Prairie Business May 2016

Families are ready to jump, run, and dive in to a new Wellness and Community Center that will bring “everything you can imagine” (according to Watertown Mayor Steve Thorson) to progressive and vibrant city deemed South Dakota’s “rising star.”

Families are ready to jump, run, and dive in to a new Wellness and Community Center that will bring “everything you can imagine” (according to Watertown Mayor Steve Thorson) to progressive and vibrant city deemed South Dakota’s “rising star.”

Families are ready to jump, run, and dive in to a new Wellness and Community Center that will bring “everything you can imagine” (according to Watertown Mayor Steve Thorson) to progressive and vibrant city deemed South Dakota’s “rising star.”

BY LISA GIBSON Tourist Attraction

MATTHEW D. MOHR Selling Skills

AMBER FERRIE

28 The Art of Attraction Downtown creativity drives tourism

32 A Steady Hand Mechanical assistants enhance accuracy of surgical procedures

Grand Forks, N.D., Mayor Michael Brown

near one of three “big head” sculptures

throughout the city’s downtown.

pieces came from an exhibit in Chicago and Brown says their purpose is to stimulate discussion about public art in the city. IMAGE: JESSE TRELSTAD/FORUM NEWS SERVICE

ORSACK

LONNA WHITING

stands

placed

The

Grand Forks, N.D., hosts a number of events at Town Square, in the heart of downtown. The city is one of many in the region focusing on art and entertainment to bolster tourism. IMAGE: GREATER GRAND FORKS CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU

LISA GIBSON Editor 701.787.6753

lgibson@prairiebusinessmagazine.com

Tourist Attraction

Family vacations when I was a kid were almost exclusively camping trips. We used tents, not fancy RVs with electricity and other modern conveniences. Our sleeping bags were unrolled onto the thin sheet of plastic-like fabric that served as the floor of the tent, with each rock or twig underneath it poking into our backs. And we loved it.

My family didn’t take extravagant trips to big hotels in metro areas or theme parks. My parents preferred silence, nature and no crowds. In my adult life, I now get a nice mix of those secluded trips I enjoyed as a kid and the trips to destinations that might feature packed beaches, busy nightlife scenes, crowded shopping districts, popular sightseeing attractions, unique dining options or exciting culture and entertainment. Travel is important. I’m a firm believer in spending money on experiences rather than things (although I do spend plenty on things).

Travel and tourism is a key focus in this issue of Prairie Business. In speaking with city leaders in the region, our editorial staff has found that thriving downtown communities have huge potential to attract visitors. Many cities put a strong emphasis on downtown development, encouraging new boutiques, restaurants and event venues. And perhaps one of the most important ways to engage people downtown is art. The “art” umbrella can cover events, entertainment, art shows, art classes and public art displays.

In the tourism feature starting on page 28, we’ll tell you how some of the cities in our readership area are incorporating art into their cultures to draw visitors as well as locals to their downtown areas. Grand Forks, N.D., Mayor Michael Brown has committees in place to promote a “vibrant” city, some focused exclusively on downtown. Sioux Falls, S.D., has a 13-year-old sculpture event that draws tourists from all over the country, not to mention artists from all over the world. In Minot and Fargo in North Dakota, overhauls of downtown aesthetics and additions of mixed-use structures are leading the charge for attractive, appealing communities. Find out more about what these cities are doing and how they successfully market themselves to travelers.

In this month’s health care feature, staff writer Kayla Prasek explores a fascinating new technology that allows surgeons to operate on their patients using robots controlled through a joystick-type apparatus at a console near the operating table. It’s a futuristic concept and only one company produces the robot technology capable of doing the job. It provides surgeons with a precise tool, allowing for far fewer errors, along with shorter recovery time, less pain and less trauma for patients. Find out more about this evolution in medicine starting on page 32.

Business Insider profiles Rosalie Etherington, superintendent of the North Dakota State Hospital in Jamestown. She promotes mental health as a major component of overall wellness, and I’d have to agree with her. In her work, she helps provide care for people who are seeking recovery from trauma, as well as those who are severely mentally ill or chemically dependent. She addresses the stigma of mental illness and addiction, and has some words of wisdom for mental health care providers. It’s a good read and it starts on page 26.

The Construction Corner in this edition examines a collaborative project in Watford City, N.D., that brings together multiple organizations and the city to develop a multiple-use event center. The facility will house sports, convention center and banquet spaces, party venues and other amenities. Spurred by the oil boom and the need for larger facilities, these groups got together to raise money and establish their shared space. Read more on page 36.

I would think a sprawling, state-of-the-art event center would also boost tourism in Watford City. Perhaps it could be the gathering place for the kids roughing it with their families at the nearest primitive campground, eager for a few moments of running water and air conditioning. Ten-year-old me would have been first in line at the basketball hoop. PB

KORRIE WENZEL, Publisher

LISA GIBSON, Editor

KAYLA PRASEK, Staff Writer

BETH BOHLMAN, Circulation Manager

KRIS WOLFF, Layout Design, Ad Design

Account Executives: JOHN FETSCH

701.212.1026 jfetsch@prairiebusinessmagazine.com

NICHOLE ERTMAN

800. 477.6572 ext. 1162 nertman@prairiebusinessmagazine.com

Prairie Business magazine is published monthly by the Grand Forks Herald and Forum Communications Company with offices at 375 2nd Avenue North, Grand Forks, ND 58203. Qualifying subscriptions are available free of charge. Back issue quantities are limited and subject to availability ($2/copy prepaid). The opinions of writers featured in Prairie Business are their own. Unsolicited manuscripts, photographs, artwork are encouraged but will not be returned without a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

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Selling Skills

BY MATTHEW D. MOHR

Every business sells something either tangible or intangible to generate revenue, pay expenses and hopefully earn a profit. Through the years, the sales profession has taken on a negative connotation, often associated with the loud, pushy, dishonest usedcar salesman. True sales in any industry involve helping people or businesses do better; not pushing something on an unsuspecting buyer.

A business owner generally is enthusiastic about the product or services being offered, but as noted in previous articles I’ve written for Prairie Business, having a passion for what you sell isn’t enough to guarantee success. Understanding the sales process and the complete picture of operating an enterprise is necessary for ongoing success.

Recently, I was invited to see the Center for Selling and Sales Technology at Barry Hall on the North Dakota State University campus. The College of Business at NDSU is offering a 16-unit certificate in professional selling, which is a good step forward for the university as a whole as well as the College of Business. Regardless of a person’s chosen profession, they all can expect to have to sell themselves, their employer and what they do to

earn a living during their lifetime. Those who are best at selling generally succeed the most. The ability to sell goes far beyond pushing a product. I was delighted to learn the certificate in selling and sales technology from NDSU involves learning about the whole business process, along with improving personal selling skills.

