Moorhead Magazine Fall 2017

MOORHEAD minnesota state university moorhead

FALL 2017 | Vol. 17, No. 2

magazine

The magazine for alumni, friends and community.

INTERSTELLAR MAKEOVER The MSUM Planetarium, along with students from Youth Educational Services and the MSUM School of Art, created an extensive, astronomical and educational glow-in-the-dark mural for the MSUM Planetarium. The artwork was made possible by a $9,000 grant from the Lake Region Art Council and local mural artist Karen Bakke.

MOORHEAD minnesota state university moorhead

ALUMNI FEATURES

magazine

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9 The Heart of Dragons 16 Nature vs. Nurture 18 The Lighthouse 22 Creating Entrepreneurs 28 Dragons at U.S. Bank

NEWS BRIEFS

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5 CMU Celebrates 50 5 Markuson Selected for NCAA Program 6 Marcil Center Dedicated 7 Quality Matters to Online Learners 7 Dragon Athletics is Fired Up Administration

Staff

President Anne Blackhurst president@mnstate.edu Interim VP, Academic Affairs Marsha Weber ’89 VP, University Advancement Gary Haugo VP, Finance & Administration Jean Hollaar ’90, ’92 VP, Enrollment Management/ Student Affairs Brenda Amenson-Hill Director of Athletics/Interim Associate VP, Enrollment Management Doug Peters Executive Director, Marketing & Communications David Wahlberg ’81 Chief Information Officer Daniel Heckaman ’01 Chief Diversity Officer Donna Brown Chief Human Resources Officer Ann Hiedeman ’13

Executive Editor David Wahlberg ’81 david.wahlberg@mnstate.edu Editor Kristi Monson ’84, ’96 kristi.monson@mnstate.edu Art Director Derek Lien liende@mnstate.edu Photographer Dave Arntson ’96 Editorial Team Danielle Page ’15 Meghan Feir ’13 Jennifer Donahue Lexi Byler ’17

Minnesota State University Moorhead Magazine is published by the Marketing & Communications Office for the MSUM community of alumni, employees, students, supporters, friends and neighbors.

Contact us: kristi.monson@mnstate.edu or 218.477.2110.

Minnesota State University Moorhead is an equal opportunity educator and employer and is a member of the Minnesota State system.

PRESIDENT’S LETTER Dear Alumni and Friends, aybe it's the legacy of our founder, Solomon Comstock, who was a successful businessman in addition to being a state legislator. Maybe it's the can-do attitude we demonstrated when Old Main burned to the ground in 1930 and we found a way to reopen for classes just a week later. Maybe it's our heritage as a Normal School that has seized every opportunity to adapt and evolve to meet the needs of our region.

Whatever the reason, Minnesota State University Moorhead seems to produce more than its share of successful entrepreneurs. And, increasingly, our graduates fuel the entrepreneurial ecosystem that is flourishing in FargoMoorhead. Some of the most successful start-ups in our community were founded by MSUM alumni who credit their education for their success.

Our academic programs certainly play an important role. Exceptionally strong programs in business and computer science–along with innovative programs in visual and media arts–provide a platform for entrepreneurial success. Students in non-business programs can earn a certificate or minor in entrepreneurship. And all students benefit from the interdisciplinary focus of the Center for Entrepreneurial Studies.

But it's more than that. There's an entrepreneurial spirit at MSUM that both attracts and helps create successful founders. It's a spirit that fuels our faculty and staff as they strive to ensure that MSUM provides an extraordinary education. And it's a spirit that propels our students to explore, take risks, and, ultimately, discover their passions. I attribute that spirit to our core values of grit, humility and heart.

Grit means setting big goals and having the tenacity to achieve them.

Humility means understanding that the best ideas can come from anywhere. And heart means being passionate about a purpose. All three of these qualities are essential to entrepreneurial success–and absolutely central to being a Dragon.

Grit. Humility. Heart. They're recurring themes in the stories of the entrepreneurs featured in this issue of Moorhead Magazine.

Watch for them as you read about founders who overcame failure, innovators who understood how to approach problems from the customer's perspective, and start-ups fueled by a passion for improving our world.

I hope you're as inspired as I am by the big ideas and bold thinking of the alumni profiled in this issue. And I hope you're equally inspired by the grit, humility and heart that made those big ideas a reality. Our core values define us and connect us across time and distance. They make me proud, always, to call myself a Dragon.

Best wishes,

Anne

Connect with President Anne facebook.com/PresidentAnne

twitter.com/PrezBlackhurst

NEWS BRIEFS

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EDITOR’S NOTE n each issue of Moorhead Magazine, we like to feature a general theme that transcends all majors. This issue is about finding passion, pursuing dreams and thriving entrepreneurs.

Each story demonstrates the grit, humility and heart of a Dragon. A special thank you to our contributing writers and MSUM professors, Dr. Deneen Gilmour and Kennan Meyer. Your voices contribute greatly to Moorhead Magazine!

Celebrating 50 MSUM’s Comstock Memorial Union (CMU) opened to serve the campus community in 1967—that’s 50 years of connecting students and being a home for Dragon Pride. Join us for a free, family-friendly 50th anniversary celebration with games, food, prizes and some surprises. And if you haven’t seen the recent remodel and addition, it’s a great time to check it out.

Please join the CMU following the MSUM Homecoming football game on October 7, and see how your student union continues to evolve while we honor its legacy.

Connect with us MSUMStudentLife

There are thousands of untold stories, so be bold and consider sharing yours with us. Upcoming themes include service, missions and ministries; food and drink; preserving the past; and animation. If you have an idea that falls generally into one of these topics, I’d love to hear about it and perhaps we will share it in an upcoming issue. Who knows? It may encourage a future entrepreneur, energize a young teacher or inspire a future healer.

Make sure to check out mnstate.edu/magazine with additional content we couldn’t fit in print, including a feature on another teller of stories, Danielle Nadler ’05 (mass communications). She is a founder and managing editor of Loudoun Now, a startup community newspaper in northern Virginia and the author of “Without a Trace: The Life of Sierra Phantom.”

Often, stories in Moorhead Magazine trigger comments, positive and negative. Our last issue on diversity was no different. I appreciate your comments and value your opinions. Feel free to write your comments online to share with others. It might start an interesting dialogue or introduce ideas not previously considered.

Enjoy.

Kristi Monson, ’84, ’96 Editor | kristi.monson@mnstate.edu | 218.477.2110

Markuson Selected for NCAA Program MSUM deputy athletic director Chad Markuson has been selected to participate in the 2017 NCAA Pathway Program. He’s one of 25 individuals who have committed to becoming directors of athletics to be chosen for the program.

The Pathway Program provides senior-level administrators an unprecedented opportunity to gain insight into every facet of an athletics department, preparing them to become wellrounded leaders who are equipped with the tools an effective athletics director needs. Each

program participant is mentored by a current NCAA athletics director and a current university chancellor or president who have committed to helping the Pathway participants grow during the program and after completing it.

Markuson has been part of the MSUM athletic administrative staff since 2011.

“The Pathway Program is an unmatched opportunity, exposing highly qualified athletics administrators to the latest information and robust experiences, delivered by practiced experts in the field,” said Bernard Franklin, NCAA executive vice president of education and community engagement and chief inclusion officer.

Read more at msumdragons.com.

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NEWS BRIEFS

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Marcil Center for Innovative Journalism Dedicated The School of Communication and Journalism dedicated its Marcil Center for Innovative Journalism in May, unveiling a wall display showcasing the historic partnership between MSUM and Forum Communications. The Center is a collaboration between Forum Communications and MSUM that enhances the university’s longstanding reputation for producing highly qualified reporters, photographers and other media professionals. It was established in 2013 with a $1 million gift from Forum Communications to support scholarships, student internships, studentfaculty research, residencies by communications leaders and more. To date, 20 students have participated in career-development opportunities within the Forum Communications Company network. Additionally, 20 $1,000 renewable scholarships are awarded each year.

CPA Exam Pass Rate

Students who took the 2016 Uniform CPA Examination within one year of graduation–higher than other colleges and universities in the region

#1 National Winner

View more photos online at mnstate.edu/magazine.

Quality Matters to Online Learners Four faculty members teaching 12 online courses have earned Quality Matters (QM) certification from the international organization recognized as the leader in quality assurance for online education. Certification is based on researchsupported and published best practices to ensure courses are highly engaging, well-designed and student-centered to promote learning among many different learning preferences.

