Prairie Business June 2017

PREMIER BUSINESS MAGAZINE OF THE NORTHERN PLAINS | JUNE 2017

Enter, Engineers

Universities encourage internships, extracurriculars to boost grads’ job prospects

PAGE 22 Hesham El-Rewini, dean of the University of North Dakota College of Engineering & Mines

water | transportation | municipal | facilities

If you set the bar at competence, how do you reach excellence?

ApexEngGroup.com

AVIATION | ENVIRONMENTAL | MUNICIPAL | OILFIELD SERVICES | POWER RIGHT- OF-WAY | STRUCTURAL | SURVEY | TELECOM | TRANSPORTATION Visit kljeng.com today to see how you can be a part of our talented team!

M/F/Vet/Disability/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity

100% E M P LOY E E OWNED

Be the light.

No matter the time of day, we work to ensure our members have reliable, affordable power. We bring light to the dark. It’s the assurance that when you make a promise, you can keep it.

Your energy starts here.

basinelectric.com/bethelight

PB

INSIDE

DEPARTMENTS

JUNE 2017 VOL 18 ISSUE 6

EDITOR’S NOTE

10

A NEW DRIVE FOR ENGINEERS

BY LISA GIBSON

12 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SIGNS OF GROWTH EVERYWHERE IN BISMARCK-MANDAN

BY BRIAN RITTER

Employers are starting to offer support or paying completely for elective benefits traditionally paid in full by employees. Find out more on page 28.

IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK

FEATURES

16

ENGINEERING

18

22

28

ENGINEERING INTERESTS THE MOTIVATION BEHIND ENGINEERING CAREER CHOICES IS EVOLVING AND THE JOB MARKET IS STEADY

INSURANCE PADDING HEALTH CARE COVERAGE AS DEDUCTIBLES RISE, COMPANIES OFFER MORE ELECTIVE BENEFITS TO INSULATE EMPLOYEES AGAINST HIGH COSTS

ON THE COVER Hesham El-Rewini, dean of the University of North Dakota College of Engineering & Mines, stands in front of the school’s Big Idea Gymnasium IMAGE: NICK NELSON, FORUM NEWS SERVICE

BRANDING

14

ESTABLISH A COMPANY IDENTITY

BY TOM WELLE

REAL ESTATE

THE EFFECTS OF SIOUX FALLS’ GROWTH

BY MARCUS MAHLEN

BUSINESS INSIDER IN THE FAMILY THIRD-GENERATION INSURANCE PRESIDENT/CEO DISCUSSES REPUTATION, CHALLENGES AND THE FUTURE

20

PRAIRIE NEWS

32

CONSTRUCTION CORNER

36

INSIGHTS & INTUITION

38

BY THE NUMBERS

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

8

TWITTER.COM/PRAIRIEBIZ

FACEBOOK .COM/PRAIRIEBUSINESS

PRAIRIEBUSINESSMAGAZINE.COM

CORPORATE CONSOLIDATION BLACK HILLS CORP. BUILDS NEW HEADQUARTERS IN RAPID CITY

JENNIFER MROZEK IS TRANSITIONING INTO A NEW POSITION WITH MARCO — EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND OPERATIONS.

RYAN GRUSSING VICE PRESIDENT OF BUSINESS BANKING AT CORNERSTONE BANK IN FARGO, HAS BEEN NAMED ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR THE DAKOTA SCHOOL OF BANKING.

grinnellmutual.com

PLAN FOR TOMORROW. ENJOY THE SUCCESSES OF TODAY. At Grinnell Mutual, we’re always looking forward to tomorrow. So even if the plans you have for your business aren’t the same as what the future holds, you’ll be ready. Because we’re ready. Trust in that. Trust in Tomorrow.™ Contact an agent today.

AUTO | HOME | FARM | BUSINESS

“Trust in Tomorrow.” and “Grinnell Mutual” are property of Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company. © Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company, 2017.

JUNE 2017

A New Drive for

VOL 18 ISSUE 6

Engineers J

ob Service North Dakota projects an increase in the number of engineering positions in the state in the next few years, and ranks civil engineers in particular among the 50 major career sectors that will see the most new positions through 2024.

It’s a good thing, then, that the University of North Dakota’s College of Engineering & Mines has doubled its enrollment from 2008, churning out fresh engineers ready to get started in their careers. The job market is different, though, for entry-level talent than it is for mid- and senior-level talent.

This month’s engineering feature explores the reasons behind increased interest in engineering careers among young people, which types of engineering are most popular among them, and who has the best chance of getting a job right out of school. It starts on page 22.

We also cover insurance in this June issue of Prairie Business, discussing a trend emerging in elective health benefits: More employers are covering all or part of them to help make up for rising deductibles and premiums their employees are forced to pay under their standard health plans. It’s an interesting twist in health care coverage that also helps employers recruit top talent for new positions. Find it on page 28.

Our Business Insider subject is a thirdgeneration president and CEO of a Grand Forks insurance company who says the family leadership has helped the business maintain its reputation, while increasing accountability. It’s on page 18.

In Construction Corner, we profile the building of Black Hills Corp.’s new headquarters in Rapid City, South Dakota.

The 206,000-square-foot facility will be complete this fall, bringing 500 employees from multiple locations under one roof. Page 32.

On a noncontent-related note, this is my last issue as editor of Prairie Business. I can’t say enough about the wonderful people I’ve met and useful things I’ve learned while working with this magazine. I will transition from editor to reader, observing with all of you as Prairie Business accomplishes new goals in the future.

Thank you for reading. PB

PUBLISHER KORRIE WENZEL AD DIRECTOR STACI LORD EDITOR LISA GIBSON CIRCULATION MANAGER BETH BOHLMAN LAYOUT DESIGN, AD DESIGN JASON MAGSTADT SARA SLABY KRIS WOLFF ACCOUNT MANAGERS NICHOLE ERTMAN

800.477.6572 ext. 1162 nertman@prairiebusinessmagazine.com

Prairie Business magazine is published monthly by the Grand Forks Herald and Forum Communications Company with offices at 375 2nd Avenue North, Grand Forks, ND 58203. Subscriptions are available free of charge. Back issue quantities are limited and subject to availability ($2/copy prepaid).

The opinions of writers featured in Prairie Business are their own.

