Prairie Business March 2024

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Elaine Doerfler, MS, CCC/SLP

Owner of Myna Therapy Services, PLLC Fargo, ND

www.mynatherapy.com

We would like to celebrate Elaine being honored as a Top 25 Women in Business Award recipient for 2024! Elaine’s vision and leadership has resulted in Myna Therapy Services growing quickly into a highly motivated team of professionals whose focus is providing friendly, personalized care to everyone they serve.

DEPARTMENTS

FEATURES

12 BUSINESS TRAVEL

CORPORATE TRAVEL GETS BACK TO BUSINESS BY CARRIE MCDERMOTT

16 TOP 25 WOMEN IN BUSINESS

CLASS OF 2024 BY CARRIE MCDERMOTT

34 MN SPACEPORT

PROPOSAL TO CREATE A SPACEPORT IN MINNESOTA BY CARRIE MCDERMOTT

10 EDITOR’S NOTE

BY CARRIE MCDERMOTT

33 PRAIRIE PEOPLE

40 GENERATION NEXT NORTHLAND NURSING STUDENT PREPARES FOR CAREER BY CARRIE MCDERMOTT

40 GUEST COLUMN

CHAMPIONING INCLUSION TO FOSTER INNOVATION BY ANNIE REZAC

42 CONSTRUCTION CORNER

RIVERHOUSE PROJECT HELPING FILL F-M HOUSING DEMANDS BY CARRIE MCDERMOTT

44 INSIGHTS & INTUITION

46 BY THE NUMBERS

DARRELL CASTEEL

AE2S PROMOTES DARRELL CASTEEL TO CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

LEVI, UTAH • AE2S ANNOUNCES THE PROMOTION OF DARRELL CASTEEL FROM OPERATIONS DIRECTOR TO CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER AT THE 100% EMPLOYEE-OWNED CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING ENGINEERING FIRM.

“DARRELL IS A HUMBLE LEADER WITH A PASSION FOR BRINGING OUT THE BEST IN OUR TEAM AND INSPIRING OTHERS. HIS DEDICATION, DEMONSTRATED LEADERSHIP SKILLS, AND OPERATIONS EXPERIENCE HAVE PREPARED HIM TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THE POSITION. I AM PROUD TO ANNOUNCE HIS WELL-DESERVED PROMOTION TO CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER,” SAID GRANT MEYER, AE2S CEO. CASTEEL FIRST JOINED AE2S IN 2011 AS A PROJECT MANAGER IN THE FIRM’S BISMARCK, NORTH DAKOTA OFFICE WHERE HE FOCUSED ON SEVERAL SUCCESSFUL WATER RESOURCES PROJECTS. WHEN THE UTAH NATIVE DETERMINED IT WAS TIME TO MOVE HIS FAMILY BACK HOME, AE2S CHALLENGED CASTEEL TO OPEN AN AE2S OFFICE NEAR SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH. CASTEEL WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN GROWING THE AE2S FOOTPRINT IN UTAH FROM TWO EMPLOYEES IN THE LEHI OFFICE TO A CURRENT TEAM OF 20.

“I’M EXTREMELY GRATEFUL TO AE2S FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE BACK TO MY HOME STATE WHILE TRUSTING ME WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW OUR BUSINESS IN THIS REGION.

I’M HONORED AND EXCITED TO BE GIVEN THIS NEW OPPORTUNITY TO STRATEGICALLY LEAD OUR COMPANY OPERATIONS IN SUPPORT OF OUR ONGOING GROWTH AND SUCCESS,” SAID CASTEEL.

VISIT WWW.PRAIRIEBUSINESSMAGAZINE.COM TO SEE THESE AND OTHER NEW HIRES, PROMOTIONS AND AWARD WINNERS IN THE REGION.

KILBOURNE GROUP’S RIVERHOUSE APARTMENT COMPLEX IS SET TO OPEN THIS FALL.

Absolute Studios Introduces a New Vision for Marketing

Absolute Studios (Fargo, ND), a full-service marketing and production company, has introduced a revolutionary new way for brands and organizations to leverage their capabilities. With an emphasis on helping client partners elevate their marketing efforts, All Access, a subscription-based platform housing all of the agency’s capabilities, has been released to the public. For one flat monthly fee, client partners gain access to the agency’s full suite of services including graphic design, video production, animation, SEO, social media and more.

When asked what the company’s goals are in conceptualizing this new business model,

Absolute Studios CEO, MacDalton Berns, said, “After a few years of beta testing this new subscription model platform with our existing clients, we were absolutely blown away by the results, pun intended. We’ve streamlined the workflow process for our client partners so that time isn’t wasted on non-productive activities like generating estimates or waiting on budgetary approvals. Instead, our conversations with our client partners have shifted to let’s go! We view marketing as a true partnership between our company and our clients. Being able to offer the value and flexibility of, in essence, unlimited access to our 24-member team and all of their abilities at one flat monthly cost seemed like the logical next step in fortifying our relationships long into the future.”

Serving clients from nonprofits to national brands, Absolute Studios encourages anyone interested in learning more about this new All Access platform to visit AbsoluteStudios.com/ AllAccess.

EDITOR

CARRIE MCDERMOTT

Help us celebrate this year’s TOP 25 WOMEN IN BUSINESS

March is Women’s History Month, designated by Congress in 1987. This is the month we celebrate women’s contributions to our country and recognize their achievements in a wide range of fields.

As far as we’ve come, the gender pay gap is still there. In 2022, American women, on average, earned 82 cents for every dollar earned by men.

Even though women have increased their presence in higher-paying jobs traditionally dominated by men, such as professional and managerial positions, women continue to be overrepresented in lower-paying occupations relative to their share of the workforce, according to a Pew Research study. The reasons for the continued disparity are varied and you can take a look at that study for more information.

At Prairie Business, we are proud to feature our annual Top 25 Women in Business list during this month. It’s a way for us to better promote the accomplishments and victories of women in the workforce.

We sifted through 62 nominations of 45 deserving professionals, narrowing the field to the 25 talented women we feel best represent excellence in leadership, volunteerism and achievements. Thank you to all who took the time to submit such in-depth nominations.

One of our honorees, Elaine Doerfler, saw a strong need in schools for speech-language pathologists and eventually opened her own practice, which now includes 34 therapists. Another honoree, Jessica Jarmin, the executive vice president of Tactis, LLC, is a founding member of the Power of 100 Red River Valley – a women-led organization that’s donated more than $325,000 to local nonprofits over the past nine years.

About Bremer Bank’s Rammie Olson, a nominator wrote, “Olson is the kind of person who adds value to any room she walks into, and can always be counted on to give her best, help anyone in need, and provide for her community.”

The professionals on this list have extensive experience and knowledge in their industries. They are leaders in business and their communities, mentors and executives. They work in finance, marketing, health care, education, accounting and more. They are vital to their companies and supportive of their colleagues. They lead by example and set the bar high for themselves.

We are privileged to share their stories with you, and we’re excited to meet many of these honorees at our annual recognition event in September.

Also inside this edition are features on corporate travel trends in our region, and a proposed spaceport for northern Minnesota. We also highlight a Minnesota college nursing student and a multi-family housing project in Fargo. We have a column about the importance of women in architecture and engineering and how to encourage more diverse representation in those industries.

Continue to send us your announcements on promotions and new hires, as well as story ideas you may have. We appreciate your support as readers and as sponsoring partners.

Until next month,

Carrie McDermott

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

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CORPORATE TRAVEL

GETS BACK TO BUSINESS

THE UPTICK IN REGIONAL CONFERENCES AND INDUSTRY EVENTS

FOLLOWS AN INCREASE IN BUSINESS-RELATED TRAVEL

BY CARRIE MCDERMOTT

By all accounts, regional air travel is doing well. Business travelers are having face-to-face meetings and attending conventions, and more are choosing to fly to vacation destinations now that the pandemic is in the rearview mirror.

Last year was the busiest year on record at Fargo’s Hector International Airport, breaking the one million total passenger mark. In 2023, passenger enplanements were 516,071, an increase of nearly 13.3% compared to the 2022 passenger enplanements of 455,512. The airport’s statistics are shared on its website, which states the total number of passengers for the year was 1,032,497, up 14% from 2022’s total.

Construction of the terminal expansion is planned to begin this spring and will take three to four years to complete. The project will add four new gates to accommodate more departures and arrivals and a wider range of airlines. Plans are also in the works to add a four-story parking structure and elevated walkway as a separate construction project.

Williston Basin International Airport (XWA) saw significant growth through 2023, marking a prosperous year throughout northwestern North Dakota. In December 2023 alone, the airport achieved an impressive 61.6% increase in total revenue passengers compared to December 2022. Anthony Dudas, airport director at XWA, said

the outstanding growth can be attributed to various factors, including the introduction of larger aircraft by both Delta and United, as well as Sun Country’s seasonal service directly to Las Vegas. The industries in that region have also seen continued growth throughout 2023.

“Looking at the entire year, XWA recorded a commendable 23.2% increase in total passengers and a parallel rise of 23.6% in available seats compared to 2022. Despite these impressive figures, XWA fell short of the 2019 passenger numbers by 7.9% and available seats by 4.8%. This deviation can be attributed to the ongoing challenges posed by the pilot shortage, which continues to affect the aviation industry,” he said.

“The strong growth demonstrated by XWA in 2023 reflects the resilience and adaptability of the region in overcoming obstacles such as the pilot shortage and adverse weather conditions. The strategic decisions to introduce larger aircraft and expand services to meet traveler demand have undoubtedly contributed to the airport’s positive trajectory,” Dudas said.

Grand Forks International Airport boardings were up 5.3% over 2022 numbers, at 92,187, according to data from the North Dakota Aeronautics Commission, which tracks statistics from the state’s five commercial airports and three regional airports. Bismarck’s airport saw a 6% increase in boardings in 2023, and Minot saw a boost of 6.8%, with 146,769 boardings.

South Dakota’s major airports have also seen an increase in travelers. The number of passengers flying in and out of Sioux Falls Regional Airport has increased by 9% over 2022, totaling 1,338,514.

In 2022, more than 330,000 passengers used Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP), resulting in $153 million in direct spending and $188 million in economic impact.

Megan Johnson, marketing, communications and air service manager at RAP, said the airport is a leader in accessibility and inclusion and has implemented programs to assist passengers with hidden disabilities by adopting the Sunflower program. It also provides therapy dogs through the RAPaws program and has installed Mamava nursing mother’s pods.

