (more than 4 million in August), family life and “quality time” are more important today than having a good job or achieving social-economic status.

Super successful enterprises must address these conflicting opinions and objectives. What we now call the work-life balance is something different for each individual and is different for each generation.

One of the most successful businesses in our region is Bell Bank. Bell began as a small state-chartered bank in north Fargo and has grown to become a $10 billion banking powerhouse. Along the way, Bell has added many employees and instilled a hard-working attitude, along with creating an atmosphere of employee commitment, which is hard to beat in any business anywhere. From hiring young, just out of (or currently in) school to individuals who have “retired” from a career elsewhere, the bank is remarkable and highly successful.

Recently, I met with a Bell Bank representative and she said, “I don’t really know exactly what it is, but we all believe strongly in Bell Banks and enjoy working together here.” Building camaraderie, looking for a

future, understanding hard work, positive growth and treating people well has put Bell Bank in its dominant position today.

The same day I spoke with the Bell Bank representative, I stopped for lunch at a popular new local restaurant. People rave about the food and I noticed while I was there, not one of the staff was smiling! It is very unfortunate for all of us to have created a society that looks at employment as a burden rather than an opportunity.

Every organization has an underlying set of standards and values that make up its culture. No single culture or set of values are the best or most attractive to all people. The key to a successful culture is building the desire within everyone to move the organization in the same direction. Some organizations place honesty and integrity as the most important facets of their mission; others make it clear that achieving their objectives, regardless of how, is what matters. No standard or industry requirement exists that says what approach is best. Some folks will cheat or lie to get what they want, as will some organizations.

Creating a successful enterprise with engaged employees takes hard work and careful selection of employees, and can only be done with purposeful effort.

As I have stated before, just having a ping-pong table in the break room doesn’t make a business a great place to work. A great business and great place to work is built by growing people and creating a common organizational set of goals and objectives.

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

Matthew Mohr

Fargo-based Wimmer’s Diamonds moves to new location

By Andrew Weeks

As a fourth-generation owner of a successful jewelry business, Aaron Wimmer is excited to carry his family’s legacy into a new building.

Wimmer’s Diamonds, a 102-year-old family business, opened a new location this fall at the Blu Water Creek development in Fargo.

The location at 4582 32nd Ave. S. might be new, but Wimmer brought some old items with him to the larger, 5,000-square-foot store. Among them are an old door, family photos and an iconic, colorful bison.

“As a family-owned business, our history is a big part of who we are,” Wimmer said in a statement that was sent to the media before the grand opening. In an interview with Prairie Business later, Wimmer said incorporating original items at the new location was important to him.

The old front door Wimmer brought with him was used at the original building many years ago on North Broadway. It is used at the new store not as a moveable door, but as part of the showroom’s decor. Photos of his grandparents, who started the business, and other family members who have played a role in the company also adorn some of the walls.

And then there is Sunny the Bison, a colorful piece of art that Wimmer’s Diamonds adopted years ago when the communities of Fargo, N.D., and Moorhead, Minn., hosted an art-installation project. Artists created works that depicted what it was like living on the prairie. Many bison were designed and decorated by various artists throughout the area, Wimmer said.

SUNNY THE BISON STANDS OUTSIDE THE NEW WIMMER’S DIAMONDS LOCATION IN FARGO, N.D. THE ART PIECE WAS PREVIOUSLY LOCATED OUTSIDE THE JEWELRY STORE’S FORMER LOCATION IN DOWNTOWN FARGO. IMAGES: COURTESY OF WIMMER’S DIAMONDS

They were installed at various businesses and a number of them besides Sunny can still be found throughout the area today.

“When it was time to move, we took Sunny with us to our new space and she has a great new home out here on 32nd Avenue and 45th Street,” he said.

Wimmer, who has been sole owner of the store for about 12 years now, said he and his staff are pleased to be in a new location. He looks forward to greeting returning customers and new ones alike at the larger store.

