Fargo INC! August 2020

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// AUGUST 2020

FEATURES

24 Keeping Your Workforce Fresh 26 The New Ways of Working Together 32 Hanson-Runsvold: Serving the community for 100 years 36 Business Unusual or Usual 38 Millions in Views to Millions in Revenue: How YouTube Videos Became a Full-Blown Entrepreneurial Effort for Five Local Friends 64 Local Non-Profit of the Month: Jasmin Childcare

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68 Tea Time 74 What's New in Fargo-Moorhead 82 Practicing His Passion 90 Meet YEA's Investor Panel Shark Tank Winner Ameera Gaal

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94 A Business Conversation With Maddie Schultz of Blue Cypher Bookkeeping 99 Top 10 Issues Affecting COVID-19 Employee Screenings 102 10 Questions With John Machacek: Omnibyte 106 Academic Insight 109 'Tis The Season For Innovation: Tech Tools to Combat COVID-19

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112 New Spaces to Work, Live, and Play Underway in Downtown Fargo 116 Ladyboss of the Month: Dr. Susan Mathison 118 Activate U: A Place to Hear Real Life Stories From Real Life Small Business Owners 123 Business Events Calendar

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E d i t o r ’s n o t e

Remember Your Potential

O

n the cover of this month's magazine is a group that I've watched make a meteoric rise over the last few years. The CboysTV YouTube channel has evolved from a part-time hobby for its members into a fullscale business with a cult-like following.

For me, this serves as the perfect opportunity to remind all of you reading of your limitless potential. Each member of the Cboys would be lying if they told you that prior to putting out their first video on YouTube they knew they were bound to generate millions of views and millions of dollars in evenue. However, I guarantee you that none of them have limited themselves along the way. They don't sit and dwell on what might be incapable but instead

try to find the next thing that they are capable of doing but haven't done yet.

Try to attack today with that very same attitude.

Brady Drake Brady Drake Fargo INC! Editor

Brady Drake, Fargo INC! Editor

fargoinc@spotlightmediafargo.com

EDITORIAL BOARD

President

United Way of Cass-Clay

As local districts finalize their plans to engage students this fall, I’m reminded how our future business community is impacted by the success of today’s students. When we kicked off our School Supply Drive this year, Dr. Gandhi, Superintendent of Fargo Public Schools, shared his perspective and support for this effort.

“Equity is on everyone’s mind.

For students, equity is more than just physical resources, it’s also a mental component. Being ready to learn instills confidence within each student, and security for their family, which is valuable to our entire community.”

United Way is dedicated to preparing all children to succeed. We invite you to partner with us. The future of our business community depends on it!

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AUGUST 2020

President & CEO

Dakota Business Lending

In honor of National Book Lovers Day on August 9, I’d like to share a bit about a very important book to Dakota Business Lending: Good to Great by Jim Collins.

There is a chapter that explains a something known as the Hedgehog Concept – a concept that encourages professionals to, like hedgehogs, focus on one big thing.

In this case, what you can be best at.

This can be done by asking three important questions: What are you deeply passionate about?

What can you be the best in the world at?

And what drives your economic engine?

As the summer comes to a close this month, let’s take some time to be more like a hedgehog, reflect on these questions, and focus on what we can be the best at.

Acquisitions/Communication

Moore Holding Company

Steve Jobs famously said, “People don’t know what they want until you show it to them.”

His point was that businesses need to be visionary to fill a gap that consumers feel, but haven’t quite articulated yet.

If you perceive a gap in your industry or in your community – for a service, a product, a point of view, a workplace experience – consider stepping into it with your talents and resources.

Being first to market carries risk, but tremendous power when successful.

Communications and Marketing Officer

Ozbun Executive Director of Entrepreneurship

FM Area Foundation

NDSU College of Business

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the FM Area Foundation! The Foundation was created in 1960 by a group of visionaries who believed strongly in giving back to the community where you live, work and play. The community foundation was created so everyone can help make a difference in the Cass-Clay region.

In its 60 years, the FM Area Foundation has given away more than $54 million in grants to charitable causes and scholarships to students, and stewards more than 400 donor-created funds, most of which are permanent endowments to benefit the community now and for years to come.

Thank you to all the generous donors who have given throughout the FM Area Foundation’s 60-year history.

Our reaction to COVID-19 has been to batten the hatches and try to ride out the storm.

We talk about a return to normal.

This is a failure of imagination. We can do better than normal and should use this moment to create businesses and an economy that is more equitable, resilient, and innovative.

For true recovery, we need to invest in what’s next, not what used to be. 95% of new jobs are created by companies less than 5 years old. For a jobs recovery, we need new businesses.

As our states and communities debate how to support businesses, let’s raise our voices for those who have yet to start.

Let’s create incentives to build the next generation of businesses in Fargo.

Let's aim to build for something better than normal.

VP of Finance and Operations

FMWF Chamber of Commerce

As our community continues to work together supporting each other and local businesses, one Chamber partnership has been particularly dedicated to leading collaborative efforts. Fueling Our Future, an initiative led by local leaders, is a joint venture between our Chamber and the Greater Fargo Moorhead Economic Development Corporation.

Inspired by the concept of regionalism and a “metro mentality,” we are bringing together resources to focus on large-scale solutions that create lasting impact for the good of our entire community.

To do together what no one entity could do on its own. We are proud of the community for embracing this visionary idea.

Work is guided by three key pillars: People (workforce development), Place (community assets/quality of life), and Prosperity (economic development). Recent efforts have been focused on supporting career workforce academies and the Emerging Digital Academy as well as developing career exposure initiatives, Campus FM, a shovel-ready sites program, and a COVID-19 business taskforce.

Chief Innovation Officer

Director of Ecosystem

Emerging Prairie

The Executives Club of Fargo - Moorhead

I want to take a moment to thank the financial supporters of my employer GFMEDC – we refer to them as Investors.

Our Investors realize our work of supporting the recruitment, retention and expansion of primary sector companies is the foundation of a strong regional economy. In the past 6 years, the EDC has assisted more than 150 companies with their growth plans. The cumulative payroll impacts of these projects has exceeded $1 billion over that timeframe, and the local taxes generated for our counties and cities has conservatively exceeded $20 million. Without out public and private investors, these outcomes would simply not happen, and our region would be dramatically less financially resilient.

Last month, Sifa Ntivu-Bisimwa brought her food truck out to the Grand Farm south of Fargo. With a mixture of traditional African food fused with US staples, her food truck, Adibon, offers delicious dishes like ChamSteak (classic French steak flavored with cognac) to Nous-andwich (six mini-plantains in a bowl filled with kachu salad and meat and drizzled with 5BK sauce) to Poisson Braise (marinated Tilapia).

One of our Executives’ Club of Fargo-Moorhead core values is Create Big Moments. We look for opportunities to create moments in the world that are pivotal, empowering and defining.

It is a great feeling to work with a team and a mission where you feel like you are really making an impact in the community and kicking butt. Thank you Investors for allowing us to kick butt!

Let's all do our part to welcome the diversity. After all, I think those sambusas were made all the better by enjoying them while looking over a cornfield.

Greater FM Economic Development Corporation

As I was devouring some delicious sambusas, I began to think about the odd mixture of what had to transpire for Sifa to end up in Fargo and for me to be having this traditional African meal in the middle of a field in rural North Dakota. Traditional North Dakota is meeting the world and it's something to embrace.

Founder and Director

Many people miss these opportunities because they’re looking through too large a lens; they’re looking at the whole world, rather than their world.

The best leaders understand how to show up in the small, even mundane encounters and interactions we each experience every day.

Hit pause for a moment and genuinely listen when someone comes to you for help. Simplify the situation and be positive when someone comes to you with a mistake. Ask the right questions.

Big moments are created through small acts of kindness, thoughtfulness and genuine leadership, when we pause and pay closer attention.

FARGOINC.COM

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AUGUST 2020 Volume 5 Issue 8

Fargo INC! is published 12 times a year and is available at area businesses and online at FargoInc.com.

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Inbound Marketing Strategist Videographers Executive Sales Assistant Graphic Designer ADVERTISING Senior Sales Executive Sales Executives

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Nick Schommer nickschommer@spotlightmediafargo.com Kirsten Lund Tommy Uhlir, Laura Alexander Kellen Feeney Ben Buchanan Paul Hoefer Paul@SpotlightMediaFargo.com Zach Olson Zach@SpotlightMediaFargo.com clientrelations@spotlightmediafargo.com Jenny Johnson Christy German Colleen Dreyer Cassie Wiste John Stuber

Fargo INC! is published by Spotlight LLC, Copyright 2020 Fargo INC! & FargoInc.com. All rights reserved.

No parts of this magazine may be reproduced or distributed without written permission of Fargo 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 15 Broadway N, Suite 500 Fargo, ND 58102 Info@SpotlightMediaFargo.com ADVERTISING: 701-478-SPOT (7768)

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“We have been working with SWL for 8 years. They help us with HR practices, contracts, and other legal issues that come up. I love how progressive and proactive they are.

They have always felt like a partner and not just a law firm we call when we need something.�

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CHECK OUT SPOTLIGHT MEDIA'S OTHER PUBLICATIONS

With more and more time spent at home, people are deciding to make the most of their houses, and for many, that means diving into home renovation projects. In this issue, we discuss remodels, refreshes, flips and more. Sometimes it is time for a change and who doesn't love looking at some jaw-dropping before-and-after pictures? Come with us as we look at some impressive local projects that'll make you start planning your next trip to the home improvement store.

Learn all about Amy Rorvig, a 4th generation rancher at Rorvig Ranch.

Here, she talks ranching, marketing, family-life and so much more.

Also inside this issue, read about farm asset planning, harvesting solar energy, the diversification of hemp, Plug & Play's new startup class and a new frontier of drone capabilities.

Coming Soon!

Stay tuned for a special edition of Fargo Monthly, coming mid-August! This issue will celebrate our local frontline heroes, essential workers, pivoting business owners and so many more. Get excited to read features on how our community has banded together to s tay strong in the face of adversity.

SPONSORED CONTENT

KEEPING YOUR

Workforce Fresh Your business is only as good as your workforce, and your workforce performs best when engaged, empowered and motivated. Long-term employees are especially great – they hold institutional knowledge, gain efficiency through long-term experience at their jobs, and engage and educate the next generation of workers.

Financial insecurity, however, can disrupt the natural balance found in vibrant workplaces. Money worries can lead to stress, absenteeism and lowered productivity.

Workers financially unprepared to retire may stay on for years, stagnating advancement in a company. So what can employers do to keep their workforce fresh?

Do what you can to make saving automatic Automatic payroll deductions make workers more likely to save. When people don’t have to take action to save, they are more likely to keep saving and less likely to miss the money they set aside. Payroll deductions for retirement savings are easy to set up. According to a Willis Towers Watson survey, 73% of businesses auto-enroll new participants, and 60% now offer an auto-escalation feature, where the amount saved goes up by a small percentage every year.

HSAs help keep employees healthy physically and financially A savings tool that is available for today and tomorrow’s health expenses. Unlike FSA’s, you do not have to use your

Make your 401(k) more meaningful First, offer your employees a match and educate them on getting the most out of it. Then encourage regular checkups to make sure their retirement plan is on the right track.

Businesses are continually reviewing their vesting schedule, and many are moving toward immediate 401(k) eligibility.

Helping employees save more will give those nearing retirement the confidence to enjoy their golden years and open a spot for new talent.

entire health savings in one calendar year. Instead, you can continue to build savings year after year and help with medical expenses that come up even after retirement (when you will likely need the funds the most). And contributions to an HSA offer tax benefits too.

Workplace financial wellness programs can reduce stress One study says people spend three work hours a week dealing with personal finances. People worry a lot about

Managed accounts reduce complexity and keep retirement on track Simplify the process of retirement investment decisionmaking. Choosing the right mix of investments in a retirement account is daunting. Most participants are looking

money, which affects productivity and stress levels and can also contribute to absenteeism. Offering comprehensive financial consulting – addressing issues like building emergency savings, managing debt, and insurance coverage on top of retirement offerings – is one way to help.

for a simplified ‘do it for me’ approach to help navigate the

Want to learn more? Talk to an Alerus business consultant

process. Managed accounts give employees the confidence

to learn about the offerings we have for you, and brainstorm

of knowing that an experienced professional is making

with us what else you can do. Our experience working with

decisions, tailored to the employee’s situation, risk tolerance

businesses of all types and our expertise with a range of

and retirement priorities.

workplace benefits make Alerus a great place to get fresh ideas.

800.279.3200

ALERUS.COM

SPONSORED CONTENT

the new way of working together why you should consider Vaaler insurance for your employee benefits Photos by Nicole Mendoza

ith 73 years in the industry, Vaaler Insurance is a name you can trust in the Red River Valley. Their expertise and longstanding reputation is aided by their forward-thinking approach that is helping businesses simplify their processes. To learn more about the insurance industry as a whole and what Vaaler Insurance can offer, we sat down with their team to ask some important questions.

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SPONSORED CONTENT

STEVE SWANSON

Vice President of Fargo/Benefits Division

What are the advantages of partnering with a broker to advise and assist in administering the employee group benefits program?

There are many advantages that an experienced broker can deliver to employer groups, especially in the areas of benefits administration, strategy, and employee education. Technology is continually improving, and our on-line platform is extremely popular with employer groups as it helps streamline the enrollment process and eliminates all the paper. The portal is super easy to use and the feedback has been tremendous. Our industry experience can also positively impact a group's bottomline by bringing forth plan strategies and a pro-active approach to renewal negotiations with carriers.

Can you tell us a little bit about your staff? structure?

Since the acquisition of Health Quote Services in 2019, we have been growing fast and building an experienced team of Benefits Advisors, Account Managers, Account Executives, and Processors. We are strategically adding staff, in order to efficiently assist our employer groups with the day to day administration of their program. For many employers, we can literally become their “backroom staff” for managing the constant changes, which rids them of all the additional paperwork and frees them up to grow their business!

Administering employee benefits can be very time consuming and complicated. Our staff is equipped to take the load off our employer groups.

Why is the broker selection process helpful for an employer?

Many employer groups may have never gone through a broker selection process or may have even heard of it, but this is the recommended approach. Instead of having multiple agencies provide “quotes”, we recommend first interviewing different brokers to determine the best one to represent your business.

Brokers typically have access to the same carriers, but the difference is in their experience and service capabilities. What are their service capabilities? Do they have an online portal?

