Faces Of Fargo Business: Kim Jore, Hannah Savoy and Darren Huber

Written by: Fargo Inc Staff

Photos by Hillary Ehlen

We like to think of the Fargo business community as a giant puzzle and the people who comprise it as the different but equally essential pieces. Take one person, one company, or one industry away, and the picture becomes incomplete. Faces of Fargo Business is our chance to piece that puzzle together each month and celebrate the countless people who make this such a great place to work.

RELATED: Faces Of Fargo Business: Erica Johnsrud, Jane Schuh, Ph.D., Brian Halverson

Kim Jore

Owner, Riverzen

Kim Jore

Artist Kim Jore is from Fargo where she paints and teaches watercolors and acrylic painting at Riverzen. Growing up in Scranton, N.D., in the western part of the state, influenced her style of painting landscapes. She is known for her bright use of color, as well as being a painter of many subjects: portraits, abstracts, florals, cityscapes and collage.

She is also a member of the Red River Watercolor Society and Fargo Moorhead Visual Arts. She is active in supporting local art shows, volunteers with children doing art therapy and fundraises with her art.

About Riverzen

Riverzen is an art studio, gallery and salon all in one. The relaxing atmosphere and beautiful setting makes it an experience of visual paradise.

The worst piece of advice she’s ever received…
You can’t be an artist.

What keeps her up at night…
I have so many ideas in my head and not enough time to do them so I get up and write them down. I’m a night owl. I love to play music, watch movies and look at the moon! I also like to fish at night and watch the sunsets.

What she would give a TED Talk on…
I would talk about how to “Live In The Moment.” I would paint my story! That’s how I tell my story. Everything I create is part of me. When I go listen to a lecture, concert, speech, sit at a wedding or fundraiser, I sit and paint what I hear. I’m a listener and to retain what’s happening around me, I paint.

How the reality of her job differs from people’s perception of it…
Hairstylist: People think we just cut hair. We change how people think about themselves, empower them, teach them and advise them.

Artist: The old saying about a starving artist is not true. If you believe in yourself and what you do as an artist, you can do well at it.

If she could thank one person who’s contributed to her success…
Perry Nolan. My first art teacher.

What’s her why…
I love it. I love to help people, make people feel good and educate people. Everyone is given a talent and I believe that I’m blessed with what I do.

One characteristic every great leader should possess…
Good listening

A local/state resource she has utilized recently…
Arts Partnership

Hannah Savoy

Marketing Manager, dogIDs

Hannah Savoy

If you want to find somebody who will fully argue in favor of allowing pets in the workplace, it’s Hannah Savoy. As marketing manager of e-commerce website dogIDs, her job is marketing to puppies and puppy fanatics. However, Savoy will be the first to tell you that she’s much more than her job description.

“I am the Marketing Manger at dogIDs where I am in charge of content, emails, social media, strategy, PPC and really anything that marketing could possibly touch,” said Savoy. “Outside of staying sane as a department of one, I love freelancing, meeting with people to talk marketing, traveling the world and occasionally jumping out of airplanes with friends.”

A typical day in her life…

9: Greet all coworkers, human and non-human, and plan out daily and weekly plans while petting puppies.
10-12: Curate content (aka taking pictures of the office dogs thinking of dog puns) and check ads while sipping coffee.
12-1: Catch up on what is changing in the world of digital marketing.
1-3: Meet about upcoming marketing plans and projects.
3-4: Tackle a weekly project.
4-5: Help in production or work on SEO projects to see what questions about dogs our customers want answered.

Worst piece of advice she’s ever received…
“Straighten your hair for work.” When I was first getting into the working life, I was told I should straighten my hair because I don’t look professional. This comment made me switch my planned career path into marketing. There’s no reason to change yourself for a job, I quickly realized.

What she would give a TED Talk on…
Why it’s important to live outside of the 9 to 5 life.

