Message from the Dean
UND Fosters a ‘Healthy’ Network
Leading in Style
Kevin O’Leary Shares Tips for Effective Entrepreneurship
Be Bold, Be Yourself
Heartfelt Hospitality
Strategic Collaborations Across Departments
5 UND FOSTERS A ‘HEALTHY’ NETWORK
14 KEVIN O’LEARY SHARES TIPS FOR EFFECTIVE ENTREPRENEURSHIP
10 LEADING IN STYLE
20 BE BOLD, BE YOURSELF
Approximately 400 students received scholarships
The Nistler College reached new heights with $1.3 million awarded in scholarships for the 2024-25 academic year.
We are tremendously grateful to all the donors that have supported this integral initiative for our students.
MAKE AN IMPACT
To make a gift towards this important initiative please visit the UND Alumni Association & Foundation at https://undalumni.org/guide-to-giving or contact our Development Directors below:
Jay Erickson
Sr. Director of Development for NCoBPA
701.777.3693
JayE@undfoundation.org
Cassie Bowers
Director of Development for NCoBPA
701.391.1381
CassieB@undfoundation.org
Editorial Team
Editorial Management
Laura Arneson Director of External Relations
Contributing Writers
Averi Haugesag
Laura Arneson
Adam Kurtz
Joe Banish
Sadie Hanson
Copy Editor
Averi Haugesag
Design
Shelby Forsberg
Contributing
Photographers
Shelby Rae Photography
Susan Knutson
Shawna Schill
Eller Bonifacio
Nikkie Dvorak
Mike Hess
Adam Kurtz
Russ Hons
Proofreaders
Shannon Smidt
Nikkie Dvorak
Greetings! Welcome to our fall 2024 edition of the Nistler College of Business & Public Administration magazine.
The Nistler College of Business & Public Administration has gained tremendous momentum: from celebrating the newly opened Nistler Hall in 2022, to the elevation of our Accounting & Information Systems to the Herr School of Accountancy in 2023. Now in 2024, we have reached our highest enrollment in the past decade!
Our students have truly made Nistler Hall their home away from home. From the outstanding study spaces, state-of-the art classrooms, and the new Nistler Café that opened this fall, students can spend their entire day at Nistler Hall. We love that our students can go to class, have study sessions with classmates, as well as access to all of the resources they need in one location - from academic advising and faculty support, to our Pancratz Career Development Center.
Nistler students continue to gain real-word experiences that will prepare them for successful careers in their industries. We have been privileged to host numerous events this past year to include the Nistler College Career Fair, Morrison Leadership Summit, Olafson Ethics Symposium, and Be Bold UND Women in Leadership Summit.
In addition, we welcomed Kevin O’Leary, from ABC’s Shark Tank and Palmer Luckey, Founder of the Oculus VR and Anduril Industries, to host exclusive chats with our Nistler College students in the Barry Auditorium. These are the types of experiences that bring experiential learning to new heights. We are so grateful that our students can network and connect with so many worldrenowned leaders and entrepreneurs.
In this issue you will have the opportunity to get a sneak peek into these events, along with stories featuring amazing research collaboration from our faculty. Our dedicated faculty inspire and educate the next generation of leaders to truly make an impact on the world. We are proud to highlight some of our exceptional students and their unique experiences, as well as the amazing stories of our alumni. We could not be prouder of the work they do in elevating the Nistler College!
From all of us at the Nistler College, we thank you for your continued generosity and support. We hope to see you soon on campus!
With gratitude,
Amy B. Henley, Ph.D. Dean, Nistler College of Business & Public Administration Professor of Management & Strinden Endowed Chair
It’s no secret that graduates of the University of North Dakota leave campus with a strong affinity toward the University – and for many, that affinity builds with time.
The strength of the UND network is something echoed by countless alumni of the State of North Dakota’s flagship university.
“All of the people I’ve met through UND have become such an important part of both my professional and personal life. The connections I’ve made are incredible. When people ask me, ‘what is it about UND?’ I say first off, we really like each other. We have a strong alumni network that enjoys connecting with each other,” says Mary Fischer, a 1990 graduate of the NCoBPA with a B.B.A. in Marketing and a B.B.A. in Management.
For 2019 NCoBPA graduate Sophia Priem (B.B.A. in Marketing, Minor in Spanish), the UND alumni network helped her get the foot in the door to her career.
After Priem’s junior year at UND, she landed a marketing internship with UnitedHealthcare. Not only did Priem gain experience, she gained a mentor: Mary Fischer, Director of Sponsorships for UnitedHealth Group.
“I met Mary during my marketing internship at UnitedHealthcare. In college, I was a social media intern for NCoBPA.
When I told my boss, Laura Arneson, I was interning for UHC she said I had to meet Mary! She connected me to a ton of people in her network while I was an intern. Mary has been super helpful and overall a fabulous mentor for me. Anytime I’m interested in a new area or learning more about something specific, she’s my go-to person,” says Priem.
In June of 2020 Priem went full-time with UnitedHealthcare, joining their sales rotational program where she sold Medicare health plans. After two years in the role, Priem moved into the product development role she’s in now at Optum, a branch of UnitedHealth Group.
“I enjoy being a part of UnitedHealth Group. When I thought about where I wanted to work full-time after graduation, I knew I wanted to work somewhere where I was making some kind of impact,” says Priem. “I do not have the stomach to be a doctor or nurse but being on the corporate side, I can still help people, but in another way.”
While it wasn’t through the UND network, Fischer also landed her job at UnitedHealth Group through networking –in this case, her personal network. “Most of my job opportunities are the result of networking,” says Fischer.
After starting an independent marketing consulting firm, one of Fischer’s former bosses referred her to a project at UnitedHealthcare to assist in developing their sponsorship strategy. Fischer was initially hired on for 3 months, but she ended up consulting full-time for 5 years. Later she was hired full-time with
UnitedHealthcare’s parent company, UnitedHealth Group, where she currently works.
Outside of the office, Fischer is heavily involved with the UND NCoBPA. Fischer has mentored a number of students she was connected to via the Pancratz Career Development Center. She also started the Be Bold UND Women in Leadership Summit.
“I focused my time and treasure towards the Be Bold Summit because I have such a passion for helping other women. I want to help women network, negotiate for themselves, gain confidence as a leader and start building their network with other women,” says Fischer.
