Promoting ND to international visitors

BY FRED WALKER

North Dakota’s tourism department is constantly working to promote the state as a destination for visitors, but many of us never think about those efforts outside of the United States. North Dakota has been marketing itself abroad to international visitors for over 16 years.

International visitors are drawn to experience North Dakota’s uncrowded attractions, safe travel, clean air, affordable rates and the hospitality of its friendly people. International marketing efforts are aimed at helping people outside the U.S. learn more about North Dakota.

In the past five years alone, North Dakota Tourism has hosted 73 international groups and media outlets to our state. These visits have produced more than 116 news stories, reaching more than 11 million international readers. This coverage computes to an advertising equivalency of over $4 million dollars.

We’re currently focusing our international marketing efforts in eight countries. North Dakota is part of the Rocky Mountain International group which coordinates international tourism activities for the state tourism departments of Idaho, Montana, South Dakota, Wyoming and North Dakota. We are seeing great influence from our cooperative relationship with Rocky Mountain International, which showcases North Dakota to the international marketplace as part of the region. These efforts in the international market allow North Dakota tourism dollars to go farther. Rocky Mountain International has been able to leverage state dollars by 60 percent in increasing the overall value of the program and grow the tourism economies of all five states and three gateways in the region.

North Dakota Legendary is a known brand worldwide. Relationships have been developed and continue to expand in each of our markets. These relationships can be very successful if you plan to work for the long term.

Our state has seen an increase in international travelers including visitors from the Canadian market. North Dakota is the 10th most visited state by Canadians. North Dakota saw an 11 percent increase in visits by Canadians and a 15 percent increase in traveler spending during the past travel season.

North Dakota Tourism also works with partners throughout the state through travel show partnerships, advertising partnerships, familiarization tour support and package creation, all of which create a solid North Dakota brand outside our borders.

One example of this outreach is with Jay and Jeremy Doan, fifth-generation ranchers from Sterling. The Doans opened their working cattle ranch to international visitors. Through their relationship with North Dakota Tourism, the Doans have hosted 20 international visitors so far.

Clearly, North Dakota Tourism’s efforts are paying off. As the state’s third-largest industry, tourism plays a key role in the state’s economic success. Tourism continues to expose more people to the legendary experiences and lifestyle that our state has to offer. It is also one of five industries the North Dakota Department of Commerce has targeted to broaden the state’s economic base, create new wealth and generate high-paying, career-track jobs. PB

Fred Walker International travel marketing manager North Dakota Department of Tourism fwalker@nd.gov Twitter: @NorthDakota

The Research Park at South Dakota State University in Brookings is home to a collaborative effort between the university and Raven Industries Inc. to advance precision agriculture.

Raven Industries opens center at SDSU Research Park

Sioux Falls, S.D.-based Raven Industries Inc. has formed a partnership with South Dakota State University and the Research Park at SDSU in Brookings to support the research and development of precision agriculture and its associated workforce.

Raven Industries is comprised of three divisions — Applied Technology, Engineering Films and Aerostar — which design and manufacture products for precision agriculture, energy, construction, aerospace, electronics and surveillance technology. At the precision ag research center at SDSU, Raven Industries will offer engineering students hands-on experience in technical areas through internships, with the possibility for full-time positions upon graduation.

Matt Burkhart, vice president and general manager of the Raven Applied Technology Division, says the company is excited to collaborate with SDSU’s faculty and students. “This is a great opportunity to help solve the challenge of feeding the world, and at the same time support South Dakota’s higher education while proliferating the Silicon Prairie,” he says.

ND offers tech-based entrepreneurship grant

The North Dakota Department of Commerce is offering grant opportunities designed to grow technology-based entrepreneurship within the state.

