BIS-MAN INC! Summer 2022

Stephanie Miller: From Local Chef to ‘Top Chef’ P.42

Nonprofit of the Month: Dakota Children's Advocacy Center P.48

Summer 2022 // Bismaninc.com

Simple Sugar is Reinventing the Dessert Business P.68

A Bismarck-Mandan Business Magazine

T N A T S IN

G N I S I T R E V D A T

I C U L H WIT

ERIC KUBISCHTA, CTO

GINA GORDON, CEO

How Two People Are Changing The Digital Advertising Landscape

Bis-Man Launch Party

By Grant Ayers

Photos by Ben Weisbeck of BWeis Media

We Launched!

We kicked off the event with a formal ribbon cutting with help from the Bismarck-Mandan Chamber EDC. Thank you for welcoming us into the community!

The team behind Bis-Man INC! recently held our debut issue launch party in downtown Bismarck! Held on the LÜFT Rooftop Bar, it was a great night filled with food, drinks and plenty of laughs. We are so excited to become a part of the Bismarck-Mandan metro and can not wait to meet even more of its wonderful community members in the months and years to come. Please celebrate with us and check out some of the many photos that were taken at the event!

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The food, which was catered

by Laughing Sun Brewing Co., was a big hit at the party!

Laughing Sun Brewing Co. offered a wide array of food options for guests, including meats, cheeses, toppings and more!

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Bis-Man Launch Party

Music was performed by Ben Suchy. It wouldn't have been complete without the harmonica and guitar solos!

Pictured (Left to Right): Garrett Moon, CEO and Co-Founder of CoSchedule, and Mike Dragosavich, CEO and Publisher of Spotlight Media 4

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Pictured: Garrett Moon, CEO and CoFounder of CoSchedule

Pictured: Paul Hoefer, Vice President of Business Development at Spotlight Media

Our CEO and Publisher, Mike Dragosavich, speaks with members of the BismarckMandan Chamber EDC!

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Pictured: John Bollinger, CEO and Owner of the Bismarck Larks

Pictured: Mark and Rebecca Binstock, Owners of Simple Sugar

Pictured: Jason Richter, Owner of 701 Studios

As seen here, the night was filled with plenty of laughs and good times were had by all that attended!

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Thank you to everyone that attended.

We couldn't have had this launch party without you!

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Thank you to the following for helping make this night a success!

• The LÜFT Rooftop Bar • The Bismarck-Mandan Chamber EDC • Catering by Laughing Sun Brewing Co. • Music by Ben Suchy • Photography by Ben Weisbeck of BWeis Media 10

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Editor's Note:

THE TIME OF TECH

S

Send Me Your Feedback & Ideas!

My Email >> grant@spotlightmediafargo.com BISMANINC.COM

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CONTENT

// SUMMER 2022

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68 LIKE OUR CONTENT? Check out our website at BismanINC.com 12

SUMMER 2022

We Launched!

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Sponsored Content: Head to Halberstadt's for These Summer Must-Haves

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From Phone to Billboard: Instant Advertising with Lucit

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Veteran Feature: Bed N Biscuit Ranch

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From Local Chef to 'Top Chef'

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Nonprofit of the Month: Dakota Children's Advocacy Center

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Advice and a Q&A With Troy Nelson

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Entrepreneur Spotlight 56 Shane Balkowitsch 58 Marlo Anderson 60 Thom Brigl 62 Jade Scherr 66 Kristin Chorne

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Simple Sugar is Reinventing the Dessert Business

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Women You Should Know: Hope Sisk

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Sales Intelligence: Harnessing the Power of Data in Today's Marketplace

We look at banking from a different perspective: yours.

At Bremer Bank, we know the true value of a banking relationship isn’t measured in dollars and cents. It’s measured in trust, earned by helping you anticipate, grow and thrive through changes. It’s not always possible to know what the future holds. But we’ll be ready to help you make the most of it. Because right now, relationships matter more than ever. Talk to a Bremer banker today.

Understanding is everything.

bremer.com

SPRING 2022 Volume 1 Issue 1

Bis-Man INC! is published 4 times a year and is available at area businesses and online at Bismaninc.com.

Publisher Mike Dragosavich EDITORIAL Editorial Team Lead Brady Drake FargoInc@SpotlightMediaFargo.com Editors Geneva Nodland, Grant Ayers Art Director Kim Cowles Editorial Graphic Designers Levi Dinh, Ty Betts Creative Strategist Josiah Kopp Editorial Intern Makenzi Johnson Contributors Shawn Peterson, Ladyboss Midwest, Shontarius D. Aikens, Brandi Malarkey, John Machacek INTERACTIVE Business Development Manager Business Development Associate Videographers Director of Digital Advertising Results Graphic Designer

Nick Schommer Kellen Feeney Tommy Uhlir, Robert Whiteside Jonathan Chicka Ben Buchanan

ADVERTISING VP of Business Development Paul Hoefer Paul@SpotlightMediaFargo.com Sales Representatives Al Anderson Al@SpotlightMediaFargo.com Devan Maki Devan@SpotlightMediaFargo.com Client Relations ClientRelations@SpotlightMediaFargo.com Client Relations Manager Jenny Johnson Marketing Coordinator Jessica Mullen Social Media Content Specialist Meagan Stock ADMINISTRATION Office Administrator Kodi Geris-Schroeder Operations Analyst Tara Schwan DISTRIBUTION Delivery John Stuber

Bis-Man INC! is published by Spotlight LLC, Copyright 2022 Bis-Man INC! & BismanInc.com.

All rights reserved. No parts of this magazine may be reproduced or distributed without written permission of Bis-Man INC!, and Spotlight LLC, is not responsible for, and expressly disclaims all liability for, damages of any kind arising out of use, reference to or reliance on such information.

Spotlight LLC, accepts no liability for the accuracy of statements made by the advertisers.

Spotlight, LLC 4609 33rd Ave S Suite #304 Fargo, ND 58104 or info@spotlightmediafargo.com ADVERTISING: 701-478-SPOT (7768)

> edwardjones.com | Member SIPC

As invested in your goals as you are.

It’s how Troy Nelson was named #1 in North Dakota for the 2022 Barron’s Top 1,200 Financial Advisors and 2022 Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisors rankings.

Troy Nelson

Financial Advisor 1701 Burnt Boat Drive Bismarck, ND 58503 (701) 255-1196 troy.nelson@edwardjones.com

Important information: Barron’s magazine’s “Top 1,200 Financial Advisors”, March 11, 2022.

Barron’s Top 1,200 criteria is based on assets under management, revenue produced for the firm, regulatory record, quality of practice, philanthropic work and more. The rating is not indicative of the financial advisor’s future performance. Neither Edward Jones nor any of its financial advisors pay a fee to Barron’s in exchange for the rating. Barron’s is a registered trademark of Dow Jones & Co., L.P. For more information on ranking methodology, go to Rankings - Barron’s Advisor (barrons-advisor.com).

Member SIPC

Data provided by SHOOK® Research, LLC. Data as of 6/30/21. Source: Forbes.com (April 2022).

Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisors ranking was developed by SHOOK Research and is based on in-person, virtual, and telephone due diligence meetings to measure best practices, client retention, industry experience, credentials, review of compliance records, firm nominations; and quantitative criteria, such as: assets under management and revenue generated for their firms.

Investment performance is not a criterion because client objectives and risk tolerances vary, and advisors rarely have audited performance reports. SHOOK’s research and rankings provide opinions intended to help investors choose the right financial advisor and are not indicative of future performance or representative of any one client’s experience. Past performance is not an indication of future results. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK Research receive compensation in exchange for placement on the ranking. For more information, please see www.SHOOKresearch. com.SHOOK is a registered trademark of SHOOK Research, LLC. TAL-13149A-A-AD1

Meet The Team

GENEVA

LEVI

TY

JOSIAH

JENNY

DEVAN

JESSICA

KODI

KELLAN

JONATHAN

KELLEN

MEAGAN

MIKE

BRADY

KIM

MAKENZI

BEN

NICK

PAUL

AL

TARA

TOMMY

ROBERT

GRANT

JOHN

Learn more about us at

spotlightmediafargo.com

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CHECK OUT SPOTLIGHT MEDIA'S OTHER PUBLICATIONS

At Design & Living Magazine, we love to share all of the fantastic local art, architecture, home decor, interior design and landscaping in the FMWF area with our readers. designandlivingmagazine.com facebook.com/ designandlivingmagazine Instagram: designandlivingmagazine

Fargo Monthly is an award-winning publication dedicated to highlighting Fargo-Moorhead and what makes it a truly enjoyable place to live. fargomonthly.com facebook.com/fargomonthly Twitter: @fargomonthly Instagram: fargomonthly

Bison Illustrated is your number one source for all of the behind-the-scenes action inside the North Dakota State University Athletic Department. bisonillustrated.com facebook.com/bisonillustrated Twitter: @bisonmag Instagram: bisonillustrated

Future Farmer is our farming publication which brings great tech-focused content to readers across North Dakota and Minnesota. futurefarmermag.com facebook.com/FutureFarmerMag

Fargo INC! is our very successful business magazine which covers all things business in the Fargo-Moorhead area. fargoinc.com facebook.com/fargobusiness Twitter: @fargoincmag LinkedIN: Fargo INC

You may already be familiar with our Faces of Bismarck-Mandan publication which we publish once per year in order to highlight the faces behind all of the great businesses in the community.

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The Halberstadt's Bismarck team BEN WEISBECK, WEISBECK MEDIA

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Head to Halberstadt's For These Summer Must-Haves

BISMANINC.COM

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Bottoms

Co-Owner Alex Dahl, Halberstadt's Bismarck BEN WEISBECK, WEISBECK MEDIA

We know there are more than a few of you readers out there who have waited all winter long for the opportunity to sport your shorts. Whether you're golfing or spending a casual day at the office, it just wouldn't be summer without them. With their moisture-wicking and ultimate stretch recovery technology and 4-way stretch capabilities, the Mizzen+Main Proflex Shorts are the perfect fit to any summer day.

Equipped with Linear Flex® fabric technology, these 7Diamonds Infinity Pants have the most durable quality and wearable soft fabric. "This pant appeases the most active person to the most fashionable person all at the same time. Our modern flex fit will go with anything in your closet and comes in an array of rich colors.

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Shoes

These Johnston & Murphy Off White Shoes are the perfect pair of kicks to match any outfit in any season.

The J&M Smart Degree Technology® temperatureregulating polymers that line the interior of the shoes activate at both hot and cold temperatures, making them extremely versatile for our extremely varied climate.

Don't worry about skipping on quality in the Oliver Cabell Low 1 Shoes. Hand-stitched and lasted in Marche Italy with plenty of Italian calfskin throughout the shoe's construction, you can strut in style this summer.

Tops It can't be all about work, right?

This Paige Kairo Crew Neck, crafted from supremely soft stretch jersey and complete with a subtle gradient fade will keep you looking your best while away from the office.

It's said that this custom print hand-designed Peter Millar Gator Polo was inspired by a classic 90's comedy. It is complete with all of the great features that make Peter Millar a favorite summer brand and is even finished with a three-button placket.