Unsolicited manuscripts, photographs, artwork are encouraged but will not be returned without a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions are free

www.prairiebusinessmagazine.com

ADDRESS CORRECTIONS Prairie Business magazine Box 6008 Grand Forks, ND 58206-6008 Beth Bohlman:

bbohlman@prairiebusinessmagazine.com

ONLINE www.prairiebusinessmagazine.com

10

TWITTER.COM/PRAIRIEBIZ

FACEBOOK .COM/PRAIRIEBUSINESS

PRAIRIEBUSINESSMAGAZINE.COM

11

ECONOMICDEVELOPMENT JUNE 2017 VOL 18 ISSUE 6

Signs of Growth Everywhere in

Bismarck-Mandan

By Brian Ritter

IMAGE: KYLE MARTIN PHOTO

12

TWITTER.COM/PRAIRIEBIZ

FACEBOOK .COM/PRAIRIEBUSINESS

PRAIRIEBUSINESSMAGAZINE.COM

When thinking about something as abstract as Bismarck-Mandan’s economy, I find it helpful to picture it as a pyramid. At the base of that pyramid are the “core four” industries that provide the foundation of our community’s economy: healthcare, government, energy and education.

The resulting economic diversity is one of the reasons Bismarck-Mandan has continued to thrive in the face of low energy and agricultural commodity prices. When one of those four industries is experiencing tough times, the other three ensure the economy keeps producing, and one particular area that’s contributing mightily right now is education.

For example, Bismarck Public Schools is North Dakota’s largest school district with approximately 12,600 students in kindergarten through high school. More impressively, that number is expected to grow by nearly 1,900 students by the 2021-22 school year. In order to accommodate that growth, Bismarck voters recently approved a $57.5 million bond issue that will result in additions to all three of the district’s middle schools, as well as Bismarck and Century high schools.

Across the river, Mandan Public Schools is experiencing similar growth. This is evidenced by the fact that Red Trail Elementary opened in 2014 as a result of increased enrollments in kindergarten through fifth grade. That growth will eventually translate into growth at the middle school level as well, so Mandan Public Schools recently awarded bids for an approximately $4 million expansion to Mandan Middle School.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT And one of the community’s private school systems is experiencing growth as well. Currently operating at 107 percent capacity, the Light of Christ Catholic Schools recently embarked on a $46.5 million capital campaign to construct a new campus for St. Mary’s Central High School, remodel the existing St. Mary’s Central High School into a middle school and expand two of the system’s elementary schools.

With all of that expansion in grades K-12, it’s logical that the community’s institutions of higher education would experience similar growth and nowhere is that more apparent than at the University of Mary.

Three projects on the Bismarck campus are helping accommodate the university’s growing student body and the first is a new 276-bed residence hall for freshmen students, which opened in fall 2016. The second such project is a new fieldhouse to accommodate on-campus activities that opened in January 2017. And the third is a renovation of the former fieldhouse into a campus center that will serve as the center of campus life, expected to open in September 2017.

While education certainly isn’t the only area of our community that’s growing, it is both exciting and encouraging. It’s exciting in the sense that Bismarck-Mandan currently has more than 2,300 open jobs and in order to fill them, we’re going to need every one of the students in our respective school systems. It’s encouraging because if our school systems are growing, then, by extension, our community is growing and that bodes quite well for BismarckMandan’s future. PB

LEADING OUR COMMUNITY Mary Jo Richard, Partner, Eide Bailly LLP | Accounting, 1986

My accounting degree and management minor provided an excellent foundation for my career in public accounting and set the stage for lifelong learning.

Continuing education is essential to stay current in any profession.

Transforming the world by transforming lives.

Read more about leadership from MSUM alumni at mnstate.edu/leaders Minnesota State University Moorhead is an equal opportunity educator and employer and is a member of the Minnesota State system.

Brian Ritter PRESIDENT AND CEO BISMARCK-MANDAN DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION BRITTER@BMDA.ORG

13

BRANDING JUNE 2017 VOL 18 ISSUE 6

Establish a Company Identity

IMAGE: NICK NELSON, FORUM NEWS SERVICE

By Tom Welle Keeping employees engaged in their day-to-day duties is difficult.

Keeping employees engaged in the brand, betterment and big-picture goals of a company is an even larger challenge.

A company’s brand extends far beyond a logo and a color scheme; a company’s brand is how it’s perceived. A brand is a promise of an experience. It must be consistent, intentional, differentiated and valued.

Branding is different for every company, but having a strong, unified brand is important to job satisfaction for employees and the overall success of a company.

The first step in enhancing a brand is identifying who the company is.

This isn’t an exercise to determine goals or outline the best marketing tactic; it’s a time to reflect and get input from staff at all levels across the company. To receive the most accurate depiction of a company, a large number of responses from employees is essential. When Apex Engineering asked for feedback from all of its staff, it was generally positive, but showed areas in need of improvement. The survey results delivered a sturdy basis to begin an internal branding campaign.

Apex worked with an outside consultant to compile employee feedback from the survey and simplify the company’s values and beliefs. An internal brand book was created to promote who we are, and who we want to continue to be for our greatest advocates — our employees. We strive to empower our team members on a daily basis to be champions of our brand. In our interactions, ranging from an external vendor’s sales call to a high-profile meeting with our biggest client, who we are as a company must always shine through.

14

TWITTER.COM/PRAIRIEBIZ

FACEBOOK .COM/PRAIRIEBUSINESS

Like many businesses in the region, Apex has seen significant growth in the past five years. While growth is good, it does come with challenges, such as keeping corporate values and beliefs top of mind for both existing and new employees. To help with this task, Apex created a brand ambassador role. One individual from each of the four offices was chosen to spearhead branding activities, keeping all offices unified across multiple locations. These individuals meet biweekly to discuss office morale, plan ways to improve or enhance everyday work experience, coordinate team-building activities, and assist with onboarding new employees. Strong relationships lead to better efficiencies in daily work and higher job satisfaction among team members.

