Prairie Business September 2022

WHAT SOME HIGHER ED INSTITUTIONS ARE DOING WITH REGARD TO DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION PAGE 14

3M’S ABERDEEN, SOUTH DAKOTA, PLANT AIMS TO BE A ‘DIGITAL FACTORY OF THE FUTURE’ PAGE 46

Elevate everyday the

Elevate everyday the

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BuildingDesign+Cons tr uc tion,Univer si ty Architec ture Giant CSINational Firm Award forEnvironment al Stewardship GreatPlace to Work-Cer tified™|100%Employee- OwnedESOP

BuildingDesign+Cons tr uc tion,Univer si ty Architec ture Giant

CSINational Firm Award forEnvironment al Stewardship

GreatPlace to Work-Cer tified™|100%Employee- OwnedESOP

jl ga rc hi te ct s. com

CONGRATULATIONS

tothefollowingcompanies whowerevotedamongthe BEST50PlacestoWork!

We thankyouforyourmembership, dedication,andsupportofthe LigniteEnergyCouncilandthe coalindustry.

TheNorthDakotaligniteindustryprovidesmore than 3,000 directjobsand 14,000 indirectjobsfor thestateanditseconomy.

Nikki Doherty

EPICOSITY HIRES NEW TEAM MEMBER

FARGO, N.D. • EPICOSITY WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME OUR NEWEST TEAM MEMBER, NIKKI DOHERTY, TO OUR AGENCY. AS THE FINANCIAL INDUSTRY BRAND AMBASSADOR, NIKKI BRINGS EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE, AND RESULTS. AFTER WORKING FOR FOUR CREDIT UNIONS DURING HER CAREER, SHE HAS NAVIGATED THROUGH MERGERS, NAME CHANGES, BRANDING REFRESHES, AND CREATED INTERNAL CULTURES MAKING HER A HUGE ADVOCATE FOR THE INDUSTRY. DURING HER CAREER, HER CREATIVITY HAS BEEN CELEBRATED BY ACHIEVING CUNA DIAMOND, ADDY, MARCOM, DAVEY AND MAC AWARDS. AS RELATIONSHIPS ARE KEY TO NIKKI, IN HER NEW ROLE AS BRAND AMBASSADOR, SHE WILL BE THE INITIAL INTRODUCTION TO EPICOSITY CONNECTING BANKS AND CREDIT UNIONS TO OUR BRAND DEVELOPMENT, CREATIVE, STRATEGIC, AND EVER EVOLVING DIGITAL AND SOCIAL STRATEGIES. WELCOME, CHAMPION.

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Earlier this year my company held a culture event. We all gathered for dinner and a movie at a local theater. We watched the Ron Howard flick, “The Paper,” a comedic film about the journalism industry in the early 1990s. We all chuckled at the antics portrayed in a newsroom that now seems so far removed from today’s news organizations. While the work of newsgathering is the same, the tools to put out a daily newspaper – or monthly magazine – have changed over the years.

What’s a dark room, for instance?

Funny movie aside, our team had fun together. We had good conversation and food, pleasant camaraderie, and shared stories and laughs. It’s the kind of activity – gathering outside of a work function – that helps members feel like they are part of a team and are appreciated for the work they do on a daily basis. It offers a time to connect on a more personal level, to deepen friendships.

Culture at any company is important and is one of the things that make a place of business a great place to work. Of course, culture involves more than activities and is, in fact, the crust that holds the bread together. In this issue of Prairie Business, we feature 50 of those places that seem to be doing culture right – the 50 Best Places to Work in 2022. Some of the companies listed in the following pages have been here before –several in consecutive years – while a few are new to the list. What makes these companies stand out? The employees say it best:

A nomination for Enclave in West Fargo, North Dakota: “Enclave has a number of company outings and lunches that allow everyone the freedom of coming together outside of the work place. … I get the opportunity to grow and learn more about what I’m passionate about. I feel safe in speaking up and asking for what I want and where I want to go professionally. And more than that, I feel like I’m being heard when I say it.”

From an employee at TSP Inc. in Sioux Falls, South Dakota: “The TSP family are partners in work. We have built a culture of respect and accountability. Each member wants to do their best and encourage the best out of everyone else.”

And a nomination for Arvig in Perham, Minnesota: “They put employees first including employee ownership. … They always look for efficiencies in making duties easier for employees. … They offer service awards and recognition bonuses. With the constant advancements, employees are always learning. They offer classes for free and the option for class reimbursements. They offer levels to most positions to increase salaries and match market conditions.”

Prairie Business had nearly 1,700 nominations this year, employees sharing their views and insights about their places of employment.

How companies treat their employees, clients, and business partners – including the media – goes a long way in describing the culture of a business. So does how a company helps its employees grow, the offerings it provides for a healthy work-life balance, and the benefits it offers – all important factors in the success and wellbeing of a company and its employees; things that make employees want to stay long term.

Yes, culture is paramount because it encompasses so much.

What is your company’s culture like? If you struggle at all in that regard, take a peek at the following businesses to learn some good traits to adopt.

A lesson for all of us: Keep doing what we’re doing right, and learn ways to improve where needed.

Congratulations to this year’s 50 Best!

Andrew Weeks

I look forward to hearing from you at aweeks@prairiebusinessmagazine.com or 701-780-1276.

PUBLISHER

KORRIE WENZEL

AD DIRECTOR STACI LORD

EDITOR

ANDREW WEEKS

CIRCULATION MANAGER

BETH BOHLMAN

LAYOUT DESIGN

JAMIE HOLTE

ACCOUNT MANAGER

NICHOLE ERTMAN 800.477.6572 ext. 1162 nertman@prairiebusinessmagazine.com

Prairie Business magazine is published monthly by the Grand Forks Herald and Forum Communications Company with offices at 375 2nd Avenue North, Grand Forks, ND 58203. 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.

SUBSCRIPTIONS

Subscriptions are free prairiebusinessmagazine.com

ADDRESS CORRECTIONS

Prairie Business magazine Box 6008 Grand Forks, ND 58206-6008

Beth Bohlman: bbohlman@prairiebusinessmagazine.com

ONLINE www.prairiebusinessmagazine.com

Company culture is paramount

TOG ET HE R,W EA LL AC CO MPLISH MORE .

THANKSFORVOTINGUS AT OP 5 0B ESTWORKPLACE.

Bobca tCompan yhasbeennamed aTop50Best Workplace.Thankstoourgroundbreakingteamof visionaries,leadersandproblemsolversforvotingusin. We’redeeplyhonoredandfullycommitted tocontinueworkingalongsideyoutoempowerpeopletoaccomplishmore. We areBobcat.

Readytoshakeuptheworld?Comejoinus.

ACulturalRevolution

ACulturalRevolution

Meetthedriving forcebehindGateCityBank’sdedication to customers, communitiesand teammembersbuiltonthepassion to serve.

Meetthedriving forcebehindGateCityBank’sdedication to customers, communitiesand teammembersbuiltonthepassion to serve.

Our unique culture is ever ywhereyoulook: it’s in thewarmthofanafternoonspentvolunteering, the laughterwithinthe walls as wework, thecountless celebrations plannedamong teamstorecognize anothermilestoneandtheenthusiasminwelcoming anew team member.

Our unique culture is ever ywhereyou look: it’s in thewarmthofanafternoonspentvolunteering, the laughterwithinthe walls as wework, thecountless celebrations plannedamong teamstorecognize anothermilestoneandtheenthusiasminwelcoming anew team member.

Whilededicatedtalentcan certainlybemore difficult to find, we’vemadeit apoint to usedifferent recruitingplatforms andpostingsites to connectwith variouscandidates.Wefinddiversity,inclusionand belongingefforts excitingandaim to have adiverse poolofcandidates forourorganization.

Whilededicatedtalentcan certainlybemore difficult to find, we’vemadeit apoint to usedifferent recruitingplatforms andpostingsites to connectwith variouscandidates.Wefinddiversity,inclusionand belongingefforts excitingandaim to have adiverse poolofcandidates forourorganization.

We arepassionateaboutmaking adifference. We look forteammemberswhoareexcited to getinvolved inthe communityandmakeanimpactwithour unlimited volunteerhours. We trulybelieve we can trainskills,buttruetalent comeswith adrive to be curious, committedandactwith asenseofurgency. And we believe thepassionsofour teammembers fueltheunmatchedcustomerservicewepride ourselveson.

We arepassionateaboutmaking adifference. We look forteammemberswhoareexcited to getinvolved inthe communityandmakeanimpactwithour unlimited volunteerhours. We trulybelieve we can trainskills,buttruetalent comeswith adrive to be curious, committedandactwith asenseofurgency. And we believe thepassionsofour teammembers fueltheunmatchedcustomerservicewepride ourselveson.

At GateCityBank,ourcultureisaboutso much morethanjustbanking; it’s partof alargerpurpose We arepassionateaboutcreating abetter wayoflife forcustomers, communitiesandoneanother.It’s agenuinedrive that residesdeep withinthehearts ofourmorethan770 teammembers, whoproudly and tenaciously work to make adifferenceeachand every day.

At GateCityBank,ourcultureisaboutso much morethanjustbanking; it’s partof alargerpurpose We arepassionateaboutcreating abetter wayoflife forcustomers, communitiesandoneanother.It’s agenuinedrive that residesdeep withinthehearts ofourmorethan770 teammembers, whoproudly and tenaciously work to make adifferenceeachand every day.

Fornearly100 years, ourculturehasbeenoneof ser vantleadership,communitygiving,innovation, empowermentandfun!Thishasmade wayforan incrediblypositiveatmosphereofdiversity,inclusion, happinessandsomuchmore.

Fornearly100 years, ourculturehasbeenoneof ser vantleadership,communitygiving,innovation, empowermentandfun!Thishasmade wayforan incrediblypositiveatmosphereofdiversity,inclusion, happinessandsomuchmore.

APlaceWhere Everyone Belongs.

APlaceWhere Everyone Belongs.

At GateCityBank, we’rehonoredwith consistent recognitionas atopplacetoworkwithcultureand benefitsthatmakeourenvironment excitingand warding!Withthatinmind, we areconstantly working to findnewwaystoappeal to newtalent andshareour workplaceculture.

At GateCityBank, we’rehonoredwith consistent recognitionas atopplacetoworkwithcultureand benefitsthatmakeourenvironment excitingand rewarding!Withthatinmind, we areconstantly working to findnewwaystoappeal to newtalent andshareour workplaceculture.

BusinessBanker

BeginsWithOur

“AtGateCityBank, we genuinelyjustwant to helppeople.Welove to seethemgrow.”

“EveryoneatGateCity Bankissowilling to help yousucceed.Plus,the benefitshereare amazing!”

DarrylJorgenson AVP, BusinessBanker

LeonaHurlbut AVP, Senior Mortgage LoanOfficer

“AtGateCityBank, we genuinelyjustwant to helppeople.Welove to seethemgrow.”

“EveryoneatGateCity Bankissowilling to help yousucceed.Plus,the benefitshereare amazing!”

ACultureWorth Recognizing.

ACultureWorth Recognizing.

Rankedasthe#2Bankinthe U.S. by Forbes

Rankedasthe#2Bankinthe U.S. by Forbes

Thisdistinctionisbasedoncustomers’satisfactionscoresand theirlikelihood to referfriendsandfamily.Needless to say, it’s trulyanhonor to be rankedsohighlyoutofallfinancialinstitutions withintheUnited States.

Thisdistinctionisbasedoncustomers’satisfactionscoresand theirlikelihood to referfriendsandfamily.Needless to say, it’s trulyanhonor to be rankedsohighlyoutofallfinancialinstitutions withintheUnited States.

PrairieBusiness “50 Best PlacestoWork”

PrairieBusiness “50 Best PlacestoWork”

We aregratefulandhumbled to be namedin PrairieBusiness magazine’s“50BestPlaces to Work”listbasedonpeer nominationsninenearsina row.

We aregratefulandhumbled to be namedin PrairieBusiness magazine’s“50BestPlaces to Work”listbasedonpeer nominationsninenearsina row.

Named aBest-in-StateBankinNorthDakotaandMinnesota Forbes sur veyednearly25,000customersinthe U.S. to score financialinstitutionsacross thenationand rankedus #1inNDand #2inMN.Weare soproudofthesestatewide recognitions!

Named aBest-in-StateBankinNorthDakotaandMinnesota Forbes sur veyednearly25,000customersinthe U.S. to score financialinstitutionsacross thenationand rankedus #1inNDand #2inMN.Weare soproudofthesestatewide recognitions!

LeadingLikeaBoss. More than70%ofthebank’s leadershippositionsandmorethan50%ofExecutiveLeadership Team positionsareheld by women.

LeadingLikeaBoss. More than70%ofthebank’s leadershippositionsandmorethan50%ofExecutiveLeadership Team positionsareheld by women.

Diversity and inclusion efforts at colleges and universities

also help the business community

By Andrew Weeks

Frank King Jr. wants to see more inclusion efforts at schools in the region, particularly Minnesota State University Moorhead where he now works as associate provost of diversity and inclusion. King, who arrived in July, is the first to fill the role. His responsibilities include working with staff and faculty to make sure resources are available for students and their various ethnic, cultural and racial backgrounds.

King said the goal, part of the Minnesota State Equity 2030 plan, is to bring a deeper level of commitment to diversity and equity on campus – something that creates ripple effects in the business community. “What we’re finding out is that businesses want new graduates or new employees to be good communicators. I think businesses already feel like they can train you to do the job; but can they train you to be effective communicators? Can they train you to effectively work with people from diverse backgrounds?” he said. “I think businesses are looking for that and are hungry for that type of employee.”

STUDENTS IN A CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT CLASS AT MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY MOORHEAD ARE SEEN WORKING ON A PROJECT AT THE CAMPUS. THE SCHOOL RECENTLY HIRED ITS FIRST ASSOCIATE PROVOST OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION TO HELP WITH THE SCHOOL’S INCLUSION EFFORTS.

IMAGE: DAVID ARNTSON/ MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY MOORHEAD

He said the school’s inclusion efforts are to provide resources to help students from various backgrounds become better rounded citizens.

“It becomes more economical for businesses to have that, because when you have a diverse workforce, you have a diversity of ideas,” he said. “Those ideas could become more profitable, could be more beneficial from a social standpoint for the community and the business as well. And it could cause the closing of actual gaps, from an injustice standpoint, in our society.”

Such efforts also help students become more engaged contributors to society.

From a classroom perspective, efforts are made to provide faculty resources that include the topics of diversity and equity inclusion in their curriculum – from STEM-related fields, criminal justice and sociology, and other programs, “closing equity gaps on our campus,” King said.

