Prairie Business September 2019

PREMIER BUSINESS MAGAZINE OF THE NORTHERN PLAINS | SEPTEMBER 2019

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TABLEOFcontents

DEPARTMENTS

SEPTEMBER 2019 VOL 20 ISSUE 9

WHILE THE FUTURE OF WORK IS CHANGING BEFORE THE WORLD’S EYES AND THE DEMAND FOR TECHNICAL DEGREES INCREASES WITH THE LOOMING PRESENCE OF AUTOMATION, THE REGION’S UNIVERSITIES SAY THE WORKPLACE OF THE FUTURE WILL REQUIRE THREE KEY SKILLS: THE ABILITY TO READ, WRITE AND COMMUNICATE. PAGE 18. IMAGE: CONCORDIA COLLEGE

FEATURES 24

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PUBLISHER’S NOTE

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BUSINESS INSIDER

BY KORRIE WENZEL

EARN & LEARN APPRENTICESHIPS OFFER OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS, BUSINESSES, LAKE REGION COLLEGE PRESIDENT DOUG DARLING SAYS

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FEATURED COLUMN

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StartUp Line

ON MOTIVATION

BY MATT MOHR

50 BEST GREAT PLACES TO WORK HIGHLIGHTING THE BEST PLACES TO WORK IN THE PRAIRIE BUSINESS-AREA, AS NOMINATED BY EMPLOYEES

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SKYSKOPES IS ONE OF AMERICA’S MOST INNOVATIVE UAS COMPANIES – AND FOUNDER, PRESIDENT AND CEO MATT DUNLEVY EXPLAINS WHY

HIGHER EDUCATION ADJUSTING TO AUTOMATION LIBERAL ARTS ARE IMPORTANT TO THE EVER CHANGING WORKFORCE, HIGHER ED LEADERS SAY

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INSIGHTS & INTUITION

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BY THE NUMBERS

ON THE COVER: PREMIER BUSINESS MAGAZINE OF THE NORTHERN PLAINS | SEPTEMBER 2019

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water | transportation | municipal | facilities

If you set the bar at competence, how do you reach excellence?

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publisher’snote

SEPTEMBER 2019

korrie wenzel publisher

VOL 20 ISSUE 9

E

mployees of Prairie Business and its affiliated publication, the Grand Forks Herald, spent a Sunday afternoon in April at the Empire Arts Center, a renovated historic theater in downtown Grand Forks, N.D. Spouses, plus-ones and friends were invited.

Specialty pizzas were the main course, followed by a private showing of the movie “All the President’s Men.” A few weeks ago, it was a night of bowling. And we recently debuted Waffle Wednesdays, incorporating an employee’s suggestion and offering a companysponsored breakfast on hump day.

It’s all part of our company’s efforts to create a collaborative and trusting environment while making work fun and fulfilling.

What does your company do to promote culture? And is your company truly a great place to work?

If so, perhaps it is included on this year’s Prairie Business 50 Best Places to Work list, included in this month’s edition. It’s an annual recognition for the businesses in the Dakotas and Minnesota that go above and beyond normal efforts to create culture in the workplace. This year, we received more than 1,400 nominations from the people who work to make these places great.

It’s not just about movies, waffles and games. Many companies in the region have created culture via worker programs like paternity leave, employee ownership opportunities and the like.

We don’t rank the winners of our 50 Best – we simply print the list in no particular order. However, it’s difficult to look past the number of nominations received this year by some businesses in the region.

For example, Gate City Bank received 185 nominations.

According to one employee, Gate City offers “a strong culture for giving back to the community, customers and team members by providing a paid volunteer time matching program, generous health benefits, employee loan program, PTO time, paid paternity and maternity leave, incentives for team members and much more.”

First International Bank had 113 nominations.

“Culture has been a big focus in the last 18 months as management looks to find the right cultural aspects to promote and build its employee base and add new clientele to its operations,” one nominator told us.

And at Border States Electric, which had 112 nominations, one employee told us that “it is truly the American dream, working for the company you own and seeing your hard work and effort result in success that is shared amongst all your co-workers.”

But really, does culture matter?

Absolutely. As unemployment dips ever lower in the region – North Dakota’s unemployment rate is 2.7 percent this summer – it creates problems for companies to fill positions.

A study done by the Center for American Progress notes that staff turnover comes with significant costs. The subsequent recruiting and training of a new employee can total as much as 16 to 21 percent of a departed employee’s salary, the study suggests.

And what about the loss of productivity during the dark time?

So as ridiculous as Waffle Wednesday may sound, spending a few dollars on such events – considered workplace frivolities not so long ago – is actually quite worth it.

Gaining a reputation as a great place to work certainly doesn’t hurt, and that’s where Prairie Business comes in. As we get out and visit with companies throughout the year, our people make notes on businesses that we see as some of the great places to work.

Is your company not on the list this year? Reach out to any Prairie Business employee to see what you can do next year to earn a spot among our 50 Best Places to Work.

Korrie Wenzel has been publisher of Prairie Business since 2014.

PUBLISHER KORRIE WENZEL AD DIRECTOR STACI LORD EDITOR SYDNEY MOOK CIRCULATION MANAGER BETH BOHLMAN LAYOUT DESIGN KAYLA RONNGREN ACCOUNT MANAGERS NICHOLE ERTMAN

800.477.6572 ext. 1162 nertman@prairiebusinessmagazine.com

PETER FETSCH

800-477-6572 ext. 1172 pfetsch@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. 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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ADDRESS CORRECTIONS Prairie Business magazine Box 6008 Grand Forks, ND 58206-6008 Beth Bohlman:

bbohlman@prairiebusinessmagazine.com

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BUSINESSINSIDER SEPTEMBER 2019 VOL 20 ISSUE 9

Earn & Learn Apprenticeship agreement at Lake Region State seeks to tackle workforce gaps using old methods in a new way By sydney mook

EDITOR’S NOTE: Earlier this year Lake Region State College signed an apprenticeship agreement with the North Dakota Department of Labor. With this agreement, the Department of Labor recognizes LRSC’s ability to provide apprenticeships in four areas: IT Specialist, IT Cyber Support Technician, Electronics Technician, and Electro Mechanical Assembly.

A few years in the making, Lake Region State President Doug Darling said the Earn and Learn Apprenticeship program at LRSC is an exciting endeavor for the campus.

PRESIDENT DOUG DARLING. IMAGE: LAKE REGION STATE COLLEGE

Q. HOW WILL THESE APPRENTICESHIPS WORK? A.

Apprenticeships are nothing new. They’ve been around for thousands of years, back to even 1800 B.C. Apprenticeships are designed to get skilled people into their occupation. The most common apprenticeships that people are familiar with around here are in what they call the skilled trades: plumbing, electrical, metal work.

What we’ve been doing is looking at some more modern apprenticeships and some non-traditional apprenticeships. We’ve been working with the folks in the IT field for a number of years because they can’t fill all of their job openings. And we were seeing nationally about a 40 to 50 percent decline in enrollment in students in information technology programs.

So, we checked with the Department of Career and Tech (Education) and the North Dakota Department of (Public) Instruction and they looked at their course codes in K12 and they were seeing fewer students taking IT courses in high school. So we had a real mismatch here. We had a high need to fill jobs and very low interest on the student side.

In order to try and get a skilled workforce in to fill those jobs we started to look at what other models can we use to that will get students into that workforce sooner. So, apprenticeships are a mix of on-the-job, hands-on training and related classroom training oftentimes provided by colleges, but not always.

We worked with the Information Technology Council of North Dakota at the time and we worked with the Department of Labor and other folks in the industry to see if we could do apprenticeships in the IT field. We found a couple of models in other states where they’re doing just that. … We started working with Harper College in Illinois and looking at the apprenticeship model they’ve done.

ANSWER CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

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ANSWER CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

A.

We’re working on what’s called a dual-model so students will not only complete an apprenticeship, but when they’ve completed their apprenticeship they’ll also complete an associate’s degree at the same time.

In the IT field the entry level had been a bachelor’s degree for many years, but most of the companies now, they’re not finding those baccalaureateprepared people so they’re looking at what can we do to fill these? So, they’re actually hiring based on skills and industry certifications and the degrees are secondary.

Q. HOW LONG HAS LAKE REGION BEEN WORKING ON THIS TOPIC? A. We started working on this two or three years ago and just this past spring we signed our apprenticeship agreement with the Department of Labor that allows us to be an apprenticeship sponsor.

Q.

THERE ARE FOUR KEY AREAS THIS PROGRAM IS BASED ON: IT SPECIALIST, IT CYBER SUPPORT TECHNICIAN, ELECTRONICS TECHNICIAN, AND ELECTRO MECHANICAL ASSEMBLY. WHY THOSE AREAS?

A.

They’re key areas because there’s a mismatch between the number of job openings and the number of students enrolled in programs. Part of our mission is to help meet the labor market’s needs in our region and so if our employers aren’t able to find employees then part of our mission is to help train the employees for them. (At the end of July) we had a signing with Northrop Grumman out at Grand Sky and they’re going to be doing an apprentice in electronics technicians.

Q. WHY ARE APPRENTICESHIPS IMPORTANT FOR STUDENTS? A.

It allows them to earn and learn. The apprentice is hired by the employer and starts working and starts getting on the job training. The employer then sponsors or pays for training and they’re related classroom instruction. So, they’ve got a job and they’re getting related classroom instruction paid for. At the end of their apprenticeship program they will have a full-time job and a college degree and they shouldn’t have any student loans because their training has been paid for by the employer.

That sounds like a sweet deal for the student, doesn’t it?

Q. ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO ADD? A.

We’re not the only ones doing apprenticeships out here. (North Dakota State College of Science) and (Bismarck State College) have been doing apprenticeships for many years in the traditional apprenticeship areas.

The difference with ours is that it’s in the non-traditional occupations.