Perhaps a person creates a great new product and is sure it will be a huge success in the marketplace. The idea creator will probably need some capital to get started. To attract capital in the form of equity or loans, the idea creator must be able to sell potential investors on the idea and demonstrate how a return on the investment can be secured through a well-executed business plan. The business plan must also demonstrate how any loans will be repaid with interest.

Selling is part of every endeavor and is a way to help others succeed, and those who are good at helping others generally earn the greatest rewards in life. PB

Matthew D. Mohr CEO, Dacotah Paper Co. Fargo, N.D. mmohr@dacotahpaper.com

Advocating for Vacations

BY AMBER FERRIE

We all know those people — the ones who are so incredibly important that they simply can’t make any social function, future commitment or take a vacation. The success of their business, and ultimately their own self-worth, are tied to being present daily in their role.

Sometimes we don’t even have to look further than the mirror to find one of these super heroes.

Super heroes, unlike business owners, live into perpetuity and therein lies the problem. When it is time to transition your business, you ideally get paid for what you have built. This assumes that you are not the glue that holds everything together. Success should be measured not by the time you spend in the office, but by the time you spend away from the office. The real value is in the team you have built and the processes you have implemented.

I haven’t come across a buyer yet who is looking for a business that is successful because it’s reliant upon the seller being there each and every day. Instead, value is created when a seller can show a quality workforce in place. It’s created when you can exhibit a refined set of processes or procedures and systems that capture and report the information needed so you can manage the business, but not also have to serve as the janitor, IT support person and the top revenue generator.

So before you think you are ready to sell your business, go on vacation. Yes, you read that correctly. Then come back and assess the

business you left and where you need to make modifications. Then go on vacation again and repeat the process until you have a finely tuned machine that runs without you. Only then are you ready to sell your business.

And for the record, it’s never too early to start thinking about selling. By starting early, you can help ensure a smooth transition process. Here are a few tips:

◆ Get real. It’s important to get a realistic expectation of what your business is worth now and how to increase that value. You can use a business valuation team to help you assess this.

◆ Gain understanding. It’s helpful to truly understand what your options are when it comes to selling a business. There are several and it’s important to think about each, as well as the pros, and cons, to your business.

◆ Be on the lookout. It’s never too early to start exit planning. You might face a challenging and highly competitive market when the time comes to sell your business. Even if a potential exit is years away, it’s important to focus now on key business issues, develop a planning process for the future exit and coordinate services with a wealth management team.

And one more bonus tip (for good measure): Take your accountant with you on vacation (just a thought). PB

Amber Ferrie Partner, Eide Bailly Fargo, N.D. aferrie@eidebailly.com

Strategic Audience Targets

BY KRISTA ORSACK

Staying relevant and building a loyal customer base are two primary objectives every company considers while developing and implementing marketing strategies. Consumers have hundreds of options when it comes to choosing their next travel destination and the attributes your destination offers need to stand out.

Sure, the media mix will include traditional and digital advertising to reach your audience and showcase those attributes. But your next move after that first engagement is critical. The tools and tactics available are more sophisticated than ever. Literally, at any time during the day and during any daily activity, a person can be targeted.

It is a delicate balance to reach consumers, avoiding it at the wrong time or too many times. Consumers are more interested in hearing about content specific to their interests and at the time they want to hear it. It’s definitely not a one-size-fits-all message mentality. Utilize destination research, competitive set analysis and captured characteristic traits to guide conversation. Build your marketing channel or funnel based upon goals and the foreseeable interactions of your target audience.

The most successful tactics for driving relevancy and loyalty include campaigns driven by geo-targeted audience lifestyle activities, travel personality attributes, persona-based messaging, retargeting and

email automation. The timing of each of these tactics will drive engagement and help achieve success.

At the Sioux Falls (S.D.) Convention & Visitors Bureau, we have worked with a variety of platforms that allow us to capture behavioral and lifestyle data on the people who engage with us and those who don’t. This data has allowed us to group potential visitors by six defined personas: explorer, foodie, family first, shopper, adventurer and romantic. Each persona has specific characteristics and audience traits that we build our message around. Creative elements in our marketing include culinary video stories, one-day or three-day guides, guided searches for local restaurants or family-friendly attractions and stories that feature insider tips.

Focused strategic marketing efforts on a very granular level will reach a highly engaged, loyal consumer audience. Although the exposure may look lower with this strategy, it will be those customers and followers who will help carry your message further and offer more exposure down the road. Sometimes the small wins will turn out to be big wins in the future. PB

Krista Orsack Director of Marketing Sioux Falls (S.D.) Convention & Visitors Bureau korsack@siouxfalls.com

“Prairie Business is an excellent

information.”

Health on a Macrocosmic Scale

BY LONNA WHITING

As a 36-year-old, (ahem) middle-aged woman, I consider myself a pretty fit and healthy person. I know my blood pressure, cholesterol and body mass index (BMI). I can pass a vigorous fitness test, thanks to years of attending group exercise classes, following an intense yoga practice and training for running events.

I also eat a mostly vegetarian diet, supplementing fish a few times a week to get some good omega fatty acids. I’m not bragging. It’s just that I’m trying to stave off a family history of colon cancer, type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s Disease.

So when I joined the team at Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota and learned about all the programs that encourage employees to take walks on their lunch breaks, try “mindful” lunch items in the cafeteria or track water intake, I thought to myself, “That’s not for me. I already do all that.”

I was wrong.

Worksite wellness isn’t just defined by how often you take walking meetings or how many servings of veggies you can eat at lunch. Worksite wellness is about seeing health on a macrocosmic scale. Worksite wellness focuses not only on my physical health, but also on my financial, emotional, social, professional and environmental health.

If you’re an employer or your company’s human resources representative, navigating all the wellness incentives in your company’s total compensation plans can get confusing. But the more you know, the better you’re able to empower your company’s employees to embrace worksite wellness and create an environment of health, wellness and happiness at work.

Where to Start

Check North Dakota Worksite Wellness (ndworksitewellness.org) to learn about a great starting point for employer groups to get a better understanding of what’s possible with a worksite wellness program. The site helps identify plans and programs that would work best for their employees.

Also, twice a year, the program offers Worksite Wellness Summits around the state that bring together all kinds of employers to learn and practice wellness techniques they can take back to the office.

BCBS Offerings

Health Club Credit: Health Club Credit is a program that requires members to attend their gym just 12 times a month and they’ll get rebates on their membership fees.

HealthyBlue: Another program is a personalized member portal called HealthyBlue, which also is accessible via smartphone and can sync to popular personal health devices like FitBit and Garmin.

BlueElements: Built upon the foundation that good health reaches beyond the absence of disease, BCBSND’s BlueElements is the springboard for six intersecting dimensions of well-being: physical, social, emotional, financial, professional and environmental.

