PROJECTS FROM ACROSS THE REGION PAGE 16
THERE NOW IS A MORE PROACTIVE WAY TO TREAT STORMWATER PAGE 12 THE LEGAL PROFESSION EMBARKS ON NEW TERRITORY
Whoosh! What’s next is here.
Move ahead to a future full of revolutionary technology. Remote medical diagnostics. Virtualholodecks. Interactive video walls. Augmented reality. We’re not holding back.
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Debt is an important and sometimes misunderstood part of a business’s balance sheet. Owners may mistakenly assume all debt is bad and should be avoided. The truth is more complex. The key to good debt is to have a strategic reason to take on debt — don’t just borrow because rates are low – seek out lenders offering terms that work for you. In today’s lowinterest environment, there can be pressure to take on debt without thinking long term, but the structure of the loans may be variable or not in an owner’s best interest. Work with an advisor to take on good debt that serves a purpose. Here are some ways debt can be useful:
Debt is an important and sometimes misunderstood part of a business’s balance sheet. Owners may mistakenly assume all debt is bad and should be avoided. The truth is more complex. The key to good debt is to have a strategic reason to take on debt — don’t just borrow because rates are low – seek out lenders offering terms that work for you. In today’s lowinterest environment, there can be pressure to take on debt without thinking long term, but the structure of the loans may be variable or not in an owner’s best interest. Work with an advisor to take on good debt that serves a purpose. Here are some ways debt can be useful:
Take advantage of low interest rates to refinance older, higher interest debt. This may also provide an opportunity to restructure debt to serve your business strategy – lower interest rates and extend terms to free up cash flow and increase liquidity, or you may be able to pay debt off sooner. Some companies are using debt to buy back stock or as an alternative to issuing stock, because the low cost of debt.
Take advantage of low interest rates to refinance older, higher interest debt. This may also provide an opportunity to restructure debt to serve your business strategy – lower interest rates and extend terms to free up cash flow and increase liquidity, or you may be able to pay debt off sooner. Some companies are using debt to buy back stock or as an alternative to issuing stock, because the low cost of debt.
Debt is often a critical ingredient in expansion, whether by acquiring another business, adding territory, upgrading equipment or facilities, or by hiring. The key is to have a good plan for using the funds and ensure the expansion or improvement will generate cash flow to cover the repayment of the loan. This may seem obvious, but when interest rates are low, the temptation to obtain and spend money can lead decision makers to borrow first and ask questions later.
Debt is often a critical ingredient in expansion, whether by acquiring another business, adding territory, upgrading equipment or facilities, or by hiring. The key is to have a good plan for using the funds and ensure the expansion or improvement will generate cash flow to cover the repayment of the loan. This may seem obvious, but when interest rates are low, the temptation to obtain and spend money can lead decision makers to borrow first and ask questions later.
Debt played an important part in keeping doors open and employees paid during the COVID-19 pandemic, and many owners are rethinking what their financial safety net should
Debt played an important part in keeping doors open and employees paid during the COVID-19 pandemic, and many owners are rethinking what their financial safety net should
look like. Having available lines of credit to weather shortterm shocks is one strategy; another involves the balance sheet refinements described above to cushion cash flow or increase cash reserves.
look like. Having available lines of credit to weather shortterm shocks is one strategy; another involves the balance sheet refinements described above to cushion cash flow or increase cash reserves.
The U.S. Small Business Administration and other government agencies sometimes offer special, highly advantageous loan programs to support initiatives. Examples include low-interest, long-term loans or waived fees for construction and renovation projects. Programs and criteria vary, which underscores the importance of working with experienced SBA Preferred lenders who can make a good match for your business.
The U.S. Small Business Administration and other government agencies sometimes offer special, highly advantageous loan programs to support initiatives. Examples include low-interest, long-term loans or waived fees for construction and renovation projects. Programs and criteria vary, which underscores the importance of working with experienced SBA Preferred lenders who can make a good match for your business.
There has been a notable increase in business ownership transfers in the past year, as some owners are retiring while others are using available liquidity to acquire businesses. There has also been an uptick in the use of employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) to transfer business ownership to its employees. Whether selling, passing down, or changing the structure of a business, debt often plays a critical role in ownership transfers.
There has been a notable increase in business ownership transfers in the past year, as some owners are retiring while others are using available liquidity to acquire businesses. There has also been an uptick in the use of employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) to transfer business ownership to its employees. Whether selling, passing down, or changing the structure of a business, debt often plays a critical role in ownership transfers.
Whatever the strategy behind your debt, be sure to work with a trusted partner who understands your business. Alerus has worked with businesses of all sizes for decades, with a focus on helping organizations position themselves over the long term to realize their purpose and vision. Alerus business advisors help owners keep a close eye on their fundamentals and understand the implications – and opportunities – that borrowing presents. Talk to an Alerus business advisor today.
Whatever the strategy behind your debt, be sure to work with a trusted partner who understands your business. Alerus has worked with businesses of all sizes for decades, with a focus on helping organizations position themselves over the long term to realize their purpose and vision. Alerus business advisors help owners keep a close eye on their fundamentals and understand the implications – and opportunities – that borrowing presents. Talk to an Alerus business advisor today.
ISGis adedicatedarchitectural,engineering,environmental,andplanningpartner, proudtosupportcommunitiesthroughouttheNorthernPlains.With afocuson theclientsweserve,ourmulti-disciplinaryexpertsmakeitallhappen.
What does the word innovation mean to you? Perhaps surprisingly, it hasn’t always had the same connotation it does today.
“Innovation was a word that had been in bad repute for centuries. It meant something impulsive, a trifle addled, the work of an enthusiast and certainly an infringement on the law,” writes Catherine Drinker Bowen in Miracle at Philadelphia, a fine book about the Constitutional Convention of 1787. At the time, accusing “a politician of introducing innovation was to discredit him at once.”
The word innovation has much more appeal today. It is a positive trait to innovate, to think outside the box, to come up with new ways of doing things. That is the root of progress – and any company worth its salt wants to progress to the next level.
Something impressive with companies in the Prairie Business coverage area is their innovation. They seem to always be striving to excel and grow, which is exactly what any business, if they are doing things right, should be doing.
In this month’s issue, which highlights construction and engineering projects in the region, there are many companies doing just that – innovating, growing, excelling.
Take, for example, Houston Engineering Inc. The firm, which has offices in Minnesota and North Dakota, has created a unique automated system to treat stormwater. You’ll have to read the story to find out more about this innovation, but it is exciting to know that companies such as HEI are always on the edge, looking over the cliff and seeing where they might fill the void. Accordingly, the team’s project has filled a big space for some clients, such as municipalities and water districts, looking to better treat stormwater.
Of course, a company doesn’t have to develop new technologies or systems to be innovative. Innovation happens in the laboratories and plants, sure – such as developing electric cars and, more recently, their longer battery life – but it also happens at the desk, whether in the office or remotely, and if individuals and companies are to be successful they innovate all of the time.
Digi-Key Electronics, based in Thief River Falls, is figuring out ways to work in an office setting of new normalities, and law firms are tackling new territory (for them) with aspects of the legal profession going virtual. Both also are stories in this issue.
What are some things your business has done to innovate? We would like to know – so would other Prairie Business readers. Send me a note.
Until next time, Andrew Weeks
I look forward to hearing from you at aweeks@prairiebusinessmagazine.com or 701-780-1276.
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Those who work to treat stormwater ask questions that the average person may not: Where does the water go? How will it be treated before it gets there?
Unlike industrial pollution, stormwater pollution is something humans contribute to as rainwater runs off roads and other hard surfaces, carrying with it chemicals, fertilizers and other contaminants. When stormwater hits streams and rivers, it carries with it any minerals and contaminants it has trapped.
This is where treatment plants come in, helping to ensure that stormwater is as clean as possible before it moves to its final destination.
But before the treatment plants, there were engineering companies that designed them.
Enter Houston Engineering Inc. (HEI), which has upped the cleaning process for urban stormwater with an automated pump-andtreat system.
HEI and Maple Grove, Minnesota-based EPG Companies in about 2014 partnered with the Rice Creek Watershed District for a project at Hansen Park in New Brighton, Minnesota, to explore how to make treating stormwater more efficient at removing phosphorus and other components. Phosphorus is a natural mineral, but too much of it in standing water can cause algae blooms, which are harmful to humans and animals.