This Mizzen+Main Halyard Short Sleeve Shirt is designed to be worn untucked and is two inches shorter in length than their regular dress shirts. Complete with superior quick-dry properties, you'll be the life of the party in this one.

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This Johnston & Murphy Paisley Short Sleeve Shirt is just what you need when it's scorching out. This stylish, wrinkle-resistant shirt is complete with 50 UPF sun protection, moisture wick and quick-dry material and even has side vents!

Chill out in this 7 Diamonds Liberty Black Sleeve Shirt on those cool summer nights. Its moisture-wicking technology makes it the go-to when the sun goes down.

The name of the game for this Peter Millar Dazed & Transfused Performance Jersey Polo is flexibility.

It was crafted from an antimicrobial jersey fabric that delivers moisture-wicking, UPF 50+ sun protection and easy-care benefits.

This fine piece of clothing also offers four-way stretch technology for superior movement during your favorite activities.

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Eide Bailly

From

Phone to Billboard: Instant Advertising with Lucit

B

illboard advertising has been a staple of the advertising industry for over 150 years. As the advertising industry transitions from static billboards to digital advertising, one small company founded in Bismarck is making waves in the industry. Lucit, launched in 2020, is the first software application to put advertising clients in control of changing their advertisements on digital billboards in real time.

Lucit was co-founded in 2019, by Gina Gordon and Eric Kubischta, with the goal of assisting

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creatives in their OOH, or Out of Home, digital advertising, including roadside digital billboards.

Lucit created and runs software that allows users to launch and alter their advertisements on digital billboards in real-time, as well as track their ads through statistics including impressions made and billboards displayed on.

I had the pleasure of sitting down with Gordon and Kubischta to discuss Lucit’s history, what makes them stand out from other companies in the industry, as well as what they envision for the future of Lucit.

What is OOH? Facets of the advertising industry, including billboards, are referred to as OOH, or “Out of Home.” OOH refers to any form of advertising media that is outside of the home. This includes digital screens, static billboards, bus stations, gas pumps and more.

Geneva Nodland

Eric Kubischta, CTO of Lucit

“You can stand in front of a billboard right now with Lucit and control your billboard campaign from your phone.”

- Eric Kubischta

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Geneva Nodland

Did You Know?

Billboard advertising first became prevalent in the 1830s near street railways!

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Gina Gordon, CEO of Lucit

From The Mouth of Co-Founder Eric Kubischta “You own a retail store and have something that you want to advertise.

What do you do? You take out your phone and post to Instagram, Facebook or another platform. That's the mechanism that any marketer under the age of 30 is doing.

There are a couple of reasons why they do that. First, it's easy to post to social media. The other reason is that you get this real-time feedback that makes you feel good because somebody liked or commented on it. Then the platform says, ‘Hey, 138 people saw your site post!’ and you tend to feel valued.

Additionally, with static billboards, you have to design something and email it to somebody by a Friday at noon, and then hopefully, they'll start it on Monday.

What's happening is you have tons of

marketers, both young and old, that just don't engage with billboard marketing because of all these factors. They don't do it because it's not easy to do, they don't have any real-time engagement and they don't have any control over it.

On the other hand, what we do at Lucit is say, ‘Listen, here's our app. We'll set up a build-out contract for you, and you can control and put advertisements out through the app at your leisure.’ If you have an idea at 1:00 am on a Monday night, you can post that to the billboards specified by you. You don't have to contact anybody and you can just do it.

That's really what Lucit is all about. We call it an engagement platform because it's really about engaging with this advertising in a way that we couldn't before.”

Photo Courtesy of Lucit

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What Can Lucit’s App Do For You? Capabilities include: Creation of new ads Deletion of inventory items not wished to advertise Control of ad frequency Review of stats And much more, all from your phone!

Gordon and Kubischta may be working toward modernizing the advertising industry on a nationwide scale. However, the idea for the product first came to mind on a more local, homegrown scale. “I was sitting at a Taco John’s drivethru watching an iDigital billboard flip through its rolling advertisements. Then, I saw an ad come up on the billboard for a local radio station featuring a popular song. However, it wasn’t the song currently playing on the station. I began to think, could we display that information in real tiem ,” Kubischta said.

“At that point, it clicked in my mind that these could potentially be connected to the internet with real-time data. I thought to myself, ‘Man, I wonder if we can put cars on billboards and automate that?’ When I got home that

Geneva Nodland

The History Behind Lucit

Having worked together at their positions before Lucit, Kubischta and Gordon were already solidified as collaborators prior to the journey.

Showing Off Our Mothers!

This past Mother’s Day, Lucit took part in running a Mother’s Day campaign with iDigital billboards.

This campaign allowed any community member to submit their mother’s name, along with a photo, to a digital billboard in their area! While they were expecting only 20-30 people to take part, over 300 people submitted Mother’s Day billboard photos!

“April 27, 2022, was the first time ever that somebody who wasn't a business owner posted something on a billboard. That's the first time that ever happened and it's incredible that it happened in North Dakota. It really is historical for us,” Kubischta claimed.

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night, I called Gina and said, ‘I think we can put cars on billboards; let's do this’,” Kubischta said.

Since then, they’ve learned much about the advertising industry. “When we started learning more and more about the industry as a whole, we quickly realized how few advancements have been made recently,” Kubischta said.

“There is a lot of amazing tech in the industry, but it hasn’t necessarily coalesced into something that's easy to purchase or use. Over the past few years, we've been working on our application, which is an application that allows digital billboard clients to generate and launch advertisements to digital billboard screens on their own.”

Photos Courtesy of Lucit

“If you want to post on a billboard, you just pick something from your phone, caption it and then it will automatically make a creative. If they want to add stuff, they can make changes and the software will update the creatives automatically.”

These maps showcase the number of impressions made by an ad, the time that is shown on a screen and more statistics for the client!

- Gina Gordon

How Lucit Operates (and Stands Out) Today, Lucit is officially in 20% of states across the country.

“If you take a look at digital advertising on the Internet social platforms, there has sort of been a plateau. The stuff you were doing on Facebook and Instagram is pretty much the same as five years ago,” Kubischta said. “It's about determining what types of advertising mediums are effective and what advertising mediums are growing?

This is the only advertising medium that has seen major growth over the past few years, because of digital screens.

We're building applications at a time when there are a ton of startups like us, and we're all working at solving different problems in the industry. It's a really rare thing to be able to be building software at a time when there's growth in the

moment, rather than building software five years after the growth happened.”

With Lucit’s technology, they get real-time analytics that can be broken down and checked at any time. For real estate customers, they are able to pull the price, address, photo and other details form MLS listings in the area directly to the billboard.

“They can come into the app and say, ‘I want Haley to have more plays than Jared.’ As quickly as they can update the screen from static to digital, they can make more money from the digital screen. There’s a lot of growth in the future as they convert them over time,” Gordon said.

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Overcoming Obstacles While Lucit may have had an open market from the beginning with a revolutionary idea, that isn’t to say that they have had the easiest of journeys. Not long after Lucit was founded, many aspects of our lives were changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the struggles that Lucit faced during the pandemic was an automotive inventory shortage. “That was extremely difficult because car dealers didn’t have to advertise their inventory. Either they didn’t have any or they didn’t need to advertise,” Kubischta said.

Furthermore, many faced the new norm of working from home during the pandemic. As less time was spent outside and driving on the road by everyday community members, an increasing number of advertisers felt less pressure to advertise, as fewer eyes on the road equated to fewer eyes on the advertisements.

Another obstacle was the level of freedom that users would be granted to allow for efficiency in uploading their advertisements. Lucit strategized a middle ground between complete freedom and the necessary restrictions to prevent unsafe content from being uploaded.

“We have a manual approval process, as well as an AI learning algorithm that does image recognition to look for offensive material. We also built a trust model. So an operator that owns this on the screen can say, 'I trust Grant to post to my billboard, so I'm just going to let him do that.'

However, if a new customer comes along, they might not have as much trust in them and would rather queue that for approval,” Kubischta said.

An Untapped Potential “To give an idea of the scale of digital out-of-home advertising, there are somewhere between 1 and 2 million billboards (static and digital) in the United States. Of those, there are only about 12,000 digital billboards. If you think about it, all of the static structures can all support a digital billboard, yet only a fraction of them have digital screens. As the industry transitions, the growth over the next ten years is going to be phenomenal.”

- Eric Kubischta

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Geneva Nodland

“Let’s say you’re running an automotive advertisement with the price included.

If there are price changes, our software will automatically regenerate the creative for the billboard!”

- Gina Gordon Looking past the long drain on our economy, as well as the obstacle of approval, the advertising industry and Lucit are seeing success like never before in today’s climate. “In January of 2021, we earned our first dollar from an audible campaign. That was about a year after we started working on our platform. Since then, we've increased our revenue by 2400% in the past 12 months,” Kubischta said. “It's great, but we have a long way to go. It takes time to build a business. Any startup out there takes more money and more time than most imagine at the beginning. That's why startups fail; they don't plan for how much time and money it really takes to get a product into the market.”

Geneva Nodland

Looking Back on Beginning While they’ve found a market to successfully advertise to and work with today, that’s not to say that they didn’t have to make a few hard decisions, especially at the beginning of their journey. One of the hardest things for the team was deciding the size of scope Lucit would tackle. “Looking back, I think that the whole thing was a big risk. I think that it was a risk to really focus on one thing because we were like ‘Let's do something for automotive,’ as we knew how to do that. When we started talking about this billboard idea, it was going to be just one of many things that we were going to do,” Gordon said. “But then, we dropped everything else that we were doing and focused on creating and marketing one wonderful thing. Today, I think that that was the correct move. It was risky because there were so many unknowns.

I think that while we've made a lot of good decisions, it's certainly a long road to making it perfect.”

Lucit recently expanded their office space within the same building, and plan to do the same if they keep seeing the growth they’re expecting!

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Photos Courtesy of Lucit

What's Next?

When questioned about what’s next for them, the team appeared to be ambitious and ready to rise to greater heights over the coming years.

“Our biggest long-term plan is to become an end-to-end platform for getting something on the screen. There are still a lot of technical challenges, but there's a lot of stuff we're working on with the industry to overcome those challenges.

We're not only going to continue to add new features, but we're also going to perfect the features we have so that as we grow, we don't have bugs and it works really well,” Kubischta said. “Each state we move into drives us to think ‘Okay, this is awesome.’ We recently did a connection with an operator in Australia, as well as a convention discussion in Canada. Also, we recently completed a technical integration with Lamar Advertising, one of the biggest outdoor advertising companies in the United States. We're going to be starting a test in Chicago that will be starting hopefully soon. I don't think that many people actually know what we're doing both in and out of our community.

It's really cool that we're doing these big things and people would never think that we’re from North Dakota.”

With both short-term and long-term goals mapped out for Lucit, the team is not only excited for new connections, but also the ones that they’ve made over the years, as they can attribute many of them to their success. “We have good

!

Growing Numbers Lucit has roughly 4,500 billboards (and counting) in its system at the time of writing.

relationships with almost every company in this business on the tech side of things. Everybody's working together to build this stuff out. I think that within the next few years, you're going to have the ability to simply stand in front of a screen, look at it and put something on it. That's our goal.

