Minnesota names tech training grant winners

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development has announced the Minnesota Tech Training Pilot Program Competitive Grant award recipients.

The recipients were selected for their innovative approaches to diversifying the tech sector in Minnesota. In 2019, according to the American Community Survey, only 4% of the tech jobs in Minnesota were held by Black individuals, and only 7% by Hispanic individuals.

The pilot program was designed to address the racial disparities in employment as a result of structural disadvantages that students who are Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) face as they seek education.

“I am thrilled that this new program will engage young, creative BIPOC Minnesotans in tech career pathways,” said DEED Commissioner Steve Grove. “This program will provide both skills and mentorship for young Minnesotans to experience hands-on training that can lead to high-quality and family-wage-sustaining jobs.”

The following organizations were awarded funds:

Minnesota State IT Center of Excellence – $300,000

Bringing together partners from across the state of Minnesota, the Minnesota State Tech Training Pilot Collaborative will provide nav- igation, training, and support services to approximately 100 BIPOC students in a hybrid delivery model.

Phyllis Wheatley Community Center – $215,468

Phyllis Wheatley Community Center (PWCC) has served the North Minneapolis community since 1924 and, with the award from the Minnesota Tech Training Pilot Program, they will provide navigation, training and support to approximately 100 BIPOC students.

Prime Digital Academy – $200,000

Prime Digital Academy’s mission is to humanize technology by bringing diverse and driven problem-solvers to the challenge of creating a better tomorrow.

Software for Good – $200,000

Software for Good, a public benefit corporation since 2015, designs and builds web and mobile applications for nonprofits, government and civic entities, social enterprises, corporations, and educational institutions.

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Eric Michel

KLJ names new CEO BISMARCK, N.D. • The KLJ Solutions Holding Co., parent organization to KLJ Engineering LLC (KLJ), and its Board of Directors, has named Eric Michel as the organization’s chief executive officer.

Michel fills the gap left by previous CEO Barry Schuchard, who passed away in March of this year.

Michel brings decades of construction, engineering, and leadership experience to the role. In joining the nearly 85-year-old company, he also brings enthusiasm for the firm and the industry, having previously spent time with the company as the vice president of Energy and Natural Resources. He received a bachelor’s degree in electrical and electronics engineering from North Dakota State University and is a registered Professional Engineer in North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Wyoming. He is past president of the North Dakota Chapter of American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) and current member of the Minnesota Chapter of ACEC. Michel is a North Dakota State University Foundation Life Trustee. He will be located out of the company’s office in Saint Paul, Minn.

Bryan Middleton

Moore Holding Company names new CEO WEST FARGO, N.D. • Shane Waslaski was recently named chief executive officer of Moore Holding Co. by its board of directors. He has been a Moore Holding Co. board member since December 2019.

Jeffry Volk, the current CEO, will transition to executive chairman of the board upon Waslaski becoming CEO.

Waslaski previously was vice president and general manager at Infor, following the acquisition of Intelligent InSites, where he was president, CEO and a board member. Prior to Infor and Intelligent

InSites, he was the president of Varistar, a division of Otter Tail Corporation. He currently serves as a board member for Dakota Supply Group and the NDSU Research and Technology Park.

Kevin Bucholz has served as Moore Engineering, Inc. president since 2018, and will continue in that role when Waslaski becomes CEO.

Waslaski took over as CEO on Sept. 1. He has a bachelor’s degree from NDSU, with continuing education in strategy from Harvard Business School. He and his wife, Jill, have three children and reside in the Oakport neighborhood north of Moorhead, Minn.

Paulsen

Welcomes

new audio/visual specialist to creative team

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. • Paulsen has hired accomplished video production artist Bryan Middleton to serve as audio/visual specialist on its creative team.

Middleton previously did video production for Media One. He began his career at South Dakota Public Broadcasting after studying mass communications at the University of South Dakota.

Middleton, who has built a strong reputation and work portfolio during his two decades in the industry, enjoys storytelling. That skill set will come in handy at Paulsen, where storytelling drives marketing efforts for clients in the agricultural and rural lifestyle industries.