“This is something that the system has been trying to do – to close equity gaps on campus and enhance student learning to make sure that students are getting the best information they possibly can to be better global citizens.”

Many of South Dakota’s institutions of higher learning also are taking a look at diversity and inclusion on their campuses.

Nathan Lukkes, chief of staff and general counsel at South Dakota Board of Regents, which oversees six public universities and two specialty schools, said over the past year to 18 months the school system has shifted its approach to how it approaches diversity and inclusion.

The system has taken a step back, “taken a more holistic look at the needs and challenges of all students within the university system,” he said. “As a result of that, we kind of reshaped what were previously Diversity Offices on campuses and now have Opportunity Centers to make sure that we’re recognizing, addressing, and accommodating all of the unique challenges or issues that exist across all of our student population, and that we’re connecting the relevant dots and people on campus to make sure that nobody’s slipping through the cracks.”

Lukkes said each Opportunity Center varies slightly from campus to campus, depending on the need and size. While it is still early, so far the efforts have been viewed as positive.

“By and large, the message has been that it’s been a good exercise and has helped connect resources, maybe break down barriers,” he said, noting the Diversity Centers previously worked in a sort of silo atmosphere. Today there is “a fresh look that has broken down some of those silos and caused some better communication and interaction between related offices and resources on campus.”

The end result: Students are better served; and in the long run, so is the business community. How so?

“That’s a great question,” Lukkes said. “Every campus is a little different and tailored to different workforce markets, if you will; but that’s certainly a conversation that has been ongoing. We’ve engaged the various campuses and numerous industry partners in different fields. Workforce is certainly top of mind for most, as you know; almost every employer sector is struggling to find help today, particularly in the engineering fields. The ability to come out of school and work in a multicultural global economy is critical to our making sure that graduates have the resources and skills needed to communicate with, and adjust to, differing viewpoints, dif-

continued on page 16

ABOVE, A STUDENT AT MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY MOORHEAD DEMONSTRATES A PROJECT DURING A STUDENT ACADEMIC CONFERENCE. THE IMAGE BELOW AND ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE SHOW STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN ACTIVITIES AT THE SCHOOL. IMAGES: DAVID ARNTSON/MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY MOORHEAD

continued from Page 15

fering cultural norms. It is becoming more and more critical for the employers that are hiring our students every day.”

At the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, diversity and inclusion efforts also are important for what they might mean in the business and larger community in general. The school’s office of Student Diversity and Inclusion mainly focuses on domestic students of

color and the LGBTQ-plus community, according to Director Stacey Borboa-Peterson. UND’s International Center works with students from foreign countries.

“We do a variety of things to help students connect with students, to find community or a sense of belonging, specifically around identity,” she said. “We also assist with efforts, whether financially by looking at external scholarships they might be eligible for based on identity and specific need … or trying to liaison a specific department, faculty or advisor, just trying to support them while they’re here on campus.

Ultimately we try to help them to be successful, feel like a part of the community, and eventually graduate from UND.”

The university also has 270-plus organizations, many which are geared to specific racial and cultural and other identities.

“There is just a large number of student organizations that are tied to identity and are meant to support community and allow students to either learn more about their culture, their identity, or to find ways to celebrate what they already know,” Borboa-Peterson said, noting the organizations are not only for those specific identity groups. Anyone can join if they’d like to learn more and increase their awareness and perspective.

As society becomes more diverse, she said, it is critical that schools of high learning take a hard look at their diversity and inclusion efforts and fulfill their roles responsibly. UND has been doing that for a number of years, such as with its program called Leaders in Action.

“I think just in general, universities have a responsibility to lead by their efforts and show others the value and importance of things like diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, accessibility,” she said. “I think that is the responsibility of an institution of higher learning, and I think we can do that in such a way that shows our partners within the community, within the larger community, why it’s important.

“I also think that it helps to show our students the value and importance – and the humanity – in it all. Those are tremendous opportunities, the expectations and responsibilities, that an institution has as leaders in society. And the work we do can overflow into the community … leading by doing and by example.”

A MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY MOORHEAD STUDENT PARTICIPATES IN A STUDENT ACADEMIC CONFERENCE.

IMAGE: DAVID ARNTSON/MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY MOORHEAD

THIS YEAR’S 50 BEST PLACES TO WORK! Celebrating

In this issue of Prairie Business, we feature 50 of the region’s best places to work in 2022. Some of the companies listed in the following pages have been here before – several in consecutive years – while a few are new to the list. In total, the magazine received nearly 1,700 nominations by employees, which means there are a lot of

happy workers out there, excited about their places of business.

How companies treat their employees, clients, and business partners goes a long way in describing the culture of a business. So does how a company helps its employees grow, the offerings it provides for a healthy work-life balance, and the benefits it offers

ULTEIG TOP WORKPLACE GREAT PEOPLE. GREAT WORK. GREAT ENVIRONMENT.

OURFORMULAFORBUILDING A TOPWORKPLACE.

Ulteig is a purpose-drivenconsultingengineering leadercommittedtocreatingand solving for a sustainablefuture.Ulteig’s employee-ownersare passionate about the worktheydo,whichissupportedby a company culturebuilt onthe values of clientsuccess, integrity, enthusiasm,inclusion, agilityandinnovation. We are proudtohavebeennamed oneofthe50BestPlacesto WorkbyPrairieBusiness for the 5th consecutiveyear VISITULTEIG.COM/CAREERS

– all important factors in the success and wellbeing of a company and its team members; things that make employees want to stay long term.

Take a peek at this year’s list. These companies seem to be doing things right.

Congratulations to all – and thanks for what you do in the region!

continued on page 20

PLACES TO WORK 2022

REALIZE YO UR POTENTIAL

Yo uwan ta ca re ertha t ful fi ll syou. We ’ll gi ve yo ut he flexibilit ya nd suppor tt om ak e ithappen .

We’reproudtobenamedone ofthe50BestPlacesto Work!

eidebailly.com/careers

continued from Page 18

PLACES TO WORK 2022

Alerus

Headquarters: Grand Forks, N.D.

Number of employees: 849

Website: alerus.com

Alerus is a publicly traded, independent, diversified financial services company providing banking, mortgage, retirement, and wealth management products and services to individuals, families, and businesses across the country. Through our employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), employees are the company’s largest collective shareholder and have a vested interest in the success of our clients and company. Our leadership promotes work-life balance by encouraging flexible schedules and updating policies as needed to provide additional support where possible. Our strong company foundation, relationship-oriented business model, and long-term growth strategy provide continued professional growth opportunities and the ability to make a difference for clients.

AE2S

Headquarters: Grand Forks, N.D.

Number of employees: 319

Website: AE2S.com

Since 1991, the AE2S team of professionals has focused on empowering people and enhancing lives. AE2S’ primary focus is to help ensure clean drinking water, safe wastewater management, and smart water resource development through planning, financing, designing, and building infrastructure. We believe by taking care of our clients, we will have the resources to take care of our employee-owners and provide rewarding career opportunities. AE2S is proud to be 100% employee owned!

continued on page 22

S o m e o f t h e r e a s o n s K L J i s o n e o f t h e b e s t p l a c e s t o w o r k

Flexible work arrangements

Creative projects that are community focused

100% employee owned Improve the lives of people and communities Engineering, Reimagined

Proudtoberecognizedasa50BestPlacestoWork

nine yearsinarow!

Proudtoberecognizedasa50BestPlacestoWork eightyears in arow!

Proudtoberecognizedasa50BestPlacestoWork eightyears in arow!

At FirstInternationalB ank &Trust,living first isn’tjust atagline or wishfulthinking. It ’s howweintentionallyapproachlifeand work ever yday,and have been formorethan1 00 years. We’renot just co -workers ,and you’re notjustclients;weare family.Thank you to ouremployees fortheir commitmenttoexcellence,andtoour customersfor inspiringus to beourbest.

At FirstInternationalB ank &Trust,living first isn’tjust atagline or wishfulthinking. It ’s howweintentionallyapproachlifeand work ever yday,and have been formorethan1 00 years. We’renot just co -workers ,and you’re notjustclients;weare family.Thank you to ouremployees fortheir commitmenttoexcellence,andtoour customersfor inspiringus to beourbest.

At FirstInternationalB ank &Trust,living first isn’tjust atagline or wishfulthinking. It ’s howweintentionallyapproachlifeand work ever yday,and have been formorethan1 00 years. We’renot just co -workers ,and you’re notjustclients;weare family.Thank you to ouremployees fortheir commitmenttoexcellence,andtoour customersfor inspiringus to beourbest.

BANKING |M ORTGAG E|I NS UR AN CE *|TRUST&I NVE STME NTS*

PL ACES TO WORK 2022

continued from Page 20

Altru Health System

Headquarters: Grand Forks, N.D.

Number of employees: 3,617

Website: altru.org

Based in Grand Forks, North Dakota, Altru Health System is an independent, non-profit healthcare organization. We are physician-led, with more than 300 providers and 54 specialties of care. Altru boasts an acute care hospital, specialty hospital, level II trauma center and more than two dozen practice locations throughout northwest Minnesota and northeast North Dakota. Altru was the first member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network, extending Mayo Clinic expertise to the patients we serve. Altru employs more than 3,600 staff and providers who are empowered to fulfill Altru’s vision of providing world-class care to the residents of our region.

Anchor Ingredients

Headquarters: Fargo, N.D.

Number of employees: 107

Website: anchoringredients.com

Founded in 2015, Anchor Ingredients is a privately owned company, led by a highly engaged, invested leadership team. The company is headquartered in Fargo, with sales offices in Minneapolis and Los Angeles, and state-of-the-art processing facilities located in key specialty crop growing regions throughout the upper Midwest. Anchor has more than 100 world-class employees who are passionate about making a difference for customers every day by providing premium ingredients and premium service to the nation’s most popular pet food brands.

Apex Engineering Group

Headquarters: Fargo, N.D.

Number of employees: 95

Website: apexenggroup.com

Apex partners with clients to create practical and efficient solutions for complex water, transportation, municipal, and facility projects. We work hard at hiring the right people with the qualities it takes to build a successful engineering firm – exceptional client service, quality work, integrity, experience, expertise, and a drive for success – all while keeping a mind on culture fit. At Apex, skills are recognized, utilized, and appreciated. While employees maintain a busy workload, we look out for each other and work together to maintain a low-stress work environment. We’re helpful, friendly, and support each other’s job-related and personal goals.

Applied Engineering

Headquarters: Fargo, N.D.

Number of employees: 107

Website: go-applied.com

Applied Engineering combines top-notch talent and technology to solve its customers’ unique challenges. With locations in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, Applied provides product design, engineering, and manufacturing consulting services, as well as software development and programming services and large-format digital printing and scanning. They also offer 3D printing and large-format digital printing and scanning services. Applied is 100% employee-owned, creating a unique culture in which everyone has a vested interest in the success of themselves, their colleagues, and customers. They strive to be the company that people come to for the best in problem solving, design work, and collaboration.

continued on page 27

STAR TI NG OU T

After earning abusines sdegree andworking forseveral year sinmiddlemanagementata manufacturing firm,Tomdecidedtopur suehis dreamofbusines s ownership. He developedasolid business plan and securedinitial as sets to launch hisown manufac turing company. He consultedwithanAlerusbusines sadvisor forinitial financial planning, who identified Tom’s business as agood candidatefor U.S. SBAfinancing.His advisorconnected TomwithAlerus’ expert SBAlending team,who were ableto guidehim throughthe loan proces sandsuccessfullysecurea favorable-rateloan, settinghim on apathtosucces sful early business ownership

Hisadvisoralsohelpedhim identify theright treasury management servicesfor hisstartup,including elec tronic paymentser vicesforvendor sand employees andsmall business checkingand savings, withthe peaceofmindthat comesfrom theability to conduc t day-to -day bankingonlineand throughmobiledevices whileknowing state- of-the -art fraudprotectiontools are in placetoguard agains tc yber criminals.

NAVI GATI NG CH AN GE S, SU PP OR TI NG GR OW TH

Tomand hisAlerusadvisormet regularlyduringhis first fewyear sofbusines sasnew challengesandneeds arose. Hisadvisorprovided cash flow management guidance as thebusines sgrewand establishedalineof credit to ensurehewould be prepared forunplanned supply chaindisruptions or othersituationswhere he wouldneedtoincreasecashreser ves.

As thenumberofemployees at Tom’sbusines s continuedtogrow, hewaschallengedtofind effec tive ways to recr uitand retain skilledworkers in acompetitive market .Healsowantedtohelp employeesachieve financialwellnes sand armthem with toolstosavefor emergencies. HisAlerusadvisor gathered ateamof retirementand benefits expert s whohelpedTomdevelopa 401(k) plan in conjunction with acomplimentary healthand welfarepackage that sethis business apar tasanemployerand helped his employeesplanfor long-termfinancial stabilit y.

As thebusines scontinued to grow,Tom sawan opportunit ytoe xpandhis produc tlineand required newequipmenttodoso. Hisadvisorsecured the conventionalfinancing heneeded to continue growing at ahealthypaceand provided continuedguidance forlong-term planning.Theyalsobegan discus sing andplanninghise xits trateg y, knowingthat asmooth transition andsuccessfule xitrequire carefulplanning andyear sofpreparation

SU CC ES SIO NA ND BE YO ND

Withthoughtful guidance from hisadvisorthroughout thesuccessionplanningprocess,Tom identified a successor,whowas ableto workseamlesslywith Aler us to secure financingfor thebusines stransition. Tom’sadvisor engaged Aler us ’ wealth management team,soTom was ableto effec tively plan hise xit with considerationgiven to theimpac ts on both his business andhis personal finances. As he transitioned away from business owner ship,his business advisor provided asmoothtransitiontowealth management guidance,connectinghim with expert stoprovide tax planning guidance,develop aper sonalizeds trateg yfor philanthropicgiving ,establish atrust ,assistinestate planning ,and provideholis ticestate administration

If youare abusines sowner,yourfinancial decisionsare business andper sonalatthe same time.So, it makes sensetopar tnerwith afinancial servicesproviderthat candeliver expert guidanceandsupport throughout thefulllifecycleofyourbusiness andbeyond, from star tuptosucces sion, andenjoyingthe result sofa successfulbusines s. Aler us business advisors serve as theprimary pointofcontact fortheirclients,which meanstheygatherthe rightteamfor each unique need andproac tively identify solutions,rather than simply referring client stosomeoneelse andmaking them do allthe legworkiftheyrequest as sis tancewith somethingbeyondcommercial banking.

matt.jacobson@aler us.com

701.795.2657

Mat thas nearly 20 yearsofexperienceinthe financial industry,focusingprimarily on commercial bankingin GrandForks,Nor th Dakota, andSt. Paul, Minnesota. He managessignificant client port folios in theareas of banking, retirementplans,and wealthmanagement.

