Bis-Man INC! Fall 2022 by Spotlight Media

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What Mike Schmitz and Tim Helbling are doing for the smallcommunitybusiness

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MandanBismarckBACKGROUND&Mayors

The City of Bismarck was founded in 1875, while The City of Mandan was founded in 1879!

By Grant Ayers Photos by Josiah Kopp

“Right now, the Chamber EDC is in the process of examining what we need to do to help foster continual growth. We have a healthy economy in BismarckMandan and we’re seeing what we can do to continue to foster continual growth to make sure it stays sustainable.”

our communities. However, we also had to focus on ourselves, and we were able to create our own business development department to focus strictly on Mandan. Within Bismarck, there’s the capital, colleges and two major highway systems, which are natural draws. In Mandan, we don’t have that luxury,” Helbling said. “Because of that, we have to go out and work hard to get new businesses into our community. Many will naturally come to Bismarck by the two highways, since that’s where everybody wants to be. We’ve been having great luck focusing our business development efforts on local people from Mandan and getting them involved in the community. Locals want to be involved in their community and help it grow, so focusing on that has worked out well for us.”

Although, I think Mandan has a little bit more of an appetite for funding than the general populace of Bismarck has right now,” Mike Schmitz, Mayor of Bismarck, said.

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BISMARCK-MANDAN’S BUSINESS

While they are logistically very similar, they are also very different in the makeup of their communities, according to Helbling. With Bismarck as the capital of North Dakota, they may have different needs than Mandan. Mandan may also have slightly different standards than Bismarck, as they want to focus on and improve what matters most to their unique community.

“The joint development associations play an important role in what’s being done in

Today, the Bismarck-Mandan area’s joint programs are proving to be effective, as the economy continues to increase with a solidified team of problem solvers. “The individual programs that Bismarck has are not that much different than Mandan’s.

thriving business community oftentimes depends on the ambition of those leading it. Business is booming in the BisMan area, but with the proper goals, determination and guidelines, the next few years are looking better than ever for the community. I sat down with the Mayors of Bismarck and Mandan, Michael Schmitz (Bismarck) and Tim Helbling (Mandan), to discuss the business history within the area, how the cities have interacted with one another, the best resources for business owners and much more.

While Bismarck and Mandan operate separately, they often interact with one another when it comes to business organizations, locations and more. Having interacted with each other since the late 1800s, their business communities have bonded and grown together for nearly 150 years. “I think that we have a really good working relationship with Bismarck. We share a lot of commonalities, and we share one Bismarck-Mandan Chamber EDC,” Tim Helbling, Mayor of Mandan, said.

“I was on the original Special Task Force committee. Then, we merged that with the Infrastructure Task Force. I’ve also been involved in the Chamber of Commerce, as well as the Economic Development Committee.”

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What Committees Have You Been On?

Mike Schmitz is new to the office as Mayor, having just been elected earlier this year. Over the next four years, he's looking forward to making a positive impact on the Bismarck-Mandan community.

What was your journey into politics?

What gives you business credibility?

I’ve been involved with many finance committees, boards and served as president of the foundation for Bismarck State College. All of those things not only build leadership, but also build skills for teaching leadership.

What do you have planned for your term in office?

I’ve got an initiative that I’m working on with the city administration to streamline and simplify the process of interacting with the city. How do we be responsive and treat our citizens, whether they’re corporate or individuals, as truly customer clients and give them that first-level “wow experience”? I think we sometimes get caught up in big organizations and won’t step back and consider what’s important to Joe or Judy Smith coming off the street, who needs good guidance so that they can get through the processes faster.

Mike Schmitz graduated from University of Mary with a double major in Business Administration and Accounting, launching his career path in accounting. “My first professional job was in an accounting firm and I fell in love with it. 38 years later, here I am still doing it,” Schmitz said.

It wasn’t necessarily a long journey into politics. What prompted it was that I was involved in a few different committees four and a half years ago through this last period. I was still on one of those committees, our special assessment task force, where we were looking at alternatives to how we can fund some of that infrastructure. That whetted my appetite for running for office. Around four years ago, I started debating whether or not [running for Mayor] was the right thing for me to do. There were a lot of discussions with my wife because it’s a joint thing. I felt like I saw a need for someone who has a willingness to try to make sure that Bismarck is transparent and I knew that I could bring my business background to the position.

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Tim Helbling began on the park board at the young age of 27 years old, while the average age of a park board member, at the time, were in their 50s, 60s and 70s!

STARTINGYOUNG

Tim Helbling has been a lifelong resident of Mandan, ND, with multiple family ties. Having served his city as Mayor of Mandan prior to his current term from 2008 to 2012, Helbling has significant experience under his belt and is prepared to continue improving Mandan.

I've been surrounded by business for as long as I remember. My family still has several businesses in the community to this day and I'm the owner of Corral Sales RV Superstore. Business has been very successful and I've been able to expand my business ventures with rental properties and more over the years.

Our biggest goal is to preserve Mandan and its history. I don’t want Mandan to become “another Bismarck,” meaning that I don’t want Mandan to become something that it’s not. I want to see steady growth, but not an explosion of growth. That typically comes with financial struggles. We have a long, proud history and I want to see that stay. So we’ve had consistent, steady growth and I just want to keep that going.

What was your journey into politics?

What gives you business credibility?

My family is deeply-rooted in Mandan and still has ties to several businesses in the Bismarck-Mandan community. I’ve always had a really strong business background, but I didn’t fully get into politics until I was stock car racing with my brother. We were on some boards while we were there, but the track that we had was going away. We asked ourselves, “How do we get a new race track? How can we make this work?” Our stock car club didn’t have ties to any of the park boards, so we were sitting in the bar one night and I drew the short straw. So I got on there in 1990 and enjoyed my time. Afterward, I jumped to the City Commission from 1998 to 2008, then Mayor. To this day, I’ve been involved in politics in Mandan for over 30 years.

What do you have planned for your term in office?

The Liberty Memorial Bridge was the first vehicular bridge to connect Bismarck and Mandan across the Missouri River when it was dedicated in September 1922.

Bismarck-Mandan Chamber EDC: The Bismarck-Mandan Chamber EDC is home to more than 1,300 members, making it one of the largest business organizations in North Dakota. The organization is involved in a wide range of community events and committees, ranging from entrepreneurial networking events and supporting their members in government, to educational opportunities that support rising entrepreneurs and the next generation of business owners. To get involved, contact them at (701) 223-5660 or info@bmcedc.com

The Future of the Bis-Man Small Business Community

It’s not just the Bismarck area; it’s called the BismarckMandan area, and we really need to look at it that way. I look forward to having a collaborative effort with Mayor Helbling over the course of our terms.”

a new indoor tennis facility. I would love for the residents of Bismarck to utilize that facility. Bismarck can develop a facility for alternative uses in the winter that both communities use. We have to take care of our schools, but a lot of crossover should be able to occur when it comes to business,” Schmitz said. “If [Bismarck and Mandan] need to work together for the next big thing, whether it be a manufacturer, data center or anything else, we need to look at it as a two-sided community working together where we’re both able to contribute to each other. Our Chamber EDC is a great example of something that benefits both communities.

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“We’re hoping for it to be more seamless. I truly hope that there will be shared recreational facilities between the two communities. For example, Mandan is building

Bismarck and Mandan have most certainly made progress in a positive direction as time has moved on. However, Helbling and Schmitz see a future that’s not only brighter and better for both cities, but also a community that’s more interactive. With detailed plans set in place, as well as educational events and incentive programs, both cities are focused on improving the economy without changing the original “feel” of the city.

City of Bismarck: Bismarck was founded in 1872, quickly becoming a business hub for populations nearby. With impressive land development and progress in the area, Bismarck was the central location for many to meet. Marked as the capital of North Dakota, it's the center of a great amount of government and business activity.

City of Mandan: Mandan was founded shortly after Bismarck in 1879, with the intention of Western expansion. With more than 100 miles of walking trails in the area, it's not surprising that 24/7 Wall St ranked Mandan #2 on America's 50 Best Cities to Live in 2018.

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will attract young people to the community. Young people don’t want a community that doesn’t have things that interest them. So we’ve been working hand in hand with our park and school districts to share resources and information, and ensure that the community is taken care of,” Helbling said.

“If you drove down Main Street in Mandan 20 years ago, you would have thought the town was almost done. I would say 60 to 70% of the buildings were empty and dilapidated. But with this program, we have new buildings in the heart of

The City of Mandan has also put an emphasis on the improvement of the exteriors of their downtown buildings through the Downtown Storefront Improvement Program. The initiative allows commercial property owners and business tenants to apply for a $30,000 forgivable loan with the intent of rehabilitating a building facade or storefront.

our city that saw a huge step in the progression from where they were before,” Helbling said. “We want to improve the public look of downtown Mandan. We want to improve windows, doors, landscaping, awnings and more. The reasoning behind this is if their business happens to not succeed and the inside is remodeled by the next owner, the building’s exterior will still have a lasting effect on Main Street. It’s been working out very well for us and is still wellparticipated in today.”

Mandan was named after the Mantani Indians, or "people of the bank."

BISMANINC.COM 37

With both Mayors wishing to collaborate more in the future, it’s natural that they have a vision for not only while they’re in office, but what they hope to see in the andnewinnewpublictolookingMayormore,”that,activities.riverAlso,theotherfurtherallmeetingstheEasternWhat’sregarding“IcommunityBismarck-Mandanyearsfromnow.wanttobuildaconsensusallsectorsinBismarck.goodforNorthernandexpansionsisgoodforwholearea.I’vebeenholdingtoensurethatwe’reinthistogether.I’dalsolikeaconsensusamongthepoliticalstops,suchaspublicschoolsandparks.weneedtodevelopthewithmorebusinessesandWe’reworkingonasIbelievethatwecandoSchmitzsaid.Helbling,however,isatwhatcanbedonefurthertheirattractionsandappeal.“WehavealotofandexcitingstuffgoingupMandan.We’reworkingonarodeofacility,footballfieldalotmoregoingupthat

their idea for a new business, and that’s worked out very well for months. They become friends, gain confidence and it’s a success for everyone involved. Furthermore, we do a downtown tour of places and spaces every year where we take out all the realtors and show them what’s available. It also benefits us by giving them a perspective of what’s changed over the past year,” Helbling said. “Also, through Lunch & Learn events, members of the business community come together, listen in and discuss their businesses and help mentor people in different ways to assist them in starting their business. The biggest resources have to be the other businesses in town. They’re your neighbors; find out what their strengths and weaknesses are to them. Most of them are bound to be very honest and upfront with you. They’ll tell you where they had trouble, where they excelled and what they would have done differently.”

