NDRPA State Conference Program 2023

conference set list

Tuesday | september 12, 2023

11:00 am LUNCH - King's Walk Golf Course

12:00 pm

WSB GOLF TOURNAMENT - King's Walk Golf Course

1-5:00 pm ATTENDEE REGISTRATION - Alerus Conference Center

1:00 pm

RALPH ENGELSTAD ARENA & BREWERY TOUR

1:00 pm - 1st shuttle departs from Canad Inn for 1:30 pm Ralph Tour

1:20 pm - 2nd shuttle departs from Canad Inn for 1:50 pm Ralph Tour

After Ralph Tour, shuttles will run to Half Brothers Brewery and back to Canad Inn

5:30 pm SHUTTLE STARTS TO SOCIAL & DINNER - Departs from Canad Inn

6:00 pm “ROCK THE PARK” SOCIAL & DINNER - Lincoln Drive Park

Food Trucks, Games, and Live Music from Local Band “Paint the Town”

wednesday | september 13, 2023 // alerus center

7:30 am EXHIBIT HALL & SILENT AUCTION OPENS - Exhibitor Hall in Main Ballroom

ATTENDEE REGISTRATION - Concourse

BREAKFAST - Main Ballroom | PAST PRESIDENTS’ BREAKFAST - The AC/DC Room

8:00 pm CONFERENCE WELCOME - Main Ballroom

8:15 am KEYNOTE | How to be a Rockstar Leader: Living Above the Line - Chris Langei - Main Ballroom

Chris Langei is a national motivational speaker, skating coach, sport yoga instructor, certified personal trainer, and founder of Langei Edge. Langei works with players and organizations throughout the country, including the National Hockey League, American Hockey League, Professional Women’s Hockey Player Association, Premier Hockey Federation, Division 1 Collegiate, Division 3 Collegiate, United States Hockey League, North American Hockey League, University of North Dakota, Shattuck St. Mary’s Summer Camp, North Dakota Amateur Hockey Association, Northern Plains, Selects Hockey, Grand Forks Youth Hockey Association, and various high schools.

For over 35 years, Chris has been motivating groups by emphasizing leadership, accountability, and responsibility, through her “Living Above the Line” method. By applying this mantra, organizations can encourage an environment in which individuals feel confident to take ownership of their work, be accountable to others, and take responsibility for outcomes, all while helping mitigate blame, excuses, and entitlement in the workplace.

9:15 am BREAK WITH EXHIBITORS - Exhibitor Hall in Main Ballroom

10:00 am ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS - See Event Map for Roundtable Locations

Directors | Finance & HR | Marketing & Special Events | Rec Departments | Aquatics Fitness Facilities | Parks / Park Maintenance | Ice Arenas | Forestry | Campgrounds

11:30 am LUNCH - Main Ballroom

Risk Management | Corey Olson, NDIRF - The Beatles Breakout Room

Corey Olson is the director of Member Services at the North Dakota Insurance Reserve Fund (NDIRF), the source of risk services for North Dakota local government. He has been with the NDIRF for over 5 years and has over 16 years in the insurance and risk management industry. Corey’s presentation will detail the loss control and risk management tools and programs available to NDIRF members, including the online training platform LocalGovU.

Best Practices in Turf Maintenance | Sam Bauer, NCTGA - The Rolling Stones Breakout Room

Sam Bauer is a professional turfgrass specialist for Ramy Turf Products and an active member of the North Central Turfgrass Association (NCTGA). He attended the University of Minnesota and completed his masters degree in Turfgrass Science. Sam has also had an extensive career as a turfgrass educator, currently teaching for the Great Lakes School of Turfgrass.

Updates in Aquatics | Bob LaDuke, Horizon Pool Supply - The Led Zeppelin Breakout Room

Bob LaDuke has been with Horizon Pool Supply since 2014 and wears many hats as business development manager including managing several key equipment/chemical lines, working with regional builders and engineers, and supporting consultants with specialty equipment. If you’ve gone through the Aquatics Facility Operator (AFO) Certification Class in Minnesota over the last 25 years, Bob was your instructor. He graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in recreation and park management.