What is their approach to educating employees? How can their plan strategies and carrier negotiations benefit you? What is their ability to assist in the administration of daily or weekly changes with your employee benefits program? The great thing about interviewing different brokers is that you gain a lot of insight into how the industry has rapidly changed and the available resources that can help you contain costs and efficiently manage your employee benefits program.

How does the service team support an employer?

We pride ourselves in the personal touch with all employer groups. Our ability to provide the same level of service to a large employer all the way to the smallest employer group is what differentiates us. We are in constant communication with our groups because in most cases we are providing the support for their daily changes that can happen throughout the year. From new hires or terminations to adding new additions to the family or a simple address change, we’re on top of it. This level of support that we provide our customers really builds a relationship built on trust. We don’t just show up on the renewal but are actively involved with them throughout the year.

FARGOINC.COM

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SPONSORED CONTENT

JASON CHRISTIANSON

Benefits Advisor

What Value Does Your Team Provide for Smaller Employers?

For those employers that have less than 50 employees, the value we bring is in administrative support and employee education. A company’s office manager or human resources manager wears many different hats and is tasked with a variety of administrative duties. Where we can help is in the processing of new hires, terminations, and address changes with carriers.

Small things that can slip through the cracks as the HR manager is pulled in many different directions. When partnering with us, we take care of those daily items and update the appropriate carriers in a timely fashion. We also build and maintain a customized, free online platform that acts as a central hub of information around the benefits offered. Leveraging technology can both streamline processes, and give an employer the peace of mind that information is accurate and up to date. Also, rules and regulations are constantly changing and thus can be daunting for smaller employers to keep up with these changes.

Having an advocate like us in their corner can help keep them out of a difficult situation with the IRS. These are just a few reasons why having a broker that acts as an extension of their HR team is crucial to a company’s success.

So what I'm hearing from you is that you can kind of act as a backroom staff for the employer. Can you provide a few examples of how this would be helpful to small businesses?

Sure, some examples would be when someone has a baby, or maybe there's a divorce, or when a company has new hires eligible for benefits or terminations - all those scenarios would require potentially many different health and benefit carriers needing to be updated to ensure accuracy and compliance.

Currently, a group would have to communicate with a variety of carriers directly and monitor the progress to ensure things are updated correctly. This could take 30-45 minutes for an office manager to just process one enrollment change. When working with Vaaler, an employer would just need to email us, we update our system, and have invested in many Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) file feeds to automatically update the appropriate carriers, streamlining the process and removing the potential for human error. Employee education is also vital to the success of the benefits program. We'll lead a company’s open enrollment meeting and work with any new hires to help all employees understand the value of the benefits a company offers.

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SPONSORED CONTENT So, don't most brokers all have the same carriers? What should I look for? And what questions should I be asking?

Sure, most brokers do have a lot of the same carriers. But, a lot of brokers will just offer you a quote from those carriers. So really what you're looking for when you're talking to a broker is how they are differentiating themselves. Are they providing services behind any of those quotes or are they just handing you a product and saying, "Here you go?" Are they giving you strategies as to what plan design is best for you? Are they providing technology platforms to make life easier for you and your company? In the world we live in, t COVID world, People are looking to turn everything to technology. Face to face meetings are being replaced with Zoom meetings.

How does insurance separate itself?

Really, it comes down to three things, strategy, service and technology.

• Strategy in the form of what plan design works best for your company.

• Service is the administrative work behind the scenes. We partner with your HR team, if you have one. If you don't have one, we can become that partner for you. We can take a lot off an employer’s plate, • Technology is the platform we provide for you so your open enrollments can go smoothly online.

JOSH PERSONS

Benefits Advisor

BILL SCHULTZ

Benefits Division Manager If a group doesn't have a broker today, why should they consider getting one?

A broker is very important for employers in today’s marketplace. Markets and regulations are changing and benefits have become more complex than ever before. A good broker brings information, resources, strategies and skills to help control costs and negotiate renewals or, as I say, keep the carriers honest.

They also bring value by supporting a company’s HR department and its employees. A good broker will assist HR and benefits administrators by creating a customized on-line paperless BenAdmin platform or HRIS and providing administrative, processing and compliance support. They will also provide resources and direct contact with employees to help employees better understand the benefits offered and the value those benefits bring. A good broker provides all of these services bringing more value and cost savings to employers.

And why does experience in the market matter?

Broker experience matters a lot in the health insurance and benefits marketplace for many reasons. An experienced broker knows the marketplace. They know the providers. They know the carriers, plans and networks. They know underwriting, ratings and costs. They've got the skills and information needed to reduce costs and provide the best value possible.

FARGOINC.COM

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SPONSORED CONTENT

DEAN SATHER

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CHRIS STROUP

Benefits Advisor

Benefits Advisor

Why is the renewal marketing strategy so important?

It's important for the employee and the employer to have the renewal information ahead of time due to the Affordable Care Act, pushing a lot of groups to renew on January, 1 of every year. It's pertinent that we get the renewal information as quickly as we can so we can analyze the information and make recommendations to help the employer make a decision on what they're going to do going forward. Obtaining options from other carriers can provide additional leverage. In this day and age, with so few carriers in the marketplace, it's important that we use this information to get the Employer Group the best results that we can. This also allows Vaaler Insurance to educate the employees in advance of making their benefits decision for the following year so the employees are not rushed to make decisions.

Why should employers market out their benefits solutions?

It's important for employers to go to the market to see what options there are, especially if they've just been offering the same plan year after year. The market is changing, especially in North Dakota. We have more carriers coming into the market, offering more plan designs. Employees are interested in options.

They want choices. Healthcare consumerism is a thing and employees want to be able to make decisions about their health care. So just offering one plan really doesn't cut it anymore.

AUGUST 2020

SPONSORED CONTENT

Hanson-Runsvold:

Serving the community for 100 years

By Brady Drake

Photo by Haney's

"Our goal is to exceed your expectations. At Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home, we are dedicated to making every service a meaningful celebration of life." (from left to right) Aynsley Gunnerson*, Jacques Boucher*, Cyd and John* Runsvold, Owners, Alex Rydell*-- President of the ND Funeral Director’s Association *Licensed Funeral Director

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SPONSORED CONTENT

hen Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home was founded in 1920, funerals looked completely different than they do today.

However, they still serve the same important purpose.

They offer the opportunity for ceremony and ritual, a gathering of people to celebrate a person’s life, to remember, and to mourn a loss.

Photo by Hanson-Runsvold

100 years ago, funeral services were often religious ceremonies with little personalization. Today, they are a unique expression of a person’s life; a time to learn things about a person that you might not have otherwise known and a time to gather and share stories about their life. With new technologies, families can share pictures and videos in beautiful collaborative tributes. Funerals have become much more meaningful and involved events that can be enhanced by the expertise of a funeral home like HansonRunsvold.

Photo by Hanson-Runsvold

Hanson-Runsvold’s staff focuses on the finest details, ensuring that each funeral they are involved in is a unique tribute to the person’s life. At the family’s request, they also offer live streams of services on their website to make them more accessible, something that has become integral during the pandemic.

"One of our core values is that the family always comes first, so when they come to us with certain ideas or wishes for how they'd like to honor their loved one, we help to make that happen," said Funeral Director, Alex Rydell. "We are proud to be professionals who continue to educate ourselves on how we can help create the most meaningful funeral experiences for the families we serve.”

215 7th St S, Fargo, ND 58103 701-232-3222 hansonrunsvold.com

Photo by Nicole Mendoza

Alex Rydell Funeral Director and President of the North Dakota Funeral Directors Association Photo by Nicole Mendoza

FARGOINC.COM

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SPONSORED CONTENT

Business unusual or as usual?

Four things one company learned about living with the coronavirus

W

When North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum issued the order in March to close businesses to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, TrueIT was in a better position than many businesses to survive the economic shockwaves. The shutdown increased demand for technology and support to allow employees to work from home. Those are among the many tech services that TrueIT has been offering since 2012.

“Before the pandemic, working remotely was typically a perk offered to a few employees,” said Zac Paulson, Chief Executive Officer of TrueIT. “The coronavirus fast-tracked this trend by five years.”

Now, TrueIT’s staff of 43 employees is itself returning to work at its headquarters in Fargo and at offices in Minneapolis and cities in seven other states. As companies adjust to living with the ongoing threat from the virus, TrueIT’s experience has valuable lessons for others.

1. Respect differing ideas about health and safety. “We are a local and a national company and people in different locations have different ideas about health and safety,” said Paulson.

“In some of our locations, very few people are wearing masks while in other areas most are required to wear them. Our sales team asks before shaking hands and we don’t assume that people want to meet in person,” he said.

2. Establish clear policies. As they returned to the office two TrueIT employees developed respiratory infections.

“Thinking that there might be COVID-19 cases in the office put people on edge. We knew that we needed to clearly

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communicate a plan,” said Paulson. “We ask people to stay home if they are sick, to not contact other employees and to get tested.” Fortunately, both employees tested negative for COVID-19.

3. Clearly communicate what you are doing around prevention. TrueIT recently hired an employee who came there after contracting COVID-19 at her previous workplace. When she arrived on her first day, she was concerned that no one was wearing a mask.

“We understood why she was worried, but in the end we decided to keep our policy that wearing a mask in our business is not required and is a matter of personal preference. She could choose to wear one while in the office or to work remotely,” said Paulson. (Note: HealthPartners has a universal masking policy which applies to office workers too and requires that masks be worn on entering and exiting a building, and any time you’re in a shared space, such as hallways, elevators, bathrooms, breakrooms and conference rooms.)

Companies should also clearly communicate how they will screen employees and how to get tested. Dave Johnson, director of HealthPartners Occupational Medicine and Well@ Work clinics, says that questions companies should ask include: • Do we need a symptoms-based return to work strategy, for instance, asking screening questions, taking employees’ temperature? If yes, how often and when?

• What do we do with the information? What happens next if someone has symptoms?

• What is the policy around sick time and leave of absence related to COVID-19?

SPONSORED CONTENT

Zac Paulson

Chief Executive Officer of True IT • What should employees do if a family member is infected?

How can we accommodate employees who have a family member who is at higher risk?

• Where can employees get tested if symptomatic or asymptomatic? There are many tests, which is best for our situation?

• Who can work remotely? Do they have the necessary technology to do that?

Johnson says HealthPartners has been providing about 2,000 tests a day at drive-up testing sites at eight of its clinics in Minnesota, primarily to symptomatic patients. Companies can also get support to ensure new work processes are safe, sustainable and medically informed through HealthPartners Back To Business services. These provide a menu of help such as: facilitating the most relevant and effective type of testing; interpreting state and local guidelines; building a plan for when someone tests positive, as well as a robust strategy for reducing the risk of infection in the future; and also providing support with COVID-19-related leave processes. The services are available to HealthPartners’ clients as well as non-clients.

4. Find the balance between health privacy and transparency. “So far, our employees have voluntarily shared information.

That helps build trust because they know what’s happening with team members,” said Paulson. He acknowledges that might not work in a large company, but every company should clearly communicate what their policy is and be as transparent as they can.

MATTHEW NAGEL Matt Nagel is HealthPartners regional sales manager in Fargo, North Dakota which is home to Microsoft’s second largest campus and home to many other fastgrowing tech companies like TrueIT. If you’re a North Dakota employer, and would like to explore the health solutions available through HealthPartners (including Back To Business), connect with Matt (Email: Matthew.A.Nagel@HealthPartners.Com, Tel: 952-807-8170), or visit the HealthPartners page at the Fargo Chamber of Commerce website.

By Matt Nagel Photo by Kayleigh Omang

Uncertainty around the coronavirus is likely to continue for months or even years. Even as businesses begin to reopen, Paulson says these steps ensure that TrueIT is prepared if there is a round two of the pandemic.

FARGOINC.COM

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With over 700,000 YouTube subscribers,

the CboysTV YouTube channel is maybe the biggest local thing that you don't know about. With their constant stunts, shenanigans, and carefree attitudes that are portrayed on their YouTube videos, you might discount their business acumen, but you shouldn't.

By Brady Drake

Photos by J. Alan Paul Photography

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AUGUST 2020

FARGOINC.COM

39

Age: 24

Specialty: Filmer, Producer, Editor and Talent

Inspirations: Rob Dyrdek, Jeff Tremaine, Logan Paul and Joe Rogan

Favorite Cboys moment:

One bucketlist item:

Spending 24 hours in the backcountry of Utah, sleeping in snow caves that we dug ourselves.

I think it would be fun to move the whole crew to Hawaii for a month.

Favorite thing about running a business: Getting to wake up every day to go to work with my best friends while watching the business grow as we keep putting in hours and hours of hard work.

Goals for CboysTV: To hit one million subscribers, average 500k views a video within the first 24 hours after posting, remodel/build our new shop into a dream shop (Fantasy Factory) and continue to enjoy doing what we do.

What drives or excites you?

New experiences/activities, creating new content that people like to watch, getting to meet like-minded individuals and hear stories of their successes and failures.

How would you describe the other members of the group?

Ben - The cool kid who's pretty much good at anything and everything.

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Micah - The most genuine kind-hearted guy you'll ever meet, who also happens to be a mad man when it comes to graphic design.

Ryan - Extremely reliable hard worker who's always down to tackle a hard task.

Ken - The voice of reason within the group, extremely uncoordinated but hilarious to watch on camera.

What's one thing that people should know about the business side of what you guys do?

It's a ton of work. This job requires about 95% of your time and when there are five people involved who have somewhat of a life they are trying to live outside of the channel/business, it requires a lot of coordinating and sacrifice to keep everyone happy while maintaining the same output and quality of content. People only see the side that is portrayed in the videos, which 99 percent of the time is fun, and I think they think that is all we are ever doing.

When you watch the edited video that's released to YouTube, it usually looks like it was flawless or everything went so smooth, but there's a lot of thought and work that goes into things to make them go the way they do usually.

How can the community better support you?

Hit the subscribe button, just kidding, only if you want to. Something everyone could do would be just spreading the word about our channel. We understand it's not something everyone will enjoy watching but if you know of someone who might be interested we would really appreciate it! Also, we are always looking to collaborate with other businesses in the area. If anyone has any ideas out there we are all ears!

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What's the biggest misconception about you or the group?

That we are extremely reckless. If the only thing I saw was the video, I would probably think that too though. Like I said, it's often much different in real life than how it appears in the video.