Up to that point, the district had used passive, or gravity-fed, systems that worked well when it stormed but were not as efficient at other times, according to Kyle Axtell, project manager at Rice Creek Watershed District. It wanted a system beyond just the traditional
filter beds it was using, something more proactive that could treat stormwater not only when it rained but at other times throughout the season.
HEI had already been a partner with the watershed district for several years and this new interest allowed the company’s Dennis McAlpine, senior engineer, and Alex Schmidt, civil engineer, and their team to explore new possibilities.
Pump technology had already been around for a while, McAlpine said, and the iron-enhanced sand filters that the district had adopted were used on the passive scale. Relying on storm events – and gravity to direct stormwater into an infiltration basin – may be more cost-effective, but it doesn’t always work or is not as efficient.
“Stormwater pipes are underground, making it difficult to drain to a treatment feature on the surface given the limited amount of open space or ideal topography,” Schmidt explained in an article provided by HEI. “The common solution is to move the stormwater treatment underground. But underground treatment comes with a high price tag and its own difficulties, especially where infiltration is not possible.”
Schmidt said iron-enhanced sand filter beds require cycling of drying times to maintain their phosphorus capturing processes, but this doesn’t always happen with gravity-fed systems.
“If there are continuous flows for long periods after a rainfall, a gravity-fed IESF would be inundated for too long creating anoxic conditions, and actually, releasing phosphorus rather than capturing it,” he explained in his article.
But what if water could be pumped 24/7 and without the delays of waiting for Mother Nature to do her part? What if automated pumps could be controlled and set to cycle times that optimize the sand filters instead of relying on gravity?
WHEN WE STARTED, THERE WASN’T ANYBODY THAT WAS DOING ACTIVE PUMPING WITH MULTI-BED SYSTEMS. THERE WERE NO SYSTEMS WITH DEDICATED/ AUTOMATED CONTROLS SPECIFIC FOR THIS APPLICATION. THAT WAS SOMETHING NEW THAT WE HELPED DEVELOP.”
— DENNIS MCALPINE, SENIOR ENGINEER AT HEIAfter its explorations, HEI came up with a successful model of an automated pump-and-treat system, which EPG Companies helped design with a keen focus on the system’s programming. The system uses iron-enhanced sand beds, but with its automated setup it allows the ability to pump at all times. It looks something like this: Stormwater flows into a pumping system, where a pre-filter sump removes debris. Next, water is pumped to the surface from the iron-enhanced sand filter beds through “bubblers.” Water then seeps through the beds to remove suspended solids and phosphorus, after which the cleaner water drains back out through a tile pipe back to the ditch and moves downstream. (See graphic.)
On the surface, the pond looks much like a bunker at a golf course, McAlpine said.
“We have a rock bed, we discharge water to the surface of the sand filter media through a bubbler – and the water cascades over a series of rocks (the bubbler) and fills up the bed,” he said. But the real magic happens beneath the surface with the automated system. “We can maximize that interface of stormwater and iron-rich sand mixture with our automated pumping system that manages stormwater dosing and rest periods.
“When we started, there wasn’t anybody that was doing active pumping with multi-bed systems. There were no systems with dedicated/automated controls specific for this application. That was something new that we helped develop.”
Some people may consider it just an irrigation system that pumps water from point A to point B, but McApline said it is much more than that.
“We developed our systems with a series of beds so we could maximize the dosing time and rest periods of stormwater pumping and have some redundancies if a bed went down,” he said. “There were some previous attempts at pumped systems with one bed and
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MINOT, N.D. • Minot State University has earned a national cyber-defense designation.
The designation – Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security – was given to the school’s Management Information Systems through 2027.
The designation is awarded to regionally accredited academic institutions offering cybersecurity degrees and/or certificates at the associate, bachelor and graduate levels. The designation process is a combination of elements related to the institution, focused on outputs for determining academic achievement.
This combination assures that the institution meets the desired characteristics of a CAE-CD institution, and that the academic delivery to students is producing the qualified workforce needed by the nation.
“Earning the designation as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense by the NSA and DHS is a significant honor for MSU, and specifically our College of Business,” said Minot State President Dr. Steven Shirley. “This designation is a strong seal of approval from the federal government
regarding our cyber programming, and it will create wonderful new opportunities for current and future MSU students.
“Faculty have made major strides in both our business information technology and computer science academic areas, and this academic excellence acknowledgment is
FARGO, N.D. • North Dakota State University students took top spots in the spring 2022 National Cyber League individual competition. Eight students placed in the top 10% of more than 3,000 participants and two ranked in the top “Diamond-1” medal category. An additional 11 students received diamond-level metals, 16 received platinum medals, 10 received gold medals, three received silver medals and four received bronze medals. Overall, 56 NDSU students participated in the competition.
National Cyber League provides students an exciting competition environment to learn and demonstrate their cybersecurity skills. The competition challenges students in 10 areas: open source intelligence; cryptography; cracking passwords; analyzing logs; analyzing network traffic; wireless access; forensics, scanning; exploiting web applications; and enumeration/exploitation.
yet another important affirmation of our expertise in these critical cyber areas.”
With this designation, Minot State is formally recognized by the U.S. government for its robust cybersecurity-related programs, having undergone in-depth assessment and met rigorous requirements.
Students earn points and are ranked in each category. Participants perform tasks as part of the competition’s challenges that correspond to tasks performed in real world cybersecurity industry jobs.
“The competition showcases students’ technical and problem-solving skills,” said Jeremy Straub, NDSU Cybersecurity Institute director and assistant professor of computer science. “NDSU students can show employers throughout the country that they are well prepared for real cybersecurity jobs using objective measures.”
The current semester’s level of participation surpassed NDSU’s previous record and places NDSU among the largest participating institutions nationwide.
As a student-focused, land grant, research institution, we serve our citizens.
limited controls but ours is really the first multi-bed fully automated control-type setup that we are aware of.”
The first automated “pump-and-treat” system was successfully installed at Hansen Park in New Brighton in 2017, but since then it also has been installed at other Minnesota sites and has proven to remove up to about 90% of phosphorus.
The system, which can be customized for each location and managed remotely, can be beneficial to water districts and municipalities, Schmidt said, noting there are many benefits of the automated system, no less than the capacity to treat stormwater 24/7.
“You’re not just relying on rainfall events,” he said.
Axtell agrees on that point: “We’re not only treating water during rainstorms, we’re also treating base-flow conditions that come through our drainage ditches or, depending on where it’s located, we’ve got a wide network of public drainage in our watershed. Even for a relatively urban watershed, that’s kind of unique, and so we’re able to operate 24/7. That’s the key to having those multiple filter beds – so we rotate that flow around and keep it running all the time.”
Axtell said the watershed district last year treated some 42 million gallons of water throughout the operating season, and that “it makes it more efficient and cost effective over the life of the project to be able to know that it’s running all the time as opposed to just when we get rain.”
Another benefit, Schmidt said, is that a passive system needs a larger amount of area to store and treat water, whereas HEI’s automated system requires smaller space.
“You have flexibility and you’re not constrained to site elevations because you can pump the water as high as you need and get it to go where you want it to go,” he said. “I think there is more flexibility in how you design them versus a passive system.”
The team at HEI is not sitting on its laurels, but is looking at ways the system may be improved in the future, depending on client needs, such as using weather adaptive technology. Schmidt said such technology would notify the system of upcoming rain events so water could be more effectively managed during those episodes.
“That could be combined with flooding, where maybe you have a site that can both store water during a flood event as well as treat water with a system like we’re talking about,” he said. “We’ve used this technology so far on at least one site.”
With the rising cost of material and supply-chain delays, it’s a tough time for the construction industry. But there also are several bright spots.
One of which is the quality work that continues to be done in the region, according to Russ Hanson, executive vice president of Associated General Contractors of North Dakota, a chapter of the National Associated General Contractors of America in Washington, DC.
He said his industry has toughened its resolve over the past couple of years and is up to meeting the current challenges.
“It is very resilient,” he said. “There are things that need to be looked at and adjusted, of course, but it has quality people and builds quality projects. The economy will benefit.”
A number of those quality construction projects, either underway
or recently completed in the Dakotas and western Minnesota, are listed in the following pages:
Trinity Early Childhood Center, located in Dickinson, North Dakota, is an educational, two-story building. The project, some 21,000 square-feet and under construction by JE Dunn Construction, started in March and is set for completion in February 2023. The designer is Habeeb & Associates Architects.
