Learn how to leverage AI tools like ChatGPT to elevate your startup’s marketing and communication strategies. This workshop explores a range of AI solutions that streamline content creation, customer engagement, and brand messaging, amplifying your business's reach and impact.

Led by Dr. Hannah Walters, Northern State University

***About Hannah

Dr. Hannah Walters, an Associate Professor of Marketing at Northern State University, is passionate about marketing, consumer insights, problem-solving, and strategic storytelling. She is the driving force behind Advancing Marketing with AI: Applications, Insights, and Analysis, a book set to be published in early 2025. In her courses, she blends real-world insights with a deep focus on AI's transformative impact on consumer behavior and marketing strategy.

The Community Champions Network is designed for entrepreneurs, entrepreneurial cheerleaders, business leaders, and community champions. This networking event aims to enhance the connection within our community and celebrate the remarkable achievements occurring in the region. We understand that our entrepreneurs thrive when they come together, connect, and embrace the incredible support of our larger community.

Learn the foundational marketing strategies every startup needs to succeed. This workshop focuses on cost-effective techniques, including free and budget-friendly options, to help you build a strong brand, engage customers, and drive sustainable growth. Perfect for entrepreneurs looking to make a big impact without a big budget.

Led by Sarah Dinger, My Place Hotels

***About Sarah

Executive Vice President – Franchise Operations

With over two decades of dedicated service in the hospitality industry, Sarah Dinger brings a wealth of experience to her role as the Executive Vice President of Franchise Operations at My Place. Sarah's journey with My Place began in May 2012, where she joined as the company's very first employee. Since then, she has consistently demonstrated her commitment to the company's growth and success, serving in various capacities.

Sarah is a prominent figure in the hospitality sector, known for her contributions and leadership. She has been honored by Hotel Management as one of the "Influential Women in Hospitality," a recognition of her exceptional achievements and influence in the industry.

In addition to her role at My Place, Sarah is an active advocate for the hospitality community. She currently serves on the AHLA ForWard: Women Advancing Hospitality Advisory Committee, the AHLA Sustainability Committee, and the Safe Stay Advisory Council, showcasing her dedication to advancing industry standards.

Sarah's passion for the hospitality industry extends beyond her professional responsibilities. She frequently shares her valuable insights by participating in industry panels and events, contributing to meaningful discussions that shape the future of the field. With her proactive and engaging approach, she continually seeks opportunities to make a positive impact on the industry and beyond.

Say goodbye to messy spreadsheets! In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn essential Excel skills to keep your business data organized and easy to manage. Discover how to format cells for clarity, sort and filter lists to find what you need quickly, create structured tables for efficient data handling, and use dropdown menus or validation tools to ensure accuracy. Perfect for entrepreneurs looking to simplify operations and take control of their data!

Bringing a laptop is recommended for this workshop.

Led by Professor Lindsey Huber, Northern State University

***About Lindsey

Hello! I'm Lindsey Huber, an instructor in the Management Information Systems Department at Northern State University's School of Business, a role I've proudly held since 2017. My journey at Northern State University began earlier, with nearly a decade of experience as Helpdesk Manager and Instructional Design Specialist in the Technology Services department while also teaching online courses.

As a proud NSU alumna, I earned a B.S. in Elementary Education with a K-12 Technology Endorsement and an M.S. in eLearning Technology Support and Administration. My connection to NSU extends beyond the classroom, as I actively contribute to campus life through various committees like the Northern Night Committee and the Alumni Association. NSU is a place I hold dear, and I cherish every opportunity to be part of its dynamic and supportive community.

Have an idea for a product, service, app, non-profit, or event but don't know where to start? This 90-minute workshop lets you explore entrepreneurship and innovation—no experience required!