Are there any books, podcasts, tutorials or pieces of content that you recommend people check out?

How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie.

It's a pretty popular book so i'm sure a lot of people have already read it, but it taught me a lot about the right ways to go about dealing with conflict when it arises.

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Age: 25

Specialty:

Graphic Design, Merchandise Coordination, Video Editor, King of Sarcasm

Inspirations:

Seeing my friend's dads all building/running their own businesses, Nelk Boys (YouTube Channel), the rest of the Cboys and the people who always believed in us from the start.

Favorite Cboys moment:

One bucketlist item:

So hard to narrow it down to one moment... I would say back when we did the Slip ‘n Slide. Those days were unbeatable. Other than that it would probably be when we travel. We see new places and meet new people and they always seem to be the most memorable parts of my time.

I want to solo skydive.

Favorite thing about running a business: Making my own hours, my own to-do list and own money.

What drives or excites you?

Creating something from nothing and seeing people get stoked about it. Having a fanbase that finds what we are making genuinely entertaining and worth spending time or money on. It really isn't possible without them. So in the end, the support drives and excites me.

Goals for CboysTV: One million subscribers by the end of 2020. Budget time and money to turn the new shop into the ultimate fantasy factory.

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How would you describe the other members of the group?

How can the community better support you?

Ken - The dad that watches out for everyone and everything, but the rest of his personality is a complete mystery.

Honestly, for starters, I think we would be happy if more of the local community just knew who we were! Secondly, I would want them to recognize that we are truly just having fun and not trying to be a nuisance in any way.

Ryan - Hardworking with a pretty strong moral compass and an ability to drive the boys across the country like a champ.

Ben - Truly entrepreneurial at heart, usually taking charge in ways we can keep our business running smoothly and also grow it at the same time, very productive.

CJ - Comes up with a lot of our video ideas and usually has a strong sense of what the next move on YouTube should be, he has a strong gut.

What's one thing that people should know about the business side of what you guys do?

It definitely takes up more time than the fun side of what we do.

What's the biggest misconception about you or the group?

It would either be between the commonly said, "You only have all of those things because of your parents." And, people thinking that we just screw around 99 percent of the time.

Are there any books, podcasts, tutorials, or pieces of content that you recommend people check out?

I don't have any one certain suggestion. But some general advice from me would be that you can learn just about anything on YouTube.

That's how I learned how to edit videos.

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Age: 21

Specialty:

Personality, editor, producer and money guy.

Favorite Cboys moment: At Hay Days last year, we had a massive line for eight hours to meet and take pictures with fans, seemed surreal.

How would you describe the other members of the group?

Micah - Incredibly creative both with designs and with video.

Favorite thing about running a business:

CJ - Visionary. Sees trends coming before anyone else.

Being my own boss on my own time.

Ryan - Problem solver. Any problem I’m stuck on he’ll figure it out.

Goals for CboysTV:

Ken - Forever loyal. Almost too loyal.

Hit one million subscribers and then five million.

What drives or excites you?

Making 25-minute movies week after week with my best friends.

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What's one thing that people should know about the business side of what you guys do?

There’s so much more behind the scenes than the people see for creating these 20-minute videos. It comes off as just a couple of friends having fun, which is exactly what we want. But at the end of the day, if we’re not making money, we can’t continue to produce

these videos. Whether it’s getting companies to sponsor the video and integrating it in an entertaining way or promoting the merch for giveaways or sales we're running, we’re always trying to monetize our platform while also staying true to who we are. We create value for our viewers by giving them a 20-minute outlet to forget everything going on in life and just be happy and entertained.

How can the community better support you?

If you enjoy our videos, tell someone you know to check us out!

What's the biggest misconception about you or the group?

That we’re reckless or trying to be like Jackass. We hate being compared to that because we try and make our videos more creative and funny than anything harmful or reckless!

Are there any books, podcasts, tutorials or pieces of content that you recommend people check out?

I try to consume as much YouTube content and podcasts from other creators as I can. I try to find what works for them and the production they put into their videos and try to apply it to our own.

Staying aware of what other creators are doing is extremely helpful.

Offering the FM region un-paralleled, turn-key services across commercial sales and leasing, architectural, design and development services and ag land sales and acquisition.

Age: 23

Specialty:

Driver, Maintenance Man, Wheelie King

Inspirations:

I grew up watching shows like Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory, and Nitro Circus. I didn't realize it at the time, but those shows shaped me into always wanting to have fun and push the limits at whatever I was doing.

Favorite Cboys moment:

Favorite thing about running a business:

One of my favorite Cboys moments was hosting an event called "Cakes and Octane" last summer. We decided to host a car show at the Cormorant Store gas station parking lot, and serve pancakes as a bonus. We had all of our parents cooking pancakes and selling tickets to raise money for Jessy's Toy Box. None of us had much experience hosting an event, let alone a car show. We put together the event in under a week, and when everyone started showing up it was total chaos. Way more people than we expected showed up. It was so much fun to have people from all over come to our small town for something as simple as pancakes. At the end of the event we all sat down in our chairs exhausted, but we were all in such high spirits because none of us could believe how well it went. I remember the high-fives and how pumped all of us were to have pulled it off as a team.

My favorite thing about running a business is learning something new every day. I'm definitely a hands-on learner. As you can imagine with a bunch of guys in their early 20's running a business, we've learned some lessons the easy way, and many, many more the hard way.

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Goals for CboysTV: My goal for CboysTv is to keep growing our platform and change the way the offroad lifestyle industry looks at marketing and entertainment.

One bucketlist item: The top of my bucket list is to ride a bull! One day when I'm older I want to look back and say, "Yep, I really did that."

What drives or excites you?

One of the biggest drivers in my day-to-day work is working with my friends. I feel in debt to each one of them because I know how hard they work to keep us moving forward. So, I take that energy and try to go the extra mile each day to make a positive difference in their life.

I get excited each milestone we cross, or each video we sit back and watch together as a team, knowing that we built something together is a huge reward.

have to consider is if a video will be profitable or if it will cost more to film than it will make, and weighing the options of if that cost is worth it to create new opportunities or ideas. Part of the beauty of what we do is making it look easy and stress-free, but behind closed doors, when the cameras are turned off, all of our brains work extremely hard to create something we are proud of every single day.

How can the community better support you?

The communities can help by allowing access to locations where we can hold events. The biggest challenge for us is to find a space to hold meetups or events that can handle a crowd but also be a cool place for us to invite people to.

How would you describe the other members of the group?

What's the biggest misconception about you or the group?

CJ- Sticks to his guns. He understands the YouTube community better than any of us and understands what risks to take to create a high view video.

That we are a bunch of punks who don't work! It's become a bit of a joke to all of us now, but we work extremely hard for the opportunities we have created, and take a lot of risks each week to continue supporting ourselves. We might be considered younger guys, and right now our job might be to make it look like we have fun 24/7, but I know as we grow we will take the business skills that we are learning now and put them towards other more mature areas of work as we get older.

Ken- Ken is wise, he often takes a much more mature approach to everything we do, but that maturity has definitely saved us from making a lot of mistakes over the years.

Micah- The most creative guy I know. Each time I see a new design, new logo or video, I can't believe that he can create something that so many people love out of thin air.

Ben- Is energetic. You can always count on him literally bouncing up and down at the thought of some new idea almost every day. His enthusiasm pushes all of us outside our comfort zones and has made us accomplish more than any of us think we can.

What's one thing that people should know about the business side of what you guys do?

CboysTv requires much more planning than what many people would think. After 200+ videos, finding something entertaining to film isn't always that easy, and keeping the business behind the videos running is no easy task. We frequently have meetings to plan out the next few weeks and what needs to be accomplished. An important thing we

Are there any books, podcasts, tutorials or pieces of content that you recommend people check out?

Podcasts: How I Built This The Art of Manliness Heavy Checklist GaryVee. Whenever I drive back and forth from Fargo to the lake, I knock out a podcast and the drive always seems to go faster, plus I can learn a thing or two!

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Age: 25

Specialty:

I'm in charge of product fulfillment and customer service for CboysTV Merchandise.

Inspirations:

Danny Duncan and Nelk are major inspirations that help drive our content creation. Elon Musk is also a major inspiration for his ability to find a problem, create a solution and make that solution into a new business venture.

Favorite Cboys moment: Any day filming on the lake is a good day.

been taking more seriously this year has been diving deeper into our analytics and more objectively examining what is and isn't successful with our audience.

Favorite thing about running a business:

One Bucketlist item:

I love the challenge of finding new ways to do things. 2020 has forced us to be more flexible with our planned videos since we aren't able to travel to planned events. These last couple months we've had to learn to be much more flexible with our merchandise planning because of the ever-changing inventory supply issues with our vendors.

One thing I would like to do in the next couple of years is to go on an expedition to Antarctica.

Goals for CboysTV: We're currently just shy of 700,000 YouTube subscribers so the next major milestone is to cross the one million mark. One thing we've

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What drives or excites you?

One of the most exciting things we get to do is travel to new places. This last winter we worked with Polaris and 509 to shoot a snowmobile video in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

How would you describe the other members of the group?

Micah might not always have things done on time, but he always makes up for it in how the end result turns out.

Ben is able to make a decision and stick with it when everyone else might not have strong convictions.

Ryan is great at deescalating situations.

CJ is great at having a vision for the future and coming up with a plan to get there.

What's one thing that people should know about the business side of what you guys do?

The videos only show a small portion of what goes into keeping everything running. There's a significant amount of work that goes into getting everything ready for filming.

What's the biggest misconception about you or the group?

People mainly think doing YouTube can't be a full-time job. However, to really be successful on YouTube, it has to be your full-time job. It takes a lot of time to create ideas, then figure out a way to execute those ideas all while keeping in mind what shots will be needed to make things flow once the video needs to be edited.

Our photographer had trouble finding the location of the Cboys' headquarters on Google Maps, But He eventually was able to identify the space by finding an aerial shot with burnout marks in the parking lot.

hen you talk to the Cboys away from the camera, they're mostly business. Though they do have fun, (when we went to interview them they spent time showing off their most recent project, a homemade potato gun), they're also always looking for a new angle, trying to improve a process or learn from mistakes they've made. There is not a single member of the current five-man group that shouldn't be classified as a full blown entrepreneur that focuses the majority of their time and effort on the business. Lotzer, Sandman, and Roth take turns editing videos and will spend anywhere between 16 and 20 consecutive hours editing their most recent video when it's their turn. They put out two videos most weeks. Iwerks handles most of the business operations and Matthees handles customer service for merchandise. Each member falls into a crucially important role within the group. However, with just a five man crew, responsibilities overlap and shift on a daily basis. They say the communication and trust between one another are key to this.

After just over three years of putting out content on the channel, the group of friends from Cormorant, Minnesota are on pace to generate $3 million in revenue in 2020 after bringing in $1.1 million in revenue in 2019.

The channel has over 120 million views all time. While the monetization of those views through YouTube does generate some revenue, most of their revenue comes from a line of merchandise that they design themselves!

Their other forms of revenue include Wide Open Parts, which includes different parts and accessories not directly made by the group, and Erased Products a cleaning supply brand that they purchased.

15% 10%

Percentage of Revenue Generation Youtube 15% of income Merchandise is 75% Erased Products and Wide Open Parts 10%

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The Cboys have been hanging around one another long before they were putting out videos and making money off of merchandise. The entire group were childhood friends, except for Micah Sandman.

Sandman met the group in 2014 while working at Jimmies Pizza in Hawley, Minnesota. At the time, Sandman was at the end of a yearlong recovery from breaking his foot and says he was lonely because he was unable to do a lot of the things he had been doing with his usual friend group. After hitting it off with him at the pizza joint, they invited him over to play video games the next day and they’ve been hanging out ever since.

Though they didn't know it at the time, Sandman was a crucial addition to the group since he has the most graphic design knowledge and ended up going to a Minnesota State Community and Technical College to study it. He now uses that knowledge to design all of the groups' merchandise and graphics.

"A good design in my eyes, since I’m more apparel/brand based, is something that warrants a compliment or praise. If you see something and go, 'woah that’s cool,' then that design passed in my eyes. And, whatever the wording is in the design shouldn’t matter a whole lot.

What I mean by that is that it could say Cboystv or potato, and if the font and design are cool, it doesn’t revolve a lot around what it says."

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CboysTV uses Shopify for the e-commerce portion of their website.

Though, like most successful entrepreneurs, the group's path to success in most areas of their business is 1/2 luck and 1/2 experimentation. The group originally distributed their merchandise through a third party which cut into their margins, they do it on their own now. They also used to drop individual items of merch one at a time, now they put out whole lines of merch.

"One thing we're trying to do better is inventory," said Lotzer. In their most recent merch drop, they sold out right away, meaning they didn't quite order enough. "We've also had times where we've ordered too much stuff."

"Whatever the wording is in the design shouldn’t matter a whole lot.

What I mean by that is that it could say 'Cboystv' or 'potato,' and if the font and design are cool, it doesn’t revolve a lot around what it says."

- mICAH SANDMAN They're still learning, however, they're constantly improving while doing so.

One thing that more traditional businesses could learn from the Cboys is the usefulness of the giveaway system for generating revenue. In their most recent merch drop, the Cboys are incentivizing shoppers to buy by giving away a $12,000 RZR RS1 Side by Side. For every $5 of merch bought, the customers get one entry into the drawing. The group has been using this method of increasing revenue for a while now and say they will probably never go away from it.

Sandman originally came up with the idea to do giveaways and offered up his dirt bike in the process. "It was a $2,500 dirt bike at the time," said Lotzer. "So originally we were like 'woah'. I don't know if we're going to be able to sell enough merch to cover the cost of that. But, we did $10,000 in sales which was a lot at the time, so, we kept doing it."

The giveaways also serve another purpose that ties into the creation of their content.

Each toy that they giveaway is customized and typically at the end of each video they add another piece of customization to the toy in order to hype it up and sell more merch.

"You have to be careful how you sell to people," said Lotzer.

"Nobody wants to feel like they're getting sold to."

"Hyping it up is huge," said Roth.

A photo of the RZR RS1 prior to customization.

The Cboys try to keep their merch room as stocked as possible but sold out the majority of their items quickly after putting out their most recent line.

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The Cboys never have a problem investing in anything for the company.