The spacious two-story preschool and elementary school includes classrooms, restrooms, kitchen, administrative and support spaces. Associated site improvements include site utilities, parking lot improvements, fencing, and landscaping. There also is a possible 10,000 square-foot addition to include gymnasium, dining area, restrooms and support spaces.
Becker County Highway Department will have a new facility once the project is complete in August 2023. The project, being built by McGough Construction, started in May and is a one-story, 53,334 square-foot building in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. It will be a government office, but also a maintenance and storage facility.
Called the New Highway Department Office, Maintenance, and Storage Facility is owned and operated by Becker County, Minnesota. The precast concrete building with exterior insulated metal panels at the office, includes weld bays, multiple vehicle lifts, a wash bay, an interior bridge crane system, and an exterior fuel island with canopy.
Dickinson State University Sports Complex is underway in Dickinson, North Dakota. The project, which started in May and is under construction by JE Dunn, will be complete this November and includes three building structures. The architect on this project is EAPC Architects Engineers. The 27-acre sports complex features four synthetic turf softball fields, five irrigated turf grass soccer fields, and parking/site access improvements. It is the school’s primary collegiate softball field to feature stadium seating, recessed dugouts, athletic lighting, bullpen/batting cages, padded fencing, and athletic equipment specialties. The project will involve the construction of three buildings: Concessions and public restrooms, pressbox behind stadium seating, and locker rooms/training space attached to the collegiate home dugout.
Dunn County Killdeer Shop, in Killdeer, North Dakota, is a government/county shop under construction by JE Dunn. The one story, 23,500 square-foot building includes 4,000 square-feet of mezzanine space. The project started in April 2022 and will be finished in May 2023. Architect is JLG Architects. The project consists of the greenfield development of a 20-acre site including mass grading, site utilities, landscaping and concrete paving. Building construction consists of a 23,500 square-foot, pre-engineered metal building made up of 8,500 square feet of finished space (restrooms, office space, breakroom, mezzanine storage space) and 15,000 square feet of shop space, including an overhead bridge crane and wash bay.
3 4
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Fargo Parks Sports Complex, under construction by McGough Construction, is a two-story 275,000 square-foot recreational facility located in Fargo, North Dakota. It also will include sports medicine, offices, and community event center. The project started in May 2022 with a spring 2024 completion date. Architect of the project is JLG Architects.
The Fargo Parks Sports Complex will create a recreational facility that houses a full-size NCAA soccer field, four basketball courts, and Sanford Power sports medicine all under one roof. The Fargo Parks District, the building owner and operator, will bring staff to this new office that will better suit current and anticipated growth.
Sugihara Hall at North Dakota State University is an educational, laboratory-intensive building under construction by Kraus-Anderson. It is four stories with 104,485 square-feet of space. The project started in April 2020 and is set for completion this August. Architects of the project are Zerr Berg ArchitectsandBWBR.
The four-story building incorporates right-sized research labs with teaching labs, graduate student workspaces, classrooms, and a variety of student support and study spaces — all within an energy efficientdesign.
The new facility pairs advanced laboratory and research spaces with cross-departmental and campus connections to bridge academic interests and spur innovations with relevant research opportunities. The building includes more than 80 fume hoods, a new chemical storage room, proper chem-
ical storage in the labs, and a new rock sample processing and storage space. A back-up generator is installed to protect sensitive research.
The building opened in January 2022 with the demolition of Dunbar Hall and skyway connections to Memorial Union, Ladd Hall, and Hultz Hall sched-
uled for completion in August.
The site of the former Dunbar Hall will be transformed into a connective plaza in the heart of campus.
Magic City Discovery Center is a three-story, 22,123 squarefoot educational building in Minot,NorthDakota.Construction of the project, underway by Kraus-Anderson, started in May 2021 with a summer 2022 completion date. Architect of theprojectisMinot-basedAckerman-Estvold.
The MCDC is an interactive educational museum that will provide STEAM-based indoor and outdoor activities for childrenupto14years.
The hybrid children’s museum and science center will feature 12 interactive exhibit galleries, focusing on Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM). The discovery cen-
ter is designed for open-ended, layered learning, allowing children to independently and collaboratively engage in lifelong learning through discovery, creativity, and play. Some of the interactive exhibits include: Magic Climber, a 37-foot-tall structure representing North Dakota, where visitors will be
able to climb from earth to sky, and from prairie dog burrows to an oil derrick, to reach a wire frame B-52 airplane where they’ll get a 360-degree view of Minot from above the second-floor roofline.
The Building Gallery, an interactive “construction zone” filled with a variety of materials,
images, and experiences that will explore “building” as both a noun and a verb.
Other STEAM-based exhibits in the children’s museum will include an aerial flight exhibit, digital worlds, light and sound labs – all designed to encourage creativity, exploration, and problem solving.
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Managercontinued from Page 19
First Bank & Trust Arena renovation and addition is located at South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota. The three-story sports arena includes 94,600 square-feet of renovation and 59,600 square-feet of additional space. Architect and construction companies are EAPC Architects Engineers and Henry Carlson Construction, respectively. The project started in May and will be completed in fall 2024.
Along with the new name (it was formerly called the Frost Arena) comes numerous additions and upgrades to the facility to create a modern state-of-the-art experience for athletes and fans. The addition will create new main entrances for all spectators on the east side along with the students on the west side and allows for the addition of premium seating options, including 12 private suites, three clubs, and two party decks. Within the original building, the existing retractable wood bleach-
ers will be removed and replaced with new tiered platforms containing individual fixed seats on the remaining three sides of the arena to create a bowl. This new arrangement will allow for improved sightlines, complete ADA accessibility and enhanced seating throughout. In addition, this will allow for much-needed concessions and restroom space underneath along with the connection of the concourse.
Other upgrades include the addition of air conditioning, replacement of the wood flooring, addition of a fire sprinkler system, along with interior finish upgrades throughout, new locker facilities, sports medicine, administration spaces and classrooms.
The project has been planned so that the entire facility will remain operational throughout the construction period and all home games will still be played.
The Beacon, developed by EPIC Companies, is a mixed-use facility in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Designer of the seven-story, 106,000 square-foot building is EAPC Architects Engineers, with Community Contractors Inc. as the construction company. The project started in October 2021 and will be completed in fall 2023.
The Beacon is the future home of three buildings in downtown Grand Forks, including an outdoor plaza, public parking, and event space. This city-owned event space and plaza will host markets, trade shows, concerts, theater, movie nights, kids’ events, hockey, broomball, basketball, speaking engagements, art, and more. The mixed-use buildings of apartments and condos will be home to those who enjoy proximity to downtown. Included in the project is more than 50,000 square-feet of commercial space for new opportunities in this growing part of the city.
Cass Lake Clinic is a health care clinic in Cass Lake, Minnesota. The three-story, 67,656 square-foot addition – called the Phase 2.2 expansion – started in November 2021 and will be finished in fall 2023. Construction company on the project is Norson Construction; the architect is EAPC Architects Engineers.
Cass Lake Indian Health Services is expanding the facility to better serve its patient population. The new 57,525 square-foot expansion provides services on three floors. The basement level has three large conference rooms for education and meeting space with the capability of opening all into one large space. The new optometry unit and an audiology suite provide enhanced patient services.
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TheCBE teamoffersin-house designservices,budgeting, estimating,valueengineering, andconstructionmanagement allwith asinglepointofcontact. Thiswayweensureallaspectsof theprojectare coordinated, withinbudget,andbuilttothe client’svision.
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A large central sterile suite supports the needs of the entire facility and offices for health information management, coding, and CAC round out the lower level.
On the ground floor, office space for benefits services and referred care is convenient for patient support. The
main level houses imaging space including CT scanning, x-ray, Dexa, mammography, and ultrasound. A primary care wing will provide same-day appointments and a new rehab space will provide PT, OT, and cardiac rehab care. The upper floor has space for a 16-chair dental practice.
The Kesler is a mixed-use multifamily and commercial development at 624 2nd Ave. North in downtown Fargo. The six-story project, designed by TL Stroh Architects and Interiors and constructed by Kilbourne Construction Management LLC, started in August 2020 and had a completion of this June. The engineer on the project is MBN Engineering Inc.
