Our Story

Friday, August 14, 2015

A small group of local business leaders meet on the 6th floor of downtown Fargo’s Black Building for a coffee roundtable. Kurt McSparron, North Dakota Representative with the National Federation of Independent Business, proposes the idea of a new club designed exclusively for CEOs, Presidents, Founders and entrepreneurs – “key decision-makers”.

“What’s the premise?”, is the first question. “A trusted inner-circle of colleagues, where conversations take place that can’t generally take place with employees, spouses, even leadership teams. Conversations around the challenges of leadership; the feelings of isolation; and the day-to-day onus of running an organization”, he replied.

“What are the rules?”, followed. “There’ll be no ‘rules’, just ‘guidelines’. We’ll allow the Members to form our agenda; to create their own value; to chart our direction…a ‘business initiative’.

INITIATIVE

  1.  the ability to assess and initiate things independently.
  2. the power or opportunity to act or take charge before others do.

“What’s it going to cost to join?” “Let’s keep it simple. How about a dollar a day?” – Kurt suggested.

Wes Henry, Founder/CEO, True IT, took his checkbook from his briefcase, wrote a check for $365.00, becoming Member #1, and The100, Inc. Business Initiative was born.

Later that day, Kurt submitted his resignation to the NFIB, cashed out his 401k and began to recruit the Founding Members of the club.

Wes Henry, Founder, True IT…Member #1!

Our original logo. The lower case font represents the humility of our Members. The all-caps section represents our focus, and the largest all-caps, INITIATIVE, is how we do it. The Newton’s Cradle illustrates teamwork, momentum, and exchange of energy…plus, the classic executive office item!

Between Monday, August 17 and Thursday, December 31, 2015, another 65 local business leaders wrote $365.00 checks, to join something they couldn’t quite yet describe, but something that had a certain appeal, a seeming necessity and an intriguing air of exclusivity. The name, The100, had been chosen because only 100 individuals were going to be permitted to be part of this new initiative.

the Founding Members…the Original 66!

  • WES HENRY 08/14/15
  • Barry Dresser 08/17/15
  • JOSH CHRISTY 08/17/15
  • Don Grande 08/17/15
  • Dean Vollmer 08/18/15
  • RON FUHRMAN 08/18/15
  • Doug Johnson 08/18/15
  • Wayne Bradley 08/18/15
  • Paul Hannaher 08/20/15
  • DEBRA ASP 08/21/15
  • Ben Meland 08/21/15
  • Julie Belch 08/21/15
  • Neil Blanchard 08/21/15
  • TODD FISHER 08/24/15
  • Jeff Frey 08/24/15
  • Guy Nelson 08/24/15
  • Lonnie Laffen † 08/25/15
  • Jeremiah Johnson 8/25/15
  • MARK GIDDINGS 08/25/15
  • Jim Kasper 08/25/15
  • Jon Kungel 08/26/15
  • TOM KADING 08/27/15
  • NOLEN BERTSCH 08/27/15
  • Cami Lee 08/27/15
  • Jake Joraanstad 08/28/15
  • HARLAN GOERGER † 08/28/15
  • RICK BERG 08/28/15
  • Patrick Emerson 08/28/15
  • DARCY POPE-FUCHS 9/03/15
  • Jorin Johnson 09/01/15
  • BOB GIBB 09/02/15
  • KRISTI LARKIN 09/03/15
  • ZACH PAXTON 09/03/15
  • Steve Koep 09/03/15
  • Vince Wuebker 09/09/15
  • SCOTT THUEN 09/10/15
  • Josh Green 09/09/15
  • KEVIN JOHNSON 09/09/15
  • DAVID C. DIETZ 09/11/15
  • Jon Haug 09/11/15
  • MIKE GRAHAM 09/14/15
  • JIM BUUS 09/14/15
  • BEN KOPPELMAN 09/14/15
  • John Haley 09/16/15
  • Brian Meyer 09/17/15
  • Kelly Blilie 09/18/15
  • Debby Jaeger 09/19/15
  • Shawn VanEnk 09/21/15
  • Jason Gehrig 09/23/15
  • Todd Funfar 09/24/15
  • Don Fischer 09/24/15
  • Corey Heiser 09/28/15
  • Dan Altenbernd 09/28/15
  • TIM LANDIS 10/05/15
  • DAVID REID 10/16/15
  • CINDY COLE 10/30/15
  • Larry O’Brien 11/17/15
  • CINDY TYO 11/30/15
  • JON LOWRY 12/03/15
  • Jim Heyer 12/03/15
  • BRADY NASH 12/07/15
  • David Karels 12/10/15
  • DAN PARKER 12/11/15
  • KENT SATRANG 12/18/15
  • DAVE ANDERSON 12/21/15
  • Tom Poole 12/21/15