“In 2023, we achieved a remarkable milestone for air travel – the number of passengers boarding flights reached an all-time high of 352,388. This figure is significantly higher than 2022’s number – 338,458 –and even surpasses our previous record of 351,096 in 2019. Despite the impact of COVID-19, we have bounced back quicker than most markets and have consistently

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DragonPride

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observed a surge in travel demand to the Black Hills. As a result, we have seen larger aircraft landing in Rapid City than ever before, which has prompted us to expand our gate area to accommodate mainline jets,” Johnson said.

An economic impact study of Rapid City Regional Airport commissioned by the airport and the city shows RAP supports an estimated 2,877 jobs in Pennington County, South Dakota, and generates $456 million in economic activity. That economic activity creates a fiscal impact of $2.2 million. RAP is the second busiest airport in South Dakota and ranked as the 149th busiest airport in the country by the Bureau of Transportation. Travelers were surveyed for the study and 52% reported using the airport for leisure, with 48% reporting using RAP for business.

The growing airport was granted $10.9 million from the bipartisan infrastructure law grant in February 2023, which will be used for phase one of a $52 million airport renovation and expansion project. Renovations will be completed over the next 10 years, with phase one focused on the expansion of the main terminal, baggage drop off and relocation of the TSA checkpoint.

Last year was busier at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, too, when the number of passengers surpassed 34.7 million, up 11 percent compared to 2022. Numbers are not yet up to pre-pandemic levels, which were over 39 million.

As business travel increases, so do industry events and conferences. Attending trade shows and exhibitions is one of the main purposes of work-related trips. Amazon, FedEx and Apple led the list of the biggest U.S. spenders on business travel, according to a report by Statista. Amazon booked $483 million in business travel in 2022, Apple spent $210 million and FedEx spent $188 million.

Matt Barthel, communications director with Experience Sioux Falls, said the number of visitors to Sioux Falls in 2022 was down slightly from 2021, but the area saw an overall jump in visitors during the pandemic due to people wanting to escape COVID travel restrictions in other states. A new hotel with convention space, Canopy by Hilton, is opening later this year downtown and promises to be an attractive destination for meeting planners.

DOWNTOWN SIOUX FALLS.

LEVITT AT THE FALLS.

WILLISTON BASIN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

Convention and visitors bureaus market their cities and states by featuring attractions and recreational activities to help draw visitors and event planners. Barthel said the Sioux Falls Sourced campaign just wrapped its second year, in which event planners can sign up to win a box full of local products.

“We send out 10 boxes each quarter to planners. This has been a great way to connect with new planners and also re-engage planners we have had discussions with in the past. We likely will be re-launching this campaign for a third year within the coming weeks,” he said.

The Alerus Center in Grand Forks has seen an increase in meet ings year-over-year since 2021. Derek Hoffert, assistant general manager/director, global partnerships, said from 2021-2022, the facility had an increase of 12%, and from 2022-2023 an even larger jump of 21% more meetings.

“We also see trends in our booking cycles as even-numbered years tend to see higher convention books than odd-numbered years due to the rotation cycle around the state most of our indus try clients follow,” he said.

The Alerus Center’s most recent annual report shows it hosted 18 consumer trade shows in 2022 with a total of 26,902 attendees, five more than in 2021, with an increase of 8,000 more attendees. The conference center also hosted 138 meetings and 65 banquets in 2022.

Small and medium-sized companies are prioritizing business travel and many companies are evolving their products to cater more to the needs of small and medium businesses, according to the U.S. Travel Association. Higher hotel rates in major convention destinations like Chicago and Dallas are driving large conferences and events into secondary markets, including Milwaukee and Albuquerque.

Business travel is expected to grow in 2024, but at a slower pace. Slowing economic growth will curb domestic business travel’s recovery, with a full comeback in volume not expected until 2026, the travel association stated.

Creating Space to

TOP 25 WOMEN IN BUSINESS

PPRAIRIE BUSINESS

rairie Business is pleased to announce its Top 25 Women in Business list for 2024. More than 40 qualified and experienced business leaders were nominated for the recognition.

Each of the women on the list brings a wealth of experience and depth of knowledge to their workplace and industries, highlighting their strong leadership qualities.

We are proud to recognize so many of the excellent top women business leaders in our region and this year’s class continues that tradition.

Congratulations to each of these talented individuals for being selected, and we thank them for their hard work to help make the Dakotas and Minnesota a great place to work!

Editor’s note: Biographical information was taken from the nominations as well as from the honorees

STEPHANIE AALUND

Account director

Noridian Healthcare Solutions Fargo, N.D.

Stephanie Aalund, CPA, is the lead account director at Noridian Healthcare Solutions in Fargo. She received her Bachelor of Arts in accounting from the Rasmussen Business College in Fargo, and her Master of Business Administration from North Dakota State University in Fargo. Aalund is a certified public accountant (CPA) and holds an active CPA license in North Dakota.

Aalund pursued an advanced education as a single parent and trained herself to become the business leader that Noridian needed. Through her Noridian business career and community involvement, Aalund has impacted the lives of millions of Medicare beneficiaries and hundreds of Noridian employees in the Plains states. In the community, she has donated her business acumen as a financial adviser to the United Way and served as a mentor to many in the area – particularly members of single-parent households.

She brings 18 years of Medicare experience to the role of Jurisdiction F project manager. From 2018-2021 she was Noridian’s manager of finance and Medicare CFO. She was responsible for meeting all compliance requirements of the Medicare financial operations as well as the financial reporting and regulatory reporting.

Aalund has performed a cost impact analysis of disclosure statement changes for revision submissions to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). She has been a key contributor to the estimate-at-complete projections by ensuring budgeted costs and accounting changes are incorporated into the forecast.

Her colleagues say she is an extraordinary businesswoman who never loses sight of elevating the lives of those around her. She routinely organizes volunteer time with her Noridian colleagues at the Great Plains Food Bank, packing items for their general pantry. She’s also involved with Schwetty Inc. Annual Golf Tournament fundraiser and the Red River Valley Figure Skating Club.

PAULA ANDERSON

President and owner Sterling Carpet One Floor & Home, Sterling Siding & Remodeling Grand Forks, N.D.

Paula Anderson is the president and owner of Sterling Carpet One in Grand Forks, which has been in business for 15 years. A Grand Forks native, she stepped in when she discovered Grand Forks Glass and Paint was about to close for good, and turned it into the thriving business it is today that offers much more than flooring. It’s become a homegrown home improvement center with a staff of more than 30 who pride themselves on excellent customer service. She’s also opened a satellite office in Drayton, North Dakota.

Anderson believes if you surround yourself with great people, great things happen. She appreciates and values a positive working culture for herself and her employees.

“I hire the people that know what they’re doing. I take care of them and try to provide a fun environment. If I’m not having fun, you’re not having fun,” she tells her staff.

In addition to running a thriving business in the northern Red River Valley, Anderson has been involved in her community in several ways. She’s currently the president of the Greater North Dakota Chamber Board of Directors, on the UND Nistler College Advisory Council from 2020-present, was on the Carpet One Advisory Council 2018-2022, was president of the Grand Forks Parks and Recreation Foundation in 2008, and was on the Grand Forks-East Grand Forks Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors from 2016-2021 and held the position of chairwoman in 2020.

As the chair during the start of the pandemic, Anderson was part of the day-to-day strategy sessions the Chamber held, working to best serve the needs of the business community during a very difficult and uncertain time. Anderson also spearheaded the effort to get Grand Forks Mayor Brandon Bochenski to hold listening sessions with contractors and local businesses to ensure the city was as business-friendly as possible.

Anderson earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of North Dakota.

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ANITA BAHR

Chief people officer

Moore Holding Company

West Fargo, N.D., and Plymouth, Minn.

Anita Bahr is passionate about creating a workplace where all people can thrive. As the chief people officer with Moore Holding Company, she believes employees become empowered when they are trained, provided tools to complete their job and receive regular feedback on what’s working and what’s yet to be developed.

Bahr’s nearly 20 years of human resource experience in developing talent is systemic and includes technical training, professional and leadership development. In less than one year with Moore Holding, Bahr has engaged leaders with the entrepreneurial operating system ways of working to estab-

LACEY BERGH

Senior vice president, health delivery

Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota Fargo, N.D.

As the senior vice president of health delivery with Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota and a member of the company’s senior executive leadership team, Lacey Bergh provides leadership, builds partnerships with providers and helps direct programs to improve the health of North Dakotans. She is passionate about changing health care by modernizing how success is measured through quality, not quantity, of care. Through this work, she is leading the health delivery team to further the BCBSND mission of establishing a new level of health and well-being in North Dakota and beyond.

Bergh’s impact in the state is influenced by her unique combination of health care, clinical management and business experience – which includes time in patient care and leadership roles at MeritCare and Sanford Health. She joined the BCBSND team in 2013 and has used her expertise to create and advance innovative partnerships and approaches with healthcare providers, employers and other organizations to influence the way care is delivered and paid for in North Dakota.

lish both freedom and accountability, leveraged technology to engage in performance and merit conversations, and promoted a regular cadence of goal setting. She is ready to embark on bringing future-focused leadership development to ensure the company is an attractive organization for top talent to join, develop and grow.

Bahr holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Stout and a Master of Business Administration from the University of St. Thomas.

Her community involvement includes coaching youth basketball and youth soccer for five years, leading the youth music ministry program for eight years, and being township clerk for Bergen Township, McLeod County, for four years. Bahr is also part of the career mentorship program for Women in Transition, where she assists women with interviewing skills, supports high school youth in welding programs, and has been a blood donor for more than 15 years.

Bahr wants to be known as a confident, yet humble leader, who desires to inspire others to offer grace to those who need it and appreciate we are all on a journey together.

As the state continues to face a mental health crisis, Bergh has led the effort to provide more behavioral health resources to BCBSND members and expand access. With her help, the organization has built a network of more than 1,000 behavioral health providers in North Dakota and nearly 100% of the state’s psychiatrists. Her efforts also include establishing BCBSND’s first Behavioral Health Advisory Committee with representation from multiple health providers across the state.

Bergh earned a Bachelor of Science in nursing in 2005 from North Dakota State University and a Master of Science in business in 2018 from the University of Mary-Bismarck.

Community involvement is important to Bergh. She volunteers as secretary of the Kindred Renaissance Zone Committee for the city of Kindred, North Dakota, which works with the state to revitalize older portions of the town and strengthen the city’s overall economic development program. She’s a volunteer mentor with BCBSND’s leadership program. She provides strategic insights for the company’s Caring Foundation health-care scholarship election process, and she’s been appointed by the state to serve on the North Dakota Health & Human Services Autism Spectrum Disorder Task Force.

Bergh brings her childhood experience of living and working on a farm to her present life. She is often called upon to provide insights into the health care needs and opportunities of rural communities, especially through her relationship with the BCBSND Caring Foundation, her colleagues said. Her work will leave a lasting, positive impact on the lives of North Dakotans from Wahpeton to Williston for years to come.