Jonenjoysbuildingmeaningful relationshipswithcommercial andagriculture client stoidentif yand recommendfinancial solutionsthat matchtheir uniqueneeds. He hasmorethan 15 yearsofexperienceand serves as atrusted pointofcontact forhis client s, providing comprehensivefinancial advice to helpthem achievelong-term goals.

Kory hasspecialized in retirementser vicessince 1984 andhas deep expertisein401(k)plans,employeestock ownership plans(ESOPs),healthand wellness programs, wealthmanagement, insurance, andother services. Hisknowledgeof retirementser vicesand commitment tomaintainingthe highest levelofclientser vice helps participant smakeinformedchoicesthat enable greater financial security

701.280.5136

Cole’sextensiveknowledge of commercial banking, gained through20yearsinthe industry,allowshim to provide valuable insightand soundadvicetoclients to help them make financial decisions forlong-term success.He collaborates with specialist sthroughout Alerus to provide theright mixof produc ts andser vicesfor each client’s unique needsand takespride in servingasa financialresourceand partner forhis client s.

Blaine specializesinprovidinglong-term strategic planning ,lendingand deposits,estateplanning, and wealthmanagement foragriculture andcommercialclients With over15years of experienceinthe financialindustr y, he serves as atrusted strategicpar tner forclients andprovides guidance for grow th,long-term financialwellness, and uniquefinancial needsastheyarise

Jessicahas more than 15 yearsofexperienceinthe financial industry anddeliverscomprehensivefinancial advice to client s, specializing in retirementsolutions including 401(k) plans, employeestock ownership plans(ESOPs),healthand wellness programs,wealthmanagementand insurance. Sheworks closelywithAlerus expert sinall areastoensure client shaveaccesstoits full suiteofser vicestomeettheir financial objec tives.

MATT JA CO BSON Lead Busi ness Advisor

CO LE KE NE Y Sen iorBusinessAdv

JO NR EN TZ

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Architecture Incorporated

Headquarters: Sioux Falls, S.D.

Number of employees: 27

Website: architectureinc.com

Architecture Incorporated was established in 1976 and has grown to be one of the largest, most respected architectural firms in South Dakota and the surrounding region. Our priorities have always been “Excellence in Design” and “Service to our Clients.” We continue to focus on delivering creative solutions and proven service with a leadership team that collectively brings more than 315 years of experience to the table. This wealth of knowledge paired with a creative energy that flows through our team sparks innovation on a daily basis.

Headquarters: Perham, Minn.

Number of employees: 844

Website: arvig.com

Headquartered in Perham, Minnesota, Arvig is a local, employee-owned broadband and full-service telecommunications provider. Committed to delivering cutting-edge technology to customers throughout the region, Arvig provides residential internet, television, and telephone services. Additionally, Arvig provides a wide variety of business technology solutions.

CREATING SPAC ES .

FO ST ERING TEAMWORK.

Banner Associates

Headquarters: Brookings, S.D.

Number of employees: 97

Website: bannerassociates.com

Engineering a better community starts with a focus on people. This has been our guiding principle since Banner Associates was founded 75 years ago, and we’re not slowing down. Our award-winning culture fosters collaboration, creativity, and continuous improvement for everyone on our team to deepen our skills and support each other like family. We proudly provide comprehensive engineering, environmental, and surveying services for communities throughout the upper Midwest. Clients choose us because of our outstanding reputation, and they come back because we deliver. We are thinkers. We are innovators. We are problem solvers. We are Banner Associates.

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As a unif ie d re al est at e in ve st me nt fi rm , En cl av e' s de ve lop me nt , co ns tr uc ti on an d mana gemen t te am s cr ea te spaces an d plac eswher e ou r pa rt ne rs , co mm un it ie s an d te am me mb ers th ri ve

We 'r e in cred ibl y pr oud of ou r te amfor ma ki ng Enclav e an aw ard -w in ning wo rk pla ce , four ye arsin a ro w! encla ve co mp an ie s. co m/care ers

Bu ild Yo ur Fu tu re Wi th En cla ve

Arvig

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Bartlett & West

Headquarters: Topeka, Kansas, with core offices in Bismarck and Sioux Falls

Number of employees: 340+

Website: bartlettwest.com

Bartlett & West, founded in 1951, has 18 offices in eight states. The firm provides engineering, architecture, survey and other professional services to a wide range of clients—including water districts, municipalities, DOTs, rail companies, private industry and other clients. As a 100% employee-owned company, every employee at Bartlett & West has a stake in the future of our company. That means we expect everyone to provide input, share ideas and challenge the status quo. The employee-owners of Bartlett & West enjoy working together and giving back to our communities. That’s what makes Bartlett & West tick.

Bobcat Co. North America

Headquarters: West Fargo, N.D.

Number of employees: 3,500 in North Dakota, 335 in Minnesota, and more than 4,800 nationwide

Website: bobcat.com

Since 1958, Bobcat Co. has empowered people to accomplish more. As a leading global brand and manufacturer of groundbreaking construction, agriculture, landscaping and grounds maintenance equipment, Bobcat has a legacy of quality, innovation, community partnership and industry leadership. With offices and production facilities nationwide and around the world, Bobcat offers employees meaningful work, collaborative culture, rewarding benefits, professional development and opportunities to build lifelong careers with a world-class company. Headquartered in West Fargo, North Dakota, Bobcat continues to lead the industry, all while helping people succeed and building stronger communities for a better tomorrow.

Butler Machinery Co.

Headquarters: Grand Forks, N.D.

Number of employees: 375+

Website: bemobile.com

BeMobile started with the Hansen family’s vision in 2000. They jumped into telecommunications in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and the family-owned company has grown without boundaries to serve the upper Midwest with its top-of-class personalized service. BeMobile is committed to staying connected in the communities they serve with its annual events such as their Backpack Giveaway, which gives over $125,000 in school supplies to children or during their collection of over 5,000 pounds of crayons to be recycled and redistributed for their Crayon Drive. By prioritizing the growth of their teams personally and professionally, BeMobile remains the preferred wireless store in 68 neighborhoods across seven states with more growth on the horizon!

Headquarters: Fargo, N.D.

Number of employees: 900

Website: butlermachinery.com

Butler Machinery Co. is a third-generation, family-owned Caterpillar ® equipment and agriculture equipment dealer with 20 locations in North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Montana. Butler was founded in 1955 and today is led by Twylah (Butler) Blotsky. Since the beginning, Butler has focused on building long-term relationships with our customers, our employees, and our industry partners. At Butler, we have a strong values-based culture, a great benefits package, a dedication to continued education, leadership development and career growth, as well as a retirement plan that is second to none.

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BeMobile Verizon

In an EV ERCH AN G IN G W OR LD

KE EP YOUR ORGANIZATION AGILE AND RESILIE NT TO ME ET THECHALLENGE OF THETIMES .

NexusInnovations canhelpyou successfully maneuver withproven leadership,exceptionalstrategic solutions,and aculture of service excellence. Par tner with Nexus Innovations to create aclearvision forthefuture.

OURPEOPLEMAK ETHE DIFFE RE NCE

Thankyou to ouremployees formaking Nexusa great placetowork! Recognizedas one of theTop 25 small employers forthe 9TH YE ARIN AROW!

Ce le br at in g

22 Ye ar s!

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CHI St. Alexius Health Dickinson

Headquarters: Dickinson, N.D.

Number of employees: 322

Website: CHIStAlexiusHealth.org/Dickinson

CHI St. Alexius Health Dickinson has been proudly serving southwestern North Dakota since 1912. Our goal is to provide quality, compassionate care to every patient. From robotic assisted joint surgeries to award-winning prenatal care programs, we continue to expand our services and update our technology to better serve the community in the years to come.

CHI St. Alexius Health Dickinson is the only hospital in North Dakota to hold a five star

Overall Quality Score from CMS, and was also named a Top 100 Critical Access Hospital in the U.S. by the Chartis Group for Rural Health in 2022.

50 BEST

PLACES TO WORK 2022

CMTA (formerly Obernel Engineering)

Headquarters: Fargo, N.D.

Number of employees: 640

Website: cmta.com

High-performance, energy-efficient, cost-effective building systems – it’s what drives us. And we’ve been doing it for over 50 years. As leaders in our industry, we view each challenge as an opportunity for innovation. Whether developing new methods of measuring indoor air quality or creating energy dashboards from scratch, we do what no MEP engineer has done before – lifting our projects to the next level. At CMTA, sustainability and improving occupant health and wellness are at the core of what we do, and we continuously apply creative thinking with scientific expertise to reach new heights.

Construction Engineers

Headquarters: Grand Forks, N.D.

Number of employees: 75

Website: constructionengineers.com

“Do Something Constructive” is more than a clever saying for the team at Construction Engineers. It is the founding principle of how our company approaches each and every day. We proudly serve North Dakota and northwest Minnesota with locations in Grand Forks, Fargo, Bemidji, Mandan, Devils Lake, and Watford City. 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.

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Cornerstone Bank

Headquarters: Decentralized with banks

located in North and South Dakota

Number of employees: 180

Website: cornerstonebanks.net

Cornerstone Bank continues to be who people turn to when they are making important decisions about their money. This is demonstrated daily by our team’s commitment to their customers. This is also demonstrated by our entry into the Minot, North Dakota, market this year and continued growth in our existing markets. We’re proud to be a “Best Place to Work” seven years in a row. Cornerstone Bank team members enjoy competitive salaries, career development and recognition opportunities, a robust comprehensive benefits program, and a generous paid time-off policy. A $1 billion financial institution, Cornerstone Bank provides an expansive product offering while staying true to our mission of giving straight answers and the best possible financial options.

Dakota Wesleyan University

Headquarters: Mitchell, South Dakota

Number of employees: 150

Website: dwu.edu

Dakota Wesleyan University, founded in 1885, today consists of three colleges offering associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees. Recently DWU has experienced growth in enrollment, the establishment of innovative new programs and over $60 million in renovation to its physical facilities. 2022 brought new leadership to the thriving campus with the hiring of its 21st president, Dr. Daniel R. Kittle. Its 950 students and 150 employees are well-versed in the university’s mission of learning, leadership, faith and service.

Digi-Key Electronics

Headquarters: Thief River Falls, Minn.

Number of employees: 5,205

Website: digikey.com

Digi-Key Electronics has been proudly headquartered in northwest Minnesota since 1972. Recognized as the global leader of electronic components distribution, Digi-Key offers more than 13.4 million components from over 2,300 quality name-brand manufacturers. Digi-Key is a $4.7 billion company and recently completed its brandnew 2.2 million square-foot Product Distribution Center expansion in Thief River Falls. Digi-Key employs more than 5,000 people around the world, delivering over 25,000 packages per day to customers in 180-plus countries. Digi-Key offers competitive benefits and has an award-winning work culture that encourages employee empowerment, giving back to local communities and supporting the broader engineering industry.

EAPC Architects Engineers

Headquarters: Grand Forks, N.D.

Number of employees: 175

Website: eapc.net

EAPC is an eight-time Best Places to Work recipient in our region and a national 2022 Best Place to Work from Zweig Group. Located in 11 offices (North Dakota, Minnesota, South Dakota, Colorado, and Arizona), EAPC provides innovative architecture and engineering design for multiple sectors including health care, education, multi-family housing, mixed-use, retail, hospitality, civic, workplace, and industrial. We also provide commissioning, site entitlement, construction management, and marketing services. As thought leaders of 55-years, EAPC’s passion and commitment remains to design beautiful, efficient, and agile spaces for every client.

Headquarters: Grand Forks, N.D.

Number of employees: 290

Website: undeerc.org

The Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) is a global leader in researching and developing technologies that make the energy we use and produce more efficient and environmentally friendly. We work in partnership with clients to develop, refine, demonstrate, and commercialize marketable products that provide practical solutions to real-world challenges. Utilizing decades of energy research, we are a driving force for innovation and new opportunities in the energy industry. The EERC is part of the University of North Dakota, and is designated as North Dakota’s State Energy Research Center.

The Energy & Environmental Research Center

Headquarters: Fargo, N.D.

Number of employees: 3,000+ partners and staff

Website: eidebailly.com

We’re a business advisory and accounting firm, helping our clients embrace the opportunities that change and innovation bring to the evolving business landscape and personal financial decisions. We promise our professionals a different kind of working experience – one full of challenges, but also rich in meaning. Our benefits go beyond just the typical health insurance and focus on helping you stay well in all aspects of your life and making work/life balance a top priority. Eide Bailly has succeeded in establishing a culture that attracts skilled professionals of all ages, as well as affirms current leadership for their role in the company’s ongoing success.

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Eide Bailly

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Enclave Companies

Headquarters: West Fargo, N.D.

Number of employees: 186

Website: enclavecompanies.com

As a unified real estate investment firm, Enclave’s development, construction, and management teams create distinct spaces and places where our partners, team members, and communities thrive. Our portfolio of work includes more than 100 multifamily, mixed-use, industrial and commercial spaces across the Midwest and beyond. Since 2011, we’ve grown from a two-person start-up to more than 180 high-performing team members. A 50 Best Place to Work for four years in a row and counting, Enclave is an award-winning workplace comprised of empowered and bold employees who are revolutionizing what an inspiring space truly is.

Headquarters: Greenville, Ill.

(plant in Mitchell, S.D.)

Number of employees: 76

(Mitchell location)

Website: enertechusa.com

Enertech Global, a member of the NIBE Industrier AB Group of Sweden, develops and manufactures high-quality geothermal heat pumps for commercial and residential HVAC use. Located in Mitchell, South Dakota, we’re proud to have a growing team of dedicated employees who help us every day in manufacturing the highest quality heating and cooling systems around. As a result, Enertech heat pumps can be found throughout the United States and Canada, keeping families and businesses comfortable, saving them money, and reducing the usage of non-renewable energy.

Enertech Global, LLC

EPIC Companies

Headquarters: West Fargo, N.D.

Number of employees: 82

Website: EPICCompaniesND.com

EPIC Companies is an innovative investment, development, and management firm based in West Fargo, North Dakota. We design and build each of our dynamic, mixed-use communities around people. It’s an important concept and hands-on approach for improving quality of life – not only for residential and commercial tenants, but also for entire neighborhoods, cities, and regions. EPIC’s placemaking reinvents public areas as the heart of the community, elevating underutilized spaces, and strengthening connections between people and their shared places. Our portfolio includes 30-plus mixed-use buildings, more than 350,000 commercial square feet, and more than 1,000 residential units primarily in North Dakota and Minnesota.