Named after the former Kesler Block that occupied the site until it was razed in 1976, Kesler includes 109 stylish apartments, almost 9,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space for up to five new businesses, and 69 enclosed parking stalls. Surrounded by downtown Fargo’s historic Black Building, Stone Building and The Graver, Kesler’s brick and metal siding is a perfect blend of classic and modern.
Kesler is the fourth phase of a public-private partnership with the city of Fargo, which began in early 2016 and replaced three surface parking lots with a city-owned garage and three private mixed-use
buildings. The partnership has created more than 500 structured parking stalls, 265 new apartments, and 35,500 square feet of ground-floor commercial space.
By infilling a central surface lot downtown, Kesler creates an extension of Roberts Alley, an active pedestrian passageway filled with alley-facing storefronts, public art, and outdoor patios. The project features an elevated patio with direct views of Broadway Square, downtown Fargo’s new programmed public plaza. Residents enjoy SmartRent technologies, which allow for controlled, remote Bluetooth access, as well as a dog wash, two secured bike rooms, secured package rooms, and a clubroom that adjoins the rooftop patio.
The Landing at 1001 NP in downtown Fargo is a multi-use, multifamily building with ground floor restaurant. Its four stories comprises a 5,000 square-foot ground floor restaurant space and enclosed parking, and 222,403 square feet of apartments. The project started in October 2020 and will be complete in July. Architect is JLG Architects. Bakken Contracting Co LLC (dba BC Contracting Co) and MBN Engineering Inc. are the construction and engineering companies, respectively.
The building adds 154 apartment units to the west edge of downtown Fargo. Anchored by an available large corner restaurant with an outdoor patio, The Landing creates a welcoming entrance to Fargo’s walkable downtown as visitors enter from the 10th Street underpass. The project features five two-story walk-up units on the north side with private entrances, and includes 217 enclosed on-grade, enclosed underground, and surface parking spaces.
The name is a nod to the site’s historical roots as a planing mill served by a Northern Pacific rail spur. The Landing joins the burgeoning neighborhood of Wild Terra Cidery, Brew Bird, and the Historic Union, home to Pixeled Brewery and Rough Cut Social. Residents of The Landing will enjoy the
convenience of remote Bluetooth access to and control of units through SmartRent technologies, and access to a large, elevated clubroom and patio, secured package delivery and bike room.
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• Towels,Tissue,Napkins,Copy Paper
• FoodserviceSupplies
• JanitorialSupplies &Equipment
• PackagingMaterials &OfficeSupplies
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Southwest Pipeline Project (SWPP) Taylor Elevated Tank is a 400,000-gallon spheroid style elevated potable water storage tank in Taylor, North Dakota. The project was awarded to Bartlett & West in June 2021. It is expected to be completed this September. Architecture and construction companies of the project are Bartlett & West and AECOM, respectively.
As part of the continued growth and expansion of the Southwest Pipeline Project (SWPP), which serves a population of more than 56,000 people in southwest North Dakota, Bartlett & West/AECOM recently assisted SWPP in the design and construction of a new elevated water tank in Taylor, North Dakota.
SWPP and the city of Taylor collaborated during the design phase of this project to include a bid alternate that would increase the size of the tank to accommodate the storage needs of the city in addition to serving rural residents in the area. This option was ultimately awarded with 50,000 gallons of the tank’s 400,000 total storage capacity being allocated for the city.
Ackerman-Estvold has assisted the residents of the Souris River Basin in bringing complete flood protection to the area for the past decade. The scope of the Burlington project covers four counties, multiple cities, hundreds of miles, and impacts thousands of residents.
The team is excited for the first citywide phase of this project, which the company says will be completed within this year’s construction season. By fall the city of Burlington will have full flood protection.
The company said all projects are unique and have their challenges, but this project has some special nuances from an engineering standpoint, which
required materials and techniques that are not typically used on projects in the region. The existing soil composition of the sites required additional features to provide the required levee strength and stability; a seepage cutoff wall was the solution. A seepage cutoff wall reduces groundwater mitigation beneath the levee which would lead to instability, which is paramount when constructing flood protection and working with water.
The seepage cutoff wall was constructed utilizing a combination of bentonite, cement, slag, and existing soils to create a less permeable barrier, which would provide the additional strength needed to support the large levee structure and protect from a breach. About 8,500 linear feet of seepage cutoff wall was installed in this project.
The technique used for the seepage cutoff wall was unique, as the cutoff wall that was installed ranged in depth from 30-50 feet into the ground depending on the soil conditions in the area. The method used for installation included utilizing a long reach excavator or one pass trenchers. These machines dig down into the ground, pulling up material and then mixing the materials of bentonite, cement or slag, and feeding back into the trench area. This creates the strength and barrier underground needed to support the levee system.
John Oelke, an associate attorney at German Law in Grand Forks, says law practice is changing — and that the change isn’t done quite yet.
The coronavirus pandemic changed work and the office in far-ranging ways, and that same change has come to law practices around the upper Midwest. Oelke points out that, as German Law handles estate planning, it’s a lot easier to work with clients around the Red River Valley when they can just hop on Zoom instead of asking clients to make a longer drive to the office.
“In North Dakota, it can be a huge drive to get to a bigger city, Grand Forks or Fargo or Bismarck, to meet with an attorney who specializes in estate planning,” Oelke said. “It’s made it easier for us to connect with clients on first consultations, where they can do it from home and save the trip, save the 90-mile drive or whatever it is to drive from Cavalier to Grand Forks.”
It’s not a competitive necessity just yet, Oelke said. But it soon will be, as offices are forced to keep up with changing times to maintain a steady flow of clients.
It’s not just COVID that’s changed the way lawyers work — it’s a tidal shift that’s unfolded over years. Lawyers of today — and especially lawyers of tomorrow — have a lot more than Zoom at their fin-
gertips. Big advances in data-crunching programs and other legal software are shifting how the legal profession approaches research and writing and promises a faster, easier way to work.
Tammy Pettinato Oltz is assistant dean for law library and information services at the University of North Dakota School of Law, where she’s also an assistant professor. She teaches a class called “law practice technology,” and says the technology that lawyers need to keep pace with is constantly moving forward.
One of the most exciting changes, Oltz said, is in “artificial intelligence” in the law, a phrase that conjures an image of a thinking, whirring robotic legal assistant. The reality is a little less exciting — they’re sophisticated research tools, not C-3PO. But they’re still helping advance lawyers’ efficiency by leaps and bounds, like a data-crunching program that can quickly analyze vast amounts of rulings, diagnosing trends in how a certain judge might rule or think. Oelke is familiar with this kind of thing, recently arriving at German Law from a litigation firm.
“There’s companies that compile all this data, and you can see exactly how often each judge grants each type of motion, type of thing,” he said. “If you’re representing a client, are you going to waste their money on a motion that’s not ever granted in front of
Big advances in data-crunching programs and other legal software are shifting how the legal profession approaches work
the judge?”
One other tool that’s particularly helpful is Compose, Oltz said. It’s a legal writing program that comes with a long list of templates that suggests and connects writers to relevant case law.
“I would say what it’s doing is, for a certain part of the process, it’s collapsing the research and writing,” Oltz said, helping free up attorneys from the rote minutiae of research to focus on strategy — something a computer program can’t do (cross your fingers).
Oelke said that he’s sure that legal tech is going to keep surging — with remote signatures one particularly promising field for improvement. Legal documents that once had to be signed in person might soon get the DocuSign treatment, allowing parties with computers to attach electronic signatures without the hassle of hard-copy paperwork.
What lawyers and clients are seeing now looks like it’s just the beginning. “I’m not that old. And I can look back and see what technology was when I was in grade school and where it’s at now,” Oelke said. “It’s obviously night and day, I think it’s just gonna get more and more convenient, especially for clients.”
By Andrew Weeks
Thief River Falls, Minnesota-based Digi-Key Electronics has a herculean task – bringing thousands of employees back into the office after working remotely for two years.
It’s a good thing the company, which ships electronics supplies all over the world, is up to the challenge. It couldn’t do it without a plan, and according to Shane Zutz, the company’s vice president of human resources, Digi-Key has a great plan.
Zutz said Digi-Key has around 5,100 employees worldwide, with most of them – about 4,400 – just in Thief River Falls. With so many employees in one location, the company has found the best way to bring employees back into the office is with a phased approach. But even so, he said, it will continue to be a hybrid work environment – one of the things the pandemic changed for many companies, no matter their size.