BCBSND employer groups have the opportunity to implement dozens of BlueElements wellness and health programs, which will help contribute to employees experiencing a fuller, richer, more intentional life at work and at home. Following are the BlueElement fundamentals:

Physical elements:

• Onsite screenings

• Online assessment

• Online and on-site workshops and resources

• Workplace flu shots

• Health Club Credit

• Health coaching

• HealthyBlue trackers

• Nurseline

Social elements:

• Online and on-site workshops

• Virtual libraries

• Online challenges

• Health coaching

• Health Club Credit

Emotional elements:

• Online and on-site workshops

• Virtual libraries

• Health coaching

Financial elements:

• Health plan and pharmacy designed for employers

• Online and on-site workshops

• Participating provider directory

• MyPrime Rx Tool

• Specialty drug management

• Ancillary insurance

• Blue Rewards

Professional elements:

• Worksite Wellness Summits

• Training

• Education forums for employers

• Worksite Wellness Toolkit

• Well Workplace awards

Environmental elements:

• Organizational wellness consulting

Bringing it All Together

“We know that there is no other place in your life that you spend more time during the week than at the worksite, so there is a really great opportunity to influence individuals’ health at the worksite,” says Pete Seljevold, administrator for BCBSND’s Worksite Wellness Initiative.

Like most everyone, I spend about 45 hours of my week at work. While I can’t speak for the rest of us, I can say for myself that I’d prefer those 45 hours are spent in an environment that encourages enhancing the many elements that make up health and wellness.

PB

That’s a lifestyle everyone can benefit from.

Lonna Whiting Editor, Public Affairs,

Blue Cross

Blue Shield of North Dakota Fargo,

N.D. 701.277.2561

lonna.whiting@BCBSND.com

LJA acquires architecture firm WAI Continuum

BY LISA GIBSON

With the acquisition of St. Paul-based architecture firm WAI Continuum, Fargo-based LJA will be able to pair its architecture and engineering expertise in the hospitality sector with the talent and experience WAI brings from the senior living sector. The hospitality and senior living industries have multiple similarities and are evolving in the same ways, says Troy Tooz, executive vice president and principal civil engineer at LJA, making the acquisition a perfect fit. “It’s really a mutually beneficial relationship,” he says.

Both firms are experienced in multi-unit dwellings and are based in the Midwest but serve the entire U.S. and Canada, Tooz says. Senior care center facilities are changing much like hotels are, creating somewhat of a community under one roof, which can include restaurants, pubs, attractive common areas and more, says Dave Wolterstorff, principal founder of WAI Continuum. Kya Schroeder, vice president and architect at LJA, says hotels are no longer just a place to stay, but now have target audiences such as business travelers, families, vacationers and seasonal attractions. They’re geared toward being a memorable highlight and overall huge part of the trip, she says.

Those amenities for target audiences also come into play in senior living centers. In memory care centers, Alzheimer’s needs are pretty poignant, Wolterstorff says. Those patients are prone to wander,

forgetting to sit and rest, or forgetting to put on a coat before turning down a corridor that takes them outside. Wolterstorff says WAI incorporates reminders into its facility designs that activate senses such as sight or smell to trigger necessary behaviors. For example, the scent of apples could remind patients they’re about to walk outdoors, or a bench in a corridor could prompt a wandering patient to sit and rest, avoiding injuries. “They get tired,” Wolterstorff says. “Falls and injuries happen. So we’ve tried to incorporate points of interest designed to help people know where they are.”

The new team is working together on the Mount Olivet care facility in Minneapolis, a $25 million addition to the Mount Olivet church, says Todd Jelinski, architectural department head and architect at LJA. That center has a massive urban garden on the roof, Wolterstorff adds.

With the acquisition of WAI, LJA now has a St. Paul office. The acquisition does not affect any jobs, but simply merges the two companies’ talents, Tooz says, leading LJA down a “new pathway.”

PB

Lisa Gibson Editor, Prairie Business 701.787.6753

LJA has acquired WAI Continuum, an architecture firm in St. Paul that handles mostly assisted living facilities. LJA has experience in designing other multi-unit facilities nationwide, including the Residence Inn Marriott in Springfield, Va. (above), the Holiday Inn Express & Suites in West Valley City, Utah (above right), and the Four Points by Sheraton in Fargo, N.D. (right).

Brookings, S.D., EDC opens community workshop

BY KAYLA PRASEK

Earlier this year, the Brookings (S.D.) Economic Development Corp. brought an idea popular on the coasts to its city.

In February, the EDC opened the Brookings Area Makerspace, a non-profit, shared community workshop, creative space and laboratory for local startups, entrepreneurs, artists, engineers, creatives, makers and hobbyists to collaborate on projects, experiment with innovative ideas and encourage learning and entrepreneurship, according to the organization’s brochure.

“This is a 2,400-square-foot workshop full of tools to create new products and components and for brainstorming,” says Jennifer Quail, director of entrepreneur support at the Brookings EDC. “It’s a resource for the community to have access to tools and equipment they wouldn’t normally have access to.”

The Makerspace features a woodworking shop, a 3-D printing lab, a creative arts area with sewing equipment and a kitchen, an electronics bench and a training lab with computers and a smart TV. Additional tools, technology and resources

will be added based on member and community feedback and input, Quail says.

“Each Makerspace throughout the country is community-specific,” she says. “Ours is a work in progress, and we want member and community input. This space is about the innovative, creative community so the consumers become the creators.”

Funding for the Makerspace comes from U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development grants and the Brookings EDC.

“This is part of our focused efforts on an entrepreneurial community, and by providing that specialized equipment, we can continue building that community,” Quail says.

Two levels of membership are available: $25 per month for community members 18 and older and $15 per month for South Dakota State University students. Community members can sponsor college students through the Brookings Foundation. The EDC is also working on outreach with local businesses, Quail says.

The Brookings Area Makerspace, a community workshop in Brookings, S.D., features a full woodworking shop (above and bottom right) and a 3-D printer, software and scanner (top right) for members to use to create new projects.

IMAGES: BROOKINGS EDC

“We’re really hoping for multi-generational membership,” Quail says. “We’ve hosted different clubs from SDSU to introduce them to the space and we partnered with one of the interior design classes to provide the equipment they needed for a project.”

Quail says membership has continued to climb since the Makerspace opened.

“We’re on an upswing and we’ve been hearing some really good feedback,” she says. “We’re gaining members every week and have been giving tours and leading safety trainings every week as well.”

The Makerspace, which is located in the Brookings Innovation Center at 2301 Research Park Way, is open daily from 6 a.m. to midnight. To join or for more information, visit makingbrookings.com or email bedc@ brookingsedc.com. PB

Kayla Prasek Staff Writer, Prairie Business 701.780.1187

kprasek@prairiebusinessmagazine.com

LEADING OUR COMMUNITY

Mark

Teckenburg, Founder & CEO, PushSave | Marketing Strategist & Entrepreneur

Mass Communications, 1998

Failure is a state of mind. My failures have shaped my abilities and progress as an entrepreneur. Obstacles are placed in our path to help us improve and achieve our ultimate goals. The faster you fail, the faster you succeed.

Transforming the world by transforming lives.

