Success Story: Impact Marketing & Consulting

A Career of Helping Others Goes Out on Its Own

DICKINSON – What began as a handful of side projects soon grew into steady requests, and Julie Obrigewitsch recognized an opportunity to turn the work she most enjoyed into a business of her own. That steady demand sparked Impact Marketing & Consulting, which she launched in January 2024 to help businesses strengthen their online presence through custom websites, improved search visibility, and digital support.

Julie is a Dickinson State University marketing graduate with more than 18 years of experience. Nearly 14 of those years were spent in sales and social media at the Dickinson Convention and Visitors Bureau, where she became widely known for her expertise in Google tools and online presence strategy. Her expertise earned her more than sixteen speaking invitations, beginning with local events like Develop Dickinson, expanding to statewide conferences including the ND Main Street Summit and the ND Travel Industry Conference, and ultimately taking her to a national convention in Chicago. In 2020, she received the Telegraph Award for Marketing Technology at the North Dakota Governor’s Travel and Tourism Awards.

As requests for help continued to grow, Julie saw that her skills were meeting real needs for local businesses both online and at their physical locations. She also valued the flexibility that business ownership could offer while she and her husband are raising three children and staying active in community organizations. Launching her own business felt like the right next step.

When she was ready to move forward, Julie connected with an advisor at the ND SBDC. Her business advisor at the Dickinson Center guided her through everything from the first legal steps, like registering with the ND Secretary of State and securing an EIN, to deeper planning work such as completing a SWOT analysis and developing her business plan and financial projections. Julie said this combination of early setup and long-range planning helped her take the venture more seriously and gave her business a strong backbone. The ND SBDC has also referred clients to her over time, which she said has been invaluable.

As a one-person business, Julie has been intentional about managing her workload so each client receives focused attention. Word of mouth referrals have helped her grow at a sustainable pace while allowing her to maintain the personalized service her clients appreciate.

Julie recommends ND SBDC services to other entrepreneurs who are ready to put in the effort. “They genuinely care about helping entrepreneurs succeed. The ND SBDC gives you the resources, but you bring the action,” she shared. As Impact Marketing and Consulting continues to grow, she remains grateful for the support, relationships, and confidence that shaped her path into business ownership.