“We’re certainly excited to be part of this new neighborhood in this very vibrant retail area of Fargo/West Fargo,” he said. “We’re just looking to grow our business, to expand and reach new clients.

“You know, it’s really fun working with people, whether they want something new, like an engagement ring or an anniversary present, or if they want to restyle an old piece (of jewelry) that they’ve inherited. Or, something they just don’t like anymore and want to make it into something new that they’ll love and wear and cherish for many more years to come.”

WIMMER’S DIAMONDS, WHICH HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR 102 YEARS, THIS FALL OPENED A NEW LOCATION IN FARGO, N.D.

AARON WIMMER IS A FOURTH-GENERATION OWNER OF WIMMER’S DIAMONDS, A FAMILY BUSINESS HIS GRANDPARENTS STARTED IN 1919 IN FARGO, N.D.

By Amber Ferrie and Chad Flanagan

Mergers and acquisitions have always been part of the history of corporate America. Now, more than ever, the merger and acquisition market stands poised to help organizations navigate through the economic uncertainty caused by the effects of COVID-19.

M&A activity continues to build momentum from a quick vaccine rollout while market sentiment remains strong into the latter half of 2021. Business owners are seeing healthy revenue following economic recovery while using cash stockpiles to fund investments formerly put on hold in 2020.

Wavering uncertainty in the market and ample dry powder have corporations and private equity groups poised to continue unloading capital.

Despite fluctuating market conditions due to COVID-19, there is never

How COVID-19 is Impacting the Potential Sale of Your Business

a wrong time to begin preparing for an eventual sale. Merger and acquisition activity is important to consider, regardless of the size or industry of your organization. Buyers are looking for management teams who know what they’re doing and have defendable growth projections, and these are two things you can always focus on.

Important Mergers and Acquisitions Items to Consider

Divesting or acquiring a business may seem like a monumental task. The key to a successful transaction could be summed up in one word — information. There will always be an element of risk involved in transactions; however, starting the process with certain questions and an understanding of topics will act as a roadmap that can lead to an informed decision of what is best for your organization when performing accounting for acquisitions.

Adjusted EBITDA

Middle market deal prices are often traded based on adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDA is a term used in transactions to identify unusual and non-recurring events that have impacted EBITDA. For example, the seller may have certain discretionary expenses, relatives on the payroll, non-recurring incentive income or accounting policy differences during the periods being analyzed.

Additionally, current accounting policy elections could impact the analysis of historical EBITDA should the new owner require, or desire, policy changes after purchase. One example could be whether the new owner will elect FIFO vs. LIFO as an inventory

amber ferrie

chad flanagan

method. If the desired inventory method of the buyer is different than what the seller is currently using, adjustments should be made in calculating adjusted EBITDA so that the buyer can make an informed decision.

COVID-19 adds another layer to the adjusted EBITDA conversation. With the potential for lost revenues due to COVID-19, many organizations will be searching for ways to counteract revenue declines in their financials for upcoming quarters. In other instances, revenue saw spikes and accelerated a change in consumer behavior; however, some buyers are skeptical of these revenue abnormalities and shifts as they are uncertain if they can be repeated on an ongoing basis. Either way, many in the merger and acquisition profession are questioning whether these type of COVID-19 based calculations will be fully accepted as EBITDA adjustments.

Working Capital

Sellers and buyers often become fixated on adjusted EBITDA when considering due diligence in mergers and acquisitions. However, it remains equally important to understand other financial health indicators of the entity, such as working capital. Inventory and floorplan are some of the most significant items on a balance sheet. Analyzing inventory levels by product line and completing a turnover analysis allows the buyer to detect slow-moving items. Additionally, reviewing for aged inventory can identify future borrowing base issues or the potential of distressed contribution margin on the aged inventory.

Understanding the inventory mix you are acquiring will help you identify issues that could present themselves post-acquisition. Furthermore, identifying adjustments to working capital may help

reduce the possibility of money changing hands after the transaction has closed.