Essentia Health

Headquarters: Duluth, Minn.

Number of employees: 14,700

Website: essentiahealth.org

At Essentia Health, we are called to make a healthy difference in people’s lives. We relentlessly pursue this mission across Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin at our more than 100 facilities, including 14 hospitals and 73 clinics, several long-term care and assisted living facilities, ambulance services and a research institute. We have about 14,700 employees, including more than 2,100 physicians and advanced practitioners who provide compassionate and patient-centered care. With our depth of experience and expertise, we deliver health care effectively and efficiently in each of the communities we’re privileged to serve.

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First Community Credit Union

Headquarters: Jamestown, N.D.

Number of employees: 260

Website: myFCCU.com

During its 83-year history, First Community Credit Union (FCC) has grown to be North Dakota’s largest credit union, with 29 branch locations in North Dakota and Minnesota. As a credit union, FCCU is a financial cooperative that is owned by its members and offers a full suite of financial services including business, consumer, agriculture and mortgage loans, along with checking, savings and more. Many people think you have to work some place special, but FCCU’s field of membership is open to a majority of North Dakota and western Minnesota. From its humble beginning with just 40 members to now more than 46,000 members, FCCU prides itself on giving back to their employees, members and the communities they serve. Come see why “Life is Better with Community.”

First Western Bank & Trust

Headquarters: Minot, N.D.

Number of employees: 342

Website: firstwestern.bank

Since 1964 First Western Bank & Trust has been the premier bank and financial service provider in the communities we serve. Over the years we have grown and expanded, keeping the tenets of what makes First Western special: building strong customer relationships, providing great customer service, offering diverse financial products and maintaining knowledgeable, friendly, professional employees. We empower our employees to volunteer for charitable causes and community events during work hours, as improving the world around us is an irreplaceable piece of who we are.

Fisher Industries

Headquarters: Dickinson, N.D.

Number of employees: 1,230

Website: fisherind.com

Established in North Dakota in 1952, Fisher Industries is a family of businesses that incorporates all aspects of the aggregate production and heavy civil construction industries. Our unique, vertically integrated business model allows us to handle small projects, large-scale operations, and every job in between. Our goal is to provide reliable products and sustainable solutions for innovative global infrastructure. Fisher Industries will continue to pursue and successfully tackle the industry’s most challenging jobs. Bridges, levees, roads, and walls, we do it all!

First International Bank & Trust

Headquarters: Watford City, N.D.

Number of employees: 739

Website: FIBT.com

First International Bank & Trust (FIBT) is a fast-growing, relationship-driven bank that provides complete financial solutions. Family-owned for more than a century, our roots can be traced back to Arnegard, North Dakota, where the bank was issued a charter in 1910. FIBT now serves communities in four states, offering personal and business banking, private banking, wealth management, mineral and land services, and insurance. While innovation and technology have propelled us forward, FIBT remains committed to the family values upon which the bank was founded. We strive to ensure every customer feels like family, and every employee knows they are valued.

50 BEST PLACES TO WORK 2022

Gate City Bank

Headquarters: Fargo, N.D.

Number of employees: 770+

Website: GateCity.Bank

A $3.1 billion mutual bank founded in 1923, Gate City Bank is the region’s leading financial institution, as well as the No. 1 mortgage lender in North Dakota. The Bank employs more than 770 team members at 43 locations in 22 communities across North Dakota and central Minnesota. The bank has contributed $33.5 million in philanthropic giving and more than 266,000 hours of team volunteerism since 2003. Additionally, Forbes has placed Gate City Bank at No. 2 in the U.S. on its list of the World’s Best Banks and named Gate City Bank as the Best Bank in North Dakota and ranked them No. 2 in Minnesota.

High Point Networks

Headquarters: West Fargo, N.D.

Number of employees: 160

Website: highpointnetworks.com

High Point Networks is a leading technology solutions provider in the Midwest. Our company started because we noticed that too many technology companies focused on how much they could sell, which didn’t seem right. We have always been more interested in helping others achieve their goals. We believe that HPN’s principles and values are why we have quickly become one of the region’s premier information technology solutions providers. High Point Networks supports our customers through our technology pillars to help supplement in areas where they cannot be experts – allowing them to focus on the core business goals that fuel their organization.

Engineering, Inc.

Headquarters: Fargo, N.D.

Number of employees: 250+

Website: houstoneng.com

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 remain humble, commit to excellence, and focus on the needs of our clients. With offices in North Dakota, Minnesota, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Iowa, local and national clients alike seek HEI’s creative, comprehensive, workable solutions that produce results now and continue to provide value well into the future. Because at HEI, we are building for a better tomorrow.

Houston

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Jamestown Regional Medical Center

Headquarters: Jamestown, N.D.

Number of employees: 350

Website: jrmcnd.com

The 350 employees of Jamestown Regional Medical Center in Jamestown, N.D. serve 35,000 people in the North Dakota heartland. Specialty services include ear, nose and throat, cancer care, OB/GYN, podiatry, orthopedics, urology and wound care. In 2022, the National Rural Health Association named it a “Top 20 Critical Access Hospital” for the third consecutive year.

Since 2017, Modern Healthcare has recognized JRMC as a Best Place to Work five times. Prairie Business named JRMC a Best Place to Work for the fourth time since 2018.

KLJ

Headquarters: Bismarck, N.D.

Number of employees: 500+

Website: kljeng.com

We mean it when we say there is no community too small, or project too big. For more than 80 years, we have worked alongside communities – planning, designing, and supporting infrastructure projects of all shapes and sizes. With more than 500 employee-owners, dedicated to providing an exceptional experience on every project, we turn your visions into reality. From pipelines, roads, runways, and parks, we do all the sophisticated engineering you expect, along with the support and technical expertise you need.

Lloyd Companies

Headquarters: Sioux Falls, S.D.

Number of employees: 300

Website: LloydCompanies.com

Lloyd is a multifaceted real estate company specializing in development, real estate, construction, property management, hospitality and apartments. Working together or separately, our specialized business divisions bring valuable expertise and resources to every development project, construction venture or real estate investment. Headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, for 50 years, we offer uncompromising innovation, efficiency and service while working to improve the quality of life in the communities we serve.

Missouri Valley Family YMCA

Headquarters: Bismarck, N.D.

Number of employees: 452

Website: bismarckymca.org

For more than 55 years in the Bismarck-Mandan community, the Missouri Valley Family YMCA has been a powerful non-profit association committed to nurturing the potential of kids, promoting healthy living and fostering a sense of social responsibility. We offer a wide variety of programs, childcare and wellness opportunities for all. Our team is driven by our cause to strengthen the community and support our more than 21,000 members. We have been recognized by Prairie Business as one of the 50 Best Places to Work in the region for five years in a row, from 2018 to 2022.

Headquarters: West Fargo, N.D.

Number of employees: 157

Website: mooreengineeringinc.com

Moore Engineering is a 100% employee-owned civil and environmental engineering company. Since 1960, we have been dedicated to advancing water, municipal and transportation infrastructure to build strong communities. We are invested in this region’s success, working with hundreds of municipalities, counties, water resource districts, developers, and private citizens to help it thrive. We attribute our success to the values that have guided our growth since the beginning – respect, integrity, accountability, loyalty, and kindness. By demonstrating consistency and honesty in our work, we uphold our obligation to the health, safety and welfare of our employees and the people we serve.

50 BEST PLACES TO WORK 2022

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Moore Engineering

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Nexus Innovations, Inc.

Headquarters: Bismarck, N.D., with a branch in Fargo, N.D.

Number of employees: 21, plus a team of contractors

Website: nexusinnovations.com

Nexus Innovations is a leading strategic solutions consulting firm in the region, celebrating its 20-year anniversary. Providing a customized approach incorporating organizational goals, business requirements, and organizational culture, we deliver outstanding solutions through trust built with each client. We empower our team members. It shows in everything we do – from investing in professional development to offering a challenging, rewarding and supportive environment. Our team is proficient across a variety of technologies and consulting disciplines, bringing years of expertise to every project. A Microsoft partner, we have become a “go-to” consultant for Microsoft 365 solutions, business intelligence, process analysis/automation, project management, and customized .NET Solutions.

Sandman Structural Engineers

Headquarters: Moorhead, Minn.

Number of employees: 68

Website: sandmanse.com

Sandman Structural Engineers is a team of top design and consulting engineers headquartered in Moorhead, Minnesota. We are proud that client demand has grown the firm to 68 team members in four offices across Minnesota. SSE has continually grown since its inception by focusing on building strong, trusted relationships with clients and delivering the highest quality product and service. Innovation and quality are maintained through the commitment to hiring and developing professionals who support the mission of helping others achieve their goals.

RCS Construction

Headquarters: Rapid City, S.D.

Number of employees: 128

Website: rcsconst.com

RCS Construction, Inc. is a general contractor located in Rapid City, South Dakota. Our crews specialize in commercial building and site development including road work, site work, utilities, and concrete. Our formula for success is two-fold: our ability to perform a variety of projects, and employing the best people. We believe in helping our team recognize its full potential, and we share in the success. We are also lucky enough to work and live in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota!

Headquarters: Bismarck, N.D.

Number of employees: 3,750

Website: sanfordhealth.org

Sanford Health is the largest employer in the Dakotas, supporting more than 32,000 jobs and contributing a combined $8.8 billion to North and South Dakota’s economies. Our integrated health system has 47 medical centers, 2,800 Sanford physicians and advanced practice providers, 170 clinical investigators and research scientists, more than 200 Good Samaritan Society senior care locations and world clinics in eight countries around the globe. Nothing is more important to our success than our people. We are committed to strengthening leadership development, enhancing culture to support and retain our existing workforce and focusing on recruitment strategies to meet the health care needs of the communities we serve.

Sanford Health - Bismarck

Steffes

Headquarters: Dickinson, N.D.

Number of employees: 425

Website: steffes.com

Steffes is a diversified original equipment and contract manufacturer headquartered in Dickinson, North Dakota. Steffes specializes in the design, manufacturing and service of products that support the extraction and processing of oil and gas; innovative product development and manufacturing of thermal storage and load management technologies to meet our country’s adoption of sustainable electricity distribution and storage; and steel fabrication, electrical services and engineering support for companies needing manufacturing partners to support their business success. Through its customer-oriented culture and unwavering commitment to innovation, Steffes has successfully sold products throughout North America for more than 50 years.

The Title Team

Headquarters: Bismarck, N.D.

Number of employees: 280

Website: thetitleteam.com

The Title Team was founded in 1955. It began as a three-person operation committed to providing quality service to the Bismarck community. Today, we are comprised of 44 locations across Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Together, our companies 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 goes the extra mile to help coordinate and complete real estate closing and title services across the upper Midwest, from mobile homes to multi-billion dollar commercial projects.

TSP, Inc.

Headquarters: Decentralized with regional offices in Rapid City, Sioux Falls, and Watertown, S.D., and Rochester, Minn.

Number of employees: 52

Website: teamsp.com

TSP is a multidisciplinary service leader with architecture, engineering, planning, and interior-design expertise all within a single company. What began as a one-man shop in 1930 has grown into a regional employee-owned practice. Each project is so much more than a building to us: We’re forging lasting relationships alongside the buildings we co-create. We pair our diverse project background with strategic, fresh design-thinking to deliver projects that meet needs today and are flexible enough to have a meaningful purpose well into the future. We collaborate with you to build trust-based relationships.

Ulteig

Headquarters: Fargo, N.D.

Number of employees: 900+

Website: ulteig.com

Ulteig is a purpose-driven consulting engineering leader committed to creating and solving for a sustainable future.

Ulteig’s employee-owners are multidisciplinary technical experts transforming our world’s critical infrastructure through collaborative designs and innovative solutions across the Lifeline Sectors® of power, renewables, transportation and water. Leveraging our expertise for over 75 years, Ulteig operates throughout North America and serves a wide range of public and private clients.

Headquarters: Grand Forks, N.D.

Number of employees: 75

Website: vaaler.com

Celebrating 75 years in business in 2022, Vaaler Insurance, a Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC Co. provides business insurance, employee health and benefits, and private client services to businesses and individuals. The Vaaler team has the industry knowledge and depth of experience to provide world-class service with a local touch to clients of all sizes and purposes. Along with providing industry-leading services, caring for employees is a key component of Vaaler’s culture. With their comprehensive benefits package, generous PTO, focus on making a positive difference in our communities, and opportunities for employee development, Vaaler strives to lift-up their team both in and out of the workplace.

Vaaler Insurance, a Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC Co.

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Valley Senior Living

Headquarters: Grand Forks, N.D.

Number of employees: 850

Website: valleyseniorliving.org

Valley Senior Living was founded as a non-profit organization in Grand Forks in 1924 and has grown to include three care communities serving nearly 550 residents. The levels of care include skilled nursing, transitional care, memory care, basic care, assisted living and independent living. The mission at Valley Senior Living is to provide compassionate Christian care and service to enhance the quality of life for those we serve. Care partners at Valley have achieved recognition for high quality care from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and Pinnacle Quality Insights.

Widseth

Headquarters: Founded in Crookston, Minn.

Number of employees: 234

Website: widseth.com

Create Value. Inspire Greatness. This is Widseth’s core purpose – the driver for every client interaction. Our region’s quality of life relies on robust communities, which we help sustain through engineering, architecture, land surveying, environmental, and related services. With more than 230 employees working from nine locations in Minnesota and North Dakota, our firm and our employees are woven into the region’s business and social fabric, actively engaging in community life through volunteerism and leadership. We value our employees’ engagement in their careers, their communities, and our practice, and we strive to offer the work–life balance everyone deserves.

WCCO Belting

Headquarters: Wahpeton, N.D.

Number of employees: 300

Website: wccobelt.com

WCCO Belting, a global rubber product manufacturer based in Wahpeton, has been an employer of choice in the area for decades, earning the Prairie Business 50 Best Places to Work distinction for eight years. The company was recently acquired by technology company, Continental, to strengthen its conveying solutions business in the agricultural industry. Through this acquisition, opportunities for expanded careers and continued professional growth as an employee abound! To learn more about what makes WCCO Belting an employer of choice, visit us online. Each day, we prove that loving where you work begins with the people you work with. Join our team today!

Flexibility is key to meeting the needs of higher ed

By Matt Crosby | TSP Inc.

Flexibility continues to be a key factor in meeting the ever-changing needs of colleges and universities across the Midwest.

Even before COVID-19, flexible building design for learning and teaching was happening, but it remains crucial as many colleges and universities still offer hybrid classes.