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STUDENTS AT LAKE REGION STATE COLLEGE IN DEVILS LAKE CAN NOW GET A VARIETY OF WORK EXPERIENCE, WHILE EARNING A DEGREE AT THE SAME TIME THANKS TO A NEW APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM AT THE SCHOOL. IMAGE: LAKE REGION STATE COLLEGE

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SPON SORED CONTENT

highereducation

SEPTEMBER 2019 VOL 20 ISSUE 9

UNIVERSITY OF MARY STUDENTS ARE HARD AT WORK IN ALL FIELDS. IMAGE: UNIVERSITY OF MARY

The liberal arts are important to the ever changing workforce, leaders say

By Sydney Mook While the future of work is changing before the world’s eyes and the demand for technical degrees increases with the looming presence of automation, the region’s universities say the workplace of the future will require three key skills: the ability to read, write and communicate.

A recent study from thinktank giant McKinsey relays the potential effects automation could have on America’s workforce in the years to come. The study estimates that approximately 40 percent of U.S. jobs are in categories that are expected to shrink between now and 2030.

The report states that by 2030 a majority of job growth may be concentrated in 25 “megacities” and their suburbs. Other areas of the country, especially rural areas, will likely see fewer jobs being created and may even lose jobs.

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North Dakota, and the region as a whole, is at an important crossroads as the state prepares for the automation era to begin. The only way to thrive during that time will be to work together, says North Dakota University System Chancellor Mark Hagerott.

Hagerott said the State Board of Higher Education’s research committee is already a good step forward for the system and the state, as research and finding new ways to fulfill the state’s workforce needs will be of the highest priority.

“The future will be built on universities’ research and workforce adaptation,” Hagerott said.

Reaching rural populations will also be important, Hagerott said.

Programs like the Center for Rural Health and universities’ online

PRAIRIEBUSINESSMAGAZINE.COM

programs, both of which have liberal arts focuses, will be “critically important” to reach the rural areas and help them succeed in the future. “(The liberal arts) are absolutely imperative in a very practical way,” Hagerott said, adding that from meeting with business executives across North Dakota, employers say they need people who can read and write and meet with customers to discuss company matters.

But the liberal arts are needed in other ways, too, Hagerott said.

“The liberal arts are crucial in interpreting what is going on in this digital world,” he said, noting there will always be a need for lawyers and legislators who can help people understand what is going on in the world around them. Those people will also help the world determine the ethics around what is happening in the digital era and when technology has gone too far.

But no matter what the workplace looks like in 2030 and beyond, employers have been telling colleges that they need people with a liberal arts degree to be able to relay their ideas in the future.

Liberal arts degrees have been a part of universities’ identities and cores for hundreds of years, but for many schools, like the University of Mary in Bismarck, N.D., and Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn., those degrees have changed over time.

While Concordia has a foundation in the liberal arts, Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing Karl Stumo said the college also has a “firm commitment” to education in the practical.

“Concordia has always balanced a liberal arts education with training in areas like education and business. We’ve had a long tradition with our nursing program,” he said. “There’s really a balance.”

Stumo said there aren’t many purely liberal arts colleges left in the United States. Most schools have a mix of liberal arts degrees and practical degrees for students to obtain. At Concordia about one-third to 40 percent of a student’s education is based on the core liberal arts curriculum.

Depending on the major or majors a student chooses, they may take more liberal arts classes.

“There’s a deep commitment on the part of the faculty and administration at Concordia that a well-educated student is one that’s not only prepared for their first job or career, but prepared for a life of work in their career, in leadership in their community, in solving problems that don’t have easy answers,” Stumo said. “That’s a liberally educated person.”

The University of Mary has a heritage that goes back 1,500 years to St. Benedict, when higher education found its roots back in medieval Europe, Vice President for Public JEROME RICHTER Affairs Jerome Richter said.

“The whole person is the focus of a good education,” he said. “From the very start of the University of Mary, (the sisters) knew that the liberal arts were always going to be important. They were always going to be kind of, if you will, the core of our education. But at the same time, being the whole person, the sisters being practical, they said, ‘yes, you have got to have a good liberal arts education. And you also have to be a professional.’ ” Diane Fladeland, vice president for academic affairs at the University of Mary, said a liberal arts education is the foundation that “can be applied to any profession that is essential for every profession.”

“The ability to speak and write well, really has only become more important. And now we add to that: How do we communicate electronically and digitally?” Fladeland said. “Understanding

continued on page 20

DIANE FLADELAND

EIDE LIKE I’D LIKE TO MAKE CONFIDENT BUSINESS DECISIONS

Our focus is you. We understand your business because we take the time to listen and assess your unique personal and business needs. Whether it’s tax and audit, wealth planning, cybersecurity or any of our other services, our professionals can help you achieve your boldest goals.

What inspires you, inspires us. eidebailly.com

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KARL A. STUMO IS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF ENROLLMENT AND MARKETING AT CONCORDIA COLLEGE IN MOORHEAD, MINNESOTA. PHOTO TAKEN WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2019.

IMAGE: NICK NELSON / FORUM NEWS SERVICE

continued from page 18 history, and philosophy, theology, all of those things, has always been important. But how that provides the foundation for ethical decisionmaking in this time we live in today only has become more significant, so that the student is learning, what is the right thing to do? How do I have moral courage to do it, regardless of what their profession is?”

Fladeland said when they ask employers and alumni what they need from a graduate, employers hardly ever will say, for instance, “all they need is to be able to put in an IV.” Instead Fladeland said they say things like “they need to be honest people of integrity, they need to be able to think on their feet, they need to be able to make good decisions given variable variables that are always changing.”

“That’s the foundation of a liberal arts education,” she said. “And that is applicable to all of the professional majors that we offer.”

Fladeland said part of the changing workforce and changing world also means being able to understand other cultures and being a “global citizen.” That is also part of the liberal arts core.

“Our students will be doing business in Moscow, our students will be will have business and patients and students from Beijing,” she said. “It’s essential that they understand that culture that they’re able to style shifts,

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that they’re able to be extremely respectful, and then understanding people of every different race, nationality and ethnicity.”

“The bottom line is we’re graduating a student with this liberal, intentional education, to be good people to serve society, as moral citizens and servant leaders,” Fladeland said.

The University of Mary requires students to take a “search for truth” course so they understand logic, critical thinking, how decisions are made and how to know the truth when they see it. Students also take a “search for happiness” course that is values-based, helping students understand what is true human virtue, Fladeland said.

Historically, University of Mary would teach religion courses or theology courses, which it still has, but Fladeland said it’s also about understanding religions of all kinds, so students can better understand another person’s worldview.

At Concordia College, the university has recently implemented a PEAK requirement. PEAK stands for Pivotal Experience in Applied Knowledge. These opportunities challenge students to apply theory learned in the classroom to real-world applications. PEAK experiences include everything from making a documentary, Habitat for Humanity trips, service-learning projects, scientific research and much more, the university’s website says.

All Concordia students will graduate with at least two PEAK experiences in the form of internships, special courses, global learning opportunities, or service projects.

Stumo said the PEAK experiences all go back to Concordia’s mission statement: “The purpose of Concordia College is to influence the affairs of the world by sending into society thoughtful and informed men and women dedicated to the Christian life.”

“It’s a pretty big goal for a smaller school like Concordia to have in its mission statement influencing the affairs of the world, but to do that we have to send students into the community to be a part of the affairs of the world,” he said. “If they don’t know what the affairs are they sure can’t impact them.”

The faculty of Concordia have written and rewritten and rewritten again a document about the goals for liberal learning, Stumo said. One of the key areas is that students should be innovative in their learning and in the world around them.

Stumo said this will be especially important in the years ahead if McKinsey is accurate in its predictions.

“Students need to be prepared to pursue solutions to problems that there is no simple answer to,” Stumo said. “We think liberal arts really is a great way for students to be a part of the development to responses to challenges.”

PRAIRIEBUSINESSMAGAZINE.COM

BUSINESSMETRICS

SEPTEMBER 2019

On Motivation VOL 20 ISSUE 9

By Matthew Mohr

MATTHEW MOHR CEO, DACOTAH PAPER CO.

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FARGO – Most people have heard the two basic forms of motivation are reward and fear. Reward is based on the idea for doing something you get what you want, or you get more than the next person who choses not to do the task or does the task with poor results.

Fear motivation is based on the idea if you don’t do something you will get punished or possibly lose out.

Each person values different things in different ways. Some types of rewards will inspire one person to higher performance while the same reward may be unimportant to another. Employee compensation is generally considered a significant factor in creating motivation for individual success within an organization.

I was in a meeting recently which we discussed employee compensation. As the meeting progressed, it became evident most of the business owners had different ways of determining compensation for their employees but all had the same results in mind. Each wanted great employee performance, high wages which were earned, and wage rates which allowed the enterprise to be profitable.

Not one business owner in the meeting had unfair compensation plans or was striving to make excessive profits by demanding extreme work from their employees.

A large part of our national economy has been built based on a combination of reward and fear motivation. Employees promise of prosperity or rewards for high performance was seen as a way for the individual to “get ahead” and the business to be profitable. The fear side, stemming from the great depression in the 1930’s was based on if a person didn’t do the job, they could get fired, lose their income and as a result not be able to pay rent or put food on the table. After World War II, some employers certainly took advantage of the fear of not being able to provide for one’s family and in the process some employers created bad work environments.

For many years individual recognition was lacking within many businesses and as the lack of employee recognition became known, a new industry was developed to fill this need. Employers began providing rewards for accomplishments ranging from years of service to top performance and even “employees of the month.” The chosen employee of the month often was granted (temporarily) a choice parking spot. Other employees often resented this recognition so the employee of the month has essentially been abolished.

Today, many forms of individual employee recognition are part of nearly every business but don’t appear to hold the same value in the

employee’s eyes and as a result, do not always enhance individual motivation.

If one were to survey a group of “baby boomers” about team recognition and participation awards the answer would most likely be rather negative. Responses such as it’s stupid to reward everyone for just showing up and possibly not doing anything and we created a monster by telling the participants they did great by just being in the game even if they lost horribly. I had this situation backfire on me a short while ago. Business performance had been excellent so I provided an award to the top performers and to my great surprise, with the exception of a few, the award recipients did not appreciate the award and the handful of younger top performers felt everyone deserved the award and were embarrassed by the individual recognition. The attitude made me really upset. It struck me as the difference between being happy to play in the game versus the attitude of coming to win the game. Just showing up rarely leads to real success.

Motivating people to chose to win has definitely changed over the years and it is a moving target which is hard do hit. We all want to succeed and discovering what motivates people to succeed as employees is not easy.