Profitability by Segment

When evaluating a potential acquisition or sale, an important metric that should be analyzed is profitability by revenue segment. Appropriate segregation of costs provides buyers and sellers insight into the profitability drivers of the entity. These costs are not often easy to identify retroactively, so it’s important an effort be made ahead of the potential sale to provide more detailed insights into what makes the entity profitable. Furthermore, any insight a seller may be able to provide regarding historical profitability trends reduces the risk of a potential issue stalling the deal.

Capacity for Growth

Along with financial factors, it is important for a buyer to understand what the target company is capable of in the future and additional costs that may be necessary for planned growth. The target may be operating near or at capacity in the facility they are currently leasing. A buyer’s integration or growth plans could be significantly hindered by unforeseen capital expenditures not identified in the diligence phase.

* A version of this article previously appeared on EideBailly.com. Visit to read more about preparing for potential merger & acquisition activity.

Amber Ferrie,CPA, ABV, CFF, CM & AA, is partner-in-charge of Transaction Advisory at Eide Bailly. Chad Flanagan, CPA, ABV, is partner-in-charge of Business Valuation at Eide Bailly.

Startup Sioux Falls to benefit from pilot program; funding to help new and small businesses

By Andrew Weeks

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. • Startup Sioux Falls, which helps businesses get off the ground, will benefit from a new pilot program by the administration of President Joe Biden and the Small Business Administration.

The Community Navigator Pilot Program is an American Rescue Plan initiative that helps small businesses better access critical support during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Biden administration announced this fall that the pilot program would provide $100 million in funding to 51 organizations across the country. One of those critical support networks selected for funding in South Dakota is Startup Sioux Falls, which will receive up to $1 million.

Brienne Maner, executive director of Startup Sioux Falls, told Prairie Business that the money will be provided over a two-year period and will come in the form of reimbursements instead of any lump sum.

That’s OK, Maner said. The organization, which started in 2004 and would like to expand its ability to help area startups and small businesses, is appreciative and excited for the opportunities the money will provide.

Maner said the money will help the organization increase its capacity to serve area entrepreneurs and small businesses, including focusing efforts in the areas of diversity and inclusion by supporting previously underserved communities across the state.

“Since March 2020, small businesses across the nation, including here in South Dakota, have experienced economic distress because of the pandemic,” SBA South Dakota District Director Jaime Wood said in a statement. “Through it all, Startup Sioux Falls has been a lifeline of support for numerous small business stakeholders from a variety of backgrounds.

“Up to $1 million in funding will increase the capacity of Startup Sioux Falls to connect more SBA assistance to the businesses hit hardest – minorities, women, veterans, and those in rural areas.”

In total, 700 applications were received nationwide.

Maner said there is a lot of work yet to do in the city, state, and country, “but I have no doubt the Community Navigators Pilot Program will move the needle toward a more robust and equitable startup ecosystem, creating a more prosperous future for generations to come.”

New health clinic now doing business in Minot

By Andrew Weeks

MINOT, N.D. • A new health clinic that offers some services tough to find elsewhere in North Dakota has opened its doors in Minot. Legacy Health Clinic is now doing business at 1324 20th Ave. SW. The clinic is already keeping busy. That’s good news for owner Cim Berg-Hooker, who has big plans for the business.

“Our clinic provides the traditional services a health care facility does along with many new and innovative specialties,” she said. “We’re the first health care clinic in Minot to offer IV therapy, and one of the very few clinics in the area to specialize in medical marijuana.”

Ever since she was young she’s had a passion for helping others, she said, which is what led her to pursue a career in the medical field. Through the years she has worked in a variety of specialties, including emergency care, Alzheimer’s facilities, pain management, and primary care. Eventually, she felt a tug in a different direction.

“I decided to become a nurse practitioner so I could take care of patients in a different way,” she said. “And then I decided to open a clinic.”

It took some time to get all of the ducks in a row — finding a building, seeking approval from the city, going through the necessary insurance hoops — but eventually things lined up. By August everything seemed to have come together and she opened Legacy Health Clinic.

