When it comes to attracting talent,

By Andrew Weeks

When it comes to attracting and retaining employees in these momentous times of workforce challenges and demands, companies are doing what they can to stand out by offering an inviting work-life balance and culture experience.

Often, part of that equation is location – and for Dan Altenbernd, managing partner at H2M, that means downtown Fargo.

It’s a place that has worked well for business and is a place he intends to stay. One reason is because he believes the location of the company, an ad and marketing firm with clients across the upper Midwest, helps attract employees and motivates them in their creativity.

“The location actually is part of our culture,” he said.

WE THINK THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF EXCITING THINGS HAPPENING IN DOWNTOWN FARGO, AND AS FAR AS CULTURAL AND SOCIAL EVENTS THAT TAKE PLACE IN THIS AREA, WE ARE AT THE CENTER OF ALL OF IT.

— TARA MAY, VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS AT R.D. OFFUTT FARMS

Altenbernd, who has worked in some capacity downtown for about 20 years, likes promoting the area and in recent months joined the Downtown Community Partnership, a community organization that goes beyond promoting traditional retail and special events to take on development challenges facing downtown.

“I did that because I am such a proponent of what’s happening down here,” he said. “What I personally like about downtown Fargo is the vibrancy and vitality. It is the walkability (to other businesses and venues). That might seem cliche to many people, but I love the options that downtown has to offer the office worker.” Those offerings are much more than the nearby food and beverage amenities – though that’s a plus, too.

“I think food and beverage gets oversold when we talk about downtown,” he said. “There is so much camaraderie in the downtown community that I completely enjoy. I feel like it might cost me

IMAGE ABOVE: A VIEW OF THE FIFTH FLOOR MEETING ROOM OF R.D. OFFUTT FARMS IN DOWNTOWN FARGO, N.D. TARA MAY, THE COMPANY’S VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, SAYS DOWNTOWN ATTRACTS LIKE-MINDED INDIVIDUALS AND COMPANIES THAT ARE ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF TECHNOLOGY AND CHANGE. PEOPLE ARE INNOVATIVE AND THEY ARE ABLE TO MEET EASILY AND FEED OFF EACH OTHER’S CREATIVITY AND AMBITIONS. IMAGE: COURTESY OF R.D. OFFUTT FARMS a little more to be here, but that’s an investment I choose to make because I believe that being downtown actually attracts talent.”

Kilbourne Group has helped many businesses set up shop in the downtown area, including such projects as the Kesler and Mercantile, both high-brow multi-use projects at the heart of downtown.

Mike Peschel, Kilbourne’s managing broker and commercial asset manager, said anyone can create their own unique office setting and make it as inviting as they like, but a common theme he is noticing is that people are seeking built-in amenities close to the office.

“In the downtown setting, what people are showing a lot of interest in is the idea that all of the amenities are already around. They’re already there,” he said. “So when people are looking for an office, they’re saying, ‘Hey, we can make the office look like whatever we want. But we got 40 or 50 food and beverage coffee-shop type options surrounding us. We have the ability to network with people just on the streets, walking from meeting to meeting.’

“It becomes more of an opportunity for your business to thrive in a different environment than it would if it was in another area of town or a little farther away. When you’re driving from meeting to meeting you’re not interacting with people every day.”

Peschel said Kilbourne Group keeps tabs on what’s happening downtown, works closely with its clients, and is doing its part to keep Fargo an inviting place to live and work. With so many innovative minds downtown, he believes the vibrancy that many people mention will continue into the foreseeable future. And, he said, it will only get better.

That means it likely will continue to attract new businesses and talent to the scene.

“You can build an office in the middle of a farmstead and while there make it the coolest space in the world,” he said. “But you’re continued on page 14