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CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THIS YEAR’S WINNERS! THEY ARE EXCELLENT ROLE MODELS FOR FORWARD-THINKING, TEAM-DRIVEN SUCCESS.

3M

Headquarters: St. Paul, Minn., local office in Brookings, S.D. Employees: 93,000 nationwide; 1,120 Brookings Website: 3M.com Description: 3M Brookings serves as 3M’s largest health care manufacturing plant. Our employees are experts in medical product manufacturing and new product development. For more than 47 years, the plant has continually applied 3M science to produce complex medical dressings and tapes, surgical drapes, biological indicators and food safety products. Our employees work together seven days a week/24 hours a day to produce more than 1,700 products that help health care professionals improve quality of care.

ALERUS

Headquarters: Grand Forks, N.D. Employees: 820 Website: alerus.com Description: Re-established in 1933, with roots tracing back to 1879, Alerus is an independent, multibillion-dollar financial services company serving clients across the country and around the world.

Alerus offers a broad array of banking, mortgage, retirement, and wealth management products and services to individuals, families, and businesses.

AES2

Headquarters: Grand Forks, N.D. Employees: 240 Website: AE2S.com Description: AE2S’ primary focus is to help ensure clean drinking water, safe wastewater disposal and smart water resource development through planning, financing, designing and building infrastructure. Our team of professionals is dedicated to making a positive impact for our clients by doing things that matter. We believe by taking care of our clients, we will have the resources to take care of our team. AE2S is proud to be 100% Employee Owned!

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ALL TERRAIN

Headquarters: Fargo, N.D. Employees: About 30 Website: allterrainfargo.com Description: All Terrain is North Dakota’s Lawn Care Leader, serving Fargo, West Fargo, Moorhead, and Minnesota lakes country. All Terrain believes in Being Real, delivering a great Customer Experience, serving our Team, and Giving Back to our community. All Terrain offers services of treating lawns with weed control and fertilizer, mowing, landscape maintenance, irrigation, and snow removal.

ALTRU HEALTH SYSTEM

Headquarters: Grand Forks, N.D. Employees: 3,244 Website: altru.org Description: Altru Health System is a regional, integrated healthcare delivery system serving northeastern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota. Altru is a physician-led, multi-specialty group practice with a 277-bed acute care hospital, Level II trauma center, 45 bed specialty hospital, more than two dozen Grand Forks and regional practice locations, and a large home care network.

Altru Health System was the first member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network, extending Mayo Clinic knowledge and expertise to the patients we serve.

APEX

Headquarters: Fargo, N.D. with offices in Dickinson and Bismarck, N.D.; Detroit Lakes, Minn.

Employees: 79 Website: ApexEngGroup.com Description: Apex Engineering Group provides consulting services in drinking water, wastewater, water resources, transportation, municipal, and electrical engineering services and land surveying to the region.

Our staff has a passion for providing engineering solutions, believing it’s only the best solution if it’s also the best experience. Great experiences happen by being true to our core values - listening, trusting and working together – beliefs that help to make life easier for our clients, the community and our employees.

APPLIED ENGINEERING

Headquarters: Bismarck, N.D. Employees: 112 Website: go-applied.com Description: Applied Engineering combines talent and technology to solve its customers’ unique challenges. Applied provides product design, engineering, and manufacturing consulting services, as well as IT and programming services and large-format digital printing. Applied also sells industry-leading engineering software, and provides training and support from its offices throughout North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota. Applied is 100% employeeowned and strives to be the company people come to for the best engineering and IT work.

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ARCHITECTURE INCORPORATED

BAKER BOY

ARVIG

BORDER STATES ELECTRIC

Headquarters: Sioux Falls, S.D. Employees: 27 Website: architectureinc.com Description: Architecture Incorporated was founded in 1976 with “Excellence in Design” and “Service to Our Clients” as our priorities.

We have since grown to be the largest architectural firm in South Dakota. Our diverse leadership team collectively brings more than 260 years of experience to the table.

Our secret to success? A combination of this wealth of experience and a creative energy that flows through our office, sparking innovation on a daily basis.

Headquarters: Perham, Minn Employees: 833 Website: arvig.com Description: Established in 1950, Arvig has grown from a small, family-owned telephone company to one of the largest independent broadband and telecommunications providers in the nation, delivering cutting-edge technology to residential and business customers. As an employer of choice, Arvig is committed to investing in employees, offering profit sharing and an employee stock ownership plan, among other benefits. Supporting the communities in which its employee-owners live and work through donations and volunteerism is another company priority.

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Headquarters: Dickinson, N.D. Employees: 220 Website: bakerboy.com Description: Baker Boy is a manufacturer of premium bakery products for foodservice, bakery, convenience store and privatelabel customers. We make more than 300 products at our sophisticated and innovative production facility, from breads, biscuits, buns and rolls to donuts, pastries, sweet rolls, cookies, croissants, and more. Baker Boy, in business for more than 60 years, has a rich tradition that is a product of its talented, passionate and inventive staff who are committed to baking excellence.

Headquarters: Fargo, N.D. Employees: 2,600 Website: borderstates.com Description: At Border States Electric, we work hard and have fun at our 100 percent employee-owned company (rated the seventh largest electrical distributor in the United States by Electrical Wholesaling magazine). We have approximately 2,600 employee-owners in 22 states who supply products and services to construction, industrial and utility customers. We also volunteer and give back to our communities. The Branch Support Center is in Fargo, N.D. It’s great to be an employee-owner at Border States!

PRAIRIEBUSINESSMAGAZINE.COM

Thank you to all our awesome employees for voting us one of the region’s Best Places to Work 6 years in a row!

WHO WE ARE: Fisher Industries is a vertically integrated family of businesses that serves all aspects of the aggregate industry. We are a unified team working together to cement our place in the industry. Led by visionaries who dream big and are not afraid to think outside the box, we continue to welcome challenges and tackle the toughest jobs.

Bridges, levees, roads, and walls; we do it all!

WE OFFER:

COMPANY CULTURE:

• 401(k) Plans

• Luncheons

• Company Sponsored Term Life

• Annual Golf Scramble

• Profit Sharing 2018

• Employee Assistance Program

• Customizable Benefits

• Holiday Parties

• Community Events • Company Picnic

• Milestone Celebrations • and More!!

3020 Energy Drive. Dickinson ND 58601 701.456.9184 | 800.932.8740 www.fisherind.com

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CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERS

Headquarters: Grand Forks, N.D. Employees: 83 Website: ConstructionEngineers.com Description: “Do Something Constructive” is more than a clever saying for the team at Construction Engineers; it is the founding principle for how our company approaches each and every day.

Headquartered in Grand Forks, N.D., Construction Engineers provides construction management and design-build services for a commercial division focusing on education, health care and public facilities and an industrial division that builds processing plants and infrastructure systems.

CORNERSTONE BANK

Headquarters: Decentralized, with banks located in North and South Dakota Employees: 162 Website: cornerstonebanks.net Description: With roots back to 1936, Cornerstone Bank has been serving customers for generations. We’re the kind of people who get to know you, and genuinely appreciate your needs. Whether you’re a family saving for the future, a rancher with a thousand head to handle, or the CEO of a business – we give straight answers and the best possible financial options.

CORPORATE TECHNOLOGIES

Headquarters: Minneapolis, Minn. with an office in Fargo, N.D. Employees: 201 Website: gocorptech.com Description: Corporate Technologies is a leading provider of managed IT solutions to businesses and institutions in Minnesota, North Dakota, Southern California, Michigan and New Jersey.

With over 35 years of experience and the continued dedication of its employees, Corporate Technologies supports their clients on a national level. It offers a wide range of IT solutions, including: managed IT services, staffing, storage, virtualization, VoIP systems, consulting and networking. Corporate Technologies’ Technology Advantage® program provides a niche service for small and medium size businesses requiring IT support and services.

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DAKOTA SUPPLY GROUP

Headquarters: Fargo, N.D. with executive offices in Plymouth, Minn.

Employees: 719 employee owners Website: dsgsupply.com Description: DSG is one of the Midwest’s leading distributors of innovative products and services for the electrical, plumbing, HVAC/R, utility, communications, automation, waterworks, and sewer/water/well trades. As a 100% employee-owned company with over 700 owners in 33 locations throughout the upper Midwest, we take great pride in helping our customers literally build our communities from the ground up, one construction project at a time.

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DAKOTA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY

Headquarters: Mitchell, S.D. Employees: 147 Website: dwu.edu Description: Founded in 1885, Dakota Wesleyan University is committed to educating students to identify and develop their individual talents, foster creative and critical thinking, and apply experiential learning for successful lives and meaningful careers.

As an engaged, faith-affirming community, we embrace John Wesley’s Christ-centered model of uniting knowledge, reason, and vital faith in curricular and co-curricular activities. We inspire and empower our students, faculty and staff to make a difference through genuine, influential service to others.

ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE BEGINS WITH OUR EMPLOYEES Thanks t o our wonderful employees, we’re proud t o be selected for t he sixth consecutive time as one of t he 50 Best Places t o Work. houstoneng.com Improving the quality of life in communities by designing responsible infrastructure solutions.

North Dakota | Minnesota | South Dakota | Iowa

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DRN READITECH

Headquarters: Ellendale, N.D. Employees: 68 Website: drnreaditech.coop Description: Founded in 1950, DRN ReadiTech has grown from a telephone cooperative in south central North Dakota to a leading technology solutions provider. Today, DRN ReadiTech provides traditional telecommunications services through a 100% fiber network and managed IT services as ReadiTech throughout ND, SD and western MN. With office locations in North Dakota including Ellendale, Lisbon, Oakes, Fargo, Grand Forks and Aberdeen, SD, DRN ReadiTech employs more than 65 professionals.

Visit our website to learn more.

McGough is honored to be one of Prairie Business’ 50 Best Places to Work in 2019.