In addition to mentorship and the Be Bold summit, Fischer served on the board for the UND NCoBPA for 9 years.
“I got connected to Sophia because of our involvement with the NCoBPA” says Fischer.
The NCoBPA board meeting is also where Priem met Darren Moquist, a 2000 graduate of the UND NCoBPA and current CEO of Local Markets at
UnitedHealthcare’s commercial business.
“Darren approached me after the NCoBPA board meeting saying, ‘hey I work at UnitedHealthcare; if you ever want to connect, let me know,’” says Priem. “I took him up on that.”
“Sophia and I met while she was on a panel for an advisory council meeting. Since then we’ve continued to touch base throughout her career journey,” says Moquist.
Moquist, a Grand Forks native, graduated from the UND NCoBPA with a B.B.A. in Accounting and a B.B.A. in Finance then later went on to earn his Master of Health Care Delivery Science at Dartmouth.
Much like Fischer and Priem, Moquist has an affinity for the UND NCoBPA.
“North Dakota’s home. I grew up with UND being a family tradition. My parents and older brother went to UND. I wanted to go into business, and the school is highly regarded,” says Moquist. “There’s something to be said about the tradition. When you hear someone’s from North Dakota, you think about hard work. You think about enduring. You think about
tradition. I think that’s special. People are very proud to be a UND grad, myself included.”
After graduating from UND in 2000, Moquist went on to work in public accounting doing mergers and acquisitions - one of his clients was UnitedHealth Group. Moquist joined UnitedHealth Group full-time in 2005, just shy of twenty years ago. Though he initially focused on mergers and acquisitions and corporate development, he eventually accepted a role within one of UnitedHealth Group’s segments, UnitedHealthcare, and later became
the CFO for the commercial business in 2014. In 2018, Moquist took on a business role as the regional CEO for their central region. Two years ago, he moved into his current role as the CEO of Local Markets.
Moquist and Fischer now often work together on sponsorship projects.
“Mary was working on sponsorships with my team and it somehow came up in conversation that we were both UND grads. Now we work together on several different opportunities,” says Moquist. “We made the connection and we stay in
contact. It’s always great to connect with Mary professionally and outside of work –it’s fun how all of these UND connections intertwine.”
Meanwhile, Fischer and Priem often comentor UND students together.
“Sophia has been a big help in telling students what it’s like to be a new grad,” says Fischer. “I connect a lot of my mentees to Sophia so they can have a younger perspective.”
When asked what advice they have for new and soon-to-be UND grads, all three echoed the same sentiment: network and meet as many people as you can.
“Knowing the power of networking will help really set you up for success in navigating a career in business,” says Priem.
“UND people really like to help UND people so you need to leverage our large alumni network to find jobs,” says Fischer. “It’s an amazing group of people.”
“When you’re a UND grad, you look out for other UND grads,” says Moquist. That’s the part that’s fun, you root for one another.”
One professor can touch the lives of many through teaching, mentorship, and research.
The Chester Fritz Distinguished Professorships were established with an endowment gift from the late UND benefactor Chester Fritz. As UND’s highest academic honor, this distinct title is awarded to a faculty member who demonstrates achievement across research, teaching, and service with significant national or regional recognition in any one of these missions.
Recipients are selected via a panel of nine UND professors, who consider letters of nomination from deans and fellow professors, among other factors, in rendering a decision.
In the spring of 2024, Dr. Tan was pleasantly surprised when UND President Andrew Armacost and Provost Eric Link came to share this exciting news with him at the Nistler College.
“I am extremely humbled and grateful to be recognized in this way,” Tan says. “In my view, honors like this are a call to arms by the University. It’s about investing in us as trustees, particularly responsibilities that we need to carry out—in this case to be a leader, to work tirelessly to advance the research agenda of the University and create an inclusive, supportive environment for all of our colleagues. That’s what I intend to do to the best of my ability.”
Tan’s academic interests center around econometrics, and the discipline’s applications in fields such as global health, economic growth, and inequality. Since arriving at UND in 2013, Tan has also co-authored academic papers on workforce issues in North Dakota, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the state’s labor force.
Prodosh Simlai, Department Chair and Professor of Economics & Finance, stated in his nomination letter that Tan’s scholarship is respected worldwide—with his work appearing in publications such as the European Economic Review and the International Review of Economics and Finance.
“Chih Ming is a spectacular researcher and one of the jewels of UND in terms of impactful and high-quality publications,” Simlai said. “He built a world-class reputation as a very dedicated and prolific scholar. His work is full of technical brilliance, well-cited and very influential. As an example, Ben Bernanke (former Federal Reserve chair) has cited Chih Ming’s co-authored article in The Economic Journal.”
Provost Link added that Tan is equally dedicated to his students—often going above and beyond to mentor them and provide career counseling.
Tan was honored at UND’s commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 11, 2024.
‘Dress to impress’ is particularly important while pursuing a new career or job.
“We all know that what’s on the inside is more important than the outside,” says Angie Freeman, a 1991 UND NCoBPA graduate, “but having a strong professional presence and feeling confident are important to being your best in interviews. First impressions form quickly, and how you show up influences how employers assess who they’re going to hire and what they think about you. So if you can go into that situation with appropriate clothing you feel good in, you can focus on really smart answers and being able to ask strategic questions. You’re simply in a better position to succeed.”
This was the premise the UND NCoBPA’s Freeman Professional Closet was built on.
Freeman says the Freeman Professional Closet was the ‘brainchild’ of the Director of the Pancratz Career Development Center, Kathy Lund. UND’s former home to the NCoBPA, Gamble Hall, had a small closet tucked in the corner next to Lund’s office filled to the brim with professional clothing items for students to take and utilize.
“Professional clothing is really expensive and a lot of students don’t have extra room in their budget to afford it,” says Freeman. “After seeing so many students swap clothes, share things, or do whatever they could to look their best for interviews or career fairs, Kathy came up with this idea. She’s amazing,” says Freeman.
With the new NCoBPA building opening in Fall of 2022, Angie and her husband Rusty Freeman, also a UND grad, brought Lund’s vision to life.
While back at UND for homecoming in 2016, Rusty and Angie Freeman met Margaret Williams, former Dean of the UND NCoBPA. The three struck up a conversation and shortly after, Angie joined the NCoBPA Advisory board.