MCKENZY BRAATEN

Chief communications officer EPIC Companies

West Fargo, N.D.

McKenzy Braaten is the chief communications officer at EPIC Companies, West Fargo. Since joining the real estate development firm in January 2017, she has played a crucial role in helping steer the company’s remarkable growth by evolving the brand and highlighting the impact of EPIC’s innovative developments on entire communities. She currently oversees office, communications, marketing and writing for a team of 100.

As a vital member of EPIC’s leadership team, she actively contributes to public relations, internal and external communications, and event marketing, finding joy in sharing the story of EPIC. With a master’s degree in communications from Purdue University, Braaten discovered her passion for effective communication and collaboration with diverse teams, which is integral to her role. She attributes EPIC’s success to her outstanding teammates and places significant importance on cultivating relationships with colleagues, vendors, and individuals devoted to enhancing standards and adding unique elements to EPIC’s developments.

Her achievements and accomplishments spread beyond the office doors. Braaten has impacted many of the projects at EPIC, allowing the company to grow and build brand recognition from the ground up. Her innovation and creativity shine through her approach to solving problems and mentoring other employees. Above all, her leadership and positive impact are what truly matter to the community, the organization, and the development industry. Braaten’s dedication and commitment show her passion for her work along with her ability to collaborate and contribute to a positive team dynamic.

In addition to her professional commitments, Braaten is a graduate of the 19-20 FMWF Chamber Leadership Class, a 2022 40 under 40 recipient, and serves on the North Dakota Special Olympics board. She actively contributes to the community as a member of the EPIC volunteer committee and has previously volunteered with organizations such as Junior Achievement and Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Originally from Mohall, North Dakota, Braaten, alongside her husband, Zach, enjoys spending quality time with their son Chezney and stepdaughter Aubrie. Her involvement in community service, dedication to fostering professional relationships, and commitment to effective storytelling underscore her as a valuable asset to EPIC Companies.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19

GWEN BUTLER President, partner Odney Bismarck, N.D.

Gwen Butler is the president and partner at Odney in Bismarck. Her professional passion for the past 15 years has been bringing brand strategies to life. She’s worked on national campaigns such as North Dakota tourism, as well as niche programs for national brands like Chick-fil-A and Denny’s. Her philosophy is to always keep the big picture in mind while working through the countless details that can make or break a great idea.

In her role at Odney, she not only oversees the client-focused account services team, but also manages some of Odney’s largest accounts. With experience working for na-

tional brands, her expertise includes managing large media budgets, complex strategic plans and high-end custom creative campaigns.

Butler believes in using innovative ideas to supplement traditional channels to sell a client’s brand. Under her direction, the company has influenced audience beliefs and actions with unprecedented results using highly targeted digital ad placement, native advertising, retargeting and audience tracking.

Her community involvement includes volunteering at Ministry on the Margins and she is a contributor to the Power of 100 in Bismarck.

Butler earned a Bachelor of Science in marketing/marketing management from Montana State University-Bozeman and studied chemistry at South Dakota Mines.

Butler is not only one of the smartest and most respected marketers in the region, she is a shining beacon for her staff and the people she interacts with every day, her colleagues said.

PRAIRIE BUSINESS

MEGHAN COMPTON

Chief clinic operations officer/executive vice president Altru

Grand Forks, N.D.

Meghan Compton is the chief clinic operations officer and executive vice president at Altru, a position she’s held since 2020. In this role, she oversees the outpatient operation and administrative functions of the organization. With the company since 2012, Compton was previously Altru’s chief legal officer for four years, and manager of compliance and legal services. She’s also been the patient safety/quality improvement coordinator.

Compton earned her undergraduate degree in 2006 and her Juris Doctorate from the University of North Dakota School of Law in 2010.

Throughout her career, she has served in significant industry and public service leadership roles. Compton has served on Valley Senior Living’s board of directors, Edgewood Senior Living board of directors, Greater Grand Forks Downtown Development Association board of directors and is currently on the Greater Grand Forks Economic Development Corporation board of directors as well as the Chamber of Commerce board and Grand Forks Foundation for Education board. Most recently, she accepted and completed the Next Generation Leadership fellowship through the American Hospital Association as a fellow.

For the past seven years, she’s been on Altru’s executive team. Compton has influence over a large scope of Altru’s operations and key administrative functions. She’s made a significant impact on the community through her service on several noteworthy boards. Her accomplishments were recently recognized as she received the Young Alumni Sioux Award from UND in 2022. Compton is an influential leader and trusted adviser to many, leading with grace, humility and a deep passion for making health care better for our community.

ELAINE DOERFLER

Owner/speechlanguage pathologist

Myna Therapy Services, PLLC Fargo, N.D.

Elaine Doerfler has worked as a speech-language pathologist in a variety of settings, including hospitals, private practice and nursing homes. She received her nursing home administrator’s license in 2021, and the following year she opened Myna Therapy Services, PLLC. The private practice offers speech, occupational and physical therapy in Fargo.

Doerfler earned her Master of Science in speech-language pathology at Minnesota State University Moorhead in 2012, graduating summa cum laude.

Since launching her practice, it’s grown to include 34 therapists. A driving force in Doerfler’s decision to start her business was recognizing a significant need in our region and community. Myna Therapy Services partners with schools in North Dakota and Minnesota to provide districts with speech-language pathologists and occupational therapists, which ensures that students are receiving the therapies they need. She also partners with rural school districts that have no onsite therapists to provide therapy to students. Faced with a significant shortage of therapists across our region, Doerfler and her business are helping to ensure that our community is getting all the services they need.

Most recently, Myna Therapy Services donated $500 each to 16 different families in the metro area who were struggling to make ends meet during the holiday season. Doerfler and her family also volunteer monthly at their church, working in the coffee shop and ushering.

She and her husband have five children, three of whom have been adopted out of the foster system. The family also has three rescue dogs.

Doerfler started her company with no formal training in how to run a business. Her work ethic, faith and passion to serve others have been the recipe for her success.

CONGRATULATIONS TOTHE2024

TOP25WOMEN INBUSINESS

TheUniversityofNorthDakotaisproudto recognizetheregion’smostsuccessfuland noteworthybusinesswomenin2024.

CongratstoourUNDAlumniandallotherwomenhonored. Youmakeus#UNDproud!

Paula brings out the best in us as a team. We’re all extremely proud of our Leader and Coach. Thank

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21

STACY DUTOIT

Chief executive officerelect (current COO) and shareholder Brady Martz & Associates Bismarck, N.D.

Stacy DuToit is the chief operations officer and the chief executive officer-elect with Brady Martz & Associates in Bismarck, where she has been instrumental in building a framework for talent development. Her experience is in auditing, accounting, tax and business consulting services primarily for small businesses and their owners with an emphasis on the construction industry. DuToit is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the North Dakota Society of Certified Public Accountants (NDSCPA).

DuToit has played a key role in the growth of the company. She was vital in completing the most recent merger of Brady

JANETTE ESALA

Senior director, performance marketing

DigiKey

Thief River Falls, Minn.

Janette Esala has been with DigiKey for 25 years. Starting in an entry-level help desk support position, she worked in the IT and learning and development teams for nine years before switching to the marketing team more than 15 years ago. As the senior director for performance marketing, she has supervised DigiKey’s in-house media production, coordinated search engine marketing (SEM) and web content, and began overseeing all performance marketing for SEO, SEM, email marketing, content, translations, web analytics and global marketing analysis more than four years ago.

Esala is a pioneer and leader in the digital marketing industry. She leads a global team that operates 45 websites in 21 languages, utilizing 26 different currencies. Her team is responsible for translating complex engineering content into these regions using both human and machine-learning tools.

About 80% of DigiKey’s new customer growth and 55% of all DigiKey revenue comes through marketing channels that

Martz, adding two offices, nine shareholders and almost 90 team members. She developed Brady Martz University to ensure team members are developing critical skills for success.

DuToit can process complex business challenges into manageable action steps. She is also an excellent communicator and has the unwavering respect of her fellow shareholders.

She serves on the Bismarck-Mandan Chamber Foundation board and is a former Trustee of the North Dakota Certified Public Accountants Society Foundation. She is a past member of the public relations committee of the NDSCPA as well as a past board member of Bismarck Downtowners Association and volunteers with the North Dakota Jumpstart Coalition.

DuToit has a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from North Dakota State University.

She has shown a passion for the future success of the firm and its people by living the firm’s core values and showing stewardship for the future generations of the firm’s team and clients. This dedication is shown by leading teams to build a coaching process, serving as current COO, past service on the firm’s board, and being voted in as CEO-elect.

Esala oversees. Her responsibilities also include managing DigiKey’s database of over five million current and former customers and developing email strategies to engage and retain engineering prospects, so they keep coming back to DigiKey for their electrical component needs.

“Janette is highly respected by her team, her peers and her business partners where she is known for being pragmatic and fast-paced. DigiKey’s digital growth has accelerated under her leadership – reaching over $3 billion of online revenue in 2023. Much of this growth has come from markets including China, Japan, South Korea, India and Turkey which have complex digital landscapes,” said DigiKey President Dave Doherty.

Esala is a life-long learner. She was nominated as a participant in DigiKey’s first Advanced Leadership Program, where she spent 18 months with a cohort of peers honing skills to be the next generation of DigiKey leaders. She delivered her recent successes at DigiKey while concurrently completing a Bachelor of Science in marketing from the University of Minnesota Crookston. She also holds an associate degree in information networking management from U of M.

Esala is a busy volunteer with the Thief River Falls Amateur Hockey Association (TRFAHA), active in her church and is co-chair of the Parish Education Board. She is also an active member of the Women in Electronics organization, where she mentors women who are new to the field and growing in their leadership roles.

Congratulations, Sidney Van Schepen on being selected as one of the top 25 women in business!

Passionate about helping others discover the possibilities in engineering, Sidney leads the way in advancing our industry. Way to go, Sidney!

McKenzy(Olson)Braaten ChiefCommunicationsOfficer

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ANGIE HILLESTAD

National assurance partner Eide Bailly, LLC

Sioux Falls, S.D.

Angie Hillestad joined Eide Bailly in 2007 and initially provided services in a variety of industries, later focusing on nonprofits, higher education and single audits. More recently she was chosen to join the firm’s National Assurance Office (NAO.)

Eide Bailly’s NAO plays a critical role in ensuring the quality and consistency of audit and assurance services for the firm. The NAO’s primary functions are quality control, technical guidance, risk management and providing continuous development of the Eide Bailly audit and assurance staff across more than 40 offices of the firm.

Hillestad continues to lead the way for her counterparts at Eide Bailly. She is focused and no-nonsense in her role with

JESSICA JARMIN

Executive vice president Tactis Fargo, N.D.