1:30 pm BREAKOUT SESSION 2

Facility & Event Management | Jody Hodgson, REA - The Beatles Breakout Room

Jody Hodgson currently serves as general manager at Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks. Jody received a bachelor’s degree in business from Brandon University and a master’s degree in sports management from the United States Sports Academy. Prior to arriving at the Ralph, Jody worked in venue management and minor professional hockey roles in Tacoma, WA, San Francisco, CA, and Washington, DC.

Bonding | Brian Osowski, AMKO Advisors - The Rolling Stones Breakout Room

Originally from Cando, ND, Brian Osowski credits his early upbringing in a small town as invaluable to understanding the importance that every dollar can make to communities big and small. With over 20 years of experience in the financial industry, and having personally advised over $100 million in bond issuances, Brian has developed a diverse background that allows him to focus on the many unique needs of each and every client on a case-by-case basis.

Adaptive Programming | Bill Grommesh, HOPE, Inc. - The Led Zeppelin Breakout Room

Bill Grommesh is the executive director of HOPE, Inc. Adaptive Sports and Recreation, an organization that provides family-friendly sport and recreational opportunities critical to the health and development of children and adults living with mobility challenges. HOPE, Inc. currently offers over 25 different adaptive sports and recreation activities and serves participants as young as 2 years old to those well over 60.

2:30 pm BREAK WITH EXHIBITORS - Exhibitor Hall in Main Ballroom

3:00 pm LAST CALL FOR SILENT AUCTION BIDS & EXHIBITOR BINGO ENTRIES

3:30 pm GF PARK DISTRICT FACILITIES TOUR - Buses Depart from Alerus Center

5:30 pm BREAK

6:15 pm SOCIAL - Main Ballroom

7:00 pm AWARDS BANQUET - Main Ballroom

7:30 am BREAKFAST & ANNUAL NDRPA MEETING - Main Ballroom

8:30 am WAYS TO CONNECT WITH NDRPA - Main Ballroom

9:00 am BREAKOUT SESSION 3

Feasibility Studies | Pat O’Toole, BerryDunn - The Beatles Breakout Room

Pat O’Toole is a manager in BerryDunn’s Parks, Recreation, and Libraries Practice and has over 40 years of experience in parks and recreation management planning. Pat’s areas of expertise include feasibility studies, planning, operations, budgeting, pro formas, cost recovery and activity-based costing, funding sources, customer service, partnerships, efficiencies, public process, and other facets of park and recreation agency management. He is skilled at leading forward-focused projects and teams.

Mental Health in the Workplace | Andrew McLean, MD, MPH - The Rolling Stones Breakout Room

Dr. McLean is clinical professor and chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, and associate dean for Wellness at UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences. He previously was the medical director of the North Dakota Department of Human Services. He has lectured internationally on pertinent behavioral and public health issues.

Lead Effective Intergenerational Teams | Susan Williams, The Village - The Led Zeppelin Breakout Room Susan Williams, MAEd, is a Village Business Institute trainer and Gallup certified strengths coach. She finds few things more satisfying than providing the opportunity for people to learn new information and gain insight that can change their relationship with themselves, their colleagues, and the larger community. Susan will provide keys to leading effective intergenerational teams while examining generational differences, strengths, and similarities and providing techniques to effectively interact with all generations.

10:00 am BREAK & HOTEL CHECK OUT

10:30 am KEYNOTE & GUEST PANEL | The Future of Parks & Rec - Pat O’Toole - Main Ballroom

Pat O’Toole is a manager at BerryDunn with over 40 years of experience in parks and recreation management planning. Prior to joining BerryDunn, O’Toole held various positions at GreenPlay, PROS, Leon Younger, and OATS. His experience also includes serving as the director and assistant director for parks and recreation agencies in Kansas, Missouri, Ohio, and Indiana. Pat will discuss the emerging trends and challenges in parks and rec and how they impact organizations of all sizes across the country. He will conclude his presentation by moderating a panel discussion of executive directors from across the state.

PANEL George Hellyer, Grand Forks Park District

PARTICIPANTS: Kevin Klipfel, Bismarck Parks & Recreation

Benjamin Rae, Dickinson Parks & Recreation

Amy Walters, Jamestown Parks & Recreation

Joe Barsh, Williston Parks & Recreation District

12:00 pm

GRAB & GO or GRAB & STAY LUNCH - Main Ballroom