Current Members of The Executives’ Club of Fargo-Moorhead are listed chronologically, by their joining date, beginning August 14, 2015
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Hometown: Fargo, North Dakota
Fargo South High
Concordia College
Member 135 | December 16, 2016
Starting out as an auditor with KPMG International and then joining the ND Department of Banking as a Bank Examiner, I have a profound understanding of accounting, finance, and banking. I took this knowledge and experience and began a 20-year career in private industry specializing in various business types and complexities. I was involved in many successful land transactions, restaurants, hotels, and other commercial real estate deals before joining First Choice Business Brokers in 2022.
Barry is a longtime entrepreneur with management experience in several diverse industries. He graduated Cum Laude from Concordia College, Moorhead, MN with a BA in Business Administration and Accounting with a minor in Spanish.
Barry began following his entrepreneurial spirit early in his career when he developed a quick-serve Italian restaurant and purchased and developed various restaurants.
In 2008, Barry joined the Sonmar Management team, founded in 1988. Sonmar has built 50 hotels over the past 40 years.
Barry purchased a Right at Home franchise for the Fargo area in 2017. Right at Home Fargo provides a range of in-home care options for seniors and adults with disabilities. “Don’t think of our services as one-size-fits all. We know everyone’s needs are different, so our care plans are uniquely tailored to each individual.”
Married 29+ years to Elizabeth with a son, Jack and a daughter, Brooke. He enjoys golfing and relaxing at the lake in his free time.
Hometown: Webster, Wisconsin
WEBSTER HIGH
University of Minnesota-Duluth
MEMBER 166 | JULY 10, 2016
Tech Enthusiast // Design Junkie // UI Hacker // Blockchain Supporter // GIS Lover // 107 Remote Pilot // Problem Solver |
Anthony founded Project Phoenix as a custom software development company in May of 2017, building platforms for customers across a myriad of markets: UAS, IoT, Education, Retail, Precision Agriculture, and Professional Services. Each platform Project Phoenix built leveraged a custom-created instant API engine and database hosting platform, Devii (devii.io), to trim hundreds of hours of API development down to just a few minutes.
“We began as a software development company and faced the same hurdles that every other dev team is facing: The software development industry is overworked and understaffed. In order to stay ahead of the curve, we developed Devii, which allowed us to instantly and securely generate APIs to any existing SQL database. This was a game changer for us, as it automated many of the tedious tasks that used to take up our team’s time. It has also been a cost saver, as we no longer need to spend the time it takes to write and manage every API.”
In 2022, Project Phoenix sunset custom software development to focus on commercializing Devii with the expectation of offsetting the global software engineer employment shortage while also improving the security and durability of API development for millions of engineers in the software development industry.
If you could go back in time to Anthony from several years ago, what hindsight advice would you give yourself?
“Put down the golf clubs and start pursuing something that you can meaningfully contribute your mind to.”
“Since I was about seven, I dreamed of becoming a professional golfer and I didn’t let that dream go until I was in my late 20s. Even after I had started a career in software development and even after it was clear my mind and energy would be better spent creating and enabling great ideas, I persisted. I look back at what I learned though, on having to give up something that I put so much time into, and it actually makes me smile; I understand now I bloom where I am planted and that expecting change is a super power for creating sustainability, both for myself and for the lives of those around me.” – Anthony 10 QUESTIONS WITH JOHN MACHACEK: FARGO INC! MAGAZINE
Hometown: Harvey, North Dakota
Harvey High
North Dakota State University
Club Member 169 | July 31, 2017
Amber has been with Lake Agassiz Development Group since 2007; from Program Manager, to Assistant Manager, and finally to Executive Director in 2015.
A native of Harvey, ND and NDSU graduate, Amber oversees the activities of 4 organizations under the LADG umbrella; including Lake Agassiz Regional Council; Lake Agassiz Regional Development Corporation; Lake Agassiz Certified Development Company; with each entity having its’ own Board of Directors and role in the areas of community development, business lending and entrepreneurial services.
