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.
John Machacek
Chief Innovation Officer, Greater Fargo Moorhead Economic Development Corporation
If you could thank one person in the FM community, who would it be and why?
Greg Tehven, as no one has done more to push us as a community and cheerlead for us to take pride in the community we are building, as well as being a vocal cheerleader to others around the rest of the world about how great our community is.
What lesson have you had to learn the hard way?
Maybe I’ve been lucky or it’s just my positive attitude, but I don’t feel like I have had any hard lessons in life. I know that I am learning every day and ideally becoming a better person every day.
What advice would you give young people just entering the business world?
Treat others well. Be genuine and respectful to others, and ideally they’ll do the same to you. Don’t get caught up in power, greed or material things. Try to be thankful each day for your health and time with others. Get involved and better your community – if you don’t know how, ask me. If you are looking for the “perfect job,” be prepared for probable disappointment – especially if you expect that immediately.
Scott Bintz
Lead Rebel – Red Headed Rebel
If you could thank one organization, resource or individual that’s contributed to your success, who would it be and why?
Certainly it would be the people of RealTruck. They helped turn a mediocre company without purpose into a company with purpose that had real impact with customers, business partners and fellow employees.
What advice would you give young people just entering the business world?
Follow your passion, not the money. If you follow your passion, you will figure out a way to make enough to keep doing it. If you follow the money, you probably won’t enjoy it. If you are unsure of your “passion,” then just start rowing in the next indicated direction. By paddling in life, you will began to realize what fuels you and what doesn’t.
Rob Swiers
Executive Director, New Life Center
What advice would you give young people just entering the business world?
Don’t try to be something you are not. Do find out what turns your crank and then DO IT. Even if it takes quite a few years, it’ll be worth it. AND…those mistakes you make along the way, those places you stumble and fall, they will all come in handy someday. No better place to learn than on your knees. Think .38 Special and Hold On Loosely.
What are you most looking forward to in 2019?
We will be launching two new programs: an in-house relapse prevention program to help men address addictive behavior and an after-care program to help men stay in housing once they secure it.
Al Haut
District Director, US Small Business Administration
What 2018 accomplishment are you most proud of?
Helping our district office staff attain 100 percent of our goals by assisting area entrepreneurs start, grow and succeed.
If you could thank one organization that’s contributed to your success, who would it be and why?
Thank you to all my scout leaders who helped me develop leadership skills before I knew what being a leader really meant. They also taught me that living by the scout laws (trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent) was a life worth living.
Michaela Schell
Elite Level V Lexus Achiever, Rodan + Fields
What lesson have you had to learn the hard way?
Some people will say no to you in business. Some people will say yes. But their choice isn’t a reflection on you or what you do.
What motivates you?
Doing. When you take one step forward, it excites you to take one more, then another. That one first action of doing begins to grow your motivation to do more.
What advice would you give young people just entering the business world?
Lean in. Lean in to trying new things. Lean in to taking on projects you may fail at. Lean in to making mistakes. Lean in to something that scares you. You will always get farther faster by leaning in than pulling back.