One thing the local business community could do to help dogIDs…
Not a lot of people know that dogIDs exists. Since we are eCommerce, we don’t have a store front for people to associate with being downtown. Stop by and visit. We would love to show the Fargo business community what we do…and be sure to bring your dogs!

If she could thank one person who’s contributed to her success…
I have to pick just one?! My coworker Shelby Cochran has been a crucial person in pushing me to be a leader at dogIDs and is always there to remind me that I am a Ladyboss in the marketing community in Fargo.

What’s her “why”…
I learn something new every single day in the world of digital marketing. It’s amazing to be in a career where you constantly get to learn and challenge yourself.

One characteristic she believes every great leader should possess…
Be understanding. Things come up and life happens, it’s important to be understanding and compassionate for those who look up to you.

One way she fosters creativity within her organization…
Pushing people to constantly learn something at work and outside of work. Your creativity is drained when you stop growing and learning.

A local/state resource dogIDs has utilized recently…
Operation Intern has been a fantastic program for us! We loved being able to work with multiple interns through it.

3 Media Recommendations

Podcast

Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness

Book

“Linchpin” by Seth Godin

TV

The Office…I think I have watched it all at least 15 times now, plus it is the best background noise for getting side projects done.

Darren Huber

Director of Media Relations, Sanford Health

Darren Huber

“I graduated from the University of Mary in Bismarck. I’m the rare breed who always knew what he wanted to be, communications and marketing in healthcare was my dream job. Twenty-three years ago, I got my chance and I’ve been making the most of it at Sanford Marketing ever since. I always tell new employees, I love coming to work because we could work in marketing at a bank, a grocery store or any number of industries, but it’s different in healthcare. You get the chance to be a part of something really special. Working with so many amazing medical experts and the people they heal, I’m the lucky one who gets to spend my work days telling their stories.”

A typical day in his life…

Everyday starts with coffee. And the older I get, the stronger it gets. I’m a news junkie so I get up early and read my favorite newspapers online. I’m a sucker for local/regional stories.

I cram some exercise in somewhere, even if it’s just walking or lots of stairs. Elevators are over-rated.

I spend my day working with a team of story tellers. Not only are they good at what they do, but we truly have an incredible team culture, which just makes coming to work so enjoyable.

Everyday is completely different and the variety is incredible. But at Sanford we are grounded in a patient first mentality. Keep that at the center of what you do and you can’t go wrong.

I’m also big on customer service and positivity. Yeah, I’m one of those guys. Likely to the point of being annoying! But I come by it naturally, my top strengths are woo, positivity, adaptability and includer.

What keeps him up at night…
I think about work too much. I’m too tied to my iPad. I worry about random things that really don’t matter in the big scheme of life. I get that from my mom.

What he would give a TED Talk on…
Positivity. I wish it ruled the world.

If he could thank one person who’s contributed to his success…
Oh my, such a big answer, I’d say my friends, my chosen family. I’m fortunate to have some really great people in my life. They give it to me straight, keep me grounded. You know, we all need people who’ll give us honest feedback and pick us up when we crash. I’ve got some of the best.

His Media recommendation…
I’m an MPR news hound! (Minn Public Radio) I’m the guy that’s always saying, “I heard it on MPR.” Also, anything local/regional news, I truly have an appreciation for the role of good news reporting in the world and right here in Fargo. We need them to keep us all honest.

The part of his job he would you use an “easy button” on…
Travel. We crisscross the tri-state area driving for work and while it can be beautiful, sometimes I’d like snap my fingers and be there.

One characteristic he believes every great leader should possess…
Self-awareness. You can’t grow if you don’t know what you suck at.

A local/state resource Sanford has utilized recently…
Our Sanford Foundation. The funds they raise from people who are so giving and the things we can do with those gifts to benefit care for our patients. It’s a good thing.

Share This Article
Follow:
Fargo Inc! Publishes 12 Business Magazines Per Year!