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Articles by Fargo Monthly
Home Upgrader Tips from Design by Ruth
Meet The Home Upgraders Since 2010, Fargo Monthly has been bringing you positive, community stories and resources and we’ve loved every minute of it. Now, Fargo Monthly magazine is known as Meet Fargo, but don’t worry—we’re still going to have all of the great content you’ve come to love Fargo Monthly for, however, we are changing our approach ever so slightly. Our new concept will be more people-focused.
Design Your Dream Wedding Ring At Fargo's Your Day By Nicole!
Your Day by Nicole (YDBN) has long since been the premier destination for bridal shopping in the Fargo-Moorhead area. The store stands out not just for its personalized gown shopping experience or even as a jeweler, but as a storyteller, where anyone, including brides-to-be, can custom-make a piece of jewelry to represent their unique selves.
Plan Your Wedding at Delta Hotels by Marriott Fargo
By Cameron Carlson, Multi-Brand Marketing Manager, National Hospitality Services Photos submitted by Jay Phina Photography Your wedding day is a celebration of love—a momentous occasion that deserves nothing short of perfection. At Delta Hotels by Marriott Fargo, our motto is “simple made perfect.” We believe that your wedding should be as unique and special as your love story.
Best Fargo Moorhead Beer: Drekker's Saved By Buoyancy Of Citrus Win Flavor Awards
Lifting spirits and winning hearts, Drekker Brewing Company’s “Saved by the Buoyancy of Citrus” has claimed the title of Best Beer at the Fargo Monthly Flavor Awards. This brew is a masterful blend of bold citrus tastes to offer a refreshing zest. It’s perfect for those sunny days or when you need a little sunshine in your glass. This beer had an overwhelming amount of votes in the Flavor Awards, its citrus celebration is quite contagious to the Red River Vallery it seems!
iDigital Isn't Your Traditional Billboard Company
How iDigital is Transforming the Billboard Business into a Full Suite of Advertising Solutions iDigital Outdoor Media is a local outdoor advertising company based in North Dakota. We sat down with Taylor Danielson, community relations manager and account executive of iDigital, and Andy Solheim, COO of iDigital, to discuss the growth of iDigital, the digital advertising industry as a whole and how iDigital is tracking trends within the industry.
Buzi Bus: Quick Rides and Party Vibes
How One Life-Saving Business is Keeping The Party Going North Dakota received a DUI severity score of 92.1 out of 100, making it the worst state in the nation according to findings from the FBI and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Buzi Bus is looking to change that, one safe ride home at a time. Buzi Bus is a rideshare service, in the FMWF and DL areas, that aims to combine the efficiency of a taxi service with the feel of a party bus.
Whitney Walker's Undeniable Relentless Effort
In 2015, Whitney Walker took a chance on herself and pursued her passions—she could never have known that she would one day be at the head of a growing empire, Beauty Bar. Whitney Walker’s story begins in the small, quaint town of Minot, North Dakota where she grew up and lived starting at the age of eight. Receiving a scholarship to North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton took Whitney out of her hometown and set her on a new path.
The Value of a Mentor: A Q&A with Jason Orloske
Jason Orloske, founder of Bridge the Gap Consulting and Senior Consultant at Digineer, credits his success and confidence in project management to his late mentor Pete Blissinbach. Orloske, who first began his career in project management in 1999 while working for a legal publishing company, never intended to go down that route. It wasn’t until meeting Blissinbach that he realized project management was the right fit for him.
Give Your Business a Sales Tax Check Up
Fredrikson & Byron Attorney Kyle Brehm is a tax attorney with more than a decade of experience working with companies to resolve a broad spectrum of issues related to state and local tax matters. His email is [email protected]. David Tibbals is an associate at Fredrikson who assists clients with a variety of commercial, corporate, and state and local tax law matters. He can be reached at [email protected]. Why should your business care about the difference between a Twix bar and a Snickers bar?