In Mandan, Helbling spoke highly of their Business Development & Communications Office, as they often promote assistance for businesses in the area.

Business owners, or those interested in pursuing a business venture of their own, can sometimes find themselves in confusing territory without a clue of where to go. Mayors Helbling and Schmitz are here to remind us that resources are abundant in the Bismarck-Mandan community. Ranging from events and organizations, to reports and resources, there are plenty of directions to go when searching for help in Bis-Man’s entrepreneurial

Additionally, Helbling was thrilled to discuss other events in which Mandan aims to boost their business development, as well as inspire local entrepreneurs.

Bis-Man Resources for small business owners

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“We do a business pitch challenge, where we invite people in the community to come and pitch

Onecommunity.ofthefirst organizations that Schmitz recommended when in search of guidance is the Bismarck-Mandan Chamber EDC. “My first reaction would be to direct them to the Chamber EDC. They manage many resources in the community and know where the tools are. I think we have the ability, not just in our community, but across the whole state, to direct people where they need to go efficiently. It’s not a guarantee that we’re going to have all of the answers for a person’s exact situation, but the Chamber EDC is going to offer all of the resources that we have and do the best that they can,” said Schmitz.

“A big tip for business owners is to find somebody who’s smarter than you are. I always look for somebody a lot smarter than me if it’s about something that I’m less ‘in the know’ on so that I can be educated. We’re really fortunate to have Ellen Huber and Kari Schmidt doing such a wonderful job in the Business Development Office,” said Helbling. “Every year, we do an annual report of business development for the community. We’ve done a lot of strategic planning as we’re focused on trying to make Main Street, as well as the rest of the community, look better than it had in the past. We highlight some of the expansions every year that have gone on in the community, along with useful tools for community development.”

Web:

Email: tim.helbling@cityofmandan.com

Phone: (701) 667-7460

“I want them to not be afraid to reach out, as I’m willing to take communication. From my perspective as the mayor, I can always promise that business personnel has all of the answers and then I’m going to have the answers that are gonna make them happy. I will do my best to get back to them within 24 hours if I’m unavailable so that we can develop a plan. The community offers a wonderful place to live,” Schmitz said.

Contact City of Mandan / Mayor Helbling

Mandan,Address:LinkedIn:Facebook:mandannd.govoffice.com@CityofMandanlinkedin.com/company/city-of-mandan205SecondAvenueNWND58554

Mayors Helbling and Schmitz both have high standards for the future of the community, with goals that extend far beyond their term. Despite their plans to look into the future, that doesn’t detract from the efforts and progress they wish to make, as well as the focus they want to put on the current people in the present that are impacted by the decisions made today.

Contact City of Bismarck / Mayor Schmitz

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Web: Bismarck,Address:LinkedIn:Facebook:bismarcknd.gov@BismarckNDGovlinkedin.com/company/cityofbismarckP.O.Box5503ND58506

Phone: (701) 355-1300

Right: Owner, Founder and CEO, Dan Polk Not Pictured: Owner, Founder and COO, Herb Miner

Left: Owner, Founder and CFO, Nicole Kohler

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With technology seemingly changing on a dime in recent years, it can be challenging to keep up with the latest and greatest in the IT and software industry. If a business falls behind, they can find themselves on a slippery slope with a tendency to refuse to change down the road because they’re stuck in their ways. Silicon Plains aims to take the stress out of managing your business’ electronics, while still offering the most efficient operations on the market.

SILICON PLAINS IS TECHRETHINKINGSERVICES

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By Grant Ayers

Polk both stated that in their rises to success, each company took similar paths while facing similar challenges and feats. They both launched their companies in 2009 from the ground up, with very little of their own money. While they found relatively quick success after launching, they admitted that there’s a decent amount of “cheating” that takes place in the industry as well.

Photo By Josiah Kopp

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PLAINSTOINTRODUCTIONANSILICONSILICONPLAINSSERVICESINCLUDE › Business Analytics › Computer Hardware › Mobile Device Support › Proactive Computer Support › Cloud Control › Security and Anti-Virus › Network and Wireless

wo of the Silicon Plains founders, Herb Miner and Dan Polk, both operated separate, similar and successful companies hundreds of miles away from one another. Miner founded and operated Complete Technology Solutions near Denver, Colorado, while Polk found success within Silicon Plains, based out of MinerBismarck.and

“There are a lot of peer groups available for businesses like ours to get going, as IT people tend to be hypercollaborative. Early on, the companies that wrote the software would share it with people in different geographies, so they weren't directly competing with each other. They were effectively just handing out cheat codes,” Polk said.

The managed services industry was starting to contract. Successful businesses were starting to get much bigger, while small businesses would stay small, and mergers or acquisitions started happening. They began to see merger and acquisition activity going on and realized they didn’t want to miss out on the opportunity.

“We needed to start thinking about what this means for us because we didn't want to be one of the small companies that gets left behind without the financial power of being able to acquire employees and put energy, time and money into our sales and marketing efforts. We didn't want to be a company that was constantly being rolled over by the tank treads of an industry that was going to move forward no matter what,” Polk said.

“Individually at the time, we said, ‘Okay, let's incorporate as much of this as we can because it's the fastest way to grow.’ Not long after, we both hit the $2 million top-line ceiling that almost every service provider does when they have a single leader. And so both of us at the same time started thinking about how to move forward.”

But when I tried something and it worked out poorly or could have been improved, that’s when I learned something. When we started thinking about what we wanted to do with Silicon Plains, I knew that if there was a way to get things done a little bit easier, it involves surrounding myself with people that I absolutely trust so that when they say, ‘Don't go in that direction,’ I feel confident in that decision.”

Today, Polk and Kohler reside in the Bismarck area with roughly half of the team, while Miner operates their second location in Colorado with the other half of the team. With Polk, Kohler and Miner all admitting that they were better at being people first and employees second, they all fall into what Polk defines as an interdependent group.

“One of my former bosses used the term interdependently, where we're extremely independently minded people, but we also see the benefit of working together. We all want [Silicon Plains] to work as a group so it's been pretty smooth sailing along the way with the same mission. We’re all entrepreneurial at heart and we decided that we should probably start changing into moreso business leaders that focus on how to raise up others. The trio of us now continually work daily as fast as we can and as intelligently as we can to continue to grow,” Polk said.

› DAN POLK

BISMANINC.COM 43

While both companies may have been originally founded in 2009, it wasn’t until years later that an improved and expanded version of Silicon Plains came to life. “Around 12 years after launching them both, our paths merged and we brought the companies together. We talked about branding when we got together and agreed that “Silicon Plains” is a really, really cool name. When we merged, we decided to keep that name since we were all on board with it,” Miner Aftersaid.

forming the reworked Silicon Plains, they knew that the next step would be increasing the capacity and capabilities of the company. They began bringing in qualified people to boost the company’s growth and stay on track with their

After having shifted Silicon Plains into a brand new work dynamic for Polk, Miner and Kohler, spanning two long-distance locations, the team had to adapt and overcome new challenges. Luckily, complications were few and far between, as the team shared common goals and perspectives that they established before merging together as one. Now, they’re working together more efficiently than ever before.

“For me, it was every time that I’ve ever failed. It's just like raising a kid. I didn't grow up around business. My mom was a piano teacher and my dad was a curriculum developer so we didn't have that business background in our family. Everything that I did was just me trying something and seeing if it worked. I surrounded myself with as many mentors and coaches as I could. When I set out to try something new and it worked, that was great!

Not long after taking notice of this looming threat, Polk contacted nearly everyone that he knew in the industry within 300 miles until he came across Herb's company. After a phone call discussing the future of the industry, Miner took interest and Polk flew out to Colorado. There, they discussed it further, ran it past their families, coworkers and advisors, and took the leap soon after by merging together as one.

expectations. “We started bringing in experts from all over. Herb had brought in some experts. I already had Nicole [Kohler] and other people who were experts in different fields. I don't know about Herb but I never felt like we were growing fast enough,” Polk said.

“We did, and continue to do, a really good job at taking care of what we need to take care of. I'm working with two very smart, intelligent people. I trust that they can do what needs to be done in their areas. If you're the single owner of a company, you have to make decisions and hope that it’s the right one. We have this strength and support between the three of us. It’s great to get a little sanity check from people that I respect and trust,” Miner said.

WHAT PREPARED YOU FOR THE MERGER?

Polk has served on a number of college advisory boards, been a mentor and board member for business incubators and has led his last two ventures from startup to growth and sale.

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Owner, Founder and Chief Executive Officer

MEET THE FOUNDERS DAN POLK

Photo By Josiah Kopp

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MEET THE FOUNDERS DAN POLK

I interact with Nicole and Herb a bunch throughout the day by having regular day-to-day meetings that ensure we’re all on the same page and progress is being made. With having two different locations, and Herb in Colorado, there has been a little bit of a learning curve in how to operate office meetings remotely, but we’re staying ahead of that curve.

I started figuring out that I didn't want to be an IT guy forever anymore. I didn't want to be fixing computers forever because I was really good at it, so it wasn't nearly as fulfilling to me anymore and there wasn’t any challenge in it.

Being a bad employee, honestly. I saw naturally over time that I was good at getting other people excited about what I was doing. They would notice that I was really excited about whatever it was that I was talking about. People would be interested in what I was getting excited about and think, “Let's go see what he's going to do next.”

Being the kind of person that gets all wound up and excited about “the next thing” in business and tech, and getting other people intrigued as well by accident, I thought to myself, “What if I did this on purpose?” So, I decided to shift gears and went towards more of a business leader focus when launching Silicon Plains.

My job primarily consists of sales and sales management. I’m also occupying the CEO position, but that doesn't have a ton of work that comes with it. Sales management is roughly 80 to 90% of my day, and I tend to put more of my focus on the larger accounts. We have other salespeople that do the dayto-day sales that ask me for advice every once in a while.

WHAT FIRST GOT YOU INTO BUSINESS?

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WHAT DO YOU DO?

