Standing up for North Dakota

By Ken Rogers
Standing up for North Dakota
Enough already about “The Emptied Prairie.”
That was yesterday’s story before it was a National Geographic story.
The current North Dakota story could be called “prairie on a roll.”
The state’s revenue trend chart continues climbing steadily upward.
If you can measure the state’s economy in terms of taxes collected by state government, [...]

Top 10 Brands of Western North Dakota

By Leland Bosch
My first job after college was selling advertising for a radio company in Minneapolis. There, I worked side by side with Bill Donnelly, a man who had a fruitful career working for some of the nation’s most prestigious advertising agencies, including Minneapolis-based Fallon Worldwide, New York-based BBDO, and Miami-based Crispin Porter + Bogusky.
Bill [...]

By the numbers

By Crystal R. Reid

Technology jobs will be the hottest jobs in North Dakota by 2016, according to employment projections recently released by Job Service North Dakota.
Job Service ranked computer software engineering as the No. 1 Hot Job in the state for its 2016 projections, based on percent growth and wage data. To be tagged as [...]

Risk finds Reward

By Debora Dragseth
Taking a risk means engaging in any activity for which there exists both the potential to realize a loss and the potential to realize a benefit. Willingness to take risks is a critical ingredient to attaining success. A small child would never learn to walk without taking the risk of attempting his first [...]

A New Generation of Risk Takers

By Debora Dragseth

What
can parents and employers do to empower North Dakota’s children and
young adults to embrace risk, be willing to change the status quo,
begin new and exciting enterprises and become North Dakota’s next
generation of successful leaders?
Tools for Parents
Nancy
Sprynczynatyk, a licensed mental health counselor with 20 years of
experience working with children, suggests that parents give their
children [...]

Hettinger: A complete community

By TINA DING/Business Watch
Honey. Honeybees buzzing softly. Telltale signs of beekeeping.
Nestled amidst fields of yellow clover, laden with honeybees, lies the town of Hettinger.
Rolling hills define the backdrop, and hives dot the horizon.
Headquartered in Hettinger, Grand River Honey Company began in 1972. A seasonal industry, owner Eric Andress is one of four honey distributors in [...]

40 Under Forty

By Ken Rogers

Readers will find among Business Watch’s Forty Under Forty a remarkable diversity of experience and success.
That bodes well for the future of western North Dakota.
Our economy needs the kind of strength that comes from not relying on one crop or one industry or one market for success. And we need the strength of [...]

Adam Hamm

Adam Hamm became an immediate household name in North Dakota when Gov. John Hoeven named him Insurance Commissioner in 2007, filling the unexpired term of Jim Poolman, who was among Business Watch’s 40 Under 40 in 2003.
Home: Bismarck
Age: 36
Position: North Dakota Insurance Commissioner
Family: Fiancee Michelle Hovde (getting married in Bismarck on May 24); Wyatt Hovde [...]

Justin Theel

Justin Theel puts his hopes in attitude and family.
Home: Bismarck
Age: 34
Position: General manager/partner of Cedric Theel Toyota Dodge Scion.
Family: Wife, Missy, daughters Shea (5), and Reece (2).
Hobbies: Hunting, fishing, and spending time outdoors with my family.
Community Involvement: Member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, board member for the Bismarck Mandan Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Burleigh-Morton [...]

Dave Hanson

Dave Hanson has embarked on a life of professional growth, community service and family involvement. He has taken the risks necessary to confront challenges and risks for himself and his community.
Home: Williston
Age: 37
Position: Vice president and chief financial officer, American State Bank & Trust Company. I also serve as secretary of the board and investment [...]