The technology-based entrepreneurship grant (TBEG) program will offer funding to assist entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial centers in four areas: access to capital, marketing assistance, entrepreneur infrastructure and entrepreneurial talent. Each grant is limited to $10,000 for the first phase and $14,000 for the second phase. Applicants must be a certified entrepreneurial center or a tech-based business working with a certified entrepreneurial center. Programs or projects must meet specific criteria to qualify for funding. Details are available at www.commerce.nd.gov/programs/technology-basedentrepreneurship-grant-program.

Minnesota Power expands ND wind project

Minnesota Power, a division of ALLETE, announced in August plans to expand its wind farm located near New Salem, N.D., by 200 megawatts. Construction on phase 4 of the Bison Wind Energy Center is expected to begin by the end of this year. More than 64 turbines will be added to the 101 turbines already on-site. The project, estimated to cost $345 million, includes a new substation and about 11 miles of transmission line. It is expected to be complete by the end of 2014.

NMF offers leadership scholarships

The Northwest Minnesota Foundation is offering Leadership Growth and Development scholarships to nonprofit organizations and small businesses located in the foundation’s 12county region. The scholarships are designed to help build the leadership capacity and service depth of the region’s nonprofit and small business sectors. Scholarships are available until funds are exhausted and are awarded on a firstcome, first-serve basis. For more information, visit www.nwmf.org.

Survey measures Bakken impact on Grand Forks

A survey recently conducted by the Grand

Forks (N.D.)/East Grand Forks (Minn.) Chamber of Commerce on behalf of the Bakken Initiative found that more than half of the participating businesses attribute some of their past two years of revenue to Bakken activity. About one-quarter of respondents say they have added staff during the past two years to support Bakken-related business growth.

The Bakken Initiative is a Grand Forks area marketing effort to promote the region’s business and community benefits for Bakken businesses.

Texas storage tank maker expands to SD

Texas-based above ground storage tank and processing equipment manufacturer Permian Tank & Manufacturing Inc. is expanding to Belle Fourche, S.D., and will anchor the town’s new industrial and rail park. The facility will initially manufacture steel tanks but could be expanded in the future to produce a complete line of products for the oil and gas industry. The plant will employ up to 65 people. Hiring is expected to begin in the spring.

Belle Fourche’s central proximity to the oil and gas industries in North Dakota, Montana and Wyoming and family-friendly quality of life were factors in the decision to locate there, according to the company.

JLG Architects named Hot Firm of 2013

JLG Architects has been named to The Zweig Letter’s 14th annual Hot Firm List, recognizing the top 100 fast-growing architecture, engineering and environmental consulting firms in North America. In an industry comprised of over 100,000 firms, the Hot Firm list measures their increase in revenue over the past three years in terms of both dollar and percentage change. JLG was ranked 22nd on the total list and 2nd amongst architecture firms.

EDND hires Bismarck PR firm

The Economic Development Association of North Dakota has hired Clearwater Communications, a Bismarck, N.D.-based association management and public relations firm, to provide management communication and legislative services. EDND’s mission is to increase economic opportunities for residents of the state by supporting primary growth sector, professionalism among economic development practitioners and coordination among development organizations.

Center of Innovation signs MOU with Norway group

The University of North Dakota Center of Innovation Foundation in Grand Forks and SINTEF, the largest independent research entity in Scandanavia, have signed a strategic memorandum of understanding (MOU) to develop mutually beneficial and innovative commercialization projects and entrepreneur activities in targeted technology areas. The collaboration will benefit tech entrepreneurs and university students in Norway and North Dakota. Technology areas of interest include oil and gas, sensors, ambient assisted living and unmanned aerial systems.

Grainger opens Williston branch

Grainger, a supplier of maintenance, repair and operating products serving businesses and institutions, has opened a branch in Williston, N.D., to serve oil and gas customers. The 12,000-square-foot location will stock thousands of products, with inventory tailored to oil field businesses.