CIM BERG-HOOKER OPENED LEGACY HEALTH CLINIC IN MINOT, N.D., AND SAYS ALREADY PEOPLE ARE TRAVELING FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE STATE TO TAKE PART IN HER CLINIC’S OFFERINGS, WHICH, BESIDES TRADITIONAL SERVICES, INCLUDE

IV THERAPY AND MEDICAL MARIJUANA. IMAGE: COURTESY OF LEGACY HEALTH CLINIC

What’s more, she did it on her own while working another job.

“Normally, a lot of people open a clinic with a partner, but I decided to do this on my own,” she said, but noting she one day plans to have more in-house providers.

With her nurse practitioner license, she still travels to Watford City, some two hours away, to work in the urgent care facility there on weekends.

“I was doing that full time and trying to get this business going,” she said.

Berg-Hooker employs four staff members. She said she hopes her experience in a variety of specialities gives her current and future patients confidence and “some peace of mind, because I have really seen it all, so there’s nothing you can be afraid to tell me.”

Some may question her offering medical marijuana, while others may applaud it. What she says about that, however, is this: “We are the only clinic in the Minot area to offer IV therapy and one of the very few to specialize in medical marijuana. Both of these health treatments are fairly new to the North Dakota area, but many states have been using them for years. We saw the health benefits they provide and wanted to make them available to patients in North Dakota.”

The North Dakota Department of Health lists eight medical marijuana dispensaries in the state, but as of this writing Legacy Health was not yet on the list.

Berg-Hooker said IV therapy is a hydration method that is a fairly easy and much faster way to hydrate a person and provide needed nutrients and vitamins, because it goes right into the bloodstream. The therapy helps those who not only may be dehydrated or malnourished, but also people who may feel anxious or depressed among a number of other health conditions.

It is amazing what proper hydration will do for a person, Berg-Hooker said.

Apparently others are recognizing its benefits, too. She has patients who travel for hours for the treatment and her clinic’s other offerings.

“I have patients that have come from Dickinson. … I have patients come from all over,” she said. “I have some patients, even from as far as the Fargo area, who have come to get their medical marijuana certification.”

THESE IMAGES SHOW A PATIENT ROOM AND OTHER AREAS OF LEGACY HEALTH CLINIC IN MINOT, N.D. IMAGES: COURTESY OF LEGACY

ARVIG SAYS IT IS PLANNING TO EXPAND AND UPGRADE ITS FIBER NETWORK TO 10G STARTING NEXT SPRING IN

IMAGES WERE TAKEN NEAR PELICAN RAPIDS, MINN., DURING A PREVIOUS FIBER CONSTRUCTION PROJECT IN 2019. IMAGES: COURTESY OF ARVIG

Arvig to upgrade fiber network in Perham, Minn., and surrounding areas

By Andrew Weeks

Arvig says it will invest more than $7 million to upgrade its fiber network that serves the city of Perham, Minn., and surrounding rural areas.

The effort will expand the company’s fiber network, but also make it capable of internet speeds of up to 10G per second, which seems to be the going trend.

This past summer Midco said that it too would enhance its fiber offerings in the Dakotas.

Arvig’s expanded network will allow more fiber-to-home connections and be a boon for area businesses.

“Arvig is proud to be investing in a faster and more reliable network in the Perham area,” David Arvig, vice president and chief operating officer, said in a statement. “With network demands increasing rapidly, it’s more important than ever to provide these next generation speeds right here at home.”

Some of the total $7.4 million project budget – about $4.8 million – includes federal funding awarded to Arvig from the FCC’s Alternative Connect America Cost Model (ACAM) program. Arvig’s directive for ACAM funding is to bring faster internet speeds to rural areas in the company’s service region. The current project will move Arvig closer to that goal.

Lisa Green, the company’s director of marketing, told Prairie Business that Arvig has been working on ACAM-related buildouts for the past several years, and has completed work in the rural Minnesota areas of Ada, Audubon, Bigfork, Cormorant Township, Echo, Eden Valley, Falls Junction, Frazee, Gary, Glyndon and Nevis.