Hometown: Oxbow, North Dakota
Fargo South High School
University of MN – Carlson School of Management
Club Member 198 | February 12, 2018
Kia serves as Vice-President of their 3rd generation, family-owned business, North Dakota Grain Inspection Service, Inc.. NDGI is a federally designated laboratory licensed to officially sample and grade grain under the US Grain Standards Act in their respective areas. While locally there may be other inspection labs operating, the USDA grants only one agency the authority to carry out and issue official inspections for that locale. From just 3 employees in 1968, NDGI currently operates in 8 states, from North Dakota to Ohio, with well over 200 employees. Kia has worked her way through the organization and took the role of Vice-President in 2016, the same year Prairie Business Magazine named her one of our region’s 40 Under 40. Kia was appointed to serve on the US Dept of Agriculture Grain Inspection Advisory Committee and has also served on the Board of Directors of the American Association of Grain Inspection and Weighing Agency, since 2014. In 2019, Kia also Co-Founded one of the first hemp inspection facilities in ND, Adams Independent Testing and currently serves as CEO.
Hometown: Jeffers, Minnesota
Storden-Jeffers High
South Dakota State University
University of Minnesota – Waseca
University of Maryland
Member 262 | May 28, 2021
CEO of the North Dakota Farm Bureau since 2005, Jeff previously worked for the Minnesota Farm Bureau, the University of Minnesota Extension Office, Cargill and other ag-related businesses.
He grew up on a diversified crop and livestock farm near Jeffers, MN and holds a bachelor’s degree in Ag Business Management from South Dakota State University, as well as a Masters in International Management from the University of Maryland.
The North Dakota Farm Bureau advocates for farmers and ranchers. The mission of NDFB is to enhance the livelihood of all North Dakota individuals, families and communities by advocating for agriculture, our state’s largest, most important economic sector.
November 19-20, 1942, Farm Bureau officially organized in Valley City, with Charter members from 21 county Farm Bureaus represented the voting body at that first meeting. Today, the organization has more than 27,000 members, and 50 organized county Farm Bureaus. The foundation on which the organization was built – a grassroots, member-driven structure – remains solid.
Hometown: Hillsboro, North Dakota
Hillsboro High
United States Navy
University of Mary
Member 270 | November 8, 2021
Tim is a Hillsboro, ND native, graduate of University of Mary and veteran of the United States Navy, serving from 1985 through 1989, including 2 years aboard the USS Florida Trident Class nuclear submarine.
“I was a Navy Corpsman and did ambulance work at Camp Pendleton. When I returned to Fargo, I wanted to continue to work in a field where I could make a difference. I am very fortunate to be involved with two of the finest EMS organizations in the country. As Sanford Health’s Senior Director of EMS Operations, I am responsible for F-M Ambulance Service and for the medical staff of Sanford AirMed.”
Sanford AirMed is a Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS) Accredited hospital based air-ambulance service where I manage the clinical and operational performance of a rotor-wing and fixed-wing air-ambulance system. Sanford AirMed has five bases in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota. F-M Ambulance Service (FMA), a wholly owned subsidiary of Sanford Health, is an advanced life support (ALS) ambulance service operating in Fargo, ND, Moorhead, MN, West Fargo, ND, and many other communities in Cass County (ND) and Clay County (MN). FMA also operates Thief River Falls Area Ambulance Service in Thief River Falls, MN and Hillsboro Ambulance Service in my home town of Hillsboro, ND.
Hometown: Harvey, North Dakota
Harvey High
Member 295 | September 11, 2023
Rod F. Marchand is the president and CEO of Marchand Retail Group, Inc. operating multiple businesses including retail, wholesale, and manufacturing.
As a second generation, family-owned business operation, he is excited to welcome his sons into the transition of a third-generation ownership group.
Rod is a proud husband and father of seven children and currently three grandchildren, dedicated to inspiring other entrepreneurs to seek out achieving their dreams and goals!
Established in 1980, we are a family owned company which operates several businesses, including Retail, Wholesale, Ecommerce, and Real Estate Development and Management. Our mission statement “In every encounter and every interaction, we must leave the world a better place than we found it” sums up our management philosophy.
Entrepreneur and Author!!!?? | Fargo INC! July 2022
Hometown: Shatanya, Gitega
University of Mary
Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education
Université du Burundi
Lycée Sainte Thérèse de Mushasha
Laetitia Mizero Hellerud is the Executive Director of Jeremiah Program’s Fargo-Moorhead campus. She is a seasoned leader with over 27 years of professional experience working with minoritized and underrepresented populations.
A 24-year resident of the Fargo-Moorhead community, Mizero Hellerud has spent her career and much of her life supporting women and children through forward-thinking leadership, program management, community engagement, advocacy, and equity-driven principles. After a decade of advocating for Head Start families and coordinating the statewide settlement of new refugees, she has most recently led policy and systems change and advanced gender, racial, and socio-economic inclusion as a published author, Bush Foundation Fellow, board member, and leader in North Dakota, South Dakota, and northwestern Minnesota. This work has also been critical to Mizero Hellerud’s intercultural consulting practice in the areas of diversity, equity, access, belonging, immigrant issues, and qualitative and quantitative research methods. A well-traveled leader, she brings her holistic worldview to any space and project she is engaged in.