“It was such a great experience and so fun to be in the mix with all of the great things happening, especially as UND and the Alumni Association & Foundation were creating the strategy to build the new building,” says Freeman. Several years later, Freeman joined the UND Alumni Association board as well. “It’s been a total joy,” says Freeman, “I’m so grateful to the Nistler College for getting me involved with UND again.”
While touring the Pancratz Career Development Center (PCDC), Lund showed Freeman the closet. Freeman says she thought it was the coolest thing ever. “I told her that I and my friends had things we could contribute,” says Freeman, “so it started that way.” Lund says, “From the moment I met Angie, I was struck by her love for UND and her passion for helping students. She is an incredible leader and advocate, and she takes action to make things happen. She started sending clothes right away, and her items flew off the racks!”
When the new NCoBPA building, now known as Nistler Hall, was being built, Angie says she and Rusty made a commitment to contribute something significant. “It was at that point Kathy and the UND Foundation said, ‘this seems to be something you love, would you be willing to make a contribution that will go toward many things but would really help this closet come to life in a bigger way?’”
Freeman’s answer was absolutely, yes!
“Both Rusty and I are so happy to be in a position where we can support UND and to be able to give back to a place that made a big difference in our lives. We are especially attracted to things that have a direct impact on students to help them have a better experience. When the closet was brought to us as an opportunity, we felt it really fit the bill,” says Freeman. “Because of Angie and Russ, what began as racks in a conference room in Gamble Hall has transformed into an amazing resource that helps us show students how committed our college and alumni are to their wellbeing and success,” Lund says.
Angie and Rusty Freeman say clothing isn’t everything but they want students to feel secure and confident, while also presenting the best version of themselves so they can focus on what they have to say and contribute, rather than worrying about whether or not they’re wearing the right thing. Freeman says they love Lund’s vision for the Pancratz Career Development Center.
“It’s brilliant to provide coaching on how to do an interview, coaching on how to prepare, and by the way, here are some professional clothing options if that’s helpful to you,” says Freeman.
“My advice (to students) would be to go out into the world with confidence, and capitalize on all of the things that UND has provided to you. The ability to think big, to build relationships, to solve problems, to take action, to be do-ers”
ANGIE FREEMAN
Due to the generosity of UND Alumnus Linda Pancratz, the Pancratz Career Development Center has become an integral part of the educational experience for all Nistler College of Business & Public Administration students. Linda’s commitment to helping students and providing them with a resource to support their career development continually inspires the Pancratz Center staff to find new ways to add value to the student experience.
The PCDC team assists in discovering and leveraging their strengths to help them define their professional goals and become engaged members of their communities. They provide personalized, progressive professional development, and cultivate mutually beneficial partnerships with employers and alumni.
The Freeman Professional Closet, within the Pancratz Career Development Center, is a large room outfitted beautifully to display the professional clothing items while making the experience both fun and respectful for the students. UND Nistler College students can make an appointment to shop, pick out up to 2
items and an accessory per semester, and take them home to keep. The contents of the closet include anything considered appropriate for an interview, career fair or networking event: suits, dress shirts, slacks, blouses, skirts, pants, bags, shoes, ties, and more. All in a variety of colors and sizes.
“The goal is to have enough inventory and sizes so we can accommodate as many students as possible,” says Freeman.
Freeman says the Closet is always open to donations whether they be dropped off, or shipped to the NCoBPA. Donations are also accepted. “This is a lot bigger than us,” says Freeman. “The Freeman Professional Closet has lots and lots of people who contribute.” Lund notes that donations often come in after alumni and campus visitors tour Nistler Hall and see the closet. “We are so proud to show people the beautiful space that the Freemans made possible. Visitors see how students will benefit from these items, and they are eager to contribute,” Lund says.
Though Freeman has never been at the Closet while students have shopped, she says she’s heard it’s a big hit.
“My advice (to students) would be to go out into the world with confidence, and capitalize on all of the things that UND has provided to you. The ability to think big, to build relationships, to solve problems, to take action, to be do-ers,” says Freeman. “The world needs our graduates. The world needs problem solvers, people who work hard, people who want to tackle dilemmas, and people who aren’t afraid of a challenge. Go forward confidently because UND has prepared you well,” says Freeman. “Communication is both verbal and non-verbal. Part of non-verbal communications is how you present yourself. I want our students to feel super confident that they’re presenting their best selves when they go out in the world,” says Freeman.
Angie Freeman is a Fargo native who graduated from the University of North Dakota in 1991 with two degrees: a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education. Freeman later went on to the London School of Economics where she earned her Masters Degree in Comparative Politics. Freeman started at C.H. Robinson, a $15 billion global logistics company, in 1998 During her time there she had led investor relations, marketing and communications, public affairs and now serves as the Chief Human Resources and ESG Officer.
Rusty Freeman is also a Fargo native who graduated from the University of North Dakota in 1989 with a Bachelor of Arts in Advertising. He had a career in advertising in Minneapolis and Boston, working with clients such as Ocean Spray, Northwest Airlines, Mystic Lake Casino and Andersen Windows. In addition, he spent 10 years in the ATM/Payment Processing industry as a business owner and a consultant.
‘Shark Tank’ star says trustworthiness, maintaining one’s brand are essential for success.
Speaking before a crowd of hundreds at UND’s Nistler College of Business & Public Administration on Friday, Canadian executive Kevin O’Leary gave business students advice on how to succeed as an entrepreneur–a path that paved the way to the “Shark Tank” star’s international stature.
As one of six venture capitalists or “sharks” on the TV show, O’Leary is known for his blunt assessments of business ventures proposed to him, a trait he says stems from childhood lessons about the importance of honesty. Besides, lies quickly tarnish reputations in the business community, he added.
“I was taught by my mother around the age of sixteen that if you always tell the truth, you’ll never have to remember what you say,” O’Leary said. “If I’m going to get in trouble for the truth, that’s defensible. But if you’re lying, there is no defense, and that’s the end of your brand.”
O’Leary said the importance of being trustworthy in business is analogous to marriage.
“Many marriages do not falter because of infidelity, but the value of that relationship’s equity between each other has lost 50% of trust in perpetuity,” he said. “It’s the same in business. When you do business, and you use the tactic of being untrue and get caught–and you will–that is the end of your relationship.”