Led by Northern State University Professors:

Date: Friday, December 6, 2024
Time: 11 AM to 1 PM
Location: Kessler’s Champions Club Room 
Presented by: Mel Ustad

Brought to you by SD EPSCoR | SD Biotech SD Chamber of Commerce & Industry | SD GIant Vision | Northern Innovation and Startup Center

Beverages and a light lunch will be provided

Registration is required by Tuesday, December 3rd

Support Program Information Presented:

• SBA FAST Launch

• NSF I-Corps Regional Hub Program

• Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)

• GOED Proof of Concept Program

• Small Business Development Centers

• Local / Campus Programs - Presented by local representative

Keys for Competition Success:

• Written Plan

• Effective Presentation

Q&A Session

Optional:

• Schedule short one-on-one meeting with Mel

  • MUST submit an executive summary three days in advance and book a time slot with Mary Anne Boyd, SD Chamber, at maryanneb@sdchamber.biz

About Mel Ustad*

Career-focused on supporting entrepreneurship and innovation

• Involved with SBIR program since 1988

• Former Director of Commercialization, SD Governor’s Office of Economic Development

• Held multiple university research and economic development roles

• Principal Investigator, NSF South Dakota EPSCoR Track 1 project

• Giant Vision Competition Judge

From Small-Town Roots to Global Success: Innovation, Technology, and the Power of 'How'

Location: Krikac Auditorium, Northern State University Campus
Speaker: Sean Covel
EVENT CO-HOSTS: McNair Scholars Program & TRIO Student Support Services

Imagine your whole world grinding to a stand-still because a cow was late for work. “Welcome to day five of shooting Napoleon Dynamite. That was one of the easiest problems we had to solve!”

Sean Covel, South Dakota native and producer of the iconic independent film Napoleon Dynamite, delivers an engaging keynote filled with hilarious stories of growing up in small-town South Dakota, alongside behind-the-scenes trivia from making one of the most unlikely indie successes in film history.

But beyond the laughs, Sean sets the stage for a powerful “Ah Ha” moment—demonstrating how asking the right questions can drive innovation, empower leaders, and focus teams. With technology and perseverance at the core of his journey, Sean illustrates how overcoming failure has been key to his entrepreneurial and philanthropic success, and how those lessons can be applied to any industry.

Attendees will discover:

• How to turn failures into opportunities and fuel innovation through technology

• The mindset needed to empower teams and drive progress

• How to create success while improving the lives of those around you

Perfect for entrepreneurs, business students, and innovators, this keynote is an inspiring look at how small-town values and a focus on asking the right questions can lead to big successes in today’s fast-paced, tech-driven world.

*About Sean Covel

Sean Covel is a Movie Producer, Author, and Grassroots Philanthropist who grew up in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

Covel’s film credits include Beneath for Paramount Pictures, The 12 Dogs of Christmas, directed by Academy Award-winner Kieth Merrill, and the cult classic Napoleon Dynamite.

Covel travels the world working on various film projects but stays closely connected to his small-town roots.

In 2015, he started the 12 Days of Pizza program, which provides meals to food-insecure families with elementary school children during the Christmas break. The program began in the Black Hills by providing 144 meals to local area families, and has since grown to provide over 50,000 meals to families nationwide. It continues to grow each year.

Covel’s cildren's book series, Porter the Hoarder, is at the heart of a major literacy and family engagement project in South Dakota. In partnership with United Way and the South Dakota Statewide Family Engagement Center, The Porter Project has distributed over 60,000 free books to first-grade students across the state, making it the most successful reading and family engagement initiative in South Dakota history.

Covel holds an undergraduate degree in Broadcast Management and Acting from the University of Nebraska at Kearney and a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts, where he guest lectures each spring.

Covel travels frequently when making movies, keynote speaking at conferences, and lecturing at the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts.

He hangs his nunchucks in Deadwood, SD.

From Small-Town Roots to Global Success: Innovation, Technology, and the Power of 'How'

Location: Engels Event Co.
Speaker: Sean Covel

Imagine your whole world grinding to a stand-still because a cow was late for work. “Welcome to day five of shooting Napoleon Dynamite. That was one of the easiest problems we had to solve!”

