These Are Your Neighbors

Tony Aukland has been in Information Technology for 30 years. He is employed by the ND Information Technology Department and has served many roles including Email Admin, Desktop support, Server Administration, Unified Communications, AI, and Cybersecurity. The first in the state to serve as cyber analyst for the North Dakota State and Local Intelligence Center. Tony is now the state’s Technology O...

Ethan Hoepfner, LBSW, is a school social worker at Bismarck High School, a foster parent, and an MSW student focused on macro practice and leadership. His work lives at the intersection of schools, behavioral health, families, and community systems, where he helps connect students to the relationships, supports, and services they need to move forward. Ethan’s approach is relational, strengths-base...

Greg Zenker is a lifelong Bismarck resident, community leader, and business professional with decades of experience in the construction and mechanical contracting industry. He is a Partner at Northern Plains Heating and Air. A graduate of St. Mary's Central High School and the University of Mary, Greg was first elected to the Bismarck City Commission in 2018 and has served until 2026.Beyond public...

Steve Lipp is the President &  CEO, of North Dakota Community Foundation. He is a lifelong North Dakota resident who currently lives in Bismarck. Born andraised in Minot, he is a graduate of Bishop Ryan Catholic School and went on to earn aBachelor of Science degree in Human Biology from Minot State University, followed bya doctoral degree from Northwestern College of Chiropractic. While at Mi...

Matt Fern is a filmmaker, media producer, and marketing strategist based in North Dakota. He has produced award-winning work for nonprofits, government, education, and corporate clients which include adidas, Macy’s, CNN, Travel Channel, and Comcast. He created the online series Daily Dakotan and wrote/directed/edited the feature documentary Fighting Over Sioux; he also produces the Plain Talk podc...

Denise Fettig-Loftesnes serves as Development Director at Dream Center Bismarck, where she leads fundraising and community engagement efforts to ensure individuals and families have consistent access to food, support, and stability. Through its daily meal program and on-site resources, the Dream Center serves hundreds of neighbors each day, 365 days a year. Denise brings a diverse background in no...

Miranda Klatt is a passionate advocate for mental health, community connection, and accessible wellness. With a background rooted in fitness and a deep commitment to helping others, she has dedicated her work to breaking down barriers that prevent individuals from prioritizing their well-being. As the founder of a nonprofit organization focused on providing access to exercise services for individu...

Mary Soucie began the duties of State Librarian on January 6, 2014. Mary moved here from Illinois, where she was born and raised. She received her undergraduate degree from Illinois State with a Bachelor of Science in Education with a Minor in Reading. Later, Mary went on to receive her Master’s in Library and Information Science from Dominican University in Illinois. Mary’s passion for libraries...

Taylor is a 27-year-old public health professional from Bismarck who is running for the North Dakota House of Representatives in District 35. Her public health education opened her eyes to the impact of policy on health, and has been driven to improve health policy ever since. Through her campaign, she hopes to not only win, but also hopes to get more young adults in Bismarck engaged in politics a...

 Dan is a 4th generation resident of Bismarck. Dan’s great passion is caring for his community and especially the people who call it home. Dan entered the real estate industry nine years ago and became a high-performing Realtor who believes in providing the highest level of service to his clients. He credits his success to his diverse knowledge of the area, relationships throughout the real estate...

Born and raised by two public educators in Klamath Falls, Oregon—the “City ofSunshine”—Dana Henry’s life has been shaped by lifelong learning, showing up,stepping in, and serving wherever she lands. A driven student and athlete, Dana graduated high school in three years and attendedthe University of Nevada, Reno, becoming the first unrecruited walk-on under CoachDevin Scruggs eventually working he...

Molly McLain is an artist, educator, and advocate originally from Valley City, ND.She has worked in the arts, public policy,national and statewide political campaigns, and with non-profits. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Arts and a Minor inPiano Pedagogy from Valley City State University with an emphasis in psychology fromthe University of Montana at Missoula. For a time, she serv...