Even though establishing a strong internal brand is not a marketing campaign, having employees actively displaying the company’s values and beliefs creates a positive external image — a core goal of every business. While Apex has always recognized that employees are its greatest resource and attribute, it has found that working to foster internal relationships is as important as external relationships. We strive to empower all of our employees to use our guiding principles in their daily interactions both internally and externally. PB

PRAIRIEBUSINESSMAGAZINE.COM

Tom Welle PRESIDENT APEX ENGINEERING GROUP FARGO 701.373.7980 TOM.WELLE@APEXENGGROUP.COM

THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN WEST FARGO IS EMBRACING BIG CHANGE. Phase I of an exciting new development is Sheyenne Plaza that includes a multifaceted, mixed-use complex with high-end living and commercial office space.

www.eapc.net

15

REALESTATE JUNE 2017 VOL 18 ISSUE 6

The Effects of Sioux Falls’

Growth

By Marcus Mahlen Sioux Falls is growing at an exceptional rate. The developments around town are well-known: Washington Square, Lake Lorraine, Dawley Farms, the University Center Campus and Foundation Park. Yes, Sioux Falls does have a few minor league professional sports teams such as the Sioux Falls Canaries. We also boast a few universities and great high school athletic programs, but it seems there’s one mascot everyone in our community gets behind — growth.

I recently learned that Sioux Falls is now in range of being ranked the 140th largest city in the U.S. So, how did this town in southeast South Dakota eclipse familiar locations such as Jackson, Mississippi or Fort Collins, Colorado? By having an entire community rally behind the concept of growth.

More than 5,000 people moved to Sioux Falls in 2016, smashing local projections. This influx of people affects real estate in multiple sectors.

Housing The multi-family housing market in the Sioux Falls area is entering a completely new arena. We shattered our building permit record for multi-family units in 2016 with 812 units built, and all indications are telling us 2017 will be keeping up with the past three years of growth. The housing market maintains average prices around $200,000.

Development land in the Sioux Falls market also seems to be primarily driven by housing — both single family and multi-family. Commercial development is keeping up, too, with many large ongoing projects.

IMAGE: NICK NELSON, FORUM NEWS SERVICE

16

TWITTER.COM/PRAIRIEBIZ

FACEBOOK .COM/PRAIRIEBUSINESS

PRAI-

Marcus Mahlen BROKER ASSOCIATE NAI SIOUX FALLS 605.228-9744 MMAHLEN@NAISIOUXFALLS.COM

001583243r1

Real Estate Office Space The office market in Sioux Falls can be described as healthy, but continually changing. Sioux Falls is built around the health care and financial service industries, so they occupy a majority of the office space. But the supply seems to continually keep ahead of the demand, giving tenants plenty of options.

Industrial The industrial market in Sioux Falls and around the country might be reaching its highest peak in our nation’s history. Sioux Falls has vacancy rates that hover between 5 and 6 percent.

Nationally, the rate is between 2 and 3 percent. This means the demand is continually outpacing the supply — raising prices and creating a seller’s market.

Retail Sioux Falls seems to be bucking the national downward trend in retail, instead expanding rapidly. Announcements of new national retailers such as Marshall’s, an expansion of Hobby Lobby and the increase in the local brew pub scene are examples.

Sioux Falls is resilient. During the financial crisis of 2008 and 2009, the city grew when the coasts and other Midwest communities suffered. While agriculture commodity prices are down, Sioux Falls is still growing. It all comes back to the resiliency of the community and determination to grow and assert ourselves as a regional destination. PB

001255241r1

Experience that counts As an award-winning reporter, columnist and opinion editor at the Grand Forks Herald and Duluth News-Tribune, Tom Dennis knows news.

Now, Tom is bringing his vast experience to Prairie Business as the magazine’s new editor.

It’s an exciting time for Prairie Business, its readers and the people it covers.

To subscribe for free, text PBMAG to 72727 or visit prairiebusinessmagazine.com

001586622r1

17

BusinessInsider JUNE 2017 VOL 18 ISSUE 6

In the Family Bruce Vaaler is the third-generation president and CEO of Vaaler Insurance in Grand Forks. His grandfather started the company in 1947 and eventually handed it off to Bruce’s father, who handed it off to Bruce.

He talks to Prairie Business about Vaaler’s reputation, challenges and the future

Bruce Vaaler

President and CEO Vaaler Insurance Grand Forks

18

TWITTER.COM/PRAIRIEBIZ

FACEBOOK .COM/PRAIRIEBUSINESS

IMAGE: NICK NELSON, FORUM NEWS SERVICE

HAS BEING A FAMILY-OWNED COMPANY FOR Q. HOW THREE GENERATIONS BENEFITED VAALER INSURANCE?

A.

Being a third-generation family business, we benefit from name recognition, stability and a reputation for small-town values, but with that comes responsibility. We are responsible to be accessible to our clients and to provide them with top-notch service. We encourage our clients to get to know their service people, but our entire staff is available to assist. We practice a team approach and virtually anyone in our agency can find an answer for a client regardless of who that client might be.

We are proud of our reputation and work very hard to provide our clients with the service they expect and deserve.

PRAIRIEBUSINESSMAGAZINE.COM

Business Insider

YOU KNOW AT A YOUNG AGE THAT YOU WANTED TO Q. DIDSOMEDAY LEAD THE COMPANY YOUR GRANDFATHER STARTED? A. Yes. When I was young, I would clean the agency on Saturdays while my father worked, so that was my first taste of the business. After high school, I went to a college with one of the few insurance departments in the country, so, at that point, there was no turning back. Insurance was and still is exciting to me. Change is constant with new coverages and coverage forms, unique and complex claims issues, new exposures to loss and the diverse nature of the businesses we insure. Every day brings new challenges and I never stop learning.

ARE SOME OF THE LARGEST CHANGES YOU’VE SEEN IN THE Q. WHAT INSURANCE INDUSTRY SINCE YOU STARTED YOUR CAREER? A.

With the current low interest rate environment, large, national brokers have been looking for opportunities to generate a higher return with their investment dollars, so there has been a surge in the acquisition of smaller, independent insurance agencies. We’ve seen this occur frequently in our region in the last several years.

The presence of the national brokers in our trade area, however, has also exposed us to different services they might provide that we hadn’t previously considered. It has made us stronger, more effective competitors on a local, regional and national level.

Technology has also changed our industry tremendously, from the ways we provide our product to the ways in which we communicate with our clients.

ARE SOME OF BIGGEST Q. WHAT CHALLENGES THE COMPANY HAS

HAD TO OVERCOME IN ITS LIFETIME?

A.