Jessica Jarmin is the executive vice president at Washington, D.C.-based Tactis, LLC. In this role, she has shown exceptional leadership in the development and management of significant projects for the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Census Bureau. She was instrumental in the establishment of two major call centers, achieving a noteworthy 97.9% service quality rating while overseeing a substantial team expansion from 20 to 2,000 employees. This significant growth under her management not only reflects her excellent managerial skills but also her ability to stimulate substantial business development, securing major state and federal clients and handling multi-million-dollar budgets.

Jarmin’s career is marked with significant achievements in various challenging roles. At Maximus and General Dynamics Information Technology, she managed complex projects like the CDC INFO Customer Contact Center and the Medicaid

the NAO, yet always makes the time to teach and mentor staff. Her leadership and technical skills have helped Eide Bailly continue to grow and maintain the highest level of quality in serving its clients.

She is highly respected among her peers at Eide Bailly, which is among the Top 25 largest CPA firms in the nation. Hillestad always challenges herself and others not to be complacent in their thinking. She is a leader within the firm who is also dedicated to the public accounting industry.

She gives back to the community and is involved in organizations that improve the quality of life for residents. Her involvement includes serving as past chair of Sioux Empire United Way, Community Impact Division; South Dakota CPA Society, Advisory Council; American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Private Company Practice Section, Technical Issues Committee; South Dakota Synod Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Audit Committee chair and Sioux Falls Downtown Rotary Club, treasurer.

Hillestad earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration, accounting and a master’s degree in professional accountancy from the University of South Dakota, Vermillion.

Benefits Coordination & Recovery Center. In these roles, she effectively led teams, upheld high performance and quality standards, and ensured compliance with contractual obligations. Her ability to manage complex projects, from implementing the CMS Exchange Operations Support Center to leading special projects for CMS CCIIO, underlines her versatile expertise and strategic foresight.

Jarmin earned her diploma in Professional Photography Technology from Ridgewater College, and quickly mastered emerging digital tools, like Photoshop, at a time where film was still dominant. Her innovative mindset was demonstrated as she seamlessly transitioned from analog to digital without skipping a beat. Today, she continues to pursue the latest and greatest technological advancements in her work, leading her team to embrace new technologies.

As a founding member of the Power of 100 Red River Valley – a women-led organization that has donated over $325,522 to local nonprofits in the last nine years – she has significantly impacted local nonprofits. Her leadership roles in the FM Area Contact Center Council and on the Forum Communications Company Readers Board in Fargo demonstrate her commitment to industry development and ethical media practices. Additionally, Jarmin’s volunteer work at the Homeward Animal Shelter shows her compassion and dedication to societal improvement.

TRACY JORDRE

Principal architect & workplace expert

JLG Architects

Fargo, N.D.

Tracy Jordre, AIA, LEED AP, is a principal architect and workplace expert at JLG Architects in Fargo. As the commercial studio leader and workplace design expert, she works with over 200 employee-owners across nine JLG offices throughout the Midwest. She is responsible for executing business development strategies across JLG’s commercial portfolio, in addition to creating an overall vision, project direction, and design solutions for commercial clients.

Through the integration of progressive, human-centric architecture, Jordre contributes to the culture of our community daily, bringing an unparalleled passion for inclusive environments and healthy workplaces. She is a professional and personal advocate for mental health in the workplace, determined to make an enduring impact in our region with vibrant environments that help us thrive, collaborate, grow, learn and prosper together.

She believes workplaces can be designed to support a spectrum of mental health and sensory-sensitive needs while fostering holistic well-being, team collaboration, and

AUDRI LAGGE

Senior project manager

Great States Construction Fargo, N.D.

Audri Lagge is a senior project manager at Great States Construction, Fargo, where she’s been since 2019. In this role, she focuses on building multi-family homes and has completed a variety of projects both in Fargo and across multiple states.

She’s worked on more than 30 projects with 386 units total. Those include the company’s largest project to date, 10Bedrock in Box Elder, South Dakota, as well as Whispering Creek II in Fargo, and Lakeland Courts II in Devils Lake, North Dakota.

Lagge is a mentor to other project managers and helps guide them through running projects to successful completion. In her role, she’s responsible for estimating, sched-

individual productivity. Jordre is committed to creating a workplace of the future that is a destination of choice, not of obligation – where all can feel valued and truly thrive.

Throughout her career, Jordre’s projects have won multiple awards, including the Merit Award for the First International Bank & Trust building in Rugby, North Dakota, and the top Honor Award for the Mill City Studio project in Minneapolis, for the ND AIA (American Institute of Architects).

She is a member of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), the American Institute of Architects (AIA), and has achieved accreditation with leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED AP). Jordre is in the process of becoming a WELL Building Accredited design professional, furthering her education and commitment to advancing human health and wellness throughout buildings and communities.

She’s involved with a wide range of community organizations including chair of the Arts and Culture Commission for the city of Fargo, FMWF Chamber’s Leadership Class and is a 2013 graduate of the program, and contributes time to Fargo’s Growth Plan Advisory Committee. Jordre is a guest critic for NDSU’s architecture program and provides oneon-one mentorship with NDSU architecture students. Most recently, she was voted into the executive committee for the North Dakota American Institute of Architects. Outside of JLG, Jordre is a proud Oak Grove parent who volunteers her time serving on the Oak Grove Building Committee.

Jordre earned a Bachelor of Architecture and a Bachelor of Environmental Design with a minor in art from North Dakota State University in 1996.

uling, project management and project closeout, among other tasks.

Lagge earned her bachelor’s degree in construction management in 2019, with a minor in business administration, from Minnesota State University Moorhead.

Lagge is actively involved in volunteer work, contributing to various community organizations. As a dedicated member of the Fargo-Moorhead Icelandic Klub, she volunteers annually at the Scandinavian Festival, actively participates in club meetings, and helps organize club picnics. Additionally, she is a longstanding member of the Nonamee FCE Club in Fargo, focusing on projects related to improving the community. These projects include making blankets for local nonprofits, assembling gifts for Giving Trees, preparing care packages for the YWCA, crafting dog toys for shelters, and more. Lagge extends her volunteer efforts to Churches United, where she serves meals through her church, and also par ticipates in volunteering with Ruby’s Pantry, distributing food boxes to the community.

In a male-dominated industry, Lagge stands out for the contributions she has made at Great States Construction, from her commitment, leadership, and skills. She is truly one to watch in our community.

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SHERRI LEONARD

Director of collaborative delivery Rice Lake Construction Group Deerwood, Minn.

Since graduating from college, Sherri Leonard has moved through the ranks of the male-dominated construction industry to become a recognized leader in the area of collaborative delivery projects in the wastewater and water treatment fields. Her list of successful projects is long and varied. She has been a mentor to numerous young women, helping them succeed and advance in their careers in the construction industry.

Leonard is the director of collaborative delivery with Rice Lake Construction Group in Deerwood, Minnesota. In three short years at Rice Lake, Leonard has built the collaborative delivery team into a formidable group and leads Rice Lake’s

LINDSAY MACK

SVP/HR & training director Cornerstone Bank Fargo, N.D.

Lindsay Mack is the senior vice president and human resources training director at Cornerstone Bank, where she’s known as a strong leader who is professional, fair, understanding and compassionate. She provides leadership to the bank on all things HR-related and also provides leadership for the team on all things benefits. She knows the HR profession inside and out.

She joined the company in 2015 as human resources director and in 2015 was promoted to vice president, human

pursuit of collaboratively delivered wastewater and water treatment projects throughout North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota.

Leonard relocated to Grand Forks in 2016 to be the senior project manager on the construction of a $134 million water treatment plant for the city of Grand Forks. In this role, she oversaw a workforce of over 140 construction workers and was ultimately responsible for safety, quality, schedule, budget, commissioning and ensuring the city’s satisfaction.

Leonard graduated from the University of Toledo with a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering in 2005. Her community involvement includes serving on the board of directors with the Cuyuna Lakes Chamber of Commerce, an associate member of the Water Collaborative Delivery Association and she takes part in activities and events with Kinship Partners.

Her drive and passion for the industry have allowed Rice Lake to grow and as it grows, she continues to encourage women to join Rice Lake and find a career in the construction industry. Her contributions to the company and the communities it builds these facilities for are something to admire.

resources director. Training director was added to her role in 2019 and in 2020 was promoted to her current position. In 2023, Mack became a member of Cornerstone Bank’s executive team.

Her community involvement includes serving on the Rape and Abuse Crisis Center board, and she volunteers with the United Way, Salvation Army and Junior Achievement. Mack is active in volunteering for Cornerstone Bank projects in the community, as well.

A graduate of Minnesota State University Moorhead with a Bachelor of Science in accounting and a minor in business administration, she’s a certified professional in human resources as well as a certified professional by the Society of Human Resources Management and Human Resource Standards Institute.

Mack can be relied upon to find the right answers, no matter what it takes to get there, and she embodies the core principles of what makes Cornerstone Bank unique in our markets. She is a leader, an advocate for women, and a mentor for many.

AMY MAZIGIAN

SVP of Western North Dakota Gate City Bank Bismarck, N.D.

Amy Mazigian joined Gate City Bank in 2018, starting as the assistant vice president retail manager overseeing three Bismarck locations. She was then promoted to vice president retail manager of the Bismarck-Mandan area, overseeing six locations. In 2023, Mazigian was promoted to her current role as senior vice president of Western North Dakota where she is now a regional leader and oversees 10 locations (soon to be 11) in seven different communities. Her growth at Gate City Bank over the past five years reflects her hard work, great leadership and passion for supporting others.

Mazigian attended Dickinson State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in business administration with a concentration in banking and finance. Upon graduation and joining the banking industry, she became active with the Wyoming Bankers Association. Later, she joined the North Dakota Bankers Association when she moved to North Dakota. Through these as-

SHEA MILLER

Member-owner Ebeltoft . Sickler . Lawyers Dickinson, N.D.

Shea Miller is a member-owner of Ebeltoft . Sickler . Lawyers. Originally from Mandan, North Dakota, she attended University of North Dakota, where she graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in sociology. Miller graduated from William Mitchell College of Law in 2014, in St. Paul, Minnesota. During law school, she served as a law clerk for the Ramsey County State Attorney’s Office where she assisted prosecutors by representing Ramsey County at criminal sentencing hearings.

After graduation, she served as a law clerk to the state district court judges for the Southwest Judicial District of North Dakota. She then served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Magistrate Charles S. Miller of the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota. Shea joined Ebeltoft . Sickler . Lawyers as an associate lawyer in 2016 and became a member/owner of the firm in 2022 at just 33.