Thomas Lawler is the Director of the Lottery Division with more than 23 years of service in the North Dakota Army National Guard, including 21 years on active duty. Throughout his career, he’s held a variety of leadership roles in readiness, aviation operations, human resources, training, and logistics, most recently as a Readiness NCO and Senior Aviation Operations Specialist with Detachment 42....

Julie Horntvedt has served as the Executive Director of the North Dakota State Council on Developmental Disabilities for the past nine years. In this leadership role, she is responsible for the overall strategic direction, administration, and daily operations of the Council, a 23-member body appointed by the Governor to advocate for system change and promote inclusion and independence for individu...

Morgan Turner is an LCAC (Licensed Clinical Addiction Counselor) and Clinical Supervisor practicing in Bismarck, ND. She is currently in her 11th year of counseling. She earned her Bachelors degree through Minot State University. She completed her 1400 training hours through the Missouri Valley Training Consortium and started her career at the Bismarck Transition Center (and for 6 years to follow)...

Chad Oban is a Bismarck, North Dakota native with decades of experience in government relations, politics, and public advocacy. Over the course of his career, he has worked on campaigns at every level of government—from presidential races to local city council contests—giving him a deep understanding of both grassroots organizing and statewide policy work. Chad currently serves as the Executive Di...

Amanda Peterson serves as the Director of Educational Improvement and Support at the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction (NDDPI), where she leads and supports a wide range of statewide initiatives. With expertise in strategic planning, data analysis, resource allocation, and individualized instruction, Amanda helps districts navigate the evolving needs of diverse learners. She serves as...

Mike Chaussee. Mike’s top values are Freedom, Thoughtful Action, and Play. Not necessarily in that order. He tries to work those values into everything he does, including at his current job, which is  as Executive Director for a non-profit called North Dakota Assistive. He’s been there about six years and loves the fact he gets to help people across the state discover freedom and play by finding s...

Kalen Ost is a seasoned communicator with a passion for crafting compelling narratives that drive engagement, build trust, and support organizational goals. With a strong foundation in content development and stakeholder engagement while delving more into strategic communications, Kalen brings a thoughtful and creative approach to projects. Throughout a career spanning journalism, marketing and no...

 Heather was raised in Youngstown, Ohio. She moved to the northwest corner of the state to earn her B.A. in Latin and Classical Art History at Bowling Green State University. During that time she was a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve. Heather moved to Dayton, Ohio, where she would live for 20 years. Heather was hired at Technicolor Cinema Services in their Wilmington, Ohio production facili...

Born and raised in Bismarck, Tom Gerhardt brings a lifelong passion for storytelling, community, and public service to his role as Executive Director of Dakota Media Access. He graduated from the University of North Dakota with a degree in television broadcasting and kicked off his career in sports at KMOT-TV in Minot. From there, he moved to KXMB-TV in Bismarck, where he spent the next two decade...

Sarah Kolberg grew up in McKenzie, North Dakota. She is a news anchor and lifestyle host on KFYR-TV. She anchors Country Morning Today, co-hosts ND Today, and anchors First News at Noon. She loves sharing stories that highlight the people, places, and moments that make North Dakota home. This new adventure in news has been so much fun — and she doesn't even mind the early mornings! Outside of broa...

Our guest today is Kate Herzog. Kate grew up in Mandan, ND and graduated high school there.  She then graduated from the University of North Dakota with honors, earning a BA in Communications while working at the Grand Forks Herald and living in Downtown Grand Forks.  She moved back to the Bismarck area and worked for the Bismarck Tribune before volunteering and then working for the Downtown Busin...

Sandy is an innovative leader and communication strategist who is passionate about building engaging culture to get results. She currently serves as Deputy Secretary of the Office of the Secretary of State and has held leadership roles in multiple state agencies. She has been involved with Designer Genes of North Dakota, a Down syndrome support network, for the over 20 years helping individuals wi...

Cassie Steiger is the owner of Curated Travel Co., a travel agency she launched in 2014 to offer a more personalized, concierge-style approach to travel planning. What began with destination weddings and honeymoons has grown into custom European getaways, African adventures, cruises, and warm-weather escapes—always with the same high-touch service at its core. Born and raised in North Dakota, Cass...