Sean Covel, South Dakota native and producer of the iconic independent film Napoleon Dynamite, delivers an engaging keynote filled with hilarious stories of growing up in small-town South Dakota, alongside behind-the-scenes trivia from making one of the most unlikely indie successes in film history.

But beyond the laughs, Sean sets the stage for a powerful “Ah Ha” moment—demonstrating how asking the right questions can drive innovation, empower leaders, and focus teams. With technology and perseverance at the core of his journey, Sean illustrates how overcoming failure has been key to his entrepreneurial and philanthropic success, and how those lessons can be applied to any industry.

Attendees will discover:

• How to turn failures into opportunities and fuel innovation through technology

• The mindset needed to empower teams and drive progress

• How to create success while improving the lives of those around you

Perfect for entrepreneurs, business students, and innovators, this keynote is an inspiring look at how small-town values and a focus on asking the right questions can lead to big successes in today’s fast-paced, tech-driven world.

*About Sean Covel

Sean Covel is a Movie Producer, Author, and Grassroots Philanthropist who grew up in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

Covel’s film credits include Beneath for Paramount Pictures, The 12 Dogs of Christmas, directed by Academy Award-winner Kieth Merrill, and the cult classic Napoleon Dynamite.

Covel travels the world working on various film projects but stays closely connected to his small-town roots.

In 2015, he started the 12 Days of Pizza program, which provides meals to food-insecure families with elementary school children during the Christmas break. The program began in the Black Hills by providing 144 meals to local area families, and has since grown to provide over 50,000 meals to families nationwide. It continues to grow each year.

Covel’s cildren's book series, Porter the Hoarder, is at the heart of a major literacy and family engagement project in South Dakota. In partnership with United Way and the South Dakota Statewide Family Engagement Center, The Porter Project has distributed over 60,000 free books to first-grade students across the state, making it the most successful reading and family engagement initiative in South Dakota history.

Covel holds an undergraduate degree in Broadcast Management and Acting from the University of Nebraska at Kearney and a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts, where he guest lectures each spring.

Covel travels frequently when making movies, keynote speaking at conferences, and lecturing at the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts.

He hangs his nunchucks in Deadwood, SD.

Join us for a comprehensive workshop tailored for new business owners. Our expert panelists will cover the fundamental aspects of Banking, Accounting, Insurance, and Legal that are crucial for starting your business. After the presentations, engage in interactive one-on-one sessions for personalized advice, ensuring you're well-prepared for entrepreneurial success.

Panel: Kristi Martin, Dacotah Bank | Anthony Schwab, Eide Bailly | Pat Tollefson, Insurance Plus | Rod Tobin, Partner at Siegel Barnett & Schutz LLC

***About Kristie

Kristie Martin is the Market President of Dacotah Bank in Aberdeen. Kristie’s history in banking includes working as a loan assistant, being a credit analyst and serving time as an internal auditor. Kristie established Dacotah Bank’s Central Credit Analysis department as the first manager of the department; this is where the financial underwriting is done on business and ag loans for all Dacotah Bank locations. Prior to her current role, she was a Director of Credit Administration where she was part of the team approving the largest loan relationships for Dacotah Bank.

Kristie completed her undergraduate degree in finance and economics at Northern State University, and later completed her master’s degree from West Texas A&M also in finance and economics. She is an active volunteer on the United Way of Northeastern South Dakota board, Aberdeen Catholic School System school board, and SD CEO West board of directors.

***About Anthony

Anthony provides tax planning, consulting and compliance to a number of individuals and closely held businesses. These clients include agricultural producers, lodging, hospitality and retail businesses.

When you work with Anthony, he will take the time to understand your business and help you look for improvements and efficiencies from the tax as well as operational perspective. Accessibility is important to Anthony and he understands providing clients with timely assistance is critical.

Outside of work, Anthony enjoys spending time with his wife Elizabeth and children Caroline and Samuel. He loves finding a project outside, spending time with family and friends, golfing and hunting.

