4/16/2025
April Brown Bag:
Team Building - Creating the Culture
Wednesday, April 16, 2025
11:30 am – 1:00 pm
$20/Member & $30/Non Member
(Includes Lunch)
Team Building - Creating the Culture
The presentation will focus on leading an organization by creating a positive environment to motivate individuals to strive to accomplish organizational objectives. It will include lessons learned raised in small-town North Dakota in a family of six boys by my mother and father along with insight from a 40-year football coaching career. It will also include identifying characteristics that are most important when building and sustaining a strong culture.
We will also discuss the importance of choosing who gets invited into the organization and establishing building blocks for success.
This will be an interactive discussion throughout the presentation among the speaker and attendees.
Featured speaker:
Bubba Schweigert
A native of Zeeland, ND, Kyle “Bubba” Schweigert began his coaching career at his alma mater, now the University of Jamestown, from 1985-1988. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Jamestown and a master’s degree from UND. In 2002, he was honored with Jamestown’s Rollie Greeno Award for outstanding commitment in the field of education and coaching.
Bubba’s coaching stops included Jamestown College, the University of North Dakota, the University of Minnesota Duluth, Southern Illinois University, and back to UND as head coach for 11 years. He was Defensive Coordinator for UND when they won the Division II national championship and has coached and mentored multiple All-American, All-Conference, and All-Academic student-athletes among his various stops.
Bubba and his wife, Laura, have two sons, Alex and Cooper.
4/1/2025
Join us for GGFYP’s 2025 Annual Launch event! We’ll recognize outstanding members from the past year, discuss our 2024 growth, and outline our 2025 organizational goals.
We will honor the work of our GGFYP members in the previous year and recognize the hard work that has been put in to continue our mission of enhancing our community, creating connections, and investing in each other. We do this be listening to updates and success stories of the organization and awarding outstanding members of GGFYP.
There will be featured speakers from UND, Altru Health Systems, and a community keynote speaker: Molly Yeh, owner of Bernie's and local Food Network host.
Free drinks and appetizers will be provided.
UND, UMC, & NCTC students will be able to attend for free; please contact Gon Carlson at gon@ggfyp.com for a student discount code.
4/8/2025
Moving into the next level of your business.Leading with character and retaining
and attracting your employees, clients/
customers/partners/guests.
The 5 RAYMA Foundations™ Leadership:
• Resilience
• Authenticity
• a Yes attitude
• Motivation
• Assertiveness
Presented by: Mandy B. Anderson Co-
Founder Rayma Team
4/8/2025
Celebrate the region's entrepreneurs!Join us at The Grand Awards on Tuesday, April 8, at the new Opal Event Center!
Tickets are available now: https://tinyurl.com/2r6cjkeh
Want to nominate an entrepreneur or business for a Grand Award? You still can! Nominations close March 1: https://bit.ly/4anKua8We'll see you at the Grand Awards!
4/9/2025
TEAM 2.0
Effective Leadership for First Line Managers and Supervisors
(How to Build Engagement, Reduce Conflict, and Increase Cooperation)
Bill Drury is on a mission to help businesses build strong leaders and winning teams. On April 9, 2025, Bill will present an action-packed 1/2 day workshop with proven strategies and techniques to help every leader, manager, or supervisor in your company build employee engagement and teamwork. They will be able to reduce employee conflict and increase productivity!
Gallup's USA national poll of over 14,700 surveyed workers:
FACT: 17% of employees are actively disengaged or, as Gallup CEO Jim Clifton describes it, "roam the halls spreading discontent."
FACT: Actively disengaged employees cost companies up to $550 billion in annual lost productivity.
FACT: This adds up to 68% of staff that have little or no concern about customers, productivity, profitability, waste, safety, or mission.
Minnkota Power Cooperative
5301 32nd Ave S, Grand Forks, ND 58201
7:30 am Registration Check-In
8:00 am - Noon Seminar
Beverages and light breakfast bites provided
$149 per chamber member or $174 for non-chamber attendees.
Limited spots are available so sign up NOW!
The Chamber's Small Business Committee is proud to present an engaging half-day seminar on front line management training. We hope you enjoy it!
This TEAM 2.0 seminar is sponsored by...