Some students might feel uncomfortable in a crowded lecture hall, but still want the campus experience. Meeting those needs requires campus-wide access to quality wireless internet and spaces that encourage students to stay on campus.

Those “sticky” spaces, designed so that students will stick around campus, can accommodate individuals and small groups.

Over the years, Sioux Falls-based TSP, Inc., has partnered with numerous colleges and universities to design academic facilities. TSP is a multidisciplinary firm with architecture, engineering, planning, and interior design expertise within a single company.

IMMERSIVE TECHNOLOGIES

Darrell Bren

A “sticky” campus space can include seating at a study bar that overlooks a lobby or public space, said Chase Kramer, Director of Design at TSP.

“They’re not necessarily at a table where they are facing other students or required to engage directly with others,” Kramer said. “We provide those spaces too, where they are directly collaborating. But in some of these spaces, students can be by themselves yet feel like they are part of the buzz of campus, of the building, of the classes going on – sort of the coffeehouse effect.”

OFFICE HOURS ON DEMAND

Less emphasis on traditional spaces also benefits student/ faculty relationships.

“I think one of the best pieces of advice faculty or graduating students will give to incoming college students is to take advantage of your professors’ office hours,” Kramer said.

But it can be intimidating when students envision a visit to a faculty member’s office, particularly if it is difficult to find and in a building with which they are not familiar.

Instead, an open space where a student can sit down with a teacher is less intimidating, more comfortable, and keeps a connection to the campus buzz. At some universities, designs include more small breakout rooms, nestled into classroom areas, where faculty and students can meet less formally.

Administration and facilities personnel realize the benefits of open collaborative spaces; it often allows new building projects to focus valuable square footage on classroom and educational spaces.

Technology’s impact is expected to incorporate more immersive experiences for programs focused on real-world training.

“Nursing SIM labs are really popular right now, and faculty are looking for ways to make the experience even more realistic – to more truly match the real-world experience students will encounter in the medical field,” Kramer said.

One example is an audio-based technology called Dolby Atmos. It places users in a deeper and richer sound experience that is dynamic and spatial instead of more static audio approaches. Its capabilities go beyond entertainment, and connections can be made to augmented reality experiences, such as those SIM labs are attempting to achieve.

This technology could be used to simulate realistic over-sensory experiences such as alarms going off or multiple people speaking in loud voices during an emergency.

MOTHER NATURE AS TEACHER

While technology allows students to attend class remotely and professors may need less travel time from office to classroom, it is important that campuses are engaging and promote walkability and well-being.

TSP’s award-winning design of Northern State University’s Jewett Regional Science Education Center in Aberdeen, South Dakota includes an educational greenhouse that opens up to an outdoor classroom. Landscaping was designed with faculty input to act as a teaching tool, with plant species representative of South Dakota’s ecosystems.

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NURSING SIM LAB AT THE FROILAND SCIENCE COMPLEX AT AUGUSTANA UNIVERSITY IN SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA. TSP + SMITHGROUP PROVIDED ACADEMIC AND LABORATORY PLANNING AND ARCHITECTURE, WITH TSP ALSO PROVIDING ENGINEERING EXPERTISE. THE WORK RENOVATED AND EXPANDED THE TSPDESIGNED GILBERT SCIENCE CENTER, CREATING THE FROILAND SCIENCE COMPLEX WITH A SUBSTANTIAL ADDITION. IMAGE: COURTESY OF TSP INC.

Chase Kramer

GuestArticle

SEPTEMBER 2022

VOL 23 ISSUE 9

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The design, completed in collaboration with SmithGroup, encourages pedestrian traffic by connecting to gardens and pathways common to universities established in the 19th and early 20th centuries. It creates an urban downtown feel for those coming from off-campus areas by pulling the building up close to the street front and overhanging the sidewalk below, providing a protective enclosure for pedestrian commuters.

At Augustana University, TSP assisted with early concept design for an outdoor classroom.

While very popular at the start of the pandemic, it remains an engaging learning environment for many aspects of a liberal arts education.

ADAPTING INFRASTRUCTURE

Adaptive re-use of older campus buildings to meet administrative needs will continue as a trend, Kramer says, especially in upgrading historic buildings to meet today’s energy, technology, life-safety, and accessibility standards.

TSP’s renovation of East Hall at Dakota State University in Madison, South Dakota, included inserting a new stairwell in the 1901 facility. The renovations provided infrastructure for future fire suppression and mechanical systems and added thermal insulation to existing walls, while ensuring no impact to the building exterior. The renovation also includes glassy breakout and study spaces for students and faculty.

Darrell Bren, TSP’s director of engineering, specializes in the

design of technology systems. As a Registered Communication Distribution Designer, Bren plans information transport systems and their related infrastructure.

As a rule, Bren says it’s important to remember that most older buildings were not designed for the technology changes witnessed today. However, current design includes tasks that IT teams perform to keep computing infrastructure up to date and aligned with user requirements, which is vital in higher education. This helps prepare for whatever is next, whether it be enhanced support for remote learners, more connected devices, security system design, and other solutions.

Architecture and engineering play significant roles on campus. This expertise helps to increase enthusiasm, awareness, and excitement on campus and in communities.

Matt Crosby is marketing coordinator at TSP Inc., in Sioux Falls, S.D.

GATHERING/COLLABORATION SPACE AT THE BEACOM INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY, MADISON. THE DESIGN BY TSP + SMITHGROUP INCLUDES CLASSROOMS, COLLABORATION SPACES, A PERFORMANCE AREA, TECHNOLOGY-FOCUSED LABS, AND OFFICES. IMAGE: COURTESY OF TSP INC.

3M’s Aberdeen plant aims to be a ‘digital factory of the future’

By Andrew Weeks

Sam Allen is touched with pride whenever he hears 3M mentioned in conversations around his hometown of Aberdeen, South Dakota.

“I’m very proud to hear what people have to say,” he said. “Wherever you go around the neighborhoods, you can meet people who work here; there’s a connective layer to almost everything that we do.”

Allen, quality assurance manager at the Aberdeen plant, said it’s no wistful gesture that a global company operates a plant out of the town of some 30,000 people. It’s a perfect fit for the company and community, and residents seem to be proud of that connection.

“It’s like, ‘Wow, you work at 3M?’” Allen said of the way some people react. “I think it is really interesting to hear people talk about it (the way they do), for them to have an interest in it and knowing that a world-class company is in such a small community.”

The global company, located in St. Paul, started operations in 1902 and for its first 100 years was known as the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co. Today it is simply known as 3M. The Aberdeen plant opened in 1975 with a focus on producing respiratory masks and various kinds of tape – two of the products that continue to keep the plant busy. But even within those lines are a multitude of different types of tapes and respirators.

Company wide, 3M produces some 60,000 products for a global market.

According to information from the company, “3M Aberdeen is a flagship plant for 3M’s Personal Safety, Industrial Adhesives & Tapes and Automotive Divisions, by consistently producing high quality Respiratory Protection and Tape products. 3M Aberdeen is one of the few sites that supports all four 3M business groups.” It also “is the largest N95 respirator producing plant in the US for 3M.”

The mission, specific to Aberdeen, is to be a “global manufacturing leader in the safe and quality production of respirators, filtration, and adhesive tapes that people trust daily for protection and to improve their lives.”

One doesn’t get to be a world-class company without innovating – and that’s what the company and its Aberdeen plant, some 200,000 square-feet in all, continues to do as it meets the challenges imposed by a tight supply chain and an economic landscape that seems unsure and unfooted as a global pandemic, hopefully, continues to recede.

To make that happen, it relies on skilled team members and technology.

“It’s kind of in your nature to want to improve,” Allen said, noting it definitely is in 3M’s nature to want to expand its capabilities and technologies. Likewise, the plant continues to seek high talent to meet the needs of an ever-demanding digital world.

A good engineer at 3M Aberdeen is one who wants to innovate and grow with the company, someone who thinks outside the box and wants to be an expert in their field.

“We hire for multiple engineering positions and I think that’s the beauty of 3M – there’s multiple options for people to enter into a quality engineering department,” said Matthew Heiberger, value stream manager for tape production at the plant.

The company has vision engineers – those who work with different technologies – and value-stream engineers, who work on long-term processes and improvements, among a number of other engineering disciplines.

“There’s multiple opportunities within 3M Aberdeen and with 3M Global,” he said.

In a previous conversation with Daniel Uhlir, human resources leader with the plant, it was noted that the Aberdeen facility is focused on being a “digital factory of the future.” It needs good people to make that happen.

But what exactly is a digital factory of the future?

“That’s a really loaded question,” said Erik Poe, value stream manager for all respiratory production at 3M Aberdeen. “From a high level, we’re making advancements with robotics. … We also have significant vision systems in the plant, so as products are being made, the camera looks at the product and determines whether or not it’s good or bad, it looks for a number of specific attributes. … And then we have different visualization techniques where we’re utilizing data from those cameras. It displays information for operators so they can make on-the-fly decisions as opposed to making a defective product … We know if something’s going wrong right away and we can make adjustments as necessary.”

Something similar happens with vibration technology, Heiberger said, which traditionally alerts if a large machine is about to fail. He said the company is piloting another way to use it to detect if small components of a machine are going bad so adjustments can be made ahead of time and not impact production.

Matthew Heiberger sam Allen Erik Poe

“I’d say the biggest advancement from my perspective is that you have, historically, all these independent systems that operate independently from one another,” Poe said. “The next step in the factory’s future is really melding all those together and developing a system as a whole that’s smart enough to realize when something’s going wrong and then make the adequate adjustments as you go forward.”

Heiberger added: “I think there’s a broader term around technology. You can focus on robotics and the data portion of it, but there’s also other pillars that I would classify under technology … and then relating those material properties with our processes. … We have a lot of equipment that’s designed and developed internally.”

Besides technologies on the data, he continued, “there’s also a ton of work being done in teams at the local level and at the corporate level, working on new products, with materials, and how to process those throughout the lines.”

In 2020-21 the Aberdeen plant kept busy predominantly with the manufacturing of its respirators, which it makes for health care professionals and commercial industries as well as individuals. Poe said there are a

number of different types of masks with different designs and for different uses.

It is likely you have a 3M mask somewhere in your coronavirus protection kit.

Masks have been used against SARS, birdflu and H1N1 outbreaks, the Mt. St. Helen’s eruption, Hurricane Katrina cleanup, forest fires and most recently the COVID19 pandemic.

The plant also makes a variety of tape products. The layman might know about Scotch tape, but there also is a variety of tapes for the automotive landscape, design and construction, and high-strength, double-sided

acrylic foam tapes that, once in place, builds strength over time. Some tapes are made to order for the automotive, aerospace and industrial industries, among others.

As much as technology plays a role at 3M, it all comes back to the people — those who are willing to innovate and grow with the company.

“With the advancement in technology, I would say that we are cutting edge,” Poe said, noting “we foster people’s passion.”

“If somebody comes in with a specific passion for something in a very specific field, then we want to say, how do you make that better? How do you apply it to our lines?

“Sometimes they can make a career out of it because they are now the leading expert in that specific niche field. It’s something that we really try to foster here.”

Uhlir added: “Bsides the products, what’s going on here all the time is that there’s always the leverage of technological innovation. We’re constantly looking at how we can drive digital operations in our facility. And then we’re looking at how we continue to automate our processes to make sure we’re on the cutting edge of technology at all points in time.”

Allen is awaiting his next encounter with someone in the community, eager to hear what they might say about 3M. Personally, he is thankful for the progressive company that has provided him a place to innovate and grow his own skills.

“We do have pillars that we live by – 3M’s code of ethics, and innovation is one of those,” Allen said. “Every employee is asked to think scientifically, to not pass on any defects, that sort of thing. It’s kind of in your nature to want to improve, and so whenever there are ideas brought forth, I think that is living the 3M code.”

We would like to thank our exceptional employees for making RCS Construction a 50 Best Places to Work for the 4th year in a row!

www.rcsconst.com

3M ABERDEEN IS THE LARGEST N95 RESPIRATORPRODUCING PLANT IN THE US FOR 3M. IMAGES: COURTESY OF 3M

Bushel releases new product suite to help facilitate payments for the ag industry

By Andrew Weeks

Bushel, an independently-owned software technology company that develops digital tools for the ag industry, hosted its first customer conference in early July.

It was an impressive event with positive feedback from clients and customers, according to Jake Joraanstad, the company’s co-founder and CEO. The other co-founder is Ryan Raguse, who serves as company president.

Bushel, which livestreamed the event, unveiled a new platform during the conference – a three-pronged network, really, that addresses the challenges of facilitating payments for nearly 90% of a $200 billion industry through paper checks.

Bushel’s platform allows agricultural producers and agribusinesses to move money in real time across the agriculture supply chain, eliminating the need for paper checks and making money transfers more efficient. Primarily, the platform will facilitate those working in the grain supply chain.

The three platforms – or Bushel’s product suite, all trademarked –include:

• Bushel Payments, a money movement facilitator between growers and agribusinesses already on the Bushel platform;

• Bushel Wallet, which the company describes as the first-ever digital wallet created specifically for the complexity and scale of agri business and available for farmers to download from the app stores; and

• Bushel Wallet Link, an API that allows any agribusiness to embed payments in their application or web environment and connect to Bushel Wallet’s network to move money.

Joraanstad, in a follow-up interview with Prairie Business, said the ag industry has definitely been challenged in recent years.

“This was a core problem we set out to solve – helping remove the amount of paperwork and manual labor put into the buying and selling of grain,” he said. “Everything’s paper checks, paper contracts, and paper settlements. Everything’s kind of in the mail. It was very inefficient.”

He said his company’s focus is to help create efficiencies for ag companies, many of which have challenges around labor shortages, “whether it’s making it easier for them to get a contract signed or not having to print as many checks.”

Farmers can submit offers, sign contracts, and sell their grain right on their phone. About 90% of industry payments are by checks, Joraanstad said. Contrast that with Australia and some other countries, which primarily use digital means to transfer money.

“We’re way behind in the digital curve of for farms,” he said, noting

his company seeks to change that. One of the tools, Bushel Payments, allows the farmer to simply enroll in the network electronically and, once enrolled, it is “really easy for the farmer and the facility to do business together and get paid.”

The company has spent the past five years building its digital infrastructure for the ag industry, something for which Joraanstad takes great pride.

Bushel was founded in 2011 and continues to evolve in the marketplace. He said one of the things that prompted him to start his business was witnessing the digital front with mobile technology.

“I was excited about software, particularly mobile technology. The iPhone and the Android coming out was what I thought was a really big deal and would probably change how we thought about business,” he said. “And so that’s why we started the company back in 2011. We realized throughout those years of building the software for these different companies that we really understood agriculture better than most in the software industry. We were really excited about what that would look like, to focus on agriculture as our core. We started doing that and launched the Bushel product.”

