YPs hire new Executive Director, Stacey Heggen

The Greater Grand Forks Young Professionals organization has hired Stacey Heggen as its Executive Director. Heggen will begin her duties leading the YPs on September 6th.

The hiring of an Executive Director for the YP organization is the number one recommendation given by Next Generation Consulting during the YP Launch Grand Forks Project. This new Executive Director will work to strategically move forward organization forward with initiatives that attract and retain young talented adults to the region.

Heggen, a UND graduate, will be moving back to Grand Forks to assume this role as Executive Director. Heggen previously lead the Devils Lake Young Professionals Organization as the chapter’s first chairperson and was also instrumental in founding the Devils Lake YP organization. Prior to this role, Heggen served the Benson County area as an NDSU Extension Agent.

“There’s no doubt that people will catch Stacey’s contagious positivity,” said Amanda Bentow, GGFYP President.  “We are excited to bring her back to Grand Forks and have her representing our organization.”

The new Executive Director will have an office at The Chamber. The Grand Forks Region EDC is providing employment services for the position. The YPs thank The Chamber and EDC as well as our YP Corporate Sponsors and the Bremer Foundation for their continued support of our organization and its goals.

Visit www.ggfyp.com for more details on Stacey Heggen, the Executive Director position and other recommendations from the Launch Grand Forks Project, and current initiatives of the YP organization.


For more information contact:

Amanda Bentow
GGFYP President
Amanda.bentow@email.und.edu
218-791-3700

STORY: A GF boomerangers return

Family first. That simple priority motivated John Nelson to return to North Dakota, Grand Forks and his former company, SimmonsFlint, as an account manager.

“The strong sense of family and community in the Grand Forks region is what residents value most and what brings Boomerangers back,” says the January 2010 Launch Grand Forks Findings and Recommendations report. Sixty-three percent of respondents agreed: family first is what they value most about living in the Grand Forks region.

Nelson and his wife Jill couldn’t agree more. When Miabella was born eight months ago, the couple was filled with joy, excitement and slight panic, like any new parents, especially those living 1,000 miles from the people who shaped them: their parents, their friends, their community.

Better Bikeability

The GF/EGF Metropolitan Planning Office (MPO) is working to follow through with  Launch Grand Forks Recommendation #8:

Support continued efforts in establishing increased "bike-ability" of the region by expanding bike-friendly infrastructure in Grand Forks, particularly from UND area to downtown and greenway.

The MPO wants your input and ideas!  Share them at their "bike-ability" open house.

      Wednesday, June 16, 2010
      6:30pm
      Training Room of the East Grand Forks City Hall
      600 DeMers Ave in East Grand Forks.

The Grand Forks - East Grand Forks Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) will hold an open house in order to gather public comment on the existing and planned bikeway system of the Bike and Pedestrian Section of the Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP).

Bikeway users and the public are encouraged to attend.

A map of the existing and planned bikeway network can be viewed via www.theforksmpo.org.  Paper copies can be viewed at the MPO Office, located in the Grand Forks City Hall and East Grand Forks City Hall.

If you are unable to attend the open house, you can submit written comments to the MPO at P.O. Box 5200, Grand Forks, ND 58206-5200.  Written comments will be received until noon June 16, 2010.

For further information, contact the MPO at 701-746-2660.  Any individual requiring a special accommodation to allow access to participation at this meeting is asked to notify the ADA Coordinator 218-773-0124 of their needs prior to the meeting.

YP Board Training Seminar

As recommended by Next Generation Consulting in the Launch Grand Forks Findings and Recommendations, the Greater Grand Forks Young Professionals in partnership with the Community Foundation of GF/EGF has creating a YP Board Training Seminar to train young adults how the effectively serve on a civic or non-profit community board or committee.

YP Board Training Sessions:
Tuesday May 4th, 5:30-7:30pm EGF Campbell Library Conference Room
Thursday May 20th, 5:30-7:30pm REAC 1 Training Room

The YP Board Training Session is just one way the YPs are working to retain young talent in our region by engaging young adults and helping them serve and become vested in our community as well as develop leadership skills.

www.ggfyp.com

Launch Grand Forks progress

The Launch Grand Forks Committee has been continuing to work on the recommendations given to the community at the Launch Grand Forks Roll Out Event. Here are a few of the recommendations that are moving forward...

YP Executive Director Position
- Position description, work plan, budget and fundraising, and other position deliverables are currently being developed
- YP Board and LGF Committee plan to hire a YP Executive Director within 1-3 months

Train YPs to be on local boards and committees
- YP Professional Development Committee along with the Community Foundation will hold a YP Board Training session in May. Plans are currently underway.
- The Community Foundation has a board bank up and running. If you are interested in being a local non-profit organizations board, sign up for the Leadership Connection Board Bank.

Connect the campus and the community
Link Event
- The Grand Forks Region EDC and the UND Center for Community Engagement recently hosted Link. Link is an event that brings community professionals together with students in the same discipline to discuss opportunities available in that discipline in Grand Forks and East Grand Fork
- Link: Communication was hosted on February 16 with 55 students and professionals attending. Link: Engineering is currently being planned for April.

UND and Community Website Message
- UND is currently working to create a new university website. During this website revision, the university is collaborating with community organizations like the Convention and Visitors Bureau and the City of Grand Forks to enhance the UND website with a consistent community message.

Other recommendations at the top of the priority list include
- Continuing to encourage community members to sign the Launch Grand Forks Pledge
- Creating "Next Company" awards and campaign
- Developing a community marketing organization

With the help and support of the community, the Launch Grand Forks project is continuing to move full speed ahead! The LGF Committee appreciates your involvement and support. If you would like more information on recommendations that are moving forward or have ideas or would like to help with a specific initiative email michaelas@grandforks.org.

Sign Pledge to "Launch Grand Forks"

As part of the recommendations Next Generation Consulting unveiled on January 26th, residents are encouraged to sign the "Launch Grand Forks" pledge.

By taking one minute to enter your name, you are committing to "Launch Grand Forks." This means looking at your community through the lens of possibility. It means encouraging our children, our leaders, and our neighbors to think bigger and more optimistically about Grand Forks' future. It means valuing the people, places, and quality of life in Grand Forks and instilling the community with a renewed sense of pride.

Click here to pledge to "Launch Grand Forks" today!

See who has signed the pledge!

Launch Grand Forks Roll Out Event

Mark your calendars for the Launch Grand Forks Roll Out Event!

Tuesday, January 26th 5:30-7:00pm
Canad Inns, Playmakers Upstairs Lounge & Conference Room

Rebecca Ryan will return to Grand Forks to reveal Next Generation Consulting's recommendations for the Grand Forks Region. NGC has culminated the results of the Launch Grand Forks survey, focus groups, dream session, and community comments and used them to develop ways for Grand Forks to attract and retain young talent in our community.The Roll Out Event is open for the entire Grand Forks Region community!

Come get information, show your support, and get involved in strengthening our community.