No matter who you are, we believe that you should be able to do that efficiently,” Kubischta said.

“It's exciting that most of our business isn’t done locally.

It's mainly out-of-state, but I think that's what's the most exciting thing. We never know what's gonna happen next!”

- Gina Gordon BISMANINC.COM

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Geneva Nodland

Gordon and Kubischta holding a team meeting with two of their team members.

Combining a passion for technology, offering something entirely different to the public and past networking connections have placed the company in a position for immense rapid growth.

“We're really passionate because this is exciting and brand new for the whole industry. It's shocking when anyone is ever the first to think of something in advertising that nobody else is doing,” Kubischta said.

As they stay driven and keep their eyes on the next big opportunity, it’s hard to forget where they came from.

Considering that the business plan first started with one small idea in a drive-thru, Lucit appears to be a business to bet on for years to come.

Photo Courtesy of Lucit

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Phone: (701) 415-3500

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/

Email: gina@lucit.cc

lucit-tech

Web: lucit.cc

Address: 314 E Thayer Ave Suite 220

Facebook: facebook.com/LucitTech

Bismarck, ND 58501

VETERAN OWNED

Michelle Thomsen Owner, Partner

Lila Teunissen

Dog Trainer, Owner, Partner

FR O M A R M Y SERV ICE TO AN IMAL SERV ICE

Bed N Biscuit Ranch

By Grant Ayers

LILA TEUNISSEN

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L

Lila Teunissen, her husband and partner Ken Fricke and business partner Michelle Thomsen have combined their need for a steady income and love for pets to create Bed N Biscuit Ranch. Bed N Biscuit Ranch is an animal daycare, as well as a training and boarding facility that offers everything from private lessons and extra walks to any grooming needs desired.

Bismarck natives and animal lovers Lila and Michelle always joked with each other about opening up a new boarding location for pets due to the overwhelming demand at another boarding location they used to bring their animals to. To dive deeper into their experiences as veteran entrepreneurs, we spoke to Lila about her time in service, as well as her journey operating a local business.

What branch did you serve in?

I (Lila) served in the active-duty Army for 10 years and the Army National Guard for 13. My business partner, Michelle Thomsen, is still serving in the ND Army National Guard. My husband, who is also a partner, has not served.

Tell me a bit about the history behind Bed N Biscuit Ranch.

Michelle and I worked together in the ND National Guard and we both had a love of pets.

We both were, and still are, pet owners and we both volunteer with our local rescues. We heard many complaints from our colleagues that there was never room at the good boarding facilities to board their dogs over drill weekends or over short-term deployments or training.

We would joke that someone should really start another boarding facility in the area. That joking began to turn serious, and we finally

decided that maybe we should do something about it. We began looking for land, and the property that we are at now came on the market, but was more than we wanted to pay for. Then the price dropped, and then dropped again, and we decided to finally take the leap.

We bought the property and converted the pole barn into our current facility that offers dog and cat boarding, dog and cat grooming, dog daycare and dog training.

What were your friends and family's reactions when you told them you were pursuing service?

Everyone thought I was crazy. My dad was really nervous for me. He wasn’t sure how his daughter would do in a man’s career field. He wanted to meet with the recruiter and make sure all his questions were answered. My mom was nervous but very supportive and my friends just thought I’d lost my mind. I just knew that I wanted to travel the world and that my family and I couldn’t afford college. Plus, I didn’t know what I wanted to be anyway, and it was a great way to get paid to try out different careers. It was the best decision I could have made.

What do you remember about your first day in service, along with your first day opening Bed N Biscuit Ranch?

My first day of service, I remember being on the bus from the airport to basic training at Ft. Leonardwood, MO and thinking, this Drill Sergeant isn’t so bad. He was relaxed and made small talk with us. I thought, “This isn’t going to be as bad as I thought and people say it is.” Then we pulled up to the barracks. A whole crew of Drill Sergeants descended on our bus yelling at us to get

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off, stand here, drop your bag, do push-ups, grab your bag, get in the barracks! I was just stunned and kept thinking “Keep your head down. Do what they say so that they don’t notice me.” It was a smart choice because you don’t want to be singled out for special attention, especially in those first couple of weeks.

and passed away the day before our grand opening, Nov 7. So, it was sad, exciting and a blur, but we all kept moving forward.

We just kept asking, “What do we have to do next?” and kept going. I still find it amazing that we got the business open before the holidays and have just continued to improve it over time.

As far as how the first day of opening our business went, it was all just a huge blur of deadlines and personal stressors.

Michelle and I were both working full-time for the ND National Guard when we came up with this idea and we continued to work full-time as we started the business. We had our timeline and our goal of opening in October, but everything just went a little slower than we expected and we had to push it to November. As we were building the actual facility, Michelle was pregnant with her first child and gave birth in August, three months before our grand opening on November 8, 2018. I was juggling keeping the build on track and being the main caretaker of my mother who was dying of cancer

How has your service experience changed your business mindset?

My husband is also one of our business partners and he really wanted to have a 100% solution with all the details for everything before we moved forward. Michelle and I have been trained, and are comfortable with, an 80% solution. Nothing ever works out the way you think that it will, so as long as you have the big pieces in place and the majority of the details are addressed, the rest falls into place or is modified to make it work.

We were clear on what we wanted to accomplish and what services we would offer. That has been the driver of how we set up our facility and our policies.

Why did you choose the BisMan area to start your business venture?

Michelle, my husband and I all grew up in the Bis-Man area. We have lots of family and deep roots here. Ken and I both moved away after graduating high school. I went on active duty and Ken went to college, and then to California for job opportunities. Michelle left for college for several years and then returned. Ken and I both came back because our parents were getting older. We had traveled and there’s just something special about the Bis-Man area and being close to family and friends that knew you as kids. I moved back in 2009 and he moved back in 2010. A mutual friend got us connected and the rest is history.

What was the hardest challenge for you when opening your business?

There were many. First of all, funding and staying within our budget was always stressful. You try to

During her military career, Lila Teunissen has served in the following roles: QUITE THE RESUME!

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North Dakota National Guard - Medic, Medical Operations Officer, Deputy Director of Personnel and Commander of the Civil Support Team.

Army Active Duty - Linguist and Medical Service Corps Office

Giving Back Bed N Biscuit Ranch offers a 10% discount for all first responders as a thank you for your service!

think of all of the expenses and add 10-20% to that baseline but it is amazing how quickly the money runs out. Secondly, keeping the building moving forward and hitting our opening date was challenging. We did much of the build-out on our own so that meant a really small crew and that just made things go slower. Granted, we know every nook and cranny in the building, but we really wanted to be open sooner than we were, but it all worked out. Finally, there were all of the personal stressors. Michelle and I were working full-time and trying to make sure we had appropriate policies in place, personnel hired to run it once it was open, helping with the actual building and of course, having a brand new baby for Michelle and caring for my dying mother for me. It was some crazy juggling, but we got it opened!

What does being a veteran symbolize to you?

I’m very proud of my military service but I don’t feel special about it. It was a mutually beneficial career. I got paid to be a medic, a linguist, a health care administrator and a HAZMAT technician to name a few. I got paid to travel the world. Yes, I

deployed to Iraq and did a year in South Korea but I enjoyed every minute of it. I was doing my job and in return, I received great training and travel benefits.

What advice do you have for business owners in the Bis-Man area that are just beginning their endeavor?

Find a similar business and ask tons of questions. If you don’t want to ask locally, find similar businesses outside of the area. Most business owners are happy to provide advice and guidance. We visited multiple boarding facilities outside of the Bismarck area and were lucky enough to even have a local facility provide advice and guidance to us as we were building our plan. We went to a professional conference which gave us a ton of ideas on how to build, what cleaning equipment to use and many ideas that we hadn’t considered because none of us had a background in boarding, grooming or professional training. We also visited our local rescues to see what they liked about their current facilities and what didn’t work for them, because we would need a similar facility but have

different customers. The more knowledge you can get from someone with experience, the better your plan will be, the better your cost analysis will be and the better your end product will be.

Any parting thoughts you’d like to share with our readers?

It’s been an amazing journey and we are all amazed at how well the business is doing. We are even looking at adding another building and plan to visit other facilities that are larger to see what is working for them and what isn’t. We are very proud of the business we have built and the great staff that we have working for us. We feel very blessed.

Bed N Biscuit Ranch 8700 80th St NE, Bismarck

701-415-0494

info@bednbiscuitranch.com

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By Grant Ayers

Photos by Geneva Nodlanad

Stephanie Miller From Local Chef to ‘Top Chef’ Stephanie Miller is a renowned chef and restaurateur in the Bismarck area. Currently, she is the Chef and Owner of Butterhorn, a popular restaurant located in the heart of downtown Bismarck. Recently, Miller was the first person from North Dakota to compete on the popular competitive television show ‘Top Chef’.

Her journey to owning a successful restaurant and competing on a household-known reality competition wasn’t an easy one. However, it did have some standout moments that made it a memorable one. She took the time to discuss her ‘Top Chef’ experience, the risks of starting a restaurant post-lockdown and what advice she has for other restaurateur hopefuls.

B

efore Miller opened Butterhorn, she was living in Minneapolis with her husband, Shane. When she was starting to become increasingly homesick away from Bismarck, she knew that she needed to find a reason to come back home.

“Honestly, I just wanted to come back home to my family,” Miller said. “My nieces and nephews, sisters and brothers, parents and everyone else that I know and love so much lives here in Bismarck, so I knew that I needed to see them more often.”

It wasn’t long after scouting locations for a potential restaurant that Miller fell in love with the building she proudly owns today. “[Shane] and I walked past the building that Butterhorn is in today and I asked a realtor if we could go inside and see it for ourselves.

I absolutely fell in love with it immediately,” Miller said. “It was a blank canvas. We had to do a lot with it, but I’m so happy that it turned into what it is today.”

a risk and aim for a “fine diningesque” establishment. “While I wouldn’t consider Butterhorn a fully ‘fine dining’ establishment, I felt that there was a lack of those establishments in the Bismarck area. I wanted to start Butterhorn as a slightly higher-end experience with a seasonal rotation to represent Bismarck, North Dakota food and be able to have my own twist on it.”

Having a building acquired, Miller also had to plan a concept and vision to carry out in her new location. She had decided to take

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When Miller launched Butterhorn, there was no way to be fully prepared and ready for what was to come.

“I don’t think you could ever be ready. I think it’s best to just dive in and do it. I tend to be the “dreamer” and Shane is the one who makes it all happen,” Miller said. “Thank goodness for that, since I don’t think you could have two dreamers or two doers in a relationship. I think that there just needs to be pops of creativity or imagination and an idea that kind of sparks something.

When you get one of those, you need to run with it. Life is too short to not pursue what you want.”

It’s that ideal blend of personality and ambition that allows Miller and her husband to operate and work as successfully together as they do. When asked about how she makes it work, Miller was grateful to have Shane by her side for support.

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“That’s one good thing about going into business with your significant other. There's two of you,” Miller said. “It makes it easier to have someone that I know I trust, loves me and cares for the restaurant as much as I do.”

Miller and her husband have found an efficient way to push the business to greater heights.