***About Pat

Pat Tollefson is an independent insurance agent with Insurance Plus. She specializes in both commercial and personal lines and has been with the agency for 20 plus years.  Pat enjoys meeting new clients, providing insurance education and is very active in the community. She currently is serving on three regional boards in and out of state.

In her spare time Pat enjoys lake life, golf, traveling and volunteering. 

***About Rod

Rod Tobin is a partner with Siegel, Barnett & Schutz law firm. His practice focus is real estate, business and agricultural law, business succession planning, employment law, and estate planning. He is admitted to practice in South Dakota, North Dakota, and the U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota. Rod earned a B.S. from Southwest Minnesota State University, and M.B.A. and J.D. from the University of South Dakota.

He is legal counsel for several nonprofits in Aberdeen and has served on numerous boards including his current role with the Boys and Girls Club of Aberdeen Area Board. Rod is a member of the Brown County Bar Association and the State Bar of South Dakota where he chairs the Business Law Committee.

Explore a variety of funding options, from traditional to non-traditional methods, to secure financial support for your startup, covering early-stage funding, bootstrapping versus investor capital, and non-dilutive funding sources in South Dakota, including banking options and loan programs like SBA 7(a), SBA 504, SD GOED/SD Works, Grow SD, NECOG, and others.

Led by Olaf Hanson, Dacotah Bank & Tom Eitreim, Enterprise Institute

***About Olaf

Following graduation from the Northern State University School of Business, Olaf Hanson has now been at Dacotah Bank for nearly five years. As a Business Banker, my primary responsibilities include partnering with and educating entrepreneurs, commercial real estate developers, and local business owners on financing options for improving the cash flow and long-term sustainability of their start-up business or the expansion of their existing real estate portfolio. When he’s out of the office, Olaf enjoys spending time outside fishing, hunting, or hanging out at the lake with his wife Taylor, and their pup Lady.

***About Tom

Tom Eitreim serves as Executive Director of the Enterprise Institute. In his role, he works as an entrepreneur coach specializing in early-stage financing. He assists high-growth startup companies to create viable business plans and attract both angel and venture capital.

Explore the South Dakota startup ecosystem with insights into early-stage funding and the various stages of risk capital. Gain valuable knowledge on how to navigate the funding process and position your startup for success.

Led by Tom Eitreim, Enterprise Institute

**About Tom

Tom Eitreim serves as Executive Director of the Enterprise Institute. In his role, he works as an entrepreneur coach specializing in early-stage financing. He assists high-growth startup companies to create viable business plans and attract both angel and venture capital. Tom manages the angel fund network for the Enterprise Institute. The angel fund network focuses on identifying and investing in venture scalable startup companies. 

Tom will discuss the South Dakota startup ecosystem, funding early stage startup companies, and discuss the different stages of risk capital.

Join us for the NSU Idea Pitch Competition and support the innovative ideas of Northern State University's undergraduate students!

Finalists will present their creative business concepts at the Shark Tank-style event on Thursday, Oct. 17, at 7 p.m. in the lobby of the Jewett Regional Science Education Center.

Come out and be inspired by the entrepreneurial spirit of our students as they pitch their next big ideas!

Sponsored by the Aberdeen Development Corporation, the competition offers $1,000 in cash prizes.

Whether you have no idea where to start or too many ideas to choose from, this 90-minute workshop will help you explore entrepreneurship and innovation through a structured ideation process. Designed for anyone interested in starting a business or initiative, this session will guide you in brainstorming, evaluating, and refining your ideas—no prior experience required!

Led by Northern State University Professors:

This workshop will give entrepreneurs essential strategies for effective financial management. From understanding key bookkeeping concepts and financial statements to effective budgeting, projecting cash flow needs, and tax planning, this session will provide you with practical tips and tools to build a solid financial foundation for your startup's success.

