Powering the creation, growth, and success of small business in North Dakota.
From One Room to Two Locations: Revival IV and Wellness Expands in Western North Dakota Watford -When Cassie Haak became a nurse practitioner and moved to Watford City, she never imagined owning a clinic. But as she considered the kind of care she wanted to provide, her perspective began to change. In December 2023, she […]
From Corporate Career to Community Legacy: Heather Herzig Purchases Hensen’s Fur and Leather Minot – After 30 years in corporate America, Heather Herzig was ready for a change. While visiting family in North Dakota, she stopped into Hensen’s Fur and Leather in Minot to purchase a pair of gloves. During that visit, she learned that […]
From Challenges to Sustainable Growth: Cassie’s Cleaning Co. Rebuilds for the Future Bismarck – Cassie Mellmer did not initially set out to build a cleaning company. While in college, she was looking for flexible work when a friend preparing to leave for graduate school asked Cassie to take over her cleaning clients. Cassie continued adding […]
Categories: ND SBDC Success Stories
From Startup to Growth: AE Hair Studio Builds with ND SBDC Support Williston – When April Elmquist decided to open AE Hair Studio, her goal was not simply to start a business, but to create a salon environment grounded in integrity, growth, and opportunity for others in the industry. With experience in cosmetology dating back […]
From Lifelong Passion to Powersports Business: Two Tired Garage Builds for Growth Bowman – For Bondon Scott, working on engines has been part of life for as long as he can remember. Growing up, his family had dirt bikes and other equipment that was not always new, so learning how to fix things himself came […]
Welding a Future in Rural North Dakota LEEDS – For Derrek Leapaldt, welding has never been just a job. It has been a steady goal in the background of his life since graduating from the welding program at North Dakota State College of Science in 2008. Business ownership was always part of the plan. After […]
Reviving Community Gathering Places in Rural North Dakota VALLEY CITY – Brian Gullickson describes himself as an entrepreneur at heart. For years, he envisioned owning a bar and restaurant that would serve as more than a business. He wanted to create a place where people gather, connect, and build community. In 2023, he purchased and […]
Turning the Page: Main Street Books Begins a New Chapter MINOT – For nearly 20 years, Main Street Books has been integral to the heart of downtown Minot. In June 2025, longtime manager Lindsey Bertsch began thinking seriously about what it would take to carry that legacy forward. After 14 years working at Main Street […]
Growing Stronger with Every Step: Steady ND SBDC Support on Barnabas Gbeintor’s Entrepreneurial Journey Fargo – When Barnabas Gbeintor launched a faith-based childcare center during the pandemic, it was more than a business decision. It was a response to a pressing need in his community and across North Dakota. Demand for dependable childcare continued to […]
Rustic Orchid Floral Brings Beauty Close to Home HETTINGER – When longtime resident and small business owner Cheryl Dix noticed her community no longer had a flower shop, she decided to change that. Drawing on her lifelong love of gardening, she opened Rustic Orchid Floral in the summer of 2025 in a vacant space beside […]