PRAIRIEPEOPLE

Fuhrman joins BCBSND as VP of finance

FARGO, N.D. — Paul Fuhrman has been hired as vice president of finance at Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota. A certified public accountant, Fuhrman earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Wisconsin in Eau Claire, Wis.

Prior to joining BCBSND, Fuhrman was the founder and president of Tonka Advisory, his own finance and accounting advisory company. He also had served as vice-president, treasurer and CFO of Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company in Neenah, Wis.

Thorson named N.D.’s health information technology director

BISMARCK, N.D – Shila Thorson, a registered nurse and doctoral-degree student, has been named the new health information technology director for North Dakota. Thorson will be responsible for overseeing the Health Information Network, the state’s health information exchange. Thorson earned a master’s degree in nursing from the University of Mary and is pursuing a Ph.D. from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora. She led the North Dakota Stroke Systems of Care, a public-private partnership that resulted in a Critical Access Hospital state designation and $3.4 million Helmsley Charitable Trust grant, a press release from the state of North Dakota reported. She also led the development of the North Dakota Cardiac System of Care and statewide Cardiac Ready Communities program.

S.D.’s interim education secretary appointed as permanent secretary

MADISON, S.D. — Gov. Kristi Noem recently announced that interim Secretary of Education Ben Jones has been appointed as the permanent secretary.

The former dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Dakota State University, Jones began serving in the state office in January. He had been dean at Dakota State since 2013. Judy Dittman, associate provost/title III director, will continue to serve as interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

Stinson joins Anchor Marketing

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – Darren Stinson has joined Anchor Marketing as the company’s newest account manager. Before joining Anchor Marketing, Stinson served as president of Ideal Aerosmith, a leading manufacturer of motion test solutions. At Ideal Aerosmith, he oversaw both quality management and the company’s human resources department.

Preston joins Houston Engineering

MINOT, N.D. – Houston Engineering, Inc. has hired Billy Preston as a survey technician.

Preston also is a licensed drone pilot and can operate a seafloor survey boat system. He grew up in Burlington, N.D., and previously worked as a land surveyor and mechanic.

Payroll Professionals announces new co-owner and CFO

FARGO, N.D. – Brett Longtin has bought out Payroll Professionals’ retiring co-founder Brenda Kowalski, the company announced.

Longtin will serve as chief financial officer and joins founder and CEO, Dan Thompson, in co-owning Payroll Professionals.

Longtin received his undergraduate degree in accounting and finance at Minnesota State University Moorhead. He earned an MBA in health care management from the University of St. Thomas.

Christopher Comstock

Lacey McCormack

Two SDSU faculty to serve on state professional board

BROOKINGS, S.D. – Two South Dakota State University faculty members were elected to the South Dakota Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics board. Assistant Professor Lacey McCormack and Instructor Christopher Comstock will begin their terms at the June board meeting. Both faculty members are registered dietitians and licensed nutritionists.

McCormack, who is the director of SDSU’s Didactic Program in Dietetics, received her bachelor’s degree in dietetics and health promotion from South Dakota State, her master’s in public health nutrition from the University of Minnesota and her doctorate in nutrition, exercise and food sciences from South Dakota State.

Comstock has two undergraduate degrees, one in biology with a minor in chemistry from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn., and one in nutrition and dietetics from South Dakota State. He became an instructor after earning a master’s degree in nutrition, food science and exercise science from SDSU in 2015.

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