CEO Conversations: Amy Hass
It’s not hard to see that Amy Hass is a person of intrigue. After all. she is the CEO of one of the most prominent real estate development companies in the metro. EPIC Companies, a company she took a chance on and joined as the first employee back in 2016. She is only 32 years old and is constantly looking to improve. We talked about all of that and more! How did you end up in this line of work?
Entrepreneur and Author!!!??
The honest reality of entrepreneurship is that oftentimes you’ll think you have everything figured out and then some pitfall happens or something new that you have to overcome.” That is the sentiment that entrepreneur Rod Marchand, President and CEO of Marchand Retail Group, knows all too well and that’s why he is sharing it with us in his very first book which is aptly titled ‘Man [email protected]#K’. It’s supposed to be a very inspirational book,” Marchand said. “But it’s not just that.
10 Questions with John Machacek: Livewire
John Machacek, Chief Innovation Officer for the Greater Fargo Moorhead Economic Development Corporation, has worked with countless startups throughout our community over the past nine years. He knows their ups and their downs, but most of all, he knows the questions to ask them. Here are John Machacek’s 10 questions for Kent Kolstad, Founder of Livewire. 1. Will you please tell us your Livewire elevator pitch?
Thomas Kading: Patents Give You a Monopoly, Not Permission
People often incorrectly believe a patent gives you the right to make, sell, offer to sell, or otherwise use a particular thing. Patents do not in fact give you these rights. Patents give you the right to exclude others from making, selling, offering to sell, or using a particular thing. In effect, a patent provides a monopoly on a particular concept for a certain time period.
Academic Insight: Understanding Industry Structure Using Porter's Five Forces
How well do you understand the structure of the industry you work in? This question should be of central importance to managers when it comes to business strategy and identifying opportunities and threats to a company’s bottom line.
Awesome Foundation Grant Award Winner: Fargo Moorhead Humans of Color
With vaccinations to help mitigate the effects of the COVID virus, and warmer temperatures to lure people outside, the Fargo-Moorhead-West Fargo area has seen a host of varied events over the past few months. One noteworthy event was the First Annual Spring Fling (2022) hosted not by an organization or business, but instead by members of a local Facebook group. The Fargo Moorhead Humans of Color Facebook group began when Lynnea Eckhoff accepted a job and moved to the FM area.
Harnessing the Power of Data in Today's Marketplace with Shawn Peterson
Shawn Peterson is the CEO of Quantum Business Solutions. He comes with a decade of experience in the technology services industry as an executive. Shawn is a visionary focused on high growth and performance through sales, marketing, and client experience These days, sales intelligence is all the rage. However, just knowing the term won’t get you very far as a sales representative or an account manager. So, the question is: How can Sales Intelligence be used?
Ladyboss of the Month: Taylor Budge
You may know Taylor Budge from her sports coverage at WDAY. She talks with Ladyboss about playing by the boys’ rules, the importance of having your dreams supported, and the pressure of being a woman on air. Tell us a bit about yourself. My name is Taylor. I live in Fargo and work at WDAY. I grew up in the Twin Cities, went to Saint Cloud State, and did a broadcasting major. I hate winter, but I keep making my way further north. Did you always know you wanted to get into broadcasting?
Ask the Expert: Camden Caraveau
Group Benefits with Great North Insurance Q&A with Account Executive Camden Caraveua from HUB International and Great North Insurance Services: General FAQs Who do you see as the ‘typical’ GNI/HUB Group Benefits client? We serve any group of employees from two to 10,000. We have the ability and passion to help any size of business, from small businesses whose HR Department consists of just the company’s owner, to large corporate entities.
Alerus Financial's Key to Keep Ahead of Fraud: Education
Business fraud is as old as business, but it’s constantly evolving and taking new forms. Especially over the past year and a half, with many workers first shifting to their homes and now returning to the office, security gaps and changes in behavior have emerged that fraudsters are able to turn to their advantage. Business owners need to know what to watch for and how to be prepared. Often the best defense is simple—stop, think, and ask questions when something unusual comes up.