Owner, Founder and Chief Financial Officer

BISMANINC.COM 47

Kohler is an entrepreneur at heart having founded, operated profitably for years and sold two large and highly successful businesses before coming to Silicon Plains.

MEET THE FOUNDERS NICOLE KOHLER

Photo By Josiah Kopp

She is currently pursuing an MBA from the University of North Dakota.

I went back to school to finish my accounting degree and was basically relentless on Dan until he hired me. I would not leave him alone. He posted this position for an office manager/bookkeeper on BisManOnline way back in the day. I saw the position and told him, “I’m closing one of my photography businesses. I'm almost done with this accounting degree and I really think that this would be a great opportunity for me.” I went on other interviews with law firms and other places and thought to myself, “Nope, this is where I have to be.” I was relentless for three months until he finally took me on.

I chose to follow my creative side and started taking wedding photos, which I found to be a very lucrative job, as I owned two separate photography studios. When the recession hit in 2008, I realized that I should have something to fall back on because people may not be spending thousands of dollars to have their wedding photographed.

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When I first started [at Silicon Plains], it was Dan, his business partner, a technician and I. There were only four of us and we were very much a sub $1 million company. As we grew, Dan said, “This is really going to be the future of the industry. If we don't start figuring out where we can bring in other experts in areas where we're not experts, then we're going to fail.” Soon after, we started talking with Herb and became a really good trio with a lot of trust between the three of us. We get together and collaborate often, and I couldn't ask for better people to be in business with.

WHAT DO YOU DO?

WHAT FIRST GOT YOU INTO BUSINESS?

Growing up, my family was heavily involved in business. My dad owned a couple of businesses while I was in elementary through high school, so I was exposed to a lot of that in the Bismarck-Mandan area. However, I didn't immediately get involved with it myself.

MEET THE FOUNDERS NICOLE KOHLER

My day-to-day involves making sure that we're getting the best deals, keeping track of all of our expenses and making sure that revenues are exceeding that. I do work quite a bit with Dan to ensure that we're getting the right services into the right customers’ hands. It’s so great that we have a weekly meeting where we get together as a team and go through any issues that we might have. We talk about headlines, whether it's employee or customer headlines, make major decisions and make sure that we're accomplishing our short-term and longterm goals for the business’s future.

Owner, Founder and Chief Operating Officer

MEET THE FOUNDERS HERB MINER

Photo Provided By Herb Miner

Prior to merging with Silicon Plains, Miner provided software solutions and project management to Lockheed Martin and NASA on 35 separate Space Shuttle missions and 12 satellite missions.

BISMANINC.COM 49

Dan and his team make a lot of promises to clients, and it's my overall responsibility to make sure that we guarantee any promises that get promised during the sales process. There’s no one right way to fulfill those promises that are made to clients since we're not your average IT firm. I develop our employees into really great techs and engineers that can do phenomenal things for Silicon Plains’ clients.

MEET THE FOUNDERS HERB MINER

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I grew up as a poor kid from the country. However, getting an education, going to college and getting an engineering degree helped me end up at NASA, which was a great thing to be a part of. I worked on and contributed to dozens of missions, as well as Department of Defense rocket launches, satellite launches and more in aerospace. It's an interesting field to be in, to say the least. Like Dan, though, I eventually realized that I was more fit to be a business leader. I felt like that piece of my skill set would be better used elsewhere. One thing I used to say at the beginning of [Complete Technology Solutions] is that it used to be me, a phone and a truck, and the phone rang and the truck rolled. We’ve come a long way from that with our phenomenal service team.

WHAT FIRST GOT YOU INTO BUSINESS?

WHAT DO YOU DO?

You just make sure there's always money in the checking account and just keep doing it right by organizing that and making it work. On top of those business aspects, is quality IT. As your company gets bigger and your team expands, everyone needs to know things faster and be doing things together.

HOW SILICON PLAINS HELPS WITH DAN POLK

A lot of times, companies will be getting bad advice from their own IT people who have also come up with the company. That doesn't mean that they're bad people or that they're not smart, it's just that they're used to what they've always known. Our job is to come in and standardize all IT aspects. By the end when we run it, all the drama goes away.

The everyday "Why can't you access this?" and "Do we all know how we're supposed to share files?" is gone. Then, they can start focusing on what actually makes that particular business special, as an employee or as a leader in that company and stop worrying about smaller IT issues that needed to be improved.

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Photos By Josiah Kopp

Every small to medium-sized business owner is plagued with kind of the same idea that their technology should be as special as they are. When we talk to them about changing and having us take care of their stuff with our "special sauce"; it's the standardization that works. Change is hard, but growth is relatively easy to handle.

Another common issue is that people will come to us and want someone to consult and give them ideas. They’ll say, "What should I be doing next?" or "What keeps me competitive?" They get caught up in thinking those questions themselves, while we have a whole group of people that do nothing but think like that all day.

In my eyes, 80 to 90% of businesses out there are still running with junk. If you want to be competitive, let us turn

Silicon Plains offers custom software

Customdevelopment!software

development will turn your business processes into time-saving computer programs. For any special projects, their inhouse team of software developers will show a business how to make IT work for them.

DID YOU KNOW?

that into plumbing. Once we're done, you’ll know that it's capable of whatever you want, whether it's cloud support, social media or just knowing that your backups are safe and secure. After that standardization, you can start talking about bolting on some real competitive edge stuff on top of the essentials, and that's where our consultants come in and we sit down and say, “Here are some ideas that you can pursue, now that you've got these pieces in place.”

"Our specialty is aviation, not cyber security. Before working with Silicon Plains, the IT process was stressful and was always a worry. What Silicon Plains has done for us is provide a national level of service that is scaled locally." - Jon Simmers, Bismarck Aero Center

A TERRIFIC TESTIMONIAL

OFFICE SHOTS

Photos By Josiah Kopp

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Address: 2219 E Main Ave Bismarck, ND 58501

With impressive experience and expertise between the three founders, it’s safe to say that they are taking the reworked and improved Silicon Plains to new heights. Offering a wide range of technology support for IT needs in any industry or business, Silicon Plains and its owners are ready to take on any challenge that comes their way and streamline your business technology.

Facebook: @SiliconPlains

Phone: 701-390-9876

Twitter: @silicon_plains

Email: answers@siliconplains.net

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/silicon-plains-llc

SCHEDULE CONSULTATIONA Plains

Web: siliconplains.net

Siliconwith

COMMUNITY-ORIENTED!

Silicon Plains recently hosted a successful open house on September 14th. Keep an eye out for any other up-andcoming, community-focused events by following their social media pages!

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Earl Steidler

Zach Hedstrom , Commercial Design Sales

Commercial Furniture Design/Sales

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RaeAnn Hill

By Brady Drake

Joe Heimann Commercial Design/Sales

Interior Designer Commercial/Residential

Photo by Ben Weisbeck, Weisbeck Media

here are a lot of ways to buy office furniture these days, but Interiors By Design, located right in Bismarck, sets itself apart with commitment and the expansiveness of what they offer.

We were lucky enough to speak with a few of their representatives to learn more about some items available to spruce up your office space this fall.

Has What You Need To Make Your Office Shine

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1987 2000

New Showroom and Warehouse

What makes Interiors By Design such a special company is the fact that they can help you with almost all of your commercial office needs!

Interiors by France Begins

360 CommercialDegree

Having worked alongside their parents for so long, Kim and Kelly learned the value of delivering quality. This was very inspirational and kept them in the feild. They stuck to their beliefs and watched this veision grow and come to life. In Spring of 2021, Kim and Kelly continued the legacy created by their parents and rebranded OVI and IBF into one new name, Interiors by Design.

EntryFurniturePartitionsLightingWallFlooringCoveringsMats

They offer all this and more!

A Proud History

The store was opened in 1967 and located on Thayer Avenue in Bismarck, ND. At the age of 15, France Splonskowski got a sales job working for Florence at her store, Interiors by Florence. Having worked entirely on commission, he was devoted to learn everything and become a master of the industry.

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In 1987, Florence retired and sold the store to France and Holly Splonskowski. Having taken over the business and earning their place as highly skilled furnishing experts, they rebranded as Interiors by France.

Interiors by Design

France starts at Interiors by Florence

Both Kim and Kelly return home to Bismarck after pursuing separate career paths and help their parents move from the original 1,500 sq. foot store to their brand new 40,000 sq. foot showroom and warehouse. This was also a launch pad opportunity for Kim and Kelly to be active in the family business, learn the trade and encourage them to consider a career as expert designers and future business owners.

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Photos provided by Interiors By Design

" We used Interiors By Design to outfit our brand new office and could not have been more pleased with the experience. Earl was fantastic to work with and they made sure we were completely taken care of.

One of Interiors By Design's biggest strengths is its flooring. They offer full installation of virtually any type of flooring you could ever need!

Flooring

| Mike Dragosavich Founder, Spotlight Media

Photo by Ben Weisbeck, Weisbeck Media

" This Teknion desk comes with a lifetime warranty. However, we, as Interiors By Design, guarantee that we will personally handle any warranty claims for our customers. We won't give you a number to call. You call us and we will handle all of the paperwork for you."

However, the desk and cabinets pictured, as well as many of the other modular desk systems sold by Interiors by Design, aren't solely adjustable from an up and down standpoint. It's also completely adjustable from a directional standpoint and can be

changed to fit the space it is in. It can even be right-handed or left-handed.

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| Joe Heimann

Pictured is a Teknion Modular Desk System complete with a fully adjustable desk and cabinet.

Modular Desks

The particular chair pictured above is complete with an ergonomic design that includes a coat rack and a sink or tilt lumbar adjustment.

Modular furniture, meaning furniture that is flexible and adjustable, is all the rage these days, and desks are no different. In fact, they're maybe the most important piece of office furniture to have modular capabilities, especially in the current hiring market.

Seating

standing desk can serve as an attractive piece of furniture in recruiting and retaining employees.

People are paying increasingly close attention to their physical health and the widely reported benefits of utilizing a

"We've come to a point now where a lot of these adjustable desks are very executive looking," Earl said. "This one comes in a number of different finishes and even comes in glass top."

DesignByInteriorsbyprovidedPhoto

Interiors By Design carries a wide variety of seating options including, executive, lounge, conference and much more.

Did you know?

Interiors By Design 322 N 26th St, Bismarck, ND 58501 701.223.8813

Modular Cabinets

MediaWeisbeckWeisbeck,BenbyPhotos

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" If you have a need, come bring it to us. We can likely help " Joe Heimann

There may be a number of ergonomic grants available for your business.

