PB Red River Valley June 2011 by Prairie Business Magazine

(Photo courtesy of Mark Sorgaard at Fat Cat Studios)

www.prairiebizmag.com

RRV Table of Contents

Welcome to the new Red River Valley edition of Prairie Business magazine! The short answer is that it’s not so much different...just more. This month’s introductory launch of our zoned Red River Valley issue includes our regular editorial coverage of the business news that affects our shared regional economies and business leaders. What is different is that now, for our selected subscribers with a concentrated interest in the Red River Valley business area, there is more of what you are looking for in terms of filling that business news hole. We’ve been busy as we head into our second decade. Busy updating the look and feel of the magazine, busy expanding our readership, and mostly busy listening to what our subscribers and sponsors are looking for in a business magazine. The introduction of the Red River Valley zoned edition of Prairie Business Magazine also affords us the opportunity to give advertisers the ability to more effectively, and economically target that hard to reach Business to Business marketplace, with specially priced advertising rates and new strategic placement options that go well beyond just being competitive. The better news is that we are not done listening. As a matter of fact, our expanded presence in the Red River Valley gives us a greater reach into listening to what business leaders are looking for in a business publication. Again, welcome to our latest efforts to provide the stories and marketing opportunities that you have been asking for and we look forward to working with all of you in the future. And, if you are not currently a subscriber or would like to see more people at your place of business get Prairie Business Magazine, it’s free and you can have the magazine sent to your home or office by going to our website, www.PrairieBizMag.com, and at the very top right look for the “Click here to subscribe” link. It’s easy and free! 2

PBRRV June 2011

3 Healthy lifestyle retirement Just because they are retired, senior citizens still want to live an active life and have needs, interests, and concerns.

6 Airports meeting business community demands

Airline consolidations and high fuel costs may threaten to weaken opportunities for smaller airports, but meeting the demands of the business community is keeping them strong.

8 Incubators developing jobs, generating wealth

North Dakota Department of Commerce believes the state is in a strong position to support entrepreneurial talent because of the infrastructure that is in place. And part of that infrastructure includes incubators located in the Red River Valley corridor.

10 Paving a way for public health professionals The two largest North Dakota universities have banded together to create the Master of Public Health Degree program focused on training health professionals. It is the first combined Master’s program of its kind between the two universities.

12 Targeting life sciences for business opportunities The state’s Center of Excellence programs have been funded for collaboration between universities and private sector entities, which has impacted the ability to do work in life sciences.

Living a healthy life style after retirement Elvin and Rose Moran have lived in Edgewood Vista at Edgewood Villa in Fargo, ND since 2009. A major reason they chose the senior living facility was because they wanted to stay active. “

e didn’t realize there were places like this,” explains Rose Moran, 79. “We thought the rest home was the next place.”

Just because they are retired, senior citizens still want to live an active life and have needs, interests, and concerns. In January, AARP North Dakota surveyed a representative sample of all North Dakotans 50 years of age and older to gather better

Elvin and Rose Moran enjoy the view out the window of their apartment.

information about those three issues. Two issues stood out. Nearly half of all North Dakotans surveyed cited health care issues as their top challenge. One third cited economic issues as the biggest concern. Also, 94 percent said that staying healthy, staying mentally sharp and adequate health insurance is important to them. Only 34 percent believe they have everything they need to make it happen. “Staying in their homes as they age is also very important to North

Meet Steve. He Does More with Less. Higher sales and customer satisfaction with less IT infrastructure and fewer headaches. That’s Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online. Put the cloud to work for you so you can stop worrying about IT infrastructure and start focusing more on your customers. That’s big thinking for small business.

To learn more, visit SummitGroupSoftware.com

Let’s get down to business.

