KLAUS THIESSEN IMPACT AWARD
Awarding Our Finest
Klaus THIESSEN IMPACT AWARD
The Grand Forks region is full of success stories. The Klaus Thiessen Impact Award represents our appreciation of these outstanding community members who make a positive impact on our economic growth and prosperity. Each year, the Grand Forks Region EDC board of directors recognizes an exceptional business or individual that represents these values. In 2017 the award was named in honor of Klaus Thiessen, who served as the organization’s president & CEO for 14 years.
Corporate Honoree
Primary sector businesses are recognized for significant contribution to the economic health of the Grand Forks region. Factors may include jobs creation, capital investment, partnerships, relevance to the primary sector, and overall economic impact.
Individual Honoree
This honor recognizes a person who, by his or her actions, invests time and talent to improve and/or enhance the economic growth of the region.
2024 Individual Honoree
Karl Bollingberg
Karl epitomizes the spirit of the Klaus Thiessen Impact Award,” remarked EDC President and CEO, Keith Lund. “His profound contributions to the economic vitality of the Grand Forks region, both through his professional endeavors and community service, are truly commendable. Karl’s unparalleled dedication is exemplified by his remarkable tenure as an EDC board member, being the only to span two nine-year terms from 2001 to 2009 and 2014 to 2022.”
Bollingberg worked at Alerus Financial in Grand Forks for 35 years, from 1987 to 2022 where he played a pivotal role in providing invaluable financial support and guidance to countless businesses and entrepreneurs across the region. “I spent about 90% of my career primarily supporting businesses,” said Bollingberg. “My position provided a unique opportunity to explore businesses all across the region, learning how each works and functions from smart and resilient entrepreneurs. Working with those entrepreneurs was my greatest joy throughout my career.”
When asked about his time with Alerus, Bollingberg shared many memories, but one stood out as his favorite. In the early 90’s when he was just getting started as a banker, he and a few other community partners flew to Baraboo, Wisconsin to visit two entrepreneurs. The entrepreneurs were pursuing funding to start a fiberglass airplane manufacturing company that would feature parachutes for safety.
“After we arrived, we walked into a warehouse where we saw three to four kit planes half-built at various stages of completion, and then into another area where a fuselage built out of wood was set up on a platform. They had us sit on five-gallon pales inside the fuselage to get an idea of what it was going to look like,” Bollingberg recounted. “As a banker, I was skeptical that they were going to be successful. However, they turned around and did exactly what they said they were going to do, and the company exists today at Cirrus Aircraft.”
2023 Individual Honoree
Dave Molmen
“I have had the good fortune of working with Dave during our time together at Altru. He is an extremely dedicated and passionate leader. It is an honor to be able to present him with the 2023 Klaus Thiessen Impact Award,” said Meghan Compton, EDC Board Secretary, and Treasurer. “Dave’s impact in the Grand Forks region is unsurmountable, especially through his 40-year career within the health system.”
Among Molmen’s accomplishments, the largest includes serving as a leader of the Altru Health System and its predecessor organizations for more than 40 years. In the beginning, Molmen was one of the principal architects in the merger of United Hospital and the Grand Forks Clinic in 1997 which led to the creation of the Altru Health System. Soon after the merger, he served as the first Chief Operations Officer and was quickly put to the test as he directed hospital operations through the historic flood fight of 1997 and the massive recovery that followed.
The board of directors felt that the impact Molmen has made on the Grand Forks community is insurmountable. Most recently, when Altru Health System faced unprecedented challenges due to the pandemic and changes in the healthcare industry, he came out of retirement without pay to help the health system navigate its recovery and resume the construction of its new hospital. Thanks to his great work and leadership, the recovery was very successful, and the new hospital construction is underway, ensuring Grand Forks will remain the healthcare and economic hub of our region for generations to come. This along with Molmen’s several other community contributions were among the many reasons why he was selected for the award.
2022 Individual Honoree
Wes Rydell
“I had the good fortune of getting to work with Wes Rydell through my position at Alerus. In my 37 years of banking, I would be hard-pressed to name another person or company that has accomplished so much, impacted so many people and is recognized nationally for their excellence,” said Karl Bollingberg, EDC board member who presented the award. “Wes is a generous servant leader, and we will never know all he has done for countless individuals and all from behind the scenes.”
Wes Rydell purchased the Grand Forks Rydell car dealership from his father in 1976. From this single store, the Rydell organization has grown to over 70 stores across the country. The Rydell Company stores also provide opportunities for Rydell dealership employees to become dealer/owners. The board felt that in addition to employing hundreds of people and setting many up for success, Rydell’s contributions to many important local causes, most behind the scenes, were among the many reasons he was chosen for the award.
Lonnie Laffen
Lonnie Laffen was posthumously honored for his passionate contributions to economic growth and development in the Grand Forks region. Laffen passed away suddenly in December 2020. Adam Davidson, JLG senior project manager, and Pam Laffen, Lonnie’s widow, accepted the award on his behalf.