The rest, as the saying goes, is history.

Well, not quite.

Joraanstad said this year’s customer conference may have been the first for the company, but it won’t be the last. Look for more in the future.

Also, “In the next six months, we’re going to make announcements with some partners that are participating in the payments

network that we’re building for agriculture,” he said. “And there’s more to come with our tools that will help our facilities do business with each other. … Those tools we’re building next, called Bushel Fulfillment, are going to be pretty powerful and help make it more efficient to do business.”

THESE IMAGES DEPICT THE NEW DIGITAL PAYMENTS TOOLS THAT FARGO-BASED BUSHEL, AN INDEPENDENTLY-OWNED SOFTWARE AND TECHNOLOGY COMPANY FOR THE AG INDUSTRY, RECENTLY UNVEILED. IMAGES: COURTESY OF BUSHEL

New this year, Rasmussen University launches accelerated BSN immersion format

Rasmussen University, which has campuses across the US, is aiming to help the nursing shortage with its programs at its Fargo and Moorhead locations, including a new immersion format for its accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. The school’s BSN program started in 2018. “And the reason it is accelerated,” said Dr. Joan Rich, vice president of the School of Nursing, “is because it has more credits per quarter than the typical BSN program that would take somebody four years to complete.”

It will take a student about 33 months to complete if the individual has no college degree, and as little as 18 or even 15 months for those with a degree or some credits, “depending on what they bring in,” she said.

What’s new this year, however, is the immersion option to help students that might not otherwise have access to taking a BSN program.

“It’s still the same BSN program, it is still accelerated, no matter who takes it – a first-time student, a second-degree student or whether you are seeking to take it in the immersion format,” she said. “But with the immersion format, we are really trying to help those that don’t necessarily live by a university.”

The immersion format is all online, except for a couple of times a quarter for lab and skills check-off. Clinicals are done close to the student’s home.

Rich said the school’s BSN program continues to attract students; and the immersion format, though new, seems to be off to a good start.

“We’re tracking it,” she said. “It looks good so far.” Rich and Dr. Brein Haugen, director of admissions at the Fargo and Moorhead campuses, answered questions about the school and its programs.

What are Rasmussen’s most popular programs?

Haugen: Our Practical Nursing (PN), Professional Nursing – Associate Degree (ADN) in Nursing, and Bachelor’s in Nursing (BSN) are our most popular nursing programs at the Fargo and Moorhead campuses. Besides nursing, our business programs (certificate, associate’s and Bachelor’s level) in Accounting, Business Management, and Human Resources and Organizational Leadership are quite popular, as well as our Health Science programs in Health Information Technology and Medical Billing and Coding.

I think it’s worth noting that we offer several degree options in high-need careers that are eligible for the North Dakota Career Builders Scholarship and Loan Repayment program, which is intended to retain talent in our state. This includes our RN to BSN completer, and our associate’s programs in accounting, human resources, marketing, paralegal, information technology and cyber

By Prairie Business

security. We also offer a variety of technology certificates that are eligible, from network support to software application development.

How long has Fargo offered nursing degrees?

Rich: We started our BSN program in 2018 at the Fargo campus. We have two options for students to complete their pre-licensure BSN programs, our ABSN residential hybrid and our immersion BSN hybrid. … For those that already hold a RN license, they can come into our online RN to BSN completer program. However, our Moorhead campus is just a few miles away from our Fargo campus and we started the PN there in 2013 and the ADN in 2014.

Explain more about the completer and immersion options:

Rich: We have several online programs. As you mentioned, we offer a fantastic RN to BSN completer option for all the two-year or diploma RNs that are seeking to earn their BSN degree. It is very flexible, and all courses are online, except for two small clinicals in public/community health and leadership, which can be done in their own communities. It is delivered in the competency-based education (CBE) format, which allows students to show what they know when they know it.

For those wanting to earn their BSN, but perhaps do not live close to a campus offering a BSN, Rasmussen has the immersion option as part of the BSN program. All of the didactic courses are delivered online, and the student only needs to come to campus two to four times per quarter for lab and skills checkoffs, as well as simulation. The clinical hours are completed as close to the student’s home as possible. During the pandemic, we realized that our BSN students did very well in an online learning environment and saw an opportunity to expand the program modalities we offer to broaden access to more remote students.

Our BSN hybrid schedule opportunity was developed for students who may not live near a campus or school that offered a BSN. For example, someone who lives in Dickinson, North Dakota, may be very interested in taking our immersion BSN offering so they could continue working .... The schedule allows for students to work with their employers to successfully be able to complete this modality.

Are students who take the online classes instructed by Fargo/ Moorhead faculty? Who can enroll and where are students coming from?

Haugen: From an admissions perspective, our Practical Nursing, Professional Nursing ADN, and BSN pre-licensure residential students either live in the Fargo/Moorhead area or are willing to com-

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mute on a regular basis to our area to complete their on-campus classes, skill check offs and clinicals. Our BSN immersion option is attracting students from all over the state of North Dakota and northern Minnesota to complete this program.

How do you believe this is impacting the profession? How is this helping the nurses shortage, for instance?

Rich: I think because, again, we’re new, it’s all about marketing and getting the word out that this (immersion option) is not a new program, but it’s a new method or mode of delivery, if you will. But it’s our same proven BSN program. I think once the word gets out, it’s really going to strengthen.

With every quarter we’re seeing more and more people electing to come in. … It is a great opportunity for people that don’t live by a university or who are working. And we present the schedule well in advance so they can collaborate with their employer and say, ‘OK, I need every Tuesday off for the next three quarters. Would that be all right?’ Most employers are thrilled they’re getting their BSN, and many of our health care partners actually help pay for it; they will provide lifelong learning stipends.

Give an example of what someone will learn in the program?

Rich: We prepare our graduates to provide safe, ethical, holistic, and compassionate client-centered care that can serve in a variety of diverse communities. To achieve this, we integrate clinical reasoning and clinical judgment into the coursework. Additionally,

we help develop the soft skills such as therapeutic communication, professional behavior, and interprofessional collaboration.

In our advanced nursing degrees, beyond building the knowledge and skills needed for the job, our students develop leadership skills to drive strategic change, innovation and improve health care delivery.

What do you foresee in the nursing profession over the next two to five years?

Rich: Between the pandemic’s strain on nurses both in the practice and educational settings, and nearly a third of nurses reaching retirement, the nursing shortage is going to be problematic for the foreseeable future. The American Hospital Association estimates the nursing shortage to reach 1.1 million nurses by the end of this year.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Employment Projections 2019-2029, Registered Nursing is listed among the top occupations in terms of job growth through 2029. The RN workforce is expected to grow from 3 million in 2019 to 3.3 million in 2029, an increase of 221,900 or 7%. The Bureau also projects 175,900 openings for RNs each year through 2029 when nurse retirements and workforce exits are factored into the number of nurses needed in the U.S. (AACN, 2022).

The other trend we see on the horizon is a growing shortage of physicians. The Association of American Medical Colleges estimates that the U.S. faces a projected shortage of 37,800 to 124,000 physicians by 2034. Advanced practice nurses, such as nurse practitioners, can help fill this gap. Employment in this field is projected to grow by 52% by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In light of this demand, Rasmussen recently expanded our Nurse Practitioner program to add three more specialization areas.

BEST PLACE TO WORK

At TSP, we go theextra mile and pr ide our selve son being Bet terbyDesign. But we take adeeper pr ide in our team member swho dedic atethemselve stobeing theBest. Thank you, Team TSP, forcontinuing to make us one of the region ’s 50 Be st Places to work .Weare honored to receivethis recognition 3years in arow

Lloyd Companies showcases new mixed-use development The Carlton

The Sioux Falls project is located near retail shopping while offering a mix of commercial and residential at the complex

By Andrew Weeks

Amulti-use development is being built in Sioux Falls, South Dakota – one that Lloyd Companies is excited to showcase to the community. Called The Carlton, the four-story building is being built on a 5.85-acre site just south of the Dawley Farms Retail Center. The first phase will be completed in December, with the second dropping in about March, according to Drew O’Brien, multi-family development project manager and broker associate with Lloyd Companies.

continued on Page 54

O’Brien said there is much he is excited about with The Carlton and believes it will be a significant contribution to the Sioux Falls community, meeting a growing need in the area.

The first floor will comprise a mix of commercial, as well as the residential leasing office and clubhouse, while the remaining three floors will be residential apartments.

“When the project is complete it will consist of 152 high-end apartments ranging from studio apartments to three-bedroom homes,” O’Brien said. “The apartments will deliver both comfort and style thanks to our in-house design team. Large windows, upgraded lighting, and smart home technology highlight a living experience that our residents will be excited to come home to.”

He said amenities are uncompromising and will provide a year-round experience for residents. They won’t want to leave, he said. Residents can indulge with Starbucks coffee and enjoy the open concept community lounge on the first floor. The seasons will not hinder aquatic experiences, as The Carlton has both an indoor pool and hot tub.

“A second-floor community room, rooftop patio, fitness center, guest suite and package room top off one of the premier amenity offerings in the area,” he said.

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The Carlton also will incorporate high-end technology in the building, meeting the needs and safety of its residents.

“The community will incorporate technology from the moment you walk in the door with controlled access that can be operated from the resident’s phone,” O’Brien said. “Every home at The Carlton will be set up

with the smart home features including smart locks, thermostats, and the ability to add smart lighting in addition to other features. The community will also include a package room system that digitally notifies our residents when a package has been delivered and provides a unique security code for package retrieval. Technology has

been deployed throughout the community to enhance convenience and ensure a cutting-edge experience for our community members.”

O’Brien said the facility is located near retail shopping and other community amenities, including Dawley Farm Village.

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“I JUST CANNOT WAIT FOR THIS COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER AND CREATE AN ELECTRIC AND ACTIVE COMMUNITY THAT WILL KEEP THE RESIDENTS STIMULATED AND ENERGIZED YEAR ROUND FOR YEARS TO COME.”

— DREW O’BRIEN, MULTI-FAMILY DEVELOPMENT PROJECT MANAGER WITH LLOYD COMPANIES

THESE RENDERINGS DEPICT SOME OF THE AMENITIES INSIDE THE MULTI-USE COMPLEX THE CARLTON, BEING BUILT BY LLOYD COMPANIES IN SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA. THE FIRST PHASE WILL BE COMPLETED IN DECEMBER. IMAGES: LLOYD COMPANIES

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“With such a great amenity so close by, our residents will still feel comfortable in their community tucked into the edge of a residential neighborhood,” he said. “One of the most attractive features of The Carlton’s location is the quick access to the recently completed Veterans Parkway that connects the eastern corridor of Sioux Falls from the south side of town all the way to Interstate 90. Commuting or simply navigating around Sioux Falls will be both simple and convenient.”

A number of partners have or are working on the building, including VanDeWalle Architects, which designed the building, and Design House, which, along with Lloyd’s in-house design group, “knocked the stunning interior concept of this project out of the park,” O’Brien said. Other partners include Nova Fitness, Veerum Tech, and 3D Security.

“I just cannot wait for this community to come together and create an electric and active community that will keep the residents stimulated and energized year-round for years to come,” he said.

Minot

State Development Foundation announces

Darrell and Joann Henry Scholarship Endowment

MINOT, N.D. • The Minot State University Development Foundation is proud to announce the establishment of the Darrell and Joann Henry Scholarship Endowment.

The scholarship was established in December 2021 by their children, their spouses, their grandchildren, and great grandchildren, and will be awarded to College of Education or College of Arts and Sciences students. Preference will be given to students from Bottineau and Renville counties as well as to men’s and women’s basketball and track and field student-athletes.

“We are grateful to the Henry family for their support of Minot State University students,” said Rick Hedberg, MSU Development Foundation executive director. “This scholarship is going to provide much needed support for students from Bottineau and Renville Counties for decades to come and it’s a great way to honor some amazing people in Darrell and Joann Henry. We can’t thank the Henry family enough for all that they have done.”

Darrell Henry graduated from Westhope High School in 1954 and Joann (Solemsaas) Henry graduated from Mohall High School in 1956.

Darrell began his college career at North Dakota State University before transferring to Minot State in 1957 where he lettered as a Beaver in baseball and track & field. He set the MSU pole vault record in 1958. He was a youth and high school coach and referee for many years as well as an avid golfer. Darrell coached the Westhope High School boys golf team to a state championship and was named North Dakota golf coach of the year. He was a forward thinker, inventor, high school and college sports supporter, and an active member of his community.

Joann was an active member of the Federated Women’s Club and held many state offices including state president. Though she did not attend college, education was very important to her. She was an avid reader, singer, school volunteer, and deeply involved in community and church organizations and activities.

To apply for the scholarship, fill out of the MSU scholarship application available on the Minot State financial aid WEBSITE (https:// www.minotstateu.edu/finaid/scholarships/). Scholarship applications will open late Fall 2022 with a deadline in February 2023. For more information on this and other scholarship opportunities at MSU, see the Minot State ACADEMIC CATALOG.

Kraus-Anderson completes new Scheels store at Dakota Square Mall in Minot, N.D.

The 110,000-square-foot project includes remodel of former Sears building

MINOT, N.D. • Kraus-Anderson has completed construction of a new 110,000-square-foot Scheels retail sporting goods store at the Dakota Square Mall, 2400 10th St. SW in Minot.

Designed by R.L. Engebretson Architecture, the $20.66 million renovation combined two separate Scheels locations at the mall. The new store includes an 85,000-square-foot remodel of the former Sears store and a 25,000-square-foot addition with a conference room, classroom and offices.

A larger retail space expands the selection of Scheels’ sports gear, clothing and shoes. The new shopping destination sports dozens of shops specializing in biking, fishing, skiing, hunting, archery, canoeing and kayaking, and exercise and fitness, as well as a world-class golf shop and simulator.

Customers also will enjoy an expanded taxidermy collection, rollerball and arcade games. Ginna’s Café serves gourmet soups, sandwiches, coffee and specialty drinks, and Fuzziwig’s Candy Factory features homemade fudge.

Founded in 1902, Scheels has served Minot since 1974 when it originally opened as a hardware store. The employee-owned company is now a 28-store operation with stores in 13 states.

THESE IMAGES SHOW THE 110,000 SQUARE-FOOT SCHEELS STORE AT THE DAKOTA SQUARE MALL IN MINOT, NORTH DAKOTA. THE $20.66 MILLION RENOVATION COMBINED TWO SEPARATE SCHEELS LOCATIONS AT THE MALL. THE NEW STORE INCLUDES AN 85,000-SQUARE-FOOT REMODEL OF THE FORMER SEARS STORE AND A 25,000-SQUARE-FOOT ADDITION WITH A CONFERENCE ROOM, CLASSROOM AND OFFICES.