Meet the Maker: E. Moore Art
Look to brighten up your summer with local art by E. Moore Art! You’ll find her at a variety of in-person shows to meet IRL and crushing it on social media to keep things bright, colorful, and purely fun. Learn more about this crazy creative artist this month! Tell us a bit about yourself. My name is Elizabeth Moore and I was born and raised in Moorhead, MN. If my art doesn’t scream it enough, I’m really into anime and video games! When I’m not a couch potato I care for my 100+ plants, yes, 100+.
From Design to Build with Christianson Companies
How We Found Success Through Collaboration At Spotlight, we try to use our Fargo INC! publications to bring you the very best content, advice and recommendations. In doing this, we rely heavily on the area’s expertise. After all, the opinions of those we trust are crucial to bringing you the full breadth of content for everything our booming business community has to offer. However, there are times when we are lucky enough to speak from firsthand experience.
HireClick is Changing Hiring in the Midwest
Scott Petersen is just your average midwesterner with a passion for community and helping others. However, the difference between Scott Petersen and most other folks in our communities is the fact that he is at the forefront of the ever-changing hiring landscape with his company, HIRECLICK. Though Petersen is leading a burgeoning software company, he actually doesn’t have a traditional tech background. “I’m actually a marketing guy,” Petersen said.
Supporting the Entrepreneurial Community
There’s a new business in town looking to build the Fargo business scene. In a world of businesses and people who are self-serving sits Fargo, North Dakota, a community that has shined through for its residents’ eagerness to help their neighbors both personally and professionally. And we’ve just added another business with those principles at the forefront of its mission.
Simpli.fi: An Introduction to Extreme Targeting for Small Businesses
Imagine this! You own a roofing company and can advertise to only everyone who has a home with an asphalt roof that is 20+ years old, in West Fargo and homes over $300,000 in value. What would be the best way to use targeted advertising? Introducing Simpli.fi technology. This billion-dollar tech company is one of the leaders in helping companies become more extreme about targeting when advertising. Spotlight resells this technology to smaller businesses in our region.
Tech Stack Adoption with Shawn Peterson
Shawn Peterson is the CEO of Quantum Business Solutions. He comes with a decade of experience in the technology services industry as an executive. Shawn is a visionary focused on high growth and performance through sales, marketing, and client experience. Technology is advancing at an incredible rate, and for businesses to survive and thrive, they must embrace new technologies. Unfortunately, the adoption of new technologies is often met with resistance from end-users.
The Advice That Helped Him Get Here
Jonathan Holth’s Endeavors Community & Client Development Manager, JLG Architects Co-Owner, The Toasted Frog Co-Owner, The Urban Stampede What it takes for success? The path to success is hardly ever traveled alone, and rarely comes without a few bumps in the road. There’s often a multitude of factors that play into one person’s climb to the top of their ranks.
Using SBA Lending to Put the 'Success' in Business Succession
A business sale is the end of one chapter of a business and the start of a new owner’s journey. Owners should plan for succession before it becomes a matter of urgency. By working with seasoned business advisors, they can avoid many common pitfalls and hiccups. Having the right financing in place is a critical part of any succession plan. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has become an increasingly popular choice to help with small business sales.
Banking Different with Border Bank
Border Bank is making a name for itself in the Fargo-Moorhead community, not by following suit, but by being different and forming lasting close relationships. How They’re Different They place an importance on relationships They’re Proactive Technology for Faster Decisions They’re Nimble They’re Experience Meet The Team Kelly Engstrom, Vice President Real Estate Officer What do you do at Border Bank? I am a real estate lender and focus primarily on long-term fixed-rate mortgages.
Ladyboss of the Month: Erica Hilde
Erica Hilde, Owner of Absolute Style Boutique, knows change can be scary. She talks with Lotus Midwest about major career changes, following your passion, and making work for you. Q. Tell us a bit about yourself. A. I grew up in Moorhead, which is one of the reasons I wanted my storefront in Moorhead. I went to Moorhead High. After high school, I went to NDSU and studied apparel and textiles with a focus on retail merchandising.