Whether or not they were making videos, the Cboys were going to be spending time with one another. It's that bond that makes them all selfless when working to accomplish something. What is now a fullblown business today, started to take shape in 2016 when they began recording some of the things they were already doing; wakeboarding, snowmobiling, dirt bike riding, making giant slip and slides all while highlighting their personalities along the way.

"We want a wide-angle lens which is $2,000 so we haven't gotten it yet. But we spend money on some of the stupidest stuff," said Roth.

"We bought two drift carts for around the shop for $2,000. We're just big kids. So we really do try to make sure we're investing in the company, nobody has an issue with doing that. We have a very selfless mindset. But we probably wouldn't be who we are without stupidly spending money on things like drift carts."

The third video ever posted on their YouTube channel sits at 2.1 million views the first video ever posted sits at 218,000 views. Though they may look like instant success, they showed a great deal of intentionality along the way while trying to grow their business.

With 1 million YouTube subscribers within striking distance, the Cboys are well on their way to having one of the strongest content creation businesses in the area.

"Everyone is always asking us about the camera we use. CJ bought us our first camera, a Canon T5I and it worked good to a point," said Roth.

"But we eventually realized that we needed more quality to stand out from all of the competition in the YouTube market. So, along the way, we would make a couple of thousand dollars and then upgrade. Micah got us a Canon 70D. Then we bought the Canon 80D. After that we started using the A7s II which we have two of. We’ve used those for the past two years."

"We slowly added on with different go pros, stabilizers, drones, and lav mics," said Iwerks. "The higher the quality of the content the better your video will be."

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Life of a Cboy was the first video ever posted on the CboysTV YouTube channel on July 21, 2016.

Applications Used

By The Group Final Cut Pro for video editing

Photoshop for thumbnails

Micah uses Illustrator for designs

Lightroom for photos

Local Non-Profit of the Month:

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At Fargo INC! we believe in the importance of non-profits and the good they do for our community. That’s why we are choosing to highlight more of them. Without further-ado, meet our first non-profit of the month, Jasmin Childcare.

By Brady Drake | Photos by Nicole Mendoza

asmin Childcare is doing good in our community. The multicultural child care center was founded in 2015 (and later became a nonprofit in 2020) in an effort to offer an affordable and more welcoming environment to the children of refugees in the area.

The organization’s founder, Rhoda Elmi, started her childcare program in 2015 after taking a path to entrepreneurship that included stops in Somalia, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, Canada and Minneapolis before settling in Fargo. Along the way, she came to the realization that a multicultural childcare environment could be useful and beneficial for children. Elmi responded to the community’s request for an early-intervention program that can help address the barriers new American children and their families faced. As a result, Jasmin Child Care and Preschool was founded.

A solution of early-intervention seemed the best, as it was identified that many children were entering school unprepared and already behind their peers. These children would continue to be behind year after year. Each family has its own story and this childcare center strives to work closely to meet their needs and to provide the right support to prepare their kids to succeed in life and become productive members of our community.

“Another barrier for some kids, such as English language learners, is the limited understanding of American social norms, which can cause challenges in their learning experiences,” said Elmi. “It helps that we are culturally responsive when it comes to teaching these

students, for example, using their native language to support learning and social skill development.” “In addition, some of these new American kids who come from refugee backgrounds have lived through immense trauma. “As you can see, the combination of these barriers (language, social skills, cultural understanding, life circumstances) can put them behind in school.”

Elmi, who says she’s always had a passion for working with children, also ran a daycare during her time in Minneapolis. At her new organization, Elmi makes sure to place an importance on not only the cultural education of the children in her program but also on the family that that child is coming from. She says that in the community she is from in Somalia, everyone takes care of the children. So, a lot of the parents that come here expect that the teacher will handle some of the tasks that they need to handle.

Elmi and her staff work to help them better understand what is important for them in this regard.

According to a 2015 article by the Grand Forks Herald, North Dakota leads the nation in refugee resettlement per capita. The children and families served at Jasmin Childcare speak many languages at home. Children and their families that come to the center represent over 13 ethnic backgrounds.

“This is like early-intervention,” said Sky Purdin, Director of Development. “It’s pretty normal across the board at any daycare to prepare students to enter school. Kids need to learn social skills and what it’s like to interact in a large group setting, instead of being at home where they only have to interact with a sibling.

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“

Our holistic mission is to provide access to quality affordable childhood education; to support families and community; to strengthen childhood success; to connect and collaborate; and to increase resources which enhance quality of life for all.

-Rhoda Elmi

If they don’t have these experiences, they are going to have certain barriers that are going to set them back when all of their peers have already learned these skills. We offer all of that, but we also have language and cultural understanding that maybe other daycares don’t have the same qualifications for.”

According to Elmi and Purdin, one girl in the program, who spoke only her mother tongue when she arrived, was speaking and reading English after only six months in the program. On the other hand, some other students who only originally spoke English also now speak a new language learned at Jasmin Child Care and Preschool.

“My favorite thing to hear from the parents is that their kids are doing well in school,” said Elmi.

To learn more, visit jasminchildcare.org

What happens when something like this is not available for those in the community that might need it?

Elmi: You would find kids sent to the principal’s office because they weren’t listening to their teachers. However, one underlying issue was due to the communication barrier that existed between teachers and those specific students sent to the principal’s office. For example, if a student does not speak English, and you tell them to sit down, they might not know what you’re saying. My hope is to bridge this gap and help alleviate some of these barriers to give all of our students an opportunity at success.

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Rhoda Elmi Executive Director and Founder

Sky Purdin Director of Development

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Tea Time

By Brady Drake Photo by Nicole Mendoza

Pasteur Mudende is working to share his love of tea with our community.

If you're one of the many local patrons that frequent the Red River Market, you know well that you can find great produce at this amazing event. Oftentimes you can also find a cultural experience in the form of a meal, piece of art or jewelry.

Pasteur Mudende attempts to bring this in every drink he sells through his tea and coffee business, Chai Moto.

Mudende, an artist who's works are equally as powerful as the flavor of his teas, was originally born in Rwanda.

He also spent time in Kenya before coming to the United States, where he traveled some more, spending time in both California and New York. We sat down with Mudende to learn more about his gourmet tea business.

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Can you tell me about your experience with the New American Cohort?

It was really good. I was involved in two similar programs. The first one I did was hosted by Folkways and it was called CO.STARTERS, which is a nine-week program for people who are ready to get their business started.

The Challey Institute program is more focused on walking you through much of the same things but from a different perspective.

All of the people in this program already have a business that they're trying to refine. They try to help you figure out how to focus on the right customers, find your next step and find who you should contact at the moment to help with your business endeavors.

How did Chai Moto come to be?

Chai Moto came to be shortly after I was volunteering at the Red River Farmers Market. However, the idea itself came from the fact that I was from a tea-drinking community. Most of the world drinks tea more than coffee. Coffee is available, but tea is way more normalized than coffee. I love coffee, but I always wanted to drink tea here and there's not much tea and there's not much quality tea.

Have you taken any steps to ramp up your online presence with everything going on?

That was a really good opportunity that I missed because I was in the middle of rebranding. I had already started to change the packages and I was giving the website a facelift.

One has to look no further than the Chai Moto Instagram (@chaimotofargo) to see Mudende's artistic side shine through.

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What do you use to get labels?

Originally, I wanted to have the labels printed here, because I know I would rather have them made locally than by somebody in China.

However, the challenge with getting my labels printed here is that the minimum order quantity is higher than what my business can afford at the moment.

Chai Moto's Farmer's Market Menu Chai Tea: Originating from India and well-liked all over the world. This blend has tasting notes of spice, full-bodied and savory. Enjoy with a samosa.

Hibiscus Tea: Crafted to make you fall in love! This tropical infusion produces a refreshing herbal tea perfect for a hot day.

Tabasamu: This Hojicha and green tea blend delivers a combination of earthiness with vanilla and cocoa flavors.

This is a delicious and fun blend to enjoy throughout the day.

Zanzibar Spice Nitro Coffee: This is a lovely twist to a traditional favorite. This special blend elicits sweet floral notes with a rich finish.

REIMAGINED. REVITALIZED. RENOWNED.

2101 North River Drive, Moorhead, Minnesota

218.236.0100 | moorheadcountryclub.com #LOVEMYMCC

Do you think the Farmer's Market is a valuable experience?

Yes, I went through a learning phase with it right away. Every day you try a thing and you fail. Or, you think you have a very good idea but it doesn't really work out as imagined. For example, I was originally serving all of my drinks unsweetened, so I had to add sweetener whenever a customer requested it. But, then I realized that people were dictating how much sweetener they want and that was taking too much time. But that’s the thing, the Red River Farmers’ Market allows you the grace to fail forward, and eventually, you figure it out.

Mudende has had multiple works of art featured in the Plains Art Museum.

So can you tell me about some of those other times where you had learning experiences or failed when you're at the farmers market?

Yeah, I forgot to bring ice on the first day. I always joke that my first day at the Farmer's Market was the worst day of my life which is pretty much not true. On my first day, I was not prepared. I bought compostable cups online and I got them the day I was set to debut at the market.

When I opened them, they had melted flat because of heat.

How do you come up with all your blends?

I've tried to come up with a couple of tea blends. I usually start with a base that could be a particular type of tea, then I try to complement the flavor profiles of that tea with spices and herbs that capture different notes.

What do you use for the commerce on your website?

Squarespace, but I might be looking to change that.

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New in town Meet some of the newest businesses in our community

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THE LIGHTS

The Lights at Sheyenne Mixed-used living and entertaining space, including an outdoor space for concerts, markets, outdoor fitness events and more.

3100 Sheyenne St, West Fargo thelightswf.com

Northland PACE Northland PACE Senior Care Services promotes independence through the coordination of all health services.

2731 12th Ave S, Fargo northlandpace.com

YOUR CBD STORE

Diabetes Care Clinic A clinic with specialized clinical care, including assessment, planning, intervention and evaluation.

1665 43rd St S Suite 102, Fargo dccfargo.com

Inna Portraits Photography studio in downtown Fargo, specializing in children, high school seniors, business portraits and fine art.

612 Main Ave, Fargo

Traditions Restaurants & Bar Inc. A laid back nightlife bar and restaurant, featuring gaming, pool darts and more.

3330 Sheyenne St Suite 116, West Fargo traditionswestfargo.com

Your CBD Store Your source for organically grown hemp from Colorado.

1650 45th St S #105, Fargo cbdrx4u.com ROUGH CUT SOCIAL

Rough Cut Social A new axe throwing location in Downtown Fargo with drinks and snacks available.

1100 NP Ave, Suite 102, Fargo roughcutsocial.com FARGOINC.COM

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RiverHaven Events Center A corporate and private events center right on the river.

700 1st Ave N, Moorhead riverhavenevents.com

Beacon Restoration RIVERHAVEN EVENTS CENTER

Curated by Trever Hill Lifestyle boutique with furniture, hone decor and accessories, located in Roberts Alley.

214 Roberts Alley, Fargo curatedbythd.com

Full-service restoration contractor, specializing in water, fire, mold, and storm damage restoration services.

2687 US-10 W, Detroit Lakes beaconrestores.com

Dino Drop-In West Fargo Drop-in childcare and educational preschool programming. Children ages six weeks to 13 years old.

833 24th Ave E Ste A, West Fargo dinodropin.com/westfargo/

Bison Plains Lodge

HILLARY EHLEN

Druthers Blu Water Creek’s first men’s clothing store, but of stylish and comfortable finds.

4600 32nd Ave S, Fargo druthersfargo.com

A 60 room hotel in Moorhead with amenitites such as a dry sauna and hot breakfast.

3621 8th St S, Moorhead bisonplainslodge.com

DRUTHERS FARGOINC.COM

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Icewind Brewing

The Piggy BBQ

Lumen Vision P.C.

A new brewery nearby, Icewind Brewing has a large driveway for outdoor seating and often hosts Fargo Fillies for some tasty sandwiches.

349 Knutson St, Unit B, Mapleton

Originally from Walker, Minnesota, The Piggy BBQ serves ribs, pulled pork sandwiches.

816 24th Ave E, #118, West Fargo thepiggybbqofwalker.com

Eyecare facility providing services for children and adults alike.

5120 Prosperity Way S Suite 114, Fargo lumen.vision

BAR DOWN

EL TORERO

Bar Down A hockey-themed sporta bar in The Lights at Sheyenne.

3150 Sheyenne St S, Suite 100, West Fargo bardown.pub

El torero Moorhead’s newest Mexican restaurant.

3005 US-10 E, Moorhead eltoreromoorhead.com 78

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PLAZA AZTECA

plaza azteca Authentic Mexican cuisine.

5505 28th Ave S, Fargo plazaaztecafargo.com

Sirirath Thai House The area's newest Thai restaurant.

749 23rd Ave E Unit D, West Fargo siriraththaihouse.com

SWING BARREL BREWING COMPANY

Swing Barrel Brewing Company

Red Buffalo Barbershop

New brewery in downtown Moorhead.

814 Center Ave, Suite 1, Moorhead

A new barbershop in Moorhead with a unique aesthetic.

515 8th St S, Moorhead

Northern Neurosurgery & Spine A boutique ambulatory spine clinic focused on minimally invasive spinal surgery.

2829 S University Dr Suite 202, Fargo nnspine.com *Did we miss something?

Email us at fargoinc@ spotlightmediafargo.com.

VANITY BAR MEDICAL SPA

Vanity Bar Medical Spa The Vanity Bar provides truly customizable and specialized treatments in a boutique med-spa setting thevanitybar.com

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Practicing His Passion Jackson Strom Spent His Whole Life Working Towards His Passion, Now He's Making It His Business

You know you're passionate about something when you spend your collegiate years devouring books on the subject matter. This describes Jackson Strom's passion for architecture. In 2019, Strom chose to take the dive and start his own business, Strom Architecture, after 10 years working for local firms. To learn more about his passion for his profession, we sat down with Strom for a little Q&A.

Can you walk me through how you decided to start a business? Was there an outside influence?

My career path was greatly influenced by the positivity and encouragement of my parents. Growing up, I watched my Dad run our family farm, and had the opportunity to see how his work ethic, drive, and love for what he does, provided for our family. My mom had a very positive outlook on life, and encouraged me to follow any and all of my interests.

With those mindsets instilled in me, I’ve long had the plan of starting my own business. Throughout college, I would accumulate business and

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architecture books that would both teach and inspire me to keep growing in my profession. I was fortunate to gain over 10 years of experience from two respected firms in the area and upon getting married and having our son, it felt like the perfect time to make the leap.