O’Leary told students that authenticity is key to building a brand and advised them to harness the power of social media to do so.
“The only way to be authentic is to just be yourself 24/7,” he said. “You have the mixed blessing of social media. It’s a great tool to build a business and personal brand, but it also has a cost. If you’re trying to sell something that you don’t really use, and you’re just doing it for the money, they’re going to call you out on it.”
Successfully building one’s brand, O’Leary said, opens countless doors for further partnerships and collaboration.
“The beautiful thing about building a brand and a reputation as someone who executes on things, is that everyone returns your call,” he said. “That’s the real advantage of the brand–the access. The ability to cut through months of wasted time.”
O’Leary concluded his visit to the college by offering future entrepreneurs three tips.
• Respect the power of social media: According to O’Leary, it is a force with the potential to build one’s brand or “cancel you in nanosecond.”
• Separate the signal from the noise: That is, focus on what is pertinent amid a sea of information, rather than getting bogged down in the minutiae.
• Do not pursue entrepreneurship for reasons of greed: Becoming a successful entrepreneur entails persistence, hard work and more importantly, passion toward your business–money will follow organically.
North Dakota’s business-friendly regulations make it an attractive environment for entrepreneurship, encouraging soon to be graduates to consider making the state home, O’Leary added.
“My message to people graduating out of this place is, ‘You should start a business here–you don’t have to go anywhere,’” O’Leary said. “You can build a business here, and service global clientele in a favored location when it comes to policy, permitting and power.”
Following his visit to Nistler, O’Leary sat down with UND President Andy Armacost at the Memorial Union for a fireside chat and a Q&A with audience members.
Afterwards, O’Leary met with members of the local media as well as high schoolers from Northwood, N.D. At the press conference, he answered questions about workforce and North Dakota’s economic future.
O’Leary followed the press conference with a tour of The HIVE, downtown Grand Forks’ UAS tech accelerator. That evening, he dropped the ceremonial first puck before the Fighting Hawks took on the University of Denver Pioneers at Ralph Engelstad Arena.
When Max Eriksrud first started out at UND, he had his mind set on predentistry.
“It is a very noble profession and I knew I wanted to be a business owner, and I was interested in healthcare,” says Eriksrud.
After touring 7 different colleges, some too big and some too small, Eriksrud, a Chaska, Minnesota native, decided to enroll at UND. Eriksrud followed in the footsteps of his mother who was a UND alumna herself.
During his first week on campus, Eriksrud popped into the Nistler College Office of Academic Advising and connected with Judy Jahnke, Nistler College Lead Academic Advisor.
Eriksrud simply said to Jahnke, “I want a business major, what should I get?”
Two-and-a-half hours later Jahnke had given Eriksrud all the advice he needed to proceed forward with a business major, (or two): Accounting and Entrepreneurship, along with a minor in Chemistry and Pre-Dentistry.
Eriksrud’s, ‘can do’ attitude, kept his momentum going in other ways at UND too. In addition to pursuing a double major, Eriksrud got involved with numerous clubs while also connecting with students and faculty on campus.
While living in the dorms, Eriksrud met a group of friends who liked to get
together to play instruments. One of these friends, Michael Hennan, was involved in the Dakota Venture Group and encouraged Eriksrud to come and check it out. Always open to new opportunities, Eriksrud interviewed to be part of the club, and within two weeks of joining, Eriksrud became a managing director.
Eriksrud’s involvement on campus has continued to grow over the years. Eriksrud is an active member of Chi Alpha, college ministry, and UND Jazz Band. Most recently, Eriksrud was interviewed and selected by the Governor of North Dakota to serve as the student board member for the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education.
“I am passionate about North Dakota, passionate about education, and passionate about what we can do for the state,” says Eriksrud.
In the summer of 2024, Eriksrud’s passion for entrepreneurship landed him the opportunity of a lifetime: an internship with O’Leary Ventures – a private venture capital firm owned by Kevin O’Leary from NBC’s Shark Tank.
When O’Leary Ventures announced they were looking to hire an intern, they connected with the Dakota Venture Group and Kathy Lund, Center Director for the Pancratz Career Development Center within the Nistler College.
MAX ERIKSRUD AND FELLOW STUDENT
Eriksrud said he had to write up a proposal to present to two of the O’Leary team members David Haukaas, Advisory for O’Leary Ventures and Paul Palandjian, CEO and Co-General Partner of O’Leary Ventures.
After the interview, Eriksrud anxiously awaited a response.
While out combining on the family farm, Eriksrud got a long awaited call: he’d been selected for the summer internship.
During his internship, Eriksrud had the opportunity to attend the Agtech conference in Fargo, ND, golf Bully Pulpit in Medora, ND, and last but not least, fly to Los Angeles, CA to meet with Mr. Wonderful himself, Kevin O’Leary on the set of Shark Tank!
Eriksrud was able to see firsthand how Kevin O’Leary makes a deal, discusses potential partnerships, and the behindthe- scenes process.
Eriksrud says he gained valuable advice for the future from Mr. O’Leary, including some about self-care and routine. “He emphasized the importance of quality and quantity of sleep,” says Eriksrud, “He also said that you should be working as hard as you possibly can, don’t waste your time not working hard,” says Eriksrud.
Eriksrud says he’s also grateful for his time spent with Paul Palandjian and Matt Scalise. “Matt would have me write a due diligence report and then guide me back through it with feedback,” says Eriksrud. “I had a lot of autonomy on what I wanted to do. They were very interested in what I saw as well, and felt like I had a valuable voice”
As for the future, Eriksrud plans to keep every door open. “From this internship, I likely have a better connection to a really interesting first job, like an investment firm on a coast,” says Eriksrud.
Eriksrud also has a lot of interest in doing business within the agricultural industry. Growing up he spent a lot of time at the family farm in Scranton, ND. “The family farm has been a huge part of my life,” says Eriksrud. From combining, to planting, to driving truck, Eriksrud said he was part of the sugarbeet mafia.
While pre-dentistry isn’t currently top of mind, Eriksrud still plans to apply for the DAT, and keep his options open for the future.
Whatever the future will hold for Eriksrud, we can be certain that Eriksrud will lead with his passion and determination – and that success will follow.
“Embracing who you are, staying grateful for your experiences, and approaching life with a positive outlook can transform not only your life, but the lives of those around you.”