Read more about leadership from MSUM alumni at mnstate.edu/leaders

Minnesota State University Moorhead is an equal opportunity educator and employer and is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System.

Midco extends fiber network in Minnesota with Arvig agreement

BY KAYLA PRASEK

Midco has extended its fiber-optic network reach to more locations in Minnesota through a cooperative relationship with Arvig, the Sioux Falls, S.D.-based telecommunications company announced April 8.

The arrangement will help Midco Business customers take advantage of growing opportunities to reach Minnesota communities, including Duluth, Marshall, the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area, Rochester, St. Cloud and more, according to a news release.

“From a Midco perspective, we have added more connectivity to more communities for businesses,” says Scott Smidt, vice president of business engineering and operations for Midco. “It provides a broader connectivity in these communities, especially for companies who are part of Midco and have branches in these communities. It’ll allow them to do business with each other more easily.” Smidt says it will also be beneficial to national companies, as it provides them a larger network to do business within.

Midco’s Northern Plains Network already spans 8,400 fiber route miles throughout Minnesota, North Dakota and

South Dakota. It is now connected to the Arvig network through multiple interconnect points, which adds 4,000 fiber route miles. Because Midco has certified the Arvig network, Midco business customers needing various fiber and networking solutions in the Arvig geographic area will receive those same service-level assurances, Smidt says.

“We’ve heard increased interest from our current and prospective customers about wanting to make more connections to cities and towns that Arvig covers,” Smidt says. “This relationship allows those businesses the chance to still have Midco as their single point of contact, even if they want to connect off the Midco core network in this region.”

From an Arvig perspective, Director of Business Development Dave Schornack says in a statement, “Our relationship with Midco is mutually beneficial. We look forward to working with Midco to provide connections to customers who are growing and expanding their business networks.” PB

Kayla Prasek Staff Writer, Prairie Business 701.780.1187 kprasek@prairiebusinessmagazine.com

SD Mines announces pre-health pathways

BY KAYLA PRASEK

South Dakota School of Mines & Technology in Rapid City is strengthening the way it advises and supports the increasing number of pre-med and pre-health professions students pursuing their bachelor’s degrees at the school.

SD Mines’ new pre-health pathways initiative strengthens support for students in the areas of advising, research, internships and professional experiences, networking opportunities, seminars and student organizations in order to prepare students for graduate studies toward becoming doctors, dentists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, physician assistants and other health-related professionals, the school announced in a statement.

“About six months ago, we started looking at what we were doing for students who were interested in health careers,” says President Heather Wilson. “We started an applied biology major three years ago, but we thought we could do better.”

SD Mines formed an external advisory board to assist the university. Members of the advisory board include Mick Gibbs, president of Rapid City Regional Hospital; Jay Hammerquist, CEO of Black Hills Orthopedic and Spine Center; Phil Hartman, dean of the College of Science & Engineering at Texas Christian University; Dr. Mary Himmler, Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center; Barbara Hobbs, assistant dean of the South Dakota State University West River Nursing Department; Dr. David Klocke, medical director at Rapid City Regional Hospital; William May, CEO of Black Hills Surgical Hospital; Dr. Dan Petereit, Rapid City Regional Hospital; Darrel Riddle, former CEO of Rapid City Medical Center; and Dr. Matthew Simmons, associate dean of the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine-Rapid City campus.

“We decided not to make pre-health a standalone major,” Wilson says. “We have students who are studying all majors but are interested in medical school. This will help guide them to taking the prerequisites necessary for medical school.”

Wilson says SDSM&T has always had a few students each year who end up attending medical, dental or therapy school, but the school has seen those numbers grow with the addition of an applied biology major.

“I’m a mechanical engineering major,” says student Rebecca Ceremuga. “I had a great internship with a medical device company, and what I realized from that experience is that I really want to work with patients. So I’ve taken all of the electives I need in biology and chemistry to be ready to go to medical school and become an orthopedic surgeon. I’m shadowing a surgeon here in Rapid City, and I think it’s great that the School of Mines is going to strengthen their support for pre-health students even more.”

In addition to an academic adviser in their department, students who are on the pre-health pathway will be assigned another adviser who will specialize in pre-health advising to help them ensure they have all of the prerequisites for their post-graduate studies and help them secure internships and research experiences.

“I’ve been able to conduct research right away and interact with professors in rigorous classes that are 20 to 25 students at the most,” says student Sydney Sayler, an applied biology major. “My medical school interviewers were very excited I was a Mines student, saying we are taught at a higher level than most universities.”

Wilson calls the pre-health pathway is a “good step” as the university works to meet the needs of the Rapid City region. “I believe this school will be the best pre-health profession school in the state in a few years. Our classes are academically challenging, our class size is small, we provide hands-on opportunities and our students secure top internships around the country. With this addition, the university will better be able to help our students follow their dreams.” PB

Kayla Prasek Staff Writer, Prairie Business 701.780.1187 kprasek@prairiebusinessmagazine.com

Edgewood Management Group promotes executives

Edgewood Management Group of Grand Forks, N.D., has named Robert J. Ford Jr. chief operating officer and Rich Ostert regional vice president for Region I.

In his new role, Ford will oversee the operations of all 55 independent, assisted and memory care communities consisting of nearly 2,400 employees and 2,400 residents.

Before this role, Ford served as a regional vice president overseeing the operations of 16 communities throughout North Dakota, Minnesota and South Dakota. Before that, he was the executive director at Meadow Wind in Casper, Wyo., since 2009.

Ford received his Master of Business Administration from the University of Mary in Bismarck, N.D., and a bachelor’s in health administration from Montana State University-Billings.

In Ostert’s new role, he will directly oversee Edgewood’s senior living communities in South Dakota.

He served as senior executive director at Edgewood Vista in Spearfish, S.D., since 2008 and served in the Navy for more than 21 years.

Ostert received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Mary in Bismarck.

Dacotah Bank names new Watertown, Aberdeen market presidents

Dacotah Bank has announced a new market president for the company’s location in Watertown, S.D. This summer, Troy Zebroski will replace Kip Hansen as Dacotah Bank’s new manager in the market. Hansen has been promoted to market president for Dacotah Bank’s flagship location in Aberdeen, S.D.

Zebroski has been with Dacotah Bank since 1999. He joined the company as an insurance agent and became an agricultural banker in 2007. He is also an inaugural member of Dacotah Bank’s academy for rising performers.

Zebroski serves as a member of the Financial Advisory Board for Lake Area Technical Institute. He is also a member of the Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce Ag Committee and Leadership Watertown.

Hansen has been with Dacotah Bank for more than 20 years. He is a graduate of South Dakota State University in Brookings and completed the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado in 2006.

Both managers will assume their new roles on or before July 1.

Wells Fargo names market presidents in Aberdeen, Dickinson

Melinda Reints has been named business banking manager and market president for Wells Fargo in Aberdeen, S.D.