How do people benefit from your services?

We design to reflect our client’s style, enhance their daily rituals, and promote memorable moments. We communicate with clarity by developing relationships based on honest, upfront, and clear communication. We also pay uncommon attention to the details to get the best possible solutions.

We approach each project holistically, considering the interior layout just as much as the exterior. Our designs maximize sun exposure, enhance the best views, respect the local context, all while providing the client with the lifestyle, aesthetic, and budget they desire.

What roadblocks did you face?

I have been very fortunate not to experience many ‘roadblocks’ yet, but I have experienced many firsts - having an attorney set up the business entity, developing relationships in banking and financial fields, and seeking business advice from friends, colleagues, and other professionals. I have benefited greatly from keeping an open mind, and tapping into the expertise of people around me.

When were you able to really sit back and take a breath?

I was fortunate to hit the ground running. I had numerous clients early on, and my biggest challenge was ensuring I kept on top of the work.

People care about good design, but this is a service industry. Unless we can provide great service to our clients, we’re not succeeding in our role.

What drives you?

I’m driven by my clients and family. My dedication to my clients drives me to continually strive to provide better service by being devoted to the details of both the design and their lifestyle.

My dedication to my family drives me to strive to provide a lifestyle similar to how I had growing up on the farm. I want to put in extra time when necessary, but always be available for family events and functions. I want to set an example for my kids that shows them that if you are lucky to find what you love to do in life and dedicate yourself to it, you can make your dreams come true.

What advice would you give to young entrepreneurs out there? How can they get ahead?

Pick one thing and dedicate yourself to it. It may take years to figure out what your one thing is, but once you find it, the quicker you can dedicate yourself to it, the quicker you will excel at it.

I would recommend that you study the ones who’ve already achieved what you’re after - study the books, watch the documentaries, and read the interviews. All of the information is out there, and it’s up to you how much time and energy you’re willing to dedicate to grow in your profession. Loving what you do is an added benefit, as most of it will not feel like work.

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What led you to architecture? When did you start thinking of it as a goal or career option?

My guidance counselor pointed me towards architecture, and my Mom supported and nurtured that journey.

I started to set career goals in architecture upon attaining my first internship during college. I loved the real-world experience that the internship offered, and I was eager to start my professional career.

What have been some of your greatest challenges in starting your business?

My greatest challenge so far has been dividing my time between the business start-up aspects and what I really enjoy, which is developing relationships with clients and creating their designs.

Who are some of your inspirations for design?

We are inspired by our clients and the aesthetic that they desire.

We review the details, proportions, and scale that are true to that aesthetic, and ensure that our design reflects that. We also have an ever-growing collection of architecture books that we reference for inspiration. Although there are many architects whose work I admire, I have become more inspired by a certain architect’s approach to

the profession rather than their specific style or projects. I gravitate towards the architects who have had much success, yet still, discuss the profession and their careers in a very modest way.

What's it like approaching a new project?

Exciting! We believe that great relationships build great projects, so our first step is to get to know the client and understand their vision for the project. Every project is unique, and it’s our goal to bring each client’s dreams to reality. After visiting the site, we develop the initial design that consists of a floor plan and a 3D model. We like to provide our clients with a 360-degree view upfront so they fully understand the proposed design.

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Do you have a favorite project?

My favorite is whatever one I’m working on at the moment. We have been fortunate to work with clients who we share a mutual trust and respect with, allowing us to maximize our creativity.

What are some of the most inspirational books or resources you have come across personally?

By Tim Grover

By Michael Ovitz

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By Robert Iger

By Phil Knight

By Grant Achatz

By Ray Dalio

By Brady Drake Photos by Nicole Mendoza

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Meet YEA's Investor Panel Shark Tank Winner : Ameera Gaal Ameera Gaal, who is going into her sophomore year at West Fargo Sheyenne High School, is far from your average teenager. In her spare time she works on her business, Enhanced, which won first place at the Young Entrepreneur Academy Investor Panel Shark Tank for her handmade magnetic snap accessories for Hijabs. We sat down with the young entrepreneur to learn more about how she ended up making such an awesome product.

Could you just start by telling me where you got the idea to start making snaps?

I think it really came from a buildup. When I was younger, I had difficulty thinking of myself as beautiful. I started to have low self-esteem. I wanted to find myself as beautiful and appreciate who I am as a person. I am also a builder. I try to find accessories to enhance what I already have. That is where I got my name for my business, Enhance. Our goal is to try to enhance what is already there. So other girls like myself could find themselves beautiful.

Can you tell me about some things you learned through the experience?

I think one of the biggest things I learned is the importance of pacing yourself. You can't get everything done at the same time, and rushing to get it done isn't helpful. It's only going to stress you and cause you to make mistakes that you wouldn't have if you had taken the time. Not everything comes easily. It takes time. It takes people to help you with it.

How do you make the snaps?

First, I have to find rare earth metals. I have to purchase metals that can withstand the elements. I also have to find accessories or make custom accessories if the customer wants them to be customized.

Then, I seal the magnets and accessories together leaving me with the finished product.

Did you always know that you wanted to start a business at some point?

When I was younger, I just kind of wanted to be rich. However, I love doing this. I really do.

You mentioned to me earlier that your sister helps you with quite a few different things. What does she help you with?

She helps me solve pretty much everything. If I face a problem, she's the person I always go to talk to and find different solutions.

Is the snap you're wearing for the photoshoot your favorite one you've made?

Actually, this is a prototype. I have two designs that I hope to release with my first collection later this year after I'm able to purchase supplies needed.

Is the prototype the one you displayed in competition?

This is different from that one. Actually, the one that I won the award for I ended up giving it to my mentor because I really appreciate how she helped me and I just wanted to say thank you to one of my biggest supporters. It was a form of appreciation.

Where can people find your product? @enhance.ubeauty I'm currently only selling on Instagram where I can be direct messaged privately. I hope to one day have a website up and running, but that is a goal that I am working towards in the future.

I imagine that had to be pretty nerve-wracking going into the actual competition, right?

It was really nerve-wracking. I actually have stage fright. So, I shake really bad when I go up there and the words I'm trying to read off the card get all blurry. That's why, when I was getting my cards, I doubled the size of the letters so I would still be able to read them.

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Would you say this is your number one passion right now?

Yes, this is absolutely my number one passion.

Are there any, specific classes at school that you find yourself drawn to?

So, right now, I hope to take accounting. That'll help me know how much I'm making and spending. I also wish to take classes to learn a different language. This is to help expand my understanding, and to enrich myself with different cultures.

Did you have friends that you could show off your prototypes to?

Yeah, in fact, I asked some of my best friends to model some of the products for me.

How's has reaction from them been?

They're pretty surprised. They like the product a lot.

Are you really the only one that's making accessories for hijabs like this? Or is there a market that already exists?

I will say this is something that already exists. But, before I started this, I did a survey to see how many people actually knew it existed.

Because when I first started, I thought I had invented it. I looked it up and was completely baffled that this already existed because I never heard of it. So I was like, 'hold up, maybe it's just me.' In my survey, 80% of people didn't know what it was. I went back to school the next day and I asked my friends what they thought about the current products? I wrote down all the problems they had with it and I went back the next day to YEA and we started to come up with ways to fix those problems and make them more beautiful. To Enhance them.

You can't get everything done at the same time, and rushing to get it done isn't helpful. It's only going to stress you and cause you to make mistakes that you wouldn't have if you had taken the time.

-Ameera Gaal FARGOINC.COM

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MONTHLY

MENTOR

A BUSINESS CONVERSATION With Maddie Schultz of Blue Cypher Bookkeeping Photos by Nicole Mendoza

urt McSparron, founder of The Executives' Club of Fargo-Moorhead, has over 100 members in his business initiative group.

He sat down with one of his members, Maddie Schultz Owner of Blue Cypher Bookkeeping, to get to know more about her helpful bookkeeping business.

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Kurt McSparron and Maddie Schultz

What is Maddie Schultz's background?

I grew up in Fargo Moorhead. I was adopted, but I've pretty much called Fargo my home forever. I went over the river to MSUM for business. I got my degree there, and since then I have worked in banking, healthcare, the nonprofit world, and now own Blue Cypher Bookkeeping.

So you founded Blue Cypher Bookkeeping in 2019. What is the why behind founding the company?

Of course, selfishly, I wanted to have something that's my own. I wanted to be able to work and do what I want to do and what I love doing and do it on my own terms. However, I also started bookkeeping because I wanted to help the small businesses that don't always get the help that they need. When you're a small business starting out, most people can't afford an accountant. Most people starting a business have a great idea but running a business and doing all the logistics of that is a whole different beast.

A lack of accurate and consistent bookkeeping is certainly one of the top reasons many small companies fail in the first few years. Let's assume, and hope, that's not a concern. For you, what other issues do you struggle with?

and it's a just a community and network that I already am familiar with.

Specifically, what services do you provide?

I handle the day to day bookkeeping. Basically, I organize receipts, enter all the expense and income transactions, make sure they're all categorized correctly, and make sure that every month is getting reconciled. I make sure that what you're putting in the books actually matches your bank balance for that exact same time. I handle all of those little details every single day. I'm not replacing the CPA or the tax preparer that they work with, but what I do make things easier because I have all the reports ready and I have all the receipts saved.

What have you, as a young business owner, chosen to outsource yourself? You mentioned web design is one of them. Are there other areas that you outsource?

Sometimes what I struggled with at the beginning was the big picture kind of stuff like figuring out where I wanted to take the business and getting started. Of course, you hope you make enough to live and after you get past that survival point, you have to decide where to go from there. I'm starting to develop that and have worked on that for myself.

I do have a couple of subcontractors that I work with, and they handle some of the data entry. But for the most part, it's all still me right now. I do have goals in the future of hiring but not right now.

There's also stuff that I'm not talented in like web design. That's definitely something for me to outsource.

The first big one is obviously to get a separate business bank account.

I see so many that commingle their funds and you can't tell which is which. Then, when the IRS looks at them, they can't tell which is which.

That can create a lot of liability for your personal assets. Also, you can't know that you're getting the most deductions if you don't know what expenses are for the business.

Why Blue Cypher?

Blue is my favorite color which is nice because I don't have to change my wardrobe, I wear a lot of blue already. And, my grandma gave me a blue Sapphire ring which is kind of important to me.

The word cypher is the base for decipher and I see numbers as a puzzle that I really like to solve or decipher.

Who is your target audience, your ideal customer right now for Blue Cypher?

My ideal target audience is mainly service-based businesses. Usually, after they've been in business for about two to three years and are a little bit more established.

Everything you do is cloud-based. You can work for anyone, anywhere.

Are most of your customers still based here in the Fargo area?

Yeah, most of them are still local. I have one in Bismarck. I have a new one that might be coming from across the country, which is neat.

However, for the most part, it is local simply because I grew up here

What are your recommendations regarding bookkeeping that you'd give to startups or small business owners in addition to hiring you?

My next recommendation would be to keep receipts. You have to keep receipts. One of the things people don't realize is that you can keep digital copies, at least for your general receipts. I recommend writing on the receipt what it was for and then taking a picture of that to save it.

Do you have a business system that you use that you've adopted yet? Are you looking for one?

Yeah, I use a CRM customer relationship management system where I have all my projects and tasks. I'm naturally an organized person, which is why I'm a good bookkeeper. I developed those systems early on.

Visit bluecypherbooks.business.site to learn more.

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IT’S COMPLICATED: TOP 10 ISSUES AFFECTING COVID-19 EMPLOYEE SCREENINGS

By Beverley Adams Photo provided by Fredrikson & Byron

Fredrikson & Byron Attorney Beverley Adams represents employers and executives in the full range of employmentrelated matters, providing guidance on items, such as employment investigations, disciplinary matters, employment contracts and union labor negotiations.

She litigates in federal and state courts in North Dakota and Minnesota. You can reach her at badams@fredlaw.com.

B

alancing employees’ rights with an employer’s desire to keep employees safe during a pandemic is the ultimate employment challenge. Both employers and employees will appreciate how tricky it is to navigate federal and state guidelines.

This article addresses top COVID-19 testing guidelines from an employer’s perspective.

But employees who are subject to testing will find it interesting as well.

Federal Law, Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (the ADA) limits an employer’s ability to make disability related inquiries or require medical examinations during employment. Medical examinations have to be “job-related and consistent with business necessity”.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is the federal regulatory agency that enforces sections of the ADA and provides guidance on its application. During the pandemic, the EEOC issued guidance on screenings and testing of employees to assist employers in navigating the rough waters of keeping their businesses open while providing safe working environments for employees.

As employers begin to recall employees to the workplace, many are planning to require employees to submit to medical tests for the

purpose of detecting COVID-19. In this regard, it is important to distinguish between viral tests that determine if a person is actively infected with COVID-19 and antibody or serology tests, which determine whether a person was ever infected with COVID-19, even if they are asymptomatic, and built up antibodies to the disease.

Here are 10 considerations employers should be aware of when implementing any COVID-19 related employee screenings or tests: 1. Screenings Must be Required of All Employees. Just as with temperature screening, screening/testing for COVID-19 must be conducted in a nondiscriminatory basis, which most likely means that all employees entering the worksite must be tested.

2. Medical Records are Confidential.

The basic rule, with limited exceptions, is that employers must keep confidential any medical information they learn about an applicant or employee. Information can be confidential, even if it contains no medical diagnosis or treatment course, and even if it is not generated by a health care professional. For example, a health screening filled out by an employee to ensure they are not coming to work sick is a confidential medical record; it

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should be stored separately from the HR file and shared only with managers and supervisors who have a business reason to know that information.

3. Test Has to be Directly Related to Minimizing a Threat. Any screening, test or inquiry that is broader than necessary to address the potential direct threat is prohibited.

4. Test Refusals. Create a plan in advance on how to deal with an employee who refuses to complete a test or complete a screening questionnaire. Make sure to inquire about the employee’s reason for refusing to test. If the employee has a medical condition or religious reason that requires an accommodation, the employer will need to assess whether an accommodation may be necessary, and not improperly deny an employee’s ability to work if they refuse to cooperate.

