Chamber Podcast

The Chamber Connection is the official podcast of the Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber of Commerce, where we shine a light on local business and celebrate our community. Listen in each month and take a look at the organizations, professionals, leaders and topics to keep you in the know. You’ll hear success stories and tips from amazing local businesses, learn the latest in legislation and policy, dive into important news, meet community leaders, and find out how you can get involved in our region.

How to listen

You can find current and past episodes of our show on KFGO.com, iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, and right here, any time.

How to get involved

If you'd like to be on the show, all guests must be current Chamber members in good standing and/or a topical expert or public official. We're always taking your suggestions, and aim to offer listeners a balanced mix of perspectives and topics based on newsworthiness, relevance and interest. Let us know your feedback through the form below!

Episode library
 

Episode 11: Veterans in Business
May is Military Appreciation Month, and in this podcast, we are diving in to learn more about the landscape of veteran-owned businesses. We’re joined by Wendy Klug, director of the Veterans Business Outreach Center through the SBA. We’ll discuss what makes veterans so successful at starting and owning a business, what services the VBOC offers, and the positive impact the military has on us all. 

Episode 10: Meet the new Moorhead mayor, Shelly Carlson
In February, Shelly Carlson stepped up and was sworn in as the new mayor of Moorhead after Johnathan Judd moved on to become a judge. After serving on the city’s council, Carlson is no stranger to the needs and challenges of our city on the east side of the river. Listen in as she talks to us about her journey to mayor, experience and platform, and her vision to take Moorhead into the future.

Episode 9: Corporate Culture with Kurtis Karn
Culture is one of those buzzwords that businesses throw around, but what is company culture really, and why does it matter? For Kurtis Karn, Manager of Global Talent Acquisition Consulting at WEX Health Inc., culture is woven into every aspect of a workplace. Listen in as we discuss exactly how culture plays into talent attraction and retention, how it affects your bottom line, and what employees are looking for. As new generations are entering the workforce with new expectations, we’ll talk about how employers can hire for culture and build their brand, and how job-seekers can find the role that fits them best.

Episode 8: New year, new Chamber vision

In December, The Chamber welcomed a new president and CEO, Shannon Full. Bringing over 20 years of experience, Shannon is a pro-business advocate with a passion for building communities, supporting talent and workforce, and regional collaboration. Listen in as she shares her experience and the vision she brings to her role in Fargo Moorhead West Fargo, as well as the strengths, challenges and opportunities she’s found in our community.

Episode 7: FM Area Diversion

Recently, major news broke regarding the FM Diversion. A settlement agreement resolving federal and state litigation was signed in late October, signaling the end of project delays and a clear path to move forward. The FM Diversion has been a contentious project in our community, yet The Chamber and many business leaders regard it as the best and only way to permanently protect the FMWF metro from floods and devastating damages. Listen in as Joel Paulsen, executive director of the project, shares an update and breaks down what this latest news means. We’ll also find out details on the history, funding, construction milestones, city impact, opponent’s arguments, and uncover obstacles and successes of this multi-million-dollar infrastructure project.

Episode 6: Hunger efforts and effects in our community

September is Hunger Action Month, dedicated to inspiring people to take action to end food insecurity across our region, state and nation. A local effort called the Cass-Clay Hunger Coalition represents over 30 agencies working collaboratively to support equitable food access and address the root causes of hunger. In this episode, we’re talking with Taylor Syvertson, the Ending Hunger 2.0 Impact Manager at Great Plains Food Bank, to learn more about the issue of hunger in our community, what efforts exist and how others can help.

Episode 5: The 2020 Census

The 2020 Census. You probably have heard a few ads about it, and know that every 10 years, the Census counts residents across our country. But did you know that information from the Census is used to determine Congressional representation for our state, and regionally determines districting? Federal funds are apportioned based on city population and are used for things like transportation improvements and home building. Further, local information helps our cities plan where to build schools, libraries, parks and use employee information for hiring. Get an inside look at 2020 Census efforts in this episode with Louise Dardis, co-chair of the 2020 North Dakota Census. Haven't completed your own yet? Fill it out online by September 30 at my2020census.gov.

Episode 4: Diversity & Inclusion with Colette Campbell
As our community’s demographics are changing and there is a renewed demand for racial equality around the country, businesses must examine how they contribute to this conversation. As employers are asking how they can attract, retain and engage a diverse and inclusive workforce, so too are individuals wondering how they fit into this puzzle. In this episode, we sit down with Colette Campbell, Bremer Bank, for perspectives and strategies for inviting everyone to the table in the workplace.

Episode 3: City Commissioners Arlette Preston and Mandy George

In both of our major North Dakota metro cities, two women were elected to their respective City Commissions, snagging the open seats in the June primaries. Join us as we talk to Arlette Preston, Fargo, and Mandy George, West Fargo, about their experience running for office in the midst of a global pandemic. They’ll discuss their backgrounds, priorities and perspectives regarding various issues in our community, and what they want residents to know.

Episode 2: DCN and wireless connectivity throughout the state

Remember just a few months ago, when we learned that COVID-19 had hit our country and our community. When many businesses closed, we began working remotely and adhering to a new set of social norms. Suddenly Zoom happy hours, virtual conference calls and webinars, and e-learning became our reality. While most of us spent this time in front of our screens safely at home, there was a large effort behind the scenes to keep us all connected. Dakota Carrier Network, in particular, was on the front lines bringing reliable Internet access to homes and businesses across the state. Take a listen as Seth Arndorfer, Dakota Carrier Network CEO, takes us through how they kept us wired together, and what other industries stand to benefit from the technology behind wireless connectivity.

Episode 1: Bank of North Dakota on loan programs and restarting business

As the only state-owned bank in the country, the Bank of North Dakota serves a vital role in business in the state. Through their work with local lenders and range of programs, they were instrumental in North Dakota receiving the most number of PPP loans granted per capita in all the states. Eric Hardmeyer, president and CEO of Bank of North Dakota, explains what it means as we are restarting business in North Dakota, as well as other programs BND offers, including student, ag and disaster loans.