IMAGES: COURTESY OF KRAUS-ANDERSON

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2nd St re et Fl ood wa ll Sy st em and St ruct ure s, Fa rg o, ND

To geth er,wes ol ve problem st hath elpimpr ove th equa lit yoflifeint he co mmuni tieswh er ewe li ve,wor k, an dp lay.

GINNA’S CAFÉ SERVES GOURMET SOUPS, SANDWICHES, COFFEE AND SPECIALTY DRINKS, AND FUZZIWIG’S CANDY FACTORY FEATURES HOMEMADE FUDGE.

Tanner Thompson Minot State University

Major: Accounting Graduation: May 2022

Career path: ”To find a job, a career that fulfills me personally.”

“I am unbelievably grateful for my experience at Minot State University and with (Phi Beta Lambda), because I think it’s really helped shape me as a person and has helped me find a path in life.”

Minot State graduate is passionate about business

By Andrew Weeks

Tanner Thompson, a recent graduate of Minot State University, has put a new face on what it means to be a business professional in the 21st century.

And he hasn’t even started his career yet.

After a conversation with Thompson, one can tell he is smart, ambitious, and thoughtful – good traits for any business leader to have.

Thompson graduated in May with an accounting degree, and looks forward to working for a reputable company – a place, he hopes, that will appreciate what he can provide them and where he can grow his passion for business.

Originally from Ray, North Dakota, Thompson said he’d like eventually to explore the world beyond the Peace Garden State but would like to stay somewhere in the Midwest. This is home for him, a place where he says he feels welcome and at ease. But if he ventures farther, who knows what might come of it.

“Now that I’m done with school, I am just trying to pursue a fulltime opportunity,” he said. “I’m looking for a job that can turn into a career, that can turn into a passion. … Right now I am looking at Minot just because that’s where I’m living, but I also know that I want to get away and see the world. I’ve lived my entire life in western North Dakota, and there’s a lot in the world to see. I want to experience that at some time.”

He chose a school closer to home because, well, it was the best he could find. Its offerings matched his ambitions. Thompson said he looked at about 15 colleges across the upper Midwest – and visited the campus nearly a half-dozen times – before he decided upon Minot State.

“Nothing could really compete,” he said. “It has a really nice business program, small class sizes with faculty who all worked in business. … It also is a university with a really good reputation in our state, in our region, for being really dedicated to students and to providing them with that real-world experience. And there is just a really good sense of community on campus.”

And, he said, the instructors were super to work with. In particular, two stand out – Jan Repnow, assistant professor, tenured, in the College of Business and who is the Phi Beta Lambda advisor; and Kate -

Lynn Albers, assistant professor also in the College of Business.

“I think of all of the knowledge she has shared with me through classes and being an advisor,” he said of Repnow. “She’s a huge role model to me.”

Albers was a new faculty member during Thompson’s second year, who decided to journey back to academia after working in public accounting. “I think of how close she has been to the world I’m living in, how she was able to relate and share that experience and really make those classes so engaging,” he said, “sharing that real-world knowledge that she gained at such a young age and how it would relate to us when we made that transition.”

They liked him, too.

“Tanner was an extremely involved student on the Minot State campus,” Albers said. “He made his voice heard, as well as built relationships around the University from fellow students to faculty and staff. His ability to communicate and build relationships will lead him to success in wherever his career takes him. I am so proud of him and cannot wait to see what he accomplishes.”

Thompson said his most memorable experience at school was being part of Phi Beta Lambda. PBL, which is changing to Future Business Leaders of America Collegiate (FBLA-PBL), is a collegiate business organization that focuses on education, service, and progress. He said the goal is to show students the opportunities that exist in the business world and how elements of business relate to all industries and fields.

According to the school, PBL earned a 200% success rate at this year’s national conference in Chicago. Five members of the MSU chapter attended the conference, including Thompson, who served as vice president and former state president; each earned prizes or scholarships for a total of 10 recognitions.

“During my time in PBL, I’ve been able to take home three national first-place awards,” Thompson said. “I think it is the connections I’ve made, the people I have met, and just the world I have gotten to see that is most memorable. I would never have experienced that if it hadn’t been for Minot State and for the PBL chapter. I think it’s influenced me because it just showed me the world of opportunity you can have.”

Of those opportunities, he said he’s learned that just because a person, such as himself, received an accounting degree, doesn’t mean one has to sit in an office or cubicle for the entirety of one’s career. In fact, the graduate doesn’t even have to be an accountant.

“You can take all of those soft skills and quantitative analyses – all of those things your classes and coursework teaches you – and apply them to any field,” he said. “I think that’s what PBL changed for me and my career goals; it taught me that I could do anything because of the skills I had learned and not what my degree says on a piece of paper.”

As he continues to grow and learn, Thompson rechecks his career goals. They change too, he said.

“As you grow as a person, your interests change, and so does where you want to take your life,” Thompson said. “I’ve always just wanted to grow and find a passion I love and to pursue it. … My career goal is to find a job, a career that fulfills me personally, and is not really restricted to any industry or title. I just want to find that passion and fulfillment from being in that role.”

He also said: “I am unbelievably grateful for my experience at Minot State University and with PBL, because I think it’s really helped shape me as a person and has helped me find a path in life.”

TANNER THOMPSON GRADUATED IN MAY WITH AN ACCOUNTING DEGREE FROM MINOT STATE UNIVERSITY. HE SAYS HE IS PASSIONATE ABOUT THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND LOOKS FORWARD TO ESTABLISHING A CAREER IN THE FIELD. IMAGES: COURTESY OF TANNER THOMPSON

Empowered Communities Career

and Technical Education is taking the lead in solving workforce shortages

By Katie Becker and Tracy Nicholson | JLG Architects

The entrepreneurial spirit of today’s youth has laid the groundwork for new learning environments that kick-start careers and jumpstart regional businesses.

Schools across the region, including Park Rapids Area Schools, Jackson County Central School District, Bismarck Schools, and Grand Forks Public Schools are following the national trend and broadening their Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs to help students explore in-demand careers – gaining valuable experience that has become a workforce game-changer. This is hands-on education that is transforming the way we live, learn, and do business.

Today, CTE is leading the way as a direct solution to workforce shortages – creating streamlined pathways to employable skills Midwest businesses and industries undoubtedly need.

Future-Ready CTE

CTE programs are far more than the wood and metal shops of the last century. Modern CTE education is a true-to-life, simulated experience that can put students’ skills to the test in commercial kitchens, medical labs, mechanic and auto shops, greenhouses, manufacturing, and learning environments rich in emerging technologies.

These are the ultimate maker spaces where new interests are ignited and hands-on problem solving is rewarded. CTE classes, in collaboration with traditional core subjects, set the stage for students to learn regionally in-demand skills in an active, hands-on setting – skills that can be immediately applied in the workforce. Hands-on education is invaluable but creating career readiness goes beyond

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technical programming. It is important to focus on employability and the soft skills the industry needs for a “Career Ready” student who is well educated and emotionally prepared.

Within CTE programming, curriculum should encourage soft skill development and Career Ready Practices that are supported by spaces like conference rooms where mock interviews can be held. Here, students gain the emotional skills to be a responsible citizen and employee, manage their personal and financial well-being, and consider environmental, social, and economic impacts of their decisions.

Crucial Cross Collaboration

Cross collaboration between fields is critical in creating experiences that simulate real-world business transactions for students. For example, if the agriculture program is growing plants, the business program can advise the sale of those plants. Next, art and marketing can collaborate to create a campaign including imagery for graphics, posters, and advertising. Similarly, if the construction class is building a house, that process involves not only the construction, but the design, drafting, estimating, understanding of the supply chain, and ordering of the materials.

Students will also gain experience marketing the sale, managing construction costs, setting the price, and making the sale. This type of collaboration gauges interest early on, encourages teamwork, and gives new talent valuable experience that would cost companies thousands to implement on their own.

The Business of Building Relationships & Industry Partnerships

Many schools are taking their education to Main Street, partnering with local industry and businesses on behalf of boosting the regional workforce. Overall, businesses are seeing the immediate value of investing in collaborative partnerships with targeted programs to meet industry demand. If schools are unsure of the current interest versus demand, simply follow Grand Forks Public Schools – they implemented localized surveys to help them align student interests with workforce needs.

The North Dakota Career and Technical Education Board approved grant funding for 13 projects in March of 2022, allocating millions in funding toward CTE projects throughout the state. The grant’s purpose is to provide students with programs that align with regional workforce needs and with student interest. The Grand Forks Public School District was one of 13 districts in North Dakota to receive grant funding for its new Career Impact Academy.

The Academy will serve the students of Grand Forks and surrounding communities, and provide regional adult education opportunities. Through the efforts of the Grand Forks Region Economic Development Corporation, City of Grands Forks, Grand Forks County, and Greater Grand Forks Chamber of Commerce, the district found local support from over 60 private businesses and dozens of individual donors and public entities who contributed to their oneto-one monetary match, a requirement of the grant. Local entities such as Altru Health System, Sanford Health System, True North Equipment, Lunseth Plumbing & Heating, and Construction Engineers were just a few of the local businesses to contribute.

JLG Architects and BNDRY Studio assisted the Grand Forks Public School District in preparing their grant application and preliminary design concepts. Programming for the Academy was identified through a needs assessment with the school districts, local businesses, economic development, and higher education – aligning

We take apersonalinterestinthe workbeingdonearoundus. Andattheendoftheday, we’re Real Peopleoffering Real Solutions.

curriculum and programming with post-secondary education to create an industry pipeline.

The students also had a voice in their future facility, overwhelmingly asking for a building that didn’t feel like a traditional school; a celebrated learning space that supports their interests and creates opportunities to explore.

Regional industries are finding CTE partnerships to be a fantastic way to build long-term relationships that benefit students, community, and workforce demand. Local partnerships allow businesses to communicate in-demand positions, specific equipment and

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WATFORD CITY HIGH SCHOOL’S WELDING CLASS SIMULATES REAL-LIFE SHOP ENVIRONMENTS THAT REINFORCE JOB SKILLS AND HABITS WITHIN A SPACE THAT ENCOURAGES CROSS-COLLABORATION. IMAGE: COURTESY OF CHAD ZIEMENDORF

VOL 23 ISSUE 9

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machinery, and the skills needed to operate them. This scenario forges a win-win partnership in which a business could provide equipment or internships, and the school caters programming to workforce needs. This creates a direct talent pipeline for a specific industry; a cyclical relationship where the school is able to support local businesses, and local businesses are able to support the school district.

Brighter Future

The future of CTE programs is looking brighter every day. Through specialized skills training, CTE students have become our workforce’s most valuable asset, strengthening the resilience of industry and communities.

For students and schools, CTE programming equates to enhanced confidence for those transitioning to college and immediate careers for those entering the workforce. With either pathway, CTE students gain the ability to explore a wide variety of interests, gain employable skills, create job stability, and land well-paying careers close to home.

Katie Becker, AIA, is LEED green associate, and Tracy Nicholson is a writer at JLG Architects.

THE GRAND FORKS CTE ‘HUB’ IS A CREATIVE ENVIRONMENT WITH SPACE TO SUPPORT SOFT-SKILL DEVELOPMENT SUCH AS PRESENTATION, SMALL AND MEDIUM GROUP COLLABORATION, CROSSDISCIPLINARY PROJECTS, AND PLACES WHERE STUDENT WORK AND ACHIEVEMENT CAN BE FEATURED. IMAGE: COURTESY OF BNDRY STUDIO | JLG ARCHITECTS

A Miraculous Discovery

“I’m sograteful to Essentia for the care I received,” she said. “They were so thoroughand meticulous when I came in. If it weren’t for thosedoctors and nurses,I would still be walking around with a ticking time bomb in my head.”

WO RD S BY KE LS EY MI X

When Laura Kaduck of Fergus Falls hada hear t at tack last November, she could have neverimagined her doctor s would make yet another lifethreatening diagnosis.

However, af ter transfer ring to Essentia Health in Fargo due to lack of beds at her local hospit al, it was determined through anMRI that Laura alsohad an unr uptured aneury sm in herbrain

A brainaneury sm is a bulge or ballooning ina blood vessel in the brain Left untreated, a brain aneury sm may rupture or burs t, causing a severe and potentially fat al brain bleed.

Surprised by herordeal, Laura recalled, “T his was a tot al shock to me. I’min the ICU, and one of the doctor s who comesinintroduces himself to me as a neurologis t. I thought aloud, ‘W hat? I thoughtI hada problem with my hear t? ’”

“We found ananeury sm,” Dr. Kiron Thomas , an interventional neurologist at Essentia, told Laura. “You have some time, but thisis something that needs to be taken care of.”

It was determined that Laurahad a wide -neck aneury sm, which is among the most di fficult ty pes of aneury sms to treat. When the neck of the aneury smis wide, materials traditionally used to pack aneury sms to preventa rupture— like coils or stents—are morelikely to fall back out into the ar tery.

Dr Thomas then told Laura about an innovative device that could help— the Woven EndoBr idge (WEB) sy stem. Having received FDA approval in 20 19, this newdev ice is more effec ti ve

in treating wide -neck aneury sms. Essentia Health is the onl y hospital in the region that uses it .

Laura says that Dr Thomas explained the WEB device incredibly well, even taking the time to draw adiagram show ing how the expanding mesh ball would be inser ted within the aneury sm and how it s technology would securely br idge the aneury sm neck . He further explained that this would close the aneur ysm from inside, sealingoff the aneury sm from blood flow and preventinga fat al rupture.

Laura said that “she wasall in ” on going through with this procedure, especiall y when she lear ned that it would be minimally invasi veand would require less recovery time.

Unlike other procedures to treat wide -neck aneury sms, the WEB device does not requirea surgeon to cut open theskull. Ins tead, the WEB device is delivered to the aneury sm by navigating a catheter from a blood vessel in the groin or wr is t all the way to the brain.

Laura’s procedure took place in Januar y, lasting onl ya few hours. Her recovery was quick , and she returned to her job as the manager of a McDonald’s af ter lessthan a week She said she would recommend the WEB device to anyone in her same situation.

Laura consider sfinding her aneury sm “a miracle.”

“I ’m so grateful to Essentia for the care I received,”she said. “T hey were so thorough and meticulous when I came in. If it weren ’t for those doctor s and nurses ,I would still be walkingaround with a tick ing time bomb inmy head.”