Head to workforcesafety.com to learn more.

IBD also carries modular cabinets that are capable of accommodating sinks, microwaves and refrigerator space as well.

"The upper cabinets here hang on rails in the wall," Earl said. "They're not permanent. They can be moved and relocated and repositioned."

Facebook: ibdinteriors.comInstagram:@ibdinteriors@ibdinteriors

Cabinets like the ones pictured are commonly used in office mail rooms and break rooms. However, what sets these apart, like a majority of the products offered by IBD is their flexibility.

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turned down by two separate banks before the third one took us up on a chance with our first Grand Junction,” Shoults said.

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Today, there are eight locations across the Midwest, ranging from the FargoMoorhead and Bismarck-Mandan areas to Grand Forks and beyond. Despite the success that came from spreading the Grand Junction brand across the Midwest, Shoults didn’t stop with one bold business venture.

Did You Know?

Grand Junction Grilled Subs was first started by a Vietnamese immigrant named Vu Truong in Fargo, ND. Once Shoults tried and fell for the Grand Junction recipes and business model, the two teamed up with plans to franchise the business.

Shoults’ History and Rise to Success

“I love eating, being hospitable and interacting with and meeting new people. I also love creating a good experience for somebody and making their day a little brighter. To be honest, I truly don’t enjoy cooking food at all; it's a nuisance to me,” Shoults said. “I'm a very methodical thinker and like to reverse engineer things, implement processes and see what works. With Grand Junction, I saw an opportunity that doesn’t come around too often that I knew I had to jump at, so I dove in headfirst. I love being

No matter how solid a business plan someone may think they have, it can still be painstakingly challenging to get a business off the ground. When Shoults was beginning his business venture into Grand Junction Grilled Subs’ franchising, there were countless obstacles to overcome, both big and small. “When we first started out, we originally began being funded by the banks for capital. I was

Highlighting Colton Shoults’ Many Business Ventures

able to interact with customers, solve problems and work with a solid team in the restaurant industry for long hours. It's really rewarding for me.”

- Colton Shoults

“All of Grand Junction’s fries are freshcut. I think of all the potatoes that we’ve cut by hand and how it would be so much easier to buy a bag of frozen fries, but that’s not what we’re here to do. We advertise quality food and it’s important that we deliver on that promise.”

strong after that first wave in the economy. Within Laughing Sun, one of the best things that we did during the pandemic was get creative with axe-throwing lanes, which proved to be extremely successful and cost-efficient,” Shoults said. “We did astronomical sales, since the weapons and lumber were low-cost, and we already had the real estate for it. We had to learn a few new things, such as booking software and safety precautions for customers, and there's some time and money invested with additional insurance costs, but this is all relatively low compared to other aspects of the business. It was the perfect strategy that we came up with during COVID and it luckily really paid off.”

With multiple restaurants taking off the ground and finding a unique niche in the Bismarck-Mandan restaurant market, it was safe to say that things were going well. That is, until the pandemic turned the world, and restaurant industry, upside down. Despite taking a hit at first, it became evident that Shoults was willing to take risks to find success during uncertain times.

“2021, surprisingly, ended up being a record year for Grand Junction, Laughing Sun Brewing Co. and The CraftCade. We bounced back really

Years ago, Shoults may not have strived for technical training in the restaurant industry. However, that’s not to say he had any less of a reason for pursuing the position that he’s in today.

Grand Junction Grilled Subs

Looking beyond the goals of distribution and sales, Shoults has some impressive plans up his sleeve for the physical space in Bismarck. “We have some exciting plans of purchasing the building when the time is right. We're going to be moving the brewery to the other side of the building to allow our stage and concert area. It'll be much bigger with a private green room for the bigger artists that we're booking. That way, we can have much bigger shows and increase the venue capacity to roughly 700 people,” Shoults said.

Laughing Sun Brewing Co. offers plenty of indoor and outdoor seating for even the busiest of days in the warmer months.

focus on increasing the businesses that we have. Laughing Sun Brewing is now distributing in four states;

Did You Know?

Laughing Sun Brewing Co. is a brewery and BBQ restaurant located in downtown Bismarck. With a wide variety of brew flavors and meal selections, live music and axe-throwing lanes, Laughing Sun Brewing Co. has developed notoriety across the Bis-Man community.

North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana and Minnesota. We’ve got plenty of room for growth across the country, so the sky's the limit with the brewery. We can be everywhere in essence,” Shoults said.

Laughing Sun is known for far more than just their brews. They’re also known for their food, live music and weekly events!

Laughing Sun Brewing Co.

While Shoults, his partners and his employees have all seen immense growth and success over the past year despite a radically-changed economy, there’s no cause for celebration just yet. Shoults detailed some of the many plans that he has in store for the everincreasing Laughing Sun Brewing Co.

Laughing Sun Brewing often partners with different organizations for events for custom products. They create custom beer and labels for any event ranging from alumni events to golf tournaments. For anyone interested in taking their event to the next level and with their own branded beer, Laughing Sun Brewing Co. will work with them on what beer they want and then we have our in-house graphic designer making an optimum label with their brand.

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“Right now, we just don't have the space to be able to fully open up and be the venue that we want to be. With this expansion, we’ll be able to do bigger events and have bigger artists. We truly feel like it will be the best music venue in town. I feel that Bismarck is lacking in music venues when compared to Fargo and we want Laughing Sun to fill that gap. We’re looking forward to essentially tripling the size of Laughing Sun Brewing as part of our three-year plan. Last year may have been the best year that we’ve had at Laughing Sun, and we're poised to beat it this year, so it's something exciting to be a part of, but it's going to be a really special place by 2025.”

“Iempire.planto

A WOODLANDS WALK RENEWED OUR SPIRIT 218-847-9202 Ext. 229

Within a few months of opening, The CraftCade was voted “Best Place to Have a Beer” by the Bismarck-Mandan community, and placed second for “Best Place to have a Date”. In 2021, The CractCade was voted “Best Pizza” in the Bismarck-Mandan area.

everyone's attention. From sci-fi games to racers and classic throwbacks, all of the games are getting plenty of use in the restaurant,” Shoults said.

The CraftCade is packed with plenty of games that span decades for all customers to enjoy over a meal or beverage.

The CraftCade, a popular restaurant and bar in downtown Bismarck, opened in the Spring of 2019 to immense praise for its unique dining and retro-styled entertainment concept. The restaurant offers the same premium flavor that his other ventures carry, yet brings a wildly different range of meals, beverages and experiences to the customers.

“The CraftCade is very well-known for its arcade lineup. We have a wide range of titles, both old and new, that grab

“At The CraftCade, we have a second floor upstairs that can be rented out and reserved for closed, private events. The area is filled with plenty of seating and fun games that everyone can play. It's a great spot for 40 people to get together and celebrate, meet up or any other reason for gathering.”

The CraftCade

The CraftCade offers a self-serve beer wall, where customers can serve as much as they’d like by the ounce, blend flavors and make each drink customized to your taste!

- Colton Shoults

Did You Know?

While The CraftCade is a 21+ older establishment during the majority of business hours, they do offer Sunday Family Fundays, in which the food and games are available for all ages.

Did You Know?

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“We're focused on capturing stranded energy. When gas is flared, it puts methane into the atmosphere. We capture that gas, run it through a natural gas generator and we're able to then harness that energy,” Shoults said. “We then calculate that energy and use significant amounts of it to run the Bitcoin miners. We work with a gas capture energy expert, a power generation expert and we have the data mining center. We created this effective solution and partnered with, in my

Recently, Northern Immersion closed on two deals that allowed them to launch two new mining sites with 600 Bitcoin miners under their management.

“The average company at our age is only running at 1 megawatt, but we’re already running at 3 megawatts. Our goal for the end of the year is to be running at 5 megawatts, with a goal of an additional 20 megawatts with 5,000 Bitcoin miners by the end of 2023.”

“I've always been very aware of what North Dakota has to offer. There are only about three of us locally that are serious about taking this to the next level while these big companies are coming in. I'm in a group with these other local miners that are passionate about coming together, collaborating and doing wonderful things for North Dakota,” Shoults said. “Interestingly enough, the reason why we got into this is that all of our restaurants are mining Bitcoin. We're then able to write off the electricity that we utilize. As we mine Bitcoin, we aren’t taxed on it until we sell. When we decide to sell it back, tax implications are significantly less than income tax.”

down the road for North Dakota business investors to get involved,” Shoults said. “Our mining operations are strictly going to be in North Dakota, as we're 100% focused on working with local people that want to see their community succeed. Once we get the next few steps in place, we're going to have a very solid model that we can open up to North Dakotans and give them an opportunity to get involved.”

Northern Immersion

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The Bitcoin industry is relatively new when compared to other aspects of the economy. Despite this, Shoults is taking his knowledge and breaking new ground. Using forward-thinking techniques, Northern Immersion is on the rise and paving the way for other companies with their new processes for Bitcoin mining.

While Shoults may not have been the first to dive into the world of cryptocurrency, he did pick up the trend earlier than most, allowing him to have a leg up in the field on others.

In addition to his long list of successful restaurant models, Shoults set forth on a new path that led him to something wildly different. Founded in 2020, Northern Immersion is a Bitcoin mining company that installs and services data centers to utilize North Dakota’s flare gas and transform that energy. “I started my company when I saw a fantastic opportunity here in North Dakota. In my opinion, North Dakota is going to be a top three Bitcoin mining state in the country. Bitcoin mining uses these highpowered computers that utilize a lot of energy,” Shoults said.

A Substantial Success!

- Colton Shoults

Looking Ahead

Colton Shoults is pictured here with one of Northern Immersion’s Bitcoin miners.

“I highly recommend that North Dakota business owners try to understand what Bitcoin is. Northern Immersion will probably have some opportunities

opinion, the best in the industry.”

Having studied the ins and outs of the industry, Shoults encourages everyone to, at the very least, look into the industry and consider implementing it within their business to a certain extent.

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I tried to position myself around people that push each other to be better, work well together and of fer a very unique skill set. With all of these different restaurants and ventures, we’ve basically built this nucleus of North Dakota business leaders that are seriously some of the best in the state’s restaurant industry, in my opinion. There's not a single restau rant concept you could throw at us that we wouldn't execute at a high level. Every brand has two to three core members running the specific business and then some oversee the array of operations. We have a core that I’m really proud of and I think that's the most important aspect of our success.