Academic Insight: Additional Practical Advice for Nascent Managers and Supervisors
In the May 2021 issue of Fargo, INC!, I posed the following question: If I could go back in time and give advice to my younger self on being a first-time manager and supervisor, what advice would I give? If you read that article, you will know that this question came from a conversation I had with a graduating student seeking advice in preparation for their first managerial job. And the result was me sharing five pieces of advice for new managers and supervisors.
Awesome Foundation Grant Award Winner: Resplendent Residents
Photographer Brittany Johnson is aiming to help people realize they are beautiful no matter what shape, size, or gender and her current passion project, Resplendent Residents, is bringing that message to the elderly and disabled.
Awesome Foundation Grant Award Winner: Casual For A Cause Closet
The staff at Preference Employment Solutions are turning an empty room into an additional opportunity for giving. An initiative to earn money for a local non-profit by paying to wear jeans on Fridays swiftly turned into what the Preference Employment Solutions’ staff calls their “Casual for a Cause” program.
Glen Stevens Jr. is Guiding Financials Through Faith
Meet Glen Stevens Jr., pastor, business coach and mental fitness guy. There are tons of options for business coaching out there. However, because of his unique life experiences, Glen Stevens can offer something most can’t. With over 20 years of pastoral experience, Glen Stevens Jr., who does business as the Mental Fitness Guy, is a Positive Intelligence and Business Made Simple Certified Coach. He is capable of bringing discussions of faith into the business world like few others can.
Meet the Editorial Team: Jenny Sheets - Entrepreneur Programs Manager
Jenny Sheets was born and bred on the northern plains, from Fargo to Billings and up to the mountains of western Montana. She spent her childhood in Fargo and was lucky enough to spend summers in Montana visiting family. When everyone else headed east to the lakes, she was the “weird kid” who headed west toward sagebrush and rimrocks. Jenny bounced around for college but ultimately finished proudly at MSUM with a BA in English and Philosophy.
The Greenhouse Team is Supporting the Entrepreneurial Community
There’s a new business in town looking to build the Fargo business scene. In a world of businesses and people who are self-serving sits Fargo, North Dakota, a community that has shined through for its residents’ eagerness to help their neighbors both personally and professionally. And we’ve just added another business with those principles at the forefront of its mission.
Vareberg Engineering
25 Years of Excellence Built on a Stellar Husband-Wife Duo The Vareberg Family At the heart of every great business is a founder, or in this case two, who worked tirelessly to turn vision into reality. At Vareberg Engineering, the founding story looks a little different than most. A Company is Born Emmy and Troy Vareberg developed a friendship when Emmy was in high school and Troy, who is two years older, was attending North Dakota State University for Electrical Electronics Engineering.
Fair Hills Resort: Spotlight Retreat
Fair Hills Resort is home to many special memories for family and friends, but they host another group of individuals who have quite a bit of fun. Companies from all different areas and industries have traveled to the resort for games, boating and loads of fun. The team at Spotlight was recently welcomed by Fair Hills Resort for just that! When we think of “work retreat” many different things could cross our minds, but your next office trip might be closer than you think.
10 Questions with John Machacek: Pops & Bejou Games
John Machacek, Chief Innovation Officer for the Greater Fargo Moorhead Economic Development Corporation, has worked with countless startups throughout our community over the past nine years. He knows their ups, and their downs, but most of all, he knows the questions to ask them. Here are John Machacek’s 10 questions for Austin Foss, Jenna Radtke and Jake Sells of Pops & Bejou Games. 1. Will you please tell us your Pops & Bejou Games elevator pitch?
Office Shots: Great North Insurance Services
Great North Insurance Services Since its founding in 2010, Great North Insurance Services has made major strides as a company. In 2016, they were named one of the top 50 places to work in the northern plains by Prairie Business. And in 2020, they opened their beautiful new office at Great North Plaza. Recently, we were fortunate enough to photograph the space and present it to you! Did You Know?
