East Grand Forks Economic Development Authority

06/01/2026

Today I am visiting with the guys at Northland Custom Woodworking! First up is Kevin Marcott. I know Kevin because he was on the Planning Commission for 7 years. Before my time and after the flood he was on the EDA Board. His commitment to family and community run deep.

He bought the building in April of 2005 and has been in business for 26 years. Since that time the business has expanded 3-4 times. He and his wife Cindy have been married for 49 years. She is a Para at the Middle School and together they have 3 kids: Kris, who is a part-owner in the business, Nicole works for Polk County and has 2 kids and Tyler, who is a Para at the High School.

They enjoy watching their grandkids’ activities, their lake property and Kevin also enjoys going to his hunting shack.

Kris and Jeff Vonasek bought in at the same time and they have been friends since they played baseball together in High School. They have an easy way about them and I enjoyed the camaraderie as they bantered back and forth. They had both graduated college and didn’t really enjoy what they were doing, so they made the change and they are both glad they did.

Kris graduated from High School here in East Grand Forks in 1996 and is married to Kristen. Kristen is a teacher at the Community High School in Grand Forks. They have 4 kids: twin girls: Emma and Ellie. They graduated from EGF Senior High, in 2025, Knox 10 and Kinzlee 9.

Kris and Kristen are like most parents and are busy going to their kids’ sport activities. Kris steps it up a notch and coaches’ baseball, basketball and softball, so he’s really involved. They also enjoy the lake.

Jeff heads up the countertop side of the business and handles the cabinet installation; he graduated from EGF High School in 1994. He really enjoys golf, plays league and likes to travel to warm climates in the winter. To, you guessed it, golf!

When he and Kris bought in, the 3 owners bought a counter shop business in 2008. Jeff worked with them for a couple months, learning all things related to the new business.

They build custom cabinets and countertops for residential and commercial projects. They work with various local builders for new builds and remodels. They have 5 full-time employees and 4 part-time, plus the 3 owners working there.

As I walked along, they have a great system going. They have worked with Northland College on the houses they have built with the Forx Builders Assoc, but now that they have dropped the program, they work with the High School, and the Wood/Shop class to bring classes in to show cabinet and countertop process. They are in the process of donating some of their equipment to that program.

I wanted to know what the process would look like if I wanted to order some cabinets for my home.

First step in getting a countertop bid would be to come in and pick out colors, with a sketch of how you’d want your kitchen countertops set up. Jeff would work with you to get an estimate of countertops, with sink and install, etc.

For cabinet design it would go to Kris and he would discuss with you your ideas and get some preliminary drawings of what is wanted on their computer program. They would then come in and measure and tweak the design as needed until customer is satisfied.

The process from start of build for the average kitchen is 2-2 ½ weeks, because they don’t order the cabinets, they custom build them.

They are located at 502 Business Hwy 2; phone number is 218-773-1721. Their showroom is open from Monday-Thursday. Hours are 7 a.m.-5 p.m.

Kevin, Kris and Jeff, it was a pleasure!

Brenda Ault, EDA Specialist

https://www.ncwegf.com/

https://www.facebook.com/NCWEGF

05/29/2026

🌱Grow Your Business with Minnesota Programs 🌱
.
Join the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development and the East Grand Forks Economic Development Authority for an informative seminar focused on helping Minnesota businesses grow, expand, and compete hosted at The Chamber - Grand Forks/East Grand Forks.
This session will highlight a range of state-supported programs and resources designed to support business success at every stage. Attendees will gain insights specific to MN employers for:
- financing and incentive programs
- strategies for business expansion, and
- workforce development tools available
Whether you are looking to scale your operations, navigate regulatory processes, or strengthen your workforce, this seminar will connect you with the people and programs that can help move your business forward.
Wednesday, June 16, 2026
11:30 am-1:00 pm
The Chamber Board Room
$20/person (Includes Lunch)

Join the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) and the East Grand Forks Economic Development Authority for an informative seminar focused on helping Minnesota businesses grow, expand, and compete.