The forthcoming expansion project in Perham also includes adding mainline fiberoptics and constructing drops (located on the subscriber’s end to connect the distribution cable) to customer homes, Green said.

With the new work model that many businesses have adopted since the start of the pandemic by allowing employees to work

PERHAM, MINN, AND SURROUNDING RURAL AREAS. THESE

remotely, Green said now is the right time to upgrade. It was certainly one of the deciding factors.

Currently, Arvig offers up to 1 gigabit to customers, but the new network the company is constructing for 10 gigabits per second will help meet the demands of the area’s business needs today and tomorrow.

“Yes,” Green said, “10G is the new trend. We’re all building for the future and making sure we have the infrastructure in place to provide the best possible service we can to our customers.”

But she’s noticed something else happening in the industry: “Another big trend is WiFi management and WiFi security,” which,

she said, are “becoming more and more important. “With all of the new devices people are adding to their homes, it’s like inviting a stranger to move in, if you don’t have the proper WiFi network and device security in place.”

Construction on the expanded fiber network will begin in spring 2022 as weather and working conditions allow. The project is slated to be completed in late 2022.

“I am looking forward to next spring when Arvig can start the process of upgrading internet service to our many loyal customers in Perham and providing service to those in the area who had previously been underserved,” David Arvig said.

Western Dakota Tech plans new site for practical nursing courses

PHILIP, S.D. • To help fill the great need for more nurses in the region and state of South Dakota, Western Dakota Technical College says it is expanding its Practical Nursing program with courses to be offered in Philip, S.D., in fall 2022.

The college made the announcement on Monday, Nov. 8.

The Philip location, in the former elementary school, will be the second satellite campus for WDTC Practical Nursing courses. The college has successfully offered its Practical Nursing program in Whitewood, S.D., since January. The Whitewood program currently has two nursing faculty and 16 students this semester.

“There is great demand for careers in the nursing field and Western Dakota Tech is helping fill that need,” said President Ann Bolman. “We greatly look forward to offering Practical Nursing courses in Philip and working with the school district, city, medical community, and everyone in the area. This is an exciting new partnership for us.”

The South Dakota Board of Nursing has approved for WDTC to offer the program in Philip. The site is pending Higher Learning Commission approval, which is anticipated in the near future. The school said the program will be capped at 16 students. The college plans to hire one full-time nursing faculty member to teach in Philip and will hire adjunct instructors as needed.

9 Minnesota projects awarded redevelopment and demolition funds

FERGUS FALLS, Minn. • The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development awarded $2 million to redevelop nine sites in eight different cities, including a demolition grant throughout Minnesota.

One of the projects is in Fergus Falls, which is part of the Prairie Business cover area.

Redevelopment projects made possible through the grants are expected to create 74 new jobs and retain 48 jobs while providing more than 524 new housing units, according to the announcement by DEED, 148 of which will be affordable housing units.

“The redevelopment grant program is highly sought-after because it sparks private investment and creates new opportunities for industrial, commercial, and housing development,” DEED Commissioner Steve Grove said in a statement. “These grants will also create new jobs and increase the tax base for these communities.”

The Redevelopment Grant Program helps communities with the cost of redeveloping blighted industrial, residential or commercial sites. Grants pay up to half the redevelopment costs for a qualify-

ing site, with a minimum 50% local match required.

The program statute has specific criteria to rank projects including the redevelopment potential within the municipality, the overall need, readiness of the proposed project, the increase in tax base for the community, and the number of jobs created and retained.

Since its creation in 1998, the Redevelopment Grant Program has made 222 grant awards, which have helped fund projects that created or retained more than 29,000 jobs and generated nearly $51 million in tax revenue.

The city of Fergus Falls is awarded $130,000 in Redevelopment Grant funds for asbestos abatement, demolition, and public infrastructure improvements on the Red River Flour Mill, a 2.52-acre site.