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Our FIRST public event, CEO’s Roundtable, with Speakers: Bob Gibb, Kent Satrang, Jim Buus, Brady Nash and Harlan Goerger, kicks off a monthly executive series that continued through 2019

Bob Gibb
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Brady Nash
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Our first press…

Lonely at the top: New Executives Club Provides Support For CEOs and Business Owners

May 30, 2016 FARGO—Many CEOs and business owners say it’s lonely at the top, but it doesn’t have to be thanks to a new executive club called The100, Inc.

Founder Kurt McSparron said he was motivated to start The100 because most of the business groups in town are geared towards sales professionals hoping for referrals. He saw the need for a group that would support those at the top.

READ ARTICLE

Dan Altenbernd, Partner, H2M, leads a peer-to-peer discussion at one of our early signature programs, The Peer12 Workshop

Our Members talk about the Club…

DJ Colter, Founder and Owner, DJ Colter Agency, Inc.

DJ joined our Club July 27, 2017 and became a PLATINUM Lifetime Member July 5, 2022

Dave Nelson, President and Owner, Image Printing and Knight Printing

Dave joined our Club August 17, 2017

Wednesday, January 24, 2018

The first Executive Expo, hosted by the Club, welcomes nearly 400 business leaders to the Avalon Events Center. Over 50 business displays, 12 breakout sessions, and 6 featured speakers, including: Charley Johnson, Dayna Del Val, Jim Buus, Teresa Lewis and Dr. Jim Carlson.

Dr Jim Carlson

Lisa Bortnem-Wiser, Managing Partner, Bortnem Family Limited Partnership

Lisa joined our Club July 18, 2018 and became an EXECUTIVE Sponsor October 1, 2021

Tuesday, October 23, 2018

The Club hosts Get a Grip on Your Business 2.0, featuring What The Heck is EOS Author, Tom Bouwer.  Nearly 200 business leaders attend this day-long seminar, which included breakout sessions, buffet lunch and a social, sponsored by over a dozen “Traction-implementing” businesses.

Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Executive Expo II is held at the Avalon, with the theme Leadership Unfiltered. We put 20 individual speakers on a small, uncomfortable platform in the middle of over 200 of their colleagues, to tell candid, real-life business stories.  Business displays, dinner buffet and a social hour wrapped up a powerful day!

Sarah Koustrup, Chief Strategy Officer, National Hospitality Services, Inc.

Sarah joined our Club March 6, 2019 and became a GOLD Sponsor Member October 5, 2021

David Dietz, CEO, Preference Employment Solutions

David joined the Club September 11, 2015 and became a GOLD Sponsor Member October 2, 2017

Michael Johnson, Founder and CEO, ClearPath Advisors

Mike became a Member December 27, 2017 and became a GOLD Sponsor Member March 26, 2018

Miranda Burfeind, President, Phone-n-Fix

Miranda became a Member and GOLD Sponsor January 18, 2019

Jim Buus, Founder and President, JBC Commercial Real Estate

Jim joined the Club September 14, 2015 and became a GOLD Sponsor Member November 4, 2020

Jason Orloske, Founder and President, BTG Consulting

Jason joined our Club May 13, 2020

Tom Stadum, Founder and CEO, Fjell Capital

Tom took the initiative to join October 12, 2020

AM1100 The Flag | Need To Know Morning Show | CEO Spotlight w/Kurt McSparron, Founder of The Executives’ Club of Fargo-Moorhead, February 20, 2020

CEO Spotlight Kurt McSparron
Steve Hallstrom Kurt McSparron Alex Taylor

November 1, 2020

Grindstone, home to The Executives’ Club, opens its’ doors, for Member meetings, private events and executive socials!

