ASHLEY WEIGHTMAN 35

Growing up in Wimbledon, N.D., I always thought I would thrive in a big city. After graduating from the University of Mary with a bachelor’s in communications, I spent nearly seven years in local television news all over North Dakota, hoping to make the big show! Shortly after Corbin was born, I quickly realized that my family came first.

I have a pretty cool job at KLJ Engineering that allows me to set goals and gives me the support and opportunities to meet and exceed them. I work to make it a career rather than a steppingstone for our employees. Recruiting, onboarding, and engaging them makes my job one of the best in that there are so many opportunities to make a difference in their day-to-day work and in our projects by hiring the right people for the right positions.

WHAT MOTIVATES YOU?

Change is what motivates me. I started at KLJ Engineering as an intern and have grown immensely since then. I witnessed change in the last 10 years. Each day I am provided the ability to start over if I need to but also make a difference in doing so.

CHALLENGES IN YOUR CAREER PATH:

One challenge was finding my passion. What would drive me to work every day until I could retire? I thought it was broadcast journalism, I thought it was human resources, I thought maybe employee engagement. Until I was able to put my goals on paper, I couldn’t really figure it out. I want to be a champion for my company and those around me and I’ve found my passion by combining my strengths and setting continuous goals.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU OFFER OTHER YOUNG PROFESSIONALS?

Be patient, but persistent. Tell someone what you want, what your goals are, and how you plan to get there. I always tell our new hires to be open and honest with your supervisor, project managers, and mentors about your goals. You want to be CEO one day? Tell me about it. It doesn’t matter what stage of your career you’re in.

1 MILLION CUPS BISMARCK/MANDAN

Tell us about yourself and your role within your business.

A: 1 Million Cups (1MC) is a free, weekly program that gives local businesses and community builders the opportunity to share their ideas and engage their community for advice and feedback. A small group of people serve on the organizing committee that puts on the weekly, one-hour event, including local entrepreneurs, employees of private sector businesses and public sector representatives. Our current members come from the Chamber EDC, the NDWBC, ND SBDC, Gizmonics, Threefold, Co Schedule and ECI Systems. We receive additional support from other public and private sector sponsors. One of the coolest things about our team is that no single group owns the organization. Instead, we are all equal partners, working together to connect local entrepreneurs over a million cups of coffee (not literally).

Member Since 2023

Briefly tell us the history behind 1 Million Cups Bismarck/Mandan and how you got started.

A: 1MC was created by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation based in Kansas City in 2012. Our Chapter was founded October 9, 2013 by Marlo Anderson, Ellen Brannan, and Scott Wild. The story is that these three traveled to KC to convince Kauffman to let BismarckMandan have a chapter even though our population didn’t meet their 500K minimum threshold. We were the first 1MC in the state and have remained one of the best attended in the US. Over the past nearly 10 years we have had 20,046 attendees, 411 speakers, 198 livestreamed events and over 20 different people involved as organizers.

How has the growth of Bismarck-Mandan impacted 1 Million Cups Bismarck/Mandan?

A: Growth has meant a steady stream of new businesses to welcome to our stage. We are continually amazed by the number of creative and exciting things that people are doing in our community. 1MC provides them with a platform to get the word out about their business and it also engages the community in providing feedback, support and suggestions to help the business owner be successful.

What trends are taking place in your industry?

A: Honestly, the trend in our community for grassroots organizations that support entrepreneurship is a bit scary. We have had some wonderful events/groups go by the wayside; Disruptwell, Makewell, Start Bismarck, and the IDEA Center are all no more. That helps fuel our passion for keeping 1MC going strong after almost 10 years.

Have there been any monumental changes within your industry that you’ve had to deal with?

A: Covid was certainly a challenge for us, but we went virtual and didn’t miss a week. The side benefit is that we have kept streaming as an option for our audience who can’t make it to Dakota Stage on Wednesday mornings. Our list of organizers flexes as people change work responsibilities. Some members have had to step away but other folks in the community have stepped in to help.

What does the future 1 Million Cups Bismarck/ Mandan look like and the industry as a whole look like to you?

A: We are looking forward to the next ten years of 1MC. We hope to include more value added things to our programming like random acts of art, evening events, quarterly breakfasts, and other things we haven’t even thought of yet.

1 Million Cups Bismarck/Mandan became a Chamber EDC member in 2023, why did you decide to join?

A: We decided to join the Chamber EDC because they have been incredible partners on this journey. There was a time in our 1MC history when the organizers felt burned out and it appeared that the program would end. It was the Chamber EDC who stepped in and called a group of us together to sustain the event. We are so grateful for their role in our history and their ongoing role in our success. We’re just embarrassed that we didn’t become members sooner.

What should other Chamber EDC members know about 1 Million Cups Bismarck/Mandan that may assist them?

A: There is this valuable event that happens every Wednesday morning at 9:00am at Dakota Stage. Attendees who come to support the person on stage usually walk away feeling like they gained at least as much from the experience as they gave to others –charged up and full of ideas for their own business. We have plenty of free coffee, courtesy of Cappuccino on Collins, and everyone is welcome to attend. Come join us to caffeinate and connect!