However, that’s not to say that they didn’t face their own challenges when launching Butterhorn.

“Restaurants are the hardest business to find success in. The food costs are going increasingly higher.

Some of the items I've been getting for Butterhorn are 100% more expensive than they were when we opened,” Miller said.

“We try and be as fair as we possibly can with our guests. However, it's hard to run a restaurant, and it's even harder to have it be successful.

Between food costs, staffing

shortages and so much more, there are just so many risk factors at play.

In the end, however, if it's what you want to do, it's what you want to do.”

While risks come and go depending on the situation, restaurants are generally one of the most challenging businesses to find success in, as Miller stated. If there isn’t a memorable aspect to a restaurant, it’s all but doomed to fail.

From the beginning, Miller and her husband were determined to stick out from other restaurants to make a name for themselves.

“Shane and I focused on what there is in Bismarck, what was lacking and then tried to fill gaps.

As I mentioned, I think Bismarck was missing some form of a highend dining establishment like Butterhorn. I think of places that [Shane and I] would want to eat at and then move forward from there,” Miller said.

What are your personal favorite meals at Butterhorn?

“We change our menu seasonally at Butterhorn, so my favorite thing last year, or even the last menu, isn’t my favorite thing right now. My favorite meal from Butterhorn currently is the Braised Beef Cheek and cornbread appetizer, which are both just absolutely incredible.”

Are there any charities or nonprofits in the Bis-Man area that you support?

“We love supporting Furry Friends Rockin Rescue, a nonprofit animal rescue here in Bismarck. If I had a chance to have 100 animals in my house, I would. I just don’t know if my husband would let me! We donate to their time and resource needs as often as we can. We also donate to the girl scouts. However, I think it’s hard to donate to every charity or nonprofit that you want to. I wish I could donate to everyone that supports a good cause.”

- Stephanie Miller

Aside from their main dining area, Butterhorn also offers a classy dining experience in their lower level.

The Top Chef Experience

A

fter shaping Butterhorn into the well-oiled machine that it is today, Miller received an unexpected message from the popular Food Network television show ‘Top Chef’ that held exciting news for her. “Top Chef contacted me through social media and asked if I would want to apply. Being the Top Chef geek that I was, I leaped at the opportunity! It took me two seasons of applications to officially get accepted.

[The application process] was strenuous, as there were a lot of steps and things that had to be done,” Miller said.

“They put you through the wringer with applying and getting accepted.

When I found out that I was in, I was incredibly grateful and excited. I’ve been on a televised cooking competition before, so I kind of knew how the TV world worked a little bit. However, Top Chef took it up to another level and it was much more intense and extreme

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since the competition was so much better. I can't spill too much though, since it's still airing!” When you go into an experience like that, it's good to expect the unexpected. When it’s such a monumental experience, you need to walk in thinking that you have no idea what's going to happen. To me, that's one of the most exciting things about it. Life is too short not to accept a spot on Top Chef!

My favorite part of the experience was meeting the chefs and hearing about their journeys and why they're so passionate about the same creative field that I’m a part of. It lights a fire within you again, to go back home and continually push yourself to be better than you were yesterday.

While Miller’s skills and name were bound to be successful nearly anywhere she chose to open up shop, she found Bismarck especially beneficial to be the

area that she works in thanks to the community. “I think that bringing a small business into a small-ish community, compared to somewhere like Minneapolis, is such a positive thing. There is such a strong sense of family and community here,” Miller said.

“So many great restaurants and businesses were, unfortunately, forced to close during COVID. Butterhorn made it out alive and well, and we were able to open Shelter Belt in the middle of a pandemic. That is all thanks to the people around us and the people who got takeout and decided to support us. Even being from Bismarck, that really surprised me from a business standpoint.”

While many people faced closures throughout the pandemic, Miller also noticed several new restaurants open from first-time restaurateurs with little to no experience. While it’s great to embark on the entrepreneurial journey, Miller’s

lasting piece of advice was to earn some of the necessary experience and research before starting at the top.

“I find that a lot of people open up restaurants who don't have significant restaurant experience. They will open one up just because they can. A lot of the time those places can be successful, and I think that's great! However, I think if you really want to pursue your own restaurant, you need to work in restaurants beforehand,” Miller said.

“I put in the work as a server and a barista, in the kitchen and dish pit before I was a manager. I did all of those things before I opened any of my own restaurants. A lot of the time, it wasn’t very glamorous. But, I believe that people need to think hard and long about if they want to do it and put in the work.”

Putting in the required work beforehand allowed Miller to gain some name recognition within the industry. Miller believes that she not only gained notoriety for moving from Minneapolis

to Bismarck to pursue her restaurant vision, but also from her time on Top Chef. While many people may know her work, she wishes that they often kept others in mind when thinking of her entrepreneurial efforts.

“I wish people knew how hard my team works to make both of the restaurants great. It isn’t just me and it isn’t just Shane. It's very minimally us and everyone else is doing such an incredible job. We owe so much of our success, if not all of it, to our team.

We're incredibly proud and incredibly blessed to have them,” Miller said.

“We don’t aim to hire people who have significant experience working in a restaurant before. We just want people who are passionate about learning about food, have an open mind and want to continue to grow in any area they decide to grow in. They don't need to be in a restaurant their whole life, but we want to surround ourselves around those types of people. We are beyond grateful that we have them.”

Was there a favorite part of the experience?

“My favorite part of the experience was meeting the chefs and hearing about their journeys and why they're so passionate about the same creative field that I’m a part of. It lights a fire within you again, to go back home and continually push yourself to be better than you were yesterday.”

What parts of the 'Top Chef' experience were similar to what you had in mind?

"When you go into an experience like that, it's good to expect the unexpected. When it’s such a monumental experience, you need to walk in thinking that you have no idea what's going to happen. To me, that's one of the most exciting things about it. Life is too short to not accept a spot on Top Chef!"

- Stephanie Miller

Butterhorn Phone: (701) 751-0802 Email: office@butterhorn210.com Web: butterhorn210.com Facebook: facebook.com/butterhorn210 Address: 210 East Main Avenue Bismarck, ND, 58501

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Nonprofit of the Month: Dakota Children’s Advocacy Center

By Grant Ayers

1

in every 10 children will be a victim of sexual abuse by their 18th birthday, according to the Dakota Children’s Advocacy Center. Furthermore, they claim that 93% of victims know their offender before the incident. The Dakota Children’s Advocacy Center (DCAC) is a nonprofit organization that aims to develop a coordinated response to these child sexual abuse investigations. The idea for the DCAC first came to life in November of 1996 when a task force was created in Bismarck to identify how to best serve and support children who have been sexually abused. By February of 1997, the DCAC was established and their first child in Bismarck was served.

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Photos by Geneva Nodland

Since their launch in Bismarck, they have served all North Dakota counties, all five of the state’s Native American reservations, as well as parts of northern South Dakota and Eastern Montana. In 2021, 940 people were helped across 53% of the state, according to the DCAC 2021 Annual Report. Furthermore, they provided 357 forensic interviews, 141 medical evaluations and 1,831 mental health sessions.

Paula Condol, executive director of the DCAC, joined to discuss the organization’s mission, what many people might not know and what actions readers can take to make a difference.

Paula Condol, Executive Director of the DCAC

How Does a CAC Work?

“It's always been at the heart of our mission that we don't add to the stress and trauma that the family is already facing. After discovering that you have a child who has been abused, the last thing that family needs is a large bill coming their way for the services that were provided to them,” - Paula Condol

How did the Dakota Children's Advocacy Center begin?

The DCAC first began with a group of eight people, according to Condol.

They noticed that much could be done to improve the aftermath information collection process. With few resources available for children in need, the group targeted the primary issues by seeking out people that would be of assistance to their mission.

“Ranging from people within the Attorney General’s office, Sanford Health, Department of Human Services, Social Services, law enforcement, prosecutors and more, it really took a village to make sure that it was an effective plan that would better the needs of these children,” Condol said. “One of the biggest challenges that these children faced was that, on average, they had to tell their story 15 different times throughout the process to different

people. That included parents, school teachers, law enforcement, social workers and so on. Now, we bring the necessary parties together, in a separate room, so that the children only have to share their story one time to one person, and so that the child doesn’t face being traumatized any further.”

This is just one of the many minor changes the DCAC has made that will make a major difference in the child’s ability to recover and heal. At the beginning, they started out solely serving children that faced sexual abuse. Now, the DCAC serves all abused, traumatized or neglected children, including those who have witnessed domestic violence, or even murders, at a young age.

A CAC, or Children’s Advocacy Center, coordinates the investigation, treatment, and prosecution of child abuse cases by utilizing multidisciplinary teams of professionals. By coordinating the response of agencies like law enforcement, child protective services, prosecutors’ offices, advocates, mental health and medical professionals, CACs all across the country help ensure that when a child discloses abuse, they are not re-victimized by the systems designed to protect them. CACs help coordinate care and investigation from first report to conviction and beyond, while keeping the child at the center of everything the team does.

The Need for an Advocacy Center According to the National Sex Offender Registry, North Dakota is equvialent to the same per capita sex offender registry as in California, with 2,191 currently on the sex offender registry in North Dakota.

Did You Know?

Over 25 years of operation, the DCAC has served nearly 700 children across North Dakota.

As the nonprofit has continued to receive backing and support from other BISMANINC.COM

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organizations and donors over the years, the DCAC has blossomed into a more expansive service, with a satellite location in Dickinson, ND, as well as an outreach center in Watford City, ND. These additional locations allow families closer access to help, rather

than having every victim travel across the state to the original Bismarck location. Moving forward, the center hopes to ensure that every child is within driving distance to a safe and supportive center for help.

What You May Not Know About The DCAC While many nonprofit organizations aim to serve the community, few orient themselves toward the children as much as the DCAC does. First and foremost, they provide all of their services free-of-charge to families, for as long as they need them.

“Families can come here to get medical exams, counseling services or have their child's statement taken. We also provide more tangible services such as getting them gas cards or taxi vouchers to come to services. Whatever that family may need, we try to find any ways that we can meet their needs free-of-charge,” Condol said.

Furthermore, people oftentimes assume that the DCAC is funded by the government, rather than acting as a nonprofit organization.

“I’ve talked to people before that have just assumed we’re governmentfunded because we work with law enforcement, but that’s not the case.

We’re open to any and all donations and contributions, as it takes a village to make a significant change in the lives of these wonderful children,” Condol said.

How Can I Get Involved?

The DCAC aims to make children feel safe and secure in their environment.

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Be Aware

Volunteer!

“One of the things about our organization that people are most surprised about is that enough abuse occurs in our community to need a center like this. For many, it’s not something that’s part of their world and something they don’t want to hear about,” Condol said.

The DCAC is always looking for volunteers at their events. Upcoming events include various golf tournaments, appreciation picnics, as well as Kid’s Days at the Bismarck Library. Contact the DCAC at the information below to learn details regarding upcoming events.

While it’s a tough subject to discuss, the matter is pressing and needs to be addressed and attended to, for the children’s safety.

“Since the DCAC is a nonprofit, they’re unable to have full-time cleaning staff.

Volunteers will oftentimes come in and help clean or help organize our area.