JILL SANDO
Over one hundred students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends filled the Henry Family Ballroom at the UND Memorial Union for the 4th annual Be Bold UND Women in Leadership Summit.
Event attendees socialized and enjoyed their lunch prior to the Hultberg Panel Discussion, moderated by UND alumna, Mary Fischer. Panelists included UND alumnae, Kristi Hall-Jiran, Julie Fedorchak, and Sarah Horak. The women discussed several topics centered around female leadership today.
Afterwards, a fireside chat was held with UND alumna Jill Sando, Executive Vice President and Chief Merchandising Officer for Apparel & Accessories and Home & Hardlines at Target. Sando spoke alongside Amy Henley, Dean of the Nistler College of Business & Public Administration.
Sando is responsible for all purchasing across the company’s discretionary categories. She also oversees the product design and packaging team, bringing an eye for trend and curation, while anticipating guests’ needs across Target’s assortment.
Sando joined Target in 1997 as an Associate Buyer and has held roles throughout her career in merchandising, planning, and product design & development.
In recent years, Sando has played a critical role in reimagining Target’s multi-billion-dollar owned brand portfolio and revamping the company’s affordability strategy, with a strong focus on delivering the kind of affordable joy that differentiates Target from other like-minded brands.
Throughout the fireside chat, Sando provided many key messages and takeaways that left the audience inspired and fulfilled, here are a few overarching themes.
In a world where we often measure success by external standards, it’s easy to lose sight of what truly matters. Sando reflected on some powerful quotes that have shaped her perspective on life, leadership, and happiness. She explored the importance of authenticity, gratitude, and embracing her true self.
“I have so much gratitude for the experiences I have been given.” Sando shared how much she appreciates her journey, and how it all started at UND with her best friend and fellow sorority sister. “It is not always about the destination, but the lessons learned along the way. Reflecting on what you love and what truly makes you happy is a cornerstone of self-awareness. As leaders, it’s about being in tune with yourself and ‘filling up your cup’ with things that bring you joy.”
“Who am I as a leader if I am not my authentic self?” Sando explained that she views being authentic as a superpower and that it is okay to be different from other leaders. Sando says that as leaders, leading from a place of authenticity is crucial as it’s how true relationships are built. She shared how she had learned that being bold and true to herself has not only made her happier; but also, she has been an inspiration to others to do the same.
“I want to be happy, I’m optimistic.” Optimism is a choice, and it is a powerful one. Sando explained that while life is full of challenges, it’s how you respond to challenges that defines you as a leader. Embracing a positive mindset doesn’t mean you are ignoring the difficulties; rather, you face them with courage and resilience. As the saying goes, “the glass is half full, or half empty, but it’s always refillable.”
“Elevate and bring such good, positive energy.” Sando shared how leadership isn’t just about titles or positions; it’s about the impact made on others and the energy we bring to every interaction. Whether it’s in your community or workplace, you can choose to be a leader who uplifts and inspires others.
“Stay focused on learning and stay curious.” Sando explained how she believes the journey of self-discovery and leadership is neverending. Adopting a rookie mindset and always being open to learning and asking questions, keeps you humble and adaptable. It’s through challenges and learning experiences that you grow and evolve as individuals and leaders.
Sando reminded attendees of the importance of authenticity, gratitude, and optimism in both their personal and professional life.
“Embracing who you are, staying grateful for your experiences, and approaching life with a positive outlook can transform not only your life but the lives of those around you.”
Sando was born in Williston, ND. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Marketing & Communications from the University of North Dakota. Prior to joining Target, Sando started her retail career with Younkers department store in Des Moines, Iowa.
The Department of Economics & Finance within the Nistler College of Business & Public Administration, was proud to host the inaugural Williams Distinguished Lectureship Series on Thursday, April 25, 2024 at Nistler Hall.
The aim of the Williams Distinguished Lectureship Series is to invite world renowned economists to come to UND to speak to a broad audience that would include students at all levels, faculty across the University, alumni, policy makers, and other community members. This event is made possible through the generous contributions of UND Alumni Jim and Barbara Williams.
“We are so grateful for the generous contributions of Jim and Barbara Williams who make events like these possible for the Nistler College. Collaborating with world renowned scholars amplifies the research mission of the Nistler College, and provides thought-provoking discussion for our students and faculty,” says Amy Henley, Dean of the Nistler College of Business & Public Administration.
UND Alumnus, Dr. Chad Syverson, the George C. Tiao Distinguished Service Professor of Economics at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, served as the inaugural speaker for this event.
Dr. Syverson’s research spans several topics, with emphasis on the interactions of firm structure, market structure, and productivity. His research has been published in several top journals and has earned multiple National Science Foundation Awards.
His public talk, “Inflation, Economic Growth, and AI: It’s all about Productivity,” was presented to a packed house, with an engaging Q & A session and reception following the event.
“As our inaugural speaker for the series, I think Dr. Syverson hit it out of the ballpark! I think the success of this event rested on Dr. Syverson’s uncanny ability to so clearly demonstrate how with just a little bit of economic theory, we can focus in on the forces that are driving current trends in inflation and economic growth, and importantly, the forces that will assure that we do have growth in the long-run,” says Dr. Chih Ming Tan, Associate Dean for Research and Page Endowed Chair in Applied Economics.
Walking through the front door of The Olive Ann Hotel, guests can’t help but feel like they’re stepping foot into a high end hotel in Manhattan. The hotel holds a sense of timelessness and luxury, complimenting the vibrancy of downtown Grand Forks.
Olive Ann guests are greeted by bellmen dressed in a vest, shirt and tie, coupled with a long, wool coat; they’re also offered a valet service - an experience that feels like something out of a movie.
“The Olive Ann Hotel is widely regarded as the finest hotel in the state, with its luxurious design attracting prominent business professionals, government officials, and military personnel during the week. On weekends, it becomes the hub for weddings and banquets, keeping the entire staff on their toes. These busy weekends are when we really shine, delivering the exceptional service that the hotel prides itself on,” says Samuel Schwartz, a UND student and Front Desk Agent at The Olive Ann Hotel.
Two UND alumni are behind the launch of The Olive Ann Hotel: Phil Gisi, a 1982 grad of the UND NCoBPA and Landon Bahl, a 2016 graduate of the NCoBPA with a B.B.A. in Entrepreneurship and a B.B.A. in Marketing.