Learn more about our remarkable people! www.mcgough.com

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EAPC ARCHITECTS ENGINEERS

Headquarters: Grand Forks, N.D Employees: 125 Website: eapc.net Description: EAPC Architects Engineers is a five-time Best Place to Work via Prairie Business. EAPC was also recently named a 2019 Best Place to Work For from Zweig Group, the leading research, publishing, and advisory services resource for firms in the AEC industry. EAPC provides award winning design consulting services across the country for various sectors including healthcare, education, multi-family housing, commercial, civic, wind, and industrial. EAPC also provides commissioning and construction management services.

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH CENTER

Headquarters: Grand Forks, N.D. Employees: 200+ Website: undeerc.org Description: The Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC)—an applied research, development, demonstration, and commercialization facility— is recognized as one of the world’s leading developers of cleaner, more efficient energy to power the world and environmental technologies to protect and clean our air, water, and soil. Our multidisciplinary team of over 200 provides solutions to today’s most critical energy and environmental challenges through innovative science and engineering.

D A C O TA H P A P E R C O . R E C E I V E S E X C E L L E N C E I N B U S I N E S S A W A R D F R O M S P A R TA N C H E M I C A L S Pictured from left to right: Keith Bresin, DPC Director of Sales; Matthew Mohr, DPC President; Bryan Mangum, Spartan Chemical VP of Sales; Darwin Larson, Spartan Chemicals Regional Manager

PROVIDING QUALITY JAN/SAN TRAINING A N D S O L U T I O N S – D A C O TA H P A P E R C O .

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D A C O TA H P A P E R . C O M / S P A R TA N

Alerus plans to go public GRAND FORKS — A Grand Forks-based company that has branches in multiple states plans to go public, financial sources have reported.

Nasdaq’s website, citing Renaissance Capital, reports that Alerus Financial filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission with the goal of raising up to $75 million in an initial public offering, known as an IPO. It will be listed as ALRS. Alerus filed with the SEC on Aug. 16.

According to the prospectus filed by Alerus, the company provides “innovative and comprehensive financial solutions to businesses and consumers through four distinct business lines — banking, retirement and benefit services, wealth management and mortgage. These solutions are delivered through a relationship-oriented primary point

of contact along with responsive and clientfriendly technology.”

The prospectus also notes that as of June 30, the company had $2.2 billion of total assets.

Alerus dates its beginnings to 1879, when it was founded as the Bank of Grand Forks — one of the first banks chartered in Dakota Territory. After being known as First National Bank of North Dakota through most of its history, it changed its name to Alerus Financial Corporation in 2000 and later simply to Alerus.

The prospectus notes that in recent years, “we have experienced significant growth, both organically and through a series of strategic acquisitions. This growth has allowed us to build a diversified franchise and expand our geographic footprint into growing metropolitan areas. We believe these initiatives have transformed our company into a high-tech,

high-touch client service provider, increased our earnings and allowed us to return more value to stockholders.”

The prospectus notes various growth highlights since the 2000 rebranding, including expansion into Minnesota in the mid-2000s, expansion into Arizona in 2009, expansion into Michigan in 2012 and expansion into New Hampshire in 2014. The company lists 13 growth points since rebranding in 2000.

Randy Newman is chairman, president and CEO of Alerus. He joined the company in 1981, became president in 1987 and CEO in 1995, according to the prospectus filed with the SEC.

Focused d on your future.

Thanks to our team for creating a work environment that cares—about patients, about our community, about each other.

Ps. We’re hiring » altru.org/careers

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EMC INSURANCE COMPANIES

Headquarters: Des Moines, Iowa with branches in the Dakotas Employees: 2,500 Website: emcins.com Description: Organized in 1911 to write workers’ compensation protection in Iowa, EMC Insurance Companies is now one of the top 50 property and casualty organizations in the United States and is one of the largest in Iowa, based on net written premium. EMC has 20 locations and more than 2,500 team members. With more than 100 years of experience, we’ve proven our customers can Count on EMC®.

WE ARE GRATEFUL TO BE RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE 50 BEST PLACES TO WORK.

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ENCLAVE

Headquarters: Fargo, N.D. Employees: 40 Website: envecompanies.com Description: Since our inception in 2011, Enclave has grown to be one of North Dakota’s leading, fully integrated real estate, development and construction firms. We grew to this level through a focus on forging strategic partnerships, strong community relationships, and building our reputation of integrity with a commitment to quality - one project at a time. We exist to create spaces where people are inspired to do their best work and live their best life.

100% EMPLOYEE OWNED COMPANY

We’d like to congratulate our outstanding team of employee-owners for making Dakota Supply Group a 2019 Best Place to Work!

PLACES TO WORK 2019

For all the right connections!

Learn more about DSG career opportunities at www.dsgsupply.com/careers

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FIRST INTERNATIONAL BANK AND TRUST

Headquarters: Watford City, N.D. Employees: 690 Website: FIBT.com Description: First International Bank & Trust is a growing, relationship-driven bank that provides complete financial solutions for our customers. Family-owned for 109 years, we started as a single bank in Arnegard, North Dakota and now have nearly 30 branches spanning three states. We offer a spectrum of financial services, including personal and business banking, private banking, wealth management, and insurance; while maintaining a focus on making every customer feel like family. At a time when most other community banks have been closing branches, we have experienced exponential growth fueled by the passion of our employees and the keen knowledge of our experts.

FIRST WESTERN BANK & TRUST

Headquarters: Minot, N.D. Employees: 172 Website: firstwestern.bank Description: First Western Bank & Trust is proud to maintain longevity with our personnel by offering exceptional pay and benefits, flexibility for family commitments and a friendly, professional atmosphere. We empower our employees to volunteer for charitable causes and community events during work hours through our Outreach Committee, organized by our staff. Our Employee Committee provides seasonal and festive events to engage beyond work duties. We strive to promote within our company and provide employees access to continuing education.

Are you ready to make an impact with a growing business voted one of the 50 best?

Scan the code to learn where WCCO Belting came from and how we continue to empower employees like Danielle, an intern turned employee of the year, to move us into the future. wccobelt.com

®

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Gorecki named next EERC head Charlie Gorecki has been named the next CEO of UND’s Energy and Environmental Research Center.

Gorecki, who took over on Aug. 1, succeeds current CEO Tom Erickson, who is stepping down to lead the State Energy Research Center.

Provost Tom DiLorenzo met with EERC employees and external clients and stakeholders over the past several weeks to determine the best path forward for the EERC after Erickson announced last month that he would transition to a new position with SERC. “I am truly excited to accept this new role as CEO,” Gorecki said. “The strength of the EERC is, and always has been, the people and the team. It is an honor to lead this team and

continue to build on our success.”

Gorecki has been with the EERC for 12 years, the last four of which were as director of subsurface research and development.

He started his career with the EERC as a research engineer in 2007, working on carbon dioxide storage, enhanced oil recovery-related projects and reservoir engineering.

He later served as a research manager and senior research manager, leading the Plains CO2 Reduction Partnership program, which focused on assessing the technical and economic feasibility of capturing and storing CO2 emissions from stationary sources in the northern Great Plains.

Gorecki, a UND graduate, served in the Minnesota and North Dakota Army National

Guard for nine years. He’s a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and deployed to Iraq with 141 st Engineer Battalion’s Company B out of Jamestown.

Gorecki has pledged to continue to strengthen relationships within the EERC, with UND, within the state and nationally as well as internationally.

“I realize that I have much to learn from all of you as I take on this role, but I am thankful to have Tom as a mentor and continuing on here in a new role,” he said.

T H E U NI V E R S I T Y OF N O R T H D A K O TA

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH CENTER

WORK YOU CAN BE PROUD OF! 37

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REASON NO

FISHER INDUSTRIES

Headquarters: Dickinson, N.D. Employees: 830 Website: fisherind.com Description: Fisher Industries is a vertically integrated family of businesses that encompasses all aspects of the aggregate and land development industries. Our goal is to provide innovative products and sustainable solutions for the world’s infrastructure. Led by visionaries who dream big and are not afraid to think outside the box, we continue to welcome challenges and take on the industry’s toughest jobs. Bridges, levees, roads, and walls; we do it all!

15

THE ONLY THING YOU’LL BE WORKING ON IS YOUR TAN. There are so many reasons to fly Fargo.

What’s yours?

GATE CITY BANK

Headquarters: Fargo, N.D. Employees: 709 Website: gatecity.bank Description: At Gate City Bank, we believe in making a difference in our communities and in the lives of our team members and customers, For a Better Way of Life®.

We invest in our team members by providing unique benefits such as paid maternity and paternity leave, generous PTO, paid volunteer time and a fun, family-friendly work environment.

Gate City Bank is a $2.3 billion mutual community bank with 38 locations across North Dakota and west central Minnesota.

Fly FAR

fargoairport.com Why do you fly Fargo? Tell us!

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SEPTEMBER 2019 VOL 20 ISSUE 9

GUARANTY & TITLE CO.

Headquarters: Bismarck, N.D. (other locations in N.D. and S.D.) Employees: 135 Website: TheTitleTeam.com Description: Our company began as a three-person operation committed to providing quality service to the Bismarck community.

Today, we are comprised of 20 locations across North Dakota and Minnesota. Together, our companies Guaranty & Title Co., North Dakota Guaranty & Title Co., Grand Forks Guaranty & Title Co., Consolidated Title Services, Strander Guaranty & Title Co. and Pennington Guaranty & Title Co. create the title team -experienced professionals who offer complete title services. Our mission is to provide the best service in every market in which we participate.

Our team members go the extra mile to help coordinate and complete real estate closing and title services in North Dakota and Minnesota; from mobile homes to multi-billion dollar commercial projects.

Thank you, WSN team members, for making us one of the

50 Best Places to Work

WidsethSmithNolting.com/Careers.php

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HOUSTON ENGINEERING

Headquarters: Fargo, N.D. Employees: 209 Website: houstoneng.com Description: For more than 50 years, Houston Engineering, Inc. (HEI) has helped enhance the communities we serve through responsible infrastructure, environmental, planning, and technology solutions. We have only accomplished this thanks to the excellent staff who serve at every level and who stay humble, committed to excellence, and focused on the clients. With offices in North Dakota, Minnesota, South Dakota, and Iowa, local and national clients alike seek HEI’s creative and lasting solutions.

. n o i t a r o b a  o C . e r u t l u C t. n C ommitme A healthy, positive work environment helps our team members achieve their finest.

