1. Planning a Career and Technical Academy. 
Worked with Sen. Rich Wardner in 2019 to provide plans to the community to create a CTE academy, which resulted in the creation of a task force. The Academy will provide workforce training for the needs of this area for decades to come. Dickinson Public Schools subsequently purchased the Halliburton complex to serve as the academy’s future location. Sponsored legislation to obtain a $10 million grant from the state, separately raising $5.5 million, with a goal of raising an additional $5 million separately.

 

2. Securing “Critical Access Hospital” designation.
Served on committee in 2008 that worked with congressional delegation to secure “critical access” designation for our hospital, to improve hospital reimbursement for services and changed the hospital’s financial status from a negative to a positive operating margin.

 

3. Bringing a new hospital to Dickinson.
Served as chair of the hospital board when the board decided to purchase land for a new hospital. Worked with other entities and partners to build a new healthcare facility in Dickinson, which opened in 2014.

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4. Securing Hub City funding.
Co-sponsored legislation to provide funding for Dickinson, Stark County, and Dickinson Public Schools for changes needed due to oil impact, which has lowered the city’s debt and provided much-needed infrastructure funding.

 

5. Bringing substance abuse treatment to Dickinson.
Served as advisor to Andres Mejia, president of St. Joe’s Plaza, and assisted in bringing the Heartview Foundation to Dickinson beginning in 2023, which will provide much-needed drug and alcohol addiction counseling.

 

6. Developing the West River Community Center.
Served as Park Board president and board member at the start of the WRCC, developing the original budget with park district staff. Pushed for additions during his time on the board, including more basketball courts, tennis courts, a waterpark, and a second ice rink.

 

7. Serving CHI Health at Home.
Served as board vice chair and member for nearly nine years, to establish and grow hospice programs in North Dakota and Minnesota.

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8. Lowering the cost of the new hospital. 
Worked with hospital leadership to obtain a low-interest loan for a portion of the debt needed to build the new hospital, lowering costs.

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9. Providing a voice for rural ND hospitals.
Served as a member of the CHI National Governance Trust Task Force, which met quarterly in Denver and regularly with the CHI National Board, to provide a voice for the hospitals in our area.

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10. Serving all aspects of the community.
Serving on many boards throughout the years, including the Blue Hawk Booster Club, Park Board, City Commission, Downtown Improvement District, and CHI St. Alexius Hospital Board. Created a group called the “Blue Hawk Partners” to raise funds to purchase a building to house the DSU Heritage Foundation and provided operating dollars for the first six years of its existence.