Historically used as a flour mill, this site will be redeveloped into a five-story, 30-unit boutique hotel. The project is anticipated to create three jobs, increase the tax base by $88,952, and leverage $4.8 million of private investment. Matching funds will be provided by tax increment financing.

WESTERN DAKOTA TECHNICAL COLLEGE SAYS IT WILL BEGIN OFFERING PRACTICAL NURSING COURSES IN PHILIP, S.D., IN FALL 2022. FROM LEFT, ANN BOLMAN, WDTC PRESIDENT; KRISTEN HYBERTSON, WDTC INTERIM DIRECTOR OF NURSING; AND JEFF RIECKMAN, HAAKON SCHOOL DISTRICT 27-1 SUPERINTENDENT/ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL. IMAGE: COURTESY OF WESTERN DAKOTA TECHNICAL COLLEGE

First International Bank & Trust plans two new locations

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. • First International Bank & Trust said it has purchased property to establish its second Sioux Falls location. The purchase comes less than a year after FIBT’s acquisition of Sodak Home Loans, which established its first Sioux Falls location near 57th Street and Western Avenue.

The property for the new location is at 601 S. Minnesota Ave. In 2020, FIBT purchased land at the northwest corner of 69th Street and Minnesota Avenue in and plans to develop a full-service branch at that location in the future.

The company said when making the announcement of the most recent purchase that with the recent hiring of Jason Appel as Sioux Falls community president, FIBT is positioned to deepen its roots in the area.

“I’ve spent the last 15 years serving the Sioux Falls business community and I’m excited to continue doing so as part of FIBT,” Appel said in a statement. “We can do some amazing things for this city and its community members. I’m honored to build out our strong community bank presence and introduce what it means to Live First.”

Renovations are planned for the location before opening to customers.

“We’ve hit the ground running in the Sioux Falls community and this expansion will allow us to further build out our team of financial experts,” said President Peter Stenehjem. “We look forward to welcoming more customers offering all of the services you would expect from an innovative and growing bank.”

Moorhead Branch

The company broke ground for a new branch in Moorhead, Minn. According to the company, the branch will be 8,200 square feet and will feature 10 offices, two teller pods, and a two-lane drive-thru.

Plans for a new building have been in motion since FIBT first purchased the land in 2008. Once construction is complete in 2022, the new branch will provide a full array of financial services and will house the Moorhead banking and insurance teams.

“We’ve enjoyed serving the Moorhead community over the years and this expansion will allow us to do so more effectively,” Stenehjem said.

Houston Engineering’s Minot team relocates to new office

MINOT, N.D. • Houston Engineering, which has locations in both the Dakotas and Minnesota, said it is moving its Minot team to a new location.

The new office is located at 3900 13th Ave. SE.

Houston Engineering has offices in the Dakotas and Minnesota, and works in the areas of infrastructure, environment, geospatial technology, transportation and water resources.

Houston said the new space will allow the company to better service clients and its growing team.

Nick Peterson

Bell Bank hires wealth advisor

FARGO, N.D. • Nick Peterson has been hired as vice president/wealth advisor for Bell Investments. In his role, Peterson assists clients with financial planning and investment decisions designed with a goal to help them reach their future financial and retirement goals.

A native of Moorhead, Minn., Peterson earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from North Dakota State University. He began his financial career in 2019 as a teller with Bell Bank and has served as a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley. He lives in West Fargo.

Kasey Ward

Apex Engineering Group hires engineering technician

FARGO, N.D. • Kasey Ward joins Apex Engineering Group. Ward is a recent graduate of Bismarck State College, where he earned an associates degree in engineering technology.

In 2020, he was an intern for Apex’s Survey Department in Bismarck. Now, he joins the transportation team full-time as an engineering technician.

Jeff Ostrom

KLJ promotes team member to VP of sales BISMARCK, N.D. • KLJ Engineering LLC has promoted Jeff Ostrom to vice president of sales. In this role, Ostrom will focus on the company’s sales model, which centers on collaboration across all markets and services to build on client management across KLJ.

