Top25 WomenInBusiness

Jenna Fleck

COO SECURITY FIRST BANK MANDAN, N.D.

Jenna Fleck started her career with a CPA firm in Wisconsin, primarily auditing community banks. While working with these banks, Jenna witnessed the integral role community banks play in the areas they serve. Ultimately, Jenna and her husband decided they wanted to move back to Bismarck, where they both grew up, so he could start his own business. Jenna knew she wanted to work at a community bank when she moved back to Bismarck.

She started with Security First Bank of North Dakota in 2012. Jenna wears many hats – she is responsible for financial reporting, compliance, employee training and whatever else needs to be done. She was promoted to COO in January of 2018. In addition to working in various roles at Security First, Jenna keeps up with two active children, and helps her husband with the accounting side of his business.

Jenna serves on various committees for the Independent Community Banks of North Dakota and regularly volunteers with her church and other organizations that support the community. Jenna believes working at a community bank has taught her the importance of being an active part of the community you live in through contributions of your time and resources.

Darcy Volk

Vice President Of Processing And Systems Klj Engineering

BISMARCK, N.D.

Darcy Volk has distinguished herself as a process and systems strategist and community leader. She has served as an accomplished senior leader in our organization, with expertise in multiple different capacities such as major financial transactions, large scale operations, and accounting controls.

In her current role, Darcy develops plans and design processes to implement strategies that deliver results with a keen focus on cost and quality. Her expertise in system and process design, accounting controls, financial transactions and change management has assisted the corporation on the path to continued success.

Volk is a life-long member of the Bismarck-Mandan community. She has served on the board of trustees and as campaign chair for the Missouri Slope Areawide United Way. She has also been an incredible business leader, serving as a board member for both the Bismarck-Mandan Chamber of Commerce and the Bismarck-Mandan Development Association. Additionally, she has served as a board member for the North Dakota Development Fund, Inc. since 2004. This is a highly coveted position as it is appointed by the governor.

Darcy currently serves on the Disciplinary Board of the North Dakota Supreme Court.

Heather Cymbaluk has served as the executive director of Companions for Children since 2013. She is a graduate of Minot State University with bachelor degrees in both marketing and management information systems. She continued her education at the University of Mary, graduating with a Master in Business Administration. Heather is passionate about making a difference in her community, currently serving as president for both the Minot Optimist Club and the Minot Alliance of Nonprofits.

Heather Cymbaluk

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR COMPANIONS FOR CHILDREN MINOT, N.D.

Jodi Kelsch started her career as an intern in the tax department of a small accounting firm in Fargo, N.D., while attending North Dakota State University in 1998. Since then, she has built a career on providing income tax preparation services to clients in the tri-state region. Jodi is a certified public account and co-owns Kelsch, Kriz & Associates, PC. Over the past 10 years, she has helped grow the firm to eight employees in three locations throughout North Dakota and South Dakota.

CO-OWNER, GENERAL

When Jodi is not in the office, she is a volunteer in the small community in which she lives and lends her professional expertise to such organizations as the local industrial development corporation, where she has been a director for more than seven years, an instrumental member of a committee that organized and started a new community day care and a longtime member of the finance council at her church. She has also gone into the classrooms at the local high schools to educate students about income tax.

Jodi earned her accounting degree from NDSU and is a certified public accountant through the North Dakota Society of CPAs. She and her husband, Mike, spend many hours attending and enjoying their three children’s sports activities.

Brenda K. Foster

CHAIRWOMAN, PRESIDENT AND CEO FIRST WESTERN BANK & TRUST MINOT, N.D.

Brenda Foster began her career at First Western as a high school intern and hasn’t looked back. Over the past 39 years she has worked in all areas of First Western Bank & Trust and now serves as board chair, president, and CEO.

Brenda has experienced the evolution of the banking industry over the last four decades. One of the most dramatic changes has been in technology. Brenda reflects on beginning her career when computers were nonexistent in banking. Fast forward to today, when banking can be done from a smartphone. Brenda is grateful and feels blessed to be part of a wonderful organization with supportive owners, directors, employees and customers.

She remains passionate about participating in the success of customers, employees and the communities First Western serves.

Brenda was recently elected as a Class A director of the Federal Reserve Board of Minneapolis’ board of directors. She is chair of the Large Community Bank Council for the Independent Community Banks of America, a member of the Minot State University Board of Regents, volunteer for Junior Achievement, and past president of the Independent Community Banks of North Dakota. Brenda is a graduate of Minot State University. She and her husband, Wayne, have two children.

Jillian Lagasse

VP OF MARKETING CAPITAL CREDIT UNION BISMARCK, N.D.

Jillian Lagasse grew up in the small town of Oakes, N.D., and following high school graduated from the University of Mary in Bismarck. Much of her career has been spent as the marketing manager at Investment Centers of America in Bismarck. There she helped financial advisors across the county with their marketing, helping them to grow their business and gain more clients. Jillian also obtained her FINRA Series 7 and 66 investment licenses during this time.

After a brief stint working at the University of Mary, she joined Capital Credit Union in Bismarck as vice president of marketing, where she oversees all marketing strategy, communications, advertising, and public relations. She is a member of the senior management team.

She currently is chairperson of the Bismarck Mandan Young Professionals Network. She also has served as co-lead of the Professional Development Team, YP Day chair, vice president, president, and now chairperson. In 2018, she received the Theodore Roosevelt Award from the organization. She is a member of the Bismarck Optimists Club Board of Directors and sits on the Missouri Valley Credit Union Chapter Committee and the Ft. Lincoln Elementary Parent-Teacher Organization.

Jillian lives in Mandan with her husband, Ryan, and their three young daughters.