“It’s been a fun ride,” says Bahl. “Definitely challenging too because we built this hotel from the ground up: from what the carpet and garbage cans in the room look like to the offerings in the mini bar,” Bahl added. “I love what I do. Since I’ve started working for Phil, I feel like I’ve never worked a day in my life.”
Bahl first met Gisi, the President & CEO of 322 Hospitality in 2012 while he was a student and a part of Dakota Venture Group, a student-run venture capital organization.
“Ever since, Phil has written me letters of recommendation, we would stay connected through coffee and dinner meetings, and now we work together,” says Bahl. “At the end of the day it was the connections I made through UND that led to all of the experiences I’ve had post-graduation.”
After his internship in Nashville with CMT (Country Music Television) and graduating from the UND NCoBPA in 2016, Bahl moved back to Nashville to work for CAA (Creative Artists Agency).
Bahl eventually tapped into his UND network by connecting with Chris Semrau, a UND alumni, previous sport business professor and mentor for Bahl. Semrau was able to help Bahl land a job as the Booking Manager for Paycom Arena in Oklahoma City where Semrau served (and still does) as the General Manager, “I loved that job, but there was a glass ceiling,” says Bahl.
Ultimately, Bahl found himself back in North Dakota where he owned and operated a dock and lift business, coowned a jewelry store in Minot with his mom, and started a music festival called Lando LIVE. He then started working as a Development Officer for the UND Alumni Association & Foundation (UNDAAF). In 2022, Bahl made the decision to run for office in the State of North Dakota legislature. With that decision, Bahl parted ways with the UND Alumni Foundation.
“At that time Phil was on the UND Alumni Association & Foundation board,” says Bahl. “I was down in Florida for a UND event so I met up with Phil for cocktails. It was then Phil said, ‘Landon, I think I have the perfect thing for you.’ The rest is history.”
Nearly two-and-a-half years later, Landon now works as the VP and COO of 322 Hospitality Group alongside Gisi. 322 Hospitality Group has eight entities and over two-hundred-and-fifty employees.
Five of those entities opened within a 100 day timespan. “It was craziness for a while,” says Bahl with a chuckle.
Bahl says each entity is unique in its own way. Their properties include dining experiences, fast casual restaurants, a hotel, and event venues.
“At the end of the day, I’m in the business of creating memories for people,” says Bahl. “We are luxurious and we are firstclass, but we are still humans serving humans. You need that human interaction and I think that’s where the term heartfelt hospitality comes in. Bahl heard this
term from a fellow fraternity brother and it stuck. People know ‘North Dakota nice’ and to me that is synonymous with heartfelt hospitality and that’s what we try to deliver in everything we do here at 322 Hospitality Group.”
Schwartz, a current student at UND, employee at The Olive Ann Hotel, and fellow fraternity brother of Bahl says Bahl has been a mentor to him for many years.
“I owe Landon a great deal for where I am today,” says Schwartz. “It was thanks to his recommendation that I landed my current role at The Olive Ann hotel, where I work at the front desk. What I love most about working at The Olive Ann Hotel, aside from the fact that many of my friends are also on staff, is the unique opportunity I have to interact with such a diverse range of fascinating and influential people. Being at the front desk allows me to engage in quick but meaningful conversations with individuals I would never meet otherwise, making each shift an exciting experience,” he adds.
One of those recent guests being Kevin O’Leary of NBC’s Shark Tank.
“Not everyday do you get a Kevin O’Leary who loves North Dakota but also loves Grand Forks come through your hotel,” says Bahl. “There is a lot of special stuff happening here, there’s momentum.”
Meanwhile Bahl attributes his momentum to the UND alumni base. “I would not be leading this company had I not met Phil,” says Bahl. “I am a perfect example of what networking can do for UND students and graduates,” says Bahl. “It may not happen right away, this
job happened for me about six years out of college, but maintaining those relationships I made during my time at UND was so worth it.”
Bahl says 322 Hospitality Group is in the process of adding The Olive Ann Hotel to Marriott’s prestigious group of independently curated hotels known as the “Tribute Collection.” The organization also plans to open their latest event venue in December called “The Opal.” As of October, 2024, their event venues have over 450 future events on the books. Their goal? To continue to provide heartfelt hospitality across a variety of verticals and states.
On his 8th birthday, Michael Hennen was gifted a guitar. Hennen was excited about his gift, so he quickly started playing and taking guitar lessons in his hometown of Jordan, MN. When his father suggested he get a job, Hennen loved playing guitar so much, he decided to approach his instructor to ask how he could start a music career by performing shows. After talking to his instructor, Hennan was confident he could do it, so he purchased equipment and launched his solo career. Hennen was officially an entrepreneur.
Hennen’s first live performance was at a bar in Jordan, MN. Hennen’s classmate’s parents owned the bar and had agreed to let him perform. He played for nothing but tips, and Hennen says it went well. From there, Hennen continued to build his network, reaching out to countless venues with the hopes of the opportunity
Michael Hennen’s love for music, especially ‘the
old
stuff
that is pretty tough to beat’
led to entrepreneurship at the age of 14.
to perform. After 3 summers, he had an established network of venues to perform at.
Hennen has always had a love for music, and especially the “old stuff” like 70s and 80s classic rock “that is pretty tough to beat.” Not only does he play the guitar, he also sings and plays other instruments like the concertina. Ironically, no one in Hennen’s family plays any instruments, but Hennen says has gotten “lucky with the stuff I love” and continued to perform anyways.
Over the past twelve years, Hennen has been performing for crowds across Minnesota, mostly in the Brainerd Lakes area. He performs around five shows every week. His family has a cabin on Lake Alexander, MN, making it convenient for Hennen play up north at a
variety of different venues to earn money each summer.
Hennen says he enjoys the freedom of being a solo artist to perform for a variety of crowds. At the crowd’s request, he performs a wide array of musical genres. Most weekends, he performs classic rock and yacht rock at boat shows on a lake. Other times, he will perform for different crowds, like the local nursing home where he plays classic country and polka music.
When it was time for Hennen to decide on which college to attend, he and his mother toured UND and Hennen said he absolutely loved it. Prior to enrolling at UND, Hennen earned his private pilot license, which led him to want to continue flying while attending college.
