Leadership Bismarck-Mandan students participated in the Media Issue Day on Feb. 1 at Ducks Unlimited. During this issue day, the class learned about the art of persuasion; how to prepare a press release and how to conduct an interview with the media.
Becky Jones Mahlum from Ducks Unlimited stressed the importance of being prepared, building a core message and always coming back to that message. After receiving these tips, the class heard directly from a panel of expert media representatives from radio, television and newspaper. They learned that reporters like to …

The Bismarck-Mandan Young Professionals Network is requesting nominations for the annual Top 10 Young Professional Workplaces Award. The award recognizes local businesses committed to recruiting and retaining talented young professionals. Eligible businesses, those employing young professionals under the age of 40, are measured on criteria related to the active development and execution of strategies advancing employment of young professionals in the workplace and quality and type of benefits offered.
Nominations can be submitted until noon on March 30, 2012. To submit a business in the Bismarck-Mandan area, fill out the nomination …

Bismarck’s Catholic schools have a long history of being committed to providing an exceptional faith-based, academic experience. Today, they shared the new vision and future of Catholic education in the community, which involves the formation of a jointly operated Catholic school system.
The Light of Christ Catholic Schools of Excellence will include St. Mary’s Grade School, Cathedral School, Saint Anne’s School and St. Mary’s Central High School. They will be jointly operated by the member parishes of Ascension, Cathedral, Corpus Christi, St. Anne’s and St. Mary’s.
“We’ve developed an educational plan that …

The 2011 flood impacted almost every facet of the Bismarck-Mandan community and its surrounding areas. Today, it continues to have an impact on the decisions made by city and county planners as they consider the future of the community in terms of infrastructure, construction, development and flood protection. “There was a need to quickly develop plans in the city and county on how best to protect the community from future flood events,” says Carl Hokenstad, AICP, director of the City of Bismarck Community Development Department and the contracted planning services for Burleigh County.

Looking at Future Community Growth
As energy development expands in Western North Dakota, Bismarck- Mandan and Burleigh and Morton counties are anticipating continued growth. While many local leaders don’t expect drilling to reach the community or surrounding counties, with an ideal proximity to the oil fields, many ancillary services and individuals are making the area home.
With a steady influx of businesses and employees expected, local leaders believe now is the time to prepare for the future. “It is important we plan to get our cities positioned for the right response to …

Kirkwood Bank & Trust has hired Bill Zaleski as chief fiduciary officer and trust services manager. Zaleski brings more than 35 years of experience. He most recently served as senior vice president and director of trust service for CitizensTrust, the $2.2 billion Trust Department of Citizens Business Bank of California.
Zaleski also developed and built the trust companies for New York Life and served as president, CEO, and director of New York Life Trust Company, and New Life Trust Company. He also served as chief compliance officer for Merrill Lynch’s five …

Bergstrom Electric, Inc. announces that Project Manager Paul Soderquist will be the new operations manager of its Bismarck office. Soderquist has 37 years of experience and was previously working out of Bergstrom’s Fargo office. He will replace Mike Yri, who is transferring to a new position in New Rockford.

The Bismarck-Mandan Chamber Board of Directors welcomes three new board members, is excited about the renewed commitment from five board members and announces the new executive team.
New to the board in 2012 are Rick Matteson from MDU Resources, Dan Pearson from Northwest Tire and Wayne Munson from Indigo Signsworks. Recommitted members include Jeff Neuberger from Mid Dakota Clinic, Greg Vetter of American Bank Center, Kleber Hadsell from Tesoro Mandan Refinery, Perrie Schafer of Schafer Financial Services and Mike O’Keeff e from Farm Credit Services.
“We’re excited to infuse new ideas and …

Barry Hansen has maintained a routine for the past 34 years that is largely responsible for his small business’ success. He has made it a habit, at Hansen’s Mens Wear, of paying close attention to customers, carrying quality merchandise, staying on top of trends yet true to classic style, and providing outstanding and consistent customer service.
“As with any small business, customer service – knowing your customers – is really important,” said Hansen. “Availability and speed of service are things that customers have come to expect.” Hansen satisfies those needs by …

The Bismarck-Mandan Chamber’s Military Aff airs Committee (MAC) partnered with the University of Mary and Central Market on a cookie drive for military members and families.
The MAC is coordinated the event for the second year. Last year nearly 200 dozen cookies were collected through business and community donations. This year the committee wanted to really show their support for the military and pulled in support from local grocer Central Market and the University of Mary.
“Collaborating with local businesses aligned with our committee mission of supporting the military along with giving …