PBRRV

RRV Retirement Lifestyle

WHY

Dakotans 50 plus,” says Lyle Halvorson, Associate State Director Communications for AARP North Dakota. “More than half said they are worried about the ability to stay in their own home as they get older. Almost half also believe it would be hard to find appropriate long-term care services that they could afford.” The Morans believe they have found the right place in Edgewood Vista at Edgewood Villa as they continue through their senior years. Elvin, 83, worked at the University of Minnesota-Crookston agriculture station for 39 years retiring in 1986. Then the couple spent 21 years alternating between Texas in the winter and Crookston, MN during the summer months. They moved to Moorhead, MN in 2002. Then the Morans decided in 2009 they had enough of the split scene and started looking for a place that would satisfy their active spirit. Rose was looking for a place that she would not have to cook anymore. Both wanted a facility that they wouldn’t have to leave as they grew older. “It was very important that we found a place where we had activities,” Elvin says. “We didn’t want to give up on that yet.” Rose adds that when they moved into the place it was almost like home. “After we moved in here, we were settled.” Edgewood Vista at Edgewood Village provides independent living twin Homes, patio homes and apartments as well as assisted living, and memory care. In Fergus Falls, MN, after 80 years in the same location, PioneerCare moved its skilled care center to a new building that leaders believe will meet people’s current expectations for a comfortable and safe living environment. The facility has moved from shared rooms to mostly private rooms. The 150,000 square foot care center more than doubles the amount of space in the original location. Steve Guttormson, marketing director for PioneerCare, says nationally, 80 percent of seniors wish to remain in their current home as they age. “If the services are there to support an independent lifestyle at home, that may be the optimal choice for most people,” he states. “As we’re entering the age wave of the baby boomers, we need to be equipped to support more people living independently at home.” In January, PioneerCare launched PioneerLink that brought personal emergency response systems and sensor-based home monitor systems into people’s homes in western Minnesota using a $220,000 Minnesota Department of Human Services grant to start the program. “We’ve made it into an affordable, sustainable program and have localized the service to integrate with a person’s home health care

services if they have that,” Guttormson explains. “In just three months, we’ve signed up about 140 subscribers to the service.” Halvorson states that people are working longer to maintain health benefits and because they can’t afford to retire. In addition, he states that there are more people dealing with care giving issues both for their own children, as well as grandchildren and aging parents. Among the needs Halvorson feels need to be addressed are people planning for their retirement earlier in life, people living healthier lifestyles to prevent more serious health problems later in life, people maintaining independence, control, and choice in life, transit and transportation (especially in rural areas,) and planning for long-term care. “While many North Dakotans 50 and older dream of enjoying a future filled with travel and leisure, most are faced with a very different reality today,” Halvorson says. “They’re worried about staying healthy and being able to afford health care and long term care, as well as financial issues, such as saving for retirement. Yet, despite the worries about their own health and financial future, this population still cares about the needs of others, with two-thirds spending time giving back to their community through volunteerism.” RRVPB Alan Van Ormer - avanormer@prairiebizmag.com

RESIDENTS LOOK TO RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES:

Lack of social opportunities when no longer able to drive to events or when restricted by the weather in winter months.

PBRRV June 2011

Need for medication management. The need to be close to medical care.

Spouse is caregiver for their husband or wife and the support of meals, housekeeping, and activities can alleviate some of the stress involved with care giving.

The need for opportunities to be more active with exercise classes, therapy, intellectual opportunities, etc. Source: Edgewood Vista at Edgewood Villa

N O RT H DAKOTA SENIOR

FACTS Number of North Dakotans in Medicare:

108,067

Estimated number of North Dakotans ages 50-64 without health insurance:

Social Security recipients in North Dakota who rely on Social Security for 90 percent or more of their income:

21.5 percent

12,500 83 percent of North Dakota residents over 50 voted in the last election.

Social Security recipients in North Dakota who rely on Social Security for 50 percent or more of their income:

Estimated number of family caregivers in North Dakota:

83,000

52.6 percent

118,493 Percent of non-government workers 55-64 without workplace retirement benefits:

Social Security beneficiaries in North Dakota 76,872 are retirees 13,412 are widow(er)s 12,872 disabled workers

34.7 percent Source: AARP North Dakota

Identifying your goal is the top priority of our marketing team. Together we can build successful campaigns and the best part is itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not impossible.

701.232.8893 w w w. p r a i r i e b i z m a g . c o m

PBRRV

RRV Busy Airports

Meeting business community demands keeping airports strong Airline consolidations and high fuel costs may threaten to weaken opportunities for smaller airports, but meeting the demands of the business community is keeping them strong. recent study by the North Dakota Aeronautics Commission (NDAC) found that aviation is a significant economic catalyst for the area. Hector International Airport in Fargo is the largest commercial service airport in the state with flights to Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Chicago, Denver, Minneapolis and Salt Lake City. While commercial flights are important to its success, the airport is used for a variety of operations including air cargo, medical flights, military operations and business travel.