Led by Instructor Candi Olson, Northern State University

***About Candi

Candi Olson has been a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) since 1996. She joined Northern in 2017 as a full-time accounting instructor in the School of Business. Olson’s professional career has spanned more than 20 years in public accounting and industry environments. 

While in public accounting, she assisted clients with a variety of tax matters at Deloitte in Minneapolis. After leaving public accounting, she worked in corporate settings including 10 years at Target Corporation, where she managed a team that handled all aspects of multistate corporate income tax planning, reporting, compliance, and controversy. 

Wednesday, September 18th | 3:00 - 4:00 PM

Location: Blackbox Theater in the Johnson Fine Arts Center at NSU

This Community Champions Network is a vibrant event for entrepreneurs, business leaders, and community advocates, held after our annual Technology and Entrepreneurship Summit. It strengthens connections, celebrates regional achievements, and provides a space to discuss summit sessions, share insights, and gather feedback—open to all, whether or not you attended the Summit!

Register below if you are not attending the Summit!

Wednesday, September 18th starting at 9AM

Location: Johnson Fine Arts Center, NSU

Join us for our second annual Technology and Entrepreneurship Summit! It's back, bigger, and better than ever (and offering a virtual experience) this year!

We're bringing together industry trailblazers, forward-thinking innovators, driven students, and aspiring entrepreneurs for an exciting event all about blending technology and entrepreneurship.

Expect engaging discussions, prime networking opportunities, and invaluable insights from seasoned tech professionals and successful business owners!

Explore the exciting world of entrepreneurship and innovation! Designed for aspiring student entrepreneurs, this session offers practical insights, creative strategies, and a step-by-step guide to turning your ideas into viable ventures—all while you’re still in college. Join us in a supportive environment where your creativity can thrive and your entrepreneurial journey can begin.

**About Kelly

Kelly is the Regional Director of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in Aberdeen. Her office serves 13 counties in northeast South Dakota and is one of seven SBDC offices in the state. During the past 25 years with the SBDC, she has assisted thousands of people in starting businesses, buying businesses, and better managing their businesses through one-to-one counseling and training events. She currently serves as President of BIG Idea, Inc., which operates the BIG Idea Competition, a business idea competition for high school students. Kelly has a degree in business finance and management from Northern State and has worked in the field of community and economic development throughout her career.

Embark on an interactive journey as we explore the fascinating world of ChatGPT, a powerful language model that can transform the way you engage with artificial intelligence (AI). Whether you’re a first-time AI user or experienced with AI - this workshop will equip you with the knowledge and strategies to leverage ChatGPT and elevate your business to greater success.

Led by Joshua Citrak, NSU Innovator Empowerment

You will need a laptop and a ChatGPT account for this workshop. If you need to borrow a laptop or need help creating an account, please reach out to us ahead of time!

***About Joshua Citrak

Joshua is currently the Director of Innovator Empowerment at Northern State University. He identifies and facilitates the creation of meaningful micro-credentials for Northern staff and students. He also evangelizes automation and collaboration in technology. Joshua is interested in access and equity in technology for rural communities and believes that they deserve a seat at the table for how we implement daily use of technology. The goals of his office are to give staff and faculty their "Digital Passports" and become lifelong learners and adopters of emergent technology.

Joshua enjoys AI, ML, PI and big data, data visualization in R and ArcGIS, automation tools such as Zapier, Postman, Salesforce, and VR. He is code language agnostic and solution-focused. Joshua believes in responsible design, tech stewardship, lifelong learning, and teaching kids to master technology instead of being a slaves to it.

Whether you're a budding entrepreneur or a seasoned professional looking to embark on a new venture, this workshop is designed to equip you with the essential tools and knowledge to turn your idea into a thriving business.

