Prairie Business June 2023

Sp ea kV olumes. S p e a k V o l

To al lt he mo ve rs ,s ha ke rs ,a nd di ff er encema ke rs —J LG Ar ch it ec ts ta ke sy our st or yb eyon dt he bu il di ng to emp ower th ep eop le wh or ef le ct yo ur pass io na te jo ur ne y. We ’r et al ki ng ab ou td yn am icdesi gn th at spea ks vo lu me sa bout yo ur mi ss ion ,y ourcu lt ur e, an dy our commu ni ty.S ee ho wG re at Sh ot se mb ra ce s te e- ri ff icde si gn fo rt ho se to gol ff ort ha nd pr os per at JL Ga rc hi te cts .c om.

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Kilbourne Commercial RealEstate specializes infindingtheperfectmatchbetweenbusinesses anduniquespaces.Services available to you includeturn-key spaces forany size team, custom design, construction management,permittingand entitlements,andunderstanding ofeconomicdevelopment programs availablethrough thegrowingcitiesofour region.

Kilbourne Commercial RealEstate specializes infindingtheperfectmatchbetweenbusinesses anduniquespaces.Services available to you includeturn-key spaces forany size team, custom design, construction management,permittingand entitlements,andunderstanding ofeconomicdevelopment programs availablethrough thegrowingcitiesofour region.

Kilbourne Commercial RealEstate specializes infindingtheperfectmatchbetweenbusinesses anduniquespaces.Services available to you includeturn-key spaces forany size team, custom design, construction management,permittingand entitlements,andunderstanding ofeconomicdevelopment programs availablethrough thegrowingcitiesofour region.

PATRICK JOYCE

PATRICK JOYCE ACCEPTS SENIOR BUSINESS ADVISOR ROLE FARGO, N.D. • ALERUS IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE PATRICK JOYCE HAS ACCEPTED A NEW ROLE AS A SENIOR BUSINESS ADVISOR. IN THIS ROLE, HE SERVES AS THE TRUSTED POINT OF CONTACT FOR BUSINESS CLIENTS IN THE FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA, AREA, PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL ADVICE TO ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS AND CONNECTING THEM WITH THE COMPANY’S FULL SUITE OF DIVERSIFIED FINANCIAL SERVICES AS NEEDED. HE IS BASED OUT OF ALERUS’ OFFICE LOCATED AT 3137 32ND AVENUE SOUTH IN FARGO. PATRICK JOINED ALERUS IN 2019 AND PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS A SENIOR COMMERCIAL UNDERWRITER. HE HAS MORE THAN DECADE OF FINANCIAL INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE AND A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF UNDERWRITING AND BUSINESS FINANCE. HE HOLDS A BACHELOR’S DEGREE AND A MASTER’S DEGREE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA.

TO SEE THESE AND OTHER NEW HIRES, PROMOTIONS AND AWARD WINNERS IN THE REGION.

Women

INENGINEERING

Eachyear,International Womenin EngineeringDayisgloballycelebrated onJune23 tohonorwomenintheengineering industr yandtorecognizetheirinnovativeandimport contributionsintheprofession,justlikeCassie McNames,PE astructuralengineeratKLJ.

tant

CassieMcNames(left)in2015withformerGovernorJackDalrymple andhispolicyadvisorAndreaTravnicek.

NotonlyisMcNames apowerhouseinthe fieldof engineering,butsheisalsoenthusiasticaboutdesign, inspiringlocalcommunities,andcreatingsafefacilities andspacestoliveandwork,which fitsrightinwiththis year’sInternational WomeninEngineeringDaytheme, “MakeSafetySeen.”

Growingupin Watertown,SouthDakota,Cassieworked alongsideherdad, aconcretecontractor,duringthe summermonths.Shewasfascinatedbyconstructionand foundshehad atrueknackfor problem-solving.Those summermonthsfueledherpassionforengineeringandled hertopursue abachelor’sandmaster’sdegreeincivil engineeringfromNorthDakotaStateUniversity(NDSU). Whileearninghergraduatedegreeandstudyingtobecome alicensedprofessionalengineer(PE),McNamesbegan teachingattheUniversityasanadjunctprofessorof StructuralSteelDesignand TimberDesign.“Oneofthebest partsaboutteachingwasbeingabletobringmy experience intotheclassroom,”saidMcNames.“I’vealwayshada greatsupportsystemandhelpingtopreparestudentsfor theirfuturecareersinengineeringwasver yrewarding.”

The firstprojectshewastaskedwithwhenjoiningKLJ in2011wasthedesignof anewairpor tterminalforthe MinotInternationalAirpor tinMinot,ND.Theproject wontheOutstandingDesign AwardfromtheNorth Dakota ProfessionalSocietyofEngineersandwhenthe terminalopenedin2015,itwasthelargestairport terminalinNorthDakota.Thedesignofairpor tfacilities hasbecomeoneofMcNames’specialties.Sheis currentlyworkingwiththeJacksonHoleAirportin Jackson,WYontheplanning,designandconstructionof amulti-yearinfrastructureprojectwhichislocatedwithin theGrand TetonNational Park.McNamesnoted,“Dueto itssceniclocationanduniquestipulations,thishasbeen themostchallengingstructuraldesignofmy 20-plus-yearcareer.”

Shealsoenjoysinvestigativeengineering,andoneproject thatstandsoutistheKatherineKilbourneBurgum FamilyLifeCenter(KKBFLC)ontheNDSUcampus. KLJwashiredtocomplete apreliminar yengineering repor tandconductrenovationsforthefacility’s preservation.Aportionofthebuildingwassettling, andthecausewasunknown.

“Thesearesomeofmyfavoriteprojectsastheproblem andsolutionarenotclearlydefined,”saidMcNames whoservedasprojectmanagerandstructuralengineer. Theteamused3Dlaserscanningtechnologytohelp measuretheamountofmovement,create amap ofthedistress,andobtainedsurveyimagesand measurementstoisolatethecauseofthebuilding’s settlement.Itwasdeterminedthatthebuilding’sfour columnshadnotbeenproperlycompacted.KLJrestored thebuildingtoitsoriginalelevationusinghydraulicpiers toraisethefootings. The completionoftheprojectled to asafer,moresoundfacilitythatstudentsandfaculty couldenjoy.

Foranyonethinkingaboutpursuing acareerin engineering,McNamesadvisesgainingexposurewithin theindustr y, participatinginSTEMactivities, findingan internshipor ajobshadowingprogram. “Thereareso manypathsandopportunitiesinengineering.Most important, findyourpassion,becausewhenyoufeel thatsenseofjoy andexcitementinyourwork,eachday becomesmorefulfilling.”

Aswecelebratetheachievementsandcontributionsof countlesswomenwhoaremaking asignificantimpact intheengineeringindustr y, engineerslikeMcNamesare makingcriticalinfrastructureinourcommunitiesbetter andsafer.

MeetCassie!

Senior ProjectManager/ ClientServicesManager

20+ YearsofExperience

Licensed RegisteredEngineerin: ND,MN,MT,SD,IA,WY,TX

KLJ’s West FargoLocation

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“Ilovethatmyjob is differenteachandevery dayand Ihavetheprivilegetoworkonsuch uniqueandchallengingprojects.”

School is out and summer has started – for some that means time at the lake, or traveling with family, or just relaxing with a good book – but we can still learn something new every day.

I don’t know about you, but I’m interested in how the sausage is made and make a point to always be curious. When talking with people about their professions and the projects they create, digging into the hows and whys something was created can be as fulfilling as seeing the resulting product. It gives me a deeper appreciation for the work along with the innovation and ingenuity used to make it.

This month, we highlight some industries that impact our communities: construction, architecture and engineering, and the law. Hopefully you can learn a bit more from reading about them.

We take a look at how the current economic climate is affecting the construction industry and its suppliers. Material costs in construction are notorius for increasing year over year. The increase in interest rates is making it more expensive for consumers and businesses to borrow money, so how are those construction businesses and projects being affected?

