Entrepreneurship not new to North Dakota

BY SABRINA ZIMARA

The local and even national media has been heavily covering the startup and entrepreneurial spirit of North Dakota. From the recent articles and surge of new entrepreneurial groups, it would seem this concept was a new idea to the state, when that couldn’t be further from the truth. For as long as people have lived in North Dakota, there have been businesses built from the ground up. From farmers to software developers to real estate moguls, the people on the Plains have always thrived on a way of life that allows self-sufficiency and growth.

As long as farmers have been working the land, they’ve been figuring out better ways to track their finances, inventory, assets and overall profits. With the help of Great Plains Software, that became a lot easier. In the early ‘90s entrepreneur and North Dakota native Doug Burgum became the leader of a very small startup company called Great Plains Software Inc. This small venture blossomed into a billion-dollar company, providing software that gave small- to medium-sized businesses a leg-up on their competition through advanced accounting and business management functions. Great Plains paved the way for startup technology companies to flourish in North Dakota.

In 1989, Carol Rogne, a certified public accountant, started DFC Consultants in Dickinson and focused solely on assisting local companies and tribes with accounting services. She quickly realized her clients and other businesses in the area could greatly benefit from the right software. When she was introduced to Great Plains, Rogne realized the value of the complete Enterprise Resource Planning system that allowed companies to easily manage their own finances and report on their information. DFC transformed from an accounting business into a tech and software company, offering sales, support and training for Great Plains.

In early 2001, software giant Microsoft bought and rebranded the program to Microsoft Dynamics GP. While the system was still provided by resellers like DFC, it opened the door for Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) to develop programs that would add to the functionality of GP.

Rogne saw this as an opportunity to help Native American Housing Authorities who were struggling to track their tenants and units. DFC software programmers developed DFC Property Management, a program designed to fit the needs of Housing Authorities and property managers. The system is utilized by housing companies throughout the entire United States to track tenants, waiting lists, move in and move out dates, maintenance history, work orders and warehouse inventory. It also offers a mobile solution.

Twenty-five years ago, Rogne never imagined her accounting business would transform into a team including software experts and programmers working from four offices in North Dakota and Michigan. What she did realize was her success would depend on her willingness to take risks and her ability to change along with the business climate.

Thanks to entrepreneurs from Great Plains Software, DFC Consultants, countless startups and generations of farmers, North Dakotans continue to have the ability to start their own ventures, building on the hard work and excellence of those who came before them.

Sabrina Zimara Marketing Coordinator DFC Consultants

Corval Group wins API achievement award

The Williston Basin chapter of the American Petroleum Institute awarded St. Paul, Minn.-based industrial contractor and engineering firm Corval Group with its 2014 Outstanding Achievement award during a banquet held Nov. 20 in Williston, N.D. The award highlights achievements of individuals or organizations for their outstanding work, innovative solutions and community involvement, according to the group. In 2014, Corval Group achieved more than 1 million work hours without a recordable Occupational Safey and Health Administration injury, placing it among the safest contractors in the country, the company said.

NDSCS, SDSMT named STEM jobs-approved colleges

North Dakota State College of Science and the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology have been named to the 2015 STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) Jobs Approved Colleges list by Victory Media. The list is the first of its kind to rate universities, colleges, community colleges and trade schools on their responsiveness and relevance to high-demand, high-growth STEM jobs. The assessment revolved around three key indicators of suc- cess: program alignment to job demand, job placement after graduation and diversity in the school’s STEM programs. More than 1,600 colleges participated in the process; approximately 125 colleges were ultimately named to the list.

Alerus Financial to acquire retirement firm

Grand Forks, N.D.-based Alerus Financial has acquired Bloomington, Minn.-based Interactive Retirement Systems, which provides recordkeeping, consulting and administration for 160 retirement plans, 16,200 plan participants and $1.25 billion in plan assets. The acquisition increases Alerus Retirement Solutions’ retirement plan assets under administration to $17.4 billion, serving approximately 278,000 plan participants in 49 states.

Gray Plant Mooty opens Fargo office

Minneapolis-based law firm Gray Plant Mooty said it is opening a Fargo office in order to extend its ongoing momentum in North Dakota. In a news release, the firm noted it has signed a one-year lease on its Fargo space in order to provide flexibility to quickly move into a larger space as needed.

“Fargo is a growing an important business hub and the new office will give our clients in

Sanford expands AirMed fleet to Dickinson

Sanford Health recently added a King Air B200 fixed-wing airplane and accompanying flight team to its AirMed fleet in Dickinson, N.D. The aircraft features an average speed of 300 miles per hour and short runway capabilities. Mike Christianson, executive director of Sanford AirMed, said the plane will be staffed with flight and clinical teams who will be ready to lift off in less than 20 minutes after being activated by hospitals or first responders.

North Dakota even better access to our services,” said Charlie Maier, one of the firm’s co-managing officers.

Gray Plant Mooty employs 170 lawyers in 11 practice groups. In addition to its newest location in Fargo, the firm has offices in Minneapolis, St. Cloud, Minn., and Washington, D.C.

Public-private partnerships fund 4 SD rail projects

South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard announced recently that a total of $56 million in public and private funds will be invested in four rail projects across the state.

For the largest project, TIGER funds, state and federal grants, the Dakota Southern Railroad and private group Rails to the Future will provide nearly $30 million needed to reconstruct the Mitchell to Rapid City Rail Line.

An $11.5 million upgrade of the Britton Line in northeast South Dakota is being funded by the Dakota Missouri Valley & Western along with state loans and grants.