4/16/2025
Join us on April 16th for a special evening with Governor Kelly Armstrong as he discusses the future of North Dakota and key political issues affecting our state. Following the speech there will be question and answer with the audiance. This FREE event, hosted by Turning Point USA at the University of North Dakota, it will take place in the UND Memorial Union large ballroom. Please RSVP using the link.4/23/2025 - 4/29/2025
Find your treasures at this exciting interactive auction event featuring over 50 packages, including golf at area courses, photo prints, pet supplies & services, UND Football and Hockey, and much more! Proceeds support YMCA Partner of Youth financial assistance scholarships. Packages may also be viewed in person at the Altru Family YMCA, downtown GF. Thank you to our area businesses and individuals for your support! 4/24/2025
Life Connected: A Civic Social
River Cinema, East Grand Forks
Thursday, April 24
4:30-6:30pm Social
(hors d'oeuvres provided - cash bar available)
Welcome & Remarks from Mayor Olstad at 5:00pm
River Cinema, East Grand Forks
Thursday, April 24
4:30-6:30pm Social
(hors d'oeuvres provided - cash bar available)
Welcome & Remarks from Mayor Olstad at 5:00pm
4/25/2025
We are excited to announce our 2nd Chamber Leadership "Tours and Talks"!
Join us for behind the scenes tours and insights from some of our communities leading businesses and business leaders.
Friday, April 25, 2025
Friday, April 25, 2025
- ND Coffee Roastery 7:45 - 9:00 am
- Welcome & self introductions of attendees - Barry Wilfahrt, Chamber President & CEO
- Bully Brew / ND Coffee Roastery Tour & Talk - Sandi Luck, Owner
Bully Brew Coffee is known for its delicious coffee and great customer service. Their coffee beans are roasted daily in their very own ND Coffee Roastery. Come hear their story, tour the roastery and learn why their customers have an unforgettable experience.
- Cirrus 9:30 - 10:30 am
- Cirrus Tour & Talk - Steve Thomas, Executive Director of Operations
See the in depth story of building a state-of-the-art aircraft literally from the ground up. All Cirrus airplanes start in Grand Forks with the manufacture of all composite aircraft components. See how quality, workmanship, and a focus on their employees, and the safety of their customers contribute to the success of Cirrus Aircraft.
- The Ralph Engelstad Arena 11:00am - 1:00pm
- ND Business Climate & Legislative Issues - Arik Spencer, ND Chamber CEO
- Noon Lunch provided by The Ralph Engelstad Arena
- Ralph Engelstad Tour and Talk - Jody Hodgson, General Manager
The Ralph Engelstad Arena is known as “The Taj Mahal of hockey”. Get a behind the scenes look at all levels of the REA including state of the art athletic training areas. See what the vision and dream of one man has become.
- Alerus Center 1:15 - 2:00 pm
- Alerus Center Tour & Talk - Anna Rosberg, General Manager
The Alerus Center provides premier entertainment and events that stimulate economic impact and improve the quality of life for Grand Forks area citizens. Get a behind the scenes look at how the Alerus Center hosts over 375 events annually, often spanning multiple days and hosting several different events daily, with just hours to turn from one major event to another.
- RealTruck 2:20 - 3:15 pm
- RealTruck Tour & Talk - Jon Fargo, General Manager
RealTruck is the premier manufacturer and digital destination of accessories for truck, Jeep, Bronco and off-road enthusiasts around the world.
- True North Equipment 3:45 - 5:00 pm
- True North Equipment Tour & Talk - John Oncken, Owner & CEO
- Social with beverages and light hors d'oeuvres
In addition to eight John Deere retail locations across MN and ND, a company resource and training center in Grand Forks, ND provides training opportunities for customers and employees. We will also tour their first of its kind Impact Center.
4/29/2025
A premier showcase of technology and innovation, the public is invited to attend this free event! The College of Engineering & Mines' Senior Design Expo is an annual showcase of student projects in engineering, computer science and geology. From industry-partnered solutions to societal improvements, their work ranges from the innovative to the extraordinary.4/29/2025
Join Hospice of the Red River Valley for Heartstrings: A Remembrance Service, a special hands-on grief workshop and remembrance ceremony. During this class, you will have the opportunity to create personalized memory keychains using individually chosen beads, to honor your loved ones. The class will be followed by a remembrance service to celebrate those we’ve lost. This event is free and open to the public, but preregistration is required as space is limited.4/29/2025
Join Hospice of the Red River Valley for Heartstrings: A Remembrance Service, a special hands-on grief workshop and remembrance ceremony. During this class, you will have the opportunity to create personalized memory keychains using individually chosen beads, to honor your loved ones. The class will be followed by a remembrance service to celebrate those we’ve lost. This event is free and open to the public, but preregistration is required as space is limited.