SD DOT RR project wins national award

The 2012 Mitchell-to-Chamberlain (S.D.) Railroad Rehabilitation project recently earned the South Dakota Department of Transportation the Best Use of Innovation award at the America’s Transportation Awards. The awards were sponsored by the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials, AAA and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

More than 61 miles of rail and 96,000 ties were replaced as part of the $28 million project. Collaborators included the S.D. DOT, the Mitchell-Rapid City Regional Rail Authority, the South Dakota Railroad Board and Dakota Southern Railway. The project received $16 million in federal funds.

Construction begins on Spiritwood biorefinery

Local and state officials attended a groundbreaking Aug. 9 for the Dakota Spirit AgEnergy biorefinery in the Spiritwood Energy Park near Jamestown, N.D. The facility is expected to convert 23 million bushels of locally available corn into 65 million gallons of ethanol, 198,000 tons of distillers grains and 6,900 tons of fuel-grade corn oil annually. Midwest AgEnergy Group, a subsidiary of Great River Energy, is investing $155 million in the plant, which is expected to operational in early 2015. The facility is expected to employ about 36 workers.

NMF funds fishy research

The Northwest Minnesota Foundation has awarded $20,000 to the White Earth Land Recovery Project to study the market and potential building needs for a fish-based fertilizer product using fish waste produced at the Red Lakes Fisheries facility in Redby, Minn. The facility produces between 200,000 and 300,000 pounds of organic fish waste annually. A feasibility study will assess the nutrient content of the waste and explore how it can be processed, what kind of facility would be needed and what type of market exists for the end product. The Agricultural Utilization Research Institute and Headwaters Regional Development Commission are contributing time and expertise to the study.

Nor-Son, Eskuche Associates merge

Wayzata, Minn.-based design/build firm Nor-Son Inc. has merged with Minneapolisbased residential architecture firm Eskuche Associates. The architecture firm is now known as Eskuche Design and will work as a design studio that operates and markets separately under Nor-Son as its parent company. Together, the firms will offer integrated consulting, design and construction services. Nor-Son has offices in Fargo and Sioux Falls, S.D., as well as Baxter and Wayzata, Minn.

FAA gives $3.6 million for ND airport upgrades

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has awarded $3.6 million in grants to fund construction and maintenance projects at multiple airports throughout North Dakota. Airports to receive funding include: Grand Forks International Airport, Edgeley Municipal Airport, Bottineau Municipal Airport, Stanley Municipal Airport and Mott Municipal Airport. The state of North Dakota also received more than $332,000 to update its airport system study plan to address aviation needs impacted by energy development and economic growth.

Sanford Health expands reach to Montana

Sidney Health Center, a 25-bed critical access hospital in Sidney, Mont., has partnered with Sanford Health to access Sanford’s electronic health records system, Epic. It is Sanford’s first affiliation in Montana. Sidney Health Center will convert to the Epic software system in the spring. In a statement, Rick Haraldson, CEO of Sidney Health Center, said working with Sanford allows the hospital to take advantage of federal incentives for the implementation of electronic health records at a reasonable rate.

USD, a-tune software partner

The University of South Dakota in Vermillion has formed a technology partnership with a-tune software Inc., a software solution provider to the medical research community, to use the company’s tick@lab software application to provide administrative oversight for research studies conducted at the university. Peter Autenried, director of laboratory animal resources at USD, says the selection of a-tune was made based on the application’s ability to leverage the latest technologies. a-tune software is headquartered in Germany and has an affiliate in Cambridge, Mass.

Atchison buys Midwest Fire Equipment & Repair Co.

A family investor group led by Sarah Atchison has purchased Luverne, Minn.-based Midwest Fire Equipment & Repair Co. for an undisclosed amount.

Founded in 1987 by Scott and Pam Schneekloth, Midwest Fire Equipment & Repair Co. manufactures tankers, tankerpumpers and fire rescue vehicles in the U.S. and Canada. Atchison intends to continue operating the facility in Luverne and has retained all employees.