We are very blessed with a long-term dedicated staff with many years of service.

Adding employees to keep up with growth, however, is always a major challenge. Young job seekers and college graduates rarely consider the insurance business as an attractive option (if they consider it at all) or don’t understand how an insurance agency operates. Many that do enter the industry go to work as salespeople at national brokers where the attrition rate is extremely high. We understand that it takes time to be effective in our industry and try to take a longer-term approach.

ARE THE MOST PROMISING AREAS OF Q. WHAT GROWTH IN THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY THAT VAALER MIGHT FOCUS ON MORE HEAVILY IN THE NEAR FUTURE?

A.

We are widely known for our expertise in insuring industries that require specialized coverage and services, such as health care (hospitals, clinics, senior living facilities, etc.), schools, governmental entities and trucking. We plan to expand this by adding programs for other industries.

Additionally, new laws and regulations have created new exposures to loss. For example, there are laws requiring potentially costly notification to customers or other affected persons in the event a computer system is breached and private information is stolen. This has given rise to an increasing demand for cyber liability coverage.

Other relatively new coverages for emerging exposures include employment practices liability and environmental liability.

19

PRairieNews

a statement. “We are so excited to launch this capability at Grand Sky and provide industry VOL 18 ISSUE 6 members with exactly what they need to succeed in and advance this industry to the next level of integration. We look forward to working with Harris Corp. and the Air Force to install the system that will serve as observers for these flights.”

The Harris RangeVue system, purchased by Grand Sky through affiliate Grand Sky Airfield Operations, will combine several surveillance systems, including nearby Grand Forks AFB’s radar feed, locally installed ADS-B Xtend and FAA NextGen, into one stream, making it Grand Sky is located west of Grand Forks, adjacent to the Grand Forks Prairie Business Staff Report Air Force Base. IMAGE: GRAND SKY DEVELOPMENT CO. possible for users to achieve real-time situational awareness of manned and unmanned aircraft as GRAND FORKS — Grand Sky, the nation’s first commercial UAS required by the Federal Aviation Administration. business and aviation park, announced it will begin beyond-visual“Grand Sky is creating a truly unique setting to carry out UAS line-of-sight (BVLOS) operations with large UAS this summer. The research and test flights,” says George Kirov, vice president and general 217-acre park, west of Grand Forks, is the first location in the U.S. to manager of Harris Commercial UAS Solutions, in a statement. “We are receive regulatory permission to host commercial BVLOS test flights excited to have a role in getting flights off the ground and stand ready for large unmanned aircraft. Flights will be launched and recovered at to further assist North Dakota in maintaining its leadership role in the the adjacent Grand Forks Air Force Base runway and will be managed industry.”

by Grand Sky in partnership with the Northern Plains UAS Test Site.

Initial BVLOS flights at Grand Sky will be limited to UAS flying within “The entire UAS industry has been waiting for the ability to 60 nautical miles of the park, according to Grand Sky. As processes repeatedly fly beyond line of sight in commercial air space so that they are proven and additional data is collected, Grand Sky anticipates can demonstrate the true capabilities of these incredible technologies,” its BVLOS range will be extended to include the entire state of North says Thomas Swoyer Jr., president of Grand Sky Development Co., in Dakota and all classes of aircraft. PB

JUNE 2017

Grand Sky announces BVLOS flight milestone

F-M Chamber wins regional event award for Military Appreciation Night Prairie Business Staff Report MOORHEAD, Minn. — The Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber of Commerce received the Event of the Year award at the 2017 MidAmerica Chamber Executives Conference, held May 3 to 5 in Sioux Falls.

The award honored the Chamber’s annual Military Appreciation Night, held each summer in conjunction with a Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks minor league baseball game. Military Appreciation Night has grown since it started six years ago, and has sold out the past three years, according to the Chamber. Last summer, more than 1,000 military members and their families were given complimentary game tickets, T-shirts and attended a pre-game picnic featuring games, giveaways and a special appearance from the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales.

“While Military Appreciation Night is a Chamber event combined with a game of baseball, it’s a true community partnership,” says Jim Parsons, vice president of finance and operations for the Chamber, in a statement. “It’s really an inspiring event and the least we can do to thank our region’s veterans. But it wouldn’t be possible without the continued support of the RedHawks, veteran’s organizations, our Military Affairs committee or the event’s presenting sponsor, D-S Beverages.”

MACE is made up of chamber professionals in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. MACE holds

20

TWITTER.COM/PRAIRIEBIZ

FACEBOOK .COM/PRAIRIEBUSINESS

Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber of Commerce staff accept the award for Event of the Year at the 2017 Mid-America Chamber Executives conference May 4 in Sioux Falls. From left: Darren Dunlop, business development manager; Tyler Fischbach, multimedia coordinator; Jim Parsons, vice president of finance/operations; and Amanda Hofland, communications and marketing manager. IMAGE: FARGO MOORHEAD WEST FARGO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

a conference each year, which includes recognition of exemplary work from Chambers in those six states.

“It was a surprise and an honor to get the news that this event won such a prestigious award,” says Craig Whitney, president and CEO of the Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber, in a statement. “It is fitting that the award was announced as I was in Washington, D.C., for a National Guard reception in support of our local Happy Hooligans. Honoring our military is a continued priority for our Chamber. I can’t wait for this year’s event.” PB

PRAIRIEBUSINESSMAGAZINE.COM

Prairie News Northland Community & Technical College has partnered with area companies to offer a new two-year manufacturing degree.

IMAGE: NORTHLAND COMMUNITY & TECHNICAL COLLEGE.

NCTC partners with

local companies to develop new manufacturing program

By Lisa Gibson EAST GRAND FORKS, Minn. — Starting this fall, Northland Community & Technical College will offer a two-year Manufacturing Process Technology Associate of Applied Science degree. The program was developed in close consultation with several large manufacturing companies that have locations in the Grand Forks area, including American Crystal Sugar Co., headquartered in Moorhead, Minn.; Philadelphia Macaroni Co., headquartered in Philadelphia; Cirrus Aircraft, headquartered in Duluth; and Marvin Windows, based in Warroad, Minn.