PBRRV June 2011

Hector International Airport in Fargo, ND

“Our success is because of the collaboration and relationship we have with the business community to identify travel needs,” says Shawn Dobberstein, Executive Director of Hector International Airport. “We can’t do anything as an organization unless the business folks are engaged with us.” While the industry is subject to periodic declines, Hector International actually had the busiest January on record, and the second busiest February and March. According to the NDAC, the airport has the largest economic impact in the state, accounting for 40 percent of North Dakota’s airport related economic activity. But Dobberstein is always seeking more ways to assist in business development. “We have a long-standing request for a nonstop flight to Atlanta, and for the possibility of a low cost airline coming back,” he states. But he admits there is no easy answer because the start-up costs are very high, and airlines don’t like to limit themselves with long flights. Dobberstein says shorter trips, around 700 miles, allow airlines to tap into multiple markets, whereas a flight from Fargo to Atlanta is over 1100 miles and consumes a large part of a day. While smaller airports along the Red River corridor may not offer commercial flights to make an economic impact, they have other avenues to make their mark. Wahpeton Airport stays active due to the manufacturing and value-added agriculture in the area. Airport manager Cindy Schreiber-Beck explains air travel is essential for existing and future business. These flights, along with crop spraying aircraft, keep Wahpeton at the top of the

list amidst general aviation airports in the state. A new concrete runway and various upgrades allow the airport to meet the continuing needs of its clientele. Access to a functional airport is a big factor for companies choosing to do business in this area. In Fergus Falls, MN, business leaders tell airport manager Curt Malecha they couldn’t accomplish their goals without the airport. “Corporate flight numbers are up and I know city officials are trying to expand that, so the airport is much more prevalent and important to them,” he explains. Airport activity jumps each summer as lakeside cabins attract pleasure travelers, too. Malecha adds those flights do their part to boost the economy as guests often rent a car and shop local stores. But sometimes companies need airports for more than just moving people. For Thief River Falls Regional Airport in particular, Digi-Key Corporation relies on them to help keep promises. Digi-Key offers a 24hour shipping guarantee to its customers. “They wouldn’t be able to do that without air service,” airport manager Joe Hedrick says. The Thief River airport does offer commercial service through Mesaba, a Delta connection carrier. The airport also hosts Northland Community and Technology College’s aircraft maintenance program in an 86,000 square foot training area featuring state-of-the-art equipment and facilities. “This is the only place doing civil work on planes in the nation,” Hedrick adds. “With their work on unmanned aircraft systems, they’re a big player in the economic activity here.” RRVPB Maxine Herr is a Bismarck, ND-based freelance writer. She can be reached at maxine606@msn.com.

PBRRV

RRV Entrepreneurs

Valley’s incubators developing jobs, generating wealth North Dakota Department of Commerce representatives believe the state is in a strong position to support entrepreneurial talent because of the infrastructure that is in place. And part of that infrastructure includes the three certified entrepreneurial centers or incubators located in the Red River Valley corridor.

Dakota. They are important because they help launch new businesses by providing services, physical space, mentorship, and networking opportunities. For example, the Center of Innovation on the campus of the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, ND, has contributed to the creation of almost 200 jobs since January 2005. As of June 2010, the Technology Incubator at North Dakota State University Research & Technology Park in Fargo, ND, has also assisted in the creation of almost 200 jobs. The third certified entrepreneurial center in the Red River Valley is the Southern Valley Innovation Center located in Wahpeton, ND. Each facility has its own expertise. Both university incubators provide immediate access to the expertise at the respective universities. “You will see companies located in the incubators having a relationship with the university,” Lucy says. “This is one of the key attributes at the technology park of both universities.” The Center for Innovation operates two technology incubators: the Skalicky Tech Incubator and the Ina Mae Rude Center. According to the 2010 Centers of Excellence annual report, the Center currently houses and services 38 businesses and student ventures. The Center has an average occupancy rate of almost 90 percent. Three clients – Appareo Systems, THE WAITING ROOM HAS TO SUPPORT A VARIETY OF USES – AND USERS. To this end, Nurture has focused on providing comfortable, well designed furniture and Intelligent InSites and Pedigree spaces that can be easily reconfigured for maximum flexibility. Whether the waiting time Technologies – have graduated from the is five minutes or five hours, this space needs to support patients and partners in care. Nurture recognizes these needs and presents a solution with the Outlook™ Collection. Technology Incubator at the NDSU This extensive line includes an array of single chairs, tandem seating, bariatric options Research & Technology Park. According to and patient high back models all created with the end user in mind. the 2010 report, examples of current DURABLE The standard chair includes steel to steel connectors and a seat frame constructed with steel front and back cross bars. incubator tenants includes Triton Systems, CLEANABLE The Outlook Collection features generous clean out an advanced materials and systems space between the seat and back for easy cleaning. engineering product development firm, COMFORTABLE Active webbed seat suspension provides added comfort through even weight distribution. Larada Sciences, which markets a breakthrough medical device that offers the fastest way to cure the global problem of head lice, and Avenue Right, which is building a platform that will change the 1809 13th Avenue N, Grand Forks, ND 58203 4324 20th Avenue SW, Fargo, ND 58103 701.746.6466 • www.gaffaneys.com 701.277.7222 • www.hannahers.com way online and offline advertising is “