In her new role, Reints leads the business banking team and works with business and ag customers to help meet their deposit, cash management and credit needs. As market president, she also coordinates activity between various lines of business and focuses on growing market share. A 13-year company veteran, Reints joined Wells Fargo in 2003 as a teller in Groton, S.D. She then worked as a business associate in Groton before becoming a credit analyst, working on agricultural, commercial and tribal credits across South Dakota. In 2013, she was promoted to business relationship manager for Aberdeen. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Dakota State University in Madison, S.D.

Lavy Steiner has been named senior ag industry specialist and market president for Wells Fargo in Dickinson, N.D. In her new role, Steiner will work with agribusiness customers to help meet their deposit, cash management and credit needs. As market president, she also will coordinate activity between various lines of business and focus on growing market share.

Steiner began her Wells Fargo career in 2012 as a business relationship manager in Dickinson. Before joining Wells Fargo, she worked as a loan officer for Dakota West Credit Union in New England, N.D.

Robert J. Ford Jr. Rich Ostert

Troy Zebroski Kip Hansen

Melinda Reints Lavy Steiner

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‘Lives Worth Living’

The superintendent of the North Dakota State Hospital in Jamestown works to improve the quality of life for people who have experienced trauma, have mental illnesses or suffer from chemical dependency

BY KAYLA PRASEK

Rosalie Etherington is a staunch advocate for mental health, and has spent her career helping those who have experienced trauma live well-rounded lives. But her work in the mental health field doesn’t stop there — she is also helping push mental wellness into the mainstream.Etherington, superintendent of the North Dakota State Hospital in Jamestown, identified her desired career path as psychology in sixth grade. She graduated from Minot (N.D.) State University with a degree in psychology and then went to work for the Federal Bureau of Prisons. After working at various federal prisons around the country, she ended up in Los Angeles, where she attended the California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University. She received her doctorate in clinical psychology with a concentration on program development.

From there, Etherington started working in community mental health, before landing in Jamestown at the State Hospital. There she worked in various roles, including as a psychologist and clinical director, for 20 years, before being named superintendent in May 2015. In October 2015, she added chief clinics officer to her duties, providing leadership to North Dakota’s Department of Human Services’ eight regional health service centers.

“From very early on, I saw myself as a helper,” Etherington says. “People would confide in me. Originally, I thought I would go into program development, but in graduate school, I was drawn to those who had experienced trauma.”

As superintendent of the State Hospital, Etherington says her role is to “carry out the duties and mission of treating those individuals who cannot be treated in their home communities.” The hospital provides services for the severely mentally ill and chemically dependent as well as a residential treatment center for the sexually dangerous and residential addiction treatment for those referred to its on-site

Tompkins Rehabilitation and Corrections Center by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

As chief clinics officer, Etherington oversees the state’s human service centers in Bismarck, Devils Lake, Dickinson, Fargo, Grand Forks, Jamestown, Minot and Williston. The centers specialize in treating adults and children who are affected by mental illness and addiction. The centers also serve as behavioral health emergency services.

“All of us seek a certain type of mental wellness,” Etherington says. “Health embodies that whole well-being. I feel strongly that those who have experienced trauma deserve to experience life, and my career has gone to helping them develop lives worth living.”

Mental illnesses account for half of the top diseases, which, Etherington says, was not the way it was 20 years ago at the beginning of her career. “We were forced to look at why it seemed like the number of people with mental illnesses was increasing. Twenty years ago, a lot of people were not getting the treatment they needed. This is an exciting time as more people take charge of their mental health.”

Rosalie Etherington, North Dakota State Hospital Superintendent

Throughout her career, Etherington has watched the field change for the better. “The mental health field is behind general health care, especially in identifying the best pathway to help people get well,” she says. “Genetic testing has emerged as a way to see how a patient will respond to a certain treatment, which will help our field tremendously. Sometimes it seems like you’re throwing things at a wall and hoping something will stick.”

As she looks to the future, Etherington is hopeful general health and mental health will become entwined. “When I look at the science and where it’s advancing, I’m excited. I hope (mental health) will be integrated with general health, which would bring it out of the shadows and help eliminate the stigma. I also hope that integration will bring the science further, and I hope it means we will have parity with medical care so people won’t be bankrupt seeking the care they need. I also hope the science will advance our treatment and recovery options.”

Etherington hopes to continue to see change in the stigma attached to mental illness. “We don’t talk about it, and we don’t seek help as early as we should,” she says. “We need to talk more openly about it and do more education. We can start by educating primary care providers because mental illness often goes undertreated. The sooner we can get someone on the right treatment, the better.”

Etherington offered advice to her fellow mental health providers. “Take care of yourself. This is a demanding field, and there is a certain potential for trauma in what you experience. Secondary trauma, in time, will develop for you if you don’t take care of yourself.”

She also says it’s important that everyone find balance between work and life. “Some of our careers are very challenging. We can spend hours expending mental energy and leave every day feeling exhausted. Exercise and peace are the best ways to recharge. You need to find your own personal peace, whether it be prayer, meditation, reading or a certain type of socialization. Know yourself to find that balance.” PB

Kayla Prasek Staff Writer, Prairie Business 701.780.1187 kprasek@prairiebusinessmagazine.com

The Art of Attraction

Cities are revitalizing their downtown areas and many have a pointed focus on art, spanning all the elements that fall under its umbrella

BY LISA GIBSON

Adowntown area is the “beating heart” of a community and, if that downtown thrives and exudes positive energy, it will attract tourists as well as locals to experience the culture, art, entertainment, dining or shopping it has to offer. So says Grand Forks Mayor Michael Brown, who has launched an initiative to promote vibrancy in his city, some areas focused specifically downtown.

“You need to make your community attractive and you need to make it vibrant,” he says. “You need to make it alive, you need to make it diverse. … You want a place where people want to live.”

Brown’s plan involves two committees: arts and events, and downtown development. The committees are tasked with presenting recommendations to the city, which could happen as soon as this summer, says Meredith Richards, deputy director of Planning & Community Development for the City of Grand Forks. The committees have hosted listening sessions, public forums and meetings to hear from the community, artists, event venues, business owners, organizations and others. “It’s really about the community conversation,” Richards says.

In such early stages, it’s difficult to predict what those committees will come back with, but once recommendations are in, the city can begin its planning phase to implement any measures it decides to

Sioux Falls, S.D., holds its SculptureWalk each year, attracting tourists and artists from around the world to vote on their favorite sculptures and take in the sights, entertainment and dining in the city’s downtown area.

IMAGES: SCULPTUREWALK

move forward with, says City Administrator Todd Feland. “The important part is to get the planning part done so we can create the action plan that can be implemented incrementally over time,” he says.

Additional public art will undoubtedly be an area of emphasis downtown and throughout the entire community. Brown says no dollar figure has been discussed for his vibrancy project, but he expects future budgeting could include funding for a public arts commission and someone to lead it. The city has seen that model work well in other communities that serve as successful examples. “When you visit other places, you remember the public art,” Brown says. “Grand Forks is at that critical mass right now. We evolve into that next.”

