PRAIRIEPEOPLE

AE2S names Meyer as CEO

GRAND FORKS, N.D. AE2S has announced its new CEO, the company reports.

Grant Meyer has worked for AE2S for more than 20 years and is credited with strategic initiatives and growth in his time as business development director and chief development officer, as well as bringing the environmental engineering consulting firm into the Twin Cities and Minnesota market by establishing an office in Maple Grove, Minn. Meyer began his career as an intern in the Grand Forks AE2S office while attending the University of North Dakota. While at UND, he earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and a master’s degree in civil engineering with environmental emphasis.

Over the years, he was promoted to operations manager and regional client program leader. He most recently served as the firm’s chief development officer.

Welder joins Credit Union Association of the Dakotas

BISMARCK, N.D. — The Credit Union Association of the Dakotas has hired Lori Welder as the new director of communications in the Bismarck office.

Weider brings more than 20 years of experience in marketing and design to her new position, the association reports. Weider received an associate’s degree in commercial art from Bismarck State College and completed her bachelor’s degree in graphic communications and marketing at Moorhead State University (now Minnesota State University Moorhead). She is a graduate of the Women’s Leadership Program of Bismarck- Mandan, is an active volunteer for Meals on Wheels and United Way and serves on the advisory board for the Bismarck State College Computer and Technology program.

West Plains Engineering announces leadership changes

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. West Plains Engineering recently announced two leadership changes. Marty Christensen has assumed the role of Building Services Division manager, while Mike Fisher has been promoted to office manager in Sioux Falls.

Christensen steps into his new role with 24 years of experience at West Plains. He joined West Plains as a mechanical designer in 1994 and has served in leadership roles as a principal, Sioux Falls office manager and board member.

Fisher joined the Sioux Falls office in 2013 as the Electrical Department head and has nearly 30 years of experience as a consulting engineer. Over the past five years, he has been a leader in project management and business development in Sioux Falls.

New NFIB North Dakota state director named

BISMARCK, N.D. — The National Federation of Independent Businesses announced that Alison Ritter, senior public relations specialist at Odney, will serve as the new state director for North Dakota.

Founded in 1985, Odney is a public-relations and public-affairs communications agency. Ritter will work directly with the public affairs team of Shane Goettle, Don Larson, and Lacee Bjork-Anderson to provide government relations, media and issue management to represent and advocate on behalf of small businesses.

Before working at Odney, Ritter served as the public information officer for the North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources. She also spent nearly a decade working in television news.

Farahmand promoted at BCBSND

FARGO, N.D. — Tracy Farahmand has been promoted to manager of contract and product services at Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota.

Farahmand joined BCBSND in 2013 as a customer service representative. She was promoted to a member advocate role later that year, and in 2015, she was promoted to member advocate specialist. In 2017, she was promoted to team leader of the Call Center before being promoted to her current position.

A native of Riesel, Texas, Farahmand earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas.

Hecht joins SDSU Foundation as report and data analyst

BROOKINGS, S.D. — David Hecht recently joined the South Dakota State University Foundation as the foundation’s report and data analyst.

Hecht earned a bachelor’s degree from Southwest Minnesota State University in business administration and an MBA from the University of South Dakota. His career has focused on data/credit analytics and financial management.

Hecht has worked for banks in Sioux Falls, Brookings, Las Vegas and Mexico City and has also been a small-business owner.

A Brookings native, Hecht and his wife, Jackie, recently returned to Brookings.

Hagen joins Hospice of the Red River Valley

FARGO, N.D. — Hospice of the Red River Valley recently hired Erin Hagen as a development officer. In her role, Hagen will build and maintain relationships with individuals, businesses and organizations that are interested in supporting Hospice of the Red River Valley, the organization reported. Hagen previously was employed by the Alzheimer’s Association Minnesota-North Dakota Chapter as a community engagement manager. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn., and lives near Pelican Rapids, Minn.

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