Heather Syverson is North Dakota Professional Communicators’ 2024 Communicator of Achievement. Syverson has enjoyed more than 20 years in the communications industry, moving from traditional journalism to communications consulting over the course of her career. She had her first taste of press life as an award-winning reporter and news editor at the North Dakota State University student newspaper, The Spectrum. After graduating from NDSU with a Bachelor of Science degree in mass communication, Syverson became a news producer at KXJB TV, just before the station merged with KVLY TV. She was pro ..read more

FARGO, N.D. - Emerging Prairie, an organization dedicated to energizing the startup, innovation, and technology communities, proudly announces the appointment of Heidi Heitkamp and Mary Snapp to its board of directors. Heidi Heitkamp, a former U.S. Senator from North Dakota, brings with her a wealth of experience in public service. As the first female senator elected from North Dakota, Heitkamp served from 2013 to 2019. Throughout her tenure, she demonstrated a proven ability to work across the aisle to champion initiatives that directly impacted the lives of North Dakotans. Heitkamp's comm ..read more

FARGO, N.D. - Grand Farm has announced the addition of two distinguished individuals to its board of directors. Jon Erickson and Dr. Steven Kappes join the board, bringing with them a wealth of experience and expertise that will further elevate Grand Farm's work. Erickson, a seasoned leader in cooperative governance and agricultural economics, brings over a decade of experience serving on various boards and committees, including the CHS Board of Directors. Erickson operates the Diamond T Ranch southwest of Minot, North Dakota, where his family raises small grains and oilseeds and has a commer ..read more

FARGO, N.D. The North Dakota State University Foundation has announced a new endowment to establish the Joe and Norma Peltier Vice President for Agriculture. Greg Lardy, NDSU vice president for agriculture, will be the inaugural holder of the endowment. A special medallion ceremony celebrating the Peltier family and Lardy will occur during the NDSU Foundation’s Evening of Distinction event on April 25, a release states. “The Peltier family is passionate about NDSU and all that it offers in educating students, conducting world-class research and serving our communities, state and beyond ..read more

Scott Meyer, a loan officer for Benchmark Mortgage in Grand Forks, North Dakota, thinks 2024 will be a strong year for first-time homebuyers, but finding that house could be a challenge. “Lack of inventory is a major concern,” he said in late February. A lock-in effect is part of the lack of housing. Homeowners who had previously refinanced their mortgages at lower interest rates are seeing higher rates and prices today and are not willing to jump into a higher interest rate to purchase a new home. “Those folks just aren’t putting their homes on the market,” Meyer said. “What we’ve seen i ..read more

A data breach can have a significant impact on your business. They result in the loss of sensitive information, expose your customers to further exploitation, loss of productivity and they can also lead to legal and financial consequences. Some states now have laws requiring disclosure or restricting ransom payments. For example, North Dakota’s Century Code includes a section (Chapter 54-59.1) that lists requirements about disclosing cybersecurity incidents. Besides state laws, federal laws are also in play. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury ha ..read more

FARGO, N.D. North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller along with Commerce Commissioner Josh Teigen, Tourism and Marketing Director Sara Otte Coleman and DMAND president Sheri Grossman presented six Governor’s Travel and Tourism Awards during the recent North Dakota Travel Industry Conference in Fargo. The Governor’s Travel and Tourism Awards recognize the passion and dedication of North Dakotans who have contributed to the growth of travel and tourism in North Dakota. "Tourism is a pillar of North Dakota's economy, and we're thrilled to honor these exceptional leaders who tire ..read more

Each month, Prairie Business Magazine speaks with regional leaders to learn more about a specific topic. This month we asked: What is the most rewarding part of working at your company? Stefanie Gefroh Ellison, MD Associate Chief Medical Officer - West Market Essentia Health Fargo, N.D. At Essentia Health, we are guided by our values of quality, hospitality, respect, joy, justice, stewardship and teamwork. For me, the most rewarding part of working at Essentia Health is our culture centered around these values and our commitment to making a healthy difference in people's lives. The value ..read more

Kraus-Anderson Companies’ years-long succession plan promotes Peter Diessner to Chief Executive Officer MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. Peter Diessner has been named chief executive officer of Kraus-Anderson Companies, Inc., the holding company for KA’s 127-year-old family of companies. Diessner has been chief operating officer of KA Companies since 2023. He succeeds Bruce Engelsma who has been CEO since 1997. Engelsma remains chairman of KA Companies and will continue to serve on various committees within the enterprise, which includes KA Construction, KA Realty & Development, KA Insurance and K ..read more

California’s Silicon Valley may be the tech hub of the country, but the Midwest is no slouch when it comes to innovation and advancing technology, including artificial intelligence. Global construction equipment manufacturer Doosan Bobcat, with American headquarters in West Fargo, North Dakota, has been using artificial intelligence (AI) for years. The company’s Rogers, Minnesota, facility implemented an AI visual inspection system four years ago. It tracks raw materials that are gathered into kits and then sent to plants in Gwinner or Bismarck, North Dakota, for assembly. Joel Honeyman, Doo ..read more