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Archive for Personal Interest

Member Spotlight: Meet Katie Haarsager

Posted by Katie Nehl on Thursday, December 13th, 2018 in Latest News, Member Spotlight, Personal Interest | Comments (0)

Katie Haarsager is a public information officer for the North Dakota Industrial Commission – Department of Mineral Resources, a role she’s held since May of this year. She’s a Mohall native. Let’s learn more about Katie our December Service Team Spotlight!

Why do you feel it is important to be part of the YP Network? I’m new to the Bismarck/Mandan community and believe the YP Network is such a great avenue for meeting new people, exploring what a new town has to offer, and becoming woven into that town’s social fabric!

Are you involved in other organizations in the community? If so, to what extent and why is this important to you? I joined the Bismarck/Mandan Garden Club and the Sons of Norway! If anyone is interested in helping me bring the average age of these groups down a little more, let me know! Heritage and traditions are important to me, so Sons of Norway was a draw as I come from a very Norwegian family. I grew up on a farm so gardening is something that I love to learn more about, especially soaking up all that knowledge from those who have done it far longer than I have!

What professional advice do you have for other young professionals? Put your phone down, make eye contact, and truly engage with those around you. Make sure your circle is always expanding and never contracting. Meet new people, say hello to those who look like they want to belong but don’t know where to start, you never know what you might learn from that interaction!

How do you spend your free time? I have a dog that requires oodles of attention! We can be found walking by Cottonwood Park or playing fetch at the dog park in Mandan.

What is your favorite quote? I’m a Teddy Roosevelt fan. Man in the Arena is one of my favorites: “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

Fun Fact(s)I once worked security at a Def Leppard concert. (My only street cred)

Thank you, Katie, for sharing such great insight! We’re so glad you’re a YPN member!

YP Roundtable with Anne Mahlum

Posted by Young Professionals on Wednesday, November 22nd, 2017 in Entrepreneur Spotlight, Event News, Latest News, Personal Interest | Comments (0)

The Bismarck/Mandan Young Professionals Network was pleased to welcome Anne Mahlum, founder of the nonprofit organization Back on my Feet  and the studio solidcore, as the latest YP Roundtable speaker.  The group met at the Bismarck State College National Energy Center of Excellence on Tuesday, November 21st.

Anne Mahlum grew up in Bismarck and had a very happy childhood. When she was 16, her life drastically changed. Through a series of family revelations and issues, Anne’s negative emotions built up. She turned to running because it made her feel powerful and in control of her life. Over the next several years, Anne double majored in college and then moved to Washington, D.C. to complete her Master’s degree. At the age of 26, she found herself in Philadelphia, searching for her purpose and passion. She found it through the Sunday Breakfast Rescue Mission, which she passed each morning on her daily run. Anne started a running group at the shelter, which began with 9 men in July 2007. Each runner signed an agreement acknowledging that:

  1. They would show up on time, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 6:00 a.m. for their run, and that
  2. They would treat their teammates with dignity, respect and encouragement.

Anne felt drawn to these individuals and, through running, they all found a common purpose. She sought to teach society that these individuals were not defined by their homelessness, that they wanted the same things that we all do – to feel appreciated, recognized, loved and cared for. Anne’s running group has now turned into a life changing program affecting over 6,000 individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness.   Back on My Feet seeks to revolutionize the way our society approaches homelessness. Their unique running-based model demonstrates that if you first restore confidence, strength and self-esteem, individuals are better equipped to tackle the road ahead and move towards jobs, homes and new lives.

Anne stepped down as CEO of Back on My Feet, and in 2013 founded solidcore, a high-intensity, low-impact workout. Solidcore has grown to 29 studio locations, and the goal is for 50 by the end of next year. Many of us complain that we “don’t have the time” to do certain things, when in reality, we just aren’t making it a priority. Anne recommended that if you want to make a resolution, you need to set aside an exact time. For example, rather than saying “I’m going to read more”, decide “I’m going to start each day at 6:00 a.m. by reading my book”.