Miller advises and represents employers in a broad range of employment law matters, from discrimination, retaliation, wrongful discharge, and harassment, to cases involving con-

sociations, Mazigian has committed to various educational programs. Most recently, she completed the program She Gets It –Women Bankers Mastermind. She has continued her education through participating in leadership and mentorship programs. In 2021, she graduated from the Leadership Bismarck-Mandan program held by the Chamber, which invests in developing local leaders who support their community. She has also attended numerous John Maxwell leadership seminars over the past 15 years.

With a strong passion for helping others and supporting her community, Mazigian is engaged in a variety of leadership roles within nonprofits. She is the vice president of the Child’s Hope Learning Center Board of Directors and is approaching her 10year anniversary serving the organization. She also serves with United Way Women United. Throughout her 10 years with United Way, she has held roles such as vice president and president. As a current workforce subcommittee member of the Greater North Dakota Chamber, she focuses on impacts on the business community relating to North Dakota’s workforce.

She also volunteers annually with USA Hockey, Bismarck Hockey Boosters, Heavens Helpers Soup Café, Great Plains Food Bank, Bismarck Emergency Food Pantry, Bismarck Public Schools, Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation, the United Way Summer Food Service Program, and the United Way Little Black Dress campaign.

Her passion for serving others is remarkable. Mazigian is an inspiration to those around her and a great role model.

tract disputes, restrictive covenants and trade secret theft and misappropriation. She routinely litigates cases in state and federal courts and frequently represents employers in various state and federal administrative agencies, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the North Dakota Department of Labor and Human Rights, and the Department of Labor.

Miller also provides employers of all sizes with day-to-day preventive counseling on topics such as FMLA and ADA compliance, employee handbook and policy development, and litigation prevention strategies. In addition to quickly becoming one of the state’s leading employment law lawyers, she regularly represents businesses in their daily needs as well as in “bet the company” issues. Her professional accomplishments have resulted in her being recognized as a “Great Plains Super Lawyer Rising Star” in 2021, 2022 and 2023.

Miller is a go-to person not only by the firm’s clients, but also her community. She does not shy away from a challenge and thrives on forging innovative results One of her most outstanding qualities is putting her talents to work for her clients and her community.

In the community, she serves on the Board of Directors of ABLE Inc., which supports nearly 100 people with intellectual disabilities and employs approximately 200 support staff. She is also the past president of the Downtown Dickinson Association, in which she played an instrumental role in successfully bringing the community together to construct the Dickinson Downtown Square. Miller’s efforts in the community have been recognized in the “Dickinson Press’ 30 Under 30.”

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MELISSA L.

MIRANDA, CPA

Owner

Step By Step Accounting

West Fargo, N.D.

Melissa L. Miranda, CPA, is the owner of Step By Step Accounting in West Fargo, which she opened in 2020. Her team has grown to six employees serving 30 businesses in the Fargo-Moorhead area. Prior to starting her business, she worked in public accounting as an auditor and in private accounting working with commercial real estate.

She’s passionate about helping small business owners understand their financial position and use that knowledge to create positive change in their companies. Miranda specializes in managerial accounting, where she works with financial statement preparation, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, cash flow forecasting and budgeting.

Miranda was a double major at North Dakota State University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting

HEATHER NOVAK

Executive director

United Way of Grand ForksEast Grand Forks  Grand Forks, N.D.

Heather Novak has been the executive director of United Way of Grand Forks-East Grand Forks since October 2021. In this position, she provides visionary leadership to the United Way staff and board of directors. She’s responsible for connecting with a constituency of givers, businesses, agencies, education partners, government officials, program participants and community members. Novak develops strategic goals to provide opportunities for community members to thrive.

Her entire career has revolved around the communities she serves. She’s been the chief operations officer at United Way, is the owner of HN Management Services, has been the administration manager of Northlands Rescue Mission, and the executive director of United Day Nursery.

and business administration, graduating magna cum laude in 2012.

She provides accountability and positive growth-oriented solutions through daily, weekly and monthly client contacts. She’s purpose-driven in her belief that the bottom lines of small businesses are not just numbers on profit and loss statements.

Last year, Step By Step Accounting was named among the Woodard Institute’s Top 50 Accounting Services Practices. Miranda also recently graduated from the Goldman Sachs 10K Small Businesses program, proving her dedication to continuing education.

She is actively involved in several community organizations, including the Downtown Community Partnership, North Dakota Women’s Business Center, and The Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber. Over the last three years, she has had many opportunities to provide teachings and presentations to small business owners in the community, educating them on best practices in their business accounting. Twice a year, she and her team seek out a local organization doing great work to donate a percentage of Step By Step Accounting’s profits. In addition, she and her team volunteer with local organizations throughout the year.

Novak currently leads a staff of seven full-time and two part-time employees who provide clothing, food and shelter to individuals and families during their time of need. Her service area is roughly from Devils Lake to north of the Canadian border to Fisher, Minnesota, and south to Hillsboro, North Dakota. Her dedication and tireless work to enrich her communities is unwavering.

Programs she oversees include the backpack program, which delivers meals to local schools for children to take home on weekends; Kidz Closet, which provides donated clothing to children and adults; Families First, which provides shelter and social services to families in need; Winter Wish List, which provides Christmas gifts and Thanksgiving baskets to clients in the Families First program; and Larimore Food Pantry.

In fiscal year 2023 over 100,000 meals were provided to 500 children enrolled in the Backpack Program. The Families First Emergency Shelter program provided 1,584 nights of shelter to homeless families and 558 children received clothing, hygiene products and school supplies through the Kidz Closet under her leadership.

Novak also served on the Third Street Clinic Board and is the current president of the Larimore Library Board.

RAMMIE OLSON

Vice president, business relationship manager Bremer Bank Fargo, N.D.

Rammie Olson is a business leader, role model and community advocate in her role as business relationship manager vice president at Bremer Bank in Fargo.

Her professionalism, ability to build relationships quickly with stakeholders, and her high level of staying current with her industry make her stand out as a business leader within the community. She served as the business manager for Doug Burgum while at the Kilbourne Group from 2014-2015. In her current role at Bremer Bank, she has garnered a league of followers and universal respect among her customers, co-workers, and the Fargo business community due to her friendliness, confidence, dedication and leadership abilities.

Anyone who knows Olson, knows that she is a professional to partner with as she is known for rolling up her sleeves to get

the job done. She loves the F-M area and consistently contributes to the well-being of the community at large. Olson is the kind of person who adds value to any room she walks into, and can always be counted on to give her best, help anyone in need, and provide for her community, her colleagues say. She is a proven leader in her career and displays herself as a leader in the community through her networks and connections.

Olson holds a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Mayville State University, with specializations in management and real estate and a minor in science.

She is a past graduate of the Chamber Leadership Program as well as the United Way of Cass-Clay Women’s Leadership 35 Under 35 Program. Additionally, she teaches financial literacy lessons to elementary students through volunteering with Junior Achievement and served as a risk management association credit competition coach. She has opened doors to success for organizations such as the United Way and the North Dakota Autism Center by expressing true concern and taking the initiative to lead with passion and purpose to execute her volunteer duties in the highest, most effective manner.

Olson truly and wholeheartedly makes our community a better place because of her leadership and passion.

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SUE SALTER

President and CEO Make-A-Wish South Dakota and Montana

Sioux Falls, S.D.

Sue Salter is a dynamic and caring leader. As the president and CEO of Make-A-Wish South Dakota and Montana, she has helped to grow the impact of the organization that assists children with critical illnesses and their families as they receive their one true wish. She is a champion for other women in leadership, taking the time to professionally and personally invest and mentor the women around her who strive to grow their skill sets and impact. Both inside and outside her organization, she is generous with her time, her feedback, and her attention to anyone who wants to grow and needs support. Salter provides feedback and open communication in a caring, yet direct manner, always intending to advance the individuals and ultimately the results and impact on the community.

GRETCHEN STENEHJEM

First International Bank & Trust Marketing director Watford City, N.D.

Gretchen Stenehjem is the marketing director at First International Bank & Trust in Watford City, North Dakota. In this role, she spends her time across the company’s four-state footprint (North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and Arizona) staying connected and bolstering employee relations. She serves as an enthusiastic ambassador for the bank at customer and community events and is a steward for directing the generous community support and donations on behalf of FIBT and the Steve Stenehjem Family Foundation.

She is quick to give others the accolades and allow them to shine. She is the first to jump in when there is a need. Whether you are an employee of FIBT, with her on a committee or the recipient of her generosity, you instantly feel the warmth of her genuine care, a colleague said.

Stenehjem is engaged with her community in ways large and small. She and her husband, Stephen (FIBT CEO and chairman), made a significant donation of land on which the Rough Rider

Salter dedicated her early career to civic engagement, including working as a city administrator, and as executive director within non-profit regional community development. Having now built her professional career back in Sioux Falls for the last nearly 30 years, she previously served as education coordinator for the South Dakota Bankers Association, CEO of Sioux Empire Fair Association, executive director for the Ice Sports Association and major gifts officer for Sanford Health Foundation.

Salter earned her Bachelor of Science from South Dakota State University and her master’s degree in public administration (MPA) from the University of South Dakota.

She has been involved in the nonprofit space for many years both professionally and personally. She has served as an advocate for philanthropy in general and led the fundraising efforts of millions of dollars to support a variety of healthcare initiatives including the construction of Ava’s House in Sioux Falls for dedicated multi-generational hospice care including one of only a few across the country for pediatric care. Her other volunteer involvement has included: Board of Directors of the South Dakota Association of Fairs and Celebrations, Sioux Empire Red Cross Board of Directors as secretary, and SD State Fair commissioner, appointed by former Gov. Mike Rounds.

Center, a full-service event center, was constructed, as well as a new high school building for the McKenzie County School District. The Stenehjems have also donated funds to enhance medical facilities and expand daycare services in Watford City, helping the community keep pace with growth spurred by a booming energy industry.

In her community, she has been actively involved with Art in the Park, Relay for Life, the Missoula Children’s Theater residency program, and the Watford City Figure Skating and Hockey Clubs. She also assists with planning special events at her family-owned restaurants, Stonehome Brewing Company, Slow Ride Tequila Cocina, Wild Cow Coffee and Cream and Outlaws Bar and Grill. She is active politically and gives of her time, both locally in her district and on a state level.

Stenehjem currently serves as a volunteer board member for organizations including the McKenzie Health Benefit Fund Board of Directors in Watford City; the Anne Carlsen Center Board of Trustees in Jamestown, North Dakota; and the First Lutheran Church Council Finance Committee in Watford City. She previously volunteered on the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation Board of Directors in Medora, North Dakota.