Shoults behind the scenes of the Laughing Sun Brewery, which will look radically different in the coming years.

Surround yourself with the right people

“I purchased my first duplex when I got my National Guard bonus at 21 years old. Once the deal went through, I completely renovated it myself while

Shoults’ Business Advice

“I decided to sell my portfolio of du plexes to my managers within our dif ferent business models and brands to help them get into an asset where they

Keys Please Properties is a 47-unit trailer park that's professionally man aged by a local property management company. While the property is an impressive asset, it was a long road for Shoults to work his way up to owning that large of an investment.

working full-time to afford school. Nat urally, that evolved into another duplex and another after that,” Shoults said.

can be business owners through rent ing,” Shoults said. “I truly believe that if you create opportunity for others, that creates opportunity for yourself in return. That's what I did with those duplexes, which led to Keys Please Properties in September of 2014. We wanted to diversify into something that we felt was recession-proof. If there was the slightest chance of another recession, this would be a really solid investment.”

Over the years, Shoults has picked up a wide range of business tips and advice from his entrepreneurial journey. While some may have been learned from mentors or others that influenced him, much was developed through trial and error, personal experiences and overcoming obstacles on his path.

Keys Please Properties

When Shoults decided to sell his port folio of duplexes, he had an interesting idea of what to do with them.

Don't focus so much on the capital that you need to make something happen. You shouldn't get intimidated by capital, but there's always somebody out there that does. Oftentimes, people will get stuck when they start crunch ing the numbers and realize how expensive it could be. It's important to really focus on your business plan and how you're going to execute that idea. I think there are a lot of younger, aspiring entrepreneurs that have great ideas, but they stop before they execute them, which is everything.

Connections are critical

All of these brands are essentially housed under the same ownership, so we have the ability to shift willing people around that are involved in multiple of them. For example, my brother is a partner in both Laughing Sun Brewing Co. and Grand Junction. Don James is a partner with me at Laughing Sun, as well as a partner in The CraftCade. We're able to grab people from one system and bring them to another if they're up for the challenge. As they start to do that, pay naturally increases for them. We have intelligent, hardworking and smart people within each business and their track record is only proving what’s going to come next for us. By collaborating with a reliable support system, we’ve found some amazing ways to create more revenue, create a better culture, make new menu items and continue opening other businesses. I have full faith in them and con fidence that everything is handled. If a situation does work its way up to me, it's usually a major situation that needs my attention to be taken care of.

You also have to be connected to a certain degree to make a name for yourself. You have to have some con nections and try to reach out to other people that you can learn from. If they see that you have a legitimate business plan, have a good business mindset and your idea has merit in the marketplace, everything else will follow suit. When it comes to any young entrepreneur, they have to follow it all the way through. If you have the right con nections and mentors, you'll be blown away by the doors that open. You just have to be open-minded, pursue that opportunity and reap the benefits of your hard work in due time.

Show your circle mutual trust

Don’t let a lack of capital scare you

NorthernContact Immersion

Support Laughing Sun Brewing Co.

Support Grand Junction (Bismarck)

Email: bismarck@thecraftcade.com Web:

Bismarck,Address:ing-sun-brewingLinkedIn:Twitter:Facebook:laughingsunbrewing.com@laughingsunbrewing@LaughingSunBrewlinkedin.com/company/laugh1023EastFrontAvenueND58504

Support Grand Junction (Mandan)

Phone: (701) 751-3881

Mandan,Address:junction-grilled-subsLinkedIn:Twitter:Facebook:grandjunctionsubs.com@GrandJunctionBismarck@eatGJSubslinkedin.com/company/grand-4524MemorialHwyND58554

Phone: (701) 595-SUBS

Email: info@laughingsunbrewing.com

Email: mandan@grandjunctionsubs.com Web:

Email: bismarck@grandjunctionsubs.com

Web:Email:Phone:DowntownAddress:LinkedIn:Instagram:Twitter:Facebook:thecraftcade.com@TheCraftCadeBismarck@TheCraftCade@TheCraftCadelinkedin.com/company/thecraftcade405N4thStreetBismarck,ND(701)214-2025colton@northernimmersion.comnorthernimmersion.com

Web:

While it’s evident that Shoults has made great strides in the Bismarck-Mandan business community and beyond in recent years, it’s also clear that he’s not slowing down. With plans to expand his existing businesses and improve on those for customers and clients, there’s plenty to be excited about in the near future for Shoults and his endeavors.

Bismarck,Address:junction-grilled-subsLinkedIn:Twitter:Facebook:grandjunctionsubs.com@GrandJunctionBismarck@eatGJSubslinkedin.com/company/grand-4303OttawaStND58503

Web:

Support The CraftCade

Phone: (701) 450-1414

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Phone: (701) 751-0375

The Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) program is designed to provide entrepreneurial development services such as business training, counseling, and resource partner referrals to transitioning service members, veterans, National Guard & Reserve members, and military spouses interested in starting or growing a small business. SBA has 22 organizations participating in this cooperative agreement and serving as Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOC).

Marketing Ideas for Growing Your Small Business From the VBOC

COVID-19 has completely changed the way we reach our customers and the only small businesses that will make it are the ones that are willing to change too. News flash… the world has changed and as society begins to adjust, so should our businesses. If you have not shifted your business model to incorporate some aspect of an online presence, then you need to.

By Wendy Klug, Program Manager, and Julie Hinker, Veterans Business Specialist, Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC)

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About the VBOC

As we enter this new world of technology and online presence, we must find new ways to market our products or service. When you are trying to get visibility for your small

Starting and running a business is no easy task! It takes a lot of time, determination, and passion. Not only do you have to perfect your offering, but you have to create and implement the right marketing strategy. Keep in mind, that no matter how great your product or service is, people won’t be able to buy it unless you market it correctly. Marketing is an essential piece of establishing your brand, generating leads, and reaching your target market.

So, let’s get to it!

Have you spent much time on Facebook, YouTube, or any other social platforms watching live or recorded videos? Video is expected to make over 80% of the consumer traffic online this year. Online shoppers, specifically those using a smartphone, prefer to engage with a business through video content. In many cases, this is because the content is more interactive and enjoyable for people who don’t have the time to sit and

Julie Hinker, VeteransBusinessSpecialist

WendyKlug,Program Manager

Photos

business, creating value through content marketing can position your brand as an industry leader.

1. Re-engage customers with email newsletters

2. SEO

Email is not dead! It is one of the most cost-effective digital marketing strategies to reach your target audience in a personalized and affordable way. Emails can keep your customers informed on what is going on with your business. You could share information about a new product, a special offer, or maybe just pop in and share any news from the recent weeks. Additionally, email marketing is extremely easy to measure which then gives you a better understanding of how your email campaigns are working. You can track specific data like click rates, open rates, bounce rates, unsubscribed rates, etc. Lastly, it is affordable! We do not always have a large marketing budget to spend from, so these email campaigns will cost you less than pennies per message.

Is your website user and mobile-friendly? Is it easily found on Google? If you answered no to any of these questions, then your website is due for a makeover! Your marketing efforts begin and end with your website. A website helps your small business increase flexibility, branding, control and credibility. Instead of relying on someone else to tell others about your business and story, you get to frame that narrative on your website for all to see. Additionally, a functioning website gives you endless opportunities for growth and success like an online store, social media integration, online reservations and appointments, portfolios, testimonials and so much more! Lastly, user experience for online websites and stores should be one of your top priorities. Search engines don’t just consider content when determining your rank; they also take into account how easy your site is to use. Double-check that your website is mobile-friendly, concise and organized, and your pages load quickly.

BISMANINC.COM 73

4. Boost engagement with video content marketing

3. Functioning Website

Ever since the pandemic, the need for SEO has risen exponentially. SEO is important because it gives you the capability to be an expert in your field and helps drive traffic to your website, while also helping you promote your business for free and organically. As consumers continue to shift to an online mindset, businesses will also need to make the shift into the digital space. SEO gives you the power to be the answer to potential customers’ questions. You MUST build a website that is optimized for both the search engines and conversions. SEO is also a valuable tool for brand awareness, building relationships with prospective customers, and positioning yourself as an authoritative and trustworthy expert in your field. It will take time and patience to build this trust, but this authority will do wonders for your brand.

CourtesyofVBOCoftheDakotas

Whether you are a startup, franchise or scaling business, just remember that social media is valuable for businesses of any size or industry. And regardless of your target audience or prospective customers, you can use various social media strategies to expand your small business reach and growth.

5. Generate word of mouth with a referral program

7. Track and refine your performance

So, what’s next? If you have a small business, try using some of the tactics above to enhance your brand, increase sales and reach your marketing goals. Also, reach out to us. Our team at VBOC of the Dakotas provides no-cost advising tailored to your business. We can help walk you through the steps of putting together a marketing plan that will help you reach new audiences and generate more revenue.

For more information, email Dakotas.vboc@und.edu or sign up for advising: sba-vboc.ecenterdirect.com/signup

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As you implement your social media strategy or refine your existing one, be sure to consistently track what is working and what is not. These metrics clearly define what your audience wants, which helps you refine your products, services, customer support, and more to maximize your customers’ experience, as well as enhance your revenue and bottom line. Every social media platform has its own way of generating analytics that you can dive into. Most of the platform’s analytic tools are user-friendly! If you are not sure where to start, ask Google for a little assistance. When your social media metrics continue to improve, but your business goals aren’t being met, it’s time to rethink your strategy. At the end of the day, if you track your metrics and change your social media strategy accordingly, you’ll get a much better return on your investment and grow your business!

We’ve all heard the phrase “Always over-deliver on the value”, and this rings true when blogging. We should strive to provide value in every possible way. The purpose of blogging is to

read through long posts or blogs. The first way to boost engagement is by sharing your video content across multiple social media platforms. Posting your video in one place just isn’t enough anymore. Consider creating accounts for Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter and possibly TikTok depending on your demographic. Diversifying your social media presence can help you generate a new audience who had never heard of your brand until they found your videos. Live video events are another great way to engage your audience and interact with them in real-time. Here are a few fun and effective types of live video events: Giveaways, Product Demonstrations, New Product Releases, Ask Me Anything (AMA) Sessions and in-person events. The purpose of these live events is to help grow your audience and improve engagement across your social platforms. If you can connect with them during a live video, then there is a higher chance for them to visit your website, subscribe to your email list, or perhaps make a purchase.