“We’re less concerned about where the work is done” because employees have proven “they can get the work done remotely,” Zutz said. “But what we feel we’ve lost by being fully remote, except for our distribution center, is the connection that helped our company really build on a sense of community and some of that high-level collaboration. That really just takes place when you’re in the workplace.”
Zutz said the best way the company has found to reintroduce employees to the office is in phases which it started to do earlier this year by first bringing its management team back into the office. Next, in April and May, it had employees return to the office for five days a month. In June and July it will have them come into the office for 10 days a month. Employees will rotate days so not all are in the office at the same time.
“We’re using (the phased approach) as a kind of testing ground to help us understand what our true future of work will be,” Zutz said. “We know we’re going to be hybrid, but how are we going to operate in that hybrid environment?” He said at this point there remains a
lot of unknowns: “Are we going to have schedules that are static or flexible so employees can come in on the days that work best for them? Is it a combination?”
The company will be finding answers to these and other questions over the next several months.
Zutz said the company also is revamping space to make the work environment more conducive to a post-pandemic environment, and it is ramping up the services of its expanded distribution center, which was completed in April 2021.
Digi-Key has locations in China, Germany, Israel, Japan, Netherlands, and two in Minnesota, including Bloomington, Zutz said. It also has distribution operations across the state line in Fargo, North Dakota. But its headquarters is in Thief River Falls, the hub where most of the activity takes place.
Much of that activity is at its Product Distribution Center, which recently completed a massive expansion – some 2.2 million additional square feet of multi-story space. Formerly, the center was roughly 800,000 square feet.
Three-million square feet – that’s a lot of space.
The building, built by McShane Construction Co., is large enough to fit 22 football fields and includes shipping and receiving docks and airlocks, multiple breakrooms, employee engagement areas and site walkways to encourage fitness. A steel bridge connects the expansion to the company’s current headquarters.
“We’ve grown so exponentially that we had to design and build a new distribution system,” Zutz said, noting the facility is approaching its launch in phases.
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“We’re in what we call our controlled launch, which means we’re moving some orders out of there. We’re inducting inventory, but we’re doing it on an extremely small scale,” he said. “It’s almost pressure testing the system.” Processes will ramp up as it passes “proof points” that show the system is ready for large-scale work.
“It’s unbelievable,” Zutz said of the new building. “It’s bigger than the Amazon building.”
A fitting gesture, since Digi-Key’s website touts the company as having the “World’s largest selection of electronic components.”
“We have a tremendous amount that we ship, some 27,000 to 30,000 packages a day,” Zutz said. “If we put all our stuff in a system and it doesn’t work, that’s a tremendous risk to our business and customers that depend on us. We’re just going to be very, very careful about (how we do this).”
The plan is to be at full-scale by sometime in August.
As with other businesses, Digi-Key has felt the straps of the supply chain, and the rising costs of products, but perhaps not as much as other companies. That’s due in large part to its massive inventory, which he likens to a bank. But over time it started to feel the pinch.
“We had the inventory, but now we’re (challenged) just like everybody else” on some items, Zutz said.
Zutz said the distribution center, at this point in time, will likely not create a lot of new jobs, but it will allow for new kinds of positions that employees can transition into.
“Our work is different than it used to be and some of the inefficiencies we have currently, they’ll go away and different roles will be needed to take their place,” he said. He mentioned automation and the kinds of jobs needed to oversee that.
For now, the company is working on “reprogramming” the office space at headquarters.
“It’s not so much about social distancing and more about repro -
gramming our facility to meet the needs of our future ways of working,” he said. “We’re looking at more collaborative space, more open spaces that allow for fewer (in-person employee) collisions, fewer cubicles, because people aren’t going to be here all of the time.”
Employees can reserve work spaces. The company is considering putting games in the facility, such as ping pong tables that employees can use on breaks, and amenities such as flavored water and other creature comforts that people have gotten used to while working from home over the past two years.
“It’s a pretty simple recipe, but it’s really reprogramming the facility to meet our new way of working,” Zutz said. “How we were set up before, that wouldn’t work now. We didn’t have much collaborative space. We just had meeting rooms, tons and tons of cubicles.”
Russ Hanson says despite the challenges of the construction industry – everything from rising material costs and supply chain delays to workforce shortages – there are many bright spots in the industry.
One of them is the bipartisan five-year infrastructure bill that was enacted earlier this year, which goes a long way to help North Dakota projects. Another bright spot is that construction remains a good career choice with decent pay and benefits.
Hanson is executive vice president of Associated General Contractors of North Dakota, a chapter of the National Associated General Contractors of America in Washington, DC. The AGC chapter helps promote the industry in the Peace Garden State, as it has done since 1951. It also works with architecture and engineering firms.
“In short, we are the state’s largest commercial construction industry association,” he said. It represents the interests of the commercial contracting industry legislatively and regulatorily, keeping them informed of the latest trends, and represents the many different facets of the industry: bridges, commercial construction, excavation, hospital, schools, mall, roads – just about everything but residential.
“We don’t represent home builders,” Hanson said. “Our national motto – and we take it seriously – is skill, integrity and responsibility. We want to bring as much professionalism to the industry and build with skill, integrity and responsibility.”
Hanson said the current times are tough, but the construction industry is up to the challenge.
“It is very resilient,” he said. “There are things that need to be looked at and adjusted, of course, but it has quality people and builds quality projects. The economy will benefit.”
Hanson answered additional questions from Prairie Business about the construction industry, giving his insight and perspective about where it is at today and where it might be going in the future:
Q: In a snapshot, what does the construction industry look like in North Dakota right now?
It is the pulse. This discussion is very timely. What we seem to be witnessing here in North Dakota, really, is similar to the national scene. There are AGC chapters throughout all of the 50 states, and collectively we, as executives, have been talking about this very issue - of supply chain and inflation – and how they are impacting the industry. We are all similarly impacted, and not only by the supply chain, which is an issue; but the bigger issue is the cost, the construction inflation.
Since September of 2020 through March of 2022, our national AGC economist said the inputs have increased on an average of 21.5%. That is real and when you are signing contracts and having to account for material and supplies, and having increases like that, it lends to interesting discussions with owners of whom you have bids with.
Q: Yes, pocket books only go so deep. How are companies meeting these challenges?
Invariably prices have gone up, which is reflected in the bid awards. However, while the national supply price inputs have gone up 21%, the bids have only gone up on average, nationally, about 17%. The prices have gone up and anybody, any owner, will certainly recognize that.
I think one of the things that we’ve been talking about in the industry is the owners who are bidding the projects and those that are receiving them are having conversations to take into account that it’s taking longer for some materials to arrive.
They’re taking a look at the flexibility and the completion deadlines and in the contracts and things like that, looking at all avenues to try to still complete projects while taking into account that there is some pretty severe inflation in the market.
Q: No one knows, of course, but when do you foresee the situation getting better?
I’m not certain how quickly it will ease, but I do believe it’s going to be around for a while. The fact of the matter is, we’ve got a real trucking and trucker shortage, and so when there is product, there is a limited amount of availability to get it out. I can’t see exactly how long it’s going to be around, but I think it’s going to be here for a while and certainly throughout this season.
Q: Is your industry challenged by workforce needs these days?
Like every other industry, absolutely. Everybody asks, “Where have the people gone?” Workforce is definitely a challenge; construction is not alone. That is definitely an issue and one that I think will continue to be an issue. We have an unemployment rate in North Dakota at about 3%, so there are not a lot of people available and it is very competitive for the various industries who are seeking those (potential workers) that are available.
Q: What impact does the construction industry have on North Dakota?
Construction, despite some of the images that people have of construction, is really a very good career choice and we need to do a better job as an industry of promoting that. We have a significant impact on the economy.
There’s about 27,000 construction employees that are contributing to the economy, building and repairing the infrastructure. The jobs pay well, they have benefits and retirement. They’re not minimum wage jobs. They’re very good paying jobs and there’s almost 30,000 of them that are working here in North Dakota.
Q: What do you foresee for the industry over the next couple of years? What are some bright spots?
Yes, I don’t want to come across as all doom and gloom. Congress has passed the bipartisan infrastructure bill, so there is a five-year infrastructure bill that was enacted earlier this year – it’s a five-year bill that was fully funded.
There’s some certainty for the highway and the bridge and there’s some broadband money in there for the next five years from our federal programs. So that certainly is a very good thing, a very good thing. If we can get the inflation to moderate, that would be better, because there were increased resources in that. We were very happy with that from the previous program, and so that certainly is a good thing.