“We were approached by industries in Grand Forks, who identified the need for us,” says Andrew Dahlen, Manufacturing Process Technology program director, in a statement. “Crystal Sugar, Simplot, Philadelphia Macaroni, etc. … everybody is using the same technologies, just different applications. They all need technicians — people that can either troubleshoot and maintain automated equipment, or people that can develop and operate new automated equipment. From a maintenance perspective, this program is also a great fit because grads will be able to troubleshoot robots, motors, manufacturing equipment and the software, too.”

Manufacturing operations are evolving through increasingly complex automated and robotic equipment, increasing the need for skilled technicians capable of operating, maintaining and troubleshooting such equipment, according to NCTC. “We haven’t been able to find enough maintenance candidates to fill the positions we have open,” says Tony Pierce, Grand Forks plant manager for Philadelphia Macaroni Co., in a statement. “It took a couple years to work with the other companies in town and Northland to develop this program, but the new curriculum is outstanding. The new classes have some electrical training, but it’s much more focused on the mechanical aspects of the job … being able to rebuild a gearbox,

understand manufacturing technology, some basic fabrication ability, etc. It’s much more in line with what they’re going to be doing on the job.”

The new program will be part electronic and part mechanical, preparing graduates for manufacturing careers in industries ranging from agriculture and food production, to wind power and aviation, according to NCTC. The program’s capacity is 24 students, Brian Huschle, NCTC East Grand Forks campus dean, tells Prairie Business. “In this first year, we would of course love to see 24 enrolled. But we will consider the first year cohort size successful if it is in the 15-to-18-student range.

“Through our partnering with employers, we know that several students will participate in the program through employer sponsorship,” he says. “One employer, for example, is already committed to sending incumbent workers through the program as well as offering a scholarship option for new employees that meet their qualifications.

Several other regional manufacturing partners are working on developing similar types of models to meet their training needs.”

The program will utilize both new and existing faculty, Huschle says.

“As a two-year program, we will eventually need to hire a new fulltime faculty within the college to cover all of our instructional needs within manufacturing. Next year, as we bridge into this with only a firstyear cohort in this new program, we are working with just some new faculty in part-time roles spread across our manufacturing and related programs as a whole.” PB

Lisa Gibson

EDITOR, PRAIRIE BUSINESS 701.787.6753 LGIBSON@PRAIRIEBUSINESSMAGAZINE.COM

21

ENGINEERING JUNE 2017 VOL 18 ISSUE 6

Engineering Interests

Interest among young people in engineering careers is growing, as evidenced by increased enrollment at engineering colleges. In the job market, entry-level positions attract plenty of resumés, but mid- to senior-level talent is harder to come by

By Lisa Gibson

22

TWITTER.COM/PRAIRIEBIZ

FACEBOOK .COM/PRAIRIEBUSINESS

PRAIRIEBUSINESSMAGAZINE.COM

Engineering

Hesham El-Rewini, dean of the University of North Dakota’s College of Engineering & Mines in Grand Forks, says engineering students today are choosing that career field for three main reasons: they want to make a difference in all the fields engineering impacts; they like the broad array of career options engineering affords; and they enjoy the skill set acquired through their education and training.

Enrollment in UND’s College of Engineering & Mines has doubled since 2008, when ElRewini came to the school. “That’s a huge increase that shows the interest in engineering,” he says. Still, the U.S. falls behind worldwide in total engineering graduates each year. Of all the degrees in all fields earned this year from colleges and universities across the nation, 4.5 percent are in engineering, El-Rewini cites. To compare, 12 percent of all Europe’s degrees are in engineering and 30 percent of China’s.

“We need to do something about this,” he says.

“There is a demand and we need to fill this demand with those engineers.

“UND will do its part to be relevant to this new generation of students and fulfill the demand — produce engineers who can move this country forward.”

Disciplines and Decisions Engineering affects almost all industries, El-Rewini says, citing health care, music, movies, gaming and more. “Students see the contribution of engineering in almost all walks of life. They like that they could be engineers, to do hardcore engineering, and also they could be influential. They could be difference-makers.

They could have a high impact on all these other fields.”

When El-Rewini was in engineering school, the motivation was different, he says. “I was good at math, good at science and I liked to tinker with things. … Now, the conversation is different. Now, we call ourselves not only problem solvers, but we are solution seekers.”

Today’s engineers predict problems and develop solutions before the problems occur, instead of waiting for the problems to arise to fix them, he explains.

UND’s College of Engineering & Mines offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, electrical engineering,

23

ENGINEERING JUNE 2017 VOL 18 ISSUE 6

The new classrooms at the College of Engineering & Mines feature state-of-the-art technology and modern design.

IMAGE: NICK NELSON, FORUM NEWS SERVICE

petroleum engineering, geology and geological engineering. In addition, the college’s Institute for Energy Studies focuses on energy and environmental engineering. Chemical, civil and petroleum engineering each account for about 14 percent of the school’s students, electrical engineering gets about 19 percent, 6 percent choose geology and geological engineering, and the majority — 35 percent — choose mechanical engineering, El-Rewini says.

The majority of students in the two-year engineering transfer program at Bismarck State University focus on mechanical or civil engineering, says Jennifer Kessler, assistant professor of engineering at BSC. At BSC, engineering students earn an Associate of Science, with the intent of completing an engineering degree at a four-year institution. “The majority of our students that are in our engineering transfer program are coming to BSC with the understanding that they’re going to be getting an engineering degree when they complete their degree. … They know their freshman year, ‘These are the classes I’m taking. I’m going to be an engineer.’”

A broad engineering bachelor’s degree prepares students to go to grad school, allowing for changes if the student decides to take a new path, Kessler says. Master’s degrees are imperative particularly for students who want to be professors or want an advanced education

24

TWITTER.COM/PRAIRIEBIZ

FACEBOOK .COM/PRAIRIEBUSINESS

in their chosen field, El-Rewini says. In a competitive job market, the improved knowledge and skills obtained through master’s degrees can be an advantage over competitors for jobs. Many engineers return to school for advanced degrees after they’ve begun their careers, he says.

Job Market The job market in science industries is driven largely by the national economy, Kessler says. “When the economy is doing well, people are building things. And when people are building things, they need engineers, they have money for innovation. If the economy is good, that’s a pretty good indication the job market will be wide open.”

But it also depends on a job-seeker’s area of specialization, she says. “Everything is cyclical. Nobody is impervious to periods of job scarcity.”

