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Event Recap: East Meets West Tour 2024
2024 East Meets West Attendees
VIEW THE EVENT PHOTO GALLERY HERE
On August 20 and 21, The Chamber hosted the 2024 East Meets West Tour, bringing together over 35 business and community leaders from the Fargo-West Fargo area for a two-day exploration of North Dakota's diverse business landscape. This event fostered collaboration between leaders from the eastern and western regions of the state, providing a unique platform to discuss shared challenges and opportunities.
The East Meets West Tour is vital to The Chamber’s public policy and advocacy efforts. This event allows state-wide collaboration to address North Dakota’s most pressing issues. The event was made possible thanks to Premier Sponsors, Primacy Strategy Group and Roers; Air Transportation Sponsors, Christianson Companies, Ellingson, Marvin and R.D. Offutt; and Meal Sponsors, Moore Engineering and the North Dakota Petroleum Council.
We were honored to have the following community business leaders join The Chamber on the 2024 East Meets West Tour. Their participation and insights were crucial to the event’s successs, and we deeply appreciate their commitment to fostering collaboration and advancing progress across North Dakota:
- Shannon Full, FMWF Chamber
- Levi Otis, Ellingson
- Shane Waslaski, Moore Holding Company
- Carin Reisch, Marvin
- Kevin Christianson, Christianson Companies
- Tony Grindberg, Xcel Energy
- Tiffany Lawrence, Sanford Health
- Todd Dougan, Corval Group
- Chris Barta, Marvin
- Tami Norgard, Vogel Law Firm
- Kurt Lysne, Moore Engineering
- Eddie Sheeley, Choice Bank
- Senator Jim Roers, Roers
- Charley Johnson, Visit Fargo-Moorhead
- Eric Dodds, AE2S
- Frank Matus, Thales USA, Inc.
- Cody Cashman, Red River Valley Fair
- Michael Casper, Great States Construction
- Matt Wendel, Emerging Prairie
- Sarah West, Light Consulting
- Joe Hoppe, Otter Tail Power Company
- Andrew Curley, Midco
- Jenny Olson, Microsoft
- Hollie Mackey, Advanced Agriculture Technology Engine
- Ryan Grussing, Cornerstone Bank
- Paul Matthys, Cass County Electric Cooperative
- Mike Arntson, Cardinal Glass Industries
- Paul Jordan, Corval Group
- Amy Hass, Kraus-Anderson Construction
- Curtis Furman, Essentia Health
- Melody Jahnke, Essentia Health
- Carl Jackson, Moore Engineering
- Josh Reiner, Moore Engineering
- Josh Feil, Moore Engineering
Day One: Building Connections in Minot
The tour kicked off early at the Fargo Jet Center, departing at 8 a.m. for Minot. Thanks to the generous air transportation sponsorship of Christianson Companies, Ellingson, Marvin and R.D. Offutt Company, participants enjoyed quick, smooth and comfortable travel. This efficient arrangement allowed maximum time to engage with community leaders and explore key sites.
Upon arrival, the group toured the Minot Air Force Base, gaining a firsthand look at operations critical to both national security and the local economy. Lunch at Minot State University followed, featuring discussions with local legislators and community leaders about regional economic development and Minot’s strategic role in the economy.
Fargo-area business leaders shared their priorities with state legislators, including Senate Majority Leader David Hogue; Senate Judiciary Vice Chair Bob Paulson; Senate Appropriations Committee member Randy Burckhard; House Industry, Business and Labor Committee Chair Scott Louser; House Agriculture Committee Chair Paul Thomas; House Transportation Committee Chair Dan Ruby; and House member Jay Fischer. The legislators also shared what they want to focus on in the upcoming session.
The afternoon focused on logistics and workforce development with tours of the Logistics Park of North Dakota and the Minot Workforce Academy. These visits highlighted the innovative efforts underway to bolster infrastructure and prepare a skilled workforce for the future. The day concluded with a dinner at the Magic City Discovery Center, sponsored by Moore Engineering, where the group connected with the Minot Area Chamber EDC and other business leaders.
Day Two: Exploring Innovation in Williston
Day two began with an early departure from Minot to Williston, where the group experienced a state-of-the-art drone demonstration by Thales, showcasing cutting-edge technology. The tour then moved to Chord Energy for an immersive oil rig tour that highlighted the energy sector’s vital role in North Dakota’s economy.
Lunch at The Grand Hotel, sponsored by the North Dakota Petroleum Council, featured energy briefings from both the ND Petroleum Council and Credence Energy, that addressed current trends and future industry outlooks.
The afternoon included a roundtable discussion at TrainND-NW with local legislators and community leaders, focusing on workforce development and regional innovation. Fargo-area business leaders again had the opportunity to share their top priorities with legislators, including Senate Appropriations Chair Brad Bekkedahl, Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chair Dale Patten, House Political Subdivision Chair Donald Longmuir, and House member Patrick Hatlestad.
The 2024 East Meets West Tour concluded with a return flight to Fargo. Participants left with a deeper understanding of North Dakota’s unique opportunities and the importance of statewide cooperation in driving progress and innovation.