Q&A with Anne

What advice do you have for entrepreneurs?

  • “Know what you’re good at and know where your talents lie, and when to outsource the rest. Surround yourself with mentors and smart/intellectual people.”

What books do you recommend?

  • “I am currently reading The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer. I would highly recommend How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. “

If you could go back in time, what would you say to 25 year old Anne?

  • “Don’t be so hard on yourself.”

Thanks to Anne for sharing her incredible story with the YP Network!

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Anne

A Vision to Improve the YPN Perception in the Community

Posted by Young Professionals on Wednesday, April 26th, 2017 in Event News, Latest News, Personal Interest | Comments (0)
Jamie Jackson with a penguin

What is the biggest challenge facing the network and what will you do to overcome that?

An ongoing challenge for the YPN has always been perception. How do outside entities/persons/etc “see” the YPN regardless of what we are actually about? Perception, both positive and negative, drive both partner and member engagement and overall numbers. We identified perception as a challenge during our last strategic planning session and I believe we have an excellent framework in place to help us get the “right” perception in the public’s mind. We have an awesome Service component within our network that the public at large may not know about and continuing to market all that we do within the community will be key to continuing to improve our perception!

As a candidate is there anything else you would like to add?

I’m looking forward to working with an awesome executive and leadership team over the next 3 years and I’m excited about the direction the Network is going!

Vote for the next Vice President at the Cinco Annual Meeting and Anniversary Celebration on May 4, 2017. RSVP today! 

Jamie Jackson: A Value-Added Vice President Nominee

Posted by Mariah Rittel on Thursday, April 20th, 2017 in Community Involvement, Latest News, Personal Interest | Comments (0)

How has being in the network impacted you personally and professionally?

Jamie Jackson

When I was in High School and College, I was pretty active in several different organizations and activities. Once I graduated though, I spent the next several years not really being involved with anything outside of work and it is something I still regret. When I moved to Bismarck three years ago, I knew that a couple of former college classmates were involved in the Bismarck-Mandan Young Professionals  Network and I thought that maybe it was time to find something to get involved in. It’s been one of the best decisions I could have made. Being new to the area, I didn’t know many people and the YPN changed that very quickly! I’ve made many friends during my time in the network that I otherwise may have never met had I just stuck to my comfort zone and I’ve had some great, funny and awesome times as a result. I’ve also gotten to meet community leaders, groups from other countries, and countless others contacts with the fantastic programming that the YPN offers its membership.

How can the network add more value to its members?

I’m a big proponent of “value-added” programming within the network. If we can add something to a program/event that you as a member can take with you and use in your personal and professional lives, then I’m all for it. One event that has been a staple of the YPN for several years is the 30-in-30 speed networking event. This has been a very successful event that has had one main focus – adding to your list of professional contacts. This year however, the Professional Development team decided to try and add something more to the event. Since the speed networking involves you giving your “elevator pitch” 20+ times to 20+ people, we thought that bringing in somebody to discuss how to develop and refine your elevator pitch would be a great way to add something to the event that attendees could take home with them and use in their professional lives. I also believe that continuing to find new and engaging programming that only the YPN is providing within the area is crucial. One example where I think we are making strides in that direction is the “Coffee with…” series that started last year. This has been a fantastic (and exclusive) opportunity for YPN members to meet with city and state leaders in a small group setting and is something that you would be hard pressed to find being provided by many (if any) other organizations within the area. Those are the type of events that really show value to our membership. It can be tough to quantify what exactly your membership dues are bringing you each year and coming up unique and new programming can be one way that we can help our members to do that.

Vote for the next Vice President at the Cinco Annual Meeting and Anniversary Celebration on May 4, 2017. RSVP today! 

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Thu 21

Epic Impact Speaker Book Pre-Sale through 1/22

December 8, 2020 @ 8:00 AM - January 22, 2021 @ 7:00 PM
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Epic Impact with Paul Long

January 26 @ 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

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