We know team members do their highest quality work when they’re engaged and empowered. That’s why we provide great benefits and a culture supportive of success.

Thank you, EMC team members, for making EMC a great place to work and a great company to do business with.

Visit www.emcins.com/careers to learn more. ©Copyright Employers Mutual Casualty Company 2019. All rights reserved.

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JAMESTOWN REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER

Headquarters: Jamestown, N.D. Employees: 330 Website: jrmcnd.com Description: Jamestown Regional Medical Center is located at 2422 20th St. SW, Jamestown, N.D. and serves approximately 55,000 people in nine counties. In 2019, it was named a “Top 100 Critical Access Hospital” as well as a “Best Places to Work in Healthcare.”

For more information, visit www.jrmcnd.com or call (701) 952-1050.

JLG ARCHITECTS

Headquarters: Fargo, N.D. Employees: 114 Website: JLGarchitects.com Description: JLG is a 100% employee-owned nationally-recognized architecture firm, founded in 1989 by Lonnie Laffen and Gary Johnson. Today, the firm has been named the 2019 Design Firm of the Year by Engineering News-Record, one of America’s 50 Most Admired Companies (MSN Money), and 50 Best Places to Work (Inc. Magazine). JLG is led by CEO Michelle Mongeon Allen, one of Prairie Business’ Top 25 Women in Business.

KLJ

“

“

Headquarters: Bismarck, N.D. Employees: 565 Website: kljeng.com Description: Since the 1930s, KLJ has worked alongside communities and clients of all sizes; partnering with cities, counties, and developers — just to name a few. At KLJ, we plan, design, and support infrastructure across the country such as roads, runways, pipelines, and parks. We create solutions that turn visions into reality and improve the lives of people and communities across the nation. We do this by focusing on a business model that puts the customer first, providing an exceptional experience that truly reimagines what projects can become. KLJ has office locations that span several states and cities, but that doesn’t mean we only work from those locations. We’re proud to say we work in various geographies and markets across the nation and with the right people, in the right place, at the right time, we’re helping communities move forward and grow.

All law firms are the same

Many people believe that all law firms are the same. We don’t. What makes us different? Our people, our approach, and our practices. We are a cutting edge law firm that works hard for our clients, strives for excellence, and keeps focused on our goals. Our culture is built on respect, fairness, and loyalty. In fact, this culture is the foundation of our success for today and tomorrow.

WE OFFER BIG OPPORTUNITIES FOR TALENTED PEOPLE!

Nationally Recognized Legal Solutions

P: (605) 275-5669 | F: (605) 286-3219 | SwierLaw.com 2121 W. 63rd Place, Suite 200, Sioux Falls, SD 57108

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DEVELOPMENT REAL ESTATE CONSTRUCTION PROPERTY MANAGEMENT APARTMENTS

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

BECAUSE OF YOU For the fifth year in a row, Lloyd is recognized among 50 Best Places to Work

Together we make a positive impact, help people, solve problems, build trusting partnerships, exceed expectations and strive to improve quality of life in the communites we live, work and build. Our team makes Lloyd one of the best places to work, and it’s your commitment to excellence that helps us rise to the top. We thank you.

Visit lloydcareers.com for opportunities to build your future with Lloyd.

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LLOYD COMPANIES

Headquarters: Sioux Falls, S.D. Employees: 170 Website: lloydcompanies.com Description: Founded in 1972 by Craig and Pat Lloyd, Lloyd Companies is a family-owned, community-oriented business that evolved from a single apartment property to a company that manages over 6,000 apartment units and 2,000,000+ sq.ft of office and retail space. Not only do we specialize in property management, Lloyd Companies also has the following divisions – Development, Construction, Commercial Real Estate and Hospitality. The collaboration between the specialized business divisions brings valuable expertise and resources to our clients.

Lloyd Companies credits our employees for this great success and growth.

MARVIN WINDOWS

Headquarters: Fargo and West Fargo, N.D. Employees: 5,143 employees across Marvin locations Website: marvin.com Description: Each Marvin window or door is made to order—not retrieved from a warehouse of finished products. This process allows Marvin to meet each customer’s unique design and performance specifications and enables us to offer the industry’s most extensive selection of shapes, styles, sizes and options.

3M Brookings, proud to be named one of Prairie Business Top 50 Places To Work.

We’re Hiring http://3M.com/careers-us 3M is an equal opportunity employer.

3M will not discriminate against any applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status.

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Infinity From Marvin ranked No. 1 IN J.D. Power study WARROAD, Minn. -- Infinity from Marvin earned No. 1 for customer satisfaction in J.D. Power’s 2019 Windows and Patio Doors Satisfaction Study in the manufacturer segment. The study measures satisfaction among customers based on performance in three factors: appearance and design features, operational performance and durability, and warranty.

Infinity from Marvin, which is the company’s premier line of replacement windows and doors, ranked highest, with a satisfaction score of 890 based on a 1,000-point scale.

“We’re not focused on being the biggest window and door replacement company — we’re focused on being the best,” said Dan Marvin, president of Infinity from Marvin.

“Earning the No. 1 position on the J.D. Power

customer satisfaction study is wonderful recognition of our team’s continual efforts to make every step of replacing your windows as simple as possible and backing it up with innovative products and timeless design.”

The global leader in consumer insights surveyed 2,913 customers who purchased windows or patio doors within the previous 12 months in three performance areas. The study was fielded January-May 2019. For more information about the J.D. Power 2019 Windows and Patio Doors Satisfaction Study, visit www.jdpower.com.

To view the complete Infinity from Marvin window and door replacement line, visit www. infinitywindows.com.

Infinity from Marvin offers homeowners a premier line of Ultrex® fiberglass replacement

windows and doors with distinctive design.

Infinity proudly partners with independent retailers, hand-selected for their expertise, to provide homeowners with a hassle-free window replacement installation experience.

Visit InfinityWindows.com to learn more.

Marvin is a fourth-generation family-owned and -operated business, headquartered in Warroad, Minnesota, with more than 5,500 employees across 15 cities in North America.

The Marvin portfolio of products for builders, architects and homeowners is designed to provide exceptional solutions for any project with a focus on creating better ways of living.

Visit Marvin.com to learn more.

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MCGOUGH

Headquarters: St. Paul, Minn. with branch in Fargo, N.D. Employees: 962 (office and field) Website: mcgough.com Description: McGough – headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota, with branch offices in Minnesota, North Dakota, Iowa and Texas – is one of the nation’s premier construction firms with full-service real estate capabilities. The present firm, originally incorporated in 1956 by Peter McGough and his six sons, remains a family-owned company.

Over the years, we’ve earned a well-deserved reputation for bestin-class construction for best-in-class clients. We’ve built notable public and worship spaces; high-profile corporate campuses and office buildings; state-of-the art science, technology and healthcare facilities; major educational campuses; industrial; and awardwinning residential and mixed-use projects.

MIDWEST FIRE

Headquarters: Luverne, Minn.

Employees: 23 Website: midwestfire.com Description: Midwest Fire Equipment & Repair Company has been manufacturing high-quality fire tankers and pumpers since 1987.

Working directly with their customers, never through dealers, Midwest Fire keeps costs down and communication consistent during the entire sales and manufacturing process. We take pride in our work and our ability to produce some of the highest quality, most innovative fire apparatus on the market.

We are proud to be named as one of the 50 Best Places to work for 6 years in a row!

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Rural America cannot be overlooked

By Sen. John Thune, R-S.D.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently announced that it was authorizing nearly $5 million to invest in expanding rural broadband access across South Dakota. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, who visited South Dakota with me in 2017, said that he was “excited to see the benefits for rural residents who live all across the country.” He went on to say, “In South Dakota, this round of funding takes another step toward closing the digital divide, providing access to digital opportunity to nearly 900 more unserved rural homes and businesses.”

This might come as a surprise to folks who don’t live in the heartland, but believe or not, there are still many places in America that don’t have basic cell phone service, let alone high-speed rural broadband. This technology obviously exists, though, which is why I so strongly share Chairman Pai’s commitment to “closing the digital divide” in rural America, particularly in parts of South Dakota that have been underserved or unserved all together over the years.

This effort means so much more than ensuring customers can stream their favorite Netflix show a little bit faster. For many families and businesses, having access to reliable broadband services means connecting to the world in ways they haven’t been able to do before. It means tapping into markets that have been unreachable or accessing information that has been beyond their fingertips for far too long. Long story short, it means bringing these communities further into the 21st century.

I became chairman of the Senate’s Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet earlier this year, and the very first hearing I convened was on the state of rural broadband in America.

I wanted the subcommittee and the rest of my Senate colleagues to hear directly from South Dakota companies that are helping lead the way in expanding access to rural broadband, so I invited representatives from Golden West Telecommunications and Midcontinent Communications, which will be responsible for most of the infrastructure work related to

this latest round of FCC funding, to participate.

Their insight was invaluable, and the work they’re doing in this space should be applauded.

According to the FCC’s recent broadband deployment reports, the number of Americans lacking access to a fixed broadband connection has continued to decline, but this issue will continue to be a priority for me until we’ve closed that gap entirely for everyone who wants access to broadband. As folks in South Dakota know, rural America has a lot to offer, and with the potential for new and more efficient broadband infrastructure, there will be even more meaningful opportunities for advancements in health care, agriculture, education, economic development, and more.

Making a Difference.

Doing What You Love.

Working with Passionate People.

IT MATTERS. Thank you to all of our employees for always going beyond and making AE2S one of the best places to work.

Providing engineering and related services to help communities achieve success. www.ae2s.com

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MINNKOTA WINDOWS

Headquarters: West Fargo, ND. Employees: 55 Website: minnkotawindows.com Description: Minnkota Windows, located in West Fargo, North Dakota, fabricates and distributes custom-sized vinyl windows and patio doors for residential as well as commercial applications. We pride ourselves on manufacturing high performance, and affordable quality products ranging from casements to patio doors and every style in between and offer the best warranty in the industry.

MOORE ENGINEERING

Headquarters: West Fargo, N.D. Employees: 140 Website: mooreengineeringinc.com Description: Community pride and optimism. That’s what energizes us. As a 100 percent employee-owned company, Moore Engineering is invested in this region and grateful for the opportunities we have to create the conditions for growth. When communities have safe streets, clean drinking water, protection from floods and sustainable developments, people can focus their attention on improving their own lives and building for the future.