As a Mangement and Commercial Aviation major, Hennen says his business courses, specifically accounting, have assisted him with book-keeping and write-offs for his music career. He dreams of one day owning a helicopter business.
Outside of the classroom, Hennen enjoys golfing and snowboarding. He is also a member of Dakota Venture Group on campus. Eight months ago, Hennen was asked to join a band, so during the school year, he is a member of “Dakota Love Affair,” a band made up of UND students that perform in the area.
Hennen says he has about fifteen guitars hung up on the wall in his bedroom. When he’s busy studying and decides it’s time for a break, he will practice for about a half hour then get back to work.
Being a student at UND and performing in the Brainerd Lakes Area every summer, Hennen has connected with many UND alumni over the years. On Fourth of July weekend, Hennen traditionally performs for particularly large crowds.
Hennen’s favorite show to date was in the summer of 2023 when he performed for over one thousand people at Zorbaz on Gull Lake. He said the crowd was singing along to every song to the point where Michael “could barely hear” himself singing. He shared “it was crazy, it was nuts.”
Michael is motivated for the future and what it has in store for him. His father always worked hard, and he envisions himself to be like his father, with a wife and children. Although he dreams of owning a helicopter business one day, he also plans to continue playing music. “It would be more for fun, but I would love to have a home studio, I do a fair amount of writing, so I’d love to be able to record that whenever I wanted.”
DR. XIAOLI GUO AND DR. CULLEN GOENNER
Strategic collaborations across departments, alongside partnerships between junior and senior faculty members, are key components poised to enhance the overall research arm within the Nistler College.
These factors led to a recent level 4 journal article published by Dr. Cullen Goenner, Dr. Xiaoli Guo, and Dr. Matthew Notbohm in The Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, “Audit engagement partner ideology, ideological homophily, and audit quality.”
Dr. Cullen Goenner, Professor in the UND Department of Economics and Finance, was giving a presentation at a Nistler College research seminar, when Dr. Kate Campbell, Chair and Professor of the Herr School of Accountancy, mentioned the idea of a cross-departmental research project.
Following his presentation, Dr. Matt Notbohm, Associate Professor in the UND Herr School of Accountancy, connected with Goenner on his research, and saw a unique opportunity to partner
with Dr. Xiaoli Guo, Assistant Professor in the UND Herr School of Accountancy due to her interest in audit research.
“I really enjoyed working with Drs. Goenner and Guo on this project. This study benefited greatly from the combination of diverse skill sets from faculty with different backgrounds.That combination of diverse skill sets created a competitive advantage for us related to this project,”says Notbohm.
Goenner was also highly complementary of the collaboration amongst departments and colleagues. “With Xiaoli being a new Ph.D. she had additional skills to work with and brought additional variables,” says Goenner.
Goenner and Notbohm had worked on other projects in the past and share some of the same theoretical backgrounds. “It can be difficult to find people that share the same theoretical background in research,” says Goenner.
Goenner indicated this paper was primarily related to accountancy problems, but they also looked at it with different analytical skills. In their paper, they noted that previous studies indicated that audit quality is influenced by the audit engagement partner’s characteristics.
What Goenner, Guo, and Notbohm sought to examine was the association between audit engagement partner ideology and audit quality. Their findings indicated that clients whose audit engagement partners are ideologically more conservative received higher quality audits. Additionally, they noted evidence that the relation between the auditor’s ideology and that of the client’s executives influences audit quality, along with the ideological homophily between the auditor and the client’s audit committee.
With their diversity of backgrounds and research interests, they focused on the political ideology in audit context with some of the newly available data, allowing them to look at the auditor’s ideology and find out if those traits influenced results.
As a junior faculty, Guo was new to publishing and greatly appreciated the opportunity to be mentored by senior faculty members as she worked on her first publication. “I learned a lot from this collaboration, and greatly appreciated this opportunity,” says Guo.
After this publication Guo said she feels more confident to work on another project on her own.“I feel very lucky to have this opportunity,” says Guo. Guo had the opportunity to collaborate with senior level faculty from two departments, and learn how to publish in a level 4 journal for her first submission.
“It can be an audacious and a frustrating process,” says Goenner on the journal submission process. “As a profession it takes longer and longer to get feedback so the more you can work with other people it will help you to learn how journals will respond.”
Both Goenner and Notbohm agree that collaboration can be difficult if you do not share the same research interest. “Adding additional perspectives are a nice thing to bring together a work like this,” says Goenner, “And Xiaoli is a joy to work with.”
“It’s been a pleasure to work with Dr. Guo on her first publication. It was so neat to help her learn more about the writing, analysis, submission, review, and publication steps of the research process. Additionally, she brings a unique set of knowledge and skills to the project, further helping the team to get the project published,” says Notbohm.
When looking to the future, all three faculty members agree that collaboration amongst faculty and departments are important in elevating the level of research, and supporting fellow faculty within the Nistler College.
Goenner, C., Guo, X., & Notbohm,M. (2024). Audit engagement partner ideology, ideological homophily, and audit quality. Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, 51, 1161–1192. https://doi. org/10.1111/jbfa.12744
Anduril Industries Inc. founder Palmer Luckey talks defense, AI and education during stop at UND
Fresh off his visit to the 2024 UAS Summit & Expo as a special guest of Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., Palmer Luckey visited UND on Oct. 9. While on campus, he spoke to students about his recent work in national security and the importance of technological innovation when it comes to national defense.
Luckey is the inventor of the virtual reality headset Oculus Rift, and founder of Anduril Industries Inc. — a defense technology company that brings the U.S. Department of Defense an ultramodern approach to solving problems. He shared a stage in the Nistler College of Business & Public Administration’s Barry Auditorium with Cramer and UND President Andy Armacost, who moderated a discussion that gave students access to the billionaire CEO’s ideas on innovation in the business as well as defense spheres.
Playing a sort of matchmaker for innovators, Cramer said that after touring the Anduril facility, he immediately knew he wanted Luckey to learn more about the Grand Forks-based uncrewed aircraft systems ecosystem.
“Every time he showed me something new, I kept thinking, and I kept saying out loud, ‘You really have to come to Grand Forks.’ And I said that because the ecosystem here that UND is a big part of is something I wanted to expose him to, as well as expose you to him,” Cramer told Armacost on stage.