05/28/2026

Are you a kid thinking of starting a business? Get it started this summer with the Kidpreneur Program.
This is a program designed for middle and high school students in the Greater Grand Forks area, built to support young entrepreneurs in growing their small business or side hustles. Participants get the opportunity to sell their products at a booth during the Downtown Street Fair in August.
Scan the QR code or register online : https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfnFsDCAnsUmcU28_wJ_EOtIompg0lNT9hoPXOl6yse38QQmw/viewform?pli=1

05/25/2026

Today I am talking with local realtor, Zach Finney! I know him as the “Why Whisk It” realtor. He has got the cutest ads on social media with his kids! Zach has been in the real estate business since 2017, so he’s close to his 10-year anniversary now. Real estate was always something that interested him, even growing up because his Dad, Duane and Stepmom, Rhonda have both been in the business for a long time. They have been tremendous mentors to Zach, not only in learning the business itself, but in understanding how important relationships are and how much trust people place in you during major moments in their lives.

I know Zach because he is on the Planning & Zoning Commission and I work in the Planning Department, the EDA Department and Building Department. So when I said I needed an article ASAP he really stepped up to help me out.

Zach has a quiet wisdom about him, as well as a sense of humor. I can tell listening to him that he is passionate about what he does and takes pride in doing it well. Watching his videos on social media with his kids, it’s easy to see he adores his kids!

He is married to his high school sweetheart, Karli. When I asked him how old he was when they started dating, his answer shows that sense of humor I was talking about. He said with a smile, “at least as I remember it, in seventh grade. Karli may tell you eighth grade and she is probably correct!” They have two kids, Griffin 7, and Perrie 5.

Between sports, activities, work, and school, there is always something happening. They spend a lot of time at Maple Lake and really enjoy the seasonal changes out there. They also love getting together with family and friends, and one of their favorite things to do is cook meals together. He says, “Family life for us is perfectly chaotic. I tend to turn a simple salad into a full-scale production and everyone lets me know it!”

One of the things he enjoys most about real estate is getting to know people and helping them connect with the right home or property for their next chapter. Seeing the excitement and relief people feel once everything comes together is incredibly rewarding to him, especially knowing how important those decisions are in their lives.

He also enjoys helping make the process feel manageable. When people are preparing to move or sell a property, there is a lot of stress and uncertainty involved. He takes pride in helping guide clients through all the moving pieces, whether that is repairs, contractors, cleaning, moving, staging, or simply helping them stay organized and informed throughout the process.

When I asked him how he came up with the "Why Whisk It" slogan, he said “it came from his Mom, Jane, who I owe a lot of my creativity to.” Cooking has always been something his family enjoys, and he and his kids started making videos for social media highlighting recipes and local businesses. It has become something they genuinely love doing together, and he enjoys looking back at how much those videos, and his family, have evolved over time.

I knew he must have a funny story to share, because, well Zach, he’s a fun guy! No surprise, he actually had a few, but this one is my favorite. He accidentally walked into a house that was not actually for sale and the family who lived there was sitting in their living room staring at him and his clients. He realized he was one house off from the showing address! It was his first time showing that client properties, and fortunately, they all had a good laugh.

He says, “One thing people may not realize about real estate is how close we become with clients over time. Sometimes it takes months or even years to help people achieve their goals, and during that process you become part of each other’s lives. Some of my closest long-term friendships have come from this business. Early on, I thought the transactions were the most important part of the job. Over time, I realized the relationships are by far the most meaningful part.”

He brings a creative approach to marketing and business, but he also takes the profession very seriously. He doesn’t treat real estate like a hobby. This is his career, and he wants every client to feel like they had success and to genuinely enjoy the process along the way. He feels fortunate to be one of the top individual producers in the area for several years, and he is very grateful for the trust people continue to place in him.

When asked what he would want potential clients to know, he said, “it is that I truly care about their best interests. I think if you asked many past clients, they would tell you that I care deeply about helping them make good decisions and protecting their interests above anything else.”

He is proud of the community he lives in and feels that East Grand Forks and Grand Forks have a great sense of community. People sometimes hesitate because of the weather, but once you experience all four seasons and the relationships people build here, it becomes a really special place. He works with many people from UND and the Air Force base, and it is incredibly rewarding to see how often they choose to stay here long term because of the roots and connections they build. There are a lot of people here who genuinely care about one another, and he believes that is what makes this area special.

You can reach Zach at 701-739-5789, he’d love to list your home or show you some great properties!

Zach, it was a pleasure!

Brenda Ault, EDA Specialist

https://www.facebook.com/zachfinneyrealestate

05/18/2026

Today I am visiting with Dr. Chelsea Erickson from Demers Dental! Her Grandpa was a doctor in a small town, and her uncle was a doctor as well, so she grew up with doctors and medical talk in everyday life. She even put in a time capsule in the third grade that she was going to be a doctor!

