PRAIRIEPEOPLE

from Prairie Business March 2019

Badlands = good destinatioN

Cooper joins First International Bank & Trust

FARGO, N.D. – First International Bank & Trust has hired Charlie Cooper as East market private banking manager. Cooper, who is based in Fargo but will work with clients all over the state, has nearly two decades of experience in financial services.

A relatively new program at the bank, private banking offers one-on-one service and is designed to suit the needs of affluent and emerging affluent clients.

DSG promotes Macdonald to General Manager – Waterworks

FARGO, N.D. – DSG recently named Malcolm Macdonald as general manager of the company’s Waterworks segment. Macdonald previously served as the Waterworks segment manager, and those duties will be folded into his new position.

Macdonald started at DSG as an account manager in 2003 and was named branch manager for the Sioux Falls Waterworks facility in 2007. In 2011, he was promoted to Waterworks segment manager. DSG distributes products and services for the waterworks, plumbing, electrical, HVAC/R, utility, communications and automation trades. It is an employee-owned company with nearly 700 employee owners.

Two join Houston Engineering Inc.

FARGO, N.D. – Two new hires have joined Houston Engineering Inc.

· Moriya Rufer has joined the company as a scientist III.

Rufer brings 15 years of experience in water resources – including working on lakes protection in northern Minnesota – to the HEI water quality team, HEI reports. Based out of Detroit Lakes, Minn., Rufer will be involved in One Watershed, One Plan, Total Maximum Daily Load projects and WRAPS or Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategies as well as other water quality studies.

Moriya earned her master’s degree at the University of Minnesota.

· Spenser Wipperfurth has joined HEI’s Maple Grove, Minn., office as an engineer I. Wipperfurth will work within the water resources sector, helping with hydrology, hydraulics and water quality models. She also will review permit applications and provide support on project design and implementation.

Originally from Edina, Minn., Wipperfurth recently returned home from Peru, where she worked with the Peace Corps for the past two years. She earned her bachelor’s degree in engineering and Spanish literature from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

NDSU hires Entrepreneurship Director

FARGO, N.D. – North Dakota State University’s College of Business has hired Scott David Meyer as executive director of entrepreneurship initiatives.

Meyer’s role is to foster connections on campus and in the community that help develop NDSU’s entrepreneurship program, according to NDSU. He will be responsible for teaching, creating events, connecting with resources on campus and in the community and helping NDSU build a more dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Meyer started his career as a lecturer and researcher at The Arctic University of Norway. Then he became an entrepreneur, starting several companies, including 9 Clouds, a digital marketing company for car dealers based in Sioux Falls, S.D. Meyer is a former Brookings (S.D.) City Council member who founded TEDxBrookings, Creativity Week and 1 Million Cups in Brookings. He earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, and his master’s degree in peace and conflict transformation from The Arctic University of Norway.

Starion Bank announces new board member

BISMARCK, N.D. – Michelle Larson of Bismarck has been elected to Starion Bank’s board of directors. Larson has served on the board for Starion’s parent company, Starion Bancorporation, since 2012. She was a pharmaceutical representative for many years before becoming a community activist. Larson is involved in raising awareness of homelessness, food insecurity and other issues. She studied at Moorhead State University and North Dakota State University and earned a bachelor’s degree in communications.

Essentia Health welcomes Nurse Practitioner

FARGO, N.D. – Nurse Practitioner Katie Gurskis has joined the Family Medicine Department at the Essentia HealthMoorhead Clinic in Moorhead, Minn. Gurskis has worked at Essentia Health as a registered nurse in the emergency room for the past 10 years. She earned a master’s degree in nursing from Clarkson College in Omaha, Neb., and is certified as a family nurse practitioner by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.

Melby joins Cornerstone Bank

FARGO, N.D. – Kristine Melby has joined Cornerstone Bank as senior vice president of business development. Melby works with businesses from across the Dakotas to help them reach their financial goals. She has worked in banking and business development for more than 20 years.