BISMARCK CAREER ACADEMY RECEIVES FLIGHT SIMULATOR DONATION

The Bismarck Career Academy has received the generous donation of a Redbird Full Motion Flight Simulator from the K.G. Carpenter Foundation. The simulator was donated with hopes of providing greater access to training and exploration for students with an interest in the field of aviation.

As a result of the donation, the Bismarck Career Academy is now one of the only schools in the upper Midwest to offer students training opportunities with an onsite full motion flight simulator. The Redbird simulator is one of the few advanced aviation training devices that are certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This FAA endorsement means that students who utilize the simulator with aviation technology instructors at the Career Academy may apply training time towards their pilot’s license. Under current regulations, 2.5 simulator hours count towards a private pilot license, 20 hours are applicable to instrument training, and 50 hours may be applied towards a commercial license. As a full motion simulator that offers a complete cockpit setup with functioning buttons and switches, students are offered deep immersion that physically feels very similar to flying a real aircraft. Recent snow storms experienced in the area inspired instructors to program weather conditions from the Bismarck region into the simulator, with students then attempting to land. Career Academy Director Dale Hoerauf stated, “I watched two students this morning fly the simulator in a snow storm and land. The sensation of the landing is exactly the same sensation you would feel in an airplane when the wheels touch down on the runway. You almost have to see to believe.”

The Redbird simulator will be an excellent addition to existing tools the Career Academy utilizes to help students learn – the facility is also one of the only in the country to own a certified airplane for students to fly. Student participation in the aviation program currently culminates with them attaining a private pilot license, but the ultimate goal of the aviation program is to allow students the opportunity to graduate with more pilot ratings and credentials. The district would like to express the most sincere gratitude to the K.G. Carpenter foundation for their generosity in helping to cultivate a future generations of aviators. Throughout the school year, the aviation program partners with the Bismarck Municipal Airport, the National Guard, and the Mandan airport to bring in speakers to educate students about jobs and opportunities within the field. The Redbird simulator will expand the meaningful aviation experience students receive at the Career Academy and help provide them with the foundation for potential post-graduation career paths.

The Bismarck Marathon presented by MDU Resources Group is looking for local businesses looking to get involved in this amazing community event through the Marathon Relay presented by BNSF Railway.

This opportunity to showcase your business against other businesses in town is not only a great way to give back to the community but also gives employees a fun team-building experience.

Teams are made up of five participants who run five different legs of the Full Marathon (26.2 miles) on Saturday, September 16. Legs vary in distance but average out to be approximately the distance of a 10K. The registration fee is $200 per team ($40/per person). Since the event is part of the Bismarck Marathon, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, the registration fee can be a tax write-off for their business.

The winning corporate relay team will receive a $500 donation in their name to the charity of their choice on behalf of the Bismarck Marathon. Since 2007, the Bismarck Marathon has given back over $325,000 to local charities that support the race’s mission of benefiting youth, health, and wellness.

This competition is more than just a race. It's an opportunity to promote fitness, health, and community involvement in the Bismarck-Mandan area. Bring your team together, promote healthy competition, and show your community that your business is a leader in promoting health and wellness.

You can register your team now at thebismarckmarathon. com or by calling (701) 877-4386

Q: DO I NEED TO FORM AN LLC FOR MY NEW BUSINESS?

A: It depends. A limited liability company (LLC) is the most popular legal structure chosen for new businesses. The primary purpose of an LLC is to insulate the owners of the company from personal liability in the event any claims are brought against the business or its employees. So, for example, if your business is selling a product which is found to be defective and causes injury to persons or property, you, as an owner of the company, cannot be held personally liable for damages resulting therefrom. However, the limited liability protection afforded to owners of an LLC is not absolute. In order to preserve limited liability protection, owners of an LLC must ensure that certain business formalities are followed and treat the LLC as a separate and distinct entity.

If your business involves a higher level of risk or exposure due to the services or products being provided, a limited liability company is one of several business structures worth exploring. An experienced corporate attorney will be able to assist you with choosing the appropriate legal entity for your business and provide you with the tools and resources necessary to protect you from personal liability.

Q: HOW DO I ATTRACT THE RIGHT PART-TIME EMPLOYEES?

A: Finding part-time employees can be hard. That’s why using the right methods to attract part-time employees is important. Many employers spend countless hours recruiting, and many still fall short when it comes to hiring the right people. Here’s a few ways to help:

Get the Word Out. Finding the right platforms to promote jobs is critical. Every platform’s user base varies. LinkedIn may be good for more specialized roles whereas Indeed may attract candidates looking for a second-job or seasonal job.

Create Incentives. Design incentives and reward programs that make a part-time role feel like an actual job. This could be a raise schedule or bonus to reward employees who stay over a period of time. These rewards help attract and retain employees. Ask for Referrals. Current employees typically understand your company, the roles and skills needed. They may be able to help direct you toward candidates who would be a good fit. Referral candidates are typically better than those you find through traditional recruitment tactics.

Interested in a part-time job or know someone who is? Join the Larks seasonal team this summer! Contact Kaitlyn at kaitlyn@larksbaseball.com.

Q: IS THERE AN ABUNDANCE OF VACANT OFFICE SPACE IN BISMARCK/MANDAN?

A: After Covid hit and we retreated to our home offices to avoid contact, many lease tenants abandoned their space. Businesses realized that their employees could work remotely from home without an office. It was a pretty bleak outlook for office vacancies in 2020. Go back to 2012-2015 during the peak of the boom when office demand was high and developers constructed large quantities of commercial office space locally. Then the slow-down and the available vacant space was abundant with supply high and demand low. We conducted a survey in 2016 of all of the office space listed for lease by the Commercial Real Estate agencies and the total was over 808,000 square feet available. Not much office space has been built since then and we have been back-filling that space right up to 2020. Then Covid happened until July 2021, when people were fed-up with working from home. And requests started pouring in for office space, especially small offices of less than 2,000 SF. Those landlords that divided their large space into smaller offices leased them. And now small and large office space up to 5,000 square feet is leasing again. Today’s available space is 342,000 square feet. We work every day matching tenants to great spaces. We’d welcome your call at (701) 222-0232 or email to george@ risepropertybrokers.com.