Four architects and engineers talked to us about their favorite projects. These are the professionals who design the intricate and complex spaces we inhabit and the infrastructure systems we utilize daily but never really think about - until something breaks. Read about these projects and maybe you’ll look at the next building going up or road being constructed in a different way.

We also have a feature on the rural lawyer desert the country is faced with. Attorneys are in short supply in small communities. Virtual meetings and even virtual court proceedings have become the norm since the pandemic, but there’s nothing like that face-to-face meeting with a client to ensure their legal issues are being capably and confidently represented. The reasons for the shortage and the challenges it creates is discussed in this edition.

Companies face challenges and must come up with solutions regularly, whether it’s workforce shortages or ownership transitions. We talked with a successful manufacturing company in Wahpeton about their solutions, including rebranding under a new name - ContiTech USA, Inc. They share how, under new ownership, they’re utilizing new business processes, accessing new technology, enhancing opportunities for product development and manufacturing capabilities and have a global culture that is not often experienced in the area.

My hope for you this month, and with every edition, is that you learn something new. Stay tuned for our July edition, where we feature the Leaders & Legacies Award recipients.

Until next time, Carrie McDermott

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

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Project diversity can pay off How construction industry faring with economic tightening

By Sam Easter

Justin Schoenberg heads up the commercial team at Sandman

Structural Engineers, the Moorhead, Minnesota-based firm that has him juggling designs on everything from big agricultural facilities to schools.

It’s been a wild ride for the past few years, and the industry is trying to find its way back to normal. Construction is slowing — not crashing — as markets for materials like wood and steel find a new normal. Mechanical and electrical components are still pinched, Schoenberg said, partly an echo of the logistical tug-of-war that the pandemic forced on the industry.

But one of the biggest challenges the industry faces right now is rising interest rates.

“I actually go sit down and try to have lunch with a business banker every few months to see what they’re seeing,” Schoenberg said, “because sometimes they see these projects maybe die before I even know there are projects that are out there.”

That steady tightening – engineered by the Federal Reserve over the past year — has helped slow inflation, which ballooned during the pandemic. But the growing cost of financing new construction is keeping some projects from moving forward at all.

For many firms, the ship is still alright for now. Rich Jacobson, executive vice president and COO at Minneapolis-based Kraus Anderson Construction, said that there’s still steady work for the near future.

“But we are concerned of what it looks like for late ‘24 and ‘25,” he said. “We feel that we’re about a 16- to 24-months company, where we kind of know what kind of work we have coming up in the next 16 to 24 months. And we feel okay about that. But after that, with these interest rates and rising material costs, where are we going to be in late ‘24 and ‘25?”

continued on page 14

FCCU MANDAN, NORTH DAKOTARECENTLY COMPLETED – WILD ARCHITECTURE

SCHEELS MERIDIAN, IDAHO – UNDER CONSTRUCTION – RLE ARCHITECTURE

Justin schoenberg

FisherSand&GravelCo.istheparentcompanyofFisherIndustries. We have over70 yearsof experienceintheaggregateprocessing, roadconstruction,andminingindustries. We operate throughouttheUnitedStatesandhave permanentlocationsinArizona,California, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico,NorthDakota,SouthDakota,andWyoming.

Constructioneconomy

continued from page 12

Part of those headwinds are a simple dollar-and-cents calculation on the cost of credit. Rising interest rates make loans more expensive, and it’s no surprise that higher expenses slow down construction.

But another part is the reaction banks have had to higher interest rates, which have led them to steer their lending practices even further towards safety as the economy tightens.

Brian JOhnson

“When money was cheaper, even as some would say ‘free,’ you would see projects financed at 75%, 80%, 85% to the cost of the project,” said Brian Johnson, CEO of Choice Bank. But now, he said, banks are asking for higher developer equity in projects.

“So that means partners have to raise more cash coming in and contribute to help keep the debt level lower and ensure the same level of risk is there in terms of the project working,” Johnson said.

The other big issue, Johnson said, has been the collateral damage in the banking sector that higher interest rates have already caused. A string of bank failures earlier this year is closely linked to higher rates, and has made depositors more skittish about where they put their money.

“There’s just been so much deposit outflow out of the banking system,” Johnson said. “And then a lot of that money has flowed to the big five banks, because the government has given them an implicit too-big-to-fail designation. And so banks are also worried about their liquidity positions.”

That, too, makes lenders more nervous about big construction projects – long-term bets where loans take decades to pay off.

Jacobson also pointed out that it’s not just interest rates. Though the cost of materials figures into gloomy outlooks less than the higher costs of borrowing, there are certain components that are still harder to obtain.

“We control lumber and steel, in the United States, more than we can control electrical and mechanical components. That can be more of an international play. And things that are going on in the world sometimes can affect those things more than what we can get from raw materials around here or from Canada.”

Rich jacobson

But not everything is gloomy. Plenty of industry leaders point out that slowdowns are uneven across the country, with some spots still seeing plenty of activity. And as Lance Monson, preconstruction manager at Construction Engineers, puts it, “there’s never a year where construction costs are going to be less the following year.”

“So you could say, ‘Hey, we’ll just wait two years until interest rates have gone down,’” he said. “But what good does it do you to wait two years, so you can save a couple of percentage points on interest if you’re paying five or 10% more for the project as a whole?”

And Jacobson points out that things could certainly be worse.

“It’s not the worst thing in the world, as long as it’s not like 2008 and 2009, the Great Recession,” Jacobson said. “So sometimes it can be manageable, and it makes you step back and think about how you’re running your business, you know, in the markets and the locations you’re in.”

Another reason to breathe: Kraus-Anderson has a big business, handling projects that range from higher education to parking structures to retail.

“We’re pretty well diversified,” Jacobson said. “I would not want to have all my eggs in one basket, in any industry right now, just because of the volatility.”

A MIXEDUSE APARTMENT BUILDING BUILT AND DEVELOPED BY KRAUSANDERSON IN ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, COMPLETED IN THE SUMMER OF 2022.

IMAGE BY JACK EICKHOF, ONESHOT MEDIA/ COURTESY KRAUS ANDERSON

Enhancing communities Architects and engineers share their favorite projects

By Carrie McDermott

The spaces and places people use daily are designed by architects and engineers. From roads and bridges, to parks and playgrounds, to health care centers and schools, these professionals help bring a client’s vision to reality.

This month, we asked four architects and engineers to talk about some of their favorite projects and why they found them fulfilling.

Mark Averett

Principal, architect

TSP, Rapid City, South Dakota

Mark averett

Mark Averett is the principal and architect with TSP’s Rapid City, South Dakota, office, who is celebrating 20 years with the company. Averett’s portfolio focuses on health care and Indigenous projects.

He’s worked on several projects in Parshall, North Dakota, and one of his current favorites is a community wellness center. It’s approximately 70,000 square feet and includes a pool, gym space and walking track. It was scheduled to break ground in May. A multi-family project there will open soon, and he’s working on a great hall and

I GOT TO WORK WITH AN AMAZING CONSULTANT, DENNIS SUN RHODES. WE WORKED WITH THE COLLEGE, STUDENT COMMITTEES AND EVERY TRIBE IN MONTANA. IT WAS AMAZING.

- MARK AVERETT, ARCHITECT, TSP

maintenance building for the city, as well.

“We did a child care center, which is always a blast,” Averett said. Another recent project standout is the American Indian Hall located on Montana State University’s Bozeman campus, which opened summer 2022.

“I got to work with an amazing consultant, Dennis Sun Rhodes. We worked with the college, student committees and every tribe in Montana. It was amazing,” Averett said.

Tribal art is featured throughout the building, which was designed with geothermal efficiencies.

“It was a pretty great project,” he said.

Averett’s interest in Indigenous work stems from childhood.