“Our commitment to online students is to create student-centered courses that are both rigorous and accessible to diverse learners,” said Julie Zaloudek, dean of Online and Extended Learning. “We are proud to be expanding QM training and course design to benefit our valued online learners.”

Three graduate faculty in the School of Teaching and Learning have earned the prestigious QM designation. They are: Drs. Boyd Bradbury, Michael Coquyt and Sue Severson, as well as

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#1 National Winner

Campus News Best All-Around Television Newscast category in the Society of Professional Journalists 2016 Mark of Excellence awards

Rhonda Ficek, Computer Science & Information Systems. More than 60 faculty have completed formal QM workshops while many more have engaged informally through training and internal course review.

“With QM certification, we pride ourselves on providing students with engagement and rigor equivalent, if not exceeding, that which is found in traditional settings,” Bradbury said. “Our courses are designed so we have nearly daily interaction with our students, whether in written or oral form, throughout the course. As a result, students don’t have to wait until their next class period to interact with the instructor. Interaction is just a few keystrokes away with a guaranteed timely response.”

MSUM is a member of the Minnesota Online Quality Initiative.

Kayleigh Omang, photojournalism senior, General News Photography, Small School, in the Society of Professional Journalists 2016 Mark of Excellence awards

100

%

Pass Rate

Construction Management students passed the spring 2017 Associate Constructor Exam

#4 Nation

Operations Management program as ranked by Best Degree Programs

International Champion

Michelle Bruer, accounting senior, DECA International competition in the accounting role play category

Read these stories and more in their entirety at mnstate.edu/magazine.

FIRED UP The MSUM Dragons are riding high after a highly successful year. Under Athletic Director Doug Peters’ leadership, the Athletics program created a vision for Dragon success, and the university is now enjoying the rewards of generous financial and attendance support from alumni and friends. @ADDougPeters is #fired up (it’s the hashtag used when he shares the good news of Dragon success)! Team Red and White competes in the NCAA Division II Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. Here’s a year in review of Athletics Dragon Pride.

MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY

WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY

3rd straight trip to NCAA Championships

(Molly Montonye)

1 All-American

men's basketball

FOOTBALL

Most wins since 1999 All-American 2nd Team (Damon Gibson)

women's basketball

3rd straight NCAA tournament appearance

1st NCAA tournament appearance since 2008-09

NSIC Champions (2nd time in 3 years)

1st NSIC Championship since 2004-05

All-American & NSIC Player of the Year (Aaron Lien)

2nd-longest win streak in school history (15) All-American Honorable Mention (Drew Sannes) NSIC Coach of the Year (Karla Nelson)

Swimming and diving

TRACK AND FIELD

NSIC Champion & national qualifier (2 backstroke events, Erin Sullivan)

4 All-Americans (Katrina Mellegarad, Josh Young, Caroline Jansen, Josh Young)

NSIC Champion (100 breaststroke, Taylor Beynon)

4 Conference Champions (Brian Huber, long jump, indoor & outdoor); Cody Christ, 5,000 meters; Josh Young, 1,500 meters)

4 relays qualified for nationals

7 School Records Broken (indoor & outdoor)

WRESTLING (Blake Bosch)

14 All-NSIC Honors Earned 3 National Finishers

National runner-up

1 NSIC Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year

All-American Wrestler of the Year (Super Region 3 & NSIC)

@MSUMDragonsPage

@MSUMDragons

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THE HEART OF

DRAGONS MSUM’S CORE VALUES FUEL ENTREPRENEURSHIP ILLUSTRATIONS BY MURTAZA AZMI

g

rit. Humility. Heart. While these may not be your typical guiding principles at a university, they’re the key ingredients in helping Dragons achieve far more than they had ever imagined.

These core values are seen in the tenacious creativity of alumni who refuse to be deterred by roadblocks. They’re exhibited through the respect given to people from all walks of life. And they drive our alumni's passion for pursuing new adventures and highlighting the best in others.

These are the defining characteristics of the students who pass through our front gates and triumph in their entrepreneurial endeavors. –>

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POWERED GRIT a B Y

BY JOHN SPINDLER

s archaeologists go, they’re hardly the swashbuckling heroes of Indiana Jones fame.

But to companies looking to build a wind or solar farm, run a pipeline or construct a cell phone tower – Abraham Ledezma ’08, Daniel Salas ’09, and Craig Picka ’09 (pictured left to right opposite page) all anthropology graduates with archaeology emphases – are indispensible.

The three longtime friends own In Situ Archaeological Consulting. And their business success thus far, they say, can be attributed to hard work, perseverance and the training they received as undergraduates at MSUM. In Situ is a player in the largely unseen world of cultural resource management consulting. Companies that use federal funding are required to ensure the proposed construction site is free of artifacts that could have cultural significance. While some employ in-house archeologists, others call on firms like In Situ to excavate portions of the proposed site, examine it for traces of artifacts and then issue a report as part of the permitting process.

The seed that became In Situ was planted years ago. Picka and Ledezma have been friends since sixth grade; Salas joined the group while the three were undergraduates. “We were sitting around between classes one day and started thinking it would be nice to start a company specializing in cultural resource management – once we got enough experience,” Ledezma recalls.

Their studies at MSUM provided just that. “The undergraduate program at MSUM is totally hands-on: How to dig properly, how to collect artifacts, how to number them, how to make sense of what you’re seeing – everything you need to know to be an archaeologist,” Ledezma says.

That practical experience earned the three admission to graduate school at Missouri State University. After completing their studies, they parted ways. Picka and Salas lived together while working for separate companies during the North Dakota oil boom. Ledezma worked in Ohio. They talked every few days, sharing what they were learning, discussing better ways to do their jobs and dreaming of starting their own business.

After a few years, and with Ledezma and his fiancée expecting a baby they hoped to raise back in Minnesota, it was time to take the leap. The three moved back to the suburban Twin Cities and launched In Situ in October 2015. One of the first calls

they placed was to their mentor, Dr. George Holley, professor of anthropology at MSUM, for advice.

They realized that success wouldn’t come easily. About a half dozen companies in the Twin Cities alone do what In Situ does, and all have firmly established track records. Competition for contracts is often driven by price, with the job going to the lowest bidder.

Undeterred, the three began spreading the word. “We talked to anyone and everyone we could find, telling them who we are and what we do,” Ledezma said. They were elated to quickly land a small contract.

But then things went quiet – and stayed that way.

Because Salas and Ledezma are Latino, they applied to have In Situ classified as a disadvantaged business in Minnesota and North Dakota. The process is intense, and approval took months.

Once they received it, “We thought the contracts would come rolling in,” Ledezma says. “But they didn’t.”

Months passed. The phones were silent; email blank.

To make ends meet, Salas took a part-time job at a Minneapolis dairy. Ledezma earned extra cash cleaning bathrooms at a community center in Chaska.

Finally, out of the blue came a call from a global engineering firm with an office in Minneapolis. It had its own archaeological consultants on staff, but they were too busy; would In Situ be interested in picking up some of the slack?

That job led to another, and then others from different organizations. Suddenly, In Situ was awash in business. “Now we’re working six or seven days a week,” Salas says, triumphantly.

As every small business knows, keeping the momentum going is everything. In Situ’s plans for that harken back to their undergraduate days when “our professors always taught us that if you invest a lot of time in your papers, it shows that you’re serious about your work,” Ledezma says. So they’ve created a template that allows them to produce higher quality, more detailed reports than their rivals, enabling them to report like the big players but at a competitive price.

While hardly taking their success for granted, the three are already thinking about hiring staff – and know exactly where to look.

“We’re going to hire from MSUM,” Picka says, “because we’re sure they’ll be well-trained.” ■

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GUIDED HUMILITY h B Y

BY MEGHAN FEIR

umility is a funny thing to brag about, but it’s one of the reasons our alumni often stand out.

They use their knowledge and gifts to help others carry out their dreams. And they’re often the underdogs, performing detailed work behind the scenes, completing the tasks set before them so others can receive applause.

When Daniel Nygard ’07 (accounting) came to MSUM, he was immediately drawn to the music scene of FargoMoorhead, which mainly consisted of punk rock and rock ‘n’ roll. From booking shows to playing in a few bands, Nygard became familiar with many aspects of the music industry.

Although his major in accounting may seem like an unconventional choice for someone creatively bent, Nygard was encouraged by faculty as they reminded him that every industry needs accountants.

