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2010 Winners
The winners and nominees for the Governor's Choice Awards are presented below. Winners were awarded at the Governor's Choice Awards banquet on Dec. 7, at the Economic Development Association of North Dakota's fall meeting in Mandan.
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Dorinda Anderson - Outstanding Professional Developer
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Outstanding Professional Developer
Dorinda Anderson of West Fargo
Anderson is the director of business development for the City of West Fargo where she connects new and existing business owners and operators with city officials, helping to pave the way for the growth and expansion in West Fargo. Anderson was recognized for her work this last year recruiting and aiding in the expansion of numerous business in West Fargo including the Monsanto soybean crushing plant and the Titan Machinery expansion.
The other nominees for Outstanding Professional Developer were Becky Bowen, Common Enterprise Development Corporation; Shari Hanson, Cavalier Area Chamber of Commerce; and Irv Rustad, Lake Agassiz Regional Development Corporation.
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| Becky Leonard - Outstanding Volunteer Developer |
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Outstanding Volunteer Developer
Becky Leonard of St John
Leonard is the economic development director for the city of St. John, an unpaid position. Over the years, she has volunteered thousands of hours to countless projects. Between 2008 and 2010 alone, she worked on projects that contributed more than $2 million to the St. John and Turtle Mountain region. Leonard's passion, commitment and skills have contributed greatly to the successful growth and development of her region. She is also the mother of two children and owns two businesses.
Other nominees for Outstanding Volunteer Developer were Suzi Sobolik, Dickinson; Claire Vigesaa, Fargo; and Tracy Henningsgard, New Rockford
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| Charlie Bullinger - Outstanding Innovator |
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Outstanding Innovator
Charlie Bullinger of Bismarck
Bullinger is a senior principal engineer at Great River Energy's Coal Creek Station in Underwood, which recently underwent an expansion to add a $275 million DryFining project. Bullinger is the inventor behind this project and has been involved for over a decade in research, development and ultimately commercialization of the idea and new technology to dry and refine lignite into a higher quality product. The signification interest in DryFining from other power plant operators throughout the world is a testimony to the value of the innovative technology.
The other nominee for Outstanding Innovator was Greg and Susan Kempel of Casselton.
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| Iain Watt - Outstanding Ambassador |
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Outstanding Ambassador
Iain Watt, New York City
Watt is an associate at Development Counselors International, a national marketing firm focused on marketing places. From 2003 until 2010, DCI was a vendor for the Department of Commerce, working on national and international media placements and business prospecting. Watt played a lead role in successfully pitching and placing stories about North Dakota in national media. Even though Watt is a lifelong Northeasterner with no ties to the North Dakota, he has become a strong advocate for the state. Although DCI's contract with North Dakota ended last May, Watt has continued to be an ambassador for North Dakota, promoting and showcasing North Dakota frequently to his clients and colleagues.
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| National Information Solutions Cooperative of Mandan - Tracy Porter, NISC and Ellen Huber, City of Mandan - Outstanding Project |
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Outstanding Project
National Information Solutions Cooperative of Mandan
National Information Solutions Cooperative in Mandan is an information technology company that develops and supports software and hardware solutions for member-owners who are primarily utility cooperatives and telecommunications companies across the nation. NISC employs more than 800 technology professionals between its offices in Mandan and Lake St. Louis, Mo., with 410 IT professionals in Mandan alone. NISC's 2009 expansion is an example of public entities working with the private sector to secure local investment and economic growth.
Other nominees for Outstanding Project were Storefront Improvement Program, Langdon; Enderlin HEART program, Enderlin; Great River Energy, Underwood; ComDel Innovations, Inc., Wahpeton; City of West Fargo, West Fargo; City of St. John, St. John; Spiritwood Station, Spiritwood; UND Center for Innovation, NBIA Soft Landings International Incubator, Grand Forks; Great Plains Energy Park, Minot; North Country Veterinary Clinic, Cavalier; and McNeilus Steel, Inc., Fargo.
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Visionary Award
Shane Goettle of Bismarck
Commerce Commissioner Shane Goettle was presented with the Visionary Award. This is a special award given on rare occasions to an individual who takes a leadership role in advancing economic development across the state. Goettle has served as Commerce Commissioner for the last five years and has played a key role in helping define the agency. Under his leadership, Commerce has taken on a variety of new initiatives including oversight of the Centers of Excellence program, leading the Empower North Dakota process, Innovate ND, the Native American Business Development Office, Experience ND, renewable energy research grants, delivery of federal stimulus funding, tourism business development, Operation Intern and more.
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