The DCAC's observation room is where the team is able to observe the forensic interview as the child shares their experiences with the interviewer. By reducing the number of times a child has to tell their story, CAC's help ensure that when a child is not re-victimized by the systems designed to protect them.

Around holidays, we’ll often redecorate for the seasons to brighten the children’s days, so volunteering some of your time to help get kids in the holiday spirit makes the world to them,” Condol said

Donate to Their Wish List!

The DCAC serves a 35-county area, with families often making a multiple-hour drive with hungry and thirsty children by their time of arrival. They always try to have juice boxes, bottles of water, peanutfree snacks and more available for them on-hand. They also aim to have bathroom and hygienic products available for the children at all times.

Furthermore, they’re always in need of copier paper and art supplies for their art therapy for the children. Lastly, the organization is always in need of more

items for their “Closet of Caring” for the children.

Monetary Donations As with most nonprofit organizations, one of the most direct ways to get involved is by making monetary donations. As the DCAC relies heavily on funding and donations, a donor’s contributions will be placed towards keeping forensic interviewers on their payroll, supplies on their wish list, and more to help the child heal and prevent the families from further stress.

While the DCAC may be fighting an uphill battle, it’s one that many can easily get behind. Helping the Dakota Children's Advocacy Center translates to helping support and uplift a younger generation in need of assistance..

The DCAC’s Closet of Caring The “Closet of Caring” first began as a closet strictly dedicated to children that needed new clothing. Today, it has expanded into a wideranging space that contains not only clothes, but toys, shoes and much more for the children!

Did You Know?

According to the DCAC 2021 Annual Report, they are funded by the following:

State Grants

33%

Third-Party Payers Foundations

the Dakota Children’s Advocacy Center

33%

Federal Grants

18%

9%

Community Support

Support!

7%

Phone: (701) 323-5626 Email: info@dakotacac.org Web: dakotacac.org Facebook: facebook.com/dakotacac Address: 1800 East Broadway Avenue Bismarck, ND 58501 BISMANINC.COM

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One of the Top Financial Advisors in the Country Advice and a Q&A With Troy Nelson Written by Brady Drake

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A

lthough Troy Nelson is not mentioned among the local celebrities like Carson Wentz and others who have reached the top of their professional arena, he sure should be.

Nelson started working at Edward Jones at the age of 23, just one week after graduating from college. And now, 23 years later, he hasn’t slowed down in the career that he was destined for.

Some of his accomplishments include being named to Barron's "America's Top 1,200 Financial Advisors" and North Dakota's #1 Overall Financial Advisor for nine of the last ten years. He has also been named on the Forbes Best in State and was ranked 125th on Forbes Top 250 Wealth Advisors.

His Roots Nelson picked up a lot of his knowledge and passion for the industry through his closest mentor, his father, who trained financial advisors for nearly 30 years.

"As a kid, we had family dinner together every night," Nelson said. "During the first half of dinner, we talked about what happened that day and caught up as a family. During the second half of dinner, he would tune in to Moneyline with Lou Dobbs."

The markets and investment talk were central and fascinating topics to Nelson from very early on in his life. Some kids wanted to be professional athletes when they grew up. Others wanted to be educators or astronauts. Nelson wanted to be a financial advisor.

"It was something that fascinated me from a young age," Nelson said. "I'm one of the few people who knew early on that I wanted to be a financial advisor. My father was a great mentor to me. I was able to tailor my schooling and education towards this and I started investing at a very young age.”

Financial Advice From Troy Nelson

3 Have Perspective

1 ABSOLUTELY Have a Plan I work with high-net-worth individuals that are quite successful in their fields. However, I'm continually baffled that many of those people don't have a plan in place at all.

Or, if they do have a plan in place, they don't know what it is and they haven't retooled it in a long period of time.

I believe that if you don't know where you're going, you're never going to get there.

2 Think Long Term This has become harder and harder for people to stick to. We live in a microwave society where everyone wants things now. And they want things better than yesterday. However, investing and planning don't work that way.

I use this analogy with my clients. If you're going to cook a roast, you have a couple of options. One option would be a microwave and another option would be a crockpot. I've tried both. I've cooked a roast in the microwave and the beautiful part is that it gets done really, really fast. However, you wouldn't be, and I wasn't, happy with the outcome. It's like chewing a block of rubber. Conversely, if you have a tried and true, trusted crockpot recipe and you follow it, set it and forget it—you don't pull the lid off every five minutes and check it, and you're going to end up with a delicious dinner.

Investing in planning works the exact same way. If you want to microwave your investment and your planning, it's not going to turn out very well. But if you trust your tried and true recipe, you're going to be rewarded with a good retirement. Think long-term.

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For example, we recently experienced a market correction. A correction is defined by at least a 10% drop in stock prices. Whenever these things happen, people tend to react by panicking. However, since the year 1900, we've had an average of one 10% correction per year. So, we shouldn't be surprised when it happens. That would be like being surprised when your birthday rolls around every year. So, we shouldn't panic either.

It really is a good thing if you look at it the right way.

Once per year, you get a major discount on some of the world's best companies. I'm in the only business on the planet where when things go on sale, people want nothing to do with them. It doesn't make a lot of sense.

Every three to five years, on average, you get a bear market where there's a 20% drop in stock prices.

And so every three to five years, you get to buy on clearance. That's always scary to people but it's a completely, totally normal part of investing. So, all my clients are very well aware that this is going to happen.

I tell them that if they have a $2 million account with me, they're going to see it drop by $600,000 at some point. And they have two options when that happens.

They can stick their head in the sand and ignore it or if they have money to invest, they better be calling me.

When people panic in times like these, they make really bad decisions that cost them a lot of money and ruin or delay their retirement.

4 Have a Coach The best athletes in the world still have coaches.

So, have a coach or advisor. There's about 10% of the population that can do it themselves and do it well. There's another 10-15% that think they can do it themselves. But even the world's best athletes have coaches and advisors. I think I'm at the top of my game with what I do for clients, and I have two executive coaches. I have them because I can always grow, I can always get better and I can always learn.

QA A 23 years, why have you stayed with Edward Jones for so long?

I think there are a couple of reasons. One is that I really get to make a significant difference in people's lives. In the long run, I get to see the things that I help people plan actually come to fruition.

On the flip side of that, I've unfortunately had numerous clients pass away. Thankfully, I've also been able to convince many of my clients to invest in Long Term Care Insurance to protect their nest eggs. I have one client who is, unfortunately, using his now. His wife was in my office the other day crying and telling me how glad they were that I recommended it to them. So, that's part of it as well. I want to help my clients protect what they have so they can live fuller lives.

I know you are very involved in the community. Why is the Adult & Teen Challenge such an important cause to you?

It's important to me because I've seen it make a big difference in people's lives. Drug and alcohol addiction can really ravage people's lives and have a negative impact on their families and their friends. I've seen the negative impact that it has firsthand from family and friends over the years. And I want to make a difference.

What do you think has allowed you to stay successful over such a long period of time?

I would say three things come to mind. The first thing I'd say is that I'm made for this. I could probably do 1,000 different careers and be lousy or mediocre. But this is one of the things I was put on this planet to do because I'm good at three things: I'm a great problem solver. I'm a great communicator of solutions, and I can present things in an easy-tounderstand way that people can actually act upon. And, although I wasn't always, I have become a great leader.

I'm very much a constant learner and grower. As I mentioned earlier, I have two executive coaches. I also have a counselor.

I've done "The Ultimate Leadership Workshop" with Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend. I've done the "Townsend Leadership Program," which is a year-long, intensive program where I flew to Arizona once a month. I did that for a year

and I'm re-enrolling now for a second year. I go to the Global Leadership Forum yearly. Last year, I did a three-week silent, solitary retreat, which was probably one of the hardest things I've ever done in life. I spent three weeks alone with no phone, no TV, no radio, no books. I was literally by myself with a journal and my Bible alone in this cabin in the middle of the woods in Gig Harbor, Washington.

As a financial advisor, how do you look at cryptocurrency?

I would say that there are two different ways I look at this.

When you say cryptocurrency in general, that's a really broad term. Many of the cryptocurrencies that exist now will not exist in the future—they will go away, they will go to zero and they will be gone.

However, I do think Bitcoin will be around long-term and I think that it will probably go up in value, even though it is literally supported by nothing. All it is, are ones and zeros on the Internet, there's nothing backing it. However, that isn't much different from the US dollar. As a country, we have massive quantities of debt. So there's really nothing backing the US dollar either. The US dollar has value because people believe in the US dollar. Bitcoin has value because people believe in Bitcoin because there's a limited quantity of it. You can't print or make more of it. It's valuable because of the network effect, and it has a big enough network and a large number of people trusting it.

I think it will be around long-term, but do I suggest it for clients? No. For the majority of my clients, that is too speculative of an asset. Do I have some clients in it? Yes, those that want to speculate with a smaller percentage of their portfolio. But if you're looking for something as a hedge, which is what most people are looking to Bitcoin for, I would much rather trust gold, which has passed the 2,000-year test. Bitcoin has passed the 13-year test.

To learn more about Troy Nelson, visit edwardjones.com/us-en/financial-advisor/troynelson Phone: (701) 255-1196 Address: 1701 Burnt Boat Drive, Bismarck

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Fun Fact!

Balkowitsch Enterprises, Inc. was one of the very first online merchandising companies in North Dakota.

Pursuing a Passion

Shane Balkowitsch also runs a studio for his passion project of wet plate photography, which is an art medium that captures mesmerizing portraits in a short time span.

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 baseball team CEOs to mobile bar owners, 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.

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Did You Know?

As of this year, Balkowitsch Enterprises, Inc. has been in operation for 24 years.

CEO & Owner

Balkowitsch Enterprises, Inc. and Nostalgic Glass Wet Plate Studio

Balkowitsch Enterprises, Inc. is a retail and online merchandising company with a customer base that spans the globe. Shane Balkowitsch first ventured into this journey when he saw this opportunity during his time as an Oncology Nurse. Making the entrepreneurial leap to pursue this full-time was only the first step of many for Balkowitsch to get to where he’s at today.

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

In the beginning, we started with $50 in inventory in my mother's basement. Today, we're a multi-million dollar company that continues to ship 30,000 to 40,000 products every year across the globe.

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

I will never forget when I was charging $5000 in stethoscopes on my credit card while working as a nurse. Within six months, however, we were the #1 distributor in the world for Philips Medical and that particular electronic stethoscope.

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

I was being worn down as an Oncology Nurse on the weekends, as I was also running the business and raising a young family at the same time. It was a tough decision to decide to focus solely on the business and my family, and in turn abandon my nursing career, as that had a guaranteed paycheck and insurance.

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

A typical day consisted of trying to find more products to put out, as well as talking with (and reassuring) customers. When I began this venture, it was during an era when nobody trusted online companies. They

would say, “You mean I’m going to send you a check or give you my credit card and I have no guarantees that you will deliver anything?.”

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

I cannot in my mind make any changes because if I did, I wouldn’t know if going down a different path would destroy everything that we’ve worked so hard for and built to this day.