Measure 2, an initiative to eliminate property tax in North Dakota, will be up for a vote in June. Petitioned onto the summer ballot through eff orts spearheaded by the group “Empower the Taxpayers of North Dakota,” the measure, if passed, will constitutionally alter the state’s tax structure by eliminating property tax as a revenue source for local government entities.
While the prospect of eliminating property taxes is appealing on the surface, many in both the public and private sectors believe the proposal could be detrimental to state, county and local …

The Leadership Bismarck-Mandan class participated in an Arts & Leisure Issue Day on Nov. 30. The students took a tour of the Bismarck Aquatic Center, which off ers all types of swimming and exercise opportunities to Bismarck-Mandan residents.
The class learned about the extent of damage both Mandan and Bismarck Parks & Recreation Departments received as a result of flooding; Bismarck alone has submitted more than $800,000 in requests to FEMA. Despite the flood, improvements and projects proceeded with improvements at concession stands at Cottonwood, trail connections and a baseball field …

From a field of more than 5,000 companies, Earth-Kind, located in Bismarck, N.D., has been named one of the Top 10 People’s Choice finalists by Green America, the nation’s leading green economy organization. Earth-Kind manufactures Fresh Cab® rodent repellent, the only EPAregistered, nontoxic, natural rodent repellent available for indoor use. The company also makes eco-friendly air fresheners. All Earth-Kind products are biodegradable.

Leadership Bismarck-Mandan students participated in the Energy & Natural Resources Issue Day on Oct. 19 at Basin Electric where they were welcomed by company CEO Ron Harper.
Todd Lindquist, from the Corps of Engineers, started off the presentations and spoke about river management. He shared that the 2011 forecast was 60.4 million acre feet, which was the highest since 1898 when 49.0 million acre feet was reached. Students learned that Garrison, Oahe and Fort Peck hold the most flood storage.
Lindquist shared that it takes 30- 36 hours for releases from Garrison …

The Bismarck-Mandan Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee (MAC) will sponsor its first Military Education Fair, to be held at the North Dakota National Guard Raymond J. Bohn Armory on Saturday, Dec 3, 2011. The free event is open to all active duty and reserve personnel, family members, and veterans.
Representatives will be available from 20 colleges, universities and trade schools across the nation to answer questions about returning to school, enrolling, eligibility and transferring previously earned college credits. Each participating school will donate a door prize, valued around $200, which …

By Kylie Blanchard, Clearwater Communications
The Affordable Care Act passed by Congress has prompted state governments to choose between creating their own health care exchange or allowing the federal government to establish and run an exchange in their state. In recent months, the Interim Health Care Committee studied and planned how best to implement a state-run exchange in North Dakota and presented its proposal to the State Legislature during November’s Special Session.
The proposal was defeated by the House, ending the state’s current chances to establish its own health care exchange and …

Congratulations to Dr. Brenda Werner for receiving the highly coveted North Dakota Teacher of the Year award at a ceremony at Bismarck High School on Sept. 27. Werner has taught for 23 years, eleven of those at BHS where she currently teaches Advanced Placement (AP) English 12, English 12, and Literary Magazine. She also has been instrumental in the formation and successful growth of the Writer’s Club at Bismarck High.
The classroom teacher is the backbone of the American educational system. No one person has a greater impact on the education …

By Dot Frank
Garrison Dam’s flood gates may have closed, but new flood gates have opened for local building supply centers and area contractors. ProBuild of Mandan is feeling the pressure of anxious construction companies and homeowners as they work hard to supply building needs at an aff ordable price and in a timely manner.
ProBuild General Manager Keith Doerr said that business has been brisk. Bismarck-Mandan flooding slowed construction down for a while, but now that the flood waters have receded, it is business as usual and then some. “At first …

The Bismarck Community Bowl Authority announced today that MDU Resources Group is the lead donor in the “Protect our Turf” campaign to renovate the Community Bowl. The company will donate $2 million through a 10-year agreement with the Bowl Authority and retain the right to extend the agreement from 2022 through 2032 for an additional $1 million. The venue will be known as the MDU Resources Community Bowl upon completion of the renovations.
“The Community Bowl is a tremendous resource for Bismarck and the surrounding region,” said Terry Hildestad, president and …

Are you a former or current Junior Achievement (JA) volunteer in the Bismarck, Mandan or surrounding communities who was involved when it was first organized in the early 1990’s? Are you an adult who had the chance to receive JA in one of your classrooms when you were growing up? As a teacher, did you have the opportunity to have JA in your classroom?
Junior Achievement of Bismarck- Mandan is seeking former JA volunteers, educators and students, to discover the impact JA made on their life.
“Do you remember your JA classes …