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UAS summit features North Dakota technology General Atomics, a tenant of the Grand Sky UAS Research and Development Park, has received a certificate of authorization to conduct beyond-visual-line-of-sight flights within 60 miles of the Grand Forks Air Force Base without a visual observer or a chase plane. The announcement was made on Tuesday, Aug. 27, by Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., during a panel discussion at the Unmanned Aerial Systems Summit and Expo held at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks.

The company will fly its MQ-9 Predator out of Grand Sky without a chase plane.

“This is a significant expansion of the company’s unmanned operations in the state, another important step toward safely integrating this technology into our airspace and further proof that North Dakota is the location of choice for UAS research, development, testing and operations,” Hoeven said.

The BVLOS waiver from the FAA will allow the company to continually operate in the

region without having to wait for approval for each flight, a time saver for the company and an opportunity for expanded pilot training -and sales.

“The reason this is such a big deal, it’s continuous operations, so for a 60-mile radius they just fly,” Hoeven said. “They’re not only training their own pilots, they are also training pilots for foreign military sales, so when they sell aircraft to France or England, they can bring those pilots here and train them. This is real commercial use, real commercial application.”

Hoeven said he hopes the unmanned flights will expand from 60 miles to statewide in the future.

U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff General David Goldfein and Federal Aviation Administration Assistant Administrator Bailey Edwards are attending the summit to gain firsthand knowledge of North Dakota’s UAS ecosystem and to outline the next big steps in integrating this technology into the national airspace.

“We have always had our sights on integrating

UAS into the national a i r s p a c e , which will allow us to unlock the vast potential of this technology,” Hoeven said.

“It’s no simple task, and in order to do so safely, we’ve worked to ensure North Dakota has the capabilities to tackle everything that integration entails. That includes developing counter-UAS technologies, managing unmanned air traffic and flying in a variety of conditions, including at night, at any altitude and over people.”

Hoeven said he is working to develop an unmanned traffic management system under a pilot program with the Northern Plains UAS Test Site, the FAA, NASA and the test sites in Nevada and Virginia.

PLACES TO WORK 2019

OUR EMPLOYEES LIFT US HIGHER.

THIS HONOR BELONGS TO YOU, ALERUS EMPLOYEES .

With passion, expertise and enthusiasm, you all come together as one and make our company an incredible place to work.

EXPLORE OPEN POSITIONS AT ALERUS .COM .

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NETWORK CENTER

Headquarters: Fargo, N.D. Employees: 74 Website: netcenter.net Description: Network Center, Inc. (NCI) provides cutting-edge technology solutions that can help propel your organization while preparing you for the future. They specialize in industry specific technology solutions, service, support, and expertise for small to enterprise businesses. In 2015, NCI enhanced its culture by becoming a 100% employee-owned company that allows its employees to share in the company’s growth and success.

bismarckymca.org

Why do our people  their jobs?

Because at the Bismarck Y, we  our people.

Voted 50 Best Places to Work Two Years in a Row!

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NEXUS INNOVATIONS, INC.

Headquarters: Bismarck, N.D., branch in Fargo, N.D. Employees: 17 (and a team of contractors) Website: nexusinnovations.com Description: Nexus Innovations is a strategic consulting firm that provides strategic and technology leadership to empower our clients to successfully navigate a constantly changing terrain.

Nexus empowers clients for success by delivering strategic technology solutions. We serve every client engagement with a customized approach to ensure that organizational goals, business requirements, and cultural impacts are both understood and addressed. We have emerged as one of the leading strategic IT consulting firms in the region. That reason goes beyond delivering an outstanding product – the difference is our people, and the trust we build with each and every client.

The BEST employee-owners anywhere, that’s the ARVIG ADVANTAGE

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NATIONAL INFORMATION SOLUTIONS COOPERATIVE

Headquarters: Mandan, N.D. Employees: 1,249 Website: nisc.coop Description: National Information Solutions Cooperative (NISC) is an information technology company that develops, implements and supports software and hardware solutions for our more than 838 Members/Customers, consisting of independent telephone companies, electric cooperatives and other public power entities in all 50 states, American Samoa, Palau and Canada. With facilities in Mandan, N.D., Lake Saint Louis, Mo., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Shawano, Wis., Blacksburg, Va. and Austin, Texas, NISC and its subsidiaries employ more than 1,300 professionals across the country.

THE

POWER OF PEOPLE At ONE our mission is to enrich the lives of our employees and exceed the expectations of our clients. We’re a company with heart. We’re engineers. We’re designers. We’re the people behind the building systems. It’s the people who make Obermiller Nelson Engineering a top 50 Best Places to Work.

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Thank you to our employees for making MARVIN one of Prairie Business Magazine’s 50 Best Places Work!

Thank you toto our employees making Thank you to our employees for for making

hankMARVIN you to our employees for making one of Prairie Business Magazine’s 50 MARVIN one of Prairie Business Magazine’s 50 MARVIN one of Prairie Business Magazine’s 50 Best Places to Work!

AtPlaces MARVIN, we’re driven by this purpose: to Best Work! est Places to to Work!

imagine and create better ways of living.

At MARVIN, we’re driven by this purpose: to t At MARVIN, we’re driven by this purpose: tobeautiful to MARVIN, we’re driven by this purpose: imagine and create better ways of living.

Our people, exceptional quality, and magine and create better ways of of living. imagine and better ways living. design of create our products are the foundation of our

Our people, exceptional quality, and beautiful Our people, exceptional quality, beautiful of our company. of exceptional our products are and the foundation Ourdesign people, quality, and beautiful esign of our products are the foundation of our company. design of ourisproducts are the foundation of our MARVIN a fourth-generation family-owned-andompany. company.

MARVIN isbusiness a fourth-generation family-owned-andoperated with more than 5,500 MARVIN is a fourth-generation family-owned-andoperated business with more than 5,500 employees across 15 cities in North America.

MARVIN is a fourth-generation family-owned-andperated business with more than 5,500 employees across 15 cities in North America. mployees across 15 with citiesmore in North America. operated business than 5,500 To join our growing team, visit To join our growing team, visit employees across 15 cities in o join our growing team, visit North America. www.marvin.com/careers www.marvin.com/careers ww.marvin.com/careers

To join our growing team, visit www.marvin.com/careers

©2019 Marvin® Lumber and Cedar Co., LLC. All rights reserved. ©2019 Marvin® Lumber and Cedar Co., LLC. All rights reserved. ®Registered trademark of Marvin Lumber and Cedar Co., LLC. Marvin®®Registered Lumber andtrademark Cedar Co.,ofLLC. All rights reserved.

Marvin Lumber and Cedar Co., LLC. tered trademark of Marvin Lumber and Cedar Co., LLC.

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OBERMILLER NELSON ENGINEERING

Headquarters: Minneapolis, Minn. with locations across Minnesota and North Dakota Employees: 89 Website: obernel.com Description: Obermiller Nelson Engineering (ONE) delivers success to its clients by providing professional, detailed mechanical, electrical, and civil design and coordination for building systems.

Since 1992, ONE’s clients have received the full attention of professional, knowledgeable engineers through every phase of their project. ONE’s team members provide the workforce and experience to accommodate several different project types. With licensed mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, civil engineers, fire protection engineers, and certified energy managers and lighting designers on staff, ONE provides clients with the highest quality of engineering and exceptional service.

Covered Your Business

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Let Sanford Health Plan take care of your business with: • Online enrollment tools

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with Sanford TRUE Save on monthly rates in select counties and zip codes.

• Dedicated, local client service every step of the way

Live Life Covered.

Call (888) 535-4831 or visit sanfordhealthplan.com/employers At participating providers only; certain restrictions may apply.

SVHP-3590 6/19

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PEDIATRIC PARTNERS

Headquarters: Fargo, N.D. (other location in Bismarck, N.D.) Employees: 140 Website: PediatricPartnersClinic.com Description: Specializing in providing care for ages 0-21, we offer the most comprehensive and advanced pediatric support in the region. Our compassionate team of experts will work alongside your family, offering a wide range of services to include early intervention, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, mental health, and services for those affected by autism.

We exist for only one reason: to help your child laugh, love and live life to the fullest.

You can bank on our employees.

We’re proud of our employees for their commitment to our local communities. In fact, we encourage them to volunteer for service organizations and charitable projects.

Thank you to our employees for naming us one of the 50 Best Places to Work for three years running. It’s one of the reasons you know that you can bank on us.

PLACES TO WORK 2019

firstwestern.bank Member FDIC

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RCS CONSTRUCTION, INC.

Headquarters: Rapid City, S.D. Employees: 97 Website: rcsconst.com Description: RCS Construction, Inc. is a general contractor located in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota. Our crews specialize in commercial building and site development that entails road work , site work, utilities, and concrete. Our formula for success is our ability to perform a variety of projects by employing the best people and helping them recognize their full potential.

James likes finding ways to save. So it’s a big deal when he can offer his employees a health plan with a new approach to lowering costs—like giving them flexible out-of-pocket limits on covered care. Now, that’s a win for everyone on his team.

Health plans with something for everyone to like.

Contact your broker or visit uhc.com/mn to learn more.

Health plan coverage provided by UnitedHealthcare of Illinois, Inc. Administrative services provided by United HealthCare Services, Inc. or their affiliates.

8566846.0 3/19 ©2019 United HealthCare Services, Inc. 18-10761-A

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SANDMAN STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS

Headquarters: Moorhead, Minn.

Employees: 44 Website: sandmanse.com Description: Sandman Structural Engineers is a team of top design and consulting engineers with offices in Brainerd, Minneapolis, and Moorhead, Minn., and Grand Forks, N.D. Our firm has grown since its inception in 2005 by focusing on delivering the highest quality engineering services and building strong, honest relationships with clients. Innovation and quality is maintained because of our commitment to only hire the brightest professionals with demonstrated personal character. Our team of Professional Engineers is registered in 47 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and five Canadian provinces.