e’re seeing an increase in the number of entrepreneur ventures or ideas around the region and the country,” states Paul Lucy, Director, Division of Economic Development & Finance for the North Dakota Department of Commerce. “We made entrepreneur development a priority in North Dakota. I believe the state of North Dakota is going to see an increase in entrepreneurial development and become a prominent part of our landscape.” The involvement of the state’s incubators is about developing jobs and generating new wealth in North

PBRRV June 2011

EMPLOYMENT GROWTH

2002-2010 Research Corridor Employment Growth Outpaces the Region and Nation

mentoring,” he says. “Incubators are working with bought and sold. entrepreneurs in emerging industries and are helping to The Southern Valley Innovation Center does not have a diversify North Dakota’s economy.” physical location but Dan Hodgson, the director, assists Lucy says that business incubators are a viable method companies find financing for projects tied to to help entrepreneurs succeed. These incubators combined manufacturing. with state tax incentives, financing programs, and “There are new companies in the region looking for a competitive business environment enhance the place to start or grow their business,” states Jolynne opportunities for entrepreneurial success in North Dakota. Tschetter, Manager, Science & Technology Business Development for the Division of Economic Development & RRVPB Finance. “Depending on the needs of the company, the Alan Van Ormer - avanormer@prairiebizmag.com incubators provide space, business services, and infrastructure.” Tschetter works with new and expanding businesses with a technology focus looking for a North Dakota location. She works with incubator staff not only in the Red River Valley, but around the state. Justin Dever, Manager of the Office of A PioneerLink™ P ersonall Personal Innovation and Entrepreneurship, works with Emer gency Response Response SSystem ystem Emergency the Innovate North Dakota program which (PER S) enhances indepen ndence (PERS) independence helps entrepreneurs develop their ideas and peace of mind a t hom me b at home byy and turn them into business ventures. o medical medica opening 24-hour access tto “Through this program, our incubator partners provide technical assistance and personal assistance. assistance. and personal

here. Help is her h

ally owned owned PioneerLink™ is a loc locally operated service. service. YYou o ou can can be and operated assured that that help is always always nearby. nearby. assured

ON THIS DATE

June 5 1977 The Apple II computer with 4K of memory went on sale for

$1,298.

Now available throug Now throughout ghout wes central Minnesota Minnessota westt central

$29/month $29/mo onth ! ! !

PROFESSSIONALLLY INSTALLED INSTALLED A PROFESSIONALLY ACTIV VATTION FEE NO ACTIVATION NO LONG CONTRACT LONG G TERM C ONTRACT TM

PIONEERlink

Empowering people to live independently

1006 Sheridan Street S | Fergus Falls, MN 56537 | 218.998.2628

TToll o oll free free 1.877.998.2621 1.877.998..2621

w ww.pioneercare.org www.pioneercare.org

This project supported grant project was was support ed in n part by by a CS/SD gr ant from from the Minnesota Minnesota Department Department of Human "60-&46! )$8"'. 1*&5/! 1*&5/! *, -&6+ --&6+ *0 *3&5&*5! #* 5*/ 5646!!20&%7 006306!65/ 6306!65 65/ *(4&2% $8" 3*%&47 "60-&46! 3*%&47..

PBRRV

RRV Health

Paving a way for public health professionals North Dakota State University’s Natasha Petry is tailoring her own career path in ambulatory care and will have help from a new Master’s Degree in Public Health. ublic health is one of the career fields on an upward spike,” Petry states. “In North Dakota a lot of the trained public health professionals are reaching retirement age, so there is going to be a real need to have people who are specialized in public health.” With that in mind, the two largest North Dakota universities banded together to create the Master of Public Health Degree program focused on training health professionals. It is the first combined Master’s program of its kind between the two universities. Dr. Joshua Wynne, Vice President for Health Affairs and Dean of School of Medicine and Health Sciences at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, is excited for the state. “For students interested, this provides them with outstanding educational opportunities and provides more public health training that is sorely needed here and across the country,” he adds. Charles Peterson, Dean, College of Pharmacy, Nursing, and Allied Sciences at NDSU in Fargo, says that one of the biggest challenges facing health care is the shortage of professionals across the board. “It is really compounded in rural states like North Dakota that has a number of sparsely populated areas,” he explains, adding that 68 percent of North Dakota’s 53 counties are considered frontier counties. “We have a severe shortage of public health employees – individuals specifically trained in public health – to deliver public health programs.” The program is the first of its kind for several reasons. It is an integrated, joint program being offered between a School of Medicine and a College of Pharmacy and Nursing working to offer public health programs. In addition, the focus is to train health professionals to deliver public health. “The concept is to take health professionals and train them with the skills and abilities to deliver health promotion and disease prevention program that would allow people in the grassroots of the communities to offer