Our state legislature, as our economy has done well over the past 10 years when they’ve met, has committed a significant amount of resources towards all types of infrastructure – flood protection, highways, roads and bridges, vertical commercial. During the 2021 session they passed a very large bonding bill, which allowed the state to finish its financial obligations for the Fargo Moorhead diversion and the Minot flood control projects, two very important things for two of our bigger populated areas.
The legislature over the past 10 years has literally invested bil-
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Now hiring for a growing company
MOOHEAD, Minn. • Dragon alumni will soon have a place of their own.
A groundbreaking ceremony for the long-awaited Minnesota State University Moorhead Foundation Alumni Center was held in April in the Center for Business atrium.
The center, located across Eleventh Street from Bridges Hall and the campus gates, is the culmination of years of dreaming and planning.
“We are grateful for the many generous donors who funded the project so that current and future Dragons will have a place to gather when they come home,” President Anne Blackhurst said in a statement.
When completed, the 18,500-square-foot facility will serve multiple purposes. In addition to serving as the anchor for alumni returning to campus, it will provide space for students and community members to interact.
A lobby and event space for up to 300 people will allow for programs, presentations and reunions gathering on campus. These warm, inviting spaces also will be used for hosting other mid-size events by the university and community. The center’s high-profile location will welcome people to socialize and engage with MSUM.
The building also will be home to the MSUM Foundation – offices for staff who focus on development, engagement and caring for the
gifts that are given to support the university.
At its essence, the university and its supporters want the Alumni Center to be a place that supports relationships and inspires possibilities.
Philanthropy will take center stage. Here current students will witness the generosity of alumni and donors and see firsthand the transformative power of their giving. When donors meet their scholarship recipients, they see the difference that gift makes. And students are inspired to give back when they become successful alumni.
“The most important purpose of the Alumni Center will be the connections it fosters between MSUM’s alumni and current students. That’s where the magic happens,” Blackhurst said.
This new facility will further connect MSUM to the community by inviting neighbors to meet students, faculty and staff in meaningful and transformative ways.
The project is paid for through private fundraising by the MSUM Foundation. Together, the Foundation staff and its Board led MSUM’s recent Vision 2020 campaign, which raised more than $59 million – including funding for the Alumni Center.
MSUM has more than 100,000 alumni, former faculty and staff, parents and friends, and a $42.5 million endowment. Construction on the Alumni Center is expected to be complete in summer 2023.
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lions of dollars to infrastructure construction, primarily for roads and bridges, and those monies were really needed particularly during the oil boom in the mid 2000s when a lot of the roads in the West were in very, very bad shape. So there certainly are things that are positive in the industry despite the challenges.
Q: What are you most excited about for the industry? What helps you get up in the mornings?
Personally, just everything. When you look at the construction that has been built, maintained or repaired in North Dakota, and being a very small part of that process, whether it’s representing them at the legislature or at the regulatory agency, (it’s very gratifying).
By and large our roads are good. We’re going to have historic flood protection in a few years in Fargo-Moorhead and in Minot. When you look at the vertical buildings on the campuses that are helping to educate, those are all built by the industry I represent. It makes it very easy for me to get up and go to work when I see what construction can do for the economy – not only today but well into the future.
WEST FARGO, N. D. • Bobcat Co., a global leader in the compact equipment industry, is planning plans for a new assembly plant in Rogers, Minnesota.
The company said when making the announcement that the investment will add an additional 225,000 square-feet of production capacity and enable it to streamline efficiencies across its manufacturing footprint in the Midwest.
In addition, the company plans to add more than 100 new, full-time positions at this location in 2022.
“This investment further demonstrates our commitment to our
presence in Minnesota, while supporting the growth we are experiencing in the marketplace,” said Mike Ballweber, president of Doosan Bobcat North America. “We are dedicated to continuing to expand our capabilities and equipment product lines to empower our customers, and this new location will be an important part of this success.”
Bobcat anticipates the new operation, located at 19850 Diamond Lake Road South on 22 acres in Rogers, will be fully operational by the fourth quarter of 2022. The facility will offer assembly space, shipping and receiving docks, employee parking, breakroom, offices and meeting rooms.
The addition of the Rogers facility will contribute to the company’s strategic manufacturing footprint plan and support its investments in facilities across North America, the company said, including a recent $26 million expansion at its facility in Litchfield, Minnesota, and $70 million expansion in Statesville, North Carolina. These efforts are part of Bobcat’s long-term strategic growth initiatives as a leading equipment manufacturer and supports its long-term commitment to employees and communities.
Starion Bank says it will launch a Legacy Agriculture Program. The new program will feature ongoing educational workshops covering urgent and timely topics like succession, soil health, financing and regenerative practices.
Starion said it also is pioneering a new line of agriculture financing products to serve Midwestern producers of all kinds.
Agricultural producers are suffering from a storm of volatile market prices, increasing costs for equipment and treatments, and thinning profit margins, the company said in a news statement. Today, nearly all operations require at least some off-farm income just to survive. Younger generations see the struggles of their parents and grandparents and decide that this isn’t the lifestyle they want.
“Between rampant consolidation and the lack of operations passing to younger generations, we’re seeing family farms and ranches disappear at an alarming rate. We want to help the industry reverse that trend,” said Starion CEO Don Morgan.
The upcoming workshops are the kickoff of Starion’s strategy to spark a resurgence of family- owned, multi-generational farms and ranches.
The Starion Bank Legacy Agriculture Program workshops begin in July 2022 with the Introduction to Regenerative Agriculture Practices. The school will be held July 19-20 at Black Leg Ranch near McKenzie and will emphasize cover crops, animal integration and multi-species grazing, all of which contribute to healthy soil.
THIS INVESTMENT FURTHER DEMONSTRATES OUR COMMITMENT TO OUR PRESENCE IN MINNESOTA, WHILE SUPPORTING THE GROWTH WE ARE EXPERIENCING IN THE MARKETPLACE.”
— MIKE BALLWEBER, PRESIDENT OF DOOSAN BOBCAT NORTH AMERICA
“What we’re really starting is a mindset shift among agricultural producers,” Morgan said. “And it begins with the soil. Soil is the number one asset for any producer. To create a more profitable operation, you need to adapt the crops, animals, and practices to the land, not the other way around.”
In August 2022, the Starion Legacy Biological School, hosted at Coteau des Prairies Lodge in Havana, North Dakota will dig deeper into the subject of soil health, explaining how Starion Bank regenerative practices can restore soil and increase production yields without tilling or added chemical treatments.
The Starion Legacy Financial School in November 2022 will be in Bottineau, North Dakota. It covers the complex financial challenges of today’s producers, and how they can use new financial tools provided by Starion to transition their operations in a more regenerative direction.
Starion Legacy Succession School is in Bismarck towards the end of 2022 or early 2023. This school will help producers and their families navigate the thorny discussions of generational succession and provide tools and resources for them to develop their own proactive succession Plans.
To develop and run the workshops, Starion is partnering with Joshua and Tara Dukart of Seek First Ranch. The Dukarts are widely regarded holistic and regenerative educators and ranchers and have spoken on the subject around the United States and abroad. For more information, visit starionbank.com/legacy.
“We’re excited to share a different and holistic way of looking at our ag operations. The workshops will be an opportunity to learn, but also participate in challenging yet beneficial discussions,” said Joshua Dukart. “The speakers and facilitators will bring a lot of value and help producers develop practices and frameworks of their own to be more sustainable and Profitable.”
Major: Environmental Engineering
Graduation Date: 2024
Career path: Interested in both research and consulting work
Kira Eliason years ago became troubled about the reports she was hearing of Mother Earth and humankind’s relationship to it.
She knew there was a direct bearing on how people treat their home planet and climate change. It’s a shared world, after all, and everyone must do their part.
Of added concern, Eliason knew that one day she would be raising her own children and wanted to help make the environment better for them and for future generations. But what could she do about it? What part could she play?
She found her answer when North Dakota State University started an environmental engineering program in fall 2020. She decided to enroll, setting her on a path to explore career possibilities helping the environment.
“I was trying to decide what kind of impact I wanted to make on the world,” she said, referring to when she was in high school. She was good at English and math, but didn’t know that she wanted to pursue those skills as careers. “But then I heard about NDSU starting this program and it’s like it was meant to be. … This is my chance to finally make an impact in the way I want to impact the world.”