“My family used to rendezvous a lot. I was really little and we would travel around Wyoming. I was born and raised there,” Averett said.

continued on page 18

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continued from page 16

“There are lots of Indigenous people, and it got me interested in their history.”

He’s worked with Arapahoe, Crow and Blackfeet tribes over the course of his career, and in Kyle, South Dakota, worked on a youth center in partnership with the Billy Mills foundation, Running Strong for American Indian Youth.

“You get to see how needed it was and all the opportunities it’s bringing and all the different things they’re going to use it for. It’s just incredible,” Averett said.

Averett’s favorite health care projects include a new dialysis center for Monument Health, located in Rapid City. An old Kmart building was repurposed to create the center.

“It shortened the distance for folks to come to do dialysis. It’s a great facility. We’re all pretty proud of that one – it’s a great project,” Averett said.

He enjoys helping his clients bring their ideas to life, and being able to tell their stories through his work.

“Everything comes with a story,” he said.

Rachel Harris, Project manager, architect EAPC Architects Engineers, Grand Forks, ND

Rachel Harris is an architect with EAPC Architects Engineers and has been with the firm for 12 years. She has worked on a number of projects during that time, but most recently it’s been in the health care sector.

“I really enjoy health care design. I like that there’s a lot of complexity to it, an ever-evolving nature to it,” she said. “There’s new treatment modalities, incorporating new technologies. We’re always working with a lot of different constraints.”

One of her favorite projects has been the expansion and renovation of Northwood Deaconess Health Center in Northwood, North Dakota.

The goal was to not only enlarge the footprint but bring the facility up to modern standards.

“One big driver was bringing in equipment for CT scanning and being able to do some same-day procedures, and more locally than sending patients out to another facility,” Harris said.

The project is a 25-bed hospital with 16 swing beds, which can act as a nursing home component or a long-term care component. Slated to break ground in August 2023, it features a 28,475-squarefoot addition and 30,350 square feet of renovation. It also features nine medical surgery patient rooms, an updated ER department, a procedure suite, pharmacy, imaging, lab and rehab space, she said.

Harris enjoys working on rural health care projects because they make such a big impact on their communities, both in terms of services they provide and employment opportunities.

“I really like to learn about our clients and what they do, these cultures they want to create for their staff and employees, helping them visualize their priorities for future growth and talking them through

Rachel Harris

NORTHWOOD DEACONESS HEALTH CENTER - SOCIAL AREA

NORTHWOOD DEACONESS HEALTH CENTER - FRONT ENTERANCE

MINNKOTA POWER COOPERATIVE HQ

MINNKOTA POWER COOPERATIVE HQ

- RACHEL HARRIS, ARCHITECT, EAPC

how that translates into their space considerations,” Harris said. Another favorite project to work on, completed in 2017, was the Minnkota Power Co-op facility. The 252,00-square-foot property includes 78,000 square feet of corporate office, 57,500 square feet of electrical operations, 27,500 square feet of warehouse and an attached 89,000-square-foot equipment maintenance facility.

“When we started talking, they were on their previous campus in Grand Forks and that campus had really grown over time. They’d acquired some adjacent properties, buildings they renovated to fit their needs, but their staff was really separated in these different buildings,” she said.

Flexible, functional and collaborative space was requested, to be dispersed throughout the facility so people could come together easily for meetings and trainings. There was also a focus on daylight, so the whole facility was designed with numerous window offices and daylight-centric spaces.

“Throughout the interiors we really focused on what they do, so we have these big columns in there that are reminiscent of glulam (laminated wood) power poles, and utilized some cable railings reminiscent of electrical cables, and used a lot of copper wraps, too,” Harris said.

Her firm does surveys after their projects are complete, which is helpful.

“It’s always great to hear the feedback, and things we could improve on in the future or things to do better, that’s always good, too,” Harris said.

Brent Dammann

Director of architecture Widseth, Grand Forks, ND

Brent Dammann has worked on K-12 facilities for most of his career. The director of architecture at Widseth currently works out of the Grand Forks office, and has been with the company for 23 years.

One of the projects that stands out to him is the Pillager Secondary School in Pillager, Minnesota, that was completed about 10 years ago. The school was the front door to the small town of fewer than 500 residents. While learning about the town’s growth and what its needs and space were, Dammann and his team developed solutions and presented them to the community. A referendum was passed to raise funds and the project moved forward.

continued on page 20

Brent Dammann

FERGUS FALLS DOWNTOWN RIVERFRONT IMPROVEMENTS - DURING CONSTRUCTION

FERGUS FALLS DOWNTOWN RIVERFRONT IMPROVEMENTS - DURING CONSTRUCTION

DIGI-KEY - THIEF RIVER FALLS, MN

PILLAGER SCHOOL ADDITION - PILLAGER, MN

I REALLY ENJOY HEALTH CARE DESIGN. I LIKE THAT THERE’S A LOT OF COMPLEXITY TO IT, AN EVER-EVOLVING NATURE TO IT.

continued from page 19

“They had a wonderful community, very supportive,” he said. “From a programming standpoint, it means engaging with staff, but also the tech side, working with an existing building and adding on to it, it’s a mix. That’s what I like about K-12 projects, the variety. You’ve got the educational needs, something everybody can relate to. The technical side gets into the little details,” Dammann said.

Another highlight was the product distribution center for Digi-Key Electronics in Thief River Falls, Minnesota.

“Even as the project was being built, the tech inside it was still being developed. Being flexible with design and flexible with construction was a challenge. And it was an opportunity to work with some of the best contractors in the region. They had high-performing contractors,” Dammann said.

One thing he’s really enjoyed about Widseth and his career is the ability to work on a wide variety of projects and clients, from private individuals to counties and municipalities.

Jon De Graaf

Civil engineer Bolton and Menk, Fargo, ND Civil Engineer

Jon De Graaf has been with Bolton and Menk for eight years, most recently at the Fargo office for the past two.

His favorite project since coming to Fargo is the Downtown Riverfront Improvements in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. It’s located in a two-block corridor along the river adjacent to the city’s downtown.

Phase 1 of the project is a streetscape of two parking lots and enhancements. It’s now complete and includes the Market Pavilion, designed by EAPC. It’s a large, semi-open structure intended for community events such as farmers markets. Landscaping was designed to enhance the area, creating an inviting place to go and spend time with the community.

Phase 2 will be a continuation of the streetscaping into the lot directly east across the

street, De Graaf said. It will have colored concrete, sidewalks, restrooms and a splash pad. The water feature is expected to open around Memorial Day 2024.

Feedback from the community has been very positive, De Graaf said.

“A lot of business owners were complimenting it, too, calling it a facelift for their back doors, which is almost like their front doors,” he said.

De Graaf said the most fulfilling part of his job is seeing what he designed completed.

“We take it from the initial conceptual stage, survey brings us information, we design it for months. For Phase 2, I spent probably six months on CAD designing and the fulfilling part is seeing it go up. It looks piecemeal as it goes up, then once it’s done, I can say, ‘yep this is what I had in my head but now on a grand scale,’” De Graaf said.

FERGUS FALLS DOWNTOWN RIVERFRONT IMPROVEMENTS Jon De Graaf

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Rural lawyers in demand Every attorney makes a difference in a small town

By Sam Easter

Chris Nyhus grew up in Harvey, North Dakota, a small town in Wells County of about 1,650 people. After years in the Bismarck area – as a prosecutor and in private practice – he found his way back home.

Nyhus Law Firm has offices both in Harvey and in Bismarck, a headquarters-and-branch model that he sees as essential to meeting rural North Dakotans where they are. That was crucially important, he recalls, during the pandemic.

Chris nyhus

“When COVID hit I did some deathbed wills,” he said. “Some of them were 30 miles out in the country. And I stood at the threshold of their farmhouse; they couldn’t leave. And a week later, they passed away.

And for that, it is a privilege — for the lawyer — to be able to help somebody in that position at that time of their life.”