While the City of Grand Forks is facilitating the arts and downtown development discussions, the public sector is leading the charge for action, via the committees, Richards and Feland say. “I think the important part of all the public art is the public-private partnerships, where business and the public are working together to create a vibrant community,” Feland says.

Artistic Emphasis

Thirteen years ago, Sioux Falls, S.D., began its annual SculptureWalk — an event that draws artists and art lovers from all over the country — to revitalize its downtown area and spur economic development. It’s been wildly successful in that regard.

“It’s really grown into beyond the prize inside the box,” says Jeff Hanson, SculptureWalk ambassador. People used to be surprised by it and now it’s become a destination. … Our Trip Advisor reviews are fairly heartwarming.” Last year, the event had visitors from four countries and 44 states, he adds.

Each year, the call for submissions goes out worldwide so sculptors interested in showcasing their talents at the event can send in an applica-

tion with photos of their work. A panel chooses about 80 sculptors, who then create a piece for the event. “We have had sculptures in from almost every state, four continents and 10 countries,” Hanson says. “They are shipped in from all over the world. Although, we did have one artist from Belgium who actually came here and lived in Sioux Falls and did his sculpture here because it was so large.” Many artists send pieces each year and have “adopted” Sioux Falls, he says. “We do have a good stable of returning artists, which is gratifying, considering they’re people who have been profiled in Sculpture Magazine, Southwest Art. They’re good, high-profile artists.”

New sculptures go up roughly the first weekend in May and stay on display for a year, and all are for sale. About 24 percent of the pieces sell each year, which is much higher than the roughly 10 percent national average for similar events, Hanson says. Many Sioux Falls businesses purchase sculptures to display and more are incorporating art within their architecture.

In its first year, SculptureWalk featured about 35 pieces from exclusively regional artists, but expanded “just like that,” Hanson says. “The first year success was pretty amazing. … It’s not just art for art’s sake,” he emphasizes. “It’s art on purpose.” The event has more than achieved its tourism and economic development goals, he says.

“It’s amazing how many people come in. It’s just a fun way to spend a Saturday or a sunny summer day. ... You can sit and have coffee next to a $60,000 piece of art.”

Teri Schmidt, executive director of the Sioux Falls Convention & Visitors Bureau, says, “SculptureWalk has really developed into one of the top reasons people like to visit Sioux Falls. It’s definitely a draw for Sioux Falls.” She says SculptureWalk and the Washington Pavilion of Arts & Science are the pillars of the art community downtown. The pavilion hosts musical performances and multiple art displays. “The arts continue to grow downtown and throughout the community,” Schmidt adds.

SculptureWalk is free to the public, proceeds from sold artwork go to the respective artists and event organizers have helped bring the idea to Watertown and Vermillion in South Dakota, too. The dining and shopping experiences in downtown Sioux Falls add even more pleasure to a day filled with sculpture exhibits and culture, Schmidt says. “It all rolls together and creates a bigger experience for the guest.”

Marketing A Community

Thinking outside the box is key to attracting tourists to take advantage of art and other community offerings, says Charley Johnson, president and CEO of the Fargo-Moorhead Convention & Visitors Bureau, which also serves West Fargo, N.D. “Our job is to get visitors here, downtown or anywhere in these three communities.”

The CVB markets its communities on regional, national and worldwide stages, including through Rocky Mountain International, a consortium that advertises the Upper Midwest as the “Real America.” Many worldwide or national travelers won’t come to the Red River Valley as a prime destination, but there’s no reason Fargo and its surrounding communities can’t be a stop on the way. “It’s a pretty interesting way to market,” Johnson says.

The CVB attends trade shows and other events to sell tourists and travel companies on the different assets of the cities, including Fargo’s

The Art & Wine Walks in Grand Forks, N.D., throughout the summer months draw spectators, art lovers and even local performers to enjoy some of the eateries, retail and art establishments the city’s downtown has to offer.

IMAGE: GREATER GRAND FORKS CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU

appeal as an urban hub. “If we have to start out by talking about the movie, so be it, because it gets us in the door,” he says, referring to the 1996 film Fargo.

Downtown Fargo will commence a number of new construction projects in the next year, including a new city hall, a tower planned by the Kilbourne Group and a mixed-use parking ramp that will incorporate retail and entertainment. “It’s a lot,” Johnson says. “And people have been saying for a long time we need more planning downtown.”

Minot, N.D., is overhauling its downtown infrastructure, also, with a plan for all new streets, sidewalks, traffic lights, plumbing and electrical systems, says Phyllis Burckhard, executive director of Visit Minot. It’s a logistical change that needs to happen, but will allow a completely new look for boosted appeal. Like Fargo, Minot has plans for mixed-use parking structures, to include more shops and condos for the younger generation that wants to live downtown and close to the action. “It’s just going to be a real addition to our downtown area,” Burckhard says.

Minot’s downtown art offerings feature museums, retail shops and venues geared toward art classes and workshops. Events each year include wine walks, festivals and holiday events. “Having those events, we’re drawing people to that area,” Burckhard says, adding the shopping in downtown Minot is unique, with all its local boutiques. The city also hosts the North Dakota State Fair, Northern Neighbors Day and iMagicon comic convention. Burckhard emphasizes the importance of the city’s new airport, saying it’s the largest in the state. “When we are attracting events and visitors to Minot, we have to have that airspace. That’s a real key to our future.”

Attract and Retain

In Grand Forks, the arts and events committee will focus on variety in its recommendations, making sure there’s appeal for all visitors and residents, says committee co-chair Julie Rygg, executive director of the Greater Grand Forks Convention & Visitors Bureau. The group is focused on the entire community, but downtown will be an important component, she says.

The city has programs in place for arts and Rygg and her committee will dig in to them to determine if the dollars are being stretched as far

as they can be and if the initiatives resulting from those programs are as effective as they can be. Art and events, which often overlap, are a big part of the community, Rygg says, and it’s important to “Make sure we’re supporting what we need to be. … With a vibrant community, that has a ripple effect. If people that live here enjoy our community, people will want to travel here as well.”

The city hosts several events, including ArtFest, where local artists display their work for sale, Art & Wine Walk, musical performances such as Blues on the Red and other events including a farmers market downtown every Saturday during the summer.

Not only will Brown’s vibrant community initiative attract tourists, but it will appeal to current residents and graduates of the University of North Dakota, he says. “We want to retain our students when they graduate … and we also want to be a welcoming community where businesses want to relocate because their people want to live here.” Richards adds, “What we keep hearing is that to be a successful community that attracts and retains workers, you have to have more than jobs.”

A community’s downtown is what makes it unique and shows tourists, residents and potential residents “who we are as a community,” Feland says. Grand Forks’ vibrancy committees will help maximize potential to draw more visitors and locals to experience what downtown Grand Forks has to offer.

