What was your reaction to winning at this year’s ChamberChoice Awards? 
Our team was thrilled to be one of the finalists for the ChamberChoice Business of the Year Award. It was both a surprise and extreme delight to be named the 2021 Business of the Year. Our talented team members are passionate and committed to doing their best work, and the announcement was an exciting way to recognize the contributions of our entire team.  

What does the award mean to you and the organization?
It’s been an incredible year at Enclave as we celebrate a decade in business and move to our new home office in West Fargo. To be business of the year celebrates our team and fuels our drive to reimagine spaces with the goal of enhancing the communities we serve. 
In your own words, briefly share your organization’s history, how you’ve grown throughout the years and what you offer the community today.

In 2011, Co-Founders Austin Morris and Ben Meland were a two-person start-up with a desire to grow their business by a single project each year. Since then, they have grown to a fully integrated development, construction and management company with more than 100 team members in three markets specializing in multi-family, commercial, industrial and retail spaces across the Midwest. Today, Enclave has completed more than 70 builds and manages more than 4,500 apartment homes. Through the support of the community, sound fiscal management and a mindset that continues to challenge the status quo, the team has set large goals which we’ve been able to achieve. 

Through every interaction, we start by thinking of space differently than before, maximizing value through ingenuity, and ensuring a timely, budget-minded delivery. This approach has allowed us to truly create spaces that inspire people to do their best work and live their best life. 

What makes your organization so important for the community?
As placemakers, our focus is centered around the talents of our team and contributions to community that result in enhanced places to live, work and visit. As an organization, it starts with the quality of the work we do and extends to modeling good corporate citizenship by dedicating our time, talent and treasure to the communities in which we live and work. As we’ve continued to grow, this has always been at the core of who Enclave is called to be, and it’s been incredible to see the impact we’ve made through the growth of our team. 

What values are most important to the organization? What do you believe in?
At Enclave, we value people for who they are and take an immense amount of pride in relationships with our team members, clients and partners. Putting it simply, we care for each other. We always do the honorable thing, we encouraging true autonomy among employees, and we promote innovation within our team and our partners to deliver an exceptional product and experience. It’s why our four foundational values are: Care for Each Other, Do the Honorable Thing, Be Empowered and Promote Innovation. 

What does a typical day look like at Enclave?
Whether you’re working in the field on a construction site or leasing office or fulfill a role in IT, HR or Accounting at our home office, a typical day at Enclave is fast-paced and people-based. Our team members each bring a unique perspective to their role, while being united by the drive to accomplish something great. All team members are empowered to seize opportunities and trust that they will have support to continue breaking new ground. 

How else are you involved in the community? 
In 2021, Enclave launched our Giving Hearts Day campaign with a year-long Down Home partnership announcement. Throughout the year, we’ve committed $50,000 to support the mission of Down Home and support individuals in our community emerging from homelessness. Our team stepped up and volunteered their time to organize the Down Home warehouse, write thank you notes and helped with family move-ins, in addition to holding a donation drive in May as part of the non-profits Good Night Sleep Challenge. Our aligned values and desire to enhance the communities in which we live was complemented by the talents of our team who create inspiring spaces for others to live, work and play. 

What are your long-term goals and vision for Enclave?
A mission-driven company, we believe that by doing the honorable thing and placing no limits on what’s possible, we’ll continue to be a benchmark for quality, innovation and service in the communities we serve and beyond. As we look to the future, we anticipate continuing to expand our services and project in our existing markets (North Dakota, South Dakota, and Twin Cities Metro), while also entering new markets in the central United States. 

Anything else you’d like to mention:
We feel very fortunate to be able to call this region home. It’s an incredible place to raise a family, start a business and so much more. The generosity of the community, strong economy and accessible business network have undoubtedly contributed to Enclave’s success. We are extremely grateful for the support our community provided us, and are committed to its continued vitality.