Mizero Hellerud holds an M.S. in management from the University of Mary, Fargo, and an executive certificate from Harvard University’s program Leadership, Organizing and Action: Leading for Change.
She and her husband, Mark, live in North Dakota and Minnesota. Their blended family includes two adult children (Yann and Nicole) and a springer spaniel named Laurel.
Ashley Mauch provides individual, couple, and family therapy services.
Ashley has been helping couples, families, and individuals since 2007. She earned her Master’s Degree in Couples Family Therapy at North Dakota State University’s Therapy program. Ashley specializes in anxiety, depression, adolescent issues, autoimmune disease, adjustment issues, parent-child relational problems, marital/couples issues (premarital, or contemplating separation or divorce). Treatment modalities include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Emotion Focused Therapy, Gottman Method, Family systems, and Trauma Focused-CBT.
We may have similar struggles, but we all experience these struggles differently. Ashley’s services are structured around each client and family’s unique needs and goals. She is passionate about helping people create a more fulfilling life in a judgement free setting. She is focused on helping enrich your relationships and create a life full of confidence, hope, happiness, and peace.
Ashley offers self pay without a diagnosis for those who can’t have an official diagnosis due to their career title. Accepts insurance: BCBS-ND, BCBS-MN, Medica, and Sanford.
EDUCATION:
Master of Science; North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND
Human Development & Family Science, emphasis: Couple & Family Therapy, December, 2010
Bachelor of Science; North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND
Major: Sociology, Graduated May, 2007
Minors: Psychology and Child Development
What began in 2016 as a way of improving the lives of formerly incarcerated individuals in Fargo, ND, F5 Project has evolved into a statewide initiative to bridge resources and provide full-spectrum services to people struggling with incarceration, mental health, and addiction. “We are passionate about the human struggle, the endeavor to recreate stories, and know the power of empathy and grace to refresh lives.”
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I’m a passionate nonprofit leader and focus on driving impactful change and fostering growth. With expertise in strategy development and operational excellence, I thrive on building partnerships and implementing innovative programs that empower communities. My work is fueled by my commitment to social impact and economic prosperity. I love collaborating with others to make meaningful change. If you’re interested in making a difference, let’s connect and explore new opportunities by dreamin’ and schemin’ together. Normal is boring, let’s get weird! – Jenna
Founder | August 14, 2015
Hometown: Grandin, ND
Hillsboro, Moorhead, Norman County West High Schools
School of Communication Arts Minneapolis; Radio/Television Broadcasting
Regardless of the topic of conversation at the clubhouse, Kurt can usually chime in with, “I used to do that!”, to which someone will typically reply…”Where haven’t you worked?”.
Farmhand; Pizza Guy; Bobcat Operator; Camera Operator; Taxi Driver; Bartender; Floor Director; Head Slicer; Playtown Leader; Store Manager; Dept. Manager; Sales Manager; Visual Display Coordinator; Member Representative; VP-Marketing; Business Development; Consultant; Owner; Founder; Owner; Founder; Partner; Partner; etc., etc., etc.,…but always willing to fill the position of General Laborer.
In 2010, Kurt accepted a “dream job”, that combined several of his passions; small business, entrepreneurship, growth, change and US politics. A few years of enthusiasm and success were lost to the bureaucracy and eye-opening realizations. On August 14, 2015, he left the position he’d once loved and put the idea of a local business, growth and leadership initiative on the table at a downtown Fargo coffee meeting. That morning, The 100, Inc. was formed, now doing business as The Executives’ Club of Fargo-Moorhead.
Kurt’s title, today, he says is, simply…”student, helper, idea guy and connector”.
What is your favorite thing about your professional life? “Each day, I get to have impactful and powerful conversations with some of the area’s best business leaders, plus I get to lend a hand in their innovation, their creativity and, hopefully, their fulfillment.”
Kurt has also held a seat on the Editorial Board of Fargo INC! Business Magazine since 2020. Today, the Executives’ Club, NELCO First Aid, Inc. and ProTek, Inc. operate from a non-descript bunker in West Fargo known as The Grindstone, because, (from a favorite quote)…“Life is a grindstone. Whether it grinds us down or polishes us up, depends on what we’re made of.”
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