Ostrom is located in the company’s Saint Paul office and has worked since 2014 in a variety of sales and development roles serving KLJ’s transportation and municipal segments. Combined with his extensive background in customer and stake-

Ag storyteller joins Paulsen as content writer

Talisa Buchholz

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. • Paulsen has hired accomplished video production artist Bryan Middleton to serve as audio/visual specialist on its creative team. Middleton previously did video production for Media One. He began his career at South Dakota Public Broadcasting after studying mass communications at the University of South Dakota.

holder engagement, Ostrom brings a strong understanding of the importance of communication and collaboration in the project pursuit and development process, making him a perfect fit for this role. Ostrom earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from St. John’s University. He is a board member for the American Council of Engineering Companies of Minnesota, ACEC Political Fund member, and Minnesota Surveyors and Engineers Society member.

Middleton, who has built a strong reputation and work portfolio during his two decades in the industry, enjoys storytelling. That skill set will come in handy at Paulsen, where storytelling drives marketing efforts for clients in the agricultural and rural lifestyle industries.

Middleton will work on a variety of projects, including filming, directing and managing post-production as well as shooting still photography.

Dusty Zimmerman

Trinity Health Foundation has new director

MINOT, N.D. • Dusty Zimmerman has been named the new director of Trinity Health Foundation.

Zimmerman will oversee various programs administered by the Foundation to improve the lives of area residents. She’ll also lead initiatives to promote innovative healthcare solutions, including construction of Trinity Health’s new health care campus and medical district.

Zimmerman brings more than 20 years of experience to her new role with an extensive background in marketing, communications, business development/strategy, event planning, and organizational leadership.

Most recently she served as executive director of the Minot Junior Golf Association and director of corporate communications at Ackerman-Estvold, a regional architecture and engineering firm. She also has spent time in the advertising and tourism industries, working with regional organizations to grow their brand and market share.

A lifelong Minot resident, Zimmerman graduated from Minot High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in business management from Minot State University in 1999. She has been an active member of the community, serving on various volunteer boards and organizations, including the Minot Noon Rotary Club, Minot Symphony Orchestra, Make-A-Wish North Dakota, and Give360.

Trinity Health Foundation Board of Directors welcomes two members

MINOT, N.D. • Trinity Health and Trinity Health Foundation recently appointed two new members to the Foundation’s Board of Directors.

Brian Boppre

Claude Sem

Brian Boppre and Claude Sem were both appointed to fill three-year terms on the board.

Brian Boppre is a licensed attorney and the founder/owner of the Boppre

Law Firm in Minot. Claude Sem is a retired banking executive from the Minot area, most recently serving as the CEO of Farm Credit Services of North Dakota.

Both new members have a wealth of experience serving on numerous community and regional boards throughout their careers. The knowledge they bring from within the finance and estate planning industries will be a critical asset to the board.

Matt Merritt

Media veteran joins Paulsen as new PR director

SIOUX FALLS, N.D. • Matt Merritt, a 13-year communications veteran in energy and agriculture industries, is Paulsen’s new Director of Public Relations.

Merritt had already done consulting work for a handful of Paulsen’s clients on a contract basis. Prior to doing freelance work, he spent 10 years in public relations roles with global ethanol leader POET.

His resume also includes stops at the Argus

Leader in Sioux Falls, where he largely did frontline editing for state, agriculture and education stories, and the Daily Herald in Austin, Minnesota.

According to Mark Smither, Chief Strategic Officer at Paulsen, the addition of Merritt enhances the agency’s ability to respond to the most pressing PR needs of clients and inform strategic messaging. For Merritt, being able to focus on agriculture and other clients in rural America is particularly appealing. And, he said, he likes working with reporters in the news media, especially those who cover the ag industry.

Q.

INSIGHTs & INTUITION

What is something you have learned in 2021 that will benefit your organization as it prepares for 2022?

In 2021 the most valuable thing learned in our office was flexibility is the key to a successful future.

& Owner

High Plains Dental Dickinson, N.D.