6. Offer value through blogging

Have you ever had such an amazing experience at a restaurant or another business that you couldn’t wait to share it with someone else? If so, you engaged in word-of-mouth marketing and this tactic can help your business grow! Any time a customer talks positively about your product or service to friends, family, co-workers, etc. either online or in-person, that is considered word-of-mouth marketing. Consumers want to trust a brand before they make a purchase and one way to do that is through referrals. Lots of research has been conducted to show that the majority of people tune out or block traditional ads. But when friends, family, or online influencers share their experiences about a product or service they love, people listen. They trust that whatever their friend or family told them is true and genuine. Social media is an excellent platform to start a referral program. Your program needs to give your customer a reason to share your products or services with their friends, so incentivize sharing! Consider cumulative incentives, two-sided rewards, premium features, etc. Next, make social sharing easy. Make sure your links are instantly shareable and everything is mobile-friendly. Less is more. Lastly, target customers who already believe in your brand because they will be the most likely to share your content first. Need some inspiration on what referral program will work for you? Check out these successful companies to give you a bit of inspiration: Harry’s, Native, Tesla, Smile Direct Club and Purple.

share as much of your knowledge, experiences and insights as often as you can while building customer relationships and generating sales leads. The first way to over-deliver on the value thing is by helping your readers find solutions to their problems. Use your product or service to drive your problem-solving content. Next, be transparent and honest with your readers. Believe it or not, people like to see the real you behind your brand. Share your successes, failures, and challenges, plus sprinkle in humor every so often too. It’s also important that you allow your blog to be interactive. A blog that allows comments and questions will draw more attention than those that don’t. Make sure to incorporate your blog on your website and social media platforms. This will help increase traffic on your site too! Lastly, monitor and analyze the traffic you gain from your blog. This will allow you to see which posts are performing the best, so you can continue to incorporate those topics in future write-ups.

(701) 751-7373 | WILLIQUORS.COM 3025 YORKTOWN DR. BISMARCK, ND 15 WIDE AISLES FULL OF LIQUID HAPPINESS THE LARGEST LIQUOR SUPERSTORE WITH THE LARGEST SELECTION OF ALL OF YOUR FAVORITE LIBATIONS MAKE WILLIQUORS YOUR OFFICIAL LOCALLY OWNED HAPPY PLACE

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Q. You are committed to giving back to your community. Can you tell me more about the work you do and why it’s important to you that your employees volunteer?

By Lotus Midwest

Written and photo provided by Ladyboss Midwest

BirstAndrea Women You Should Know:

This last year, I bought the Hair Academy with a business partner, the only hair school in Bismarck. The Hair Academy is passionate about education and teaching which wholeheartedly aligns to what Glance is all about. Coaching is one of my favorite roles, experiencing young students in school and helping them grow is fulfilling.

Q. Tell me about your business.

A. As the salon has grown over the years, we’ve started to focus on, “What do we want? What are our values? What do we stand for?” Giving back and community has become a part of who we are. We genuinely take volunteering seriously. My team volunteers every month. We take turns

A. I took over Glance Spa and Salon in October 2009 and it’s been an amazing ride. I have a current staff of 16 and we offer all hair, skin, lash and nail services. We are the only team-based salon in Bismarck. It’s been really fun transitioning to a team-based culture in the last six years.

Q. How do you make sure you’re incorporating a healthy work/life balance?

Q. What challenges have you faced?

Q. What advice would you give to new business owners?

A. I have learned to ask others for help. I can’t do everything alone and allowing others to help and take things off my plate has been a huge stress reliever. I try to be present when I am at work and leave work at work when I am with my family. My motto is "work hard, play hard". I try to carve out time for travel with my team as well as with my family. At the end of the day, it boils down to church, travel and wine!

giving back at Heaven’s Helpers Soup Café and give free haircuts quarterly at Ministry on the Margins as a part of community outreach. Another thing we are doing this year is Glance Glambush Makeovers. It’s a campaign where we give makeovers every quarter to deserving, hardworking, selfless individuals in our community. The community nominates women who are deserving of a full day of pampering.

A. We spend most of our time at our workplace and at times more than we do at home with our families. So, why not create an environment and culture that makes people want to get up and be excited to come to work? I am so thankful we have been able to develop that at Glance. It’s important to make your people feel loved, valued and respected. They will take pride in the work they do, perform better and have an overall greater well-being. Happy employees = great quality of life.

Q. Why do you think it’s important to create a nurturing work environment?

A. My advice to new business owners is to find people in the community that can help you build your business and help you navigate every aspect of it. Make sure those people— whether attorneys, banking or brand consultants—are people that align with your company values. Don’t be afraid to ask for help and look within your own team. I have been amazed by the leadership growth and willingness to lead within my own company! It’s been amazing!

Giving back is important. I believe every person and every business has a responsibility of giving back and taking care of our communities. It changes personal development, team culture and business culture. This changes teams for the better. Some of my team had never volunteered before coming to Glance. Just to see how their hearts are touched and changed is the whole reason we do what we do.

Q. What challenges have you faced?

Q. Why do you think it’s important to create a nurturing work environment?

A. I was young when I bought Glance Spa and Salon and I wasn’t entirely sure what I was doing. I had great mentors and a spirit to learn and have learned so much along the way. I have dealt with a lot of big challenges, just like we all have. The biggest hurdle is learning to overcome the stress of daily business life and recognizing everything happens for a reason and remembering to be grateful for those life lessons.

Women You Should Know:

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Andrea Birst Photos Courtesy of The Good Kids Support Glance Spa & Salon Phone: (701) 751-1893 Web: glancesalon.com Email: hello@glancesalon.com Facebook: @glancespasalon Instagram: @glancespaandsalon Address: 407 N 4th St, Bismarck, ND 58501 BISMANINC.COM 79

LETZRINGJimLetzring OwnerVETERAN OWNED 80 FALL 2022

By Grant Ayers JIM

PURSUING A PASSION WITH

BlitzkriegBlasting

What were your friends’ and family's reactions when you told them you were pursuing service, and what were their reactions when you told them about your business?

The arrival at the barracks on the first day of basic training is something that a person will never forget. The anticipation starts the moment you get in the cattle car, which is a trailer that’s used to transport troops. Another unforgettable moment was when we got off the trailer and received the first introduction in front of the barracks. No matter who you are, you get your butt worked off for what seems like hours.

Tell me a bit about Blitzkrieg Blasting.

Jim Letzring is a veteran of the Army National Guard, in which he served for 27 years. While on active duty, Letzring was involved in a motorcycle accident that required a tedious recovery. However, it was during that recovery process that Letzring became interested in mobile sandblasting through commercials for dustless blasting.

I wanted to learn construction equipment, mechanic skills and I also wanted the funds to help pay for school.

career from land surveying. After a couple of job changes, as well as a bilateral hip replacement as a result of the motorcycle accident, I worked for roughly six months on a pipeline project that allowed me to save up some money to launch the business.

What led you to military service?

Many of my friends had already signed up for the National Guard, so my family was fully supportive of my decision to pursue the military. Along with that, everyone was also very supportive of my decision to start Blitzkrieg Blasting. I have actually done blasting for family and friends in the past, as they needed some things painted that I was able to help with.

That passion grew and grew until eventually, Letzring founded Blitzkrieg Blasting, LLC, a mobile blasting business that will take on any surface preparation needs, ranging from paint removal to coating removal, as well as surface etching. Letzring discussed a wide range of topics with us, including his service experience, how that impacted him as a business owner over the last two years and much more.

While still looking at the blasting business, I was able to find a few used units available to begin work. At last, after the pipeline project was done and I was on a temporary layoff (getting some much-needed time at home), I found a used system in March of 2020, right at the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak.

As life goes on and things change, we ended up moving from Gillette, Wyoming, where we were currently living, back to Bismarck, North Dakota. I was looking around to see how the sandblasting business would be in the area because I was still interested in the change in

What do you remember about your first days in service?

I thought that it would be an interesting change for starters. I looked into the field, as well as the cost of the new systems, and they were a bit out of my reach at the time. I kept looking at it as an alternative to the current land surveying career that I had been doing for around 20 years at the time.

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What skill that you learned in your military service do you use most in your business career?

It has helped me perfect how I make a plan, schedule my time and how I make a split decision when it comes down to critical thinking and planning.

•

To me, three of the biggest characteristics that symbolize being a veteran are someone who’s hard-working, dependable and honest not only in their field, but also anything that they set their mind to.

To me, three of the biggest characteristics that symbolize being a veteran are someone who’s hard-working, dependable and honest."

•

My hardest challenge would probably be just recently. I have been having trouble getting my air compressor repaired for the business. The shop has been working with the manufacturer and they are having a difficult time diagnosing the issue. With that being said, the cost of the repair bill is going to be the hardest challenge since starting for the business.

Do you think that you would have been able to start a business without your military experience?

What does a normal day on the job look like for you?

In my eyes, I’m still trying to get it to the level of a full-time business for me. The COVID-19 outbreak has been a challenge for the business, just like any other business today. The economic situation brought on by the pandemic has made it very challenging for Blitzkrieg Blasting to fully take off, and is the reason that I still have a full-time job alongside Blitzkrieg Blasting.

•

I was very nervous the first time I helped out my first paying customer. However, not too long after I got there, started getting the hose laid out and getting to work, I felt pretty relaxed. In the end, everything went great.

What made you decide to turn Blitzkrieg Blasting into a career?

Probably not. I don’t think that I would have had the selfconfidence and drive to at least give it a try and pursue it.

•

What made you want to choose Wilton, ND to start Blitzkrieg Blasting?

On a normal day, I’m making return calls to potential customers or going to different site locations to blast a variety of projects. To date, I’ve blasted everything from riding lawn mowers and cars, to anhydrous tanks and lawn furniture, among many other items.

With Blitzkrieg Blasting being a mobile business, I was actually able to start the business anywhere. We moved after my hip surgery because we had a camper, car trailer and a couple of vehicles that required a bit more outside area and space around our house. That’s how we ended up settling down in Wilton.

What do you remember about your first days in Blitzkrieg Blasting?

•

What was the hardest challenge for you when opening Blitzkrieg Blasting?