“That’s a trend worldwide,” Richards says. “Communities that have strong downtowns are strong communities.” PB

Lisa Gibson Editor, Prairie Business 701.787.6753 lgibson@prairiebusinessmagazine.com

Minot, N.D., is renovating its downtown to feature updated lighting, more mixeduse structures and an overall more attractive appearance. IMAGE: VISIT MINOT

Fargo, N.D., has some new construction projects planned in the near future and markets itself on local, national and international stages, using its urban downtown as a selling point, according to Charley Johnson, president and CEO of the Fargo-Moorhead Convention & Visitors Bureau.

IMAGE: FARGO-MOORHEAD CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU

Member FDIC

A Steady Hand

The use of robotic-assisted surgery has picked up quickly in recent years and the practice provides benefits to surgeons as well as patients

BY KAYLA PRASEK

When Drs. Farhan Khan, Scott Johnson, Curtis Peery and David Maziarz head into the operating room, there’s a good chance they’ll be doing a robotic-assisted surgery. The da Vinci Surgical System — the system used nationwide for this type of surgery — was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2000, but its usage across various types of surgeries has increased considerably in the past year, the doctors say. The doctors also say the benefits of robotic-assisted surgery for both the surgeons and patients make it the preferred choice over laparoscopic and traditional open surgery.

The da Vinci robot is the only one approved for use in the U.S. and is used all over the world. To operate on a patient using the da Vinci, the patient is put under general anesthesia. The surgeon then makes three tiny incisions and preps the patient for surgery. The surgeon will complete the surgery sitting at a console, from which he or she controls the robot. A nurse practitioner stays next to the patient and the robot to switch out tools throughout the surgery. Khan, director of robotic surgery and a urological surgeon at Essentia Health West Region, says he is “away from the table but performing the surgery. The robot is the tool I use to perform the surgery.”

Avera Health, headquartered in Sioux Falls, S.D., introduced robotic-assisted surgery in 2009. Since then, it has “become one of the gold

Dr. Curtis Peery, surgeon, Sanford Surgical Associates, Sioux Falls, S.D., performs a surgery from the console of the da Vinci robotic system. Peery is also pictured to the right. IMAGE: SANFORD HEALTH

standards for safe surgery,” says Sandy King, director of operative services at Avera McKennan Hospital and University Health Center in Sioux Falls. “Most laparoscopic surgeries are now done robotically.” King says robotic-assisted surgery has reduced the trauma to the patient’s tissues and muscles, thus reducing healing and recovery time and blood loss. Patients also have considerably less postoperative pain and can get back to their normal, daily activities much more quickly. Patients also generally require fewer pain medications and are subject to lower risk of infection, King says.

“Over the last year, we’ve seen general surgery explode with the use of the robot,” King says. “It extends into almost every surgical specialty. This is the standard in training.” King says one in five surgeons in the U.S. are da Vinci-trained, but that jumps to 100 percent in colorectal surgeons.

Urology

When the FDA first approved the da Vinci, it was used primarily in urological surgeries, Khan says. “Urology has been at the forefront,” he says. Khan says any surgery that can be done laparoscopically can now be done robotically because the robot provides more magnification so the surgeon can see better and it allows the surgeon’s movements inside the abdomen to be more precise. “We’ve basically taken a step forward and made instruments that have a lot of movement. It allows me to be more stable, while the trauma the patient experiences is less.”

In urology, the da Vinci can be used for prostate, kidney, bladder, adrenal and testicular cancer, lymph node removal and benign adrenal gland tumors. It can also be used to fix bladder and kidney reflux in children who are born with an obstruction in their kidneys. In rare cases, it is used to remove kidney stones in unusual locations.

“This is the trend moving forward,” Khan says. “We are moving away from laparoscopic surgery. In 99 percent of prostate cancer cases, surgery is done robotically. The robot makes the surgery even easier to do.” Those patients, who previously had two- or three-day hospital stays, now go home the next day.

Kidney surgery used to require large incisions but robotic-assisted surgery has changed that as well, Khan says. Khan is the only surgeon in North Dakota doing robotic partial nephrectomies in patients with kidney cancer. “We used to remove the whole kidney. Now, I can just take the tumor and leave the rest of the kidney. It must be done in 30 minutes, which makes it the ideal type of surgery for the robot.”

Gastric Bypass

Peery, a surgeon with Sanford Surgical Associates in Sioux Falls, S.D., mainly uses the da Vinci for bariatric and hernia surgery. He has been using the robotic system for more than 10 years.

“Ten years ago, no one could tell me how to use it, but I really believed in the technology,” he says. “I could see it could do the precise, delicate techniques you can’t do in laparoscopic surgery, so I found it most useful there.”

Peery says early stages of the da Vinci didn’t allow for a very wide range of surgeries, as the system was best for surgeries in a confined space. “Over the years, general surgery had less use for it because we do such a wide array of surgeries. The newer models are much more amenable to doing general surgery, so we’ve been able to catch up.”

In the early years of robotic-assisted surgery, general surgery saw few surgeons using the system because their surgeries were so varied, Peery says. “In the last year or so, we’ve seen a huge increase in general surgeons using the robot. In the Sioux Falls area, there’s been almost a four-fold increase in general and bariatric surgery using it. It took them longer to learn how to use it well and understand how it can be used.”

While Peery notes the main benefit is a speedier recovery time, he says the biggest change in his practice is in weight-loss surgery. “In 2013, I switched back to doing only robotic-assisted weight-loss surgery and increased my outcomes in every area. The number of my patients being admitted to the hospital and needing more surgeries is much lower.”

Gastric bypass, which was always considered the more complicated weight-loss surgery but also the surgery that provided the best results, is now the best option, Peery says. “There’s less pain, less blood loss and less scarring. In my patients, there are essentially no leaks. Those feared complications are so low that it’s a very safe surgery. In the past, patients would choose the other weight-loss surgeries because they were safer but not the best option for them. Now patients can feel more comfortable with the best option to lose more weight, resolve more health problems like diabetes and keep the weight off longer.”

IMAGE: AVERA HEALTH

ABOVE: Dr. Farhan Khan, director of robotic surgery and urological surgeon, Essentia Health West Region, Fargo, N.D. IMAGE: ESSENTIA HEALTH

LEFT: During operations, the arms of the da Vinci robotic system are positioned over the patient and are controlled by the surgeon using a joystick-type apparatus.

Cardiac Surgery

Maziarz, a cardiothoracic vascular surgeon at Sanford Health in Sioux Falls, was first exposed to robotic-assisted surgery in 2001 and has been using the da Vinci in his own practice since 2007. He primarily uses the robotic system to fix specific blockages in the heart’s arteries in a less invasive surgery. He also uses it in bypass surgeries in the major arteries and in surgeries to reduce stroke risks.

“We no longer have to open the chest,” Maziarz says. “I can’t do every person with the robot, but it would be nice if we could.”