5. Wage and Hour Laws. Federal and State laws require employees be paid for time spent working. Depending on your screening program and when the employee has to complete the screening or test and the amount of time involved, there may be a legal requirement to pay employees for time waiting to be tested, completing questionnaires, filing out electronic health apps, or time spent waiting for the results of a test. In addition, North Dakota law requires that the costs of medical examinations required by the employer be paid for by the employer.

6. Employee Privacy during Screening or Testing Results. Employee privacy could be sleeping giant in the COVID-19 pandemic. Employers need to ensure the processes for collecting screening and testing information is done in a private and confidential manner to ensure an employee’s medical information is not improperly disclosed to other coworkers. For example, implementing a temperature-taking process, with employees standing in line where temperatures are either displayed or communicated verbally, may result in a violation of an employee’s privacy.

In addition, communicating to members of a work group that an employee with whom they have had close contact with has tested positive for COVID-19 must be

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done without disclosing an employee’s identity. Whenever possible, an employee who has been exposed to or tested positive for COVID-19 should be made aware of the employer’s need to make certain disclosures to the workforce, and employers should give the employee a reasonable choice whether to permit particular information uses or disclosures.

7. Tests Must be Non-Intrusive.

Consider implementing non-invasive screenings of employees (such as body temperature checks or symptom questionnaires). Seek to facilitate testing in the least invasive way possible, including by attempting to procure devices that can register temperature without exposure to bodily fluids (e.g. no-contact thermometers). Devices that measure thermal imaging, in addition to temperatures, may provide the employer with more information than what is job related and consistent with a business necessity.

8. Test Selection. Exercise care in selecting a test to use, particularly in light of well-documented issues with test accuracy.

9. Antibody or Serology Tests Violate the ADA. On June 17, 2020, the EEOC issued guidance declaring that an antibody test is a medical examination, and employers who require employees to submit to antibody tests as a condition of returning to work violate the ADA. The EEOC relied on the latest opinion of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (the CDC), which concluded that antibody tests are not reliable in determining if a person is immune to the disease or as basis for a decision about allowing persons back to work.

Based on the CDC’s opinion, the EEOC has concluded that an antibody test does not meet the ADA’s job-related and businessnecessary standard for a medical exam.

It is important to note that it remains the EEOC’s position that viral tests to determine if a person actively suffers from COVID-19 are permissible, and do not violate the ADA. The EEOC’s rationale for allowing viral tests was that people who are carriers of COVID-19 pose a “direct threat” to the health and safety of others.

However, since antibody tests identify

people who have antibodies or had COVID-19 in the past, a person who tests positive for antibodies cannot be deemed as a direct threat to the workplace.

10. Can an Antibody or Serology Test be Voluntary and Not Violate the ADA? If an employer gives workers access to a voluntary serology or antibody test, it must then decide if they will be provided through an employee assistance program or a group health plan and who will cover the cost of taking them. Also, test results provided directly from a health care provider to the employer will require a medical release of information.

Consider this: Would an employee really believe their consent to an antibody or serology test was voluntary, or optional in name only, since the employee likely feels pressured to complete the test in order to return to work? The pressure could be more acute if the worker or the employee in question has been out of a job for weeks or months and the employer floats the idea of taking a serology test prior to their return to work.

Even voluntary antibody or serology testing can be risky, and employers should be overly cautious when considering this approach, especially if there is any indication that the CDC recommendations or the EEOC guidelines are not being followed. The EEOC was very clear that employers cannot use the antibody test results to make employment decisions.

So employers should be very hesitant to use antibody tests, even when voluntary, because it may imply the employer is using those results somehow in making employment decisions.

Given the evolving knowledge regarding COVID-19, and as this article illustrates, employers must regularly monitor medical developments, as well as testing and screening processes, to assess how they may impact legal obligations under the ADA and other applicable state and federal laws.

Employees subject to these medical inquiries or medical examinations will benefit from understanding the legal framework surrounding when these activities are permissible as well.

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WITH JOHN MACHACEK

Questions

J

ohn Machacek, Chief Innovation Officer for the Greater Fargo Moorhead Economic Development Corporation, has worked with countless startups throughout our community over the past seven years. He knows their ups, their downs, but most of all, he knows the questions to ask them.

Here are John Machacek’s 10 questions for Omnibyte’s President and CEO Ray Berry, who is helping companies conduct contactless paperwork.

BY John Machacek PHOTOS BY Nicole Mendoza and Hillary Ehlen

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1 Tell us your OmniByte Technology elevator pitch?

OmniByte improves the safety and work lives of field service personnel through technology. Our mobile forms platform, FormsPro, digitizes and streamlines today's paperwork and processes while staying connected with team members in the field who are gathering pertinent data real-time to safely and efficiently support operations.

Digital transformation is not just putting a mobile device in the field - it’s making sure personnel have the right tool for the job, so, at the end of each day, every person goes home safely, on time with no outstanding paperwork.

2 I’ve seen your product in action numerous times when Laney’s has been to my house for any service or repairs. I’ve witnessed the transition of what once was triplicate paper forms to now all being done on a tablet, including payment. How much goes into convincing these field service companies to make the switch from paper to a product like your FormsPro? Prior to COVID-19, it was typical for a company to see our product and the many others on the market and determine “we will need this someday”. While seeing the value and potential it was still difficult at times to get the move forward decision. It really comes down to referenceable clients with proven success using our platform and increased functionality and communication on what differentiates us from the others.

With a worldwide pandemic and companies taking steps to increase the amount contactless interaction with their clients, interest has increased significantly.

Our economy needs to improve so those who survive can invest in these solutions. Programs like North Dakota’s Economic Resiliency Grant, ERG, may help companies in our state cover costs to deploy FormsPro. We intend to be “top of mind and tip of tongue” when companies are ready to purchase and economic factors improve so they remember OmniByte and FormsPro.

3 Also, it’s not like you specialize in one industry but you cover several, and are also gaining a lot of traction with oil and gas companies. How has OmniByte adjusted to learning about the industry needs as well as gaining the trust of the decision-makers in those industries?

In 2015, shortly after forming OmniByte, we made the decision to focus on specialty trade field service companies. Primarily HVAC, Plumbing, Electrical and Construction with intent to grow into other service industries. Along with spending some personal time in western North Dakota in 2018 and knowledge that some of our largest national clients expanded their businesses into Oil and Gas services, we decided it was time for us strategically to increase focus on a large industry right in our backyard: the Bakken. We were able to spend a fair amount of time in 2019 in the Bakken; meeting with and learning from companies here in our state about the challenges in the oil field. It was pretty clear we can help and want to. Now months into the pandemic, the need for remote work or digital transformation has grown. Mobile forms are recognized not only as a valuable tool, but a necessity. We are making plans to expand focus into additional industries now. Stay tuned.

4 I learned that OmniByte even walks its own talk, so to speak, or as you called it, “eating your own dog food”, as you are currently using your own product during this COVID situation to help your team collectively monitor their health and use computer logic to formulate work flow. Could a tool like this be used by other companies or is this more of just a service would be part of the larger FormPros subscription.

Yes, John. The best way to truly learn about your product is to use it. Whether that be a furnace, a piece of furniture, a car or, in our case, our mobile app platform. When we reopened our offices in June we did so with caution under guidance of CDC, ND Smart Restart, OSHA, etc., much like all our clients. Part of our COVID Response Team’s plan included a daily COVID Health Screen with questions recommended by CDC. Each employee fills and submits our form each morning at the beginning of the day. We have a dashboard that provides real time information on the submissions to the health and safety person (me) and an auditable trail of submissions and action taken. Depending on employee submission, our workflow inside begins and our COVID Response protocol kicks in. If yes is answered, either the employee is to work from home until they have no questionable symptoms or work from home under selfquarantine for 14 days if related to potential contact. This allows everyone to always be thinking about their personal safety and others. We also benefit from our whole company using our product for 1.5 months in order to provide ideas and feedback to improve use for our clients. The FormsPro platform is very affordable and this is only one example of a single form which can be used and tracked within the platform.

About John: John Machacek has been helping local startups with the Greater Fargo Moorhead Economic Development Corporation since Prior to his position with the GFMEDC, Machacek was the VP of Finance & Operations at United Way of CassClay and a business banker at U.S. Bank.

Ray Berry, Owner of Omnibyte, shows Machacek what his software is capable of.

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In 2019, you closed your first international sales deal (Australia), have two more countries coming online soon and plans for more in the future. Any lessons learned and advice for others looking to expand their sales internationally?

We were excited to bring our products to Australia and intend to continue expansion into other countries including several which are not necessarily English speaking. It’s important to have good support from legal, accounting and tax firms to assist with understanding what you need to consider to do business in that country. I recommend, first, not only making decisions on which countries have industries which fit your product and services but to also consider if you are planning to make 1-2 sales or have a presence in that country. There is much more to be aware of if you are going to really go after a foreign market and it may be good to consider partnering with a company in that country who understands and can manage local and regional business laws.

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In working with you over the years, I know you’ve done a great job of maximizing the economic development programs that exist to help primary sector companies grow. Are there any particular programs that you recommend other primary sector companies utilize?

I would certainly encourage any qualified business to apply for primary sector designation first and foremost. It's relatively easy and free. It opens a lot of doors basically by recognizing you are a business who intends to create jobs and bring money into our state/ regional economy. I strongly recommend building a relationship with our Department of Commerce. There are a large number of programs to support not only startup ideas with grant type funds, but financing for growing your company without giving up equity.

I truly believe our state wants the same thing as I do, for our company to be successful. If you have a new idea, definitely apply and participate in InnovateND. If you’re a small company trying to grow with limited access to capital and need talent, apply for Operation Intern and hire students to help your business while you help them gain experience. If you have bigger funding needs, the ND Development Fund and the Bank of North Dakota are your best ally along with your local banker. Ours is Cornerstone.

7 Part of your maximization of the programs is that you are organized and thorough in taking what you learn and following through with them. Do you have any tools or tips you use to stay organized?

From the beginning, OmniByte has used a Microsoft stack of software for development as well as our operations. We are an early adopter of new technology to try to be as efficient as possible since we try to run a very lean business. We use Dynamics CRM and CSH along with its automation to manage our clients. We use Outlook and probably nearly all of its features. And we used Skype which is now Teams for internal communication. We are very transparent, everyone has access to everyone’s calendar, we use Teams chat and channels for conversations and they are all integrated. Most important tool for me to stay organized is my Outlook Calendar for visibility. For most who know me, if it’s not on my calendar, I probably won’t be there.

8 OmniByte just celebrated its 5th birthday. If you could go back in time to Ray from a few years ago, what hindsight advice would you give yourself?

10 Have you found that the further geographic distance causes the sales cycle to be longer or more complex?

As a technology company, we have actually been able to close all our sales remotely without setting a foot on site, in the state or the country. Our use of technology allows us to present our solutions and communicate efficiently and regularly. We planned to take steps in 2020 to start getting out to our first trade shows; however, due to COVID-19 all have been cancelled or postponed. If you are selling into a channel or market you are strong in, have experience or long-term relationships established, I think the sales cycle will be reasonable. Entering into a new market and establishing new relationships would be challenging enough prior to COVID-19, but now with trade shows cancelled and F2F meetings all but gone, it will certainly have an impact.

The technology is still the same, but having a stranger interested in a video call with you is less likely than if you had scheduled a brief drop in or had an event where you could network and meet others. It will be interesting to experience how business grows in our current state of economy and world.

I learned this early in year three: People are everything. I would tell a younger Ray to get out even more NOW and connect with people. Listen more and shut up. Help first, ask for something later. You get so eager to get going and, quite frankly, to stay alive you don’t realize you are building relationships. These are relationship foundations with people who will be there later to support you, help you through tough times or even buy your products. Who knows? I said a couple times when I first started speaking publicly (not my thing originally) “It’s all about people. people still believe in people, invest in people and buy from people.” Now with COVID, we will be challenged to navigate and hold onto and build new important relationships.

9 What can we do as a community to help OmniByte Technology succeed?

Continue to support local companies and entrepreneurs.

Our community has done a good job and I have been overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity of people willing to lend advice or experience to help a new business succeed. I would ask the community and local businesses to lend support for our local and state programs which support new business.

We have 20 people at OmniByte which is hard to believe sometimes. Fifteen of those are in our Fargo office at the NDSU RTP Incubator. We could not have done this without help from EDC, RTP, BND, Dept of Commerce and the programs created to encourage individuals to take a chance to build and grow a business right here.

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Academic Insight

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here’s a wide breadth of information out there in academic literature about running a company. That’s why we wanted to provide academic answers to real life business questions so we turned to Shontarius D. Aikens, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Management at Offutt School of Business at Concordia College, to give us some academic insight.

BY Shontarius D. Aikens, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Management at Offutt School of Business at Concordia College 106

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GARY USSERY

Do you really know what you have?

Revisiting your key resources.

Have you ever went to a store to buy an item only to come back home to the realization that you didn’t need to buy it after all? Or perhaps the reverse has happened to you. It wasn’t on your shopping list, but when you get back home, you realize that it should have been?

I can’t tell you how many times I have experienced both scenarios.

And both scenarios are equally frustrating!

And there are some times when we might be sure of the quantity of items in our possession without having a really good understanding of the quality of the item. Occasionally I will read a news story about an individual in possession of an item that to them seemed ordinary, but when evaluated by others, the item turned out to be extremely valuable.

Recently, I was talking with one of my colleagues about some data I had

collected. During our conversation, my mentor shared with me the very promising possibilities of that data, one of them being an article that could be published in a high quality management journal. While I knew what I had in my possession (the raw data), I guess I didn’t really know what I had (a true understanding of the potential that the raw data represented).

As part of my summer reading and in preparation for the upcoming fall semester classes, I’ve been reading Bruce Tulgan’s (2014) book The 27 Challenges Managers Face. In chapter 7 of this book, there is a section on managing under resource constraints which I found to be very applicable during these times with COVID-19. It suggests the idea of having ongoing conversations on existing resources in the organization and to do a resource-needs

To see all of Aikens’ sources and references, read the full article at fargoinc.com.

inventory. Barney’s (1991) operational definition of a resource is as follows: “…include[s] all assets, capabilities, organizational processes, firm attributes, information, knowledge, etc. controlled by a firm that enables the firm to conceive of and implement strategies that improve its efficiency and effectiveness” (p.

101).

Yes, I realize it is a long definition!