What does being a veteran symbolize to you?

Blitzkrieg Blasting, LLC’s Specialities Paint Removal Surface Preparation Blast Cleaning Stone and Concrete Etching Graffiti Removal And Much More!

How has your service experience changed your business mindset?

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I think that the ability to plan has been instrumental in Blitzkrieg Blasting’s successes.

Being able to run your own business gives you a personal sense of accomplishment. My business may not be to the level of a full-time job yet, but when I get a blasting job done and the metal is there all clean and ready for coating, I feel good about what I do.

Photo provided by Jim Letzring

The only way to know whether or not you can succeed is to start. You’ll never know how it would turn out if you don’t do it. If you can, pursue it as a side job to begin, if possible, while working a regular job. This is what I currently do and it’s a great way to pursue it but not rely on a lot of unknowns. But if you don’t start, you will always be asking yourself if you could have, or what would have happened if you did take that leap.

Many veterans struggle with finding a sense of purpose when reintegrating into the civilian world. How can getting involved in the business community help with that reintegration process?

What words of encouragement do you have for a fellow veteran nervous about taking the plunge into entrepreneurship—or maybe a veteran who started a business and is struggling?

blitzkriegblasting@gmail.com Support Blitzkrieg Blasting Today 423701-400-2258McleanAve, Wilton, ND blitzkriegblastingblitzkriegblasting.wixsite.com/58579 BISMANINC.COM 83

Lorena Poppe, Executive Director of Keeping The Promise, is no stranger to the world of disability support. With over 30 years of experience in the field of disability services, including 12 years as a vocal disabilities support advocate and 15 in the service provider sector, Poppe was prepared to venture into her own space to support the cause.

Nonprofit of the KeepingMonth:ThePromise

By Grant Ayers

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Photos by Josiah Kopp

Her passion evolved into Poppy’s Promise, her own service provider that offers applied behavior analysis (ABA), respite/ in-home support and much more. With Poppe having experience in the private sector prior to Poppy’s Promise, this was no strange territory for her.

How did Keeping The Promise begin?

onprofit organizations are oftentimes overlooked in the community due to a lack of promotional funds and advertising, amongst other reasons. To help spread awareness of these efforts being made, we feature a local nonprofit in each issue that we believe deserves a spotlight shined on the great work that they’ve done and continue to do within the community.

“Keeping the Promise is committed to bringing options and resources that are both relevant and meaningful to kids, young adults and families,” - Lorena Poppe

Making a Difference

a focus on supporting transitions, but have learned since our inception that there are unmet service needs for people with disabilities regardless of age. We are passionate about moving beyond conversations and doing the important work of developing innovative approaches that lead to sustainable and thriving support systems throughout the lifespan.”

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Poppy’s Promise is an agency that provides direct services and support to kids and young adults with disabilities and their families.

What is Promise?Poppy’s

With Poppy’s Promise being a for-profit organization, Keeping the Promise was started in 2019 as a sister organization. For some people, it can be easy to qualify for and access services and support systems through the service delivery system. For those who fall through the cracks, however, options for support are extremely limited, according to Poppe.

“In some cases, services end when a child turns 18 or 21. We remain committed to

Each year at the iCan Swim Camp, Keeping The Promise is able to provide adapted swim instruction to 30 excited participants!

“Keeping the Promise is committed to bringing options and resources that are both relevant and meaningful to kids, young adults and families. Our original intention in starting Keeping the Promise was to focus on periods of transition for kids and young adults with disabilities. Moving from elementary school to middle school and high school and then on to adult life often involves making a transition to new places and services,” Poppe said.

Keeping the Promise was originally started to help fill the gaps in the service delivery system. At that time, and still to this day, Poppe sees the importance of ensuring that families are aware of their options when it comes to services and activities for their children living with disabilities. Two years later, Poppe and her team are still pursuing the same mission as they did at the time of launch.

Lorena Poppe, Executive Director of Keeping The Promise

they have also started to run social skills groups for pre-teens who are preparing for middle school. “The activities we are involved in are supporting our mission of [ensuring] conversations are held and meaningful/relevant services and activities are identified for those with disabilities,” Poppe said.

“In both years of camp, our sessions have filled within days and we have had a long waitlist. Seeing the great need for learning to swim while having fun and being safe has caused us to expand our focus to assure that there are opportunities to build important life skills that will benefit people throughout their lives.”

What’s Next for Keeping The Promise?

In addition to Keeping The Promise’s current programs, such as the iCan Swim Camps, they are currently producing a video learning series for families to become more aware of disability-related supports and issues. The series will address topics such as guardianship, moving from a pediatrician to an adult physician, assistive technology options, sensory support through transition, success stories from young adults and developing family-to-family support

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“One of the opportunities that arose for us last year was hosting an iCan Swim Camp. This camp is designed for people with disabilities to develop swimming skills that will promote safety, health, confidence, socialization and fun across the lifespan. We are currently hosting our second annual iCan Swim Camp, which has become one of our major activities,” Poppe said.

One of Keeping The Promise’s primary visions is giving a voice to those that don’t have it by being a resource and putting a spotlight on the disabled community. To do this, they oftentimes collaborate with other nonprofits to help make the greatest impact, including Designer Genes, the Arc of North Dakota and Family Voices of North Dakota.

Nonprofit organizations oftentimes project a common mission or goal that encourages others to unite and support them in their cause. Keeping The Promise is no different. “[Keeping The Promise’s] goals are to be a sounding board for families and a resource to make connections to advocates and services. Along with that, we want to be a facilitator of starting the transition process before the teen years and continuing through young adulthood, as well as a provider that develops supports and services that are not currently available in our state,” Poppe said.

Keeping The Promise Remains OrientedImpact-

CommunitY Programs and InvolvementCommunitY

Their Goals

Furthermore,systems.

What You May Not Know About Keeping The Promise

“We can help families with many tasks such as preparing testimony about disability-related services for North Dakota legislative sessions.”

- Lorena Poppe

Keeping The Promise’s most recent event, the iCan Swim Camp, was an immense success, according to Poppe. The recurring annual event will always be in need of volunteers as the event comes around next summer. Along with the annual swim camp, other events are in the works that allow community members to engage with Keeping The Promise, as well as support the disabled community.

As with any nonprofit organization, donations can be given in many different ways. Here are a few ways that Lorena Poppe and Keeping The Promise encourage the community to get involved and back their mission.

Phone: (701) 204-7870

Monetary Donations

Volunteer with Keeping The Promise!

Spread The Word!

“This is a great way to learn more about disabilities and to make a huge impact on the lives of kids and young adults involved in the program. We are in the planning process of putting together some fundraising events and would love to help with the coordination of those events,” Poppe said.

Many statistics, stories and other aspects of disabilities are often overlooked by many in the community. Having a common knowledge of disabilities, as well as how to assist anyone in need, is critical to their mission. “Donations, as well as volunteering, are always welcome as none of our activities have a permanent funding source. But also, simply helping to spread the word about Keeping the Promise to families who may be seeking information and support is incredibly helpful,” Poppe said.

Get Involved in Future Events!

Donating directly to Keeping The Promise ensures that they’re receiving immediate assistance in funding their programs and continuing the mission. With different programs and campaigns throughout the year that require funding (iCan Swim Camps, educational videos, etc.), monetary donations will frequently be supporting something new within the organization and having a firsthand impact on people with disabilities.

When Keeping The Promise hosts programs, events or develops new campaigns for the program, they often require volunteers. For example, their annual iCan Swim Camp requires volunteers in the form of swim mentors. “Only basic swim skills are needed and volunteers get to spend 1:1 time with someone learning to swim in a group learning environment,” Poppe said. “We also welcome anyone who would like to contribute to our video learning series about any topic they are passionate about.”

How You Can Get Involved

As Keeping The Promise continues to look for creative ways to expand their brand and increase traction in support for the cause, they aim to only see growth in assistance and support for the disability-related community.

“We have had the opportunity to learn so much from people with lived experiences. We’ve talked extensively with people at the heart of receiving and providing support as kids navigate the move to teen and young adult life. Families, school personnel, business leaders and professional organizations have provided the framework for what we do,” Poppe said. “We are willing to think outside the box to come up with creative solutions for people. We want to help people truly live out their dreams and that requires being creative. Doing things the way they have always been done is not effective or meaningful for many people.”

KeepingSupport!ThePromise

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Email: Facebook:Web:lpoppe@poppyspromise.comkeepingthepromisend.org@KeepingThePromiseNDAddress:1221WestDivideAvenue,Bismarck,ND58501

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Fun Fact! Silo Salon is North Dakota’s one and only Aveda hair salon!

AVEDA salons offer highquality, plant-based, hair products that are up to 99% naturally derived.

Services include Hair colors, cuts and extensions, as well as waxing, nails, facials and more!

Every business starts as an idea. These ideas come to life with the efforts made by entrepreneurs willing to take risks and grow their ideas into fully-formed business ventures. From startup innovators to salon founders, every person has a unique passion that they merged with the business landscape. While we couldn't talk to every inspiring entrepreneur in the Bis-Man area, we talked to some of the many to hear about their unique journey on the road to success.

Did You Know?

Photos Courtesy of LaDora Bolton Photos Submitted by Silo Salon

I had to go back to cosmetology school and learn how to cut, color and style hair. I had to lean heavily on my faith to be able to learn a total opposite career change and that our family finances would be stable during this time. Even though it was a scary time, there were many great conversations with peers and other like-minded individuals that will always be in my mind.

Matt: During the period of switching careers

Matt: The hardest part was having to see and rely on my wife to provide for our financial stability during the time I was attending cosmetology school. It was also hard to calculate the risk and if we would actually be

Silo Salon is a hair salon that provides cosmetology services, including hair cutting and coloring services, to the Bismarck-Mandan community. Having been in operation for the past nine years, Matt and Alexa Frank, Co-Owners of Silo Salon, have embedded themselves deep within the community and made a name for themselves through their perseverance and growth.

Hair Stylists & Owners Silo Salon

Matt: There were more difficult days than fun days. Plenty of long hours and many hard mistakes were made during the first few years. It's one thing to go to school for a business degree but it's a different thing to actually own and run a business. It can't be taught and it’s only learned through experience. However, as the years went on and we gained more and more experience, things became easier and more fun!