Most critically, he said, those crucial moments happen far less often when a community lacks a local attorney — one who can help them navigate wills and contracts and everything else that requires an attorney to go smoothly.

“You have a lot of handshake deals, which leaves a lot of unstated terms, which — and I’m not saying that for the simple things that everybody needs a lawyer for everything,” he said. “But I think they maybe take it too far.”

Nyhus is part of a smaller and smaller group of lawyers with a practice in rural areas, a sector of the legal profession that’s been drained as new, young attorneys increasingly seek legal representation in larger cities. The reasons are many — from perceived higher pay to mentorship — and the consequences are significant.

continued on page 24

continued from page 22

“I do it as a service to the local community up there, because number one, you know, they need to be able to walk in the door and sit down across the table from somebody,” Nyhus said of his work in the Harvey area. “Otherwise, the ramification of that is people will sometimes choose not to consult with an attorney. And that’s to their detriment in many respects, whether it’s a real estate transaction, or estate planning or other stuff.”

According to a 2020 American Bar Association survey, nearly 77% of all of North Dakota’s lawyers were concentrated in its four largest counties — Burleigh, Ward, Cass and Grand Forks. In South Dakota, nearly 40% practiced in Minnehana County, where Sioux Falls is located, even though roughly a quarter of the state’s population lives there.

In Minnesota, the split is even more remarkable; Ramsey and Hennepin counties are home to about 69% of the state’s lawyers, and about one-third of its population.

Hannah Haksgaard is a law professor at the University of South Dakota who studies the rural lawyer shortage. She said there’s a long list of reasons why young law graduates head to urban areas — loan forgiveness programs are more easily accessible to graduates who take public-service jobs, which are more available in urban areas. Making those loan programs available to rural lawyers — whom Haksgaard said are surely doing an important public service — would be an important step, she said.

What’s more, If a lawyer’s spouse has a career, it’s probably easier for them to find their own job in a bigger city. And, most obviously: some lawyers just want all the amenities that urban living brings.

“One thing that I would say is, I think every lawyer makes a difference in our smallest communities. And so we might only be talking about a town of 600 people has one lawyer. But when that one lawyer retires, without a replacement, it means there’s no one local to provide legal services.”

It’s difficult to quantify the problem — how, after all, does one measure legal access? There are bound to be more lawyers in big centers of government and business, after all. But Haksgaard points out that the problem is likely to worsen, no matter how it’s measured.

“We have what I would call a graying bar. So our attorneys, especially in rural areas, are getting older, and they’re nearing retirement,” she said. “And so the raw numbers probably would give you a more optimistic view than you should have, because a lot of those lawyers are phasing into retirement with no replacements. Which is concerning.”

Patrick Sinner is an attorney with

Vogel Law Firm, which is based in urban hubs in North Dakota and Minnesota. He said that many attorneys are drawn to larger cities because of the opportunities for mentorship. It’s also a different experience, he said, to specialize in one field of law in a bigger city, instead of working broadly for a wider range of smaller, rural clients.

“To be a rural attorney, I think a lot of times requires you to be a generalist in anything that might come in the door, from doing wills and trusts or doing land disputes, divorces, criminal actions, up through civil litigation and setting up LLCs or companies, and that can be a little bit daunting,” he said.

And he pointed out, too, that remote technologies like Zoom are making the legal world smaller all the time — and that the law is trending toward a more online, tech-friendly future.

“That certainly seems to be the trend,” he said. “If nothing else, the COVID pandemic has made a lot of courts much more open and amenable to having not only telephone hearings, but Zoom hearings for everything up to and including trials. Which would be unheard of before the lockdown happened.”

For Nyhus, though, his chief concern is that Zoom can’t replicate the feeling of being in the room — and he worries that without lawyers actually present in rural areas, there are still needs that go unmet.

“With technology, there are a lot of ways you can work through some of the negative factors,” he said — but it only goes so far. “Nothing, nothing takes the place of a face-to-face consultation with the door closed.”

Patrick sinner

Hannah haksgaard

Essentia Health-Fargopediatrics team completes suicide-prevention training

WO RD SBYC AI TL IN PA LL AI

According to theA meric an Foundation forSuicidePrevention (A FSP),suicide is thesecond-leading causeofdeath for indi vidualsages10 to 24 in NorthDakot aand Minnesota. Betweenthe twos tates, about74% of communities in 2021 didnot have enough mentalhealth provider sto serveresident s, according to federal guidelines.

Knowingthese number sand suicide’s impac t, theEssentiaHealth -Fargo pediatrics team recently completed suicide -preventiontrainingthrough SafeSide Prevention.

Held by theNor th Dakota AF SP,the training –S afeSide Pr imar yC ARE– was made possibleby agrantfromthe NorthDakot aDepar tmentofHuman Serv ices ’Behav ioralHealth Di vision.

As part of it sProjec t2025initiative toreduce thesuicide rate 20 %by2025, theA FSPhasidenti fied health care sy stemsasone of four cr iticalareas throughwhichthemost li vesc an be savedinthe shor test amountoftime.

According to SafeSide,about athird of people whodie by suicide visita primary care providerw ithinamonth of theirdeath.Dr. DhilhanMarasinghe, sectionchairofpediatr ic sfor Essentia Health ’s West Mar ket, explains that youthinpar ticularare at riskin the digit alage.

“W iththe introduc tion of social mediaand smartphone access ,we’ ve seen anationalspike in thenumber of suicidalthoughts andactivesuicides in ourteenagepopulation,” said Dr. Marasinghe. “Fromapediatr ician st andpoint, this training is super impor tant forus.”

Thethree -par t, interac ti ve, videobasedtrainingprovidesaframework for supportinga cohesi veapproach to screen forsuicide riskin pr imary care.Itequipsthe team,fromnur ses

androomings taff to provider s, with prac ticalactions to take when apatient maybethinkingaboutsuicide.

“I wantour patients to know that ourpediatr ic steam takesthisvery seriousl y, andthat’sw hywe have commit tedtothisasanentire depar tment,”s aid Dr.Marasinghe.“ If we canall traintogether, work asa team,and even saveone kidf rom suicide,that’sa winonour part .”

TheS afeSide Pr imar yC AREtraining detailshow best torespondtosuicide concerns within thetimeand resource cons traints of pr imar yc are.

“One of the most import ant things when it comes to suicide prevention is knowing what ques tionsto askandbeing comfor table doingso,” said Dr.Marasinghe.

Conver sationsaredi videdinto four part s– connec t, assess, respond andextend– with di fferentlearning objectives ands tandardized ques tions andprompts.

n Connect :Develop arelationship withthepatient andpiece together theirs tory.

n A ssess: Gatherand summarize infor mation that ’s ac tionable,notjust about“risk .”

n Respond:Deter mineaninitial planfor thenow as wellaspossible contingencies.

n E xtend: Es tablishrolesforfamily andother suppor ts andprovide referrals to behav ioral health.

“Our goal is that when akid is ready to talk abouttheirsuicidalthoughts, anyoneonour team canjumpin,”

explainedDr. Marasinghe. “Doc tors aren ’t theonl yonesw ho canhave these conver sations. Andit’snot just canwes topsuicide,bu tc anwe get thesepatients bet ter?”

In additiontothe Fargopediatrics team,EssentiaHealth famil ymedicine provider sandpediatr iciansin Jamestown, Valley City andLisbonare participating in theNor th Dakota grantfunded SafeSide Primary CA RE training.

SafeSide serves organiz ationsin Australia, Canada,New Zealand, the UK andthe U. S. It provides leader ship consultation andworkforce educ ation for health, mentalhealth, educ ational andgovernmentalorganiz ations seeking touniteand inspire their ment al health andprimary care work forcestopreventsuicide.

If youorsomeone youknow is in crisis, there is help.Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifelineat9 88 or (8 00)2 73 -8 255 or connec twith theCrisisText Line by textingTALKto741741. Both areavailable 24 /7 from anywhere in the U. S.