Atchison, along with family members Lyle and Jane Gessell, purchased the company because it aligns with their mission to work with small, Midwestern manufacturing operations that develop projects that help save lives, according to a spokesperson. Atchinson’s husband, Dean, owns and operates Fargo-based air medical equipment manufacturing company Spectrum Aeromed. He served as a consultant on the acquisition.

First International donates $250K to affordable housing

First International Bank & Trust recently contributed $250,000 to the North Dakota Housing Incentive Fund to support the development of the Wolf Run Village project in Watford City. The housing development is being constructed to provide affordable housing for teachers, law enforcement personnel, and city and county employees. First International Bank & Trust is owned by Watford City Bancshares Inc., which is owned by the Stenehjem family. In 2012, the bank contributed $220,000 to HIF to support projects in Minot, Watford City and Williston.

Multi-hotel project breaks ground in New Town

New Leaf Development recently broke ground on a hotel campus in New Town, N.D., that will include two hotels — a 91-room familystyle hotel and a 103-room extended-stay hotel, conference space and a 5,000-square-foot lounge. The complex plans to provide boat and trailer parking and guided fishing and hunting packages to accommodate Lake Sakakawea enthusiasts. The complex is expected to open in July and will employ up to 60 people.

DSU MBA goes online

Sioux Falls, S.D.-based Dakota State University is now offering its master of business administration degree entirely online in order to benefit the region’s full-time employed professionals. Delivering the degree in an online format will provide greater access to students outside of the Sioux Falls area and help meet growing demand for business professionals with graduate degrees, according to the university.

Summit to focus on small business issues

The Red River Valley Research Corridor, U.S. Sens. John Hoeven, R-N.D., and Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., and U.S. Rep. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., are hosting the Small Business Innovations and Solutions Summit at the Holiday Inn in Fargo Oct. 18. The event will feature keynote speakers and breakout sessions on financing, the Affordable Care Act, social media, big data for marketing and other issues relevant to small business. For more information, or to register, visit theresearchcorridor.com/sbsummit2013.

CoBank adds staff in Fargo

CoBank, a cooperative bank serving agribusinesses and rural infrastructure providers throughout the U.S., has expanded its presence in Fargo, N.D., to better serve the regional market. Preston Kranz now serves as regional vice president for the bank’s regional agribusiness banking group in Fargo, a new position for CoBank in the area. Additionally, Eric Carlson, a relationship manager with CoBank’s Minneapolis banking center, has relocated to Fargo and Wes Griggs has been hired to serve as a new relationship manager.

CoBank’s Fargo Banking Center serves North Dakota as well as portions of South Dakota and Minnesota.

Prange joins Ackerman-Estvold

Jamey Prange recently joined Minot, N.D.based Ackerman-Estvold as a senior civil engineer. He has more than 12 years of experience and worked most recently for a private firm in Wisconsin, where he was an instrumental design team member in the transportation department.

Fritze named to Otter Tail board

Otter Tail Corp.’s board of directors has appointed Steven Fritze to serve the remaining term made vacant by the May 14 resignation of former board member Mark Olson. The term expires on the date of Otter Tail’s 2016 annual shareholder meeting.

Fritze formerly served as chief financial officer of Ecolab Inc., retiring from the company last December. He serves on the boards of Minnesota Public Radio, American Public Media Group, Minnesota Philanthropy Partners and Wenger Corp.

Ulteig adds Bismarck employees

Bremer Bank promotes Beito

Kevin Beito has been promoted to senior business banking manager for Bremer Bank’s Grand Forks (N.D.) Charter. He will be responsible for credit, sales development and leadership of the business and agricultural teams for the Grand Forks charter. Beito has 26 years of banking experience and has worked for Bremer Bank since 2009. Prior to joining Bremer Bank, he was employed at Wells Fargo.

DCN names new CEO

Seth Arndorfer has been selected as the new CEO of the Dakota Carrier Network. He has more than 15 years of experience working with DCN and its owner companies. He most recently served as DCN’s business development manager. Arndorfer is based at DCN’s network operations center in Bismarck, N.D.