Happy with Money Podcast, hosted by Executives’ Club Member Tom Stadum, Founder of Fjell Capital. 

May 27, 2022: The Five People Surrounding You, w/Kurt McSparron

LISTEN

Fargo INC! Business Magazine continues to introduce the community to MANY of our Members…

2023…

the Club has hosted over 400 private Wednesday lunches; over 200 seminars, presentations and workshops; dozens of strategy sessions, leadership team meetings, collaborative opportunities, birthday parties, retirement parties, private happy hours and exclusive events!

As we approach our 8th birthday, we thank the business leaders who’ve taken the initiative to engage with our Club and look forward to welcoming new innovators and entrepreneurs in the coming years!

SEASON 3, EPISODE 9 – FROM IDEA TO DONE PODCAST
with Executives’ Club Member Josh Christy

LISTEN: The Power of 100 Executive Allies ft. Kurt McSparron

The Executives’ Club was founded on the morning of Friday, August 14, 2015, in downtown Fargo, North Dakota, with these individuals joining us on the following dates…

  1. WES HENRY 08/14/2015
  2. BARRY DRESSER 08/17/2015
  3. JOSH CHRISTY 08/17/2015
  4. DON GRANDE 08/17/2015
  5. DEAN VOLLMER 08/18/2015
  6. RON FUHRMAN 08/18/2015
  7. DOUG JOHNSON 08/18/2015
  8. WAYNE BRADLEY 08/18/2015
  9. PAUL HANNAHER 08/20/2015
  10. DEBRA ASP 08/21/2015
  11. BEN MELAND 08/21/2015
  12. JULIE BELCH 08/21/2015
  13. NEIL BLANCHARD 08/21/2015
  14. TODD FISHER 08/24/2015
  15. JEFF FREY 08/24/2015
  16. GUY NELSON 08/24/2015
  17. LONNIE LAFFEN 08/25/2015
  18. JEREMIAH JOHNSON 8/25/2015
  19. MARK GIDDINGS 08/25/2015
  20. JIM KASPER 08/25/2015
  21. JON KUNGEL 08/26/2015
  22. TOM KADING 08/27/2015
  23. NOLEN BERTSCH 08/27/2015
  24. CAMI LEE 08/27/2015
  25. JAKE JORAANSTAD 08/28/2015
  26. HARLAN GOERGER 08/28/2015
  27. RICK BERG 08/28/2015
  28. PATRICK EMERSON 08/28/2015
  29. DARCY POPE-FUCHS 9/03/2015
  30. JORIN JOHNSON 09/01/2015
  31. BOB GIBB 09/02/2015
  32. KRISTI LARKIN 09/03/2015
  33. ZACH PAXTON 09/03/2015
  34. STEVE KOEP 09/03/2015
  35. VINCE WUEBKER 09/09/2015
  36. SCOTT THUEN 09/10/2015
  37. JOSH GREEN 09/09/2015
  38. KEVIN JOHNSON 09/09/2015
  39. DAVID C. DIETZ 09/11/2015
  40. JON HAUG 09/11/2015
  41. MIKE GRAHAM 09/14/2015
  42. JIM BUUS 09/14/2015
  43. BEN KOPPELMAN 09/14/2015
  44. JOHN HALEY 09/16/2015
  45. BRIAN MEYER 09/17/2015
  46. KELLY BLILIE 09/18/2015
  47. DEBBY JAEGER 09/19/2015
  48. SHAWN VANENK 09/21/2015
  49. JASON GEHRIG 09/23/2015
  50. TODD FUNFAR 09/24/2015
  51. DON FISHER 09/24/2015
  52. COREY HEISER 09/28/2015
  53. DAN ALTENBERND 09/28/2015
  54. TIM LANDIS 10/05/2015