If in theFargoarea,a 24 -hour Mobile Crisis Line is available at (701)2 98 -4 50 0or(888)3 42 -4 900. Fora list of LGBTQcrisis and suppor tresources ,visitaf sp.org.

Learnmoreabout Essentia’s behavioralandmentalhealth ser vicesatEssentiaHealth.org. Learn howtoget helpandsupport aloved one at af sp.org/get-help.

Dhilhan Mara singhe, MD Pe diat rics

RIVERHOUSE IS BEING BUILT ON THE EASTERN EDGE OF DOWNTOWN, ALONG THE BANKS OF THE RED RIVER OF THE NORTH. DESIGNED FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO BE IN THE AMENITY-RICH DOWNTOWN ENERGY AND SURROUNDED BY NATURE, RESIDENTS WILL ENJOY DIRECT ACCESS TO THE WATER, BEAUTIFUL VIEWS, AND KAYAK STORAGE. THE 115 LIVING UNITS OF THE RIVERHOUSE WILL INCLUDE EXPANSIVE LIVING OPTIONS WITH ROOM FOR DINING TABLES, MORE SPACIOUS BEDROOMS, AND MAXIMUM NATURAL LIGHT. RIVERHOUSE IS SIX STORIES AND INCLUDES 157 PARKING SPACES (115 ENCLOSED/HEATED AND 42 SURFACE). THERE IS A WAITING LIST OPEN AND PRE-LEASING WILL BEGIN THIS SUMMER. THE PROJECT IS SET TO OPEN IN THE FALL OF 2024. PHOTOS COURTESY OF JLG ARCHITECTS

RiverHouse created for active lifestyles

Key downtown Fargo development set for fall 2024 opening

By Carrie McDermott

Progress is being made on RiverHouse, a Kilbourne Group multi-family housing project in downtown Fargo geared toward active adults and empty nesters. The footprint for the 115-apartment complex across the street from the Red River, located at 225 Fourth Ave. N., sits on property formerly housing a military entrance processing station and the old Fargo School District warehouse.

The parking structure and lobby concrete work is in progress, with the wood framing of levels 2-6 scheduled to start in late May. The 179,434-square-foot project will be completed next year and is set to open in the fall of 2024.

continued on page 28

Keith leier

A RENDERING OF THE RIVERHOUSE PROJECT CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION. RENDERING BY JLG ARCHITECTS.

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Keith Leier, vice president of development and construction with Kilbourne Group, talked about RiverHouse, which sits in the center of Fargo’s downtown energy, just three blocks off Broadway.

“Being close to the river, we’re really leaning into an active lifestyle here, so the project has a big outdoor rooftop terrace-patio that looks over the river,” Leier said. “We have a lot of extra storage compared to our normal buildings down here. It has bike and kayak storage, and a lot of lockers for outdoor gear, whether that’s hunting gear, golf gear, or any of that type of stuff.”

He said this apartment complex is a great option for those who may be downsizing and want to live closer to grandkids in town or those who don’t want the maintenance responsibilities of owning a home.

“This apartment gives them an opportunity for efficient living,” Leier said.

The property will feature modern amenities consumers are looking for, including the rooftop terrace and a pet wash area.

One of the new features built into the apartment is the SmartRent system. Popular in major metro areas like Minneapolis, Leier said Kilborne Group has used it in its last three residential projects and it’s gone over very well.

“I think we’re the first to bring this technology to the area. We’re finding, from a flexibility standpoint, tenants are really enjoying it,” Leier said.

The technology connects the tenant to the building and offers control over thermostats, alarms and access controls to doors, among other benefits.

From a leasing standpoint, the system allows self-showing. The self-guided tours for potential renters free up hours of time.

“Via the SmartRent system, people can get access into the building. They are able to go into a couple of the main features of the building through an access code and then they can go on their own self-showings of the space, too, instead of meeting up with a leasing agent,” Leier said.

The technology gives secure access to vendors coming and going, allowing property management and maintenance the ability to track those workers while on site.

“There’s a feature where you can give temporary access to the sites too, so when we are thinking about guests coming or you have a delivery coming, say furniture, you have the opportunity to give a temporary

RENDERINGS BY JLG ARCHITECTS. code that’s only available for a couple of hours within the site. It adds a nice amount of flexibility for remote living, so to speak, within the property,” Leier said.

RiverHouse will have one-, two- and three-bedroom apartment layouts, ranging from approximately 715 square feet up to 1,437 square feet. Apartments include front-loading washer and dryer in unit, central air, kitchen island and quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, TV mounting capabilities, high-speed internet, full-

size balconies for select units, spacious views of the Red River, 9-foot ceilings and oversized windows.

In addition to the SmartRent technology, the building amenities include a heated parking garage, pet run and relief area, rooftop terrace with grill stations and fire pits, storage units available on each floor, trash and recycling chutes, EV charging stations and easy access to river trails.

Waitlist and pre-leasing information can be found at ChooseCentric.com.

A STREET VIEW RENDERING OF RIVERHOUSE, CURRENTLY BEING CONSTRUCTED IN DOWNTOWN FARGO.

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First Building at New EagleRidge Plaza Expansion Now Open

EagleRidge Development announces the opening of the first mixed-use building at EagleRidge Plaza. EagleRidge Plaza is a $200,000,000 multi-phase master planned development in south Fargo along Veterans Boulevard and 32nd Avenue South that will provide a lively and urban atmosphere to the community with its public plaza that includes a stage, outdoor seating, designated food truck parking and green space.

The first phase of EagleRidge Plaza, completed in 2021, consisted of 2 Class A office buildings with frontage on Veterans Boulevard. The second phase features

four mixed-use buildings, each with 12,000 square feet of first floor commercial space and 94 apartments, granting residents the perfect balance of live, work and play. The final phase is expected to include approximately 250 apartments and 24,000 square feet of additional commercial space.

The opening of the first mixed-use building, 5601 EagleRidge Plaza, located at 5601 33rd Avenue South in Fargo, North Dakota, includes a rooftop terrace, clubroom, pet wash, and a 6,000-square-foot fitness center offering steam showers, lockers and a bouldering wall. The first mixed-use building is now leasing and welcoming

residents, offering studio, 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom apartments.

Of the 12,000 square feet of commercial space in the first building, only 3,577 square feet of commercial space remains available for lease. Inspire Health & Wellness will open in the second mixed-use building, 3251 EagleRidge Plaza, later this summer, followed by the apartments. The third and fourth buildings will open in 2024, and both have commercial space available. The complex is poised to be a vibrant destination and thriving hub of activity with over 2,000 people living or working at EagleRidge Plaza.

Bismarck State College to offer Heavy Equipment Operator degree

At the request of local industry, Bismarck State College (BSC) is launching a Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO) program. With input from BSC’s Business and Industry Team (BILT), which includes members of the Associated General Contractors of North Dakota (AGCND), BSC’s HEO program teaches the skills and knowledge to operate various large construction machines.

“The construction industry is excited

about the addition of a Heavy Equipment Operators Program at BSC,” Executive Vice President of the AGCND Russ Hanson said. “It provides much-needed training for a high-demand occupation. BSC’s new Polytechnic Center will be ideally suited to provide excellent training to have the operators from this program immediately contribute to the workforce.”

This Associate in Applied Science

Degree program combines classroom instruction with hands-on training, realworld projects, and internships. In this program, students will be instructed on safety procedures, equipment maintenance, and operation techniques. Through generous donations of equipment, land, and technical skills grants from business and industry, BSC’s goal of offering an HEO program is now a reality.

Kohlman Inducted into Dakota Credit Union Hall of Fame

Mindee Kohlman, retiring president/CEO of Aspire CU, was inducted into the Dakota Credit Union Association Hall of Fame during the Summit Awards Banquet that was held Wednesday, May 10 at the Delta Hotel in Fargo. The Hall of Fame honor is a lifetime achievement recognition, and the most prestigious of all DakCU awards.