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

There is something wonderful about working for yourself. There’s a certain pride and happiness that comes with being an entrepreneur. That being said, there is also newfound respect for anyone who decides to go through it alone. It’s the American dream, but that dream has its pitfalls and challenges that one cannot imagine until they’ve gone through it themselves.

What is something you wish more people knew about your company?

You can drive by our 6,500-square-foot facility and nobody would ever guess how much sales we are doing with our skeleton crew of 6 employees. Surely, few people would assume that we've grown to the position we're in today with such a small crew of core employees.

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

I’m a CEO steering this company into the future on a very uncertain landscape. I only come into the office four days a week nowadays, with Friday being my creative day at Nostalgic Glass [Wet Plate Studio].

I’m currently booked out for the next seven months into the future for my Friday sessions!

People will fly in from all around the world to experience what it is that I’m doing in my studio.

I have works in 49 museums, including the Smithsonian and Library of Congress.

There is a documentary on Amazon called "Balkowitsch", which is about my creative life and also discusses my business life. There is no more challenging or fast-paced market in the world, as online merchandising is a brutal market.

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

Think of us when you need to purchase any of the products that we offer! Of the 35,000 items we sold last year, only 15 of them were in the entire state of North Dakota.

(701) 223-9936 sales@balkowitsch.com www.balkowitsch.com 4419 Centurion Drive

Bismarck, North Dakota 58504

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Did You Know

National Day Calendar has been up and running for seven years in the Bis-Man area!

Fun Fact!

Over 20,000 media outlets have sourced their stories from National Day Calendar!

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Founder

National Day Calendar

Before 2013, there was no established website that had a comprehensive list of National Days and the history behind them. Marlo Anderson, the founder of National Day Calendar, took it upon himself to lead the charge to change that. National Day Calendar aggregates National Days that are posted on their website and social media, then sent to their email list for all subscribers to enjoy. Through 2.5 years of research, Anderson and his team have built a profession out of celebrating every day. Over nearly a decade, Anderson has picked up on some lessons that he’s learned through experience in his profession.

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

It was very long and tedious! However, it was also fun, exhilarating, inspirational and very rewarding.el agency side of the business since the 1980s.

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

Learning that life, in general, is a risk!

Consistency and staying true to the course of action can bring rewards, and finding out the significance that you can have in others' lives without even knowing them makes it all worth it..

What steps were the hardest when taking the leap to start National Day Calander?

The hardest step for me was convincing others that what you are doing is worthwhile.

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

There has never been a better time to start a business. With the availability of research, funding, advertising and much more available because of the internet. The internet is the great equalizer that allows you to inform potential customers at a local scale, or there’s the opportunity to compete globally.

What was a typical day in your life like when you were beginning National Day Calander?

There were a lot of long hours devoted to website development, coupled with research, writing, image gathering and posting to share.

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

I enjoy all that North Dakota has to offer. It’s filled with friendly people, wide open spaces, and four unique seasons. It is truly a magical place to live, work and play..

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

Of course, there are things that could have been done differently. However, those lessons are what make the business and myself better.

What is something you wish more people knew about National Day Calander?

I hope that people realize and picture the impact that we have every day around the world.

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

Traveling has become a significant part of my life. Whether it’s working with team members in other parts of the country, speaking gigs or making appearances in cooperation with the many National Day celebrations. I’m always looking for better ways to use automation to accomplish more as well.

What’s one thing the local business community could do to help National Day Calendar?

We would love to increase the number of partnerships with National Days to drive sales to businesses and overall traffic to our website!

Are you looking to expand? If so, how?

Currently, we’re looking at opening destination-type experiential locations to become a go-to to celebrate every day.

(701) 204-6674 NationalDayCalendar.com twitter.com/NationalDayCal facebook.com/NationalDayCalendar 712 West Main Street Mandan, ND 58554

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What is “The Barn”?

The Barn is home to the Bobcats, where games are played and fans can support them and cheer them on to victory!

Did You Know?

Thom Brigl has been the Owner of the Bismarck Bobcats for 21 years!

Pho

o to C am Bauler y of S urtes

Did You Know?

The Bismarck Bobcats have raised nearly $400,000 for various charities and causes since launching in 1997.

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Owner

Bismarck Bobcats

The Bismarck Bobcats are a Tier II junior ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League's Central Division. They’ve been a staple of the Bismarck community since they launched in 1997. Thom Brigl’s journey with the Bobcats hasn’t been an easy one since he took over ownership of the team in 2001.

Along the way, he’s learned more than he ever imagined he would.

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

Well, I got into it by accident and it was (and still is) a very challenging business to be in. After a decade of really hard times, the Bismarck-Mandan community came together and has really appreciated and supported us.

They support not only what we do on the ice, but also in the community; particularly with children and certain charities .

How did you first get involved with the Bismarck Bobcats?

I first came in as a consultant to try to help an ownership group do a turnaround on the business. However, I ended up owning it not long after. As I always say, they were smarter than me and got out!

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

I was naively optimistic that I could turn it around, and it was much harder than I would have thought. I turned to the community in 2010 and told everyone that I know that while the area loves its Bobcats, the business was not sustainable and would need more corporate support. After meeting with a number of companies, they really came through for us. The Bobcats are now a goto hotspot, and the community has really adopted the fun, the boys' dreams, and our involvement in the community. Giving back to this community is a big part of what we try to do.

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

The important thing is not the mistakes you make, but what you learn from them. At

the end of the day, I think perseverance and passion have been the key to our success.

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

Research, research and then research some more to understand as well as you can what the hurdles are, as well as how to best attack them. Be entrepreneurial and flexible—if something isn’t working for you, move on to other ideas if need be. It’s important to be creative and understand the impact, or lack of impact, of the decisions that you make for your business.

What made you decide to pursue this opportunity with the Bismarck Bobcats?

In my case, it was more of an accident, as a friend called me in to help out a failing business. He knew that I was from Mandan and they were losing a lot of money, so they were looking for ideas. I took over when they left and in my naive optimism, it continued to lose a lot of money. I learned at that point that the business people needed to know me and understand my passion.

them, as it definitely takes a village to do what we do! Also, how much we appreciate them for supporting us and allowing us to be able to make the fun memories that we’ve made together.

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

I still get up with the sun and focus with my staff on sponsor prospects, new sponsorship opportunities and how to continue improving the show, all to make it an even more fun venue for everyone to make some noise in!

The boys love it and it actually helps us with recruiting the level of talent that we have.

We have placed 31 boys in Division I Hockey Colleges in the last two years alone! In doing so, I have a lot of good help around me now who seem to love what they do, as it shows in the community and at the games.

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

Continue to support us through advertising, attending games, buying a beer and spreading the word that our Barn Rocks!

What do most people not know about the Bismarck Bobcats?

I like to think, or hope, that they know about our three missions. The first is to provide opportunities for young men to chase their hockey dream. The second is to be positive mentors for youth in the area and remain extremely active in the community, such as our anti-bullying campaign. Lastly, the third is to provide the most fun in the area. As we say, nobody parties like the Bobcats!

(701) 222-3300 BismarckBobcats.com gobobcathockey@aol.com twitter.com/BismarckBobcats facebook.com/BismarckBobcats

What is something you wish more people knew about your business venture?

1200 North Washington Street Bismarck, ND 58501

I hope they know just how much we rely on BISMANINC.COM

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Something For Everyone

Hexahive proudly advertises that they will scale their operations to the client’s needs, increasing success through a tailored experience.

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CEO

HexaHive

Hexahive is a marketing agency that helps North Dakota companies meet their business goals through strategic marketing. This includes nearly all facets of marketing and advertising, with a large portion of their work falling within branding, website development, social media and strategy. Founded in 2019, Jade Scherr had a vision for not only a successful business of her own, but to support other businesses in their journey.

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

My journey was much more organic than most. I had some risks in starting my business, but there wasn't a big leap at once.

While going to school for Graphic Design, as well as Marketing, I took part in freelance work. I continued growing my freelance work while simultaneously working as a designer. I really enjoyed helping businesses step back and see WHY they wanted things and pivoting to focus on things that actually mattered to the success of their business.

Eventually, I knew that I needed to decide between my full-time job and freelancing— chose to make the jump into pursuing what was my side-hustle full-time. I was quickly overtaken with clients and needed to hire out work. I did this more and more until I got to where I am today, with my team of four other full-time team members.

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

There are so many! Overall, the thing that sticks with me is that I don't want to look back and think, "What if.” I want to learn, grow and adapt, and I can't do that if I choose to stay within my comfort zone. Plus, the sense of accomplishment after taking a leap (starting a business, hiring, hitting a new milestone, etc) is something that fuels the fire for me, and I'm sure it does the same for every other entrepreneur.

A giant leap for me was hiring my first fulltime staff member. I had this weird fear that I would fail with full-time team members, but

once I found the right fit and dove in, it was obvious that it was the right choice. Quickly after, I hired other full-time staff within the following months.

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

The hardest step was always knowing where to start. I'm incredibly passionate about the client-facing portions of my business, but I didn't know what to do with the behind-thescenes aspects of it like taxes, benefits and more along those lines at the beginning.

What was a typical day in your life like when you were beginning Exceptionally Nuts?

When I first started, I was doing almost all of the task-based items within the business, along with the sales and client interactions.

This meant juggling client interactions and meetings with design work, research, social media ads and scheduling, alongside anything else that needed to be implemented based on what our clients' needs were.

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

Every mistake or hiccup I've had along the way has taught me a valuable lesson.

Because of this, I wouldn't go back and necessarily change anything. If I had to go back though, I'd tell myself a few things:

• Lean into your connections and network right off the bat; you don't need to wait to have everything figured out to do that.

• Prioritize time for fine-tuning your business from the start; it's easy to get caught up in clients' needs and push your own stuff to the wayside.

• Give yourself some credit!

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

As corny as it sounds, just believe in yourself.

Make sure that you have goals and a wellthought-out plan ahead of taking action.

Once that's established and you have a clear path of where you want to be heading, get started.

Sometimes, that'll mean getting started by starting small. Other times, that means taking a dramatic leap. Whatever that is for your situation, define what you need to succeed and start walking down that path.

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

I've learned a lot from taking the risk of starting a business, but I learned a lot more when my husband left his full-time job to have a drastic career change and start his own business as well.

That brought a completely different level of risk to the table, as both of us were pursuing entrepreneurship. However, it has also made it easier for us to push each other to move forward and do hard things, because we know that hard decisions have to be made in order to reach our goals.

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"I often think of Bismarck-Mandan as a "big little city".

It's founded on relationships and connections, yet also big enough to not know everyone."- Jade Scherr each client should not be treated as just a number, but rather as a part of our hive.

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

I often think of Bismarck-Mandan as a "big little city". It's founded on relationships and connections, yet also big enough to not know everyone. It makes it a perfect hub for our business to begin, expand and be seen while having the ability to stand out and be creative across all of our client's industries.

What do most people not know about HexaHive?

Our team cares deeply about our client's success—and we don't just say that for show. We aren't afraid to put in long hours, all-nighters and extra research to ensure that we're doing the best job for our clients. Similarly, we care so much for our clients that we tell them what they need to hear, not necessarily what they want to hear.