Perhaps her most inspiring new venture is her work as a children’s author, which has been a life-long professional goal. In 2022, Stenehjem became a published author with her book “Buddy the Dog,” which brings to life the stories of her family’s real-life canine companion of 13 years, and published a follow-up book, “Buddy’s Christmas,” in late 2023.

FREDEL THOMAS

Vice president of admissions and marketing Dakota Wesleyan University Mitchell, S.D.

Fredel Thomas is the vice president of admissions and marketing at Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, South Dakota. She began her career at DWU as director of the Kelley Center for Entrepreneurship, where she taught entrepreneurial leadership courses and served as a resource for regional businesses in South Dakota. She was named dean of admissions in 2015 and was promoted to vice president of admissions and marketing in 2018.

As an extension to her work at DWU, she serves on the South Dakota Freedom Scholarship Advisory Council, is a guest consultant for Credo, a higher education consulting firm, and is a frequent speaker for the annual National Small College Enrollment Conference. Prior to DWU, Thomas worked 12 years in the telecommunications and technology industry

as a programmer, quality assurance officer, project manager and director of product management.

Her colleagues describe her as hardworking, intelligent and very professional. She has spearheaded numerous successful initiatives at DWU through her unwavering focus and determination. Thomas is someone who sets clear goals for herself and her team and takes the necessary steps to achieve them. She is organized and efficient, and she knows how to prioritize her time and resources to maximize her productivity.

“Fredel truly has a gift for strategizing and creating effective processes. She is also someone who is not afraid of hard work and is willing to put in the extra effort to achieve success,” one colleague said. “Overall, she is a reliable and responsible individual who can be counted on to deliver results. In her role at DWU, she is constantly striving to expand access and opportunities for students, while building long-lasting and relevant partnerships to address workforce shortages and increase the area’s workforce needs.”

Thomas is committed to the Mitchell area community and is always willing to step in and serve when called. She serves as a board member for the Weekend Snack Pacl and the Mitchell Area Chamber of Commerce, and is active in her church, teaching youth Sunday school. She has previously served as a board member of the Safe Place of Eastern South Dakota and the Rotary Club of Mitchell. She and her husband, Jason, have four children.

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SIDNEY VAN SCHEPEN

Mechanical engineer TSP, Inc.

Sidney Van Schepen is a licensed professional engineer in South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska and Wisconsin. As a mechanical engineer with TSP, Inc., of Sioux Falls, she has demonstrated a passion to share knowledge and help others discover possibilities within the engineering field.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from South Dakota State University. She also holds the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Accredited Professional certification with an added Building Design and Construction designation. The credentials demonstrate her expertise in sustainable design, construction and operation standards.

Van Schepen has served on TSP’s Innovation Team, an internal group that explores answers to questions and recommends promising strategies to TSP leadership. For two years, she led this grassroots group that looks to advance the firm through innovation.

32 TWITTER.COM/PRAIRIEBIZ FACEBOOK.COM/PRAIRIEBUSINESS PRAIRIEBUSINESSMAGAZINE.COM TOP25WOMENINBUSINESS M ARC h 2024 VOL 25 ISSUE 3

She is also dedicated to the well-being of the mechanical engineering industry, which she demonstrates through board service with the South Dakota Chapter of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers.

She serves on the board of directors for the South Dakota Chapter of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), an organization dedicated to technology advancements to better serve humanity and promote a sustainable world. She is scheduled to serve as ASHRAE South Dakota’s first woman president in 2025 and 2026. In addition, Van Schepen has demonstrated a willingness to develop skills perhaps outside of the traditional engineering disciplines by taking on a fundraising role to support ASHRAE research, scholarships, and continuing education.

“Sidney’s involvement in our industry, especially at her alma mater, reflects her commitment to fostering talent and advancing our field,” said Jared Nesje, chief executive officer at TSP, Inc. “Her dedication to mentoring the next generation and collaborating with peers highlights her influential role in shaping the future of our industry.”

Her other community involvement includes membership in the Young Professionals Network of Sioux Falls, and previous service with the National Association of Women in Construction and has volunteered in GEMS (Girls in Engineering, Math, and Science) workshops at South Dakota State University.

DERRICK MILLER

ACKERMAN-ESTVOLD WELCOMES DERRICK MILLER AS THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MANAGER

MINOT, N.D. • Derrick Miller has joined the Ackerman-Estvold Minot office as our information technology manager. Miller has over 28 years of network administration and network engineering experience in the education and private sector working with hundreds of clients in setting up, maintaining,

and providing security for their network systems. Miller will be working with all of our server security, streamlining our network processes, website maintenance, 3D printing, and a multitude of information technology special projects in all of our offices throughout North Dakota and Idaho.

ACKERMAN-ESTVOLD WELCOMES MIKE AFTEM AS AN ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN

MINOT, N.D. • Mike Aftem has joined the Ackerman-Estvold Minot office as an engineering technician. Aftem earned a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering and a minor in chemistry from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota. He previously worked as a production chemist in the oil industry and man-

agement at a large home improvement store. He has also worked for Ackerman Surveying which has provided additional experience in the field of surveying. Aftem has joined the engineering team and will be working in a variety of disciplines and will also be involved in a number of construction projects throughout western North Dakota.

MIKE AFTEM

PROPOSAL TO CREATE A SPACEPORT IN MINNESOTA

MINING THE MOON, MARS AND ASTEROID BELT ARE PART OF THE PLAN

BY CARRIE MCDERMOTT

Dave Neville, representative of the Can-Am 5M Project, is pitching the idea of bringing a spaceport to Minnesota’s Iron Range. He and his colleagues are building community support for a project that would take advantage of the area’s geographic location and well-mined landscape to launch rockets into polar orbit, heading north over Canada and then into space.

Neville is co-founder and president of Infinity Robotics, based in Savage, Minnesota, and the president of Minnesota Innovates, which works with the MinnWest CEO Forum and Entrepreneur Summit. He first spoke to Prairie Business about the idea last fall and since then, he and a few volunteer colleagues and engineers have been proposing the spaceport as the Can-Am 5M Project. “Can-Am” is short for Canadian-Ameri-

can and 5M stands for Minnesota, Medical, Moon, Mars and Mining.

“We’re calling this the Can-Am spaceport because we’re going to infringe on some Canadian airspace and water rights. We’re right at the edge,” Neville said. “The Canadians are looking for a resource to launch rockets from. What most people don’t know is that Canadians have a massive space industry. The arm on the (U.S.) space shuttle

THIS RENDERING, CREATED USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, ILLUSTRATES THE CONCEPT OF A SPACEPORT LOCATED AMONG THE OPEN-PIT ORE MINES OF MINNESOTA’S IRON RANGE. / COURTESY CAN-AM

was made by Canada. A lot of major components of the spacecraft and satellites come out of Canada. It’s a great international opportunity to bring the region together.”

The Can-Am 5M spaceport could generate $30 billion annually for the region, Neville said, based on data coming out of the SpaceCom expo – which is the “premier, global commercial space event that attracts thousands of space professionals and the industry’s boldest leaders from the commercial, spaceport, and defense sectors,” according to the SpaceCom website.

“Eastern and northern Minnesota will be key to the future of the U.S. space efforts, should we succeed,” Neville said. “We’ve been working with the U.S. Space Force and the FAA and a couple of businesses that have property in a good position to do this. This is the last spot in the U.S. we can launch heavy rockets from. Our goal is to launch our robots into outer space, recycle debris that’s orbiting the planet, and mine the moon, Mars and asteroid belt.”

Neville’s proposal ties into his company’s mission statement: Change the way we live on and off this planet.

“The goal is to use automation and robotics to enhance the human condition. We think there’s going to be 60 billion people here on Earth in 100 years. We’re going to

“This is really for the security of our planet.”

Dave Neville, representative of the

Can-Am 5M Project

“ “

need to use automation to make sure everyone has meaningful, useful lives,” he said.

One of the ways to sustain the planet, he proposes, is to start mining energy and materials off the planet. One of those resources is helium-3, an isotope that’s known to be useful for nuclear fusion.

“The moon has a lot of helium-3, there’s a ton of minerals on the moon, Mars and particularly the asteroid belt. There’s an asteroid named 16Psyche that NASA launched a rocket to in October (2023) and that one rock is worth $100 billion-trillion dollars. It’s like every economy on the planet times a hundred billion trillion,” he said.

The Psyche spacecraft was aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The asteroid it’s headed to was the core of a planet that blew up or was destroyed at some point and formed an asteroid belt. Its core is believed to contain many of the same materials found on Earth – iron, nickel, palladium, gold and uranium, among others. Those rare-earth metals required to electrify the planet’s economy in the next 50-100 years need to be sustainable, Neville said.

“My goal is to build robots to go out and mine these, and build orbiting factories to grow crystals for pharmaceuticals and recycle space debris,” he said.

He envisions jobs in outer space, around Earth’s orbit, maintaining and building these facilities to enhance the human experience. The payloads of minerals mined

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 35

from the solar system’s asteroid belt would be brought back to Earth and dropped onto barges in Lake Superior for pickup and processing at Northland facilities.

At the Hoyt Lakes City Council meeting in January, Neville said the spaceport would bring people and jobs to the region.

“As we look from Grand Rapids to Babbitt to Hoyt Lakes to Taconite Harbor, it could bring up to 100 to 300 families into each of these cities. If we’re doing $30 billion, it’s a lot,” he told the council.

The Iron Range is well-suited for orbital insertion because it has areas that are clear of dense populations and it’s near the water.

“The beauty of eastern Minnesota is that if we’re in the Babbitt to Aurora mine pit string, to the immediate east of that is a national forest. From there, we have Lake Superior to go over.

Ideally, we’d like to start at an abandoned port called Taconite Harbor, and that harbor has a train track that goes up to Babbit and Aurora, so we could unload rocket ships and take them there or bring them in from North Dakota and South Dakota by rail as well,” Neville said.

“To be specific, from Lake Superior-northern Minnesota basin, we’re going to launch to the North Pole. If you think of anything that’s going to go into outer space to the moon, Mars and asteroid belt, it has to leave from a polar orbit,” he said. “Normally, we launch from the equator and we use that spin of the planet to get into a geosynchronous orbit. If you launch from the equator, you have to traverse the entire planet, get to the north pole and go. They still have about a 3% advantage in fuel launching from the equator versus Minnesota. While 3% is tons of fuel, it’s still just 3%. To put this in perspective, in the areas we’re looking at, from Babbitt down to Aurora and Taconite Harbor, we’re about 2 degrees south (latitude) of where the Russians have been launching for the last 70 years. This has been done around the world.”

Neville has been pitching the spaceport idea to everyone from top military leaders to city councils. The annual SpaceCom convention and expo in Orlando, Florida, is one place Neville can share his ideas with leaders in the aerospace industry.