For the past 40 years, Mindee’s vocation has been in the credit union world; 35 of those years at Aspire Credit Union, formerly known as Prairie Federal. Since 2016, she has been leading the credit union as CEO, earning the promotion for being a crucial part of the credit union’s growth and success.

“Mindee Kohlman is a true servant leader who has a long history of supporting her credit union team and the credit union industry, both locally and nationally,” said Jeff Olson, president/CEO of the Dakota Credit Union Association. “During her years of service, she has led by example, demonstrating her commitment to her organization and to her community with a rare combination of professionalism and care. She had led with grace and dignity, and is well deserving of this lifetime achievement honor,” he added.

When she first started at Aspire, the credit union had just six fulltime employees, about 2,600 members and $6 million in assets. Today, it has grown to over $165 million with more than 20 employ-

ees and nearly 6,500 members.

If you ask Kohlman what she loves most about the industry, she will tell you it’s what credit unions represent: helping people. Whether it is a member, or another credit union in need, she is ready to step in, step up, and provide assistance. Under her leadership, Aspire Credit Union staff logged nearly 1,000 hours of community service with 96 percent staff participation in 2022.

“I never thought I would be a Hall of Famer,” shared Kohlman. “Throughout my years in the credit union movement, I was focused on building a great team, and on finding ways to say yes to support our members. This honor humbles me, and it was a wonderful surprise.”

Kohlman’s volunteer spirit has been evident in her numerous activities, including as a representative for the Family Involvement Team; serving on the NYIB; as chairman and representative for the Special Olympics Golf Committee; as a volunteer for the Moose Lodge; years on the board of Midwest Corporate FCU; board member for a local electric cooperative; and many other committees for community and youth activities, too numerous to list. A rare combination of professionalism and care, she had led with grace and dignity, and demonstrates to her team, and anyone watching, how to succeed not just in the credit union industry – but in life.

The Dakota Credit Union Association (DakCU) is the professional financial trade association serving 68 credit unions that employ more than 2,200 individuals across the Dakotas. With more than 520,000 members in North and South Dakota, Dakota credit unions have assets exceeding $8.7 billion. In our mission to help credit unions succeed, DakCU plays a key role in growing membership and helping to provide service excellence to members from offices in Bismarck, ND and Sioux Falls, SD. For more information visit our website.

JEFF OLSON, DAKCU PRESIDENT/CEO AND MINDEE KOHLMAN.

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Digi-Key Electronics Receives Toastmasters’ Corporate Recognition Award

THIEF RIVER FALLS, Minn. – Digi-Key Electronics has received the Corporate Recognition Award from Toastmasters International. The award recognizes enhancing employee engagement through support of the Toastmasters program.

Digi-Key sponsors the Brooks Avenue Toastmasters Club in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, where approximately 190 team members meet to develop and strengthen their communication and leadership skills in a supportive setting with their coworkers. The club offers training on presentation skills, team collaboration and successful team leadership.

“Digi-Key is proud to receive this recognition from Toastmasters that highlights our team members’ dedication to growth around communication and leadership skills,” said Shane Zutz, vice president of human resources at Digi-Key. “Our strong employee culture has always been a top priority and this award is another testament to our commitment to employee growth opportunities.”

The award was presented to Digi-Key by Toastmasters International Director Kim Myers who was in town for the 2023 District 78 Hybrid Conference in Fargo. Educational sessions at the conference will focus on leadership and public speaking, and attendees will have the chance to network with other Toastmasters members from neighboring clubs.

“Digi-Key values the success of their associates,” said Myers. “One avenue is improvement of communication and leadership skills of associates through the support of the Brooks Avenue Toastmasters Club.”

The Brooks Avenue Toastmasters Club regularly meets each Tues-

day at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Digi-Key Electronics. Thief River Falls is also home to the Two Rivers Toastmasters Club, a new, community-based club which is sponsored by Digi-Key. For more information about Digi-Key and career opportunities, visit the Digi-Key careers website.

DIGI-KEY MEMBERS OF THE BROOKS AVENUE TOASTMASTERS CLUB WITH THE CORPORATE RECOGNITION AWARD FROM TOASTMASTERS INTERNATIONAL.

WES SHELL (L), TOASTMASTERS DISTRICT 78 DIRECTOR HANDS THE AWARD TO DAVE DOHERTY (R), DIGI-KEY PRESIDENT.

Lauren Klein University of Minnesota Crookston

Major: Communication Graduation: May 2023

Career path: Plans to study mortuary science, run funeral home

Finding the right fit

Future funeral home director has special set of skills

By Carrie McDermott

Working in the funeral home industry is not what Lauren Klein had planned when she started college in 2020. The University of Minnesota Crookston student graduated in May 2023 with a communications degree and believes that area of expertise will be useful in her chosen profession.

Klein’s university career took a winding path, starting at the University of North Dakota, where she was studying to be an English teacher. She struggled her freshman year, she said, as it was the start of the pandemic and all of her classes were taken online. Klein transferred to the University of Minnesota Crookston about halfway through the year, because she learned the school had recently created an English education program. She thought it would be easier to get her teaching license in the state from which she graduated. She soon discovered education wasn’t the direction she wanted to go, and after taking a communication theory course, switched her major to communication, believing it would give her more options in a variety of professions. She considered journalism, marketing and human resources for a career, but none felt quite right as she got closer to graduation.

Over the summer 2022, she was contacted by the owner of a funeral home in her hometown of Hallock, Minnesota, who was looking for someone to train and eventually take over the business. “He was just putting feelers out there for people and someone mentioned to him that I had an interest in it in the past, so he got in touch with me. He suggested to me I could find an online program and work with him,” Klein said. “That would allow me to return home after I graduate.”

While home over the Christmas break, she worked a funeral with him and it solidified her career choice.

“The field is really seeing a shortage right now, and we’re in a rural area so it’s kind of hard to get folks to come around here anyway,” she said.

Her great-grandfather and great-uncle owned a funeral home together years ago, and Klein thinks that’s what may have initially spurred her interest in the industry.

Prior to graduation, Klein was presented with the Outstanding Communication Student Award by Dr. Megan Bell and Dr. Jacob Bell, her instructors.

“They really advocated for me. The award is presented to someone in the Communication Department who they thought was an outstanding student. They felt I work really hard in the classes and contributed to classroom discussions in a meaningful way,”Klein said. “That was meaningful for me to receive that award.”

Bell said what stands out about Klein is her intellectual curiosity and her commitment to learning and growth.

“Rarely have I worked with a student so engaged with such a desire to learn; her work goes beyond meeting assignment and class requirements. During class discussions, she finds the balance between leading and participating with her peers. She is a leader in the classroom in both online and in-person learning environments,” Bell said. “Lauren is truly an outstanding student and one I feel honored to have worked with on her academic journey.”

The next step in Klein’s career plan is to take a home-based mortuary science course from an accredited community college in Iowa. As part of that, she will work alongside the funeral director in her hometown of Hallock, Minnesota, starting in the fall with the intent of running a funeral home someday.

The field is really seeing a shortage right now, and we’re in a rural area so it’s kind of hard to get folks to come around here anyway.”

MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY CROOKSTON PROFESSOR DR. MEGAN BELL, LEFT, PRESENTED THE OUTSTANDING COMMUNICATION STUDENT AWARD TO GRADUATING SENIOR LAUREN KLEIN. COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA CROOKSTON

Flexible and strong

Wahpeton manufacturing plant continues to deliver

By Carrie McDermott

For nearly 70 years, a Wahpeton, North Dakota-based manufacturing company has faced market needs and demands head-on with innovation, expansion and a dedicated workforce. The latest challenges include navigating supply chain issues after a global pandemic as well as rebranding after an ownership change.

WCCO Belting, founded by Ed Shorma and most recently led by his son, Tom Shorma, was acquired in 2022 by Continental and has a new name. Rod Koch, plant manager, said WCCO Belting is now a product brand under ContiTech USA, Inc., a Continental company, as of Jan. 1, 2023. The acquisition has given the facility a financial boost and will allow it to continue to grow into the future.