Oftentimes this means that what they want for marketing isn't going to be the most impactful thing for their business goals, so we'll tell them what will help, regardless of how that would impact HexaHive. We set a standard above expectations because we believe that

Along with this, I don't think people realize just how much we scale with companies.

Oftentimes, people know we can scale down for startup businesses, but not that we can (and already do) scale up on large, complex projects and industries.

What is something you wish more people knew about your company?

I wish more people knew one of the most critical components of HexaHive—why we do it.

Marketing isn't only about putting up billboards or sponsoring things. Sure, those are great aspects of marketing, but they aren't enough. Many businesses don't think of the people they're trying to reach, how those people will connect with those advertisements or how that relates to them as a customer or as a stakeholder.

Strategy and marketing psychology are some of the biggest players in marketing, but too many businesses keep those key players on the bench. That's why HexaHive was founded – to help businesses realize the necessity of prioritizing strategy and ensuring that businesses are investing in marketing tactics that make an impact on their overall goals.

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

I still do a lot of juggling, but I’ve been able to adapt it to just juggling my favorite things. At HexaHive, I balance client meetings, consultations, creative direction and high-level strategy with fostering team growth and fine-tuning our processes. Outside of my business, you'll find me sipping on coffee, enjoying time with my husband and two kids, playing volleyball and finding ways to make an impact and get involved with the Bismarck-Mandan community.

What’s one thing the local business community could do to help your organization?

Keep the buzz going about the new marketing agency that does damn good work!

Are you looking to expand HexaHive?

If so, how?

There are a few areas that we're open to hiring and expanding in. Overall though, we're focusing on pushing ourselves internally to continue to level up for our clients.

(701) 989-4880 info@hexahive.co hexahive.co instagram.com/hexahive.co facebook.com/hexahive.co 811 E Interstate Ave Suite B Bismarck, ND 58503 64

SUMMER 2022

A Cause for Celebration Gratitude Spa and Salon recently celebrated its first anniversary in early May!

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Owner

Gratitude Spa and Salon

Gratitude Spa and Salon is a full-service spa and salon that offers all hair services, manicures and pedicures, massages and much more. Founder Kristin Chorne advertises the business as a place that welcomes everyone in for a day of relaxation, transformation and fun. Since opening Gratitude, Chorne has picked up a few lessons and a lot of knowledge as an entrepreneur in the Bis-Man area.

What steps were the hardest when taking the leap to start Gratitude?

The most difficult steps were mainly in the buildout itself and the detail that goes into that. I cannot thank my husband, Cory, enough for being the level-headed, calm human that he is. I'm a believer, so once I decided to do it, there was no looking back!

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

A typical day during the buildout was spent checking on progress, picking out details and ordering products and equipment. Certainly, a lot of time is spent on follow-up and ensuring that everything is on track. I had a hard deadline for opening, and there were a lot of people that went above and beyond to make it happen in time.

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

First and foremost, make sure your banker is someone that you can count on to help and guide you. There were several programs available that I would have never known about, if not for Kayla at First Western Bank.

Also, make sure you have the time, energy and commitment to be available and stay on top of progress or snags. Lastly, don't stop believing!

most growth happens), was a life lesson my parents taught me after they were gone. I truly feel that I had them guiding me..

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

I was born and raised in Bismarck, and it's where I raise my family. I absolutely love the area and community here, and I truly believe that Bismarck needed a beautiful, relaxing and customer-friendly spa and salon.

We wanted to do something unique that would allow us to participate in local events and help other businesses celebrate their success as well. With that, Bubbles and Brews ND came to life. Overall, we are passionate about serving our community and we are proud that we were able to start this unique mobile bar service in Bismarck-Mandan.

What do most people not know about Gratitude?

The fact that, essentially, I named the business after my parents as a tribute to their legacy and all that they offered to our family, as well as the Bismarck community as a whole. We talk often about my parents at Gratitude and the entire staff is aware that I feel it's a reflection of their legacy. It's important to me that everyone chooses to live up to that, and it's not a small task. Offering grace, kindness and expertise to everyone is a requirement; not an option of working here.

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

I spend most of my time working the back end of the business, currently. I'm at Gratitude five days a week, on average. However, I'm able to do a decent portion of my job at home as well. I'm taking advantage of that currently, and spending as much time as I can with our two grandchildren. Don't get me wrong, I'm working from home many nights until 11:00 or later and answering messages at all hours of the day, but I am enjoying the flexibility that I have.

What’s one thing the local business community could do to help you/your organization?

We have seen the majority of growth come from referrals and word of mouth. That is the best compliment we could ever receive.

Please continue to spread the word!

Are you looking to expand Gratitude? If so, how?

We are looking to hire some new staff, and we're excited about that! We also have some other potential upcoming services that we're exploring currently as well and are excited to roll those out in the near future.

(701) 595-7600

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

What is something you wish more people knew about your company?

While I do understand that it's certainly a risk, I choose to see it as an opportunity and investment. The name "Gratitude", came from a moment I had in dealing with the journey of losing both of my parents. It's rarely easy to be grateful for difficult things. Learning to find gratitude for the entire journey, even the most difficult parts (as that's where the

Gratitude is a family-owned business! My son, Tyler Richter, is a financial advisor at Legacy Financial Partners in Bismarck. He was very involved in the financial portion of the business and was very crucial in helping develop the financial plan. My daughter-inlaw, Katelon, is a cosmetologist at Gratitude.

We plan to be here for years to come.

GratitudeSpaAndSalon.com kristin@gratitudespaandsalon.com facebook.com/GratitudeSpaAndSalon 1147 W Capitol Ave Bismarck, ND 58501

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LEA BLACK

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Food allergies can often get in the way of enjoying a treat. And if an allergy were present, a family might just decide to cut out that particular food altogether would look for a second option if their child wanted a specific dessert, rather than work around it by searching for an alternative. For Mark and Rebecca Binstock, however, a food allergy wouldn’t stop them from letting their daughter enjoy cotton candy. In November of 2018, the Binstock family founded Simple Sugar, a cotton candy company that specializes in creating flavorful, local, allergenfriendly alternatives.

Simple Sugar offers a product that is different from other cotton candy because of what isn’t in it, rather than what is. Instead of using a pre-packaged and pre-flavored mix, their cotton candy is made using local fruit and beet sugar. While Mark and Rebecca have found a successful path over their past three years of operating Simple Sugar, their reasoning for beginning is what put them on that path with such ambition.

“We decided to start Simple Sugar in response to our daughter’s food allergies (and our love of cotton candy),” Rebecca Binstock said. “The problem that we would frequently experience — you go to a party or event and a kid cannot partake in treats because of allergies or diet restrictions. Our motivation behind Simple Sugar was to let everyone enjoy something sweet.”

Making and selling cotton candy may sound like a blast from the beginning, but the

Binstock’s high standards made the selling point of an “allergen-friendly alternative” easier said than done. “When we started Simple Sugar, we operated out of our basement office—spinning cotton candy after our kids were asleep for the night. We operated under the cottage food act, which limited our ability to sell our cotton candy through e-commerce or wholesale. The cottage food act also limited how we labeled our product, and we couldn’t identify our product as allergen-friendly. This limitation conflicted with our mission,” Binstock said.

Despite not having the resources for a full cotton candy-focused kitchen at the beginning they chose to face the problems their challenges head-on. While it was a major setback, it was also a critical moment for the Binstock’s to leap one step further in their endeavor. The leap of faith that the Binstock family took launched their venture into unknown territory.

Simple Sugar Stands Out Simple Sugar operates in a kitchen completely free of the top 8 allergens (milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soybeans) and uses local fruit to flavor the cotton candy.

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“We had to change our process. Our new process had to match our family’s schedule. This meant that we needed to be in a licensed, commercial kitchen without allergens at the same time as our kids were snoozing.

We worked with the city of Bismarck and the state health department to build a licensed kitchen in a newly constructed house. This meant we had to sell our current house and rent a temporary home while we built our new home (complete with a licensed kitchen); all during a pandemic,” Binstock continued.

Over the year that it took to build their new home, they moved their family four separate times. This was all done for them to have a compliant and fully-licensed kitchen where they can ensure—and advertise—an allergen-friendly product.

Today, their additional kitchen is dedicated strictly to cotton

candy, with nothing else being made in the workspace. “It’s very important to us that we can tell our customers exactly what is in the kitchen,” Binstock emphasized.

Offering a product that could be advertised as truly “allergen-free” meant a great deal to the Binstocks, as they were selling to family, friends and other longtime community members. After all, the family has roots in the area long before the beginning of Simple Sugar.

Rebecca has deep ties to Bismarck through her childhood, leading her to develop a personal connection with the place she’s proud to call home. Years later, Rebecca thought that she knew the town well enough to the point of starting a business.

However, she quickly learned that the business landscape has changed greatly over the years.

“Bismarck has changed a lot since I was a kid. Still, since returning to Bismarck, we have found that it’s very connected,” Binstock said.

“It’s still small enough that when you meet someone new, you’re likely to have a friend in common, whether or not you know it yet.

Those connections foster business relationships and encourage us all to support local businesses.” local connections.

While the team behind Simple Sugar has managed to keep their circle small, they continue to be adamant about their deep appreciation for their customers and business vendors supporting them.

The Binstock’s rely heavily on their community and wordof-mouth, as Simple Sugar’s success depends on healthy business relationships and local connections.

Getting Behind a Good Cause Simple Sugar supports charities such as BIO Girls, North Dakota’s Gateway to Science, GABR (Great American Bike Race) and many others!

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SUMMER 2022

EVERYONE DESERVES A MEAL WORTH SAVORING Whether you’re hosting an important business dinner or celebrating with your staff, join us at 40 Steak and Seafood for a dinner sure to impress.

• New Menu Daily • Dry-aged Certified Angus Beef ® Steaks • 5 North Dakota-themed Dining Rooms • And More Reserve a room by calling 701-255-4040.

1401 Interchange Ave. Bismarck, ND 58501-2078 701-225-4040 40steakandseafood.com

2017 Certified Angus Beef International Steakhouse of the Year

“There are a few business vendors that we couldn’t do our dream job without.

The Bis-Man Community Food Coop was the first retail store to sell our cotton candy. We started with the Co-op in December of 2021, and they have been such huge supporters of Simple Sugar and our mission. We love what the Co-op has created for local farmers and producers,” Binstock said. “Second, we couldn’t do what we do and keep it local without our local producers. We use as much local fruit as possible for our cotton candy, so our local farmers and producers are the ones growing the backbone of our product.”

While the Binstock family is seeing success with Simple Sugar across the community through these connections, they admitted that they do have their occasional struggles. Currently, their biggest struggle with operating is time. Simple Sugar is a side venture after business hours to both Mark and

Rebecca, as they’re both busy working full-time jobs.

However, Mark and Rebecca were thrilled to announce that they recently hired their first (and only other) employee. This addition to their team should ease the stress of time and allow them to expand in the future. Regardless of the number of hurdles they may have to overcome in the future, they’re not going to let time stop them from pursuing their dream.

“When we started Simple Sugar, we were completely out of our comfort zones. My background is in law and education, and Mark's background is in engineering. We had never operated a business or even made cotton candy. But, we dug in and figured it out. The process pushed us to learn new skills and grow. In other words, embrace ideas that go beyond your zone of comfort. It is scary, but totally worth it,” Binstock said.