Matt: It was a long journey! I had a wellestablished full-time job as a graphic designer but felt I had the calling to be more involved in our community. My wife and I had just purchased a salon while I was still working full-time. It wasn't soon after that Alexa and I had decided it was the right move for me to attend school and be full-time in our new business adventure. There were many sleepless nights paired with the idea of building a great future for our family by establishing a positive presence in our community.

Alexa: I literally did not stop working when I first started the business. I did pretty much every role at first but now I have been able to step back and focus on the parts of being a business owner that I am actually good at.

Which parts of taking this risk will stick with you forever?

Alexa: After I graduated from cosmetology school I began working at Fabyoulous Salon & Spa as a stylist. The owner at the time decided she wanted to sell it, so my husband and I purchased it the year we got married. The year after, another salon in town went up for sale so we decided to expand and purchase that. When we became pregnant with our first child, we decided having two locations would be too much so we combined the two into Silo Salon.

Alexa: How supportive my parents were will always stick with me. I can't believe they would let me purchase a business at such a young age and not only that but to help me financially and emotionally with it. I truly could not have done it without them.

What steps were the hardest when taking the leap to start your own business?

financially blessed with our business or not. Navigating a business loan was also difficult as not many banks are willing to give a loan to invest in a salon business since it's a service industry.

What was your journey like for you to get to the position you're at today?

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Alexa: I think just figuring out all of the steps you needed to take with the state to get it all started and also learning how to become a leader.

What was a typical day in your life like when you were beginning Silo Salon?

With years of experience at Fabyoulous Spa & Salon, Alexa Frank is ready to help with all of your hair needs, just look at this work!

Alexa: I don't think I would change anything because even though we have had many challenges, I believe they helped to get us to the point that we are at now. I've learned so much over the years.

Matt: Try to find mentors and learn from them for the first couple of years. Follow and shadow them.

What else would you like to add regarding your personal experience in taking this risk?

Matt: It's a tight-knit community along with all of our family and friends who still live here. Without them, we wouldn't be able to do life!

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What made you decide that the BisMan area would be a great place to start a business?

Alexa: You truly need to have a passion for the business you go into. Don't go into it because you think you're going to get rich. You don't ever really get a day off when you are a business owner, so it’s a huge dedication. You have to consider how it will affect your home life because it is hard sometimes to separate work from personal time.

Matt: Owning a business definitely changes the dynamics of your family. Setting boundaries with your own business is a must so it doesn't disrupt your own family life and is very hard to juggle. Definitely have mentors and peers that can help you navigate these issues. However, there are a lot of positives such as creative freedom and financial rewards that come with having a hard-working attitude.

What would you have done differently if you could go back and start again, knowing what you know now?

Matt: I have no regrets and I wouldn't change anything. There are so many paths or options that can be done to start a business. Understanding this, it becomes more of a question of which route to take.

What advice do you have for readers considering taking this leap?

Alexa: I was very young when I purchased the first salon and had no idea what I was doing. I am so thankful for a supportive family and community who helped me figure it out.

Alexa: I grew up in the Bismarck area and know that it is a very supportive community that loves small businesses!

Matt: Most people think we are a franchise since we are associated with Aveda, but we are locally owned (by my wife Alexa and I) and we pride ourselves on being a commissioned salon, not a booth rental.

Matt and Alexa: Yes! At some point, we would love to own our own building and not be renting/leasing.

Alexa: We are a commission-based salon (not booth rental) and we have such a tight-knit team. We love being there through our team's ups and downs to help support and encourage them.

Alexa: Spread the word about the good services you've received from us!

What do most people not know about Silo Salon?

Matt: I started out working 40 hours behind the chair and then another 10-15 hours handling all the behind-the-scenes of a business. Now I'm about 20 hours behind the chair and do 20-25 hours of working on the business.

Alexa: I am still behind the chair most of the time so I work on clients all day and do work on the business in between that. I am also a mom of two toddlers so they keep me quite busy as well.

Are you looking to expand Silo Salon? If so, how?

(701) Bismarck,610silosalon.com751-7374KirkwoodMallND58504 BISMANINC.COM 91

What is a day in your life like for you now?

Matt: Come and get your hair done by us!

Alexa: A lot of people think we are owned by corporate Aveda and don't realize that we are a locally owned business.

Matt: It didn't happen overnight as it takes a lot of time and patience. Having the ability to understand that bumps are going to happen along the way but to be able to learn from them is also necessary.

What’s one thing the local business community could do to help Silo Salon?

What is something you wish more people knew about Silo Salon?

Fun Fact! Massie has nearly a decade of experience, as he’s been making skincare products since 2013!

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Photo by Josiah Kopp

Did You Know?

The name Ope Unlimited stems from the Midwest expression “Ope” so that if Massie ever leaves the Midwest, his company will always have ties to the area.

I would say putting yourself out there is the hardest step when starting your own business. Researching what you want to make, perfecting your recipes, getting insurance and setting up your business legally are the easy steps. Becoming the face of the products that you’re selling is the hard part. If you aren’t confident in your products, it will show. The other challenge is when you move to a new city, as it is like being in any personal care occupation where you have to start over and rebuild your clientele.

What was your journey like for you to get to the position you're at today?

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Ope Unlimited offers a soap and skincare line with a mission. Robert “Bert” Massie set out on a mission to create homemade bath and body products that aim to keep extra chemicals out by using the fewest (and healthiest) ingredients possible. While he may be the creator and owner of Ope Unlimited, he’s also much more than that, as he handles social media, sales, shipping and much more.

Part of the risk is getting yourself out there. I’m a naturally introverted person, so doing in-person sales and online social media was a major hurdle to overcome. Getting out of your comfort zone is so important. Now, I am much more open and extroverted than I was many years ago.

What does Ope Unlimited do differently?

My skincare journey started back in 2013. I traveled for about 10 years with a live entertainment company, touring North and South America. Being in a different city every week with different water sources began to irritate my skin. One week, I purchased some Melt-n-Pour soap, took it back to my hotel with some essential oils and made soap in the microwave. My skin was no longer irritated!

Owner/Creator Ope Unlimited

We try to source the best ingredients with the fewest chemicals possible to create a more natural product, while keeping the extra chemicals off our bodies and out of our homes. We specialize in Hot-Process soap, or “the rustic bars” as people say. Other products include water-based facial serums, flaxseed gel, sugar scrubs, coffee-based skin products, shower steamers and bath bombs. However, we’re constantly adding products. Everybody’s skin is different, and not everything works for everyone. My face does not like to absorb oil, and most facial serums are oil-based, so I created my own water-based products.

When I got off the road in 2015, I decided to launch my first soap business in Wisconsin. I primarily did farmers’ markets in the summer and a few craft shows throughout the year. When I moved to North Dakota for my job in 2018, I sold almost all my soap-making supplies. I was moving to a new area and working a lot, so I didn’t think I had time to keep that business going as well. I was wrong! Being a small business owner and working a full-time job, there are never enough hours in the day to get everything done. But if you are up for a challenge, the journey is worth it. I would say the journey is far from over!

Which parts of taking this risk will stick with you forever?

What steps were the hardest when taking the leap to start Ope Unlimited?

Saturdays are reserved for BisMarket, which I am Co-President of and run during the summer at Kiwanis Park, so I am there

What would you have done differently if you could go back and start again, knowing what you know now?

I wouldn’t have closed my business when I moved to North Dakota, as I missed out on so much fulfillment in doing so. I also would have started my social media presence sooner and would have started booking more shows, as you can’t sell products if you’re not out there putting in the work.

What advice do you have for readers considering taking this leap?

My biggest advice for starting your own business is to keep track of all the money you put into it. Starting a business will take time to be successful and profitable. Once you have yourself paid back, your personal finances should then be kept completely separate from your company. Get separate bank accounts for business and personal.

Do your research! Find what is going to work for you. Not all suppliers of raw materials are the same. Not all business insurance is the same. Do what works best for you and your business, not what someone else is doing.

Ope Unlimited was formed in October of 2020, in the midst of a pandemic, yet managed to find success within a short period of time!

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early to help other vendors and keep that sense of community going. On Sundays, I try to relax. What’s a better way to relax than using my own products like the Cup o’ Dirt mask and scrub for some self-care time?

What was a typical day in your life like when you were beginning Ope Unlimited, compared to today?

My typical day in the life of starting my business is still the same today. I work my full-time job Monday through Friday. I’m the Food Service Director at the State Capitol, creating menus, cooking, catering and more. When I’m finished with work I come home and start on Ope Unlimited tasks, whether it is making soap, serums, social media posts or getting orders together. My days are never boring between my work, business, board meetings and family life.

Who would you credit as some of your biggest business inspirations?

you can find Ope Unlimited products online, as well as at The Bismarck-Mandan Convention and Visitors Center, The Ukrainian Cultural Institute in Dickinson and The Crafty Ladies Vendor shop.

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From being a Pride of Dakota member, selling at BisMarket and having products on the shelves of the Bis-Man Community Food Co-op, it feels like being a part of a family. The businesses and customers support each other and there really is nothing else you could ask for in a town than support.

I’d like to see Ope Unlimited have its own storefront one day, where we can showcase other small businesses, help them succeed and be a one-stop shop for a variety of local products.

@opeunlimited@opeunlimited@opeunlimitedbert@opeunlimited.comopeunlimited.com

Currently,so!

Are you looking to expand?

What made you decide that the BisMan area would be a great place to start a business?

I’d like to add that if it weren’t for Jaz and Ty Gensrich from Handled Healing, I don’t know how much I would have made it on this business venture. Without them, my business may have never started back up again in North Dakota and I’m beyond grateful for them encouraging me to do

Lastly, probably the biggest advice I have for someone, especially in the skincare business, is to perfect your recipe and write it down! When you make a product and someone doesn’t like it, they will tell everyone. If they like it, they want it the same every time they buy it, and hopefully, tell others how amazing it is.

Shop local, support small businesses and buy from your local companies when you can, as they’re going to be the ones who support you in return.” - Bert Massie

What do most people not know about Ope Unlimited?

The Bis-Man area has a strong sense of community, supporting others and shopping local. Bismarck may be the Capitol of North Dakota, but it has a very small-town vibe. Between the cute little shops and community events, this was the perfect place to start my business again.

Ope Unlimited not only makes products for our business, but we do private label products for other businesses around the state. Creating special formulations for other small businesses to help them succeed drives us as much as creating our own products.

Bis-Man INC! Fall 2022

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