ON THIS DATE

June 26

2000 Biologists J. Craig Venter and Francis S. Collins announced that their research groups had mapped the human genome, a strand of DNA with 3 billion parts that spells our genetic code.

PBRRV June 2011

programs to keep citizens healthy,” Peterson explains. Wynne adds that the program is for three groups of students: health care workers who are in training and out in the field; public health workers scattered around the counties; and various administrators in various clinics and hospitals, especially critical access hospitals. Wynne explains that there are literally a 100 public health workers scattered around North Dakota. “Administrators in clinics (for example) would not just be doing public health, but this would help them be a more effective administrator, more focused on illness prevention rather than illness treatment,” he says. The Master of Public Health is a 43 credit program, which is essentially two years. Students must fulfill baccalaureate requirements to get into the program. Public health focuses on the promotion of health and wellness and the prevention of disease. Each university will admit its own students. There will be 22 semester credits of core courses and 21 discipline specific or specialist courses. The two universities will jointly teach the core courses; many which will be delivered online, to not only students, but practitioners across the state. Projections for the first year are 20 students, the second year 25 students, and the third year 30 students. There is potential to reach as many as 50 students for each university each year. More importantly, officials feel that the program will increases a student’s ability to obtain a job in multifaceted areas. Petry says that for a long time in the pharmacy field, you could go anywhere to get a job. “The job market is

tightening up now,” she states. “With advanced training, (Master of Public Health,) everybody who gets a degree will be one step up on everyone else who is out there looking for a job. It is going to open up jobs that wouldn’t be available without that extra training.” Petry, who received her Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology in 2001 from NDSU, spent time working in a biotechnology lab and teaching at Bismarck State College. She returned to school and started working toward her Doctorate in Pharmacy in 2008. She expects to graduate in 2012. Petry says she is not the only student interested in going through the program. “Surprisingly enough a lot of people want to go out in the rural communities,” she says. The needs in public health are not a surprise for Wynne. “It’s well appreciated that public health is under appreciated throughout the country,” Wynne says. “The unfortunate experience with terrorism has highlighted some of our needs in the public health arena. Many of us have been concerned about this for some time.” In a nutshell, Peterson says the new program will fill a great need in North Dakota by focusing on promoting health wellness and disease prevention, as well as providing an opportunity to our students to have a degree which will have a meaningful impact on communities looking to improve public health. Alan Van Ormer - avanormer@prairiebizmag.com

Angel investor market rebounds in 2010 he 2010 angel investor market saw a robust increase in investment dollars following a considerable contraction in investment dollar sin 2008 and 2009, according to the 2010 Angel Market Analysis released by the Center for Venture Research at the University of New Hampshire.

Number of entrepreneurial ventures receiving angel funding in 2010:

61,900 (8.2 percent increase from 2009)

Number of active investors in 2010:

Total Investments (In Billions)

25 20 15 10

265,400

(2.3 percent increase from 2009)

Source: Newswise

2009

2010

PBRRV

RRV Business

Targeting life sciences for business opportunities The North Dakota State Department of Commerce has targeted life sciences as an opportunity to grow businesses and add jobs to the area. nd with that the state’s Center of Excellence programs have been funded for collaboration between universities and private sector entities, which has impacted the ability to do work in life sciences. “This will have a significant impact in the life sciences,” states Phyllis E. Johnson, Vice President for Research and Economic Development at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, ND. Johnson adds that it is about jobs and it is about new products. “In the end if a North Dakota business can produce products that are sold out of state we are essentially bringing money from outside the state into North Dakota,” she explains. “It is not just about creating jobs, it is about creating product that is of interest to the rest of the world.” In Grand Forks, the Center of Excellence funding helped with the construction of the REAC facility that houses the vaccine company, Novadigm, as well as Avianax (a life science company,) and other companies. Novadigm is currently in Phase 1 trials of a vaccine for Staph aureus and Candida, two organisms responsible for many hospital-acquired infections. Novadigm provided a grant to UND to seed research in immunology that may lead to future potential products for the company. “Once we develop relationships they grow in many ways,” Johnson says. Satish Chandran, who heads the new Center for Biopharmaceutical Research and Production at North Dakota State University in Fargo, ND, was brought in to help develop relationships to grow the life sciences field in the Red River Valley Research Corridor. The Center will focus on identifying and producing vaccines that can be brought to clinical trial. Chandran hopes to show one vaccine promise for clinical trials in five years. “We want to be able to put multiple vaccines into clinic and partner to move vaccine through the clinic,” he explains. One of those partners could be Altravax, Inc., a privately held biopharmaceutical company located in Fargo with research facilities in Sunnyvale, CA. The company is focused on the discovery and development of new vaccines to fight infectious diseases. “Our proprietary technologies offer unique opportunities to create novel vaccine or improve currently available alternatives to fill unmet medical needs,” states Michael Jablon, Director of Operations. “The company has a robust