Mission Partner Support Chief James Spellman, Jr., Assured Access to Space public affairs lead with Space Systems Com-

mand, explained via email the military’s role in spaceports.

“The U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command, Assured Access to Space directorate has the responsibility for procuring launch services and delivering on-orbit capabilities for our warfighters, combatant commands, intelligence, civil and commercial communities. The organization is also responsible for range sustainment programs that support multiple launch and test customers across our national space enterprise.”

“In support of United States security objectives, SSC/AATS is interested in exploring opportunities to increase space access agility, capacity and resilience by encouraging and supporting the development of additional spaceports within our nation. There are many opportunities for future collaboration that we are interested in exploring. With respect to National Security Space Launch, USSF anticipates needing approximately 79 launch missions across the Future Years Defense Program (FY25-29) as articulated in the Phase 3 Request For Proposal manifest,” Spellman wrote.

Minnesota’s northern region has the infrastructure in place to support a spaceport.

THE NOW-CLOSED TACONITE HARBOR COAL-FIRED POWER PLANT SITS ON THE WEST END OF COOK COUNTY IN THE SCHROEDER AREA ON LAKE SUPERIOR. THE AREA IS BEING PROPOSED AS A POTENTIAL FUTURE SPACEPORT TO LAUNCH HEAVY ROCKETS. / COURTESY JEFF HIGH

DAVE NEVILLE CO-FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF INFINITY ROBOTICS OF SAVAGE, MINN.

The larger region also boasts a healthy manufacturing industry in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin, as well as companies such as Northrop-Grumman, Pratt and Whitney, Collins Aerospace, General Dynamics, Lockheed Collins and smaller aerospace companies including 3M and Honeywell, based in Minneapolis.

There are dozens of groups across the U.S. trying to build spaceports in one form or another, but Can-Am 5M would be focused on heavy rockets.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the U.S. currently has 14 licensed spaceports – nine that accommodate horizontal launches and four designed for vertical launches.

“We’re trying to get it in front of the Minnesota Legislature, to say, ‘Hey, there is a viability economically to do this.’ What I try to stress with the state is that what we’re trying to do is very low-tech – a cement parking lot. Everybody else brings the tech here. We don’t have to start big,” Neville said. “(Companies like) Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin, SpaceX, the NASAs of the world, they’ll bring the tech here to launch it. We’re just providing the parking lot for them to do it in a safe and consistent manner where we’re not harming people,” Neville said.

The idea of setting up the spaceport as a nonprofit could help it become a state-public entity, he said.

“If someone with more resources and political clout wants to take this idea and run with it, that’s OK. We know this is important for the future of our planet, not just our region. This is really for the security of our planet,” Neville said.

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“CHLOE KUZNIA

School: Northland Community and Technical College

Major: Nursing

Graduation date: May 2024

Career path: Continue education to obtain bachelor’s degree as a registered nurse and potentially go on to become either a nurse practitioner or nurse anesthetist.

The atmosphere, coaches and teammates are just amazing. I feel they’ve led me to who I am today and where I am today.

NORTHLAND NURSING STUDENT PREPARES FOR CAREER PATIENT CARE IS WHAT DRIVES CHLOE KUZNIA

BY CARRIE MCDERMOTT

The United States has approximately 4.3 million registered nurses who work in every aspect of health care. But factors such as retirements outpacing new workers, increased demand for health care from an aging and diseased population, and inadequate workforce support all play a part in nursing shortages, according to the American Nurses Association.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects, on average, 194,500 annual openings for registered nurses between 2020 and 2030, with employment in the sector expected to grow 9%.

For Minnesota native Chloe Kuznia, LPN, helping others is part of her DNA and she’s glad to be part of the solution.

“I like working with older people. I like to hear their stories. I work in dialysis now so there are people I see three times a week. I also work at a nursing home, so I see them continuously. I become a part of their family by being able to care for these people,” she said.

Kuznia is in Northland Community and Technical College’s nursing program. She’s working toward her associate of science degree and will graduate in May.

From the small rural town of Grygla, Minnesota, Kuznia chose Northland because of the school’s highly-accredited nursing program.

“I like the hands-on experiences with the small class sizes,” she said. “I like that we get one-to-one with our instructors and that I had the opportunity to do clinicals at places I could potentially be working at.”

She said the opportunities are plentiful at the college and thinks she’s been able to be involved in more activities, such as clubs and sports, than if she attended a larger university right out of high school. She’s also an athlete. Kuznia is the team captain for the volleyball and women’s basketball teams.

“The atmosphere, coaches and teammates are just amazing. I feel they’ve led me to who I am today and where I am today. I can go to them with anything,” she said.

Kuznia started her college career at Northland’s Thief River Falls campus and this year is at the East Grand Forks location. She said there’s no difference between the two, as far as support and involvement opportunities.

Her favorite part of nursing is working with and caring for patients.

“I like patient care, I’m not huge on computer work. I love clinicals, I love my clinical instructors,” she said.

NURSING INSTRUCTOR KAREN ZNAJDA AND STUDENT CHLOE KUZNIA IN THE CLASSROOM AT NORTHLAND COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE. / COURTESY NORTHLAND COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE

Karen Znajda, MS/RN, is the nursing instructor who’s impacted Kuznia the most. Znajda has been teaching full-time for the school’s nursing department since 2004.

“She’s really pushed me to be an awesome nurse and has taught me so much that I’m going to use it in my nursing career,” Kuznia said.

“Several nursing students here at Northland are memorable, and Chloe is just one of the many that come to mind. She shows her desire to be an outstanding nurse by taking her studies very seriously,” Znajda said. “She wants to learn and be the best she can be. She also shows her leadership by actively participating in the nursing club and being a spokesperson/advocate for her classmates. I have no doubts Chloe will be an excellent nurse and I’m excited to see where her nursing journey takes her.”

Northland offers a mobility model where students become licensed practical nurses (LPN) first and then move into the RN program immediately after completing the Practical Nursing program or after obtaining some LPN experience. Students are career-ready after completing Northland’s Associate Degree RN program, Znajda explained.

“Many students take advantage of our great university partnerships and continue their education to the baccalaureate, master and doctorate levels,” she said. “The college’s most recent pass rates are 94%, and placement rates are 100% with a wide variety of nursing career opportunities.”

Kuznia shared advice to those planning on attending Northland for nursing.

“Nursing is difficult. The programs are very tough, both LPN and RN, but the instructors and staff and people you meet here will push you to get to where you want to be. They all lead you right to your success,” she said. “It’s such a great school. I’ve made life-

long friends here. You’re going to come out with a positive impact from Northland.”

After graduation, Kuznia plans to transfer to either the University of Minnesota Moorhead or Minnesota State University Mankato to earn her bachelor’s degree. Her long-term goal is to continue her education to become either a nurse practitioner or nurse anesthetist.

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NURSING STUDENT CHLOE KUZNIA IN A HEALTH LAB CLASSROOM AT NORTHLAND COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE. / NORTHLAND COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE

CHAMPIONING INCLUSION TO FOSTER INNOVATION

BY ANNIE REZAC

Diverse perspectives and experiences aren’t just feel-good additions to the workplace, they’re engines of innovation and growth. Companies that foster belonging outperform their peers in profitability, talent retention and customer satisfaction. It’s not just the right thing to do, it’s the smart thing.

Deloitte’s 2021 Global Human Capital Trends survey reported that 93% of respondents, “agreed that a sense of belonging drives organizational performance.” Further, a recent survey conducted by Public Private Strategies Institute found that, “82% of business leaders consider diversity initiatives as essential to their business strategy.”

However, the current DEI landscape presents a confusing picture. Headlines tout record diversity figures, while simultaneously reporting that organizations are backtracking on established initiatives. It’s enough to leave any diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) champion wondering: are we building sustainable progress toward an equitable workplace or just checking boxes?

Here’s the truth: authentic DEI isn’t a race to meet quotas, it’s about unlocking the full potential of your greatest asset — your people. Fostering a connected workplace where everyone can contribute, thrive and belong breeds collegiality and creativity – cornerstones of innovation. They are necessary components for inclusion strategies that endure, setting companies and their people up for success now and into the future.

THINKING BEYOND NUMBERS

Companies that focus solely on representation risk turning DEI into a performative exercise. While making strides to ensure diverse perspectives are represented within the workplace is important, it’s only one piece of a larger puzzle. This short-term

strategy ignores the unique value of individuals, leading to tokenism and resentment. Instead, value diversity as the strategic advantage it is. True belonging only thrives when diversity is integrated into the foundation of an organization.

Making workplaces truly welcoming for everyone is about believing different experiences and perspectives are what make a team strong and a business successful. Seek individuals who bring fresh ideas and diverse perspectives, regardless of their background, and create a culture where everyone feels empowered to contribute their unique voice. By establishing supportive, equitable settings where everyone can flourish, organizations foster a culture of belonging and unleash the full potential of their workforce.

SHIFTING THE SPOTLIGHT

Instead of chasing numbers, focus on cultivating an equitable environment that can fit the needs of today, tomorrow and the future. Examine your current approach to workplace culture to ensure you deliberately encourage inclusivity – revisit policies and procedures, foster open communication and feedback, and offer equitable access to resources and opportunities for professional development and advancement.

It takes real, meaningful work to ensure everyone feels welcome in the workplace. Invest in employee awareness and education to create a shared understanding of DEI principles. For example, at Ulteig, our employee resource groups provide a community where individuals with shared backgrounds or interests can connect and collaborate within and across the larger organization, creating smaller forms of connection and offering an opportunity for allyship and bridging cultural differences.

BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE PROGRAM

When a DEI program aligns with an organization’s mission, vision and values, it becomes an authentic reflection of who you are as a company. This alignment ensures DEI efforts are seen as integral to company culture rather than temporary initiatives.

A sustainable DEI program requires genuine commitment from the top. Leaders must walk the talk by integrating DEI into core values and strategic decisions. Lead by example, hold everyone accountable, and make it a continuous priority, not a temporary project. Recognizing our own biases is the first step, but true leadership requires actively reflecting on them and using that understanding to create a more inclusive and equitable environment for everyone. Leaders set the tone within an organization by advocating for diverse talent at all levels, promoting inclusive hiring practices, and amplifying the voices of underrepresented groups to ensure all individuals have an equitable opportunity to thrive.

Fear of backlash shouldn’t derail your efforts. Progress is rarely linear. Continuously seek feedback and embrace criticism as an opportunity to learn and adapt. Address concerns transparently, provide progress updates, and demonstrate the tangible benefits of a diverse and inclusive workplace for the business and its people, and keep pushing forward.