“Lonnie loved Grand Forks and that came out in everything he did,” said Jonathan Holth, EDC board chair. “For his entire career, Lonnie advocated for investment in the Grand Forks region, and always encouraged our citizens and elected leaders to dream big and strive for progress and success.”
Acme Tools
“Acme Tools is being recognized for their ongoing commitment to and investment in the Grand Forks region. They could have made their corporate headquarters and distribution center investments anywhere, but they chose to grow here, and for that, they are deserving recipients of this award,” said EDC President and CEO, Keith Lund, honoring the company’s commitment to and investment in Grand Forks. “As an existing business, the EDC has been a valuable partner for Acme Tools as we’ve expanded in Grand Forks,” said Steve Kuhlman, vice president of corporate operations at Acme Tools. “Keith Lund and his outstanding team do an excellent job driving economic development and recruiting new businesses and talent to the region. In our case, they have supported our growth plans to expand our facilities and employment in Grand Forks.”
Steve Burian
Steve Burian was honored for his long history of community leadership in Grand Forks and across the state of North Dakota. “Steve is one of the most visible and effective community leaders we have here in Grand Forks,” said EDC President & CEO Keith Lund. Burian was the longest-serving EDC board chair. In total, he served the Board from 2008-2017, which included a term as Vice Chair, two terms as Chair, and a term as Past Chair. “I’ve had a lot of chances to be a volunteer in Grand Forks, the region, and throughout North Dakota. But I have to say, this was the most rewarding volunteer effort I ever had,” Burian said.
John Schmisek
John Schmisek served the Grand Forks region for more than 40 years. As the city’s finance director he contributed to the region’s ability to attract new businesses and help existing companies recover quickly following the historic flood of 1997. As county commissioner, Schmisek was the voice of the region’s pursuit of an enhanced use lease with the Air Force to lease land at the Grand Forks Air Force Base to establish Grand Sky, the nation’s first UAS business park. “He worked tirelessly behind the scenes to bring a vision to reality,” Board Chair Tammy Peterson said.
Schmisek said, “There’s teamwork that goes into dreaming big. Grand Forks can be what it wants and it doesn’t have to be like anything else.”
PS Doors
PS Doors has worked with the EDC on a number of expansion projects since it first began in the mid 1970s with a few employees. Today, the company employs about 120 people and operates from more than 100,000 square feet. The company designs, engineers, and builds commercial products including flood protection barriers, safety gates, roof hatches and doors for residential and industrial clients. They have delivered products to all 50 states, nine Canadian provinces and 12 foreign countries. “We’re proud to be part of PS Doors’ success from Grand Forks,” Board Chair Dwight Thompson said.
Klaus Thiessen
Klaus Thiessen is the EDC’s longest-serving president & CEO, serving 14 years.
“He is the type of leader everyone wants to work alongside and an inspiration to many,” said EDC Board Chair Tammy Peterson. During Thiessen’s tenure, EDC client jobs increased by more than 60 percent and clients’ capital investment exceeded $750 million. He was instrumental in the retention and expansion of several clients, including LM Wind Power and Cirrus Aircraft.
To signify the impact Klaus made in the region and the importance of his legacy the impact award has been renamed the Klaus Thiessen Impact Award…
Bill Burga Jr
“We have called on him many times to meet with prospective companies, where he has championed the quality of our community, the caliber of our workforce, and the value of doing business from Grand Forks,” EDC Board of Directors Chairperson Dwight Thompson said. Burga has been a senior executive with LM Wind Power, assigned in 2008 to manage the Grand Forks plant, which is one of the state’s largest manufacturers. “It remains my finest career assignment,” Burga said. “I could talk about the value of living and working in this community all day long.” Bill Burga’s commitment to local procurement, corporate citizenship, and stewardship were factors in his selection.
Hal Gershman
“Hal has channeled his passion for Grand Forks into an investment of time and talent that has impacted many facts important to building a community that attracts business growth,” said EDC Board Chair Dwight Thompson. “I am very optimistic about the future of Grand Forks and would like to thank everyone for giving me the opportunity over the years to participate in the well-being and growth of one of America’s great small cities,” Gershman said.
Phil Gisi
“His investment in Grand Forks is shifting downtown development and is among the reasons for renewed excitement in spurring additional growth in the heart of our region,” said EDC Board Chair Steve Burian about 2015 honoree Phil Gisi. “I never expected to get an award for something I love to do,” Gisi said.
Cirrus Aircraft
“Cirrus Aircraft’s investment and growth here positions our region for additional investment in this sector,” said EDC Board Chair Steve Burian as he presented CEO Dale Klapmeier with a corporate Impact Award, honoring the company’s commitment to and investment in Grand Forks. “I am here literally to thank Grand Forks for our survival. We wouldn’t be here without the help of this community,” Klapmeier said.
Dave Britton
“There are many factors that lead to economic growth,” said EDC Board Chair Steve Burian. “Among them are people who are dedicated to building their businesses here, creating opportunities for employees to grow, and advocating for their communities.”
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