Led by Kelly Weaver, Small Business Development Center

***About Kelly Weaver

Kelly is the Regional Director of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in Aberdeen. Her office serves 13 counties in northeast South Dakota and is one of seven SBDC offices in the state. During the past 25 years with the SBDC, she has assisted thousands of people in starting businesses, buying businesses, and better managing their businesses through one-to-one counseling and training events. She currently serves as President of BIG Idea, Inc., which operates the BIG Idea Competition, a business idea competition for high school students. Kelly has a degree in business finance and management from Northern State and has worked in the field of community and economic development throughout her career.

Join us at Engels Event Company from 5 - 7 PM for Pitch Night!

The Aberdeen Business Pitch Competition is for entrepreneurs and startup businesses hosted by the Northern Innovation and Startup Center and the Aberdeen Development Corporation.

At this final event, we will have the finalists pitch their business to a panel of judges. The first-place winner will receive a $10,000 cash prize to be used to start or expand business operations!

Come watch the finalist pitches and enjoy some food!

The Community Champions Network will be from 4:00 - 5:00 on the same day at Engels.
If your schedule allows, join us for both!

Community Champions Network

Location: Engels Event Co.

The Community Champions Network is designed for entrepreneurs, entrepreneurial cheerleaders, business leaders, and community champions. This networking event aims to enhance the connection within our community and celebrate the remarkable achievements occurring in the region. We understand that our entrepreneurs thrive when they come together, connect, and embrace the incredible support of our larger community.

Are you passionate about technology, professional development, and connecting with like-minded individuals?

No matter where you are in your tech journey – whether you're a seasoned tech professional, a hobbyist, or just starting to explore the world of coding – this networking group is for you!

Courtney Scharf, keynote speaker, will explore "the Art of Innovating through Ritual" at the Women’s Business Conference. She will showcase how the most innovative minds turn out-of-the box thinking into actionable strategies. 

***About Courtney

Courtney Scharf, Chief Client Officer at Trend Hunter. 

Courtney Scharf is the founder of Trend Hunter’s Client Research Team, which today has completed more than 8,000 custom trend report and workshop projects for hundreds of the world’s best innovation teams. She is a futurist and top keynote speaker for brands like Best Buy, Mastercard, Viacom, T Marzetti and 7-Eleven. In addition, Courtney has been an innovation and research advisor to Samsung, Adidas, Nestle, Disney and NASA. She is one of Trend Hunter’s top keynote speakers for clients with a need for deep trend expertise and facilitation of our premium innovation workshops. Since 2015, she has been one of our best keynote speakers on trends, and the lead Future Festival keynote speaker on Innovation in Leisure,  the Future of Retail, and much more! 

STUDENT SESSION
Build a startup idea in a 10-minutes! This hands-on workshop will provide an opportunity to brainstorm ideas, generate ideas, get basic entrepreneurship model information, and much more.

Led by: Maia Donohue, IDEA Hub Accelerator

Community Champions Network

Location: Engels Event Co.
Guest Speaker: Maia Donohue, IDEA HUB ACCELERATOR

The Community Champions Network is designed for entrepreneurs, entrepreneurial cheerleaders, business leaders, and community champions. This networking event aims to enhance the connection within our community and celebrate the remarkable achievements occurring in the region. We understand that our entrepreneurs thrive when they come together, connect, and embrace the incredible support of our larger community.

STUDENT SESSION
Prepare to delve into the realms of entrepreneurship and innovation, unleashing your creativity in a welcoming environment. This workshop is brimming with valuable insights, practical guidance, and a roadmap tailored to help you kickstart your idea while still in college.

Led by: Kelly Weaver, Small Business Development Center

***About Kelly Weaver

Kelly is the Regional Director of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in Aberdeen. Her office serves 13 counties in northeast South Dakota and is one of seven SBDC offices in the state. During the past 25 years with the SBDC, she has assisted thousands of people in starting businesses, buying businesses, and better managing their businesses through one-to-one counseling and training events. She currently serves as President of BIG Idea, Inc., which operates the BIG Idea Competition, a business idea competition for high school students. Kelly has a degree in business finance and management from Northern State and has worked in the field of community and economic development throughout her career.