No matter the obstacle that the Binstock family may come across, it’s evident that they’re prepared to overcome any challenge with a smile on their faces.

“We are still pretty fresh at this and are constantly in the process of learning from our failures. If we try something and it doesn’t work, we try something new. All the time. However, that’s how we like to grow,” Binstock said. With the growth mindset and positive attitudes that have been present since their first days of business, the Binstock family is prepared to satisfy Bis-Man’s sweet tooth for quite some time.

Support Simple Sugar!

(701) 471-7737 simplesugarnd.com simplesugarnd@gmail.com @simplesugarnd

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Women You Should Know:

Hope Sisk Written and photo provided by Ladyboss Midwest

Q. Tell me a bit about yourself.

A. I’m from California originally. I’ve been in Bismarck for the last six years. I met my husband when I started as a reporter in Fargo, and now Bismarck is our home, which is where he grew up.

I have two daughters; an almost four-year-old and an almost four-month-old. I’m the assistant news director for KFYR TV in Bismarck, as well as an anchor.

Q. California to North Dakota must have been quite the shock.

A. This past winter reminded me of my first winter here. In 2013, I landed in Fargo in January and I was a fish out of water. I had never driven in the snow, had never shoveled snow and didn’t own snow pants or a coat. It was a new world, but I am so thankful for that. I’ve spent time traveling around and living in different areas; that was the most formative experience for me. There is a reason North Dakotans are tough and goodhearted people. So many people helped bail me out of the snow; I don’t even want to admit how many times because that is embarrassing!

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Women You Should Know:

Starting at KFYR TV in 2018, Sisk is coming up on her fourth year at the station.

Q. How did you get involved in the work you do?

A. At KFYR, I have a role in anchoring newscasts. Since coming back from maternity leave, I started as the assistant news director here. With that role, I get to play a part in planning out our news coverage for the day, as well as longterm. For example, we have a primary election coming up so I get to help make a plan on how to cover our election coverage. I get to work with reporters and help them develop and grow, which I really love. I studied broadcast journalism in college, and my internship there was the most impactful experience. It was all about finding mentors who got me excited and helped me realize you could go from a shy, quiet college student to someone who could lead a news room.

Q. What was so important about having a good mentor early in your career?

A. That was everything. I started off with so much self-doubt and was constantly wondering if I was good enough or cut out for this. I think any young professional that’s just starting out is questioning every move they make and whether they could take a situation on with more confidence. Having good mentors who could show me the path and cheer me on when I felt discouraged was so important. I think for women especially to build that community makes such a difference.

We spent a lot of time proving our worth and that we deserve a seat at the table, but to see that there were so many women willing to lend a hand gave me a lot of hope.

Q. Were you always interested in broadcast journalism, or when did you get introduced to that as a career option?

A. I never thought about it until I was in college and met some classmates who were doing that. I always loved to write. It was my passion. I thought I wanted to be a poet, but I loved telling a story. Through those mentorships, I got to see news from a different perspective than I had gotten as a consumer. I got to see people really masterfully tell a news story as an actual story, as if you’re reading it in a book. That’s what clicked with me, and set my heart on fire about it. These events that happen in people’s lives could be told in such a beautiful way, and we could all benefit from hearing them. That’s what keeps me going, and it’s where the spark started.

Q. What do you love about what you do?

A. Connecting with people. It’s funny because I’m sitting in the studio talking to a camera, but the beautiful thing with broadcast journalism is that you can use your voice to make a story apply to another person’s life. You can 76

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create connections between people. I love it when I run into someone and they say they watch or mention a story that we’ve done. It reminds me that we are such a segmented community, but we care about each other and pay attention.

Q. What is it like to have a public persona or have a known face in your community?

A. I feel like I get the benefit of flying under the radar. When I take my makeup off and put my hair up I’m practically unrecognizable, which is just fine with me. I do get little reminders when someone stops and says hi. It warms my heart because it puts this experience into perspective. I work out of our newsroom, so I don’t get to be out in the community as much, but it’s encouraging to hear from the public about their experience watching the news. I also have two daughters that I’m raising to hopefully have confidence and be kind, so I feel like I’m always an example for them of how to interact with people. And I’m representing the stations, so I’ve got to be careful if I honk at somebody driving downtown!

Q. When you’re passionate about your work it can be especially hard to strike a work-life balance. I’m wondering how you find that balance in your life, and if you're able to do anything, in particular, to keep from burning yourself out?

A. I’m a work in progress, and balance is probably where I struggle most. I’m an all-or-nothing type of person. With a new baby at home, I feel like I have to be everything at home, and everything at work at the same time. It’s a struggle.

Where I fall short usually is sleep, because I’ll give my time to

Hope Sisk

Q. What do you think women need right now?

A. I think we have a tendency to want to prove that we should be in the position we’re at or deserve a seat at the table. I think opening up and showing some vulnerability, even for men in the workplace as well, is beneficial to us. It humanizes us a lot more, and I think a softer approach can be what everyone needs. I am a proponent of seeing that more, especially in our workplace. When we had 24/7 coverage of these blizzards, I noticed my managers being empathetic to the fact I had young children at home, and that made me want to work harder, seeing that someone was recognizing my situation and needs. I really appreciated that softer, human approach to what we were doing with work.

my family or my work. But if there is one thing I’ve found that has helped me and I’ve been able to actually incorporate into my life is exercise. It took me a while to learn, but it’s such a good stress reliever and gives me the energy to actually get through my day. Even only thirty minutes is thirty minutes that is just for myself, and I really needed that.

Support KFYR TV Web: kfyrtv.com Email News Tips or Inquiries: newsinquiries@kfyrtv.com

Q. What is a piece of advice you would give a young woman entering your field?

A. I would say do some research on what you get excited about and whom you admire. Reach out to those people.

Send a cold-call type of email and share what you noticed that you were excited about and what you hope to do. I think people are willing to share advice or get on the call even just once, and they’ll probably give you information or advice that you will hold with you for a long time. I think people are afraid to ask, but I think people are more open and eager than you would think.

Q. Is there a piece of advice you remember getting early in your career that has stuck with you?

A. Make yourself invaluable. I think it sometimes gets me into trouble, which is why I’m working on boundaries! But I’ve seen it really pay off to take a step back from whatever organization you’re working in and find where there might be a missing piece. Then fill that missing piece. When you are invaluable in that sense it will lead to new opportunities that you didn’t even expect. In my experience, it’s rare to find the type of person who wants to think outside the box and figure out what we’re missing and step up to the plate.

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hese days, sales intelligence is all the rage. However, just knowing the term won't get you very far as a sales representative or an account manager. So, the question is: How can Sales Intelligence be used? And how can it support you and your sales team?

Having your goal in mind is essential – using software aimlessly has never helped anyone. Still, some sales reps use Sales Intelligence but don't know their goal and what they want to achieve with it.

This article intends to help you understand the essentials of Sales Intelligence and how it can help you achieve your sales goals. Let's get started!

What is sales intelligence and what are its key components?

At its core, sales intelligence is the process of gathering and analyzing data to inform your sales strategy.

By understanding the trends in your industry, you can make more informed decisions about where to focus your efforts and how to position your products. A few critical components of sales intelligence include market research, competitive analysis, and customer insights.

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Market research helps you understand the overall landscape of your industry, including key trends and growth areas. This research can be conducted through surveys, interviews, and data analysis. Competitive analysis entails taking a close look at your competitors to understand their strengths and weaknesses. This information can be used to develop strategies for positioning your own products or services. Finally, customer insights involve understanding the needs and wants of your target customers. This knowledge can be gathered through surveys, focus groups, and customer feedback.

By taking the time to gather sales intelligence, you can develop a more effective sales strategy that will help you close more deals and grow your business. So how does it help salespeople thrive?

How does sales intelligence help salespeople be more successful?

In a highly competitive sales environment, salespeople must have all the information they need at their fingertips. This is where sales intelligence comes in. SI software gives salespeople access to data about their potential customers, such as contact information, web activity, and social media posts. This information can help salespeople identify potential leads, assess their needs, and craft more targeted pitches.

Additionally, sales intelligence can help salespeople keep track of their progress, identify patterns in customer behavior, and troubleshoot any problems along the way. In short, sales intelligence is an essential tool for anyone looking to succeed in sales. With its ability to provide accurate and up-to-date information, sales intelligence gives salespeople the power to close more deals and drive more revenue.

Benefits of using Sales Intelligence Let's get into the true benefits of SI. Sales intelligence helps businesses make better decisions about their sales strategies. By providing insights into customer behavior and buying trends, sales intelligence can help companies target their marketing efforts more effectively and improve their overall conversion rates.

In addition, this technology can also help companies avoid potential pitfalls, such as overspending on ineffective marketing campaigns. Simply put, sales intelligence helps improve bottom lines by allowing businesses to make more informed decisions about their sales strategies.

How to get started with sales intelligence Getting started with these sales’ tech solutions can seem like a daunting task, but it doesn't have to be. There are a few key things to keep in mind that will simplify the process:

Shawn Peterson is the CEO of Quantum Business Solutions. He comes with a decade of experience in the technology services industry as an executive. Shawn is a visionary focused on high growth and performance through sales, marketing, and client experience.

First, it's essential to define your goals.

What do you want to achieve with sales intelligence? Once you know this, you can start to gather data that will help you reach your goal. This data can come from a variety of sources, such as customer surveys, financial reports, and online research.

Once you have this data, it's time to start analyzing it. Look for trends and patterns that can help you understand your customers and your market. This analysis will help you make better decisions about your sales strategy.

Finally, don't forget to keep track of your progress. Sales intelligence is an ongoing process, so it's essential to regularly review your data and adjust your strategy as needed. By following these simple steps, you'll be well on your way to using sales intelligence to boost your business.

Sales Intelligence in Action It's all about providing organizations with information about their customers and potential customers. Access to this information can help marketers

understand customer needs and develop marketing campaigns. Sales intelligence can also be used to identify new sales opportunities and track the progress of ongoing sales efforts. Furthermore, sales intelligence can improve customer service by providing information about customer preferences and buying patterns.

There are many examples of how sales intelligence has been used successfully by businesses. For example, a clothing retailer might use sales intelligence to understand its customer base's needs better. By tracking customer purchases, the retailer could identify trends in customer behavior and develop targeted marketing campaigns accordingly. In another example, a sales team might use sales intelligence to track the progress of their efforts and identify new leads. By understanding which methods are most effective at generating new business, the team can focus its energy on those activities. Ultimately, sales intelligence can be a powerful tool for improving sales performance.

Conclusion Today's modern marketplace demands advanced sales intelligence technology. With the help of data, you can understand the trends within your industry and make more informed decisions about where to place your efforts. As a result, sales intelligence helps salespeople close more deals and increase revenue.

If you're ready to implement SI technology within your sales force, Quantum Business Solutions specializes in helping businesses leverage this game-changing technology. Schedule a meeting with us today and let us show you how SI solutions can take your business to the next level!

Quantum Business Solutions Phone: 712-389-4639 Email: shawn@thequantumleap.business Web: thequantumleap.business

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