A round-the-clock operation with three eighthour shifts, the plant employs close to 300 people.

“I like to say it’s all about heart count, not head count,” Koch said.

The employees are a work family, he said, and encouraged to make suggestions for improvements and efficiencies. They’re the experts on the floor. In fact, about 75% of ideas are put into practice and to date, Koch said there’s been more than 3,000 employee suggestions. Fostering that creativity is a benefit to employee and employer alike.

“The most beautiful thing about that is it gives everybody a voice and we treat every idea like it’s the most important one because for that person, it just might be,” Koch said.

The employees like their jobs so much, many recommend the workplace to their friends. Approximately 90% of referrals came from other employees, he shared.

“That speaks to our culture here. We truly care. I truly care, at least, about everybody here. We pride ourselves on a diverse workforce because we hire great people. We just need people to come to work, put a smile on, be safe, make high-quality parts and have a little fun. If you love what you do, it won’t seem like work,” Koch said.

He’s been with the company for 11 years, starting as the director of engineering, where he designed belts. He’s seen many changes and improvements along the way.

continued on page 40

AN INTERNAL PIECE OF UNWIND EQUIPMENT THAT WILL AUTO-LOCATE AND TRACK MATERIALS AS THEY ARE LOADED INTO A PRESS FOR VULCANIZATION. A TESTAMENT TO THE PLANT’S INTERNAL EXPERTISE AND CAPABILITIES, STILL BEING ASSEMBLED AND BUILT OFFLINE. CARRIE MCDERMOTT/PRAIRIE BUSINESS

continued from page 38

“We’re always growing, we’re always changing,” Koch said. The Wahpeton employer has increased dramatically in just the past year. A new training building was constructed inside the plant, and new lines for baling belting are being installed. Safety devices and procedures are being developed and updated regularly.

The company added about 100 workers in the last three years and is producing 80% more belting in the same timeframe.

“We’ve really ramped it up,” Koch said.

The manufacturer’s customers include the top brands in agriculture, who are always searching for better efficiencies. Whether it’s grain, gravel, snow or potatoes, every belt is conveying something. Belts need to be as flexible as possible and as strong as possible, which is a delicate balance, Koch said.

AN EXAMPLE OF IN-HOUSE INGENUITY AND TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, THIS INTERNALLY DESIGNED AND FABRICATED CONVEYOR IS USED ON THE OUTFEED END OF A RUBBER EXTRUSION MACHINE, SEEN IN THE BACKGROUND AT RIGHT. TO THE LEFT ARE TWO LARGE POST PRESSES USED IN HIGH-PRESSURE APPLICATIONS FOR BELT VULCANIZATION PURPOSES. CARRIE MCDERMOTT/PRAIRIE BUSINESS

“That’s always been one of our core competencies. We love custom designing a belt specifically for an application. Not only does it guarantee business but you truly solve the customer’s problem,” he said.

In addition to being a leader in the agricultural belting sector – the company exports products to more than 20 countries –they’re entering new markets, including playground equipment and light industrial.

A decade-long effort to purchase utility-owned land adjacent to the plant is finally coming to fruition, Koch said, thanks to the capital funding now available as part of ContiTech USA, Inc. Having that property will allow the facility to expand into the future.

The plant is nowhere near a port and exports more than it sells domestically, which means an ongoing challenge is getting supplies and materials in and product out via truck. North Dakota winter storms can also make for delays.

“All of the overseas equipment goes into containers, so a lot of the time it’s a challenge in getting containers. There’s still a global shortage of containers ever since the pandemic,” Koch said. “Our winters are really challenging, too, because everything comes in and out of here on a semi, for the vast majority. We had multiple days where almost the whole plant shut down due to blizzards in April.”

A big issue is finding workers.

“Pick an industry, it’s everywhere – here too,” Koch said. “It’s a real challenge.”

Any manufacturing facility of similar size will see a certain percentage of staffing churn, he said, whether from retirements, college students going back to school, or even those leaving to take care of family members. Because of that, ContiTech USA, Inc. has open positions year-round.

“We’re always looking for great people. Always,” Koch said.

HarrisburgElementary School Harrisburg, SD

PrairiePeople

Alerus names Miranda Myers director of retail banking

MOORHEAD, Minn • Alerus recently announced that Miranda Myers has been named director of retail banking.

In this role, she is responsible for all retail bank offerings, including deposits, consumer lending, teller line services, branch services, and security. She also leads the implementation of deposits-related initiatives, identifies trends, and evaluates the risk and potential of new technologies, with a focus on providing a high level of client service to meet their evolving needs.

Miranda Myers

Myers joined Alerus in 2006 as a teller and has served in various roles throughout her career with the company, including customer service supervisor, retail trainer and branch services specialist, the release said. Most recently she served as branch services manager, where she was responsible for consumer deposit product management, in-branch systems, client onboarding technology and in-branch client behavior data. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English and mass communication from Minnesota State University Moorhead.

KLJ Hires Four New Employees in Bismarck

BISMARCK, N.D. • KLJ Engineering LLC (KLJ), is proud to welcome Dan Thomsen, Katie DeWitt, Amanda Krieger, and Shelby Jorgenson to our team. These new employee-owners are based in our Bismarck office.

Thomsen joins KLJ as a Senior Survey Crew Chief. He is a professional land surveyor (PLS) and has more than 11 years of experience in the engineering and surveying industry. Thomsen has knowledge of land and boundary surveys and conducting various site surveys to help guide construction of new infrastructure. He earned an associate degree in civil engineering and survey technology from St. Cloud Technical College.

KLJ hired DeWitt as an Engineer In Training (EIT) within our Structural team. Katie has more than six years of structural engineering experience, extensive knowledge of rating bridges, and working with development plans for bridges, retaining walls, and culvert projects. She has expertise using multiple structural modeling software. DeWitt earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from North Dakota State University.

Krieger joins KLJ as an Environmental Engineer. She has more than nine years of field and project management experience working in the oil and gas industry and has vast knowledge of petroleum and brine remediation in groundwater and soil. Krieger is a member of our Environment and Corridor Services team and is a licensed professional engineer in North Dakota and Montana. She earned a master’s degree in environmental engineering from the University of North Dakota.

KLJ hired Jorgenson as a Project Assistant in our Bismarck office. She previously resided in Williston, North Dakota and has experience with management, recruitment, and training personnel. Additionally, Shelby has design skills and is currently pursuing an associate degree in graphic design and communications from Bismarck State College with an anticipated graduation date in May 2023.

Ackerman-Estvold Hires Bob Myers as Civil Drafter/Designer

Minot, N.D. • Bob Myers has joined the Ackerman-Estvold Minot office as a full-time Civil Drafter/ Designer. Myers earned an Associate’s degree in CADD Technology from Butler Community College, Butler, PA. He has over 20 years of related experience in design and drafting. Myers will be providing design expertise on engineering and architectural projects throughout North Dakota and Idaho.

Bob Myers

Ackerman-Estvold is a professional engineering and architecture firm with corporate headquarters in Minot, ND, and additional office locations in Williston and Fargo, ND, and Boise, ID. The firm provides planning, design, and construction services for public and private clients throughout North Dakota and surrounding states. For more information about Ackerman-Estvold, or the services we provide visit us at www.ackerman-estvold.com.

Katie DeWitt Dan Thomsen

Amanda Krieger Shelby Jorgenson

Devin Septon Rachel Johnson

KLJ HIRES THREE NEW EMPLOYEES IN BISMARCK

Cat Jones

BISMARCK, N.D. • KLJ Engineering LLC (KLJ), is proud to welcome Devin Septon, Cat Jones, and Rachel Johnson to our team. These new employee-owners are based in our Bismarck office.