  55. DAVID REID 10/16/2015
  56. CINDY COLE 10/30/2015
  57. LARRY O’BRIEN 11/17/2015
  58. CINDY TYO 11/30/2015
  59. JON LOWRY 12/03/2015
  60. JIM HEYER 12/03/2015
  61. BRADY NASH 12/07/2015
  62. DAVID KARELS 12/10/2015
  63. DAN PARKER 12/11/2015
  64. KENT SATRANG 12/18/2015
  65. DAVE ANDERSON 12/21/2015
  66. TOM POOLE 12/21/2015
  67. MIKE DRAGOSAVICH 1/20/16
  68. DAN HICKS 01/26/16
  69. RYAN BOTNER 01/27/16
  70. MATT LACHOWITZER 1/30/16
  71. SHAWN WEYER 01/30/16
  72. TRACY GREEN 01/30/16
  73. KARI SCORE 02/05/16
  74. ART ROSENBERG 03/10/16
  75. CHRIS KENNELLY 03/17/16
  76. BRANDON PITTENGER 3/17/16
  77. BROOK LYTER 03/23/16
  78. STU STOCKMOE 04/13/16
  79. JODEE BOCK 04/20/16
  80. SIMON WILSON 04/29/16
  81. CHAD WEISGRAM 04/29/16
  82. BILLY PHILLIPS 05/03/16
  83. MIKE TROJE 05/03/16
  84. ALEX VASICHEK 05/11/16
  85. MASON ORTH 05/23/16
  86. KIM BJORALT 05/24/16
  87. DEB PLAGEMANN 05/25/16
  88. BRIAN LARRY 05/25/16
  89. MARK LINDQUIST 05/26/16
  90. JUDY GARTNER 05/26/16
  91. ROSS ALMLIE 05/26/16
  92. CRAIG ROATH 05/31/16
  93. MIKE BREVIK 05/31/16
  94. RUSSELL SCHELL 06/02/16
  95. NED HALILOVIC 06/22/16
  96. KATHEY LLEWELYN 06/22/16
  97. AUSTEN SCHAUER 07/19/16
  98. MICHAEL COMSTOCK 8/02/16
  99. CAMERON WISHER 08/10/16
  100. RICK HARPESTAD 06/10/16
  101. SHANE GIESEN 08/02/16
  102. BRIAN RINKE 08/12/16
  103. Kris Packer 08/12/16
  104. Keith Bergseth 08/12/16
  105. Trenton Gerads 08/15/16
  106. Josh Gillelland 08/15/16
  107. Andy Rodgers 09/08/16
  108. Laura McMartin 10/03/16
  109. Ray Kotchian 10/03/16
  110. Char Gust 10/04/16
  111. Randy Klassen 10/04/16
  112. Brenda Podetz 10/04/16
  113. Jon Hauser 10/04/16
  114. Jess McLaughlin 10/17/16
  115. Perry Peyerl 10/17/16
  116. RICHARD COSSETTE 10/21/16
  117. Neal Johnson 10/25/16
  118. Thomas Beadle 10/25/16
  119. Terry Loomis 10/25/16
  120. Ty Ford 10/27/16
  121. Ken Storm 10/27/16
  122. Rachael Stone 10/31/16
  123. Russ Richards 10/31/16
  124. Greg Gebeke 10/31/16
  125. Ryan Ottis 10/31/16
  126. Zane Erickson 11/03/16
  127. Molly Rohrer 11/03/16
  128. Dave Batcheller 11/08/16
  129. Renae McArthur 11/08/16
  130. David Hamilton 11/09/16
  131. Jay Peltier 11/17/16
  132. JIM HOWE 11/28/16
  133. Mike Clevenger 12/07/16
  134. David Chapman 12/07/16
  135. BARRY MARING 12/16/16
  136. MIKE MEAGHER 12/20/16
  137. ROGER CHRISTIANSON 12/30/16
  138. Marcus Benoit 12/30/16
  139. Nick Horob 12/30/16
  140. Lonnie Pederson 12/30/16
  141. Ryan Such 12/31/16
  142. Chad Guttormson 12/31/16
  143. ALLEN RALSTON 01/02/17
  144. KELLY WENTZ 01/06/17
  145. TIM EISSINGER 01/18/17