“COV IDwas hard for me, and a sc ar y time for ever yone,” Laura added, further detailing her entire experience at Essentia. “Even though they were so overw helmed with COVID

patient s at that time,I felt incredibly import ant. I felt that Ireceived the bes t care possible, even with ever ything going on.

“I came in with hear tissues , and they found something separate that needed to be addressed. That show s the level of care Essentia provides.”

In the United St ates , an estimated 6. 5 million – oronein 50 – people havean unr uptured brain aneur ysm. The risk of ananeury sm developing and rupturing varies bet ween indi viduals , but smok ing and high blood pressure are major risk fac tors

While treatment for aneury sms can vary,a surgeon will usuall y only operate on brain aneury sms if there is a high riskof rupture.

The WEB device is impor tant bec ause having anotheroption that prov ider s can use to treatlifethreatening aneur ysms that are particularly challenging is incredibly beneficial for patient outcomes.

To learn more about our Neurolog y ser vice s, visit Es sentiaHealth .org

Laura Kaduck

Dr. Kiron Thomas

Schumacher

Widseth

MANKATO, MINN. • Long-time architectural planner and education consultant Rod Schumacher has joined Minnesota architectural and engineering firm Widseth.

Schumacher brings more than 30 years of expertise in developing projects that are driven by clients’ goals and visions, while ensuring his clients enjoy a productive and rewarding experience.

To get to this result, Schumacher implements a combination of tools and experiences, such as

Widseth welcomes new vice president

MANKATO, MINN. • Kaeko Leitch has joined Widseth, a Minnesota architectural and engineering firm, as a vice president and manager of the company’s Mankato office.

With a focus on strategic operations and innovation, Leitch will oversee efforts to optimize operational efficiency, performance, and staff development to align with objectives laid out in the firm’s strategic plan.

Licensed in both mechanical and electrical engineering, Leitch has deep experience in professional

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facility assessment plans, facility management and planning, relationship management, finance and risk management, project management, and client specific solutions.

He will add his client focused approach, strong process orientation, and consistent results to Widseth’s planning and design teams, and continue to serve public and private education clients throughout Minnesota and the Upper Midwest.

and technical services and will be closely involved in recruiting and training engineers, technicians, and designers.

Leitch founded and operated Abacus Engineering in Mankato and Minneapolis for nine years before merging with another firm. She is well connected in architectural and engineering circles and will spend significant time growing Widseth’s portfolio in specific markets, including education, healthcare, manufacturing, and renewable energy.

Kaeko Leitch

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Enclave promotes three employees

FARGO, N.D. • Enclave, a development, construction, and management company founded in 2011, has promoted three employees.

Thomas Dahl, previously project manager, will now serve as senior project manager. Scott Bertrand, previously project manager, will now serve as senior project manager. Lastly, Ryan Swann, previously assistant carpenter, will now serve as project engineer.

With more than 10 years of experience in construction management, Dahl joined Enclave in 2021 as project manager. He will serve as senior project manager in Fargo, overseeing construction projects from start to finish, collaborating with design teams, sub-contractors and clients to ensure timely delivery within budget.

Scoot Bertrand joined Enclave in 2021, with over five years of experience as project manager, project engineer and construction manager. He will serve as Enclave senior project manager in the St. Louis Park, supporting the company’s new developments in and around the Twin Cities including Hopkins, Hastings, Cottage Grove and Plymouth, among others.

Swann started as assistant carpenter for Enclave in 2021. With experience in construction and project management, Swanson will serve as project engineer in St. Louis Park, providing technical support for project managers and site superintendents while ensuring all work is being completed safely and efficiently.

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Thomas Dahl Ryan Swann

Scott Bertrand

Dr. Frank King, Jr

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MSUM welcomes associate provost of diversity and inclusion MOORHEAD, MINN. • Dr. Frank King, Jr., has joined Minnesota State University Moorhead as its first associate provost for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

This new role will help the university advance its strategic priority of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Dr. King will lead and facilitate diversity initiatives in academic affairs programs, including faculty training and development, faculty recruitment and retention, and curricular initiatives, along with encouraging internationalization across the curriculum.

This position also oversees the university’s Faculty Development Center. Ultimately, the associate provost will facilitate the implementation of Minnesota State Equity 2030, which calls for eliminating educational equity gaps at every Minnesota State college and university.

Originally from Maryland, Dr. King served in the U.S. Air Force from 1995 to 1999, mainly at Misawa Air Base, Japan. After leaving the service, he and his family moved to Washington, where he earned his undergraduate degree in social studies education and became a Ronald E. McNair Scholar at Eastern Washington University.

He completed a doctorate in American studies at Washington State University. Dr. King’s academic areas of interest include hip hop pedagogy, the prison industrial complex and racial disparities, the history of the War on Drugs, Afrocentric philosophy, and African American history.

In 2020, Dr. King became the executive director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and the special assistant to the Chief Diversity Office at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. He assisted in building and developing support, community, and resources for faculty, staff and students to help in UW-Platteville’s call to ensure all students have substantial knowledge of diversity, equity, and inclusion issues.

Dr. King and his wife, Kecia (USAF Ret.), make their home in Moorhead and look forward to being a part of the community both on and off campus.

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A great place to work, a great place to bank.

Chelsey Stoa

Flint Group promotes team member

MANKATO, MINN. • Chelsey Stoa has been promoted to social media and public relations strategist for Flint Group.

Stoa has more than 10 years of communications experience, which has helped her deliver engaging content for organizations. She prides herself in defining her excellence in brand awareness, message development, media relations and content creation.

Stoa provides both the detailed and big-picture thinking for clients. A problem solver, she never

Dakota Business Lending welcomes newest entrepreneurial development director

FARGO, N.D. • Dakota Business Lending welcomes Michaela Schell to its team as the entrepreneurial development director.

Based out of the Fargo office, Schell will be working to develop, manage, and deliver new and innovative small business lending programs and resources for Dakota Business Lending’s entire service area.

Schell has a master’s degree in Communications and has spent the past ten years working in the business world, particularly in Grand Forks and Fargo.

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stops looking for new ideas and inspiration for ways brands can tell their story in a differentiating voice. Her contributions have played a vital role in her clients’ growth.

Stoa earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from North Dakota State University. Recently, she acted as a social media and public relations specialist at both Sun Country Airlines and the NCAA Final Four men’s basketball tournament in Minneapolis.

She founded Live Unlimited Training & Events in Fargo, is an Elite Level V Leader for the nationwide Rodan + Fields, and is heavily involved in local organizations such as Fargo Mom. Schell has joined the Dakota Business Lending team to use her program development, strategic development, sales/marketing, and leadership skills to assist the organization with the development and implementation of several new programs and resources. She is a wife, mom of three, yoga instructor, and loves to spend her free time outdoors, hiking, reading, or throwing pottery.

Michaela Schell

CUT THE CORD BUT KEEP CONNECTED

Redefining wireless in 2022

MORNING

Your alarm on your smartphone goes off to start your day. While you are getting ready you ask your smart speaker what the weather will be today so you can dress accordingly. You put on your smartwatch on the way out the door and set your home alarm system and head to work.

AFTERNOON

Technology has changed over the years. What you expect out of your cell phone company is changing every day. As retailers look to diversify their offerings they take into consideration how much the average consumer has changed and how much of their world is now digital.

Do you know all the ways your home and work life are connected digitally? Let’s walk through your day.

On your lunch break, you grab your tablet and head to your favorite lunch spot. You connect your earbuds to your tablet and check your phone notifications while everything powers up.

EVENING

On your way home, you connect to your Bluetooth on your car to listen to your favorite Apple Music Podcast. Once home you ask your smart speaker to turn on the lights and after some dinner, you

sit down and enjoy your favorite Disney+ movie to end your day.

What a day, did you know all those pieces can be purchased or protected at your local wireless store? Staying connected to friends and family is a high priority for many and there are a variety of ways to do that well.

We talked with local wireless expert Kim Mannon at BeMobile Verizon, “The ultimate goal is to find technology that fits your day, if you need to be hands free lets get you a watch, if you value protection lets get your signed up with Home Protect or if you like to stay entertained we can make sure you plan includes all the perks like Disney+, Apple Music and ESPN+ for free! We’re here for you and to fit your lifestyle and budget.”

Talk with an expert to navigate your connectivity. You can stop by a local store like BeMobile Verizon (bemobile. com) to get the full set up and support. Retailers have expanded their offerings which means you the consumer can get more, for less!

What is the best advice you can give a new employee at your organization?

Q.INSIGHTs & INTUITION

Traci Kovar Director of Happiness BeMobile Verizon, Corporate Headquarters Grand Forks, N.D.

The best advice for a new employee at BeMobile is to be ready to explore, be open to learning new processes and enjoy the products we sell. We have watched the telecommunications industry evolve since 2000. With adapting to those changes we have learned how to adapt with people in our organization as well. New employees with us will have consistent processes throughout their tenure to rely on for support and growth. We have constant development and learning opportunities not only at hire but throughout your career at BeMobile. New employees will thrive if they are open-minded and stay a ‘sponge’ at first to take in all the newness. We provide 360 degrees of coverage in everything in training to set you up for long-term success. In being family-owned we truly care for you professionally and personally; the goals you start with on day one will turn into our goals as well because when one of us grows our whole company grows, too.

The best advice I can give to a new employee joining the team at Anchor Ingredients is to roll up their sleeves, jump right in, maintain a positive attitude and always be nimble. We are a dynamic team that operates in a rapidly expanding industry. Every single employee we have on our team plays an important role in the future growth and overall success of the company. Whether that’s partnering with our growers, working at one of our processing facilities, managing logistics for our customers or maintaining our high standards of quality – every team member at Anchor matters and their hard work and contribution to the company is appreciated and rewarded.

The leadership team at Anchor Ingredients has big plans for the future, but we can only get there with the right people.

Everett Jordan Director of Plant Operations Anchor Ingredients Fargo, N.D.

At First Community Credit Union, we pride ourselves on world-class member service and developing long-lasting relationships with all those around us. As you join our team, seek to build community and take a collaborative approach to all that you do. We hired you because your experience, skills and attitude shined through during the interview process. We are expecting big things from you and we know you are counting on us, too.

Our goal is to have open, two-way and honest communication so there is always clarity in your role. You play a vital part in celebrating the credit union difference, so I hope you will embrace our incredible culture and always put ‘WE’ over ‘ME.’

Our team is thrilled that you are ready to make an impact, and we can’t wait to follow your journey to success at FCCU.

Amie Aesoph

Chief Human Resources

First Community Credit Union

Jamestown, N.D.

Raquel Nachatilo Human Resources Director

Missouri Valley Family YMCA Bismarck, N.D.

At the Y, we strive to live our cause with purpose every day. We are looking for people who show up as welcoming, genuine, hopeful, nurturing and determined team members who act intentionally to support and connect people with our cause to strengthen the community.

As a new employee, spend time with our orientation resources to gain a firm understanding of our cause and culture and how you can contribute by using and developing your strengths each day. Ask questions about training programs and take advantage of all the opportunities available, not only to help build a stronger community, but to grow personally and professionally. Be alert of your surroundings – observe and ask questions, applying what you see and learn. Get to know the people you work with and the people you serve. Team members who take initiative and have grit – passion, perseverance and stamina toward achieving long-term personal and organizational goals – will have many opportunities to grow and advance in the organization. We offer a supportive culture that allows you to use your strengths, participate in coaching, make suggestions and grow. We love our jobs at the Y and want you to be successful and love your job, too!

gettingback to business gettingback to business

WEEKLY EARNINGS

Real (adjusted for inflation) average weekly earnings decreased 3.6% from July 2021 to July 2022. During this period, real average hourly earnings decreased 3.0%.The change in real average hourly earnings, combined with a 0.6% decrease in the average workweek, resulted in the 3.6% decrease in real average weekly earnings since July 2021. The Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers increased 8.5% over the year.

NONFARM EMPLOYMENT TICKS UP

Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 528,000 in July 2022, larger than the average monthly gain over the prior four months (+388,000). Job growth was widespread, led by gains in leisure and hospitality, professional and business services, and health care. Leisure and hospitality added 96,000 jobs, as growth continued in food services and drinking places (+74,000). However, employment in leisure and hospitality is below its February 2020 level by 1.2 million, or 7.1%. Employment in professional and business services continued to grow, with an increase of 89,000 in July. Employment in health care rose by 70,000. Employment in construction increased by 32,000.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

TRANSPORTATION EMPLOYMENT SAME AS PRE-PANDEMIC LEVEL

The unemployment rate in the U.S. transportation sector was 4.2% (not seasonally adjusted) in July, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The July 2022 rate fell 3.1 percentage points from 7.3% in July 2021 and was the same as the pre-pandemic July level of 4.2% in July 2019. Unemployment in the transportation sector reached its highest level during the COVID-19 pandemic (15.7%) in May 2020 and July 2020. Unemployment in the transportation sector was above overall unemployment.

EMPLOYMENT POPULATION RATIO

The employment – population ratio – the proportion of the population that is employed—was 60% in July 2022 for people ages 16 and older. The ratio was little changed over the month but was 1.6 percentage points higher than in July 2021 (58.4%) and 8.7 percentage points higher than in April 2020 (51.3%), when the ratio reached the low point early in the COVID-19 pandemic. The July 2022 ratio remains below its value just before the pandemic in February 2020 (61.2%).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Source: 30% 20%

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 40%

50%

60%

70%

80% 2004 2007 2010 2013 2019 2016 2022

bythenumbers SEPTEMBER 2022 VOL 23 ISSUE 9 SPONSORED BY Total nonfarm Mining and Logging Construction Manufacturing Wholesale trade Retail trade Transportation & warehousing Utilities Information Financial activities Professional & business services Education & health services Leisure & hospitality Other services Federal government State government Local government 0

25,000,000

50,000,000

75,000,000

100,000,000

125,000,000

150,000,000

175,000,000 2014 2012 2016 2018 2020 2022

$0

$200

$400

$600

$800

$1,000

$1,200 Jan 2012 Jan 2014 Jan 2016 Jan 2020 Jan 2018 Jan 2022 Jul 2019 Jan 2020 Jan 2021 Jan 2022 Jul 2020 Jul 2021 Jul 2022

4% 3.8%

July 2019 4.2% July 2022 4.2%

COVID-19 national declaration of emergency

All-time high May 2020 July 2020 15.7% Transportation sector (not seasonally adjusted) U.S. Total (not seasonally adjusted)

Total Women, 20 years & older White Asian

Men, 20 years & older 16 to 19 years old Black or African American Hispanic or Latino

Average weekly earnings of all employees, total private, seasonally adjusted Real average weekly earnings of all employees, 1982-1984 dollars, total private, seasonally adjusted