TEDxFargo 2022: Beyond

Dr. Arica Kulm

Dr. Arica Kulm is the Director of Digital Forensic Services at the DigForCE Lab at Dakota State University. Arica received her PhD in Cyber Defense from Dakota State University in December of 2020, has a master’s degree in Cyber Defense from Dakota State University, a bachelor’s degree from South Dakota State University and holds several industry certifications. In her off time, she enjoys spending time with her 4 college-age kids who grew up way too fast.

Bruce Rastetter

Bruce Rastetter is the founder and CEO of Summit Agricultural Group, a leading agribusiness and renewable energy firm with operations in North and South America. Rastetter’s hands-on experience in global agricultural and renewable energy sectors, matched with his strong focus on strategic business development, has been key to building successful companies and advising government leaders on policy matters.

Rastetter is an active philanthropist and has served as an advisor and member of several boards, including the American Agriculture and Energy Council, AltEnergy, Cultivation Corridor, Iowa Premium Beef, FS Bioenergia, Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, Iowa State University’s College of Agriculture and Rural American Fund. He previously served as president of the Iowa Board of Regents, working on initiatives across the Regents system, which consists of more than 27,000 employees, 80,000 students and an annual budget of $5.6 billion. A graduate of the University of Iowa, Rastetter holds a bachelor’s degree in political science.

Christopher Martin

Christopher Martin was born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota and is a student at North Central University. On May 25, 2020, George Floyd was his customer at Cup Foods, and Chris was a close eyewitness to all the terrible events that occurred that day and subsequently in his Minneapolis neighborhood. He has a powerful story of how personal tragedy can lead to redemption, if we are willing to “Rise.”

Grace L Chao

Grace Chao graduated with a PhD in Applied Anthropology from Columbia University in 2013. She also received an MA in Education specializing in family counseling in 2002 and a BA in English in 1990. She is a certified substance abuse counselor in the state of California.

Heather Simonich

Passionate about improving behavioral health services for children and families, Heather Simonich currently serves as an Operations Director for Nexus-PATH Family Healing in Fargo, North Dakota. Heather has a deep belief that when children and families have access to timely and effective services, they can overcome almost any challenge that lies before them.

Howard Dahl

Howard Dahl follows in the proud tradition of his Grandfather E. G. Melroe, the founder of the Bobcat Company, and his Father Eugene Dahl, the CEO and Chairman who took Steiger Tractor from $2 million of sales to $105 million of sales in six years. In 1977 Howard and his brother Brian founded Concord, Inc, which was the innovative leader in North America and Eastern Europe for Air Seeders. Concord was central to the movement toward no-till farming. When Concord was sold in 1996, Amity Technology was founded and is the leader in sugar beet harvesting equipment in North America. Howard has served on numerous boards both locally and nationally.

Jay Doan

Jay Doan is a 5th generation rancher and agripreneur at the historic Black Leg Ranch in McKenzie, North Dakota. Homesteaded in 1882, the ranch has broadened traditional commercial cattle ranching into a multifunctioning, value-added agricultural enterprise that has diversified into a hunting outfit, international agri-tourism operation, wedding and events venue, craft brewery, and its most recent venture, commercial meats. Having hosted all 50 states and over 40 foreign countries to the ranch, Jay and his family are extremely passionate about spreading the positive word of agriculture and the importance of regeneration. Jay lives in Bismarck with his wife Kari, and their two beautiful children, Jamisyn (7) and Jayston (5).

Kim Pladson

Kim Pladson is President/CEO, and one of the co-founders of TNT Kid’s Fitness. An organization built to serve and help all abilities unlock potential through movement! Kim is the visionary behind their ground-breaking work and has grown its organization within its own footprint and state-wide. She launched school community partnerships and works on policy and practice to generate changes on a much broader level.

Randy Hedberg

Randy Hedberg is the Associate Head Coach/Quarterbacks Coach for NDSU football. His hometown is Parshall, ND and he graduated from Minot State University with a degree in Mathematics and Physical Education. Randy was drafted into the National Football League as a Quarterback and played two years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Ross DeVol

Ross DeVol is President and CEO, Heartland Forward. Heartland Forward’s goal is to promote regional innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystems that foster job creation, wage gains, health and wellbeing and economic growth for the American Heartland. DeVol is a former chief research officer for the Milken Institute where he spent nearly 20 years, an economic think tank headquartered in California. He oversaw research on international, national and comparative regional growth performance, access to capital and its role in economic growth and job creation and health-related topics. He has been ranked among the “Superstars of Think Tank Scholars” by International Economy magazine.

Tom Kemmer

Tom Kemmer is a skateboarder, artist, musician, carpenter, father, and loving partner. Not necessarily in that order. He has been skating for 34 years.

Tom’s goal is to bring visibility to skateboarding in the FM area in an effort to build a new regional public skate park to motivate, and encourage youth, and give back a little bit of what skateboarding has given him over the years.

Tridog

Barking up trees with The Doge NFT (ownthedoge.com), the original doge photo and most iconic meme in the world, and PleasrDAO (pleasr.org), one of the most notable DAOs in crypto.