A New Mantra For Your Sales Organization
Are you looking for a mantra for your sales team? The key to success for your sales organization starts with the 4 Ds of Dominance: Dream, Drive, Discipline and Double Down. These simple principles form the foundation for the characteristics of a successful sales team. Make the 4 Ds of Dominance a mantra you repeat often and reiterate the importance of these shared values for each of your team members.
How Does A Lawsuit Start?
By Tom Kading Joseph Wetch Most people have little idea about how a lawsuit works. This is true even if they are currently involved in a lawsuit! Nevertheless, if you find yourself in a lawsuit you should know how the system is designed to resolve disputes between litigants. A lawsuit is started with simple written papers. No fancy words are needed on the lawsuit papers, but you do have to follow some rules.
Pricing Your Product
I recently met with several business owners who were seeking help with their company’s pricing strategy. One company sells consumer products, another market a b2b technology application, and another provides professional services.
Power and Influence: Guidelines for New Managerial Leaders
I started working in my first managerial position in the year 2000, right after graduate school. And during those first weeks on the job, I spent a considerable amount of time developing relationships with my staff and colleagues and learning as much as possible about the building and areas I would oversee.
Awesome Foundation Grant Award Winner: REC
May 2022 featured the grand opening of Recovery Engaged Communities (REC)’s physical space with an event featuring food, drink, live music, games, and art. As an organization devoted to promoting recovery from substance use, the celebratory event highlights REC’s goals to continue as they’ve begun—with a focus on building connections and community.
Awesome Foundation Grant Award Winner: Professional Lunch
Ricot Aladin is proving that sometimes the simplest ideas can have the greatest impact by turning the common act of going out to lunch or coffee into a widely sharable learning opportunity. Currently pursuing a Master’s degree in the field of Communications, Ricot initially started inviting people he knew out to lunch to discuss their varying professions as a way to build his personal network and practice his communication skills. “When I started Professional Lunch, it was just me being curious.
Entrepreneur Spotlight: John Ostos
Metroflex Fargo is a 24-hour gym facility on a mission. Placing determination and dedication in training at the forefront, Metroflex’s mission statement “is to provide a platform for all genres of fitness and athletic training; from the business professional to the high school athlete.. or the hardcore enthusiast to the pro athlete. Metroflex has the atmosphere for it all.” Metroflex Fargo owner John Ostos has ambitious plans for the future of Metroflex that rival his past accomplishments.
Golf's Suite Life: Suite Shots
Long-time pro Mark Johnson launches Suite Shots entertainment complex Former Fargo Country Club head professional Mark Johnson will tell you he’s still in the golf business. But now he’s also in the first-date business. And the birthday party business. And the night-onthe-town-with-friends business. And the business meeting business. That, and more, is the spectrum of attractions offered by Suite Shots, Johnson’s new venture with his brother Chuck and other local investors.
10 Questions with John Machacek: Golden Path Solutions
John Machacek, Chief Innovation Officer for the Greater Fargo Moorhead Economic Development Corporation, has worked with countless startups throughout our community over the past nine years. He knows their ups, their downs, but most of all, he knows the questions to ask them. Here are John Machacek’s 10 questions for Patrick Mineer, CEO & Founder of Golden Path Solutions. 1. Will you please tell us your Golden Path Solutions elevator pitch?
The Transformative Power of the Right Business Loan
Debt is an important and sometimes misunderstood part of a business’s balance sheet. Owners may mistakenly assume all debt is bad and should be avoided. The truth is more complex. The key to good debt is to have a strategic reason to take on debt— don’t just borrow because rates are low—seek out lenders offering terms that work for you.
A Neighbor's Helping Hand
A cup of sugar, shoveling a driveway in the winter and dog sitting are all examples of a neighbor offering a helping hand. Vernae Hasbargen went a few steps further in providing her neighbor, Leah Dalton, with a few valuable lessons and mentorship that have lasted her a lifetime. “I was actually lucky enough to watch Leah’s family for about two generations of farm families,” Hasbargen said. “It was a beautiful thing watching the parents adopt Leah. They had wanted children for so long.
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