  146. Jeff Thomas 01/25/17
  147. ROB BURKE 01/27/17
  148. JESSICA HOPPE 01/31/17
  149. RACHAEL BOYER 02/03/17
  150. TOM SHORMA 02/22/17
  151. PAUL HIGHNESS 03/13/17
  152. CARISSA OLSON 03/23/17
  153. Dan Norwood 03/30/17
  154. BOB SINNER 04/27/17
  155. TIM BEATON 05/01/17
  156. SHERI LARSON 05/02/17
  157. STEVE DUSEK 05/04/17
  158. PAUL SMITH 05/05/17
  159. JON REIMER 05/09/17
  160. HEATHER AAL 05/09/17
  161. STEVE SCHEEL 05/17/17
  162. JESSE FAUL 05/10/17
  163. ALEX WARNER 05/24/17
  164. DAYNA DEL VAL 05/25/17
  165. Edd Goerger 05/31/17
  166. ANTHONY MOLZAHN 07/10/17
  167. DJ COLTER 07/27/17
  168. Dan Hicks 07/27/17
  169. AMBER METZ 07/31/17
  170. Ryan Keel 08/01/17
  171. DON ARVIDSON 08/03/17
  172. Chris Lange 08/03/17
  173. BARRY GISH 08/05/17
  174. ANDREW ABERNATHEY 08/05/17
  175. CHUCK HOGE 08/07/17
  176. MATT MAGNESS 08/08/17
  177. TERESA LEWIS 08/09/17
  178. DAVE NELSON 08/17/17
  179. Andy Draeger 08/29/17
  180. ROBIN NELSON 09/05/17
  181. BILL ERICKSON 09/06/17
  182. ANDREA HOCHHALTER 09/07/17
  183. Kristi Urlich 09/14/17
  184. Paul Bougie 09/19/17
  185. STACIE LOEGERING 10/17/17
  186. Beth Jansen 10/17/17
  187. Angie Searls 10/23/17
  188. Patrick Kirby 10/23/17
  189. Melissa Brandt 11/07/17
  190. Jani Skala 12/01/17
  191. Jarrod Nyland 12/05/17
  192. Brandi Youngmark 12/05/17
  193. Jared Ferguson 12/12/17
  194. MICHAEL JOHNSON 12/27/17
  195. TRAVIS BEAUCHENE 01/28/18
  196. DAN CASH 02/12/18
  197. SYLVIA LUNSKI 02/01/18
  198. KIA MIKESH 02/12/18
  199. DANA SAND 02/20/18
  200. DAVE HARMON 02/26/18
  201. TRENT LEE 03/01/18
  202. Dan Retzlaff 03/19/18
  203. Peter Schott 04/10/18
  204. Mark Bjerke 04/20/18
  205. Jim Hamel 04/27/18
  206. Rick Stenerson 05/30/18
  207. TODD BERNING 06/06/18
  208. Adam Martin 06/15/18
  209. MATT CHAUSSEE 06/15/18
  210. SANDRA VIGEN 06/20/18
  211. Michelle Swanson 06/20/18
  212. LISA BORTNEM-WISER 07/18/18
  213. SHELLE HAGEN 08/01/18
  214. Alex Vasichek 09/20/18
  215. Joe Heilman 09/24/18
  216. Eric Miller 10/17/18
  217. Nicole Seaberg 10/24/18
  218. Ole Rygg 11/01/18
  219. Janelle Albrecht 12/11/18
  220. John Fisher 12/17/18
  221. MIRANDA BURFEIND 01/18/19
  222. SARAH KOUSTRUP 03/06/19
  223. Beau Flom 03/19/19
  224. Shanna Cramer 05/09/19
  225. SUSAN HOZAK 06/03/19
  226. Jill Christopher 10/28/19
  227. Mark Puppe 11/06/19
  228. MADDIE CRAIG 12/03/19
  229. Amy L Nash 12/10/19
  230. PATRICK METZGER 01/06/20
  231. Jackson Strom 01/21/20
  232. Becky Cronin 01/27/20
  233. MATT BREKER 01/31/20
  234. Brett Meyers 02/04/20
  235. GARY JOHNSON 02/07/20