Maziarz is able to make smaller incisions and reduce the impact of cardiac surgery on his patients when using the robot. This allows his patients to make an earlier return to full activity, usually about six to eight weeks after surgery. “The robot has cut recovery time in half, while also decreasing pain and the number of patients needing blood transfusions.”

Maziarz says there is still a fairly small number of cardiac surgeons using the da Vinci. “As we’ve seen improvements in the system, it has become easier to reach certain parts of the heart.” While he uses the robot about once a month, Maziarz expects to utilize it more as it continues to progress. “As technology improves and there’s more integration with the robot and the software, I see even more use for it. I’m always looking to reduce the impact of surgery on my patients.”

Gynecology

Johnson, a gynecological surgeon and chief of the surgical procedural division at Essentia Health West Region in Fargo, N.D., says robotic-assisted surgery provides a third minimally invasive option for surgeons. “If at all possible, we want to do a minimally invasive surgery. In gynecology, that means vaginally, laparoscopically or robotically. All have benefits you’ll use at certain times.”

Johnson says the advantages of robotic-assisted gynecological surgery include being able to make very fine motions and details with tools in the patient and the ability to work around the organs more easily. Johnson, who has been using the da Vinci for more than six

years, primarily uses the robotic system for hysterectomies, ovarian surgery and gynecologic cancer surgery.

“If we look nationally at hysterectomies, 50 percent are still done through incision,” Johnson says. “The robot has increased the number done minimally invasively. Ninety percent are done vaginally, laparoscopically and robotically. The robot has brought the number of patients with large incisions down and moved the bar in what we can do for patients.”

Johnson’s patients who have robotic-assisted surgery are usually able to go home the day of or day after surgery, have less blood loss, are able to return to work sooner and have less post-op pain. “We continue to push the bar for minimally invasive surgery so as many as possible can be done that way, and the robot is an important piece of that,” he says.

Future

While not every patient is a candidate for robotic-assisted surgery, King says Avera has a “very robust robotic team” and calls it “another hand in cancer care.” The surgeon determines if a patient is eligible for robotic-assisted surgery on a case-by-case basis.

“There will always be some surgeries done traditionally,” Khan says. “But they’re always trying to make the system better. They released a new model a year ago and even more surgeries can be done with it. As robotics get more advanced and efficient, they may replace all laparoscopic surgeries. Who knows where we’ll be in 10 years, because we never thought we’d be here.”

Peery sees a point where telemedicine and robotic-assisted surgery could become integrated. “In medicine, a lot of things are changing because of technology. I can see a point where telemedicine and robotic-assisted surgery will cross paths and will continue to change how we view medicine.” PB

Kayla Prasek Staff Writer, Prairie Business 701.780.1187

Dr. David Maziarz, a cardiothoracic vascular surgeon, stands near the da Vinci system in an operating room at Sanford Health in Sioux Falls, S.D. IMAGE: SANFORD HEALTH

Community Collaboration

When Watford City, N.D., found itself in the middle of the Bakken oil boom with its population skyrocketing, the city’s leaders watched as they outgrew every public building. Led by Mayor Brent Sanford, the city steadily expanded those public buildings to fit the expanded population. In addition, all club sports had outgrown their spaces and each needed to fundraise to build new venues, which is when the city stepped in.

“In 2014, we went around to all the groups who needed their spaces to be increased and brought them all together so everyone wasn’t fundraising individually,” Sanford says. “It was something that people were open and excited about. When you bring all the entities together, it became quite the project.”

BY KAYLA PRASEK

1. Watford City Event Center’s 3,000-seat arena will host basketball and volleyball games, as well as concerts and other events.

2. The event center’s great hall will overlook the new high school’s football field, creating a place to congregate. The great hall is designed to help move people through the facility easily.

3. The exterior of the event center will be constructed using precast concrete, steel and glass.

4. The event center (left) will be connected to McKenzie County School District’s new high school.

IMAGES: JLG ARCHITECTS

That project is the Watford City Event Center, which broke ground in fall 2014 and has a projected completion date of Sept. 1. The $80 million, 242,000-square-foot facility, which was designed by JLG Architects, will be connected to the city’s new high school west of town. It is the centerpiece of a 600-acre development, says Lonnie Laffen, CEO and president of JLG Architects in Grand Forks, N.D. The facility itself sits on 40 acres donated by the Steve Stenehjem family. Kraus-Anderson, headquartered in Minneapolis, and Construction Engineers, headquartered in Grand Forks, are providing construction services.

The facility includes a convention center with banquet facilities for 400 and conference and meeting space for 1,000, a 3,000-seat basketball and volleyball arena with a walking track, a multi-use field house with turf, and a hockey arena with a 1,000-seat ice rink and a practice rink. It will also feature an indoor aquatic center with a six-lane competition lap pool, zero-depth entry pool with

The Watford City (N.D.) Event Center provides a family-friendly gathering place for conventions, sports, education, special events and more

water features, mid-depth area with basketball hoop and volleyball net, water slide, lazy river and pool party room. The University of Mary in Bismarck, N.D., will also offer distance education at the facility.

JLG was working on the city’s high school when the city started planning for the event center. “This project was a lot of fun to work on,” Laffen says. “The client trusted us to create a unique complex unlike anything in our three-state region. To work on it was really special, especially considering the town’s size.”

The facility is constructed from precast concrete, glass and metal panel. “Design wise, it’s unique,” Laffen says. “We knew we could create some cool design aspects. There’s a great hall that connects to the high school that overlooks the high school’s new outdoor football field.”

Laffen says it’s also unique to house all of the different facilities under one roof. “The main challenge was figuring out how to organize those big spaces from a people-movement aspect. The great hall makes it easy for people to find their way around.”

Funding for the project comes from a 1.5 percent sales tax and Bank of North Dakota infrastructure lending. Watford City voters approved a tax increase to pay for bonds for the event center and debt service for the city’s new hospital. “Eighty percent of voters voted yes, which tells you where the mindset is of the community,” Sanford says. “It’s a young community with families that need something to do.”

In addition to community collaboration from the gymnastics, skating and hockey clubs, the school district, park district and city signed a joint powers agreement “so the spirit of the facility lives on after those of us that pushed it forward are no longer in these roles,” Sanford says.

“The reality of our economy is we have more people here than ever before,” Sanford says. “From the beginning of the oil boom, we talked about how do we make this community one people want to live in. We needed this city to be family friendly and to be a place where the moms and kids want to move. We made a concerted effort in being a family-friendly community, which is why this is a broader building than a YMCA. I think it’ll be very well received.” PB

Kayla Prasek Staff Writer, Prairie Business 701.780.1187

Fargo

Gregg Schaefer Grand Forks

Rollin Mehlhoff Bismarck

Melissa Almer Grand Forks Brady Wrightsman Grand Forks

Interest Rates

Employment

Data provided by David Flynn, chair of the University of North Dakota Department of Economics. Reach him at david.flynn@business.und.edu.

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