Building a workplace where everyone thrives is often easier said than done, but the rewards are immeasurable. Invest in belonging, reap the dividends of innovation, and unlock the full potential of your 21st-century workforce. Commit to the long haul, stay focused on the human impact, and together, we can build workplaces where everyone feels valued, heard and empowered to thrive.

Annie Rezac is the DEI program manager at Ulteig.

ANNIE REZAC

RIVERHOUSE PROJECT HELPING FILL F-M HOUSING DEMANDS

BY CARRIE MCDERMOTT

The construction sector is strong in the Red River Valley and housing demands will continue to increase over the next decade. A study released in June 2023 by the Fargo-Moorhead Metropolitan Council of Governments (COG) projected the region will need 16,000 more housing units in the next 10 years.

Housing on every spectrum is needed – from market-rate, single-family homes to townhomes, duplexes, triplexes and higher-end homes.

The Kilbourne Group is working to help fill the need with several ongoing residential projects in the Fargo-Moorhead area, including RiverHouse, slated to open this fall. The 115-apartment complex is located a few blocks from downtown Fargo along the Red River. It’s designed for those with active lifestyles who want to be near the hustle and bustle of downtown but far enough away to enjoy a natural setting.

Keith Leier, vice president of development and construction with Leier Group, said the project is on track for a Sept. 1 opening and it’s one of several types of housing opportunities the metro COG study identified.

“We’re currently in the rough-end stages of the project, with electrical, plumbing and mechanical systems. We’re starting to close the walls up and get drywall hung,” he said.

“In downtown, this was unique for us. It’s in the urban core but not in the heart and energy of the urban core. This one is a few blocks off Broadway, close to the river, so it’s still convenient. It’s less than a five-minute walk to any sort of restaurant or dining experience downtown, and a little bit quieter. You won’t get the evening nightlife crowds next to it.”

Young professionals are looking for amenities that fit their lifestyles, and Leier said this project has that and more. It’s designed to have extra storage for recreational equipment such as kayaks, bikes or other gear, and has the latest in smart-home technology built in. Retired couples who want to downsize from a large family home are also taking notice, Leier said.

“Maybe it’s a seasonal place for somebody who has other places outside the metro area,” he said.

The complex features SmartRent technology that connects the tenant and property management personnel with controls over things like thermostats, door access and alarms. There is also the ability to self-show the apartments by using the technology.

RiverHouse will have one-, two-, and three-bedroom layouts that range from 715 to 1,437 square feet. There will be interior, heated parking as well as some exterior private parking.

Leier said the news coming from the metro COG study is great for the industry because it means the area is growing.

“It’s a testament to Fargo’s economy and the resilience of our state,” Leier said. “It’s been a great business atmosphere. The business economy is doing very well here – it’s very strong and robust. That’s a great thing to see. From the builder’s standpoint, we’re still fighting some of the macroeconomic things out there, from interest rates to high construction costs. It’s an interesting dynamic.”

With the good news of growth and demand, it would seem there should be more construction happening but due to interest rates and construction costs, there’s some hesitation in starting projects, Leier said. Some builders are waiting to see what the

financial market does or if they can find opportunities for better deals on borrowing money in the next six months.

“Some of the major metros may be slowing down. It seems like the Fargo pulse is that people are waiting to see what happens. There are projects ready to go and they’re waiting to see how the year starts to unfold,” he said.

Commodity prices have leveled off for construction materials such as copper, wood and steel. That price predictability is a plus for developers, Leier said, but workforce shortages continue to contribute to the pace of construction.

Jim Tobin, president and CEO of the National Association of Home Builders, said in a January news conference that three areas need to be addressed to meet the housing need of the region: trade programs need to be prioritized as workers in the industry are aging and about 400,000 trained workers will be needed in the coming years; regulation is hurting affordability. He said 25% of the cost of new homes is tied to rules at local, state and federal levels, and for multi-family buildings, the cost is closer to 43%. Finally, lumber and other materials supply chains need to be strengthened to ensure they can handle increased construction demands.

PHOTO OF EARLY FEBRUARY CONSTRUCTION AT KILBOURNE GROUP’S RIVERHOUSE APARTMENT BUILDING IN FARGO. THE RESIDENTIAL PROJECT IS SLATED TO OPEN SEPT. 1. / COURTESY KILBOURNE GROUP

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Q.INSIGHTS & INTUITION

What’s the best business advice you’ve received and why?

Julie Whitney Senior Vice President, Commercial Banking Manager Bremer Bank Fargo, N.D.

In Brené Brown’s words, “clear is kind, unclear is unkind.” This simple statement, which highlights the critical role of transparent communication, has profoundly influenced my approach to business and leadership.

In my experience, ambiguity leads to misunderstandings, inefficiencies, and even conflict. The result of this can cause a culture of assumptions and speculations, reducing productivity and damaging relationships. Clarity, even when dealing with difficult or uncomfortable circumstances, promotes understanding and trust.

The overall environment I’m striving to nurture is one of trust and caring. One that shows respect for my team’s time and efforts, and values honesty and transparency over superficial harmony. When I’m clear in my expectations, feedback and communication, I eliminate guesswork for my team.

For me, “clear is kind” reduces the stress of unspoken issues and creates a healthier, more positive work environment. It allows me to lead with authenticity and integrity.

“Talk less, listen more.” Four words that I live by professionally and personally. To be honest, I don’t remember who initially told me that or if I read it in a book, but over my career I have benefitted from that advice many, many times. This is about active listening, not just sitting there silently occasionally nodding your head and possibly thinking about what to have for lunch.

Active listening is participatory – asking questions, seeking additional information, and truly listening to the answers. You’re not thinking ahead about how you will defend against what they have said and you’re holding off from forming an opinion or solution. Whether it’s a conversation with an employee, customer, or even family member, when you listen you gain an understanding of what people want and need and, sometimes, where you have fallen short. And it can be hard! Research shows that the majority of people think they are good listeners when they really aren’t. You may have to train yourself to ignore your phone and smartwatch, and even embrace a few seconds of silence. Listening can be hard, but it helps us understand what people – employees, customers, family, and friends – want as well as what they expect. Ultimately, this will build trust and lead to stronger relationships, making it worth the effort.

Troy Walker

Director of Sales and Marketing

Dakota Carrier Network

Bismarck, N.D.

Tim Arens Vice President and Senior Civil Transportation Engineer Ackerman-Estvold Fargo, N.D.

As the lead civil engineer for the transportation division at Ackerman-Estvold, the best advice I ever received revolved around building integrity. We hear integrity is important, but what does it mean to have it and how does a leader maintain it? These are the key skills I have learned to foster integrity:

Honesty is essential; admit your mistakes and learn from them, apologize, and offer explanations and course correction. Honesty builds trust with clients and your colleagues. It means keeping your promises and meeting the expectations of clients and team members, which involves being prompt in returning emails and phone calls, even if it is simply to acknowledge receipt.

Other ways to demonstrate integrity are connected to people — our co-workers. Mentoring colleagues is huge. Don’t ignore small mistakes that have the potential to become big mistakes, collaborate by being vulnerable, sharing both our successes and failures, and learning from others’ experiences. By bettering ourselves and helping grow the knowledge of others, we’re showing our commitment to improving our work and the industry.

Finally, to be a person with integrity involves sharing accolades with team members and colleagues. It is very rare for success to come without other people’s involvement. Remember to thank those who help you advance, especially clients who have given you new opportunities, and recognize team members who have helped deliver project success. Don’t just thank “all involved” in the project; be specific and call out those responsible for team success. As leaders, it is our responsibility to see the specific value team members bring to our organization and reward them for those qualities that foster success.

SOUTH DAKOTA GOV. KRISTI NOEM AND TRAVEL SOUTH DAKOTA

HONORED TOURISM INDUSTRY MEMBERS AND BUSINESSES FROM ACROSS SOUTH DAKOTA FOR THEIR LOYALTY, COMMITMENT, AND PASSION FOR THE STATE’S TOURISM INDUSTRY THURSDAY, JAN. 18. NOEM PRESENTED VARIOUS AWARDS TO RECIPIENTS FROM ACROSS SOUTH DAKOTA, INCLUDING THE ROOSTER RUSH CACKLIN’ COMMUNITY AWARD. IT WAS PRESENTED TO THE ABERDEEN CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU FOR GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND TO MAKE IN-STATE AND OUT-OFSTATE HUNTERS FEEL WELCOME. FROM GREETING HUNTERS AT THE AIRPORT TO DISTRIBUTING LEGENDARY PHEASANT SANDWICHES THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, ABERDEEN ENCOURAGED YOUNG PEOPLE TO BECOME THE NEXT GENERATION OF STEWARDS OF THE LAND. PHOTO BY BYRON

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CIVILIAN UNEMPLOYMENT, SEASONALLY ADJUSTED

Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 353,000 in January, and the unemployment rate remained at 3.7 percent for the third month in a row, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in early February. Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rates for adult men (3.6 percent), adult women (3.2 percent), teenagers (10.6 percent), Whites (3.4 percent), Blacks (5.3 percent), Asians (2.9 percent), and Hispanics (5.0 percent) showed little or no change in January.

EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY, ONE-MONTH NET CHANGE, WITH CONFIDENCE INTERVALS

Professional and business services added 74,000 jobs in January, considerably higher than the average monthly increase of 14,000 jobs in 2023. Employment in health care rose by 70,000, with gains in ambulatory health care services (+33,000), hospitals (+20,000), and nursing and residential care facilities (+17,000). Retail trade employment increased by 45,000 in but has shown little net growth since early 2023. Employment in social assistance rose by 30,000 in January, reflecting continued growth in individual and family services (+22,000). Employment in manufacturing edged up in January (+23,000), with job gains in chemical manufacturing (+7,000) and printing and related support activities (+5,000). Manufacturing experienced little net job growth in 2023.

EMPLOYMENT AND AVERAGE HOURLY EARNINGS BY INDUSTRY

In January, average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls rose by 19 cents, or 0.6 percent, to $34.55. Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings have increased by 4.5 percent. In January, average hourly earnings of private-sector production and nonsupervisory employees rose by 13 cents, or 0.4 percent, to $29.66.

REASONS FOR UNEMPLOYMENT, SEASONALLY ADJUSTED

In January, the number of people employed part time for economic reasons, at 4.4 million, changed little. These individuals, who would have preferred full-time employment, were working part time because their hours had been reduced or they were unable to find full-time jobs. Among those not in the labor force who wanted a job, the number of people marginally attached to the labor force changed little at 1.7 million in January. These individuals wanted and were available for work and had looked for a job sometime in the prior 12 months but had not looked for work in the 4 weeks preceding the survey.

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ANITA BA

ChiefPeopleOfficeratMooreHoldingCompany