  236. STEVE HALLSTROM 03/02/20
  237. LINDA PETERSON 03/03/20
  238. JOE TJOSVOLD 03/09/20
  239. CHERYL BERGIAN 04/14/20
  240. JASON ORLOSKE 05/13/20
  241. MAREN GEMAR 06/19/20
  242. GAIL NELSON 07/14/20
  243. ERIK JACOBSON 07/29/20
  244. LANDON VOGEL 08/03/20
  245. BEVERLY BOONE 08/19/20
  246. SHELLEY LENZ 08/31/20
  247. TOM STADUM 10/12/20
  248. SHAUN ENGELSRUD 10/27/20
  249. JULIE HALVERSON  11/24/20
  250. CHRIS POER 11/30/20
  251. CASSIE TEMPLE 12/03/20
  252. MIKE GALLAGHER 01/08/21
  253. JOSH HUTCHINS 02/08/21
  254. STEPHANIE LARSCHEID 01/09/21
  255. BRAD NESS 02/10/21
  256. GREG PETERSON 03/01/21
  257. JAY EVANS 03/25/21
  258. CAL BRAUN 03/26/21
  259. DUANE MAATZ 03/29/21
  260. ZACH JOHNSON 05/07/21
  261. BRITTNEY HOGAN 05/18/21
  262. JEFFREY MISSLING 05/28/21
  263. JASON BERG 06/01/21
  264. JENNIFER ELLSWORTH 06/02/21
  265. LARRY MUELLER 08/01/21
  266. JOEL JORGENSON 08/23/21
  267. BRETT COLLITON 09/08/21
  268. AARON STOE 09/30/21
  269. JEFF CARNEY 11/06/21
  270. TIM MEYER 11/08/21
  271. ASHLEY MAUCH 12/15/21
  272. NATALIE SPARROW  12/22/21
  273. SHARI ISAAK 01/03/22
  274. CRYSTAL NELSON 01/15/22
  275. SKYLER DUTTON 02/22/22
  276. CHAD PETERSON 03/28/22
  277. JON MCTAGGART 04/01/22
  278. JT FRONING 06/02/22
  279. SARAH THORSRUD 06/02/22
  280. IAN CARLSTROM 06/17/22
  281. WILLIAM CROMARTY 06/21/22
  282. RENEE ELLIS 06/23/22
  283. BRIAN BESTGE 09/07/22
  284. KELSEY RASCO 09/19/22
  285. ANDY NELSON 09/22/22
  286. NICK WAVEREK 11/14/2022
  287. RYAN FRITZ 11/16/2022
  288. KATHERINE KIERNAN 12/31/2022
  289. JAYMES O’PHERON 03/03/2023
  290. SHANNON FULL 03/07/2023
  291. JOSH SOWL 03/14/2023
  292. AMANDA RIDLEY 03/15/2023
  293. JAMES HENDRICKS 06/05/2023
  294. YVETTE REYES 09/10/2023
  295. ROD MARSHAND 09/11/2023
  296. DON ALSCHLAGER 09/12/2023
  297. MACDALTON BERNS 09/20/2023
  298. HANNAH BETTENHAUSEN 09/22/2023
  299. ALISHA ANKERS 09/29/2023
  300. LAETITIA MIZERO HELLERUD 10/04/2023
  301. GLEN STEVENS 10/05/2023
  302. MESUD HECO 10/06/2023
  303. MARC BUSHEE 10/15/2023
  304. RICHARD ANDERSON 10/23/2023
  305. KELSEY HOFFMANN 10/24/2023
  306. RACHEL NELSON 11/10/2023
  307. JASON BOUTWELL 11/29/2023
  308. STEPHEN SCHMITZ 12/08/2023
  309. MATTHEW CHRISTENSON 12/10/2023
  310. JASON FISCHER 12/12/2023
  311. DEREK NOLTE 01/29/2024
  312. LIZ MARKHAM 02/04/2024
  313. JESSIE AAMODT 02/04/2024
  314. JASON HEARN 02/16/2024
  315. TAYLOR BADGER 02/23/2024
  316. KURT MCSPARRON 08/14/2015

OUR CORE VALUES

be upfront.

get to know each other.

learn by teaching.

create big moments.

live intentionally.




100 MOMENTS '16-'19...