Q: Tell us about yourself.
A: Hello! I’m Annie Dafforn—mother, wife, controller, and lifelong learner. I grew up in a small town in northcentral North Dakota (Willow City) and later moved to Fargo for college. My time at NDSU made me fall in love with the Fargo community. For me, it’s the Goldilocks of places to live—not too big, not too small, and it has a Target!
I work in the accounting field and have always loved numbers and puzzles. I’ve been fortunate to work at several great places throughout my career and recently joined the team at Corwin Automotive Group. My favorite part of any job is identifying inefficiencies, fixing issues, and improving processes to make my team’s work smoother and more effective.
Outside of work, I’m a wife and mother to two incredible little humans. My daughter is four, and my son is eight months old, so we stay busy chasing them around and laughing at all the new things they come up with. We also have a Shiba Inu named Kira—she’s getting older but still adds to the chaos and entertainment in our home.
Q: Who are some people who have been influential in your journey?
A: I grew up in a rural farming community where my parents worked hard while keeping family as their first priority. My dad, a farmer, puts in long days but always does so with a smile and a positive attitude. My mom worked for the Farm Service Agency, taking great pride in her work while ensuring she was always present for my brother and me at our school activities. Their work ethic and dedication to family have shaped who I am today.
Professionally, I’ve been lucky to have great women leaders throughout my career who have shown me what it means to be a servant leader. Megan Schreiner, my former manager at Goldmark, has been a huge inspiration. She works incredibly hard, gives back to her community, and balances motherhood beautifully. She’s shown me how to keep pushing myself while prioritizing the things that truly matter.
Q: What drives you?
A: I’m driven by the desire to get better every day. I love learning, applying new knowledge to my life, and constantly improving. My kids also drive me to be a better human being and to help shape the world they will grow up in.
Q: What do you think can be improved in our business community?
A: I believe our business community could do more to support working parents, especially working mothers. Balancing daycare closings, sick kids, and the countless challenges of parenting while maintaining a career can be overwhelming. Providing resources, flexible work options, and support systems for working parents would help them stay in the workforce and be successful in both aspects of their lives.
Additionally, I think businesses need more training and resources to help employers better support employees transitioning into parenthood. Workplaces that prioritize this will retain top talent and foster stronger, more engaged teams.
Q: What are some important life lessons you have learned?
A: The greatest life lesson I’ve learned is that you can’t control everything—except your attitude and how you react to situations. Letting go of what you can’t control and focusing on what you can makes life a whole lot easier.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
A: This is a tough question because my answer constantly evolves as life happens. Ideally, I’ll be doing work I enjoy, continuing to learn and grow every day.
I also imagine that my kids will be in the prime of their extracurricular activities, so I see myself attending all of their events, cheering them on, and embracing this season of life.
Q: What are you hoping to gain from the United Way 35 Under 35 Women’s Leadership Program?
A: I recently stepped into a new role at a new company, which has been both exciting and challenging. I hope this program helps me develop the leadership skills needed to thrive in my new position while also giving me a better understanding of my strengths and areas for improvement. I’m also eager to build connections with other women in the community—women I may not have met otherwise. I’ve already had the chance to meet some incredible people through this program, and I can’t wait to continue learning from them.
Q: What are your passions outside of work?
A: Outside of work, I love spending time at any lake and traveling to new places. I also enjoy reading and crafting with my daughter—she’s incredibly creative, and it’s been fun to tap back into that side of myself through her.
Q: Is there anything else you would like to share with the readers?
A: Embrace change and growth, and never stop learning. Life has a way of throwing unexpected challenges your way, but your mindset and willingness to adapt will determine your success. Keep pushing forward, stay curious, and make the most of every opportunity!