According to North Dakota Job Service, employment in the architecture and engineering sector in the state is projected to grow by 8.6 percent of 2014 levels by 2024 — a total of 524 new positions.

Civil engineering in particular, is projected to see 178 new positions by 2024.

PRAIRIEBUSINESSMAGAZINE.COM

Feature your company in our special July 2017 Corporate Communities section!

AUGUST 2016

www.prairiebizmag.com

1

Prairie Business presents our 3rd annual “Corporate Communities “ edition. This upcoming special edition will be an opportunity to showcase your company’s culture.

THE FOCUS IS UP TO YOU. Highlight your employees, interoffice culture, workplace benefits, and invite readers to visit your website careers page.

“Corporate Communities” will be a great workforce recruitment opportunity, reaching the valuable Prairie Business audience across the Upper Midwest.

SPACE IS LIMITED! DEADLINE: June 15, 2017 Contact your sales executive today:

NICHOLE ERTMAN

ACCOUNT MANAGER 701-739-0955

nertman@ prairiebusinessmagazine.com

25

ENGINEERING JUNE 2017 VOL 18 ISSUE 6

Engineering transfer students at Bismarck State University build the payload system for a high-altitude balloon project. IMAGE: BISMARCK STATE UNIVERSITY

UND’s College of Engineering & Mines builds a Formula 1 race car each year. In the foreground is last year’s model and behind it is this year’s car, almost ready for the June competition. IMAGE: NICK NELSON, FORUM NEWS SERVICE

The job market for engineering graduates is generally good, Kessler says, but they need to set themselves apart from all the other grads if they want to be front-runners for entry-level jobs.

“If you can get out of college with a good GPA, that’s a good starting point, but there are several people graduating with the same GPA as you,” she says. Students at BSC and UND are encouraged to get internships, involve themselves with projects and challenges on campus, and make connections, Kessler and El-Rewini say.

“We definitely like to see internships on the resumés, whether it’s with us or another firm,” says Michelle Miller, recruiting manager for KLJ, in Bismarck. “There are just some things you’re not taught in school. … We do bring a lot of entry-level individuals into our organization. We need that talent pipeline, obviously, as people move on in their careers or people retire, we’ve got to backfill their roles.” The number of fresh-graduate applicants for entry-level jobs at KLJ has declined slightly, she says.

Recruiting mid-level and senior-level engineers, is tougher, Miller says. “When we post positions at that level we definitely have fewer resumés coming in the door compared to an entrylevel position.” It can be even more difficult in certain areas like North Dakota, where employees often are comfortable in their positions and loyal to their employers. She says there has been a slow uptick in KLJ job openings outside of North Dakota.

Miller points out that KLJ doesn’t exclusively look for candidates with bachelor’s degrees or higher. “We do look for four-year degrees that relate to the field we’re recruiting for, but we’re also looking for two-year associate, technical degrees, as well,” Miller says. “Both degrees are excellent and we have a home for both those types of positions here.”

Both Kessler and El-Rewini say graduates who involve themselves on campus and in the engineering field during their education generally have little trouble finding employment or being accepted to graduate school programs after graduation.

Both schools offer plenty of project options for students to gain hands-on experience, and evolve as the engineering industry does. The College of Engineering & Mines recently added a new building to its campus, complete with high-tech classrooms and the Big Idea Gymnasium, a place El-Rewini calls the “idea factory” for students to work together in interdisciplinary teams to solve specific challenges assigned each month. “This is the time for innovation, for creativity and we value that,” El-Rewini says.

As interest in engineering grows in general, Miller says KLJ has noticed the crop of candidates is evolving, too. “We’re starting to see more diverse candidates in those pools,” she says. “We’re starting to see more female engineers and that’s exciting.” PB

Lisa Gibson

EDITOR, PRAIRIE BUSINESS 701.787.6753 LGIBSON@PRAIRIEBUSINESSMAGAZINE.COM

26

TWITTER.COM/PRAIRIEBIZ

FACEBOOK .COM/PRAIRIEBUSINESS

PRAIRIEBUSINESSMAGAZINE.COM

π OVER 165 GLOVE STYLES ALWAYS IN STOCK

COMPLETE CATALOG

1-800-295-5510

27

INSURANCE JUNE 2017 VOL 18 ISSUE 6

Padding Health Care Coverage With rising deductibles and premiums, employers are offering more elective and consumer-directed benefits to help offset the higher out-of-pocket costs their employees are paying

By Lisa Gibson As health care costs increase, many employers are changing the insurance coverage they offer their employees. It saves costs upfront for the company, but leaves employees with higher premiums and deductibles, paying more out-of-pocket costs for care. As a result, more employers are offering support or even full coverage of elective benefits, says Dan LaRock, a Sioux Falls-based principal at SilverStone Group.

Elective benefits have traditionally been paid in full by employees and purchased through a separate insurance provider than the

28

TWITTER.COM/PRAIRIEBIZ

FACEBOOK .COM/PRAIRIEBUSINESS

standard employer-supported health insurance. The plans pay cash to the policyholder in the event the coverage is needed.

“We are seeing and having far more conversations with employers around the region who are seriously thinking about turning that employee-paid benefit into an employer-supported or an employer fully paid benefit,” LaRock says. “An employer can deliver something that helps provide insulation against the things that could happen, the things that employees fear.”

PRAIRIEBUSINESSMAGAZINE.COM

Insurance

It’s really important to offer the most competitive benefits package with the competition for talent right now.

Anything employers can do to make their benefits package stack up against others, they’re going to do it.

–Stephanie Schroeder

VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING AND CREATIVE SERVICES DISCOVERY BENEFITS

With accident coverage, for example, if a policyholder falls and breaks an ankle, has a $3,000 deductible but doesn’t have $3,000 on hand for the bill, the cash paid through the accident plan can help meet that deductible.

As employers consider helping to cover those elective plans, they’re turning to their health care coverage consultants and brokers to determine what to offer and whom to purchase from. “Quite frankly, I think most brokers are talking to their clients about it already,” LaRock says.

Choosing Plans Most large-scale health insurers such as Medica or Blue Cross Blue Shield don’t offer the elective benefits. They’re found with

companies like Aflac or State Farm, LaRock says. They can include cancer coverage, critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident and more.