Eliason, a sophomore who anticipates graduating in 2024, said she’s still deciding
what line of environmental engineering she will focus on as a career, but she is interested in both research and consulting work.
Eliason, from Bismarck, said she likes the NDSU campus in Fargo and said the program, which is still new and attracting students, isn’t intimidating. It allows her more one-on-one instruction with her professors and she doesn’t feel like she gets lost in the shuffle of many students.
She said her instructors have been exceptional, and mentioned a couple of them by name. Dr. Kelly Rush is “really amazing. She’s a really brilliant woman,” Eliason said, noting Rush helped her hone her thinking about why she, Eliason, “wanted to do this” line of study. “She just has so much passion
for the environmental engineering fields and disciplines.”
Eliason, who will be interning at Apex Engineering Group this summer in Bismarck, currently is an undergraduate research assistant for another member of the engineering faculty, Dr. Syeed Iskander “He’s amazing too,” she said. “He mainly works in microplastics and wastes, which is what I’m kind of interested in, and so it’s a really great opportunity that I’m so happy and grateful for.”
Environmental engineers focus on the interactions between humans and the environment, Rush explained, and integrate and apply biological, chemical, and engineering principles to improve and sustain the environment for the protection of its ecosystems and human health.
“Our work is directly related to the public and environmental health and well-being, which has a significant impact on decision making and planning processes,” she said.
Rush said of Eliason: “She is very conscientious in both the classroom and outside. She strives to fully understand all concepts and is proactive in asking probing questions. She sought out undergraduate research opportunities and currently worked in Dr. Syeed Iskander’s lab. This has allowed her to apply the theory and concepts learned in the classroom to real world environmental problems. This combination of classroom learning with hands-on application posi-
her
I heard about NDSU starting this program and it’s like it was meant to be. … This is my chance to finally make an impact in the way I want to impact the world.”
By Andrew WeeksKIRA ELIASON, A SOPHOMORE IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING PROGRAM AT NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY, SAYS SHE HAS ALWAYS BEEN INTERESTED IN HELPING THE ENVIRONMENT AND IS LOOKING FORWARD TO STARTING A CAREER WHERE SHE CAN DO JUST THAT AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER. IMAGES: COURTESY OF KIRA ELIASON
tions has prepared Kira well for future employment and/or graduate school. She is further expanding her hands-on learning through an internship this summer.”
Eliason said she is excited about her internship, which in late May she said she already started. She is excited to learn more in the field and, hopefully, start making a difference.
Eliason said she understands that environmental topics, including climate change, can be controversial topics to explore, especially in today’s often contentious political climate – as well as living in a state with a lot of natural resources, namely oil production. But all she wants to do is help the environment.
“It’s not the kind of thing that I talk about at family dinners or big family meetings,” she said. “But at NDSU it’s a bit different. Having all these like-minded people here in one spot, gives people (the understanding) that climate change has a broader viewpoint. I am surrounded by people who are very passionate about environmental issues. There’s a lot of people who care about it.”
Besides her class studies, Eliason is involved with the Grand Challenge Scholars program, Society of Women Engineers, NDSU’s Philosophy Club, and the Green Bandana Project.
“I am only a member of SWE, but it is nice
to be part of a community of engineering students who have similar experiences,” she explained. “The Green Bandana Project is a program to help support those struggling with mental health issues. You attach a green bandana to your backpack or bag to let others know that it is OK to reach out and talk to you if they are struggling.”
In her spare time, which seems to be a luxury as busy as she is, she likes to read and write fictional stories. It’s a way for her to decompress from the daily grind and to tap another set of creative skills. Her passion, however, remains with the environment and she is excited to start a career that she hopes will help improve it.
“It’s not more difficult than I expected; it is difficult in a way I didn’t expect,” she said of her studies, noting the daily grind is demanding. “It takes a lot more discipline than I thought.”
Eliason recommends NDSU because “it’s just a great school,” she said. Students in the environmental engineering program receive “a lot of one-on-one time with the professors and are able to get to know classmates really well. It may be difficult, but it’s really fulfilling. Every day you go to school knowing that you’re working towards things you really care about and can change. Even if it’s difficult, it’s worth the hard work.”
The Minnesota Trade Office at the Department of Employment and Economic Development is accepting nominations for the 37th annual Governor’s International Trade Awards.
The Governor’s International Trade Awards honor Minnesota companies that have shown exceptional growth and success in foreign markets. In addition to honoring individual recipients, the award recognizes the tremendous positive impact that exports and trade have on the state’s overall economy.
“Minnesota exports are a critical part of Minnesota’s economy, both now and into the future,” said Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. “Diversified global trade helps ensure that Minnesota’s economy remains strong, and it positions us for future growth by showcasing our ingenuity and innovation on the global stage.”
“From medical devices to machinery to agricultural commodities and more, exports account for $33 billion in revenue annually in Minnesota,” said DEED Commissioner Steve Grove. “Exports also support tens of thousands of jobs statewide. It’s important to celebrate all that international trade brings to Minnesota.”
“Agricultural commodities make up a big part of Minnesota exports - in fact Minnesota is the 4th largest exporting state in the country when it comes to agricultural products like soybeans, corn
and pork,” said Department of Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen. “We want to recognize the key role Minnesota ag exporters have in feeding the world and growing our state economy.”
“Minnesota exporters have shown tremendous resilience during disruptions in recent years,” said MTO Executive Director Gabrielle Gerbaud. “We are thrilled with the significant growth in sales to international markets in 2021 and are committed to supporting the success of companies with their global efforts.”
Nominations for the Governor’s International Trade Awards will be accepted until Friday, July 1. Recipients will be recognized at an awards ceremony to be scheduled toward the end of this year.
Additional information, as well as nomination instructions, can be found on the DEED website: https://mn.gov/deed/business/ exporting/about/trade-award.jsp
HAWLEY, Minn. • Work will begin this spring on a $1.5 million construction project to upgrade the fiber network that serves the city of Hawley.
The build-out will broadly expand access to direct fiber-to-thehome connections, and make the network capable of internet speeds up to 10 Gigabits per second, according to a company announcement on Tuesday, May 3.
“Hawley customers are internet and technology-savvy,” David Arvig, vice president and chief operating officer, said in the announcement. “Our goal in delivering a gig-capable network is to provide services that can reliably meet the growing needs of the community, for work, school, entertainment and daily life.”
Altogether, the expansion will make leading-edge service available to 942 structures in the city, with speeds of up to 1 gbps, either via fiber or cable modem.
Construction will begin this spring as weather and working conditions allow, according to the company, and the project is slated to be completed by spring 2023. Completed areas will have service available as soon as late fall or early winter 2022.
In addition to expanding the fiber network in the area, Arvig will also upgrade network equipment along the route, including innerduct conduit and service pedestals. Improving existing infrastruc-
ture ensures that the upgraded speeds can be reliably delivered to customers.
Customers will be contacted as construction moves forward to review their services and find out how the upgrades will improve their online experience.
STAPLES, Minn. • First International Bank & Trust said it has pledged a $200,000 donation to Minnesota’s Staples-Motley Independent School District over the course of 2022 and 2023.
The contribution, of which $100,000 has already been delivered, will support the school district on its upcoming activities and wellness facilities addition.
“We are looking forward to the outstanding improvements that the Staples-Motley Independent School District has planned,” said Jef Cichos, president of FIBT’s Staples and Motley branches. “We’re happy to support their efforts with this donation and help the district positively impact the community.”
FIBT said it strongly believes this collaboration to enhance phase one of the school’s improvement plan will contribute to a healthier community for all and a pooling of resources will result in smart, collective, and impactful investments.
“One of the main missions of First International Bank & Trust is to leave a mark on our communities and one of the best ways to do that is to empower the health and well-being of our community members,” FIBT President Peter Stenehjem said in a statement. “An enhanced community facility will provide additional opportunities for the members of the Staples-Motley community to be healthy where they live, work, learn, and play.”
Essentia Health welcomes two new providers
FARGO, N.D. • The Essentia Health-Fargo Family Clinic recently welcomed Lori Schmidt, an advanced practice registered nurse and certified nurse practitioner who will specialize in family medicine. Schmidt received her education from Minnesota State University Moorhead.