But I felt it was important to include it in its entirety to emphasize that a resource can be essentially anything within your organization. In addition, you can also classify resources into four categories: • Physical resources: (e.g., buildings, vehicles, machinery, equipment, computers) • Financial resources: (e.g., cash, lines of credit, stock option pools for hiring) • Human resources: (e.g., employee know-how, management skill, talents) • Intellectual resources: (e.g., copyrights, brands, patents, proprietary knowledge) In consideration of Tulgan’s (2014) recommendation for a resourceneeds inventory and Barney’s (1991) resource categories, let me pose the following question to you as it relates to the organization you own or manage: Do you really know what

you have? To find out, here are four steps you and your organization can take to revisit your Key Resources: • Step 1: Generate a comprehensive list of anything that could be a resource in your organization. During a planning day or retreat, have each person to write the top 10 items that come to their mind. Have each person to share the items on their individual list with the group. As you are compiling the group list, eliminate any redundant items.

The goal is to have a compilation of unique items generated by the group.

• Step 2: Classify each item into one of the four resource categories (Physical, Financial, Human, Intellectual). By counting up the items in each resource category, this will give you an indication whether firm resources are predominantly in one category or equally represented across multiple categories.

• Step 3: Apply the VRIO framework. VRIO (an acronym for the words Value, Rarity, Inimitability, and Organization) is a business analysis tool used to determine if an organization’s resources or capabilities could lead to a sustainable competitive advantage. It involves asking the following questions in order about each organizational resource.

The more yes’s that are applicable for the resource, the better: Is the resource Valuable?

Is the resource Rare?

Is the resource Inimitable, or not easily duplicated?

O: Is the firm Organized (legal, administrative, operating structure) to capture profits that the resource creates?

An ideal way to illustrate the results of a VRIO analysis would be in table/spreadsheet format, so that the individual resources are listed in the Rows, and the VRIO questions are listed in the column headings (1 question per column). Answers, comments, and notes can be placed in the corresponding cells of the table/ spreadsheet.

V: R: I:

Step 4: Prioritize resources.

Whittaker and Company (www.whittakercpas.com) has an excellent guide and procedure for organizations to follow.

Following these steps will enable an organization to really understand its Key Resources, to identify any areas of slack or unused resource capacity, and to envision ways to use existing resources to develop new dynamic capabilities.

To submit questions you would like answered in future editions of “Academic Insight”. Email Dr. Aikens at: saikens@cord.edu

Founder and CEO, uCodeGirl | Bush Foundation Leadership Fellow | PhD Candidate | Lecturer of Computer Science | YWCA Woman of the Year in Science and Technology

‘TIS THE SEASON FOR INNOVATION Tech Tools to Combat COVID-19

By Bethlehem Gronneberg

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Daniel Bell had once said “technology, like art, is a soaring exercise of the human imagination.” Difficult situations inspire ingenious solutions.

Services and experiences that centered around increased safety and peace of mind during this pandemic is sure to be appreciated by many.

Here are the five technology products and services designed to support efforts in that regard.

1. Connected Wearable Air Purifier: Worried about returning to your regular gym or concerned with venturing the great outdoors, also frequented by other people?

FitAir, the personal wearable air purifier, has come to the rescue.

While running or biking, the re-chargeable device can be mounted on your arm and is connected to a specialized mask that will pump fresh air to the user at all times during wear. You no longer need to inhale smoke, bacteria, viruses, allergens and air pollution as the device uses medical-grade H11 HEPA air filters to get the air purified to a radius of 25 square feet around you.

About uCodeGirl

The vision of uCodeGirl is to inspire and equip young women to become the future face of innovation in technology. uCodeGirl is uniquely designed to inspire, engage and equip young women with computational design thinking skills, leadership traits, and an entrepreneurial mindset. uCodeGirl strives to remove roadblocks and bridge the gender gap in technology so that young women can confidently pursue opportunities suitable for the 21st century. By building confidence, enhancing skill sets and tapping into their intellect and curiosity, uCodeGirl helps young women chart a pathway to the T of STEM careers.

More information here: www.ucodegirl.org | @ucodegirl |

/ucodegirl

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2. Early Virus Detection Intelligence on Wearable Tech Users: Fitbit has launched a study of its users in the United States and Canada to opt-in for collecting data of which will be used to formulate an algorithm that can predict the onset of COVID-19. Fitbit hopes symptom history and long-term vitals data collected at scale could help build an objective profile of COVID-19 cases. Identifying these potential infections early can help encourage individuals to seek care or self-isolate. Smart watches have also jumped on the wagon of sanitization with an app that reminds its wearer to wash their hands for the recommended amount of time.

3. Portable UVC Face Mask Sterilizer: Wearing a mask has become our new normal. Just as important is the proper handling of used masks. To keep reusable masks as fresh and clean as possible between uses, portable and UVC-based mask sterilizing devices have started to emerge in the marketplace.

CleansBox UVC, Maskirei, Phonesoap, and Multi-Function Sterilizer are among the list of gadgets that claim to sanitize face masks, keys and smartphones off pathogens in just under a few minutes. Small enough to be carried in the pocket or car, some of these on-the-go face mask sterilizers also double as mobile data banks. There is also a self-sterilizing face mask with an N99+ HEPA filter. Of course, you can use the tried and true good old soap and water method as well.

4. Programmable LED Face Mask: You already know you can make reusable face masks. But do you know you can code one? For all the geeks out there, this Arduino Namo Microcontroller powered Do-It-Yourself novelty mask can display messages as text, images and can be made to respond to music, sounds and your voice with equalizer effects. It is also rechargeable with USB. Tyler Glaiel, a programmer, has recently launched his own innovative mask that helps people showcase their emotions while wearing a mask. The concept, a new voice-activated LED mask, uses lights to mimic the natural movement of the mouth when speaking. Glaiel launched detailed instructions with photos and step-by-step guidance to show other creators how to make their own LED mask at home.

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5. Contact-Free Technology Coming to a Restaurant and Convenience Stores Near You: As restaurants work to adapt to new regulations and safety measures, tech entrepreneurs are busy enhancing systems for contactless interactions between customers and service providers in the service industry. weQless is such a company that boasts to provide customers with a virtually immersive 360-degree digital rendition of menu browsing experience using QR code set at the table so that they can seamlessly place their order and avoid printed or shared menus. The system also uses a cashless NFC (Near Field Communication) payment system. Smart bot assisted curation of a customized menu for a customer based on their health preferences is a game changer that is already in practice. Scan-and-go shopping technology is a design of a store that has no physical counter for checking out goods. This technology is powering stores nationwide such as 7-Eleven, Sam’s Club, Walmart, and Kroger for completely cashless and cardless transactions by letting shoppers complete sales using only their smartphones. Customers just scan their desired products and pay and go to their busy life. Amazon Go has the most advanced implementation of scan-and-go technology requiring no scanning of goods but uses a combination of cameras and sensors to keep track of all items shoppers pick up and place in their shopping carts.

BY Adrienne Olson, Kilbourne Group

Broadway square naming

Broadway square rendering

VIA CONFLUENCE

New Spaces to

Work, Live, and Play Underway

in Downtown Fargo BROADWAY SQUARE

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very city needs a gathering space, and Broadway Square is designed to be just that. Programmed by Fargo Park District, it includes a band shell for outdoor live performances, interactive water features for kids (and adults of course) and will double as a groomed ice-skating rink in the winter.

On July 16, 2020, the Block 9 plaza was named Broadway Square and the Block 9 Partners, Kilbourne Group and R.D. Offutt Company, recognized the Fargo Park District as manager of the space. Ana Rusness-Peterson has joined Fargo Parks to lead programming and community engagement for Broadway Square. She brings a wealth of experience from cool cities all over the nation and has big plans for turning the Square into a reflection of all that is unique and special about Fargo.

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“Broadway Square will be a space that mindfully seeks out, engages, empowers, listens to, and represents the entire range of voices in our community,” says Rusness-Peterson.

Construction is in full swing with underground utilities work, followed by the hardscape installation. Broadway Square is scheduled to celebrate its opening in conjunction with the Xcel Energy Holiday Lights Parade on November 24, 2020.

Share what you’d like to see at Broadway Square at Block9Fargo.com/Broadway-Square.

VIA NDSU ARCHIVES

VIA NDSU ARCHIVES

VIA JLG ARCHITECTS Mercantile being demolished in 1966.

Mercantile after it was built in 1909.

Mercantile rendering

MERCANTILE

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s a public-private partnership, the Mercantile project adds living, working, and retail to downtown Fargo along the 400 block of Broadway, which is already known for its eclectic shopping and dining.

Phase I is a city-owned 370-stall parking garage constructed by Kilbourne Construction Management. The final precast wall panel erection is complete. This major milestone means the garage is “topped out� and in its final form. Interior work is progressing with concrete flooring, electrical and mechanical finishes.

use development is scheduled to be completed mid-December 2021.

Named for the four-story brick structure that stood on the site from 1909 to 1966, the six-story Mercantile project includes 100 apartments for rent and 16,922 square feet of ground-floor commercial space, to include a Fargo Police Department substation and public bathrooms.

A neighboring building owner is also developing nine for-sale condominiums along the north side of the garage in conjunction with the project.

More at www.KilbourneGroup.com/properties/mercantile.

The garage is expected to be complete in October 2020.

Construction on the Mercantile privately-owned mixed-use development is underway. All piles are installed, and excavation has started. Concrete work on the foundation begins in August. The mixed-

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MICHAEL SMITH

BLOCK 9

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s crews finish the exterior, the interior of the building is being transformed through interior framing, electrical, mechanical and plumbing rough-ins, drywall, and other building finishes. While it is often referred to as a single Block 9 project, there are more than half a dozen active, and separate projects happening within the building. Each has a separate design team, construction team and ownership team.

The project’s primary tenants, R.D. Offutt Company and the Block 9 hotel account for about two-thirds of the overall building square footage.

The current schedule has the construction of these projects wrapping up in late 2020, with move-ins/openings to happen shortly afterward.

We are excited for the upcoming unveilings of both.

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VIA NDSU ARCHIVES

Rendering of Kesler after update.

KESLER

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onstruction on the Kesler project at 624 2nd Avenue North is set to begin in August 2020. The project is named after the original Kesler block, which is listed in city directories as a mixed-use block of apartments over ground floor retail existing until 1976. By 1977, it is listed as a parking lot.

To learn more about retail and office space in downtown Fargo, visit OfficeDowntownFargo.com.

For more on available apartments, visit KilbourneGroup.com/properties.

Today, we begin the work of rebuilding the site as a mixed-use project to include a 2-level (one underground) 69-stall parking ramp, almost 9,000 square feet of first floor retail, and 109 apartments.

Phase I of construction includes installation of an earth retention system, followed by excavation and concrete work. After nearly 45 years as a surface parking lot, the Kesler project is scheduled to be complete in the summer of 2022.

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Dr. Susan Mathison FOUNDER - CATALYST MEDICAL CENTER

Whether she is performing surgery or empowering women through writing, Catalyst Medical Center founder Dr. Susan Mathison has one goal: to help others live their best lives. As Catalyst approaches a significant milestone this month, Dr. Mathison reflects on the center’s growth and looks toward the future.

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Q. In a brief summary, what do you do?

A. I am a multi-passionate physician, surgeon, leader, writer, and mom with a mission to help my family, my team, my patients, and my community lead happier, healthier, more beautiful lives.

Doctor comes from the Latin word “docere,” which means teacher. I am a life-long learner, and want to share what I’ve learned through my medical training, my continuing education, and my experience with patients.

My main specialty is Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery/Facial Plastic Surgery. I’m also Board Certified in Sleep Medicine and Integrative Medicine. I do otoplasty, blepharoplasty, rhinoplasty, laser surgeries, and sinus and septal surgeries. I do facial reconstruction for skin cancer defects. I also do pediatric surgeries including ear tubes, tonsillectomy, and tongue tie release.

I see patients at my Catalyst offices in Fargo, Jamestown and Detroit Lakes. I also see patients in the ER and hospital at Essentia. I do some surgeries in my office at Catalyst, but most are outpatient surgeries at The Center For Special Surgery. I also operate at Sanford and Essentia.

I’ve also had a blog, PositivelyBeautiful. com, for almost 10 years, and I wrote for The Forum for many years. This blog is morphing into an updated site called Modern Medicine Women soon. We are all healers in our own way. Stay tuned for more on that!

Q. Why do you do what you do?

A. I love helping others in so many ways.

I feel energized and passionate about

helping others lead their best lives. I want my patients to feel empowered, vibrant, optimistic, beautiful and healthy. I feel that I have a calling. This goes beyond a job, or a clinic. My work and my life are very intertwined!

a Health Pros Personal Training Center. The other highlight is our team—an incredibly caring, dedicated, and brilliant group who strives to take incredible care of our patients.

Q. Who is your hero and why?

Q. What do you love most about your work?

A. I love the variety of ways I can help and the variety of patients I see. I love training my staff to help deliver Catalyst Care. We are all about authenticity, natural beauty, grace, luxury, compassion, service, and trust.

Q. What was your inspiration for starting Catalyst Medical Center?

A. I worked at a large local hospital system with wonderful physicians and support staff. But I wanted to offer a more personalized approach and to incorporate The Catalyst Integrative Approach to Beauty and Wellness. We have grown significantly and have the most experienced team in the region.

Q. Catalyst Medical Center is celebrating 20 years this September! Looking back, what are you most proud of?

A. I think the launch of our beautiful facility was a major highlight. We built an ecofriendly clinic and medical spa filled with light and local art. I’ve heard it called a “Temple of Wellness.” We have a huge, colorful library, and a wonderful space with

A. My parents, Mark and Marge Mathison, are my heroes. We call them the M&Ms. They are down-to-earth, hard-working folks. My dad was a surgeon, and my mom a nurse and an artist. So you might say my professional calling was partly genetic!

They have always been generous beyond their means. They raised a tribe of seven kids who are good people and are true to themselves. They have 15 grandkids and one more on the way.

Mother Teresa is also a hero. My favorite quote is: “Love cannot remain by itself – it has no meaning. Love has to be put into action, and that action is service.”

Q. What does the word “Ladyboss” mean to you?

A. I draw on ideas from one of my online mentors, Sasha Shilcutt, MD, who wrote an awesome book called “Grit and Grace.” As a Ladyboss, I am feminine and formidable. I want all of us to have the freedom to be our best, whole, complicated selves, and to be paid what we deserve. We are bossy, caring, fearless, vulnerable, relentless, forgiving and authentic. We are Women supporting Women, not cutting them down.