Employers considering supporting or fully covering elective benefits should thoroughly analyze what they need, not “kitchen sink” the coverage, LaRock says.

Consultants help make sure the chosen elective benefits line up with the core benefits offered by the company, says Lisa Hartman, elective benefits manager with SilverStone. They’ll analyze claim utilization on the health plan to see if the company has high instances of heart attacks, cancer diagnoses or hospitalization. Accident plans usually fit well with most companies’ health care coverage, she adds. The analysis also helps employees more efficiently spend their dollars, eliminating repetitive coverage and streamlining the consumer purchasing list, says Aaron Janssen, group benefits account executive with SilverStone.

29

INSURANCE JUNE 2017 VOL 18 ISSUE 6

Consumer-Directed Benefits

Aaron Janssen

Dan LaRock

Employers served by Discovery Benefits in Fargo have been padding coverage in the face of increasing health care costs for the past few years, but have really stepped it up in the past year, says Stephanie Schroeder, vice president of marketing and creative services for Discovery Benefits.

They’re offering Flex accounts and health savings accounts, evolving toward consumer-controlled benefits.

“A lot of employers are switching to higher-deductible health plans, so in order to give their employees peace of mind that they’ll still be able to afford their health care, they pair those highdeductible plans with consumer-directed benefits,” Schroeder says.

Employers can contribute to their employees’ health savings accounts and the employees can access those funds whenever they’re needed, she says. “More and more, I think the reason employers are making the switch to these types of accounts is because they put the control in the hands of the consumers. They can decide when they want to tap into it.”

Beyond wanting to find other ways to take care of their employees as traditional health care costs rise, employers also need to be competitive in recruiting and retaining employees, Schroeder says.

“It’s really important to offer the most competitive benefits package with the competition for talent right now. Anything employers can do to make their benefits package stack up against others, they’re going to do it.”

The region is in the midst of a lingering workforce shortage that seems to affect almost all industries. Schroeder says it’s across the board, plaguing every industry Discovery Benefits serves.

Offering a list of effective employee health benefits goes a long way. “Those are the types of things that can make or break whether you’re going to get that talented candidate in your doors,” she says.

Health care costs won’t be going down in the foreseeable future, LaRock says, so these elective and consumer-directed benefits likely will increase in popularity. “Being intentional about managing this space is going to be a pretty big strategy for regional employers in the next two to three years,” he says. PB

Lisa Gibson

EDITOR, PRAIRIE BUSINESS 701.787.6753 LGIBSON@PRAIRIEBUSINESSMAGAZINE.COM

Lisa Hartman

Stephanie Schroeder

30

TWITTER.COM/PRAIRIEBIZ

FACEBOOK .COM/PRAIRIEBUSINESS

PRAIRIEBUSINESSMAGAZINE.COM

31

CONSTRUCTIONCORNER JUNE 2017 VOL 18 ISSUE 6

BROKE GROUND: SEPTEMBER 2015 EXPECTED COMPLETION: FALL 2017 SIZE: 206,000 SQUARE FEET

Corporate

Consolidation Black Hills Corp. in Rapid City, South Dakota, will move into Horizon Point, its new corporate headquarters, this fall. The facility will consolidate under one roof more than 500 employees from five Rapid City locations serving multiple corporate functions.

The building features modern design, flexible workspaces and the latest technology, with a view — the Black Hills horizon to the west and the plains to the east.

Black Hills Corp. operates as Black Hills Energy, providing natural gas and electric service to 1.2 million customers across eight states from Wyoming to Arkansas.

32

TWITTER.COM/PRAIRIEBIZ

FACEBOOK .COM/PRAIRIEBUSINESS

PRAIRIEBUSINESSMAGAZINE.COM

CONSTRUCTION CORNER

July 2016 IMAGE: ARC INTERNATIONAL INC.

September 2016 IMAGE: ARC INTERNATIONAL INC.

January 2016 IMAGE: SKULL CONSTRUCTION SERVICES

June 2016 IMAGE: SKULL CONSTRUCTION SERVICES

33

CONSTRUCTIONCORNER

ARCHITECT: ARC INTERNATIONAL INC., RAPID CITY GENERAL CONTRACTOR: SCULL CONSTRUCTION SERVICES, RAPID CITY COST: $70.4 MILLION

JUNE 2017 VOL 18 ISSUE 6

April 2017 IMAGE: ARC INTERNATIONAL INC.

March 2017 IMAGE: ARC INTERNATIONAL INC.

Rendering of completed Horizon Point IMAGE: ARC INTERNATIONAL INC.

34

TWITTER.COM/PRAIRIEBIZ

FACEBOOK .COM/PRAIRIEBUSINESS

PRAIRIEBUSINESSMAGAZINE.COM

CIVILDES.COM

SHAPING IDEAS ENGINEERING RESULTS SITE DESIGN

PLANNING

MATERIALS TESTING

TRANSPORTATION

DRAINAGE

MUNICIPAL

SURVEYING 605.696.3200

35

INSIGHTs&intuition JUNE 2017 VOL 18 ISSUE 6

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

Q.

INSIGHTs & INTUITION How does your organization keep remote employees engaged and active in culture initiatives?

Odney provides an environment for employees that encourages them to do their best work, which includes hiring remote employees. We have monthly team meetings to keep us engaged and involved, and all employees are part of the employee “STAR” recognition program. Remote employees are also welcome to be in the Culture Club. We are invited to client meetings, team building activities, employee celebrations and to spend a day in the office for face-to-face interaction. It’s great to work in my sweatpants some days, but it’s even better to work with a talented team that truly cares about what they do.

Jackie Meyer TECHNOLOGY ADVISOR MARCO FARGO

36

TWITTER.COM/PRAIRIEBIZ

Our culture is one of our best assets, so keeping it strong is a big deal.

We take full advantage of technology like video conferencing and video chat for training and other meetings, so we get the feeling of connecting face to face. Hearing and seeing someone fuels a comradery that email can’t.

We also plan culture-building activities and events that can be played out at any location. Our United Way campaign is a great example. Everyone is encouraged to join the fun, and we share all of the moments on social media, so employees feel a sense of connection, whether they’re in Fargo, Sioux Falls or Omaha.