The clinic also welcomes Dr. Steve Johnson, who will specialize in family medicine. Dr. Johnson received his medical degree from the University of North Dakota School of Medicine in Grand Forks and completed his residency at the University of North Dakota Family Practice Center in Bismarck.
Essentia Health welcomes two new providers
BISMARCK, N.D. • KLJ Engineering recently welcomed four new environmental planners – Lexee Craig, Robert McClellan, Casey Engelhard, and Anna Gamez – to multiple North Dakota office locations and its Billings, Montana, office.
Craig, who will be located in KLJ’s Dickinson, North Dakota office, recently earned a bachelor’s degree in biology and an associate degree in geology from Dickinson State University. She brings four years of experience in agriculture.
McClellan has a bachelor’s degree in natural resource management-biotic resources from North Dakota State University in Fargo. Additionally, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps for four years where he coordinated the fire protection of aircraft and personnel. McClellan will be working from KLJ’s headquarters in Bismarck.
Engelhard will be working out of KLJ’s West Fargo office. He earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from Valley City State University in Valley City, North Dakota, and is pursuing a master’s degree in environmental health management. Engelhard has six years of experience and is certified in erosion and sediment control in both North Dakota and Nebraska.
Gamez, who will be located in KLJ’s Billings, Montana office, has a bachelor’s degree in animal science from California State University, Chico in Chico, California. She has 10 years of experience working in wildlife conservation and education.
GRAND FORKS, N.D. • Mara Berdal has been promoted to universal banking supervisor at Gate City Bank. She previously served as universal loan officer.
Outside of work, Berdal serves as state director for the National Barrel Horse Association, and she and her husband are heavily involved in the Petersburg (ND) Fire Protection District, KEM Shriners and Dahlen (ND) Lutheran Church.
WEST FARGO, N.D. • KLJ Engineering recently welcomed Cody Hedberg to its West Fargo office, where he will serve as a safety manager.
Hedberg is a Construction Health and Safety Technician as designated by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals. He is an experienced trainer in Mobile Elevating Work Platform, Power Industrial Truck, and Fall Protection. Hedberg is also an authorized Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) construction outreach trainer.
FARGO, N.D. • Cyndee Thormodson has been hired as chief financial officer at Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota.
In her role, Thormodson is responsible for providing executive leadership and direction for the enterprise financial function, including financial reporting, finance, investments, budgeting and internal controls. She also has oversight of the internal audit and actuary teams.
Thormodson has served in a variety of strategic finance and audit roles at Catholic Health Initiatives, Crowe Horwath (formerly CHAN Healthcare Auditors) and RSM. Most recently, she served as chief administrative officer at Noridian Healthcare Solutions, an affiliate of BCBSND.
A graduate of Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, Thormodson holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and is a certified public accountant.
We are an employee-owned company. The ownership culture is a motivator as it helps instill the importance of doing the best job you can because you know you are making a difference and directly impacting the bottom line. We recognize the importance of work/life balance and have implemented flexible working hours and working remote policies. We give our employee owners autonomy to do their jobs, which establishes trust and raises motivation. Our company is also as transparent as we can be regarding financial performance and strategic goals.
We recognize our employee owners who go above and beyond in their job performance and with our clients. We give “kudos” to these employees at our quarterly company meetings and within our employee engagement platform, where we also ask our employee owners for feedback regarding how we can continually improve our culture. In addition, we hold a weekly 20-minute online stand-up meeting, which gives us an opportunity to gather as an organization, build community and share great content.
TSP offers a comprehensive traditional benefits package, and I think those perks combined with our status as an employee-owned firm really help us build engagement among team members.
Our Employee Stock Ownership Program (ESOP) provides TSP team members with company ownership in addition to another retirement-type benefit. Employee ownership helps preserve our more than 90-year legacy with our team members and the communities we serve. The ESOP also helps to motivate our people and share in the revenue we help create. Each day we’re taking care of our clients, and together we are rewarded for that teamwork, service, and passion.
TSP also holds an annual all-team meeting that is vital for building connection among team members. It’s an opportunity to celebrate past achievements and look forward to our future. The annual meeting builds energy and excitement about TSP and the critical role each team member has in making that future vision a reality.
Until this year, we hadn’t held an in-person annual meeting since 2019. We certainly hope to continue in-person annual meetings. It’s fantastic to have the technology to accommodate a virtual meeting, but we believe face-to-face meetings help us better understand each other and those we serve.
Kari Kiesow Human Resources Manager TSP, Inc. Sioux Falls, S.D.
“What employee perks and benefits does your company offer to help keep employees engaged and motivated?”
At Choice Bank, developing meaningful perks and benefits to engage and motivate employees, requires a wide array of options because we know it’s never a one-size fits all. We continuously engage our team members through focus groups, surveys and executive luncheons to find out what’s most important to them. Three perks and benefits often rise to the top.
Our teams are driven to serve their communities. Where employees choose to serve is often very personal, being near and dear to their hearts. All employees are given an unlimited number of days to volunteer their time and talents in their communities. And boy do they! Yammer, our internal social site, is full of pictures and posts of proud employees giving in ways that matter most to them. Staying connected, in a post-pandemic world is top priority. Our employee footprint expands across 15 states. Book clubs, wellness clubs, mental health committees, virtual escape rooms and office olympics performed in the office or at home are just some of the examples that keep us connected.
The most recent benefit offered is our flexible or unlimited PTO. Employees get to choose how much time is meaningful for them to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Emily Wieck VP Talent
Laura Werk Senior VP, Chief Financial Officer Noridian Healthcare Solutions Fargo, N.D.
At Noridian, we put people first. This isn’t just a tagline, it’s in the actions we live out every day. Our people are our greatest asset.
Noridian Healthcare Solutions offers an atmosphere of growth, support to succeed and resources for our employees to thrive in their careers. We invest in our employees by providing a variety of tools and resources that cultivate a culture of career ownership, development and empowerment, while simultaneously providing leaders with the tools and resources needed to help employees grow.
Employees appreciate our culture of team collaboration, a flexible work environment and our encouragement of community volunteerism. Our work makes a difference for countless people accessing health care services and employees understand the critical nature of the complex, but meaningful work they do.
To keep employees engaged, Noridian offers internal RAVE forms where people can recognize their colleagues for good work and the feedback is shared directly to their supervisor. Service awards are given to employees for every five-year internal, which includes a ceremony and bonus. For employees looking to further or continue their education, Noridian offers up to $5,000 in education assistance per year. In addition, the culture at Noridian encourages team engagement through a variety of social activities.
Nonfatal ladder injuries resulting in at least one day away from work were essentially unchanged in 2020. There were 22,710 injuries where the primary source of the injury was a ladder in 2020, compared with 22,330 in 2019. Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations had 5,790 injuries where the primary source was a ladder. Construction and extraction occupations had 5,370 ladder injuries, and service occupations had 3,160.
After the COVID-19 pandemic began, consumer spending in the second quarter of 2020 was down 9.8% from the same period in 2019. One year later, in the second quarter of 2021, the pandemic was still affecting the economy, but businesses and consumers had begun to adapt. That resulted in consumer expenditures that were 15.7% higher in the second quarter of 2021 than a year earlier. Consumer expenditures in the first and second quarters of 2021 were even higher than in the first quarter of 2020, which was largely unaffected by the pandemic because it began late in the first quarter.
From June 2021 to September 2021, gross job gains from opening and expanding private-sector establishments were 8.8 million, while gross job losses from closing and contracting private-sector establishments were 7.5 million. The difference between the number of gross job gains and the number of gross job losses resulted in a net employment gain of 1.3 million jobs in the private sector during the third quarter of 2021. The net employment gain of 1.3 million jobs during the third quarter of 2021 was an increase of 420,000 from the net employment gain of 893,000 during the second quarter of 2021. This represents the fifth consecutive quarter of a net employment gain, following a net employment loss of 14.7 million jobs during the second quarter of 2020. The goodsproducing industries had a net employment gain of 69,000 jobs during the third quarter of 2021, as gross job gains and losses were both at 1.3 million.
The largest changes in consumer spending during the pandemic were for food away from home, alcoholic beverages, and apparel and services. These categories showed similar patterns with huge swings, both negative and positive. The largest decline was a 53.7-percent drop in spending for food away from home from the second quarter of 2019 to the second quarter 2020. The largest increase was a 91.2-percent rise in spending for food away from home from the second quarter of 2020 to the second quarter of 2021.
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