PBRRV June 2011

pipeline of candidates at various stages of development.” Jablon adds that the support and assistance of the Center for Biopharmaceutical Research and Development has helped attract highly skilled talent that can provide advice and support on key issues Alvatrax might otherwise have to outsource out of state. “The specialized experience of the Center of Excellence is a very important compliment to help Altravax bring our product to market,” he states. Part of Chandran’s job is to set up an ecosystem that flourishes. Right now many of the strategic pieces are missing and that is being assembled. The impact of this ecosystem is that many companies will start from the Center and bring companies to the area. “All have aspirations to move into product,” Chandran says. “An ecosystem can meet the needs of all. We will work with multiple companies and drive products forward.” There is a constant challenge of attracting the right talent to drive the life sciences forward. Then there is funding. “The State is participating in making it happen,” Chandran states. Chandran states that it is going to take approximately $8 million over the next three years to get the Center up and running and another $5 million to $10 million over each of the next four years before it becomes selfsustaining. He adds that once it does get going as companies grow and products move, there will be more high value jobs entering the region. As companies in the life science industry grow, this will also create opportunities for businesses in North Dakota providing support services such as HR, IT, marketing, and accounting. Jablon says that this is bringing yet another segment of Silicon Valley to the region. “Where as the silicon revolution spawned successful software and electronics companies, we’re predicting a major growth industry which spring from innovations in life science,” he states. “Akin to the rapid advancements in micro electronics and software development, the life science industry is making incredible advancements at the molecular level with a rapidly increasing understanding of our own biological machinery.” RRVPB Alan Van Ormer - avanormer@prairiebizmag.com

VALLEY CITY STUDENTS RECEIVE GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANCE Two students from Valley City State University, in Valley City, ND, have been selected to receive Graduate Student Research Assistantship (GSRA) awards through the North Dakota Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (ND EPSCoR) program. The VCSU students receiving the awards are: Fakira (Soumaila) Borkovec (Rome, Italy): Fakira has majors in Health Science and Biology. She will be working in the North Dakota State University Department of Cereal and Food Science program, Pulse Crop Quality and

FARIKA BORKOVEC

JESSE MARTIN

Nutrition, using crop breeding techniques to improve their nutritional value and reduce malnutrition in the world. She will have the opportunity to travel to Sri Lanka to work in a children’s hospital analyzing the effect of various lentils child blood chemistry. Jesse Martin (Valley City, ND): Jesse has a major in Chemistry and Health Science and has consistently been one of the top students in the Department. He will attend the graduate chemistry program at North Dakota State University and conduct research with Dr. Mukund Sibi beginning Fall semester 2011. The awards recognize the academic achievement of these students and provide significant financial support as they pursue M.S. and/or Ph.D. degrees in science, engineering, and mathematics at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, ND, and North Dakota State University in Fargo, ND. EPSCoR was established by the National Science Foundation and is now a family of competitive meritbased programs spanning seven federal research and development agencies: the National Science Foundation; the National Institutes of Health; the Departments of Defense, Energy, and Agriculture; the National Aeronautics and Space Administration; and the Environmental Protection Agency. RRVPB

June 29,1956 President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a bill providing

$33.5 billion for highway construction. It was the biggest public works program in history.