“It was kind of stressed in the program to get your CPA and go for one of the big firms,” Nygard said. “But there wasn’t any push from my advisor and professors, even though they knew that’s where a lot of the high-paying, good jobs were. They allowed me to do what I wanted to do.”

Even before graduating, Nygard secured a job with Fox Tax, LLC of Minneapolis, a small tax firm where he worked with niche businesses, such as artists, musicians, and other alternative lines of work for the next three years.

“That job helped me get to know a lot of people in the Minneapolis area, and it was kind of a natural progression,” Nygard said. “Having done it myself, I understood the people who did that. I know it’s a market where people in that industry aren’t good with their money. They don’t want to deal with it. They want somebody else to do that.”

After three years, Nygard took a different turn by taking a job with the State of Minnesota as a sales tax auditor. Although it was a good job, he soon knew it wasn’t the right fit.

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“That was out of my realm,” Nygard said. “It wasn’t what I wanted to be doing, but I learned a lot working on the opposite side of the spectrum.”

The value of his experiences gathered together when Nygard took a chance and started his own bookkeeping business. Much like his first job out of college, Nygard Bookkeeping deals with businesses outside of the standard company stereotypes. From tattoo artists to bands around the U.S., Nygard’s business has caught the attention of clients without ever needing to pay for advertising.

“I had one tattoo artist, and three months later I had three or four I was working with because word got out that I did this. Not many typical bookkeepers or accountants know these industries very well,” Nygard said. “Once you kind of know the game, it’s pretty easy to go forward and take everybody on.”

Eventually, one of his clients invited him to take on a fulltime job with their company, Rhymesayers, an American hip-hop independent record label, and the environment and challenges keep Nygard gladly on his toes. “It’s been crazy. It’s constantly evolving and learning new processes in the industry working with royalties, licensing, publishing, all of that.”

Although Nygard enjoyed performing, he’s content using his strengths to highlight the gifts of others and ease their minds.

“They know they don’t have to worry about that facet of their business. They can just perform at 110 percent,” Nygard said. “Writing and performing is their end of it.

My strength is in numbers, sitting down and doing bills, paychecks, and spreadsheets and working with a bunch of data. It’s kind of a strengths and weaknesses thing— knowing my place and knowing what I’m good at.” ■

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INSPIRED HEART i B Y

BY DANIELLE PAGE

t started as a happy accident. Yvonne Denault ’97 (graphic communications) wandered into the Regional Small Business Center eight years ago looking for assistance in starting a design agency. Though the center didn’t help new businesses get off the ground, it did rent space.

Denault set up shop, and when another space became available next door, she was given an impromptu tour and fell in love.

“I went home and told my husband, ‘I think I should get into photography,’” Denault said. “He asked, ‘Why?’ and I said, ‘Because I found this great studio space.’”

Despite doing poorly in a photography class during her studies at then-Moorhead State University and no formal photography training, she took a few boudoir photography courses in San Diego post-graduation and knew she’d found her passion.

She opened Yvonne Denault Photography in the space that inspired her and hasn’t looked back.

“Boudoir is empowering to women,” Denault said. “It’s not just about making a man feel good looking at the photos. This is about a woman coming in and feeling beautiful about herself.”

Like Denault, Sally (Wurpts) Loeffler ’00 (speech language hearing sciences) followed a unique course to her current career.

When she started running in college, she had no idea she’d end up co-owner of Beyond Running. A speech language pathologist by trade, she bought into the company shortly after it opened in 2007. She says it felt like a natural transition.

“You go to college to learn how to think, not to learn how to do a job,” Loeffler said. “I had a hard time choosing a major. Part of me wanted to go into something creative, and the other part of me really wanted to do something more science-based. I finally feel like now I have the best of both worlds.”

In addition to her role at Beyond Running, Loeffler works as a speech pathologist at Vibra Hospital, a long-term intensive care unit in Fargo. The dual career keeps her busy.

Loeffler and Beyond Running co-owner Jason Overland opened sister-store Outermost Layer in 2010, and Beyond Running West this past summer. Although Loeffler says she has more ideas than time, her end goal is to make a difference and establish a sense of community in whatever she does.

“Whether they’re people in the hospital or people who are trying to make themselves better through running, I feed off that and am inspired by other people’s drive to get better,” Loeffler said.

Women’s empowerment is a theme throughout Denault’s entrepreneurial endeavors. Along with her thriving photography business, Denault established Pinup on the Plains and opened JessieBlue—formerly Vivie’s Boutique. Both are thriving.

Whether she’s teaching women of all ages, sizes and backgrounds how to confidently model lingerie on the catwalk, turning abstract ideas into reality through photos, or crafting trendy wardrobes for women in her boutique, Denault is focused on helping women feel beautiful.

“I think every woman goes through something that in their head tells them they have to attain a certain level of outward beauty,” Denault said. “When they come in for a shoot, they’re all carrying some baggage. Divorce. Cancer. Women who have had miscarriages, have been beaten up, are going through addiction, have been cheated on.

“It’s life. It beats you down as a woman. You compare yourself to others, and you think you’re the only one going through it. When clients come in here they finally see some beauty where they’ve lost a lot of it, and it inspires them to just keep going.”

But for the woman behind the camera and in the stockroom, sustaining multiple businesses can quickly become overwhelming.

“I have three locations. Then I’ve got staff and inventory. By the time I pay off all of my overhead, I’m basically working for nothing,” Denault said. “Even though I’m not taking a paycheck, somebody’s getting some value out of it.”

Yet in the face of all adversity, Denault and Loeffler exhibit an astonishing amount of heart. They continue to go the extra mile, are passionate about their purpose and are fiercely loyal to what they love.

Like true Dragons, these women plan to follow whatever paths make their hearts sing.

“If you’re creative, you’re constantly looking for something to feed the need to create,” Denault said. “Life gets boring.”

“The world is going to change, and there’ll probably be a day when I’m doing something completely different. I hope that’s true,” Loeffler said. “MSU was really good at providing a foundation for adapting, and opened a whole world of possibilities.” ■

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SEEKING WORLD CLASS

ENTREPRENEURS

BY KENNAN J. MEYER, MBA | CONTRIBUTIONS BY JAMES SWENSON, PH.D.

Gene Conclusion (Ben Clapp, MBA, James Swenson, Ph.D.)

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Genes, practice or experience alone don’t account for the development of an expert.

ENTREPRENEURIAL STUDIES

Nature vs Nurture

The ages old debate between nature versus nurture continues. A guest approached the famed pianist Liberace following a performance at a party and said, “I would do anything to play the piano like you.”

The entertainer refuted by suggesting anyone willing to put in the hours of practice he did could be just as accomplished. His view is consistent with the philosophy we are all born with a clean slate.

Modern theorists place a greater emphasis on talent, stating Liberace’s education and practice played significant roles leading to his success, but his intelligence, ear for music and natural tendencies toward innovation and creativity were critical components leading to fame.

In their attempts to identify potential entrepreneurs, researchers have discovered some consistencies among leading corporate innovators that include both experiential and genetic components.

MSUM Business Professors Ben Clapp and James Swenson note that highly successful entrepreneurs such as Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and the Google team of Sergey Brin and Larry Page were innovators in their teens. They theorize that while starting a business practice at a young age is a key indicator to future success, the trigger lies within one’s genetics.

Can the strands of DNA be deciphered to unveil entrepreneurial talent at an early age? Numerous studies suggest personalities reveal what a microscope, at this point, cannot. A 2006 study by Hao Zhao of the University of Illinois at Chicago and Melbourne Business School’s Scott E. Seibert focuses on components of the Big Five Personality Dimensions toward measuring entrepreneurial readiness.

The Entrepreneurial Pieces

Zhao and Seibert’s statistical data revealed a high correlation between conscientiousness and the status for entrepreneurism.

They define conscientiousness as, “…an individual’s degree of organization, persistence, hard work, and motivation in the pursuit of goal accomplishments.” A high score is commonly associated with entrepreneurs.

Their research also revealed consistencies between entrepreneurial traits and those found in agreeableness and openness.

Agreeableness, defined as one’s interpersonal orientation, is found to inhibit entrepreneurs more willing to drive hard bargains through influence and manipulation for their own self-interests.

Thus, a low score is consistent with a high entrepreneurial status.

2 3

Genes may accelerate the learning ability of an expert.

Internal motives are essential for becoming a top performer.

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Entrepreneurs aren’t born; entrepreneurship is a learned set of skills driven by an interaction between genes, culture, and a specific environment.

