Our team is honored to dedicate this magazine to the great men, women and families of our military, and to the businesses and organizations who stand up to support them.

My personal connection to the military runs deep, with numerous family members having served, including my cousin currently in the Navy Special Operations and my grandfather, a WWII Navy veteran who served in Normandy. This connection fueled my passion for supporting our military decades ago, and it is something that has remained a focus throughout my career.

I am proud to share with you some of The Chamber’s significant initiatives and developments in our regional support for our military. Being recently appointed to Governor Burgum’s military task force, Task Force MIND, has been a privilege and an honor. This appointment signifies our commitment to making North Dakota the most military-friendly state in the nation. It is a responsibility I embrace wholeheartedly and take very seriously. A few of the aspects that the Governor’s Military Committee is focusing on are continuing to support our missions by securing necessary end strength for our bases, lobbying on critical military issues and supporting the families of our military members. I am also grateful that in 2023, the ND legislators appropriated money to a Base Retention Grant that The Chamber received, totaling $250,000, to enhance military excellence in North Dakota and strengthen our state's competitive advantage for the Guard. This grant will support various initiatives aimed at promoting community engagement, enhancing business involvement and increasing military retention.

It’s important to note that we wouldn’t be able to accomplish any of this work without our committed Chamber members and volunteers. Our Military Affairs Committee, comprising passionate individuals from diverse backgrounds, is dedicated to supporting our regional military units and personnel. Our Honor Star members and Military Appreciation Night sponsors also consistently demonstrate gratitude and support that extends not only to our military personnel, but to their families as well. If you are interested in supporting these efforts financially or by volunteering, please contact us as we are continually looking for support.

To all of you who are serving, have served or are supporting our military members, please accept my sincere appreciation. Together, we will continue to strengthen the support for those who defend our freedoms and serve our communities and our country each and every day.