Photos by Hillary Ehlen and J. Alan Paul Photography
We are pleased to present our second annual “Faces of Fargo Business” coffee table book. In the following section, we celebrate members of the Fargo metro area who were featured in Fargo INC! over the past year. Aspiring entrepreneurs, CEOs, artists and countless others share one last note with us as we head into 2019.
Danne Doering
Banker, Choice Bank
What 2018 accomplishment are you most proud of?
Part of the Chamber Leadership program is to implement a Community Change Project. Our project was Professionally Paired, pairing non profits with professionals, and the first event was a hit with 175 professionals attending!
What lesson have you had to learn the hard way?
Giving everyone a voice isn’t always constructive.
What advice would you give young people just entering the business world?
Never burn a bridge; you never know when that person or business may come back into your life.
Josh Ulrich
Owner, Scoop N Dough Candy Co.
If you could thank one person in the FM community, who would it be and why?
I would like to thank Mike Zimney at Kilbourne Group. Every time we needed help or had questions about the construction process (and trust me I had many), Mike made himself available, even on weekends! His passion for downtown Fargo is evident and was crucial to our successful opening.
If you could thank one organization, resource or individual that’s contributed to your success, who would it be and why?
I would like to thank the support of the local business community! All of the surrounding businesses and organizations have been extremely generous and a key to our success. Also, a special thanks to the DCP for all of their great work in keeping downtown Fargo such a great place to do business.
What motivates you?
Happy customers! Seeing the joy on our customers face when they try our product. We like to think of ourselves as smile makers!
Paul Wilson
President/CEO, Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC
If you could thank one organization, resource or individual that’s contributed to your success, who would it be and why?
The CEO of Lutheran Health Systems once told me that success is about trying to make a difference and that the only person you must answer to is the one you see in the mirror. He said this before sending me—then a 26-year-old man—to an organization needing a major turnaround. His message was simple. All he wanted me to do was try. He emphasized that trying comes with success and failure. And failure is not an end, but rather an opportunity to use what you learn to keep trying. Success is sometimes the result of failing. Thirty-four years later, I remember that conversation like it was yesterday. When you try—and keep trying, no matter how difficult—and stay true to your beliefs, you can always be proud.
What lesson have you had to learn the hard way?
It took me many years to understand the meaning of Thomas Jefferson’s statement: “A difference of opinion is not always a difference of philosophy.” I think we have lost the spirit of that message, whether in our politics, our schools or our work. When we focus on our differences rather than what we have in common, we can’t achieve anything of true substance. Healthcare issues today are highly emotional. It took me several years to understand that while physicians, administrators and politicians may not agree on how to solve healthcare problems, they all agree that healthcare is important. They all care about people.
Sandy Kjelvik
Senior Vice President of Human Resources, Discovery Benefits
What’s one thing you want the local business community to know about you?
Fargo is a very special place to live with a lot of opportunity and great people. I would not want to live anywhere else.
What 2018 accomplishment are you most proud of?
For the last nine years, our company has been awarded Business Insurance’s “Best Places to Work!” I am proud of that because the survey is sent to all of our employees, and the results reflect their level of engagement and satisfaction with our company.
If you could thank one organization, resource or individual that’s contributed to your success, who would it be and why?
John Biwer. He is one of the most humble and effective leaders I have ever met. He sees the value in each individual and persistently coaches others to be a better leader.
Thomas Loegering
Assistant Corporate Counsel, Wanzek Construction, Inc.
How does the reality of your job differ from people’s perception of it?
Outside of law school, I’ve never set foot in a courtroom. Most people think lawyers just argue in front of a judge. My job is much more business-focused and collaborative and non-confrontational than people realize. I view my job as to find agreement and get deals done; arguing is counterproductive.
What motivates you?
My family is my biggest motivator. I want to provide the best opportunities possible for my wife and kids and give them the best chance to succeed in whatever they are doing. Losing also motivates me; I work to avoid it at all costs.
What’s one thing you want the local business community to know about you?
I’m always looking for opportunities to develop personally and professional and believe my experience and background provides me a unique mindset and perspective that many don’t possess in my industry.