Middleton will work on a variety of projects, including filming, directing and managing post-production as well as shooting still photography.

Sean Foss

First International Bank & Trust welcomes corporate attorney

FARGO, N.D. • First International Bank & Trust has hired Sean Foss as corporate attorney.

Foss comes to the bank with 12 years of legal experience, including six years as a partner at a North Dakota legal firm.

He currently serves as president of the Cass County Bar Association and is a member of the North Dakota Supreme Court Joint Procedure Committee and State Bar of North Dakota Ethics Committee.

He graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of North Dakota and went on to receive a Juris Doctorate from the University of Minnesota Law School.

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ISG welcomes hockey coach into firm MANKATO, MINN. • ISG has recently welcomed Darren Blue, from Minnesota State University, Mankato’s Men’s Hockey, as one of its newest employee-owners. Blue will be joining the firm as a development strategist with the Sports + Recreation business unit, bringing a variety of sports experience from high school, semi-professional, and collegiate levels.

His years both on the ice and at the bench as a coach, in multiple sports arenas, give the firm a look into the needs and desires

Alerus adds financial advisor of spectators, athletes, and staff alike.

With more than 30 years in hockey, Blue has experienced its perspectives from an athlete, coach, spectator, and administrator point of view. More recently, during his time in Division I men’s hockey, he found a desire to create a positive difference for each team through design.

Blue will support firm-wide growth initiatives by working with sports and recreation clients across the Midwest, specifically on the development of facilities that help teams flourish and grow.

Anna LArson

GRAND FORKS, N.D. • Alerus has welcomed Anna Larson as a financial advisor. In this role, Larson delivers comprehensive financial advice to help clients meet their complex and unique longterm objectives.

Larson has more than six years of financial services experience and has expertise in retirement

Dhilhan Marasinghe Brian Grondahl

income or distribution planning, risk management, investment management, and legacy planning. She holds Series 7 and Series 66 securities licenses, is licensed for life, health, and annuity insurance in Minnesota, North Dakota, and Florida, and is a Retirement Income Certified Professional. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn.

Saeed Hamid

Essentia Health welcomes three new doctors

FARGO, N.D. • Dr. Dhilhan Marasinghe is now seeing pediatric patients at Essentia Health-South University Clinic in Fargo.

Originally from Grand Forks, N.D., Marasinghe is excited to be back in North Dakota to practice medicine.

He received his medical education at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Grand Forks, and is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics.

Essentia also has welcomed Brian Grondahl, DO, who is now seeing patients at the 32nd Avenue Clinic.

Dr. Grondahl specializes in interventional cardiology which involves placing devices such as stents and balloons into the vascular system. He received his medical education at A.T. Still University Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kirksville, Mo., and is certified in internal medicine and cardiovascular disease by the American Board of Internal Medicine.

Dr. Saeed Hamidi, who specializes in neurology, also is now seeing patients at the 32nd Avenue Clinic in Fargo.

Dr. Hamidi earned his medical degree at Tehran University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran. He then finished his post graduate training in adult neurology at Saint Louis University Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. Dr. Hamidi is board-certified by the American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology.

Derek Harsch

Paulsen welcomes digital media specialist

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. • Derek Harsch has worn a lot of hats throughout his life: Small business owner. Social media influencer. Rockstar. And now, he’s donning the cap of Paulsen’s newest digital media specialist.

In his first few weeks, Harsch is already putting his visionary nature to use. He said he is always looking forward and has already started thinking of ways the company can become even more efficient.

Harsch says he has been impressed by the teamwork he’s seen since coming aboard.

Apex hires survey technician, engineering technician

FARGO, N.D.

• Dylan Pearson last summer was an intern for the survey group at Apex Engineering Group. Now that he has graduated, he has joined the team full time as a survey technician in the Fargo office. He graduated from North Dakota State College of Science, where he earned a degree in land surveying and civil engineering technology. He is also an FAA certified drone pilot.

James Fulgham joins Apex in Fargo as an engineering technician. He earned his degree in architectural drafting and estimating technology from North Dakota State College of Science. Since June 2020, he has assisted the Apex water group as an intern working with computer-aided design and now joins the team full time.