Other projects include railroad siding construction along a rail line at Huron and Aurora and an upgrade to the Sioux Valley Line in southeast South Dakota. Those projects are also being funded through partnerships between railroads and the state.

Integreon expands in Fargo

Integreon, a provider of outsourced, legal, document, business and research support, recently celebrated the opening of a larger delivery center in Fargo to accommodate its expanding operations. The 34,000-squarefoot facility allows the firm to consolidate two previous Fargo locations, providing space for 350 employees to provide round-the-clock outsourcing services for the firm’s network of global delivery centers, including in New York, Boston and Washington, D.C. The firm expects to continue a recent growth trend in the coming year and could add as many as 100 employees in 2015.

Integreon leaders and state officials cut the ribbon at a grand opening celebration for the company’s expanded Fargo facility on Dec. 10, 2014. From left, N.D. Lt. Gov. Drew Wrigley; Penny Retzer, Integreon Associates global head, client and associate engagement and U.S. country head; Mike Zuercher, Integreon chief legal officer; Al McNee, Integreon global head, document services; Bob Gogel, Integreon CEO; Troy Moore, Integreon head of documents services delivery in Fargo; Julie Laufenberg, Integreon U.S. head of talent management and general manager of Fargo; and Kalie Olson, Integreon director of finance and sales operations, document services.

INTEGREON

FCCU gives to communities in honor of 75th anniversary

To commemorate First Community Credit Union’s 75th year of business, employees and board members carried out 75 random acts of kindness in 2014. The 75 acts were broken down by branch or department and ranged from donating blood to volunteerism at animal shelters and senior living centers and organizing donation drives for families in need.

FCCU was formed in 1939 with just 45 members. The financial cooperative currently has 32,000 members in 12 communities, making it the largest credit union in North Dakota. It employs nearly 150 people throughout the state.

NISC gives servers to BSC

Mandan, N.D.-based National Information Solutions Cooperative recently donated 20 blade computer servers, valued at about $5,000, to the computer support specialist program at Bismarck State College. The equipment will allow students access to updated technology for lab experiences, according to the college.

A blade server is a stripped down server computer with a modular design optimized to minimize space and power consumption, according to BSC.

Frontier Precision expands to Alaska

Frontier Precision, a Bismarck, N.D.-based provider of equipment for survey, mapping, fleet management, GIS and engineering operations, announced it has acquired the geospatial assets and business of Accupoint Inc. in Anchorage, Alaska. In addition to its headquarters in Bismarck and new Alaska office, the company also has locations in Denver, St. Cloud, Minn., Bozeman, Mont., and Cheyenne, Wyo.

Midcontinent to extend western ND fiber network

Midcontinent Communications recently announced plans to invest $5 million to extend its northern plains fiber network from Williston, N.D., to Bismarck, N.D. The added 100 miles of fiber will provide network redundancy in an area where construction and digging have periodically resulted in service outages to residents and businesses, the company said.

Construction of the extension is expected to begin early this year and will be complete by mid-summer.

U of M Crookston adds international business major

The University of Minnesota Crookston will begin offering a major in international business and a major in English beginning in the spring semester. The degree offerings were approved in late 2014 by the University of Minnesota Board of Regents.

According to the university, the international business major will help meet the need for graduates who understand and have experience in global business. The curriculum will include classes on international business culture and etiquette, international business law, international financial management, international marketing, international business management and a senior seminar in international business strategy along with field experience in international business and/or studying abroad.

Sanford, NDSU form health research partnership

Sanford Health and North Dakota State University will conduct collaborative research on human nutrition, weight management and other dietary-related areas as part of a seed-grant initiative developed between the two organizations. The research will address key objectives of the Profile by Sanford program, a weight-management program developed by Sanford that utilizes customized meal plans, health coaches and realtime technology. Sanford is providing $250,000 annually for five years for the program. Seedgrant proposals are due March 16; recipients will be announced in June. For more information, visit http://www.ndsu.edu/research/research_ development/Sanford_RFA.html.

Screen printers receive National Guard award

Boneskot Design Co., a Fargo screen printing company, recently received the Outstanding Center of Influence Award from the Army National Guard during a ceremony held in Bismarck, N.D. The award is given in recognition of a company’s extraordinary support to Army National Guard and Reserve soldiers during deployment. The company and its owners, Scott Syverson and Beau Fraase, were nominated for the award by 1st Lt. Christian Thorson of the C Company, 2nd Battalion, 285th Aviation Regiment, who ordered hats and shirts from the company for fellow soldiers while on a one-year deployment to Kosovo. The company’s owners paid hundreds of dollars in shipping costs to deliver the items to Kosovo as a token of gratitude for the soldiers’ service.

ND taxable sales continue to grow

North Dakota’s taxable sales and purchases for the third quarter of 2014 totaled more than $7.6 billion, up more than $700 million from the same three months in 2013, according to North Dakota State Tax Commissioner Ryan Rauschenberger. Twelve of the 15 major sectors showed increases in taxable sales and purchases for the quarter compared to the same three months a year prior.

Not surprisingly, the mining and oil extraction sector showed the most growth, increasing by nearly 20 percent in 3Q 2014 compared to 3Q 2013. Watford City experienced the highest percentage increase in taxable sales and purchases of all of the state’s 50 largest communities, increasing by more than 41 percent compared to the previous year. The counties with the highest percentage increases in taxable sales compared to 3Q 2013 are all located in the Bakken region and include Dunn, Billings, Sioux, McKenzie and Golden Valley counties.