Arndorfer assumed his new responsibilities in September following the retirement of Evan Hass, general manager of DCN. Hass worked in the North Dakota telecommunications industry for 47 years.

SDSM&T president joins Peabody Energy board

South Dakota School of Mines & Technology President Heather Wilson has been appointed as a member of Peabody Energy’s board of directors. Peabody Energy, the largest coal mining company in the world, often hires SDSM&T graduates and utilizes the school for continued employee training, according to Wilson. In a news release announcing the board appointment, the company commended Wilson’s expertise in global security, energy, strategy and technical intelligence and said her knowledge in those areas will be of great value to the company’s platform.

Engineering firm Ulteig recently hired Brian Mager to work in water resources in the civil services group as a graduate engineer in its Bismarck, N.D., office. Mager graduated with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in civil engineering from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. He previously completed summer internsthips with BEAMCO, AE2S and Northern Technologies.

Olin (Joe) Seago will work in the civil services group as a lead highway engineer in the Bismarck office. Seago has more than 15 years of experience in the industry, working on projects for both the private and public sectors. Before coming to Ulteig, Seago worked overseas as a roadway design engineer in Kuwait.

Veitz appointed to AHA board

Larry Veitz, CEO of Spearfish (S.D.) Regional Hospital, has been appointed to the American Hospital Association’s board of trustees and as the chairperson of AHA’s regional policy board (RPB)

6. He will serve a three-year term beginning Jan. 1.

Veitz currently serves on the RPB 6 and is an associate member of the American College of Healthcare Executives. He has also served as a board member and chairperson of the South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations and as a board member for various state and local health care boards.

The AHA represents and serves all types of hospitals, health care networks and their patients and communities with national health policy development. The board of trustees is the policymaking body of the AHA and has ultimate authority for the governance and management of its direction and finances.

Collin joins Odney as strategic engagement director

Rick Collin has joined marketing and advertising firm Odney as director of the strategic engagement team. In this role, he will develop and implement public and media relations and social media campaigns for Odney’s clients.

Collin has more than 30 years of experience in news reporting, public relations, media relations and communications. He most recently served as the communications and outreach director for the State Historical Society of North Dakota Foundation. He also serves on the adjunct faculty at the University of Mary in Bismarck, N.D., where he teaches American history and political science.

Ritter named BMDA president

Brian Ritter has been appointed president/CEO of the Bismarck-Mandan Development Association. He had been serving as interim executive director of the BMDA since June, following the retirement of the group’s longtime leader, Russ Staiger.

“Brian has proven he has what it takes to lead BMDA to the next level,” said Craig Lambrecht, BMDA board chair. “The board tasked him with four immediate goals when he was appointed to the interim position, and we gave him six months to complete them. He did it in three months.”

Ritter joined the BMDA in 2004 and had served as its director of business development for the past five years.

Carlson, Raum join Fredrikson & Byron

Wayne Carlson and Michael Raum have joined law firm Fredrikson & Byron’s Fargo office.

Carlson focuses his practice on business and agricultural law. Prior to joining the firm, he was a senior vice president and general counsel at an agricultural financial services company in Fargo, where he was principal legal advisor to the board of directors, CEO and other members of the senior leadership team.

Raum focuses his practice on commercial law, with an emphasis on tax matters. Before joining Fredrikson, he was general counsel at an investment management firm in Fargo, with interest in ethanol processing, hotel development and management, and real estate.

KLJ hires 2 airport planners

KLJ, a multidisciplinary engineering and planning firm, has hired Ben Mello and Marcus Watson as airport planners.

Mello has more than 16 years experience in aviation planning and environmental reporting, including more than four years in commercial service airport management and six years with the Federal Aviation Administration. He is currently working remotely from northern Idaho, a central location to KLJ’s 18 office locations.

Watson will be based at KLJ's Fargo, N.D., office. He has 10 years experience in the aviation industry with more than six years experience in aviation planning, airport master planning and airport layout plans.