Help Your Business Stand Out in the Crowd with BBB Accreditation

The BBB isn’t just a great free resource for consumers to find trustworthy businesses like yours – we have a variety of tools and programs to help businesses stand marketplace, busines ses s tand out in the mark ettplace, including: Informative Business Reviews ! Inf ormative Busines sR eviews (Accredited (Accredited Businesses Businesses may may post post

additional inf ormation, phot os, educa tional videos, and c oupons) information, photos, educational coupons) Request-A-Quote !R equest-A-Quote – customers customers request request quotes quotes directly directly from from you you ! Pr e-complaint as sistance, media diation and arbitr ation servic es Pre-complaint assistance, mediation arbitration services ! Use of the BBB logo ffor or online ehicles, ads, and online,, v vehicles, printed materials print ed ma terials

! Busines sw orkshops, events, events, and nd net working opportunities Business workshops, networking geared business owners gear ed ttoward oward busines so wners

bbb .orrg bbb.org For more information bbb.org “For Business.” F or mor e inf ormation call 888-646-2222 or visit it bbb .org and click on “F or Busines s.” Better Business Bett er Busines s Bureau Bureau of Minnesota esota and North Dakota Dakota

PBRRV

RRV Entrepreneur

ENTREPRENEURIAL CENTERS

CERTIFIED ENTREPRENEURIAL CENTERS IN THE RED RIVER VALLEY UND CENTER FOR INNOVATION

FIRST STUDENTS IN NATION GRADUATE WITH UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS DEGREE

CONTACT: BRUCE GJOVIG, DIRECTOR

The nation’s first graduates with degrees in the operation of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) were among 1,500 May graduates at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, ND. “It’s truly the first and only kind of its major program in the country at this point,” said Kent Lovelace, chair of the aviation department at the UND John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences. “These are the first graduates from anywhere in the country with a degree in UAS operations.” Among the nearly 1,500 graduates from UND during spring commencement were five receiving Bachelor’s of Science degrees in UAS operations. They are Christopher Burger, Ritzville, WA.; Jeremy Duke, Everett, WA.; Adam Julson, Flandreau, SD.; Alexander Gustafson, Vashon Island, WA.; and Brett Whalin, Rapid City, SD. “Unmanned aircraft are having a profound impact on aerospace,” said Bruce Smith, dean of UND Aerospace. “We’re on the leading edge of UAS development. We now have 44 students signed up as majors and 78 students signed up for our UAS introductory course.” First offered in 2009 fall semester, the Bachelor’s of Science degree aeronautics with a major in unmanned aircraft systems operations is built on the school’s commercial aviation program. It includes courses in the systems of unmanned aircraft, UAS ground systems, UAS communications and telemetry, and UAS remote sensing. In addition, the major curriculum includes aviation safety, human factors, and crew resource management related to unmanned aircraft operations.

WWW.INNOVATORS.NET

SOUTHERN VALLEY INNOVATION CENTER CONTACT DAN HODGSON, DIRECTOR DAN@SVCENTER.NET

NDSU RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY PARK CONTACT BRENDA WYLAND, INCUBATOR MANAGER WWW.NDSURESEARCHPARK.COM

EXPANDING BISEK HALL A higher education funding bill provides $10.5 million to North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton, ND, to expand Bisek Hall. The facility houses the college’s diesel technology program. The expansion allows NDSCS to meet and exceed the emerging workforce needs in the diesel industry. With enrollment currently at capacity, this expansion will increase enrollment and curriculum opportunities.

RENOVATING RHOADES SCIENCE CENTER A higher education funding bill provides $10.5 million to Valley City State University in Valley City, ND, to expand and renovate the Rhoades Science Center, which was constructed in the early 1970s. The project will include renovating the facility’s existing 33,000 square feet and adding another 26,000 square feet to enhance the university’s science-based programs.

Taylor Butterfield, UND project coordinator in the UND Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) program, carries a ScanEagle UAS following a test flight near Oslo, MN

PBRRV June 2011

RED RIVER VALLEY RESEARCH CORRIDOR ADDS BOARD MEMBER Pam Gulleson has joined the board of directors of the Red River Valley Research Corridor. She previously served as state director and chief of staff for former U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan, where she was actively involved in building North Dakota’s PAM science and technology-based economic GULLESON development initiatives in partnership with federal agencies. She is now advisor to the president for North Dakota Farmers Union. Gulleson served as a member of the North Dakota House of Representatives, representing the 26th district from 1992 to 2008. During her tenure as a state representative, she focused on economic development, energy, agriculture and water issues. Gulleson grew up on a dairy farm near Oakes, N.D. She graduated from North Dakota State University and spent years working as a licensed nutritionist. She and her husband live near Rutland, ND, where they are involved in the family farming business.

Grow anyway.

Media is flourishing. The world is engaged. The Internet is expansive. Magazines are captivating. And both are growing. The sun shines on Internet usage and among the bursting trends is magazine eReadership, which engages 8.4 million adults. However, even though this new media is expanding, traditional magazine readership is growing too. The power of local reporting, photography and advertising rises amidst the forces that say new media kills a traditional one. Regardless of how you read Prairie Business, our print and online editions are advancing.