Q. What is the best career advice you have ever received? Or, what’s the best advice you have to offer?

A. I would say that advice is a mosaic of conversations with colleagues, coaches, and incredible friends over the years. My Artist’s Way book club and my Wonder Women and my long time Shanley friends have been a source of love and connection.

Resilience is key. Life has peaks and valleys for all of us. I have survived embezzlement, infertility, miscarriage, two hip replacements, depression and divorce. I have experienced the joys of my professional calling, adoption, service, dancing, travel, teamwork, exchange students, and new love.

Q. What are your passions or hobbies outside of work?

A. I love hanging out with my son. He is so funny and talented. We love to swim. We also share a love of art. We’ve done several art projects this summer from Unglued and we also enjoy museums. I have great memories of taking his first grade class to The Plains to see the Andy Warhol exhibit.

We also got to meet the famous artist Star Wallowing Bull.

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Preston Braathen

BY DAKOTA BUSINESS LENDING

A C T I VAT E U :

A PLACE TO HEAR REAL LIFE STORIES FROM REAL LIFE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS

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veryone has a story. At Dakota Business Lending, we’ve had the opportunity to hear and be a part of hundreds of stories from small businesses throughout the state. Whether their stories are long, short, challenging, easy, inspiring, filled with ups and downs, or anything in between, we believe these stories have the power to help others in a way that nobody else can. Today, we sat down with Preston Braathen, one of our business development officers, and talked about what he does to get these stories heard throughout the state of North Dakota and beyond: by hosting the ACTIVATE U podcast.

Why start a podcast?

At Dakota Business Lending, our mission is to find financing solutions for small businesses, join them along their journey, and be a resource for them. A big part of starting a business is dealing with people and facing different situations, so we wanted to give people a platform where they can share that journey and help others along the way. By doing this, we’re providing a free resource for small business owners so they can take the next step towards starting or growing their business.

Why “ACTIVATE U”?

ACTIVATE is an acronym for eight critical aspects of owning a business - Allow, Collaborate, Technology, Innovate, Value, Assist, Thrive, and Execute - and is a sub-brand of Dakota Business Lending. When the idea for the podcast came about, we had already been hosting our “ACTIVATE Women” learning workshops, so it made sense to continue along that path. We added the “U” to make it sound like a school or “university”, but it can also stand for “you” as an individual who is trying to learn something. The podcast is another way to help people “activate” their lives or their businesses and take it to the next level.

What do you hope people take away from listening to ACTIVATE U? In each episode, our hope is that listeners can take away at least one thing they can do in their lives or to start or grow their business. As for the entire podcast, our mission is to show people that starting a business is not a formula or straight line.

It is a journey filled with ups and downs. However, there are hundreds of people that have pivoted, pushed through, and figured out a solution. Our hope is that listeners walk away feeling like they can do the same.

What is “Pastries with Preston?”

“Pastries with Preston” is a segment we do at the end of each podcast episode to get to know the business owner on a more personal level. A lot of the conversation in the first half of the podcast tends to be more about their business, so we take some time to ask them something fun and more personal while we enjoy our featured guest’s favorite donut and/or pastry from a local bakery, coffee shop, or grocery store. It helps break down barriers, relate to listeners, and show them that these business owners are people just like them. Plus, who doesn’t like having a conversation over donuts?

We also want to continue to expand who we feature on the podcast.

At the beginning, we started by highlighting borrowers who have done loans with us, mostly in the F/M areas since that’s where our headquarters is located. Now, we’ve expanded by featuring some of our partners, co-sponsors, and others that we’ve worked with.

We’ve even traveled to Minot and spent the entire day recording podcasts with small businesses there. One day, we hope to do an in-person event where we have a live podcast recorded.

What has been the most challenging part about planning, managing, and producing the podcast?

This whole thing has been a learning process. When we first started planning the podcast, we had to figure out all the background stuff – audio, hosting sites, equipment, editing, positioning, etc. Then, we had to learn how to talk with people on the podcast and how to position questions, so it sounds like a story. Learning as you go like that is always challenging, As far as production goes, creating any type of content takes a lot of time so the most challenging part is to keep producing content and continue to improve it in any way we can. It is all learning process.

What have you learned throughout the process of ACTIVATE U? Overall, hosting this podcast has taught me that, if you have an idea, you have the ability to do it. Whether it’s by asking questions, researching, or trial by fire, hundreds of small business owners have overcome the unknown, and you and I are no different. There are also a lot of people and resources out there that are willing to help you along the way.

For more information or to listen to the ACTIVATE U podcast, visit dakotabusinesslending.com/activate-u

How have you grown? What is your vision for ACTIVATE U moving forward?

We’ve grown a lot in the sheer number of podcast episodes we’ve produced. When we first started the ACTIVATE U podcast in 2019, new episodes were released biweekly. In 2020, we decided to transition to weekly podcasts for 12 weeks straight, 3 times a year. Our goal moving forward is to average between 30-40 episodes per year so we can share as many stories as we can from a variety of industries but, just like many businesses, we’ve had to pivot our goals with the everchanging world.

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AUG/SEPT

BUSINESS EVENTS

2020 CALENDAR

Fargo Events

EVERY FRIDAY Founders That... Golf Every Friday at 3:30 p.m.

If you've founded or co-founded a company, you're invited to join other founders for a casual round of golf at El Zagal Golf Course. Not great at golf? Join anyways! It's for all skill levels. BYOC (bring your own clubs) emergingprairie.com

EVERY WEDNESDAY 1 Million Cups Fargo

Every Wednesday 9:15 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.

1 Million Cups is a free, national program designed to educate, engage, and connect entrepreneurs.

Scherling Tennis Court Complex in Island Park 616 1st Ave S, Fargo emergingprairie.com

EVERY WEDNESDAY Founders That... Mountain Bike Every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.

If you've founded or co-founded a company, you're invited to join other founders for mountain biking around Fargo/Moorhead.

We'll be meeting at the bridge between Lindenwood Park and Gooseberry Park. BYOB (Bring your own bike...not booze!)

Lindenwood Park/Gooseberry Park Bridge

EVERY SATURDAY Founders That... Play Tennis Every Saturday at 10 a.m.

If you've founded or co-founded a company, you're invited to join other founders for a casual game of tennis at Island Park Tennis Courts. Not great at tennis? Join anyways! It's for all skill levels. BYOR (bring your own racket) emergingprairie.com

1905 Roger Maris Drive, Fargo emergingprairie.com

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Fargo Events AUGUST 18 AUGUST 12 Talent Optimization During Times of Change

Wednesday, August 12 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Today’s reality: Leaders are navigating uncharted waters. They ask: How do we preserve culture and engagement amid change and uncertainty? How will this impact employee retention? This session will explore strategies to prevent burnout and continue fostering a winning team in our current circumstances.

Radisson Hotel Fargo or Online 201 Fifth Street North, Fargo fmwfchamber.com

Chamber 101: Connect Engage.

Maximize.

Tuesday, August 18 from 4 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.

If you’re not familiar with The Chamber, are a new member, new contact, new hire, or just want to re-engage with us, this session is for you! Chamber 101 is a laid-back discussion designed to share some of the great benefits of Chamber membership and what opportunities exist that you need to know. No need to dress in business attire; we welcome you to come as you are!

The Chamber Office 202 First Avenue North Moorhead fmwfchamber.com

AUGUST 20 Chamber 101: Connect Engage.

Maximize.

AUGUST 4 Eggs & Issues: Workplace Wellness and Addiction

Tuesday, August 4 from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Did you know that 1 in 7 adults, and 1 in 25 adolescents, in the United States are battling addiction? Especially during these trying times, it is important to recognize how widespread addiction is, the effects it has on our community and businesses, and how we can work to address it. Every year, drug abuse and addiction cost the American society more than $740 billion in lost workplace productivity, health care expenses and crime-related costs. Come for this timely and impactful conversation on our battle against addiction, how some of our local employers are fighting against it and what steps you can take to make an impact for your company and employees.

Courtyard by Marriott or Online 1080 28th Avenue South, Moorhead

AUGUST 13 Webinar: Insight on Candidate Ghosting Thursday, August 13 from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Candidate ghosting puts an abrupt end to a potentially great hir. Don't let it derail your hiring plans. Join this webinar to learn: • Why and when ghosting happens 124

AUGUST 2020

• What impact it can have • What employers can do about it In 30 minutes, you'll learn how to minimize ghosting and maximize opportunities to secure great talent in your quest for growth. spherion.com

AUGUST 14 Virtual Networking Before 9 Friday, August 14 from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Join Professionals of Color for another great Virtual Networking Before 9! This month, will feature Smita Garg, who serves as NDSU’s Assistant Director, Employer Engagement for the Career and Advising Center. Smita is excited to share her personal story on her transition to the FMWF region – what went well, what didn’t go well – and changes she has witnessed as it relates to diversity and inclusion initiatives and what she sees from both employers and students as she works to help match interns with companies and help students transition to their professional life following graduation. Come prepared to ask questions and learn from Smita! Bring your breakfast and cup of coffee! fmwfchamber.com

Tuesday, August 20 from 9 a.m. to 9:45 p.m.

If you’re not familiar with The Chamber, are a new member, new contact, new hire, or just want to re-engage with us, this session is for you! Chamber 101 is a laid-back discussion designed to share some of the great benefits of Chamber membership and what opportunities exist that you need to know. No need to dress in business attire; we welcome you to come as you are!

The Chamber Office 202 First Avenue North Moorhead fmwfchamber.com

AUGUST 26 2020 ChamberChoice Awards Luncheon

Wednesday, August 26 from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

It's time to honor and celebrate the incredible organizations and professionals driving the community forward. The Chamber is excited to highlight this year's most visionary and community-driven businesses and individuals that are leading the way at this upbeat luncheon. Attendees will be the first to hear the year's honorees, have the opportunity to connect with other area professionals, and kick back at this fun awards show. In addition to an in-person luncheon.

Online or at

Delta by Marriott 1635 42nd Street South Fargo fmwfchamber.com

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Fargo Events

Grand Forks AUGUST 5

AUGUST 28 Virtual Networking Before 9 with Dr. Earnest Lamb Friday, August 28 from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.

After hearing from Smita Garg at NDSU, join the Professionals of Color friends and Dr. Earnest Lamb for another virtual Networking Before 9! Dr. Lamb serves as the Dean of the College of Arts, Media and Communications at Minnesota State University Moorhead. After living in Arkansas and North Carolina for most of his life, he considers himself a “transplant” to our community when he moved her a little over three years ago. Dr. Lamb is excited to share his story, experiences and reflect on his perspective as an academic. Make sure to tune in; you won’t want to miss this conversation! fmwfchamber.com

Small Business Committee Meeting

Wednesday, August 5 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Provide value to The Chamber's small business members through educational, programming, and other small business services by working with SBA, SCORE, and other small business programs Ramada by Wyndham Grand Forks 1205 N 43rd St., Grand Forks gochamber.org

AUGUST 11 Google: Use YouTube to Grow your Business

Tuesday, August 11 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Get best practices for creating a YouTube Channel and compelling video content that promotes your products and services and drives engagement with your brand. gochamber.org

AUGUST 20 Chamber Business After Hours Thursday, August 20 Fri 4:45 p.m. to 7 p.m. gochamber.org

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SEPTEMBER 9

K-12 Update with Our A+ Superintendents

September 2020 Business Training

This year, school is going to look different.

As we know, the pandemic has impacted all aspects of our, and our kid’s, lives and their K-12 education is no exception. Join The Chamber to hear from the superintendents of the three largest school districts in the metro – Fargo, West Fargo and Moorhead – for an update on how teaching styles, classroom activities and expectations have adapted amid the pandemic and for updated information about enrollment numbers, district growth and long-term plans.

Courtyard by Marriott

Come for another exciting Business Training!

At this luncheon event, you can expect to hear from the region’s best local expert speakers on a topic that affects you in the workplace.

Courtyard by Marriott

Tuesday, September 1 from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Wednesday, September 9 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

SEPTEMBER 10 2020 Chamber Golf Classic

Thursday, September 10 beginning at 10:30 a.m.

The Chamber, Insure Forward and Bank Forward invite you to get your business on the course!

Valley Golf Course 2407 River Road NW 202 NW, East Grand Forks gochamber.org

2249 55th St S, Fargo fmwfchamber.com

1080 28th Avenue South Moorhead fmwfchamber.com

FARGOINC.COM

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Bismarck Events Minot Event AUGUST 12 Webinar: Google Workshop - Use YouTube to Grow Your Business Wednesday, August 12 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m.

Get best practices for creating a YouTube Channel and compelling video content that promotes your products and services and drives engagement with your brand.

AUGUST 13

minotchamber.org

Business Development Series - August 2020 Thursday, August 13 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.

bismarckmandan.com Bismarck Mandan Chamber EDC 1640 Burnt Boat Drive, Bismarck

AUGUST 6 Membership Mixer: Dakota Community Bank & Trust

Thursday, August 6 from 4:40 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Join members of the Bismarck Mandan Chamber EDC during the August's Membership Mixer. Enjoy refreshments, hors d’oeurves, and some business after hours.

Mixers are free for Chamber EDC members to attend.

Dakota Community Bank & Trust 919 S 7th Street, Suite 101, Bismarck bsmarckmandan.com

AUGUST 17 Golf Scramble 2020

Monday, August 17 from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Register you and your team FORE our Chamber EDC Golf Scramble on Monday, August 17th at Hawktree Golf Club. There are a limited number of spots available - so don't wait to sign up. The individual player entry fee is $175 and includes golf fee, cart, driving range, lunch, dinner and an opportunity to win great door prizes from our sponsors!

Hawktree Golf Course 3400 Burnt Creek Loop Bismarck bismarckmandan.com

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AUGUST 21 Sporting Clays Shootout 2020 Friday, August 21 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Don’t miss this year’s event which promises to deliver another exceptional experience with Chamber EDC peers at Capital City Sporting Clays!

Capital City Sporting Clays 12951 71st Ave NE, Bismarck bismarckmandan.com

SEPTEMBER 11 Brats with the Brave

Friday, September 11 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

The Military Affairs Committee invites Chamber EDC members and the public to Brats with the Brave. Help show appreciation for our military men and women by dining with them.

Raymond J Bohn Armory 4200 Miriam Ave, Bismarck bismarckmandan.com