But her Grandpa and her uncle both approached her when she was older and advised her to pick something else. They didn’t like where the medical profession was headed and saw problems coming down the road.

She originally thought about optometry, because she, as many children are, grew up being afraid to go to the dentist! She did eventually settle on dentistry. And really loves her job. They are not in network and consequently can and do take much more time with each patient, new clients typically have an hour and a half appointment and she really goes through everything with them as far as care and options they can offer. When a provider is in network, they have to limit the time the Doctor can spend on an appointment. Insurance can still be used and they submit your claim to insurance for you and she feels that really sets them apart, taking more time talking to the clients and really informing them on their treatment plan.

I had no idea that to become a dentist you have to take 4 years of undergrad studies and another 4 at a dental school! She took chemistry studies at UND and went to Creighton in Omaha for dentistry.

Paul Stadem opened Demers Dental in 1980. She bought in when she graduated in 2012. And when he retired, she bought him out and is now the proud owner of Demers Dental.

She now is a Pankey Institute trained dentist. She loves continuing education and goes there yearly to train and to teach. The Essentials is a four-course curriculum that is the foundation of what is taught at Pankey.

I did some research on Pankey and this explains a little more. They teach four courses that are designed to accomplish one over-arching technical learning objective for everyone who attends. They train so the attendee can confidently and competently examine, diagnose, treatment plan, treatment sequence and execute any restorative case regardless of complexity.

Every course is designed to deepen the student’s knowledge of what dentistry needs to look like so they love their career and live a life they love. Improving patient relationships, team relationships and becoming a better communicator is also woven through.

When I asked her to share a funny story, she said, “We like to laugh and goof around in the office. Every 3 months we give away a large stuffed animal with two smaller “babies” to kids who enter the drawing when they come in for care. The boxes these animals come in are very large. Our assistants used this opportunity to hide in a box and scare members of the team while another assistant recorded the reactions. This resulted in some very loud laughs and screams around the office!”

Normally dentist offices make me sweat and I become very nervous. I had some bad experiences as a child and Demers Dental is a very calm place. While I was waiting for Dr Erickson, one of my co-workers walked up to the desk with her child. They both looked calm and happy and I thought, well that is a good sign that a dentist’s office can be a place a child is not afraid to go to. When I asked her at work the next day, she said “they really like going there and the kids are not at all afraid to go!”

I have a lady who brings me fresh eggs, but she usually says that she has a dental appointment when she comes to town. Since I had just been talking to a dentist, I asked her why she was having so many issues with her teeth and where she goes. She replied, “Demers Dental” and I said, “I was just there to interview her!” Small world!

When I asked her how it was going and how she liked it, she replied, “I feel so seen and so heard there. Dr Chelsea (that’s what she calls her) actually takes the time to explain things to me.” She said “I have a reason my teeth have been bad since I was a child and it’s not my fault! I’ve been told since I was a kid that I don’t brush enough! I have never had a dentist tell me why, and Dr Chelsea told me what was causing my teeth to have issues and we are working on resolving it together. I broke down in her office and cried; it’s something that has weighed heavy on me for a very long time. She is so kind and so good at her profession, she never causes me any pain, I can’t recommend her enough!” If that isn’t a good recommendation, I don’t know what is!

Dr Erickson will celebrate her 20th wedding anniversary in July; she is married to Sean Erickson. They are high school sweethearts and she really feels she won the jackpot with Sean, saying he is “The Best Dad!”! They have 3 children: Evy, 15; Mac 13 and Ellis 11 and she was pregnant with Evy when she graduated, in fact, she had to postpone starting with Dr Stadem a few months, so she could have her baby.

As a family, they enjoy going to the lake, camping, snowmobiling, fishing, ice fishing and skiing. She is a huge UND hockey fan and gets pretty involved in the games! If you ask her kids, they’d tell you Mom’s intense and is a yeller at the games, which is surprising to me because she has such a calming energy about her, which is a good quality in a dentist!

Their mission is “To help all of our patients value their oral health and help them retain their teeth in comfort, function and esthetics for the remainder of their life.”

They are located at 706 Demers Ave; phone number is 218-773-7474.

Chelsea, it was a pleasure!

Brenda Ault, EDA Specialist

https://www.demersdental.com/

https://www.facebook.com/DeMersDental

05/16/2026

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05/11/2026

Today I am visiting with Charlotte Helgeson and Lacey Anderson, Library Directors at Campbell Library! The East Grand Forks Campbell Library carries Bob Campbell’s name in honor of his dedication and service. Bob was on the library board for some time, before serving as director of the library on Second Street at the time of his unexpected passing in July of 1992.