KLJ hired Septon as an Engineering Technician within our Construction Services team. He has more than five years of experience working as a sub-contractor in Colorado and is a native of Bowman, North Dakota. Septon has knowledge in the construction industry working with sales, customer service, bid openings, and project management.

Jones joins KLJ’s Human Resources (HR) team as a Human Resources Information System (HRIS) Administrator. She has more than 12 years of professional experience in the HR field and has knowledge in performance management, succession planning, and compensation studies. Jones received a bachelor’s degree in human resources management from Dickinson State University and a master’s degree in business administration human resources management from the University of Mary. Jones is certified as a Society for Human Resource Management Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) and a Human Resource Standards Institute Senior Professional in Human Resources (HRSI-SPHR).

Johnson joins KLJ as an Archaeologist. She has more than 20 years of experience in the archaeology industry. She has firsthand knowledge working with archaeological collections and archival documentation. Johnson is a certified associate project manager from the Project Management Institute and earned a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from the University of Denver.

Q.

INSIGHTs & INTUITION

What strategies does your company use to fill workforce shortages?

Andrew Eitreim

In the current environment, with construction booming and workforce shortages being prevalent throughout the architecture, engineering and construction industries, we continue to work on adding to our staff, but our primary focus is our existing team. Treating our employees with respect and dignity is an essential part of our beliefs within the firm, and we wouldn’t be where we are without our incredibly talented staff. We strive to do our best for our employees by offering competitive compensation and benefits, continuously working to create a strong culture, and investing in the development of our staff through training and mentorship. We work with our staff to improve our processes and gain efficiency to be able to serve our clients at a very high level with our current team. Being careful about the workload we take on is something that we must be conscious of with the challenges of adding staff. We are fortunate to have many repeat clients, so employing a rigorous process for deciding which new opportunities to pursue is critical. Among all the different considerations, we focus on thoughtfully managing our workload to allow our staff to balance their personal and professional lives. As simple as it is, valuing our employees is our best strategy for overcoming workforce shortages.

At Steffes, we are committed to ensuring the organization has the workforce needed to achieve future success. One approach we take is the consistent promotion of our employee referral program. This program incentivizes current team members to refer qualified candidates to Steffes. It has continued to be a successful tool for us and – in recent years, we have also pivoted the program with increased incentives for hard-to-fill positions. Cultivating partnerships with local educational institutions is also a primary focus. This includes having a dedicated presence outside career fairs – which has ensured a pipeline of fresh talent and interest for Steffes. Through successful partnerships with local colleges and universities, Steffes can identify and recruit individuals who possess the necessary skills and education to fill future roles. These partnerships also aid in bringing awareness to our Steffes Internship Program, leading to various success stories of growth and opportunity for interns who successfully transition to full-time careers with Steffes. We also establish strong relationships with our local high schools – including tours, job shadowing, and hosting presentations highlighting various opportunities in the manufacturing industry. Steffes also focuses on developing a strong employer brand through various social media platforms. Showcasing our culture, career opportunities, and most importantly, highlighting our team members has been integral in this pursuit. We regularly feature daily work, employee spotlights, career development opportunities and celebrate milestones achieved by those utilizing our tuition reimbursement program!

Kim Heidt

Vice President of People and Culture Steffes Dickinson, ND

Vice president, principal architect Architecture, Inc. Sioux Falls, SD

It is no secret many companies are facing a shortage of workers and in today’s market for acquiring the best talent we are getting creative to fill positions. There are a few different strategies we employ at Ackerman-Estvold to help us find and retain talent. We first look to offer competitive salaries and a robust benefits package, benefits need to not only speak to our values as an organization, but to the values of the ever-changing workforce. Another strategy is helping fill in skills gaps by providing professional development and training opportunities to both current staff and prospective talent. We provide paid summer internships to students pursuing roles in civil engineering and architecture fields. We find this pivotal in assisting to prepare them for a career in the industry post-graduation and give them hands-on experience and a more qualified candidate for employment. As our company has matured, we have identified an opportunity for our current staff to discuss career pathways and outline plans which align with both individual and long-term organizational goals. We look for options to provide those training opportunities while mentoring our employees by being available in the pursuit of their goals. Finally, community partnerships have been another asset in addressing the challenge of workforce shortages. Engaging with students at career fairs, partnering with area schools for internships and job shadow opportunities, have helped us connect with the right people. Through this outreach we have developed training plans to aid in elevating technical skills, created leadership development, and been able to show potential employees how they might fit into the overall picture of Ackerman-Estvold and our industry. This forward thinking has played a major role in our recruitment successes. These strategies have been essential in the continuing growth of our organization, and they will be at the core of our recruitment strategies in the coming years.

Rachel Stevenson Director of Human Resources Ackerman-Estvold Minot, ND

Arrick Jackson, Ph.D.

Provost & Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs

Minnesota State University

Moorhead

Moorhead, MN

To address our country’s youth mental health crisis and the widespread shortages of mental health professionals, particularly in rural communities, Minnesota State University Moorhead sought and received a five-year $6,778,039 grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The Infuse Mental Health grant aims to fill mental health professional vacancies and to increase the diversity, recruitment, training and placement of graduate students serving rural and tribal schools. Our graduate programs in School Psychology and School Counseling collaborated on this grant with many partners, including 18 Minnesota and North Dakota school districts, Turtle Mountain Tribal Community College, and 16 collaborating cooperatives, professional organizations, and state agencies. The success of filling these workforce shortages depends on the efforts of our graduate program faculty and our community partners to diversify and expand the number of students trained to meet the growing needs of students. The grant reduces the cost for MSUM students entering the School Psychology and School Counseling graduate programs; school districts can leverage this grant to support grow-your-own candidates who want to work and stay in the community; and the grant will engage local, rural, and tribal schools struggling to fill mental health professional vacancies, thus expanding services to more students in need. MSUM is inspired to partner with teachers, administrators and education leaders to help fill regional mental health professional vacancies while providing students the support they need to live healthy lives.

(Infuse Mental Health was one of 67 projects funded nationwide by $188 million secured via the 2022 Omnibus and Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.)

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COMPENSATION IN PRIVATE

Compensation costs for civilian workers increased 1.2 percent, seasonally adjusted, for the 3-month period ending in March 2023, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in late April. Wages and salaries increased 1.2 percent and benefit costs increased 1.2 percent from December 2022.

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.4 percent in April on a seasonally adjusted basis, after increasing 0.1 percent in March, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 4.9 percent before seasonal adjustment. The all items index increased 4.9 percent for the 12 months ending April; this was the smallest 12-month increase since the period ending April 2021. The all items less food and energy index rose 5.5 percent over the last 12 months. The energy index decreased 5.1 percent for the 12 months ending April, and the food index increased 7.7 percent over the last year.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX

The index for shelter was the largest contributor to the monthly all items increase, followed by increases in the index for used cars and trucks and the index for gasoline. The increase in the gasoline index more than offset declines in other energy component indexes, and the energy index rose 0.6 percent in April. The food index was unchanged in April, as it was in March. The index for food at home fell 0.2 percent over the month while the index for food away from home rose 0.4 percent.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

U.S. IMPORT AND EXPORT PRICE INDEXES - APRIL 2023

Prices for U.S. imports increased 0.4 percent in April following a 0.8-percent decline in March, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in early May. Higher fuel prices drove the advance in April. The price index for U.S. exports rose 0.2 percent in April, after declining 0.6 percent the previous month. U.S. import prices advanced 0.4 percent in April, the first monthly increase since December 2022. Despite the April rise, the price index for U.S. imports declined over the past year, falling 4.8 percent on a 12-month basis for the second consecutive month. U.S. export prices increased 0.2 percent in April, after declining 0.6 percent the previous month. Higher prices for nonagricultural exports and agricultural exports in April each contributed to the overall advance. The price index for U.S. exports fell 5.9 percent from April 2022 to April 2023, the largest over-the-year drop since a 6.7-percent decline in May 2020.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

RELIABILITY

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