With openness comes intellectual curiosity, suggesting the propensities toward exploring new experiences and ideas. High scores in openness infer one is “creative, innovative, imaginative, reflective and untraditional.”

Scores recorded under two remaining personality dimensions, neuroticism and extraversion, failed to provide conclusive results under this analysis. All other studies remain consistent that the degree of extraversion has no bearing on one's abilities toward entrepreneurship.

Clapp and Swenson support theories on genetic predisposition, specifically personality traits, that define entrepreneurial readiness, but agree that that entrepreneurial success is not predicated on genetics alone. A positive environment, ample resources, motivation, education, and practice can produce highly successful entrepreneurs whose talents may rest elsewhere.

Putting Research to Practice

MSUM’s Center for Entrepreneurial Studies (CES) is in the early stages of testing personality trait theories to identify students with natural tendencies toward entrepreneurship. Volunteers have taken the Big Five Personality Dimensions test, with focus on openness, conscientiousness and agreeableness in concert with other trait theories. Some consistencies between entrepreneurship and neuroticism have also been uncovered, enough to further examine its validity.

The results of these preliminary tests have yet to provide any conclusions except that, while several students have excelled in one dimension or another, no one has come close to registering in the top 10 percent (or bottom 10 percent) in all three selected personality dimensions. The CES will test again this year to weigh the significance of each personality dimension toward producing a total individual score to measure the propensity for entrepreneurial success.

There is validity to Liberace’s statement. The climb to the top of any occupation takes hard work. However, to neglect the contributions of genetics and the environment may leave one well short of the number of variables necessary to calculating the odds for success. While the bulk of personality trait research provides some definitive theories, they also pose more questions than answers. Indeed, there is much more to be learned and researchers continue to be challenged and motivated.

How do You Measure?

The Big Five Personality Dimensions is a highly regarded tool for exposing personality traits. Want to see where you stand? Read this story in its entirety online and take the Big Five Personality test at mnstate.edu/magazine. ■ Kennan J. Meyer is Director of MSUM’s Center of Entrepreneurial Studies and Assistant Professor of Marketing in the Paseka School of Business.

Read Clapp & Swenson's article on “The Role of Genes, Environment, and Deliberate Practice in the Development of a World Class Entrepreneur (2016)” at mnstate.edu/magazine.

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THE LIGHT( Dale Wolf ’85 (history) and Beth (Grabinger) Wolf ’84 (speech language hearing sciences) and ’85 (speech language pathology & audiology) are partners – in life and in work. They met at Bismarck State College and together transferred to MSUM. Together, they are faith leaders – Dale has worked in churches since he was 18; Beth taught Sunday school and was involved in worship groups since high school. After Dale completed Luther Seminary, he served churches in Minnesota and North Dakota before accepting a call to Atonement Lutheran Church in Fargo, a youthful, growing church eager for entrepreneurial leadership. Together, through faith, and their affable personalities, his inspiring messages and her musical talents, the ministry grew.

Membership tripled, a new sanctuary was built,

)

BY KRISTI MONSON

a popular daycare, preschool and after school program was established, the children’s and youth ministry thrived, a new denomination (Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ) was created.

However, the 20-year roller coaster ride of being a spiritual leader at the local, regional and national level began to take its toll. Dale’s world, and Beth’s, began to unravel. Well equipped to care for others and guide them through their own struggles, Dale failed to take care of himself and deal with his own frailties.

What ensued was a spiraling downward slide that changed the course of his life. Fatigue.

Burnout. Depression. Alcoholism. Relapse.

Resignation. Loss – of job, of friends, of faith. –>

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I wanted to create a church home where everybody feels welcome and there is no judgment, celebrating people’s victories and lifting them up when they fall. – Dale Wolf THE FALL

Dale knew in high school ministry was his calling. Yet, at age 51, he drank himself out of a job.

Burnout had been building for years – work crises, hectic life and not taking care of himself.

“My implosion was rooted in a sense of deep depression,” Dale said. “I struggled with an addiction I didn’t understand, and didn’t know what to do about it. I fell from a pretty prominent position locally and nationally. It was my rock bottom.”

He was without a church and without a plan. “I was pretty certain I was done with the ministry, and I didn’t feel like being part of any church. I also feared I might lose my faith.”

Slowly, healing began. He learned tools for self-care and studied the spiritual principles as revealed in the 12-step recovery. He devoted time for his spiritual relationship and journaled religiously. He attended recovery meetings and worked through his issues. Surprisingly, it was in recovery where he felt encouraged, and almost energized, to continue in ministry.

He says one of the most profound experiences of his life was sitting in a recovery meeting with an amazingly diverse community ranging from business leaders to homeless people, representing many nationalities and all ages – gathered for one purpose: to celebrate successes and encourage those who’ve stumbled. Unconditional acceptance.

“This is what the church is supposed to look like. For many people in recovery, the church was the last place they experienced welcoming acceptance,” Dale said. “It became clear to me that some people in the recovery world acted more like Jesus than people in the church.”

That revelation, along with friends encouraging him to continue ministry, rekindled his creative juices and entrepreneurial energies, feelings long lying dormant. Despite working his way through recovery, he imagined a different kind of church and was excited to start something new.

“God brought me through this experience so I could create a different kind of church community where people are free to share their struggles and challenges and express their doubts and questions about God,” Dale said. “I wanted to create a church home where everybody feels welcome and there is no judgment, celebrating people’s victories and lifting them up when they fall.”

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THE RISK

A small group started meeting at Scheels Arena. In a bar. Some people might have called him crazy. Did it make sense for a recovering alcoholic to start a new church?

“My biggest concern was if the burnout returned,” said Beth, his wife of 34 years. “But he worked really hard on making himself healthy. He is such a gifted pastor and a great teacher. I didn’t think he should be done (with ministry).”

They say nine out of 10 start-ups fail (Fortune). The North American Mission Board estimates 33 percent of new churches won’t survive past the fourth year. Other estimates range from 4,000 to 10,000 churches closing this year. And while 40 percent of Americans “say” they attend church, less than 20 percent actually do (Pew Research Center). Not the best stats for beginning a new ministry. It wasn’t a well-researched business plan, but Dale’s entrepreneurial spirit believed God was calling him and Beth to do this important work.

And people showed up. Congregants from his previous church. People from recovery. Curiosity seekers. After several months, they outgrew the bar. As if it were divine intervention, a benefactor who supported Dale’s vision donated a vacant church building in downtown Fargo.

He says staying in Fargo was important because it’s where he found healing. He says starting a church is easy – he delivers the message, Beth leads the music. But operating a church is hard. “It’s much scarier to me to see what God is doing now,” Dale said.

THE LIGHTHOUSE

In naming the new enterprise, Dale and Beth chose ‘lighthouse’ because it points people to safety, hope and purpose. It does not bring still waters, but guides people through rough waters.

“We are a come-as-you-are, recovery-based church where we don’t judge. We love, accept and welcome,” Dale said. “What’s unique is the intentionality of trying to be what we say we are.”

Jeremy Ruppert was agnostic most of his life. Dying of alcoholism, he came to believe in God as a last resort.

“I didn’t care for religion, I didn’t care for Christianity, and I didn’t believe in Jesus,” he said.

He and Dale met in recovery and quickly became friends. He asked Dale if it was OK for a non-Christian to go to Lighthouse Church, since he was not certain he’d be welcome.

SAFETY, HOPE AND PURPOSE

“Dale almost always starts his message with saying ‘no perfect people allowed.’ I’ve been in recovery awhile and talk about my problems and my beliefs, which is very encouraged at Lighthouse Church. That transparency was very different than what I expected,” Jeremy said. “It was amazing to me that I could explore my faith and not feel like I’m being judged if I don’t believe exactly what others believe.”

Dale describes Lighthouse Church as a place that specializes in life’s hurts, but wasn’t prepared for the level of human hurt God has brought to Lighthouse. He’s transparent about his own struggles, which is startling to some. He encourages other Christians to do the same.

“We tend to give the impression that in order to be a true follower of Jesus you have to have it all together,” Dale said. “I can speak with great confidence that there are very few of us who have it all together!”

Dale and Beth are four years into Lighthouse, and have created a new version of church that’s meeting the needs of the lost and hurting.

While it’s estimated 3,500 individuals migrate away from the church every day (Barna Group), attendance at Lighthouse Church has doubled in the past nine months. On a recent Sunday, more than 200 attended.

It is by all accounts, a success story. Dale is quick to say the church’s measure of success is not about the numbers, but about the number one – one person at a time.