701.232.8893

Thrive anywhere.

RRV

Tag-Lines and “The Real McCoy” We have all heard the phrase “The Real McCoy” used in reference to an item perceived to be of the highest quality among an array of choices, some of which are poor imitations.

Did

Know

Concordia College in Moorhead, MN is the new host of the West Central Small Business Development Center. The Center’s purpose is to stimulate the economy and promote new job opportunities by assisting small business development.

ouldn’t it be great if the offerings of your business were perceived by your customers in the same way when compared to your rivals? The phrase derives from an invention by the noted African-American inventor, Elijah McCoy, who was awarded more than 57 patents during his lifetime. One of his inventions was a device known as a lubricating cup for steam engines. He was awarded a patent for it in June of 1872. This particular invention made it possible to keep large steam engines running smoothly without the need to shut them down periodically to lubricate key moving parts. Because these old steam engines were cumbersome and difficult to restart, steam mechanics and engineers welcomed the addition of the lubricating cup. Historians researching the era of the steam engine discovered that purchasing agents were being asked by mechanics for the “Real McCoy” when placing orders for lubricating cups – and by this they were referring to the McCoy brand of lubricators instead of inferior substitutes. This was one of the earliest and most successful uses of a “tag-line” to promote a product or service. What was unusual in the case of the McCoy lubricating cup is it appears to have been coined by the customers and not the result of a marketing plan by the company.

TAG-LINE DEFINED

ERIC GILTNER Senior Area Manager Small Business Administration eric.giltner@sba.gov

A tag-line is a short phrase used by a business to attract the attention of its customers. It is composed in such a way as to convey the “Unique Selling Point” or USP the company has to offer. The USP is a position in the mind of its potential and current customers that a business wants to attain that is different and more inviting than that of its rivals. The tag-line is then used in all phases of external communications put out by the business to generate a consistent message to its customers. The ultimate goal for a business is to use this tag-line to be “the Real McCoy” of its industry in the minds of its customers.

WHAT MAKES FOR AN EFFECTIVE TAG-LINE? Several years ago a survey was conducted to see if customers can readily connect a company with its tag-line. The companies ranked first and second in the survey were both insurance companies and they effectively connected with current and potential customers by emphasizing a message of security. “You’re in good hands with Allstate.” and “Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.” both conveyed a message of sanctuary and protection expected from insurance providers. An effective tag-line connects the dots between the USP of the business and the needs of the customer. Tag-lines should also be short and to the point. A well known phone directory provider promotes the use of its yellow page section with the simple but very effective two-word phrase “dex knows.”

TAG-LINES FOR SMALL BUSINESS Businesses of all shapes and sizes can benefit greatly from having an effective tag-line to enhance their communication efforts. The key element is accurately defining the USP of the business and crafting a short message conveying this advantage. For example, a small independent floral shop delivers flowers to its customers through third party delivery services while its rivals all employ company-owned delivery vehicles. At the same time, this floral shop is the only one that grows its own wildflowers and incorporates these into special and unique floral designs. A tag-line emphasizing “delivery” would eventually fall flat, but one focused on “fresh ideas in design” would definitely help in connecting with its customers. Any business can use a tag-line in its marketing efforts to tell the world about its offerings. However, if the desired result is to be viewed as “The Real McCoy” of the industry, the tag-line needs to effectively connect a company strength with a customer need. RRVPB

Tourism leaders honored with Governor’s Travel and Tourism awards SCHEELS FARGO MARATHON, FARGO, IN THE EVENT OF THE YEAR CATEGORY. Started in 2005 with 2,400 participants, the Scheels Fargo Marathon has become one of the state’s biggest events, attracting a recordbreaking 20,000 participants in 2010. “The success of North Dakota’s tourism industry can be attributed to the hard work of our industry partners around the state,” Sarah Otte Coleman says. “These award recipients share their passion and excitement for North Dakota with visitors from across the world, and we’re grateful for their efforts to create legendary experiences for our visitors.” 16

PBRRV June 2011

RIVER KEEPERS: CANOEING, COOKING AND CAMPFIRE; A WOMAN’S WEEKEND ON THE RED, FARGO, IN THE BEST PACKAGE CATEGORY. River Keepers grew from a desire to rediscover the Red River’s heritage, and to teach people to again appreciate the Red as a living River. In 1989, believing that it was time to promote a “new attitude about the River,” and explore ways to develop the River as a recreational site, a team of architects proposed the creation of an organization to act in the position of River Keeper.