Wearing a Hawaiian shirt and sandals — his signature fashion items — Luckey gave the audience a quick rundown on his background, which included founding his VR company at 19, then selling it a
few years later to Facebook for more than $2 billion. Prior to that, he worked with a U.S. Army research center on a program that used VR therapy to treat veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder.
After selling his Oculus business, Luckey founded his defense company, Anduril Industries. By the way, the company’s name is no accident:
“With Anduril, I felt like we were on the precipice of autonomy and artificial intelligence being something that was actually viable at scale for autonomous systems and relevant to the Department of Defense,” he said. So, “Anduril Industries; the acronym is ‘AI’ for a reason.”
The company is involved in several aspects of autonomy work including UAS and underwater vehicles, among others. Recently, the company announced it had secured a $250 million Pentagon contract to counter drone attacks against U.S. military forces using the company’s own uncrewed platform.
“This latest contract award highlights Anduril’s commitment to investing its
own research and development to support defense innovation, providing rapid, scalable solutions to safeguard U.S. forces,” said the company in a statement acknowledging the award.
Armacost then opened the floor to questions from UND students. Below are some of those questions and responses.
When asked what the potential downsides of AI could be, and if, in fact, AI could be responsible for an apocalypse of the kind found in films such as “The Terminator,” Luckey said that was the “least likely scenario.”
“It’s actually pretty dumb AI in the hands of evil people and probably irrational people” that poses a larger threat, he said, noting that some AI programs can help people build devastating weapons with a low amount of effort.
On the topic of China, Palmer said that while running Oculus, he did business extensively there — but not without issues. For example, a person, whom he speculated may have worked for a government agency, broke into his hotel room and stole technology samples — an act he referred to as economic warfare.
But there are highly skilled people working in China, and Palmer, when asked, floated the idea of offering a “defector visa,” one that would allow talented foreign people to live and work in freedom in the U.S. This would be a win-win for the nation by both adding skilled workers and depriving an adversarial nation of talent.
“You win by winning, but you win even more when the other guy loses,” Luckey said.
Luckey also emphasized the need for the U.S. to re-engage with the defense industry to counteract China’s technological advancements. He highlighted the potential of AI and autonomous systems in defense as scalable technologies that can support a strong military to deter conflict and enhance diplomatic options.
Cramer agreed: “We have to ramp up really fast. We have to find innovators that aren’t stuck in the mud,” he said, adding that the U.S. needs to find a way to unleash its innovators to create technologies, and at costs the taxpayers are willing to pay.
Continuing with the Q&A, Luckey said he strongly favors using VR technology in military training, including combat simulation. Given that the U.S. is not involved in large-scale hostilities with another nation, many military deaths are training-related. VR technology could help prevent those deaths, he said.
Luckey said his company is working with U.S. Customs and Border Protection to place Anduril-manufactured sensor towers at points along the southern U.S. border. The towers use Anduril’s AI technology to detect all people, vehicles or drones in an area, and then alert officers to their presence.
Securing the border, he added, is not a hopeless task.
“The technology absolutely exists to control the border and to know what is coming across in both directions,” he said.
After the event, Armacost made sure Luckey didn’t leave empty-handed. Sure, he got a bag of UND swag, but one item stuck out: a UND-themed Hawaiian shirt. One more for the closet of the tech billionaire who is looking for innovative ways to stay ahead of national adversaries, and who shared his ideas at the Nistler College of Business & Public Administration with University students.
The Nistler College was pleased to host the 12th annual Morrison Leadership Summit. The summit was established by a gift from McCain Foods, in honor of the company’s former CEO and distinguished UND Alumnus, Dale Morrison.
We were grateful to host 11 distinguished leaders with 75 students for morning roundtable leadership discussions.
• Tiffany Ford, Director, UND Center for Business Engagement & Development
• Kay Derry, Owner, Northern Roots Boutique
• Kevin Heazlett, Treasurer, American Crystal Sugar Company
• Carolyn Becraft, Retired Deputy Assistant, Secretary of Defense
• Linsey Stadstad, Vice President of Talent Management, UND Alumni Association & Foundation
• Landon Adolphson, Senior Manager, Boulay
• Chris Wolf, Commercial Banking Executive and Regional President, Alerus Financial
• Nick Hacker, CEO, The Title Team
• Barry Wilfahrt, President/CEO, The Chamber GF/EGF
• Collin Hanson, Community Development Manager, City of Grand Forks
• Kaleb Dschaak, Chief Executive Officer, Fenworks
For our luncheon keynote speaker we had the privilege to host UND Alumna, Holly Corbin, Senior Human Resource Generalist for the MN Twins.
Holly Corbin is in her 17th season with the Minnesota Twins. She holds a Human Resources Certified Professional license from the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM). In her role, Holly manages workers’ compensation for both Major and Minor League affiliates, oversees benefit administration, handles game incident insurance claims, and supervises the Twins Internship Program.
Holly shared valuable lessons in leadership, as well as pursuing a career in the area of sports business. Our students, faculty, and staff were inspired and grateful for the time spent with Holly.
The Nistler College was proud to have two alumni being honored with Young Alumni Achievement Awards, Emily O’Brien and Erica Thunder, along with two alumni receiving the Alumni Honors Award, Cathy Rydell and Dave Miedema.
The college had the opportunity to recognize the 2024 recipients with a small luncheon at the college, hear about their journey at UND, and celebrate their achievements.
The 2024 Accounting Hall of Fame celebrated three new inductees, Brent Anderson, Joan McCusker, and Chad Flanagan.
This award recognizes individuals for outstanding career accomplishments and service contributions to the Herr School of Accountancy, UND, and society.
In addition, The John C. Berg Award was presented to Andrew Leizens for his outstanding achievements in his short time since leaving UND, along with his exceptional character and commitment to UND.
This past academic year the Nistler College was able to award over $1.3 million in scholarships to over 400 Nistler College students.
The Britsch family, Sheryl, Sue, and Steve are just one example of the amazing alumni & friends who have chosen to give back in the form of student scholarships. The Derrel and Anne Britsch Family Scholarship was established in honor of their parent’s, and they hope to continue their legacy by supporting future students.
“We really wanted to give back to UND because it has played such an important part in our family’s lives,” says Sheryl Britsch.
Thank you to all of our donors and the impact you are making on the lives of our students!
