The Grand Forks Region Economic Development Corporation (EDC) recently added three new members to its board of directors: Grand Forks Mayor Brandon Bochenski; Meghan Compton, executive vice president and chief clinic operations officer at Altru Health System; and University of North Dakota President Andrew Armacost. Bochenski and Compton will serve as directors on the board, and Armacost as an ex-officio member.
“We are pleased to welcome these strong leaders and community partners to the EDC’s board,” said Keith Lund, EDC President & CEO. “They join EDC at a vital time for the Grand Forks economy. Mayor Bochenski’s vision for a strong, business-friendly community complements our organization’s goals. We are confident our continued partnership with Altru and UND, our region’s two largest employers and key institution partners, will also provide valuable perspectives as we grow the Grand Forks region’s economy.”
Brandon Bochenski, owner of the construction company Barys, LLC and KHL Investments, a development company, was elected mayor Grand Forks in June 2020. The former UND hockey star played 14 seasons of professional hockey before returning to Grand Forks. Bochenski joined the EDC board in August 2020.
Meghan Compton, a Grand Forks native, earned her Juris Doctorate at the University of North Dakota School of Law. She worked in private practice before joining Altru Health System in 2012. Compton was appointed to the EDC board in June 2020.
Andrew Armacost began his tenure as UND’s 13th president on June 1, 2020. He most recently was the Dean of the Faculty at the U.S. Air Force Academy. He served as active-duty Air Force for more than 30 years. Armacost was appointed as an ex-officio board member in August 2020.
The EDC’s board of directors provides direction for the region’s economic development strategy to support the growth and diversity of the region’s economy. Priorities identified include business recruitment and retention in primary sector industries including agri-business, autonomous systems, manufacturing, and high-tech services, as well as workforce development and entrepreneurship.