Lighthouse Church may be a bit unorthodox for this region. People are hugged at the door. Tears may be shed. Experiences are publicly revealed about personal struggles. Ex-offenders in transition sit alongside whitehaired grandmas and grandpas. Traditional ministries for children, youth, women and men exist among support groups for NA, AA, Depression, LGBT, Spirituality Recovery and more. Dale is often present.

“People are coming. We are helping their recovery, their sobriety, their mental illness, their relationship issues, their loneliness,” Dale said.

“If these things have begun to be replaced by a sense of community and they meet Jesus in the midst of all of that, that’s success. It happens individually.”

“I’m a totally different person today than I was five years ago,” Jeremy said, who was baptized by Dale last year. “Having a place like Lighthouse Church to explore my faith in a safe and welcoming environment really changed my belief system and transformed me that way.”

Dale and Beth are serving people who need a place to explore their faith and share their struggles in an accepting environment. Lighthouse Church is that place.

“God wasn’t done working with Dale, and I think through Dale He’s shining the light in a lot of people’s darkness,” Beth said. “If lives are being transformed, it’s because God’s here.” ■

The graphic pencil drawing of Split Rock Lighthouse on the North Shore of Lake Superior was done by Jeremy Ruppert, a friend of Dale’s. With no formal training, he learned through practice and experimentation. He says, “I was trying to figure out what I’m good at and what to do the rest of my life, but the lesson I learned was to figure out what I want to do with my life and then get good at it.” View Jeremy's work at jeremyruppert.com.

Learn more about Lighthouse Church at lighthousechurchfargo.org.

Read more about Beth Wolf and her part of the Lighthouse ministry at mnstate.edu/magazine.

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Creating Entrepreneurs

BY DENEEN GILMOUR, PH.D.

he idea was never to graduate a string of modern-day Thomas Edisons, Bill Gateses, or the next Mark Zuckerberg.

MSUM’s vigorous academic focus on entrepreneurship intends, instead, to subtly inform and shift how students think about work, social innovation, marketing, finance, life.

It’s working, judging by students whose lives have been transformed.

Courses are designed to give nonbusiness students tools to market their skills and innovate in a rapidly changing workforce. Gaining that knowledge can be accomplished two ways:

1 Anyone in the community who wishes to leap in and complete five core courses may quickly earn a certificate in entrepreneurship.

2 Or, enrolled MSUM students may choose an entrepreneurship

minor by taking courses nearly identical to the certificate program.

Chelsie Beyl, Rosholt, S.D., is a senior majoring in communication studies with an emphasis in training and development. She has two minors: leadership and entrepreneurship.

“You see more possibilities in the world, and it opens you up,” Beyl says of her entrepreneurship classes. With graduation in May, Beyl is drawn to working for the FBI as an intelligence analyst, or HR. “I can envision connecting the dots and deciding what paths to follow (investigatively).

I’m a creative, but in the sense of being creatively analytical to find solutions to things.” –>

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Entrepr The beauty of the entrepreneurship program is it teaches a flexible mindset that we can apply in a rapidly changing world. –Chris Orth

Profs Peel Open Self-Discovery for Students

Using the Pretzel-Like Discipline and Creativity of A Yogi

Faculty and entrepreneur guest speakers don’t endeavor to indoctrinate students with canned entrepreneurial dogma. It wouldn’t work anyway. Millennials come equipped with Teflon armor impervious to indoctrination. Today’s students are rarely open to being told what to think. But they are amenable to novel styles of inquiry and prompts on how to think, and what to think about. Today’s students revel in the process of discovery, often proudly thrusting a stake in the ground to name and claim their discovery.

It may help to think of the entrepreneurial learning process akin to learning yoga. After studying under highly trained practitioners and mentors, students create their own invigorating, disciplined system—called a practice—that often seeps into unexpected avenues of life. Students engage in their new and life-altering practice by pressing into use a paradoxical tapestry of daily discipline and high-wire creativity.

The curriculum is created specifically for nonbusiness students, says Kennan Meyer, director of the Center for Entrepreneurial Studies. Students majoring in music, film, and communication frequently find their way to the entrepreneurship minor.

Management professor Jim Swenson launched entrepreneurial studies five years ago. Since then, finance professor Ben Clapp has shepherded the program, and now Meyer, marketing faculty in MSUM’s Paseka School of Business. Until coming here in 2013, Meyer was an entrepreneur and partner in a business that developed car wash machinery.

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Here’s why the mind shift aspect is key when studying entrepreneurial thinking: In our everyday lives, we tend to view the same scenario from the same vantage point, day after day. It’s human nature. Habit.

But take two mental steps this way or three steps that way. Voila!

That tired, sometimes troubling, scenario appears as something else. Suddenly that blasted, blurry tangle emerges in a crisp, creativity-inspiring focus. With professors encouraging students to view problems as challenges, eventually solutions and breakthroughs tumble from fresh-thinking minds.

And all it takes is a subtle shift in thinking or moving one’s viewing platform two steps this way or that way.

reneurs

BUSINESS MOVERS AND SHAKERS

In the Classroom: Seeing the Light Proves Life-Changing

Chris Orth, 36, is a cool guy with a cool career: sign maker, specifically a technically trained neon sign maker.

A lifelong Fargo resident (save a few years out East), he was that kid who had to tinker and invent.

“I have always seen myself as a ‘maker,’” Orth says. While neon lights are cool and the process by which they’re made— involving high heat, high voltage, and considerable skill—is even cooler, the career is not what it used to be. LED lights, cheap and easy to mass produce, have replaced neon in much of the sign industry.

“Neon work is transitioning from being a sign technology to a visual art,” says Orth, whose neon art was on display at the Rourke Art Gallery in Moorhead this past summer.

With a young family, Orth knew something had to change.

The neon career field had plateaued, but he was still hungry for a chance to advance. Fortunately, his employer, Indigo Signworks, Fargo, gave him the flexibility to enroll at MSUM. He hoped a business degree would propel a job change.

Instead, what changed was him.

At first, Orth spun his wheels at MSUM, frustrated by taking “all the generals.” He spoke with Clapp and others in business who suggested a more direct route: a certificate in entrepreneurship.

“I could do the entire certificate program without having to take two years of prereqs,” Orth said. “From Day 1 things started to make sense. The common thread through all the entrepreneurship classes was mindset.”

Motivated, he completed the entrepreneurship certificate in a year, with great grades.

“I came out of it seeing things differently,” Orth said. “I came out of it with a fresh mindset. I reassessed a lot of things in my life. I constantly ask myself ‘What am I doing that I could be doing differently?’”

And, he acted on the finance principles he learned. “My income grew 40 percent in three years as a result of the classes…how to negotiate… how to create mutually beneficial business situations,” Orth said.

Plus, he found contentment, in part by making peace with his career and creative needs. Although neon is mostly artistry and nostalgia nowadays, he realized he couldn’t give it up. He started Fireline Custom Neon, a sideline neon art and sign business. And, in July he began a new full-time job.

He’s a business analyst and project manager for Codelation, a Fargo company specializing in technical solutions. As part of his new career, Orth meets with entrepreneurs and business managers to assess their most pressing business needs and then develops and writes business plans.

“The beauty of the entrepreneurship program is it teaches a flexible mindset that we can apply in a rapidly changing world,” Orth says. “We can worry if our job will become obsolete…or we can use an entrepreneurial mindset, which prepares you to pivot when it’s time for a different approach. They were able to get me thinking like an entrepreneur, not in the short term like I was used to, but long term. Big ideas. And they were also able to give me a surprisingly comprehensive education in business in a relatively short period of time.

“I found that rather than a ‘maker’ I am actually more of a ‘creator.’ There is a lot of overlap between the two, but, in my view, the emphasis in being the maker is in getting your hands dirty, and being a creator is more about seeing results.”

‘Makers’ Can Position Themselves to be Business Movers and Shakers Students in creativity-focused majors naturally apply their talent to create captivating music or produce a memorable film, Meyer says. But many come up short in identifying market segments to sell their creative services in the realworld marketplace—especially if this creative class who often brands themselves as “makers” hopes to be self-employed or launch a business.

Studying entrepreneurship gives such students a solid footing in organizational leadership, developing cognitive abilities that lead to innovation and creativity, and business basics.

“You don’t have to know everything about accounting and how to do payroll yourself,” Meyer says, “but you need to know enough about it to hire the right person to do payroll.” ■ Deneen Gilmour is a Professor of Multimedia Journalism in MSUM’s School of Communication and Journalism.