Charlotte was hired on May 9,1994, and she will have 32 years on board in a couple of weeks, while she is working part-time training with Lacey. Charlotte was only the head librarian for 3 years when the flood hit in 1997. They had just fully automated the library, digitizing the collection and the patron accounts, on April 1, 1997.

Thankfully, the automation company had their digitized records, and they were able to welcome back patrons with their old library numbers. She says, “Those little things were important then. The enthusiasm that our residents put into rebuilding the library surprised me. There were so many concerns, but the library surfaced as a safe, multi-purpose center for East Grand Forks, even in the Nash Park Warming House. And wow, did the support show up!!”

When Charlotte headed to college, her intention was to be an architect and design the next great Wonder of the World! She minored in Art History and did a fair amount of research in the library. That is when she realized that research was something everyone needed access to do for their own reasons and in their own ways.

Chatting with her, it’s clear she would still love to design the next Great Wonder, but she’s happy knowing that public libraries are helping many new designers. She didn't visit a public library until she was 16 years old. The book she checked out for schoolwork was an old classic; it stunk and had a rubberband around it. Not a great start, but her next visit was to join a painting class, and she thought that was fantastic!

She has worked in libraries located in 3 different states and in elementary, middle school, high school, and finally in the public. She will fully retire soon, and she plans to keep busy in her off time, traveling. She says, I have 3 children who have grown up to be amazing adults: Tory, Alicia, and Thearon. They've chosen wonderful spouses and I have 5 grandchildren, ranging from 22 to 2 in age. Visiting them will keep me traveling across the country and my sister is a great travel companion, too!” She’s promised to send the library staff postcards. I’ll have to check those out when I come check out new books.

Charlotte started the Friends of the Campbell Library group; by inviting 25 people she knew loved books and the library. Almost all of them showed up, they didn’t know each other but had a lot in common with their love of books and the library. They are still going strong with book sales to help the library.

She finishes by saying that “people all over the country will hear about East Grand Forks because I'll never stop telling stories.”

Lacey is originally from the Denver/Boulder Colorado area. She moved to the Grand Forks Area in 2009 to attend UND for her master’s degree in sociology. A year into living here, she met her now husband, Wade Anderson, and they have lived in East Grand Forks since 2011. They have two sons, Avery 10 and Jude 8. And a 17-year-old dachshund, named “Mr. Weeney”.

She has a bachelors in Sociology with a minor in English from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colorado. And a masters in Sociology from UND. She will graduate in August 2026 with her PhD in Educational Foundations and Research.

She never really anticipated working in a library. In high school, she wanted to be a middle school English teacher. However, she switched to sociology in her junior year in college because she realized she really liked studying people, groups, and institutions. She kept English as her minor because she really enjoyed reading and studying literature.

She did spend a lot of time in libraries growing up, even now when she travels, she enjoys visiting libraries and/or bookstores in the towns she visits because she loves being around book culture.

She has taught college sociology for the last 13 years, but she also has experience working in community education at CVIC. Also in the GRO.UND Learning Garden for the last two years as she finished her PhD.

She explained, “I was able to design the gardens, plan field trips, and develop curriculum. I love teaching sustainability, nature-based learning, and engaging hands-on activities with people of all ages and skill levels. Leaving the garden will be hard because I thoroughly enjoyed the time outdoors, surrounded by nature and people. But, as I move into the role in the Library, I still see opportunities to be around plants and people, making it a wonderful place to be. And, with the development of the sensory garden that the library has been planning, I look forward to bringing some more greenery to the library.”

I love to read, the library and the smell of books and I think I read a lot. Lacey has me beat and reads between 100-150 books a year! She said, “I look forward to my time at the Campbell Library because of the community programming that the library offers. My children and I have been active members of the library, largely because of the wide variety of programs the library offers. Plus, it’s a beautiful space that is the right mix of quiet and restful, but also vibrant and full of life.”

She loves to garden and has a variety of houseplants. She is an amateur photographer, focusing on capturing photographs of things in the garden including flowers, produce/crops, and pollinators. She also does mixed media art and embroidery, enjoying the slow work and reflection that comes with creativity. She has had art displayed at the North Dakota Museum of Art, Art for Vets and the Campbell Library in two of their art exhibits. She will also have her first photography gallery show opening May 17 – June 20 at ArtWise, “Biodiversity in Bloom”.