The team at our office had to learn to be flexible with scheduling and rescheduling due to COVID-19 related complications in our patients and with some of our vendors. Our supply chain was disrupted at times, but the flexibility we all learned helped the office to run more seamlessly.

Our patients were also very flexible and were understanding of short notice schedule changes. The world has changed because of COVID-19, but with flexibility we will happily prepare for 2022!

2021 provided the opportunity for our team to learn how to adapt to the evolution of collaboration throughout the pandemic. This year we learned that by actively listening to each other, we can have meaningful communication that enables us to succeed and develop innovative solutions together.

Customer interactions, employee work experiences, and how business is conducted rapidly changed within the banking industry. This challenge taught us how to remain agile and prepared to meet the present and future needs of our customers.

The resilience of our customers, teams, and neighbors is inspiring and drives us to continually work toward improving the quality of life and economic viability of the communities we serve well into the future.

Jay Lies President & Chief Commercial Officer Choice Bank North Dakota Fargo, N.D.

Dr. Maria “Duffy” Meyer

DDS

Though seemingly obvious, the first thing that comes to mind is the importance of flexibility. The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are far reaching and continue today, causing disruptions to supply chains across the world. As architects, we must be especially nimble when developing project schedules and cost estimates to accommodate for these disruptions and be proactive about developing creative solutions to mitigate issues. Similarly, we must ensure that we offer our team flexibility for their own unique needs to remain competitive in attracting and retaining the best talent. COVID-19 may have expedited the implementation of certain technologies to achieve this level of flexibility, but it has resulted in improved workflows and communication that will last long into the future. As we look to 2022, flexibility will continue to be a key factor in our ability to deliver on our core values of creative solutions and proven service – both internally to build a strong team as well as externally to deliver our clients an exceptional experience.

Lisa VandeVoort Principal Business Manager Architecture Incorporated Sioux Falls, S.D.

I’ve learned that the teams at Jamestown Regional Medical Center continue to exceed my expectations. Even during the most difficult times of this pandemic – and all the other times, the hip replacements, the chemo infusions, the new babies, etc. – our teams remain legendary.

I am grateful for them and can’t wait to see how they exceed expectations next year.

Mike Delfs President & CEO Jamestown Regional Medical Center Jamestown, N.D.

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 531,000 in October, and the unemployment rate edged down by 0.2 percentage point to 4.6%, according to the latest data by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Job growth was widespread, with notable job gains in leisure and hospitality, in professional and business services, in manufacturing, and in transportation and warehousing. Employment in public education declined over the month.

AIRLINE WORKERS

U.S. airlines employed 718,111 workers in September 2021, which is 814 (0.1%) fewer workers than in August 2021 and 24,289 (3.3%) fewer than in pre-pandemic September 2019. According to the latest data by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the industry-wide numbers include 615,352 full-time and 103,459 part-time workers, an increase from August of 753 full-time workers and a decrease of 1,567 part-time workers.

WORKFORCE ILLNESS

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

LABOR PRODUCTIVITY

Nonfarm business sector labor productivity decreased 5% in the third quarter of 2021, as output increased 1.7% and hours worked increased 7%. This is the lowest rate of quarterly productivity growth since the second quarter of 1981, when the measure decreased 5.1%.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says there were some 2.7 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses reported by private industry employers in 2020, down from 2.8 million in 2019, a decrease of 5.7%. The decline was due to a drop in injury cases,but total reported illness cases more than quadrupled to 544,600 cases, up from 127,200 in 2019. In 2020, the incidence rate of total recordable cases in private industry was 2.7 cases per 100 full-time equivalent workers. The increase in illness cases was driven by a nearly 4,000% increase in employer-reported respiratory illness cases in 2020.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

CONGRATULATIONSTO

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2021 40 UNDER 40 HONOREES

The University of North Dakota is proud to recognize the 2021 class of 40 under 40.

Congratulations to all, especially those on the list that make us #UNDproud!

Macy Francisco

Brandi Nelson

Jill Nelson

Dr. Josh Ranum

Jon Rentz

Jarda Solc