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DEGREES DREAMS

BY LEXI BYLER, MARKETING INTERN

Devo n Liljenquist

Kayl eigh Omang

riven by passion and determination, entrepreneurs work diligently to create and manage their own businesses.

MSUM students are creating entrepreneurial success stories of their own. Devon Liljenquist, Kayleigh Omang and Dillan Schmiedt each have embarked on building a business while simultaneously pursuing a four-year degree. While the demands of college and business ownership are high, these students are following their dreams.

Devon Liljenquist ’17 (accounting) received his real estate license while he was in high school at the age of 18. After three years in the real estate industry, he wanted a new venture. One of his clients was a certified public accountant who helped steer him toward accounting. After working for Tax Pros for eight months and shortly before graduating from MSUM in May, he became a partner-owner of the Fargo-based business.

“I knew a lot of the professors on a first-name basis and was able to get help easily and quickly. They were all pretty good about talking about real-world application of what we were learning,” he said.

This teaching style helped him take lessons from the classroom and channel them into his personal pursuit. After working independently in real estate, he knew he wanted to be a business owner. It was less about money and more about having the freedom to pave his own path. Although he’s enjoyed the perks of having his own business, it comes with challenges.

“Not only are you getting all the money that’s coming in but you also have to pay all the bills that come in and payroll is a huge expense,” he explained.

Kayleigh Omang, a senior photojournalism student with a minor in entrepreneurship, started her own photography business in 2015. Working on her high school yearbook fueled her interest in photography. However, she was more interested in writing, which is why she chose MSUM to pursue journalism. Although she

Dilla

n Schmiedt

enjoyed it, the facts-based writing style left a creative void, which drew her to pick up her camera again.

“I started taking photos of my friends and my dogs and soon I realized, ‘I think I could make money doing this,’” she said.

MSUM provided Omang the opportunity to work for The Advocate, the award-winning weekly newspaper produced by students, where she gained experience learning from her peers. She now photographs weddings professionally.

“It gave me resources to meet people who do this professionally and how to take my skills to the next level,” she said.

Similar to Omang, senior Dillan Schmiedt also shoots weddings.

Instead of photos, he shoots and edits videos. After a high school friend asked him to film his wedding, others started asking him to do theirs, and his business took off.

Schmiedt has been creating videos since he was a kid, which made the decision to major in film production easy. Whether it’s concept development, writing, shooting, or editing, he enjoys every aspect of it. He loves bringing his clients’ vision to life.

“I learned everything I know about my industry from my courses at MSUM, and knowing the people in my major helped me get people to help with wedding shoots,” he said. “My business allows me to do more of the work I enjoy while also helping people who need my services.”

Following your dreams to pursue your passion is the essence of the American dream. For each of these students, the risk and courage it takes to begin their own businesses is already paying off.

With the connections and mentorships they’ve formed at MSUM, accompanied by their own self-motivation and diligence, they hope to find continued success in the future. ■

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Front row (L to R): Deidra Dick, Jessica Lemmerman, Jessica Irish, Patrick Amberson, Courtney Werre and Katie Astrup. Back row (L to R): Tyler Kummeth, Derek Kubicek, Trent Boie, Josh Lingen, Aric Anderson, Joe Lingen and Karl Schnobrich.

Donuts with Dragons: U.S. Bank

BY MEGHAN FEIR

or the Dragons at U.S. Bank who could make it, June 13 was greeted bright and early with deliciousness from Sandy’s Donuts.

The Donuts with Dragons appreciation event, sponsored by the MSUM Alumni Foundation, celebrated the 200-some Dragons tied to the bank.

Katie Astrup ’99 (finance), district manager for southeast North Dakota at U.S. Bank, began working there her senior year at MSUM, and her connections to the university have stayed strong as a member of the advisory council for the Paseka School of Business and its executive mentoring program.

Astrup said the lessons she learned nearly 20 years ago are still flourishing through the lives of MSUM students and graduates.

“Dragons are typically very hardworking, quick learners. They have a passion for what they do, and they’re motivated to do well,” Astrup said.

“They want to look at the big picture and what they can do with the company. They always bring a lot to the table with their perspectives.”

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While some alumni know they want to work at a bank after graduating, Deidra Dick ’07 (mass communications) had initially planned on being an event planner, but when she took a job as a teller, her life took a different direction.

“I lived in the Cities after I graduated and was an intern at a zoo. I didn’t get paid right away when I started, so I became a teller at a bank,” Dick said. “I decided to become a full-time teller when I moved back to Fargo because I really enjoyed banking.”

Many Dragons are known for their work ethic, but Aric Anderson ’16 (business administration) believes another standout trait of Dragons is that of inclusion.

“MSUM is so multicultural, and they show that if you’re exclusive, you’re not going to make it very far. The melting pot at MSUM is a really neat thing to see,” Anderson said. “MSUM is the best school in the Tri-College system. Their programs are a cut above the others, and you come out of there proud to be a Dragon.” ■

EMAIL YOUR CLASS NOTES TO ALUMNI@MNSTATE.EDU

Class Notes

Share your news here—new job, volunteer experience, interesting hobby, recent travel, etc.

If we don’t get it in this issue, we’ll save it for next time!

All towns are in Minnesota unless otherwise noted. Fargo and West Fargo are in North Dakota.

Beeson Selected for Induction Into NSIC Hall of Fame Former Dragons men's basketball star Brett Beeson ’96 (management and marketing) was inducted into the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Hall of Fame in July. He is the 26th individual from Dragon Athletics to be inducted into the NSIC Hall of Fame.

Beeson had a record-setting and accoladefilled career for the Dragons in the 1990s.

In 1996 he was named the CoSIDA National Player of the Year for being the top player in Division II, leading the nation at 33.3 points per game. He was also named GTE Academic All-American Player of the Year and the Midwest Sports Channel NCAA Division II Athlete of the Year. Beeson was also named the NSIC Player of the Year in 1995-96, averaging 33.8 points per game in 12 NSIC games.

Beeson was inducted into the Dragon Sports Hall of Fame in 2010 and was named to the NSIC 25th Anniversary Top 25 Team this past year.

Beeson played overseas in Europe for 12 years. He is now director of Aether Capital Investments Pty Limited, which is headquartered in Sydney, Australia.

He resides in Bangkok, Thailand.

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Judy Cooper Lyle ’69 (speech and theatre arts) runs The Urban Spectrum Theatre, her own theatre company, producing multicultural shows in the inner city. Lyle recently closed "Warm Dark Dusk,” a jazz music and dance show surrounding the poetry of Langston Hughes, playing to sold-out houses. Lyle has her own clothing design label, Phyllis Designs, and has been a guest designer in LA Fashion Week.

Carl Griffin ’72 (mass communications) had a story written about his time at MSUM as one of the school’s few African-American students 49 years ago. The story also covers his experience in visiting campus when he came back with his grandson.

“It’s a whole other world,” said Griffin. “There was nothing distinctive about our visit at all. It was relaxed and friendly—no stares or remarks. We saw students with all kinds of backgrounds socializing together everywhere we went.” The story is featured on unheralded.fish.

Stephen “S. D.” Nelson ’72 (art), a member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in the Dakotas, has written the compelling story of a world of conflict told in the imagined voice of the great 19th-century Lakota warrior and chief, Red Cloud, who recounts the history of his people. The story is expanded and enriched by Nelson’s beautiful ink, watercolor, and colored-pencil illustrations executed in the 19th-century Lakota ledger-book style. Nelson is the author and illustrator of numerous children's books and has received numerous awards for them. Nelson taught art in the public schools in Wahpeton, N.D., and Flagstaff, Ariz.

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Richard Petersson ’75 (history) was awarded the 2016 Jim Dimick Retired Coaches Award by the Minnesota State High School Baseball Coaches Association. Richard was baseball coach for 14 years at Proctor High

School from 1977 to 1990. His teams won three Lake Superior Conference titles, five sub-region titles and three Region 7AA runner-up titles. Richard also coached girls basketball at Proctor for 25 years, playing in two state tournaments. In 2008 he was inducted into the Minnesota Girls Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame.

80

Lisa Kittelson ’80 (psychology) was named director of dining and nutritional operations for Bethany Retirement Living. She will continue as clinical dietitian at Bethany on 42nd and will assume responsibility of all dining and nutritional operations at both Bethany campuses. Kittelson is a native of Moorhead and was a teaching assistant in the Food & Nutrition Department at NDSU and a WIC nutritionist for the Migrant Health Services prior to joining Bethany Retirement Living as a clinical dietitian in 1989.