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STARION BANK

Headquarters: Bismarck, N.D. Employees: 244 Website: starionbank.com Description: Starion Bank is a family-owned bank with a full line of commercial, personal and mortgage banking services along with investments and insurance. Celebrating 50 years of serving the Midwest, the $1.3 billion bank has 16 branches in Bismarck, Bottineau, Dunseith, Ellendale, Fargo, Mandan, Oakes and Rolla, N.D.; and Middleton, Monona, and Sun Prairie, Wis. Starion Bank offers the sophisticated products, services and technology available at larger banks, with the personal service found at community banks.

Over 69 years of building a team of technology experts.

DRN ReadiTech is honored to be selected as one of Prairie Business’ 50 Best Places to Work.

Learn more about us at drnreaditech.coop.

Join our growing team. Call us at 877.559.4692 or visit our websites.

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READi TECH drnreaditech.coop readitech.com

FACEBOOK .COM/PRAIRIEBUSINESS

RELIABLE • PROFESSIONAL • PROBLEM SOLVERS

Thank you to our team.

PRAIRIEBUSINESSMAGAZINE.COM

Atchison Companies is an investment & holding company owned by the Sarah & Dean Atchison family. Based on the Upper Plains, we are focused on investing in, leading & growing lower middle market businesses. We make long-term investments in companies that show potential for solid growth. We understand small business, we are not a private equity firm, our focus is on long-term growth through value creation and we build cultures of excellence.

218.303.5151

Dean@AtchCos.com

STEFFES

Headquarters: Dickinson, N.D. Employees: 510 Website: steffes.com Description: Steffes is a lean-operating original equipment manufacturer headquartered in Dickinson, North Dakota with additional manufacturing facilities in Grand Forks, North Dakota. We specialize in steel fabrication and electrical services for a variety of diverse industries, including oil and gas, contract manufacturing and electric thermal storage. With a creative team of experienced engineers, manufacturing experts and business professionals, our ability to innovate and solve complex issues is unmatched in the manufacturing industry.

SWIER LAW

Headquarters: Avon, S.D. Employees: 12 Website: SwierLaw.com Description: Swier Law Firm is a sophisticated law firm that delivers creative legal solutions to a wide array of clients, from individuals in rural South Dakota to small businesses, government entities, and Fortune 100 companies. With dedicated practice groups focused on specific legal issues, we thrive on delivering exceptional service for clients with high expectations. With offices across South Dakota, we stand apart based on our nationally-recognized experience, responsiveness, and results while keeping our clients’ needs in mind.

001818075r1

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ULTEIG

Headquarters: Fargo, N.D. Employees: 550 Website: ulteig.com Description: Celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, Ulteig is an employee-owned company that delivers comprehensive design engineering, program management and technical and field services that strengthen infrastructure vital to everyday life. Ulteig connects people and resources to develop compelling, integrated solutions across multiple Lifeline Sectors, including power, renewables, transportation and water. Headquartered in Fargo, Ulteig’s footprint spans the country and leverages its expertise with a wide range of clients who ultimately bring essential services to millions.

WCCO BELTING

Headquarters: Wahpeton, N.D. Employees: 200 Website: wccobelt.com Description: The strength of WCCO Belting comes from a long-term perspective, stable leadership, and a solid identity drawn from traditions and values that are deeply rooted in the history of the family business. Chosen multiple times as one of the areas’ best places to work, our open culture is dedicated to employee engagement and empowerment. If you want to join a team that values one another like family, we’re always looking for great people.

MISSOURI VALLEY FAMILY YMCA

WIDSETH SMITH NOLTING

Headquarters: Founded in Crookston, Minn.

Employees: 200 Website: widsethsmithnolting.com Description: Widseth Smith Nolting is an engineering, architecture, land surveying and environmental services firm with eight offices in Minnesota and North Dakota and 200 employees. We design roads, bridges, water and wastewater systems, and buildings of all types.

Our engineering practice includes civil, structural, mechanical and electrical engineers who work on a wide range of projects for public and private clients—from large-scale public works improvements to facility and site design for individual companies.

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Headquarters: Bismarck, N.D. Employees: 125 full-time, 344 part-time, 20 seasonal Website: BismarckYMCA.org Description: The Missouri Valley Family YMCA is a nonprofit like no other. We know that lasting personal and social change comes about when we all work together. That’s why strengthening community is our cause. Every day, we work side-by-side with our neighbors to make sure that everyone, regardless of age, income or background, has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive.

We offer employment opportunities to people who are driven by our cause, giving them a chance to change lives, including their own.

PRAIRIEBUSINESSMAGAZINE.COM

Where Possibility, Experience and Technology Meet

Recognized as one of the Top 25 small employers for the sixth year in a row!

Thank you to our employees for making Nexus a great place to work! Our team of experts is driven by a culture of service excellence and customer satisfaction t hat successfully merges technology and strategy into exceptional solutions for our clients.

NEXUS INNOVATIONS is a strategic technology consulting firm. Technologies and clients are at t he core of what are all

we

about, and if you are a t echnology professional who is

inspired by adventure, change, learning, teamwork and service, you may find a great career fit at Nexus Innovations.

www.nexusinnovations.com

startupline SEPTEMBER 2019 VOL 20 ISSUE 9

Up, up & away Headquartered in Grand Forks, N.D., SkySkopes is one of America’s most innovative UAS companies – and founder, president and CEO Matt Dunlevy explains why By Tom Dennis SKYSKOPES CEO AND PRESIDENT MATT DUNLEVY WALKS THROUGH THE COMPANY’S GRAND FORKS, N.D. WORKSHOP ON MONDAY, JULY 1, 2019. IMAGE: NICK NELSON / FORUM NEWS SERVICE

Q. TELL US ABOUT SKYSKOPES AND ITS HISTORY A.

SkySkopes is a professional unmanned aircraft systems operator. I’m proud to say that in May, In Flight USA magazine called us “the leading UAS service provider in the industry.”

We have offices in Grand Forks, Minot and Williston, as well as in Minneapolis, Fort Worth and Denver. We have several dozen FTEs, and our mission is to provide innovative solutions to the energy sector with UAS. But when we started in 2014, we had a one-room office in Grand Forks and a core group of four people. Plus, we didn’t even have the permission we needed to fly commercially.

While we were waiting for that permission from the FAA, “we had a prayer and no wing,” as I’ve said before.

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Q. A.

DID YOU HAVE A BACKGROUND IN AVIATION?

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I’ve had a passion for aviation since before I can remember. I could fly a glider even before I was allowed to legally drive.

I came to the University of North Dakota, and I ended up studying history, particularly aviation history and business history. And I thought that one way to put those two interests together would be to run an unmanned aircraft business; so, I started SkySkopes.

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SKYSKOPES PRESIDENT AND CEO MATT DUNLEVY POSES FOR A PORTRAIT WHILE IN THE COMPANY’S GRAND FORKS, N.D. HEADQUARTERS ON MONDAY, JULY 1, 2019.

IMAGE: NICK NELSON / FORUM NEWS SERVICE

Q. A.

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WHAT WERE YOUR ORIGINAL PLANS FOR THE COMPANY? Actually, our original mission was to take aerial videos of weddings. We were looking for something that was industrial-based and repeatable.

But our real source of strength turned out to be our location, because Grand Forks is a global leader in the UAS industry, and I truly believe that many of the best UAS pilots in the world come out of the University of North Dakota.

And if your company can offer the exceptional skills and the safety DNA that those pilots have, you can grow and succeed as a UAS service provider.

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Q. A.

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WHAT WAS THE REGULATORY HANG-UP YOU MENTIONED? Back then, we were not allowed to fly UAS for commercial purposes without what’s called a Section 333 exemption.

We were the first North Dakota startup to get this blessing from the FAA. That was on the 6th of June — D-Day — of 2015.

There was some significant publicity about that at the time, because it meant the last piece of the UAS jigsaw puzzle in Grand Forks was in place. In other words, the community had a drone company that could do this for business.

And we soon learned that while we didn’t want to focus just on cinematography, we did want to have cinematography be part of what we were doing, because drones just keep getting better at creating cinematic photos and videos.

Right about that time, Xcel Energy was starting to advocate for unmanned aircraft around here. And we’ve been in energy ever since.

TR US T

A.

Basically, we caught on to the value, the scalability and the long-term lifespan of flying UAS for utilities. That’s when we really started to see what the future could hold.

For example, a UAS can hover close to a utility tower, and the aircraft’s sensor can inspect the welds and other elements, some of which — if not spotted and corrected — could cause the energized line to come down. That could cause blackouts and is a huge hazard.

Moreover, the current inspections are done with helicopters or fixedwing aircraft flying low and slow..

That’s dangerous, too.

So, drones greatly reduce this risk.

BU ILT ON

Q.

WHAT DID GETTING INTO THE ENERGY SECTOR MEAN?

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Q. A.

WHAT OTHER JOBS ARE UTILITIES DOING WITH DRONES? Besides using drones to inspect individual structures, utilities also are using them to inspect power-line corridors.

And the latest innovation involves stringing lines. We’ve been refining that in-house for a couple of years, and a few weeks ago, we did it in Fargo. Our drone installed lines on six Xcel Energy towers that day. The process took less than a half-hour.

So, there are missions beyond collecting data – missions such as actual construction and repair – that unmanned aircraft can carry out at much lower risk than traditional methods can.

SKYSKOPES PRESIDENT AND CEO MATT DUNLEVY (LEFT) DETAILS THE COMPANY’S GROWTH WHILE AT ITS GRAND FORKS, N.D. HEADQUARTERS ON MONDAY, JULY 1, 2019. IMAGE: NICK NELSON / FORUM NEWS SERVICE

Q. A.

DO YOU EXPECT TO MOVE INTO PACKAGE DELIVERY SOMEDAY? Absolutely. Transportation is another area of the industry that’s rising in importance – and not just transportation of packages, but transportation of people. In Dubai, they’re testing a driverless taxi drone that’s said to be capable of taking two passengers on a flight of up to 30 minutes. Uber is working on something similar as well.

Q. A.

WHAT OTHER KINDS OF MISSIONS IS SKYSKOPES TAKING ON?

Q.

THIS YEAR, THE NORTH DAKOTA LEGISLATURE COMMITTED TO BUILDING OUT THE STATE’S UAS RADAR INFRASTRUCTURE. WHAT WILL THAT MEAN FOR THE INDUSTRY?