FACEBOOK .COM/PRAIRIEBUSINESS

PRAIRIEBUSINESSMAGAZINE.COM

Jamie Fischer PUBLIC RELATIONS SPECIALIST ODNEY DICKINSON

INSIGHTS & INTUITION

Michelle McDonald-Trostad HUMAN RESOURCES GENERALIST AE2S GRAND FORKS

At the heart of AE2S is a workforce that thrives on delivering seamless “extreme client service” across many locations. With our innate ability to build lasting relationships, a focus on inclusion is only natural. We achieve this by harnessing a variety of technology channels that not only allow for increased communication and collaboration but also brings us together to celebrate successes, learn from each other, or simply sit down for coffee with the CEO virtually. Connecting on a regular basis successfully drives inclusion and has resulted in a workforce that genuinely feels they are part of something much bigger than themselves, regardless of their location.

This year, Kilbourne Group is embarking on its first remote team member relationship. Intentional connectivity is paramount to engagement and will be accomplished using the latest technology. Videoconferencing and screen-sharing will allow team meeting participation.

Engaging on a personal level will occur through satisfaction surveys, group chat, regular visits back to Fargo and our internal social media group. This remote employment relationship is a wonderful opportunity for us to learn about and explore another community’s success with downtown revitalization.

Joni Smith HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER MOORE ENGINEERING WEST FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA

Margie Johnson DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES KILBOURNE GROUP FARGO

Mission and Values – Our mission and values are the foundation of our culture, so we prominently post them in all offices to keep them top of mind for everyone.

Video Conferencing – We use it almost daily.

Internal Committees – Internal committees include members from all offices. It helps us feel part of the same team, especially when we’re celebrating accomplishments.

Intranet – Our Intranet is an important tool for sharing news, stories and photos. Our team works hard to balance the number of activities we report from all offices.

Face-to-Face – Senior leaders make quarterly visits to all offices.

Our business banking professionals offer customized financial solutions to fit your strategic goals. Give us a call today, let’s get started.

20 Locations Across North Dakota (800) 359-8092 | firstintlbank.com

37

ByTHENUMBERS JUNE 2017

exchange rate

VOL 18 ISSUE 6

January 1 Canadian Exchange Rate

employment Retail Employment

2017

(in thousands)

2017 294.9 47.6 52.9

MN ND SD

2016 289.3 48.8 52.4

2015 283.2 50.5 51.3

2014 279.3 49.8 50.4

2013 277.4 47.7 49.7

2012 274.4 45.4 49.4

2011 269 43.2 48.6

(in thousands)

2017 314.9 24 41

2016 314.4 24.5 42.1

2015 313.4 25.3 42.6

0.0

2014 305.2 25.4 41.6

2013 303.5 24.7 41.7

2012 304.3 24.9 40.4

2011 293 23.1 38

February Crude Oil Purchase Prices (dollars per barrel)

100

91.68

93.89

ND SD

80 48.26

47.9 41.31

40 22.72

20 0

2017

43.61

23.34

2016

2015

2014

February Field Production of Crude Oil (thousands of barrels)

35000 30000

0.3

0.6

0.9

1.2

32782

32313 28463

SD

26512

25000

ND

20000 15000

Medicaid Enrollment

Jan-15 Feb-15 Mar-15 Apr-15 May-15 Jun-15 Jul-15 Aug-15 Sep-15 Oct-15 Nov-15 Dec-15 Jan-16 Feb-16 Mar-16 Apr-16 May-16 Jun-16 Jul-16 Aug-16 Sep-16 Oct-16 Nov-16 Dec-16 Jan-17 Feb-17

Minnesota North Dakota South Dakota 117687 86220 1041975 118470 87956 1049142 118794 89143 1053357 118787 89723 1042882 118581 89001 1034043 118429 88820 1029724 118715 88719 1028161 118333 88602 1036683 118314 88622 1031703 118234 89243 1041470 118046 88955 1060020 118295 89240 1070731 118568 89639 1087569 118983 85790 1040116 119140 84313 1042228 119053 85983 1043452 119189 89839 1046317 119350 89914 1049997 119252 89460 1047507 119835 89763 1051509 119856 79114 1059681 119694 83149 1039203 119696 1044938 95172 119956 1049566 94681 120053 1054560 94332 120093 1033812 92658

10000 5000 0

38

1.5

Total February Medicaid/Children’s Health Insurance Program Enrollment

Oil prices

60

2015

2014

manufacturing Employment

MN ND SD

2016

104

118

141

2017

2016

2015

TWITTER.COM/PRAIRIEBIZ

FACEBOOK .COM/PRAIRIEBUSINESS

138

2014

PRAIRIEBUSINESSMAGAZINE.COM

DATA PROVIDED BY DAVID FLYNN , CHAIR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS. REACH HIM AT DAVID.FLYNN@BUSINESS.UND.EDU

Venkata Dandamudi, MD & Kiron Thomas, MD Interventional Neurology 32nd Avenue Clinic

Venkata Dandamudi, MD – Kiron Thomas, MD

Dr. Venkata Dandamudi and Dr. Kiron Thomas have

certified by the American Board of Medical Specialties

joined the Essentia Health-32nd Avenue Clinic in

in neurology and the United Council for Neurologic

Fargo. As part of the expert team of caregivers in the

Subspecialties in neurocritical care.

Interventional Neurology Department, Dr. Dandamudi and Dr. Thomas use the latest technology to treat stroke and conditions that may contribute to stroke.

Dr. Thomas earned a medical degree from JJM Medical College. He completed a residency in internal medicine at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in

Dr. Dandamudi earned a medical degree from Rangaraya

Urbana, Illinois, and a residency in neurology at Tufts

Medical College in Kakinada, India. He completed a

Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts. He completed

neuroimaging fellowship at Harvard Medical School/

a fellowship in vascular neurology at Lahey Clinic Medical

Brigham and Women’s Hospital and subsequently

Center in Burlington, Massachusetts. He is certified by

completed a residency in internal medicine at Newark

the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in

Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, New Jersey, as

neurology. “I am dedicated to spending quality time with

well as a residency in neurology and a fellowship in

my patients,” says Dr. Thomas. “I make sure we have

neurocritical care and neuro-interventional surgery at

enough time during appointments to answer all of their

Tufts Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts. He is

questions and to provide all the information they need.”

To see their profiles, go to EssentiaHealth.org and click on “Find a Medical Professional.”