Bradley “Brad” Lundeen ’80 (political science) was featured in an article featured on acc.com called “Combining technology, staffing and fee solutions for better outcome at lower costs.” The story highlights Lundeen’s time and innovation at Cabela’s Inc. in his role as senior corporate attorney for labor and employment law in 2010. Lundeen became very familiar with electronic case management and e-billing at his previous posts and went on a mission to reduce Cabela's legal costs in his area of specialization, seeking a different way to manage administrative agency charges and single-plaintiff employee litigation.

Robert “Bob” Purcell ’89 (community health), former Bismarck High School state champion, Dragon wrestler, Dragon assistant coach, U.S. Army member, teacher, college instructor, and MN West head coach is retiring. Purcell and his family and friends celebrated on June 24, 2017 at the Elks Lodge Bar in Worthington.

Read more at msumdragons.com.

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CLASS NOTES

››

95

Douglas “Doug” Kampsen ’95 (theatre arts and speech communication) was selected out of 1,200 talented agents by Halstead to receive the firm’s Rising Star Award, given to someone who has joined the firm in the past couple of years with the potential to be a Halstead Top Producer. This person is strategic, a team player, collaborative and lives the values and culture of the firm. “I am very aware that no one receives this award on his or her own,” said Kampsen. “Not only do I have amazing directors and co-workers who are a constant source of support and help, I have the best family, friends and clients. You have put your trust in me to help you with one of your biggest life decisions—your home. I will continue to work my heart out for you and your family and friends.”

Jessica Hoppe ’97 (finance), relationship manager with Alerus in Fargo, has earned financial planner certification from the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, recognizing those who have met experience and ethical requirements, completed financial planning coursework and have passed the CFP Certification Examination.

Christina Broadwell ’00 (biology) was named a 2016 Top Doctor at UW Health for her work and service in the reproductive endocrinology/infertility department. The awards are designed to recognize their most skilled and dedicated physicians. These prestigious awards recognize individuals who demonstrate exceptional skills in clinical practice and education, and a commitment to the mission, vision, and values of UW Health.

Kimberly (Johnson) Rogen ’03 (finance) was promoted to global service resource manager of all Insure Forward agencies. She started with Insure Forward in Fargo in 2012 as a customer service agent.

05

Danielle Nadler ’05 (mass communications and journalism) published “Without a Trace: The Life of Sierra Phantom,” which ranked No. 1 as a best-selling new release on Amazon and No. 3 in the travelers and explorers category in the first month of its release. The book recounts the life of Sierra Phantom, a man who lived in the wilderness of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California for 50 years. Read more about Nadler and her book online at mnstate.edu/magazine.

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Barry Sniezek ’05 (mass communications) opened his own Allstate Insurance Agency in Blaine. He has worked for an Allstate agency since 2011.

Crystal S. Gibbins’ ’06 (MFA creative writing) full-length poetry collection, “Now/Here,” was published by Holy Cow! Press in 2017. She is the founding editor of Split Rock Review, an online literary magazine featuring environmental and place-based writing. For more information about Gibbins and her work, visit crystalgibbins.com.

07

Anna McCorison ’07 (theater arts) is the interim artistic director for the Fargo Moorhead Community Theatre. She currently resides in New York City and is one of 75 in the country who are certified teachers of the Michael Chekhov Acting Technique. She holds director and choreographer credits in more than 30 productions.

Jeremiah Colbert ’07 (business administration) was commissioned as a second lieutenant after graduating from Total Force Officer Training School at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. The training included military and leadership studies, professional knowledge, communication skills and field leadership application. Colbert served on active duty in the U.S. Air Force from 1998-02 and joined the N.D. Air National Guard in 2009.

Jennifer Lein ’08 (mass communications) and Jordan Johnson were married Sept. 12, 2015 at Maplelag Resort in Callaway.

Tracy Kurtz ’08 (chemistry) has rejoined Aldevron, a contract manufacturing firm for the biopharmaceutical industry, as a client relations manager for enterprise resource planning (ERP) and operations. Kurtz was previously employed at Axis Clinicals in Dilworth.

Brianna (Brickweg) Liestman ’11 (English and mass communications) won the Regional Bronze AZBEE award from the American Society of Business Publication Editors for her March 2016 article “Planning your exit strategy,” which she wrote in her role as managing editor of Boating Industry, a B2B magazine covering the recreational marine industry in North America.

Matthew S. Menge ’13 (criminal justice) was hired as an associate attorney at Stebbins Mulloy Law Firm in Bismarck, N.D. Menge’s practice is in family law, criminal defense and civil litigation.

Chad Nelson named news photographer, editor of the year Chad Nelson ’07 (mass communications), a photojournalist with KARE 11 in the Twin Cities, won two top honors in the 2017 National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) Video Best of Photojournalism awards, in what’s being called an “unprecedented sweep.” Nelson was named both the Ernie Crisp News Photographer of the Year and Editor of the Year at the June ceremony. He’s the first person to win both award titles in the NPPA Best of Photojournalism Video competition.

His sweep included individual wins with feature stories in news and sports, and editing awards for effects.

You can watch one of Nelson’s winning stories, “51 years, 17 girls, 1 dress” at kare11.com.

Photo by Merry Murray (Courtesy NPAA)

Commissioner Larry Shellito receives Ellis Island Medal of Honor

Newzad Brif ki publishes memoir Newzad Brif ki ’08 (business administration), founder and director of the Kurdish Community of America, has published a memoir, My Journey to America: A Kurdish American Story.

The book tells of the flight of Brifki’s family from Saddam Hussein’s Iraq to a refugee camp in Turkey and of their eventual resettlement in the United States.

He arrived in the U.S. at the age of seven and is now a citizen of this country. The memoir is the story of successfully overcoming his struggles, earning a business degree at MSUM and coming to peace with his identity.

He founded the Kurdish Community of America in 2009 to promote cultural education and serve as a resource center for the Fargo-Moorhead community.

2008

The National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations (NECO) announced the recipients of the 2017 Ellis Island Medals of Honor in May. Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner and retired Major General Larry Shellito ’68 (accounting and business administration) ’72 (distributive education) ’79 (MS business education) was among the 100 outstanding Americans in business, government, medicine, art and education, as well as honorees from all branches of the military, to receive the honor.

Shellito began his military career in 1968 when he enlisted in the United States Army, where his active duty service included serving in Vietnam as a Mobile Advisory Team Leader. He retired as the Adjutant General of the Minnesota National Guard in 2010 after 37 years of service. As Veterans Affairs Commissioner, Shellito is charged with assisting the state’s 353,000 Veterans and their families.

The medal recognizes individuals who have made it their mission to share their wealth of knowledge, indomitable courage, boundless compassion, unique talents and selfless generosity with those less fortunate; all while maintaining the traditions of their ethnic heritage as they uphold the ideals and spirit of America.

Since the Medal was founded in 1986, NECO has honored such distinguished and diverse Americans including: seven Presidents of the United States; Nobel Prize recipient Elie Wiesel; Generals Norman Schwarzkopf and Colin Powell; Justice Sandra Day O’Connor; Secretaries of State Madeline Albright, Condoleezza Rice and Hillary Clinton; and many others.

The Ellis Island Medal of Honor ranks among the nation’s most prestigious awards, with the recipients reflecting America’s diversity, across background, ethnicity, occupation and more. The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives have officially recognized the Ellis Island Medals of Honor, and each year the recipients are listed in the Congressional Record.

WDAY, Wallevand receive Edward R. Murrow Award WDAY-TV has received a 2017 Edward R. Murrow Award, the second time in as many years that the station has earned the national honor and it is the third time WDAY has earned the honor throughout its history.

The national recognition is for ‘Excellence in Sound’ for a story entitled “A Game Time Tradition,” featuring the New Salem (N.D.) football team preparing for the Dakota Bowl.

The story was reported by Kevin Wallevand ’84 (mass communications) with photographer Devin

Krinke. To view the story, visit wday.com. Wallevand also won a national Edward R. Murrow Award in 2016 for the news documentary “Trafficked” and a 2003 Murrow Award for his series “Baby Evan.”

