July 31--Rydell hires Tollefson, Kordahl
Todd Tollefson and Steve Kordahl have joined the sales staff at Rydell Honda Nissan in Grand Forks.
Tollefson previously worked at Tel Pro Inc.
Kordahl formerly operated a furniture store in Cokato, Minn., before directing the Park River Bible Camp in Park River, N.D.
UND Foundation hires, promotes
The UND Alumni Association and UND Foundation recently hired five and promoted one to a new role.
Karen Ryba is now associate director of alumni programming and outreach. She has nearly 20 years of experience working on campus, most recently at the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences.
Pam Laffen was hired as a special events coordinator. She assists with, plans and executes events including the Sioux-Per Gala and alumni socials. Before joining the organization, Laffen worked for 26 years as an elementary teacher.
Krista Thom is associate director of communications and online engagement. Thom's previous experience includes working for several newspapers and a publishing company.
Shannon Solberg is an administrative assistant. She also assists with data entry and other projects. Before joining the Alumni Association, Solberg worked at Altru Health System as a medical transcriptionist and transcription clerk.
Sierra Woods was hired as a gift entry and database specialist, where she is responsible for tracking gifts and pledges and maintaining an accurate database. Woods earned her degree in management and marketing from UND.
Katie Compton was promoted to annual giving officer. She meets with prospective donors, and stewards donations from annual donors. Previously, Compton was associate director of alumni programming and outreach.
Steve Burian, Fernanda Philbrick and Cathy Rydell were elected July 1 to three-year terms on the board of directors of the Association and Foundation. They're eligible to serve three terms.
Burian earned a bachelor's degree in 1990 and a Master of Science degree in 1992, both in civil engineering. He is chief executive of Advanced Engineering and Environmental Services Inc., a Grand Forks-based company he co-founded while in grad school.
Philbrick is an engineering manager with Intel. She received a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering in 1994 and a Master of Science degree in chemical engineering in 1996 from UND.
Rydell is executive director and chief executive of the American Academy of Neurology, the American Academy of Neurology Foundation, the American Academy of Neurology Professional Association and AAN Enterprises Inc. Rydell earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from UND in 1988.
N.D. Ag Coalition elects officers
Bruce Freitag, Scranton, N.D., was elected by the North Dakota Ag Coalition to its executive board as small grains representative. He will serve a three-year term. Freitag is also associated with the North Dakota Wheat Commission.
Also serving continuing three-year terms on the executive board are:
Brent Stroh, Tappen, N.D., North Dakota Lamb and Wool Producers, livestock representative; and Paul Mathiason, Grand Forks, Red River Valley Sugarbeet Growers Association, row crop representative.
Serving continuing two-year terms are Allan Tellmann, New Salem, Milk Producers Association of N.D., chairman; and Jeff Enger, Marion, N.D., Corn Utilization Council, vice chairman.
Swanson, Pariseau earn OSHA certificates
Brian Swanson, director of operations, and Gerald Pariseau, operations manager at Greenberg Roofing in Grand Forks have been OSHA 10 certified with all field employees and project managers.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration's construction safety course was developed by the U.S. Department of Labor to provide construction workers, supervisors and personnel with awareness of safety and health concerns in the construction industry. Attendees become familiar with and use OSHA standards for construction.
Beste is best among young Twin Cities enterpreneurs
Nick Beste, 23, was named Young Entrepreneur of the Year by Twin Cities Business Journal.
Beste, who grew up in Grand Forks, has founded or co-founded a half-dozen businesses and had ideas to start at least that many more. He earned his undergraduate business degree from the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management this year.
He's also raised about $500,000 in equity capital for ManCave, an in-home marketer of grilling foods and accessories that he co-founded in October 2008.
In addition to ManCave, he has started businesses that distribute refrigerated salsa, publish college-campus information guides, print T-shirts for college groups such as fraternities and sell advertising for GPS devices on golf carts.
AE2S hires
Tina Gustafson has been hired as a financial analyst in the asset management division, AE2S Nexus, by Advanced Engineering and Environmental Services Inc. in its Moorhead office.
Gustafson is originally from Langdon, N.D., where she was city auditor. She earned her bachelor's degree from UND and has more than 20 years of experience in financial services.
AE2S also has hired Adam Sletten and Dan Berthe as student interns in its Moorhead office and James Sletten, Matt Erickson and Adam Zach as student interns in its Grand Forks office.
Adam Sletten is a native of Larimore, ND. and will be entering his second year at North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton, N.D. He will primarily be providing surveying services for Southeast Water Users District pipeline route mapping.
Berthe is originally from Eden Prairie, Minn., and will be earning his bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from North Dakota State University this fall.
James Sletten also is from Larimore and is a junior at UND majoring in industrial technology. At AE2S, he will be assisting with instrumentation and controls.
Erickson is from Grand Forks and will be a senior at UND this fall. At AE2S, he will be providing construction administration, surveying and engineering-related tasks.
Zach is from Dickinson, N.D., earned his bachelor's degree from UND and will pursue his master's degree in environmental engineering at UND this fall. Before joining AE2S, Zach worked as an intern for Highlands Engineering and Surveying in Dickinson. At AE2S, he will be part of the design team working on the $14.6 million Water Treatment Plant Improvements Project for Valley City, N.D.
Johnson graduates from banking school
Brandon Johnson, cash management officer with Choice Financial in West Fargo, N.D., graduated from the Dakota School of Banking sponsored by the North Dakota Bankers Association and endorsed by the South Dakota Bankers Association.
In its 37th year, the school trained 44 bank personnel. The Dakota School of Banking has been held on the campus of Jamestown College in Jamestown, N.D., since 1997. Students are enrolled for two years, attending the school one week each summer. The first-year session provides a general overview of the banking industry and the departments that make up a bank. The second-year session builds on the general banking knowledge gained in the first year and adds a computerized bank management simulation to reinforce technical and functional management skills.
Steele joins Dakota Dental
Dr. Eric Steele has joined the team of Dakota Dental Associates at 4000 17th Ave. S. in Grand Forks.
The Grand Forks native is a Red River High School graduate, earned his biology degree from UND and his doctorate in dental surgery from the University of Minnesota.
Dakota Dental employs five doctors, eight hygienists, seven assistants and eight other dental professionals.
Barta earns certification
Jeff Barta, athletic trainer at Achieve Therapy and Fitness, has been certified by the Titelist Performance Institute as a certified golf fitness instructor, level 1. TPI certified instructors have learned to identify and correct physical restrictions that affect golf-specific health and fitness.
A native of Michigan, N.D., Barta received his bachelor's degree from UND in 1987 and his master's degree from Troy State, Alabama, in 2000. He has been a certified athletic trainer since 1987 and a certified strength and conditioning specialist since 1995.
Thrivent honors three
Vance Bowersox, Dean Greuel and Joe Miedema, financial associates with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, have qualified for the organization's prestigious Sierra level for 2009 achievements for sales and service in northwest Minnesota and eastern North Dakota.
Nearly 650 of Thrivent Financial's 2,500 financial representatives qualified for the Sierra level.
Bowersox has been with Thrivent Financial and its predecessor organizations for 14 years and has been recognized for his performance 14 times.
Greuel and Miedema have been with Thrivent for four years.
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