She has had two published articles for the Grand Forks is Cooler blog: one about the local libraries and because she and Wade love to catfish, an article about fishing the Red River. Those links are listed below, so check them out!

As a family, they like to go on bike rides, garden, play board games, and fish. Wade is really big into catfishing and has been teaching their sons and Lacey how to fish. Their sons are Wade’s fishing partners in the Red River Valley Catfish League. And, every August, Wade and Lacey fish the Catfish Capital Challenge in Drayton, ND. They also really love scavenger hunts and have won the Cats Incredible DQ Medallion Hunt twice in the last five years.

She finishes by saying, “Joining the library feels like a culmination of the work and values I hold dear. I am a sociologist, environmental educator, researcher, and community-engaged practitioner. I believe in learning across the lifetime, and that learning looks different for everyone. Libraries are places where people can access more than books; patrons can learn new skills, dive into fictional worlds, build real friendships, and explore what interests them.”

Charlotte, it has been a pleasure knowing and working with you the last 11 years. Enjoy your retirement! Lacey it has been a pleasure getting to know about you and your family!

Brenda Ault, EDA Specialist

The Library is located at 422 4th St NW, phone is 218-773-9121.

Check out Lacey’s articles, the website and the page!

https://grandforksiscooler.com/more-than-just-books-library-resources-in-the-grand-forks-region/

https://grandforksiscooler.com/hook-line-and-sinker-fishing-the-red-river-in-grand-forks-east-grand-forks/

https://www.eastgrandforks.gov/185/Library

https://www.facebook.com/egfcampbelllibrary

05/08/2026

Not all heroes wear capes, some hold tiny hands.
Thank you to East Grand Forks in-home daycares and childcare centers! 💙

05/04/2026

Today I am visiting with Andrew Dudgeon, President and Owner of LoVolt Solutions LLC! He grew up in the area and graduated from Northland Technical College in 2010 with a degree in construction electricity. He has 15 years of experience, building a career in the electrical field, working in the Low-Voltage field, as well as LED Sign industry, plus working with electrical contractors in the area. He is a Minnesota Power Limited Technician and has an OSHA 10 certification.

They are a growing business coming up on their one year of service in the Greater Grand Forks and surrounding areas. He offers Low Voltage Lighting, which is landscape lighting, accent lighting, cabinet lighting, indoor and outdoor lighting. While LoVolt is a new brand, there’s a good chance you’ve already seen his work or worked with him around the community.

Also he can help you out with security alarm systems and security camera systems. Want a home theater? He’s your guy, he can help with distributed audio, acoustical treatments and TV installation, as well as your projectors and screens!

If you are a business and need to set up your Conference Room with video call equipment, he can do that too. He can also help with home networking and Wi-Fi solutions and more. Honestly, I think if you thought of something you needed, he could probably help you out, so give him a call! He delivers a wide range of technology solutions designed to simplify systems and enhance everyday life.

He enjoys that every day is different, and he says in his business, this is where electrical expertise meets modern technology. Homes today are much more then they were 50 years ago and frequently need more than basic wiring, and there is so many areas he can step in and facilitate that smoothly for you. He will help his clients seamlessly incorporate audio/visual systems, smart lighting, automation, structured cabling, and security solutions into their homes and vacation homes.

He takes pride in being known for his personable service and pride in his craftsmanship and feels he offers seamless, customized solutions that work with your budget for function and the customer’s vision.

He has been married for 12 years to Amber Dudgeon. They have a 13-year-old chocolate lab named Gunner, who loves to do everything with them. Together, Andrew and Amber have developed a love for all things outdoors; ice fishing, side by side riding, being at the beach or traveling, just to name a few. Typically, once a week, they go out to eat together and local establishment to step away from their busy schedules and enjoy a good meal and reconnect for the upcoming days ahead. You would likely see them at their favorite restaurant, The Blue Moose.

His Motto. “We deliver smart low-voltage solutions that just work. Fast Wi-Fi, seamless AV, clean installs, and total security. No tech headaches. No wait times. Just reliable solutions that last.”

He is located in East Grand Forks and will come to you. Phone number is
218-779-2142. Email is [email protected]
Andrew, it was a pleasure!

Brenda Ault, EDA Specialist

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577721152967

05/03/2026

You know the drill. It's Small Business Week. Get out there and show our local businesses some love and support. 🛍️🏌🍔