A.

The Beyond Visual Line of Sight of BVLOS infrastructure that’s being built in North Dakota is putting us at the top of the heap. It’ll be an exceptional advantage for our state to have such broad areas for BVLOS operations.

For pipeline inspections, for materials transport and for countless other uses, this capability will make us the test bed for the future of aviation. So it’s extremely important, and it was a very smart move by the Legislature.

By the way, I believe the legislation passed with resounding majorities in both houses. That speaks well of not only the legislators but also their constituents, because those voters would be throwing up red flags if North Dakotans had serious concerns about unmanned aircraft.

ROTORS OF A OCTOCOPTER UAV ARE SHOWN AT THE SKYSKOPES COMPANY HEADQUARTERS IN GRAND FORKS, N.D. ON MONDAY, JULY 1, 2019. IMAGE: NICK NELSON / FORUM NEWS SERVICE

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One of the places where SkySkopes is most active is in the oil fields out in the Bakken. Over time, the oil-and-gas industry has really seen the value of UAS, to the point that they’re now one of the two biggest reasons to be flying UAS, utilities being the other.

And we have distinguished ourselves in both of those industries by flying the most advanced LiDar systems and optical gas imaging systems available.

Optical gas imaging is a safe and efficient way to detect fugitive gas emissions. And LiDar is a sensor that uses lasers like a dolphin uses sound waves for echolocation.

LiDar generates extremely accurate 3D models, allowing precision inspection of assets, terrain, everything.

Surveying also is extremely important, especially with pipelines. It’s vital for the pipeline companies to know whether the landscape has changed – and if it has changed, to understand why. Was there a landslide? Is there a leak?

Fortunately, the oil and gas companies in North Dakota are so careful that those things don’t happen very often. Among other reasons, the companies take extra proactive steps, including working with companies such as SkySkopes to ensure that when their head hits the pillow at night, they know they’re doing everything as safely as possible.

Q.

AS A HISTORY BUFF, YOU KNOW WE’VE JUST COME THROUGH THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF WORLD WAR I, WHERE PILOTS FLEW BIPLANES LIKE THE SOPWITH CAMEL. WE’VE COME A LONG WAY!

A.

Right. And what people should realize is that right now, we’re at the dawn of a whole new age. When it comes to technology and aviation and how fast things are changing, the future is staggering.

To take just one example, I really think that the non-data-collection missions for UAS are going to take off. The line stringing is a huge example of “flight for flight’s sake”; the aircraft actually transports something from here to there – it doesn’t just collect data.

Unmanned aircraft actually are building infrastructure, in other words. That’s now the name of the game in the world of drones.

Q.

A.

LIKE WHEN A SKYSKOPES DRONE ROSE UP IN FRONT OF THE CROWD AT THE GRAND FORKS MAYOR’S STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS, AND CARRIED THE SPEECH TO THE PODIUM, WHERE THE MAYOR RETRIEVED IT. (Laughs) Right. I like to joke that the mayor didn’t deliver that speech; we delivered it. That was SkySkopes.

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INSIGHTS&INTUITION

SEPTEMBER 2019 VOL 20 ISSUE 9

Q.

INSIGHTs & INTUITION How do you ensure your business is easily accessible and secure online? Have you done any recent website updates to optimize the experience for users?

Jon Hendry Chief Information Officer Alerus Financial Grand Forks, N.D.

At Sanford Health, we use tools to identify accessibility issues and look at our scores on a weekly basis to ensure we are at or above industry standards. In these weekly meetings, we determine the best course of action for making our site more accessible. Most changes are simple color swaps or changing call-to-action buttons to be more descriptive. Because some require deeper development work, we have an interactive designer and web developer sit in on these meetings to change code to become more accessible.

We recently revamped our entire website to create a better experience.

We used many different types of data to inform our design and experience – web traffic analytics, mouse flows, heat maps and user recordings just to name a few. Since the launch, we have used tools to ensure the best user experience via identifying content gaps, rewriting content, fixing broken links and eliminating unnecessary content.

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Safety and security of information is extremely important, especially in the financial industry. At Alerus, we are always looking for new ways to provide a better client experience while also ensuring to safeguard important financial data accessed online by our clients. We recently introduced a new login experience with enhanced security features to keep up with this ever changing landscape and new, emerging security threats.

Additionally, we are launching new financial wellness tools in early September designed to help bring clients’ entire financial life into one, personalized hub. By partnering with leading FinTech companies, we’re excited to showcase new digital tools allowing clients the ability to automate their budget, link in outside financial accounts, and use their data to complete a series of short financial workouts to see how they’re doing with their finances.

Matt Sage Web Development Manager Sanford Health Sioux Falls, S.D.

PRAIRIEBUSINESSMAGAZINE.COM

Prior to May 2018, the University of North Dakota’s (UND) web presence was much like the Wild West – everyone did whatever they wanted with little oversight. The result: an unorganized and overloaded website that was not meeting accessibly standards.

A two-year website redevelopment project fixed the issues and new governance was implemented to ensure problems didn’t resurface.

Tara Buckley Director of Web & Multimedia Marketing Marketing & Creative Services UND Grand Forks, N.D.

A formal web policy was adopted that covers use of the content management system (CMS), brand guidelines and accessibility.

All CMS users were trained on accessibility, SEO, image quality, and navigation.

Approval workflows were introduced to the CMS, providing a final quality check.

We invested in a quality assurance software (Siteimprove) to flag issues that leak through the approval process.

We’re developing an annual audit process to make sure we’re still meeting essential standards.

Governance works. UND’s site is now half the size, serves prospective students first and is generating three times more inquiries.

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BYTHENUMBERs SEPTEMBER 2019 VOL 20 ISSUE 9

EXPORTS OF GOODS FOR NORTH DAKOTA

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

750

4.2 4.0

700

PERCENT UNEMPLOYED

3.8 3.6

650

3.4

600

3.2

550

3.0

500

2.8

NORTH DAKOTA

20 19

20 19

01 9

20 19

01 9

Ju ne

20 19

Ma y2

20 19 ch

ry

Ma r

Ap ril

20 19

20 19 ry

Fe b

ru a

ua

er ce

De

No

Ja n

mb

be ve m

to b Oc

20 18

01 8 r2

20 18

01 8

er

r2

01 8

be pt em

Source: FRED

EXPTOTND

Ju ly

Ju ne

20 19

MINNESOTA

Ma y2

20 19

Ap ril

ch

ry

Ma r

Fe b

ru a

ua Ja n

20 19

20 19 ry

20 18

01 8

er ce

De

No

U.S.

mb

be

er

ve m

to b

be

Oc

Se

pt em

r2

20 18

01 8 r2

01 8 t2 Au gu s

Ju ly

20 18

Se

2.2

Au gu s

Ju ly

2.4

t2

20 18

2.6

IMPORTS OF GOODS FOR NORTH DAKOTA

SOUTH DAKOTA

Source: FRED

400 380

TOTAL NONFARM PAYROLLS

360

350

340 320

300

300 280

250

260

200

50

20 19 Ju ly

20 19 Ju ne

01 9

Ma y2 01 9

ril 2 Ap

h2 01 9

Ma rc

20 19 ry

20 19

Fe br ua

Ja nu ar y

De

ce

mb

er

er 20 18

20 18

01 8

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20 18

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20 18

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Au gu st

Ju ly

20 18

0

All Employees: Total Nonfarm, commonly known as Total Nonfarm Payroll, is a measure of the number of U.S. workers in the economy that excludes proprietors, private household employees, unpaid volunteers, farm employees, and the unincorporated self-employed. This measure accounts for approximately 80 percent of the workers who contribute to Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

This measure provides useful insights into the current economic situation because it can represent the number of jobs added or lost in an economy. Increases in employment might indicate that businesses are hiring which might also suggest that businesses are growing. Additionally, those who are newly employed have increased their personal incomes, which means (all else constant) their disposable incomes have also increased, thus fostering further economic expansion.

Generally, the U.S. labor force and levels of employment and unemployment are subject to fluctuations due to seasonal changes in weather, major holidays, and the opening and closing of schools. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) adjusts the data to offset the seasonal effects to show non-seasonal changes: for example, women’s participation in the labor force; or a general decline in the number of employees, a possible indication of a downturn in the economy. To closely examine seasonal and non-seasonal changes, the BLS releases two monthly statistical measures: the seasonally adjusted All Employees: Total Nonfarm (PAYEMS) and All Employees: Total Nonfarm (PAYNSA), which is not seasonally adjusted.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, All Employees: Total Nonfarm Payrolls [PAYEMS], retrieved from FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

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01 9

20 19 Ju ne

20 19 ril

Ma y2

Ma r

Ap

20 19 ry

20 19

20 19

ru a Fe b

IMPTOTND

ch

20 18

ry Ja n

ua

er

01 8 r2

mb ce De

01 8 No

ve m

be

r2

r2

to Oc

be

Source: FRED

be

01 8 t2

em pt Se

100

70

Au gu s

Ju ly

20 18

150

01 8

240

Howie Milstein was being pulled in too many directions. It was time to do something about it by selling one of the two companies he operated. “We owned Active Therapeutics Institute and I was also President of a medical device company,” says Milstein, “I only had so much time and energy.”

“Crescenda opened up opportunities to sell ATI in a way we could never do ourselves,” says Milstein. “They identified the right buyers, kept advancing the ball and knew how to close the deal. Our goal was to preserve our culture and Crescenda found a buyer who did.” ”Jim Odney is the kind of person I want to do business with. He has a high level of integrity. He is intuitive, smart, creative and tenacious. He understands people and has a sense of humor. I won’t work with people who take themselves too seriously.”

For Milstein, the sale made life simpler, running the company he wanted to run, with more time for leisure. “I was free to focus more energy on the ‘day job’, and do volunteer work. I’m also finding a little more recreational time – like riding my motorcycle. Life is short.

You don’t want to wait to do some of the things you want to do.”

“I WANTED MORE TIME TO RUN ANOTHER COMPANY (AND MY MOTORCYCLE).

CRESCENDA HELPED ME FIND IT.” Howie and Gail Milstein cruising the back roads

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