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CLASS NOTES

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Four alumni named FPS principals

> Vincent Williams

> Cathy Selberg

Vincent Williams ’03 (social studies) ’11 (MS curriculum and instruction) has been named principal of Discovery Middle School. Williams had been the District’s English Learner’s coordinator and assistant principal for Woodrow Wilson High. He previously served as the administrative intern for Kennedy and then Lincoln Elementary Schools, and was a social studies teacher at North High from 2004 through 2014. Williams is an adjunct professor in MSUM’s Education department, and received an MSUM Distinguished Alumni Award in 2015.

Cathy (Gensler) Selberg ’89 (elementary education) ’98 (MS elementary education) has been named principal for Washington Elementary School. She had been assistant principal at Carl Ben Eielson Middle School since 2014 and has been with the district since 1989. She earned her administrative credentials through MSUM and also holds a North Dakota middle level endorsement and her K-12 reading credential.

Want to submit a class note?

We’re always looking for more things to celebrate!

If you’d like to submit a class note for the next issue, register online at mnstate.edu/alumni and email your updates and photos to alumni@mnstate.edu.

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> Karrie Rage

> Leandra Ostrom

Karrie Rage ’00 (MS special education) has been named principal for Kennedy Elementary School. She joined the Fargo Public Schools in 1993 and has been coordinator of Special Education Services since 2003. She earned her administrative and special education director credentials through MSUM. Leandra (Dougherty) Ostrom ’98 (elementary education and special education) ’03 (MS curriculum and instruction) has been named principal for Horace Mann-Roosevelt Elementary School. She was the student performance strategist at Centennial Elementary School since 2015. She earned her administrative credentials through MSUM.

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If you’re a tweeter, follow @Alumni_MSUM. If you Like this sort of thing, find our Page on Facebook @MSUMAlumni.

On LinkedIn, search for our Minnesota State University Moorhead Alumni group to connect with other Dragons, share opportunities, and follow campus updates!

Lexi Byler elected Vice Chair of Students United Lexi Byler ’17 (integrated advertising & public relations), was elected Vice Chair of Students United, a nonprofit organization based out of St. Paul and recognized as the official student voice for the Minnesota State system.

Byler was nominated in February and embarked on her first campaign, visiting each of the other six universities to tour their campuses and speak to their student governments. After a successful campaign, she won approximately 85 percent of the vote.

Established in 1967, the organization will celebrate 50 years of serving more than 70,000 students from the seven state universities: Moorhead, Bemidji, Mankato, Metropolitan, St. Cloud, Southwest, and Winona. Students United has been a strong voice for students on campus, to the system, as well as to the state and federal government.

DRAGON BABIES

Ezekiel Owen Jessica Larson ’12

Nora Clare Kayla Thompson ’10

Kylie Violet Rosalie Wolff ’05

Where’d you go Dragon?

When you switch jobs, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, or you get married or have a baby, let us know! We’re not stalking you. In fact, we’re here to help.

Register online at mnstate.edu/alumni to stay connected to classmates and to receive lifelong access to career resources, VIP benefits, and exclusive information on events and reunions.

Audrey Sara ’09 and Alex ’08 Brown

Decker Heidi ’08 and Ryan Sampson

Magnus Steven Molly (Feirer) ’07 and Robert ’09 Haas

Aayla Mackenzie Jaclyn ’06 and Nate Davis

You may have received this magazine, but think of all the other information and incentives you could be missing. By updating your email, you will be included in our monthly enewsletter where you’ll receive more perks, stories and other pride points.

Have questions? Email alumni@mnstate.edu.

John Richman elected to HLC board North Dakota State College of Science President John Richman ’75 (health and physical education) ’80 (MS physical education) has been elected to the board of trustees of the Higher Learning Commission. His term began Sept. 1 and will continue through Aug. 31, 2021.

Headquartered in Chicago, the HLC accredits more than 1,000 degree-granting post-secondary educational institutions in 19 states. The board is the HLC’s governing body and leads the work of HLC in serving its affiliated colleges and universities, deals with policy matters related to accreditation and votes in institutional actions.

Richman has served as NDSCS president since 2007.

Prior to returning to NDSCS, he was an instructor, coach and athletic director in Ada; an assistant coach at both MSUM and the University of North Dakota; and at NDSCS he served as head football coach, health, physical education and recreation instructor, director of athletics and vice president for academic and student affairs.

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IN MEMORIAM

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Irwin Kenneth Smemo, 86, a long-serving faculty member at MSUM, passed away June 29, 2017.

Ken was born on Nov. 23, 1930 in Brookings, S.D., to Alfred and Elisabeth Smemo. His parents, both newly arrived immigrants from Norway, soon moved the family to Eau Claire, Wis. In 1951, he married Suzanne Sherman, with whom he had three children—Eric, Elizabeth, and Margaret. In 1981, he married Nancy O’Brien, and had two children, Kristoffer and Molly. Together, Ken and Nancy built a lakeside cabin, a place they loved.

Drafted into the army, Ken fought in the Korean War. After the war he managed a men’s clothing store for several years before returning to college to complete a teaching degree at the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire. He then taught high school in Osseo, Wisc. He went on to the University of Minnesota to complete his master’s and Ph.D. in history. In 1961, he joined the faculty at Minnesota State University Moorhead and became one of the longest-serving professors in the university’s history. He served as principal of the Campus High School before joining the university’s history department. He helped establish MSUM’s Scandinavian Studies Program and the Northwest Minnesota Historical Society. A winner of the Burlington Northern Award for Teaching Excellence, Ken thrived in the classroom, teaching upwards of 7,000 students over the course his career. He retired in 2007, but continued to teach well into his 80s.

Discover Ireland with fellow Dragons Start planning ahead for May/June 2018! Join MSUM alumni and friends for a trip to the Emerald Isle. A perfect balance of relaxation and discovery, enjoy exclusive access to locations during this 10-day adventure. MSUM professor Jeremy Carney has led several student trips to Ireland over the years and will be an invaluable resource and tour guide for Dragon travelers.

Check out our event calendar on mnstate.edu/alumni to learn more about this alumni event and others.

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In Memoriam

Alumni & Friends

Ken Smemo

Alumni, Faculty & Friends

Gail Boekhoff ’74 Roger Butenhoff ’69 Viviette Butenhoff ’51 Elsie Carlson ’44 Ida Christensen ’53 Donald Dahlquist ’58 William Davis ’76 Cynthia (Walden) Dempsey ’76 Daniel Deneau Dennis Eastman ’84 Leonard Eklund ’74 Joni Elliott ’91 James Fawbush ’95 Ruth Franzen ’62 Heidi Frie ’95 Ordell Grant ’70 Thomas Greene Stanford Grothe ’64 Michael Heflin ’05 Patricia Hinkle ’63 Leslie Jacobsen Ritchie Jacobson ’73 Donna Jenkins Lori (Johnson) Jorgensen ’76 Anoush Khoshkish Shirley (Erlandson) Knatterud ’70 Clarence Kotte ’69 Helen Larson ’48 Douglas Laudon ’70 Michael Lee ’70 Clara (Miner) Lesch ’46 Arlene (Williams) Mickley ’52 Muriel (Thomson) Mollberg ’52 Daniel Murphy ’46 Ronald Nannenga Maurice Nissen Elaine (Field) Olson ’37 Doris Peterson ’44 James Preston ’48 Henry Rasmussen ’73 Nora (Simens) Ronningen ’66 Constance Sautebin ’41 Mark Shine ’91 Kennan Snyder ’87 Geraldine Sorben ’60 Brian Stangeland ’83 James Steinke ’79 Earl Stottler Diane (Gray) Swanson ’57 Evelyn Swenson Nancy (Killovan) Tetteh ’93 Cassandra (Domek) Torkildson ’70 Omer Tweten

Isle of Harris, Scotland, 2012

Scottish Lighthouse

2013 (BFA, art and design)

Courtney Weinreis

Courtney owns a nature and wildlife fine art photography business, Borrowed Likeness, www.courtneyweinreis.com.

The image was taken on a hike during the MSUM Art and Design’s Scotland Study Abroad trip in 2012. Our intended destination: this abandoned lighthouse. We traversed over the greenest landscape I had ever seen, sprinkled with sheep, surrounded by boulders three times taller than any of my fellow peers. When we came over the crest of a small hill, the lighthouse came into view standing proudly over the bay. It was one of the most breathtaking experiences of the trip, and one I will never forget.

We'd like to see your creative work included in a future issue. Please send a high-resolution (300 dpi) digital image and short description to Editor Kristi Monson at kristi.monson@mnstate.edu.

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