Burgum: Health, Human Services now united as one department to serve North Dakota citizens

Governor Doug Burgum announced that the integration of North Dakota’s Department of Health and Department of Human Services into one Health and Human Services (HHS) agency was effective Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022.

The agency will be led by HHS Commissioner Chris Jones. State Health Officer Dr. Nizar Wehbi will provide vision, leadership and consultation on state health priorities.

“North Dakota’s Department of Health and Department of Human Services have a long history of working together to serve North Dakotans,” Burgum said. “Today the two departments have officially integrated into one agency, and we are deeply grateful for the hard work so many team members have invested in this effort. As a unified health and human services team, HHS has the opportunity to transform the citizen experience and help North Dakota become the healthiest state in the nation.”

With a combined portfolio of more than 100 programs and services, the HHS team has a significant, long-term opportunity to transform how it collectively meets the health and well-being needs of North Dakotans.

“We view Sept. 1 as our beginning,” Jones said. “Our priority is to streamline and strengthen the path to quality and equitable programs and services by working as one team and more efficiently collaborating with providers and partners to improve the lives of North Dakotans. This work is critical today and will continue beyond Sept. 1.”

The integration came as a result of House Bill 1247, which was introduced by Rep. Robin Weisz, chair of the House Human Services Committee, and co-championed by Sen. Judy Lee, chair of the Senate Human Services Committee. Other co-sponsors included Reps. Bill Devlin, Gary Kreidt, Karen Rohr and Matt Ruby, as well as Sen. Howard Anderson.

“North Dakotans have had to navigate a complex system of agencies and programs to access services supporting their health and well-being,” Weisz said. “By bringing these two agencies together, we will simplify access, build on each agency’s strengths, enhance collaboration, and most importantly, deliver programs and services more efficiently and effectively to the citizens of North Dakota.”

Health and Human Services provides services that help North Dakotans of all ages enhance their well-being and quality of life by supporting equitable access to the social determinants of health, which include economic stability, housing, education, food, community and behavioral and physical health. The combined agency employs about 2,400 team members who are based across the state.

Burgum appoints Economic Development Director Josh Teigen to be next state commerce commissioner

Gov. Burgum on Thursday appointed Josh Teigen, director of the Economic Development and Finance Division at the North Dakota Department of Commerce, to serve as the state’s next commerce commissioner, citing his experience as an entrepreneur and private sector leader and his leadership of Commerce’s largest division.

Teigen has served as Economic Development and Finance Division director for two years. He previously served as head of investments and innovation at Commerce and on the board of directors for the North Dakota Development Fund. His private sector experience includes nearly eight years in leadership positions with Mind Shift, an innovative business solution to chronic underemployment and unemployment of individuals on the autism spectrum, and serving as president and chief financial officer of Protosthetics, a 3-D printing company. Teigen currently serves on the board of directors for the Greater Fargo Moorhead Economic Development Corp.’s Growth Initiative Fund.

“With his valuable combination of experience as a private sector entrepreneur and director of Commerce’s largest division, Josh is well-suited to lead the highly capable Department of Commerce team in growing and diversifying the economy, addressing workforce needs, cutting red tape, developing healthy, vibrant communities and growing our tourism sector,” Burgum said.

Teigen earned a bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurship from the University of North Dakota and a certificate in alternative investments from Harvard Business School. Most recently, he led Commerce’s successful efforts to attract the North Dakota Soybean Processors soybean crushing facility, which broke ground last week near Casselton, and worked with international data center developer Bitzero to announce that it plans to locate its headquarters in North Dakota and redevelop a former military installation near Nekoma, N.D., into a highly secure data center.

“This appointment is truly an honor, and I’m grateful for the leadership of Governor Burgum and this entire administration. I love the state of North Dakota and look forward to this new role as an opportunity to move the state forward and continue the tremendous momentum built by the hard work of our public servants and private risk-takers,” Teigen said. “I’m thankful for the remarkable team members at the Department of Commerce as well as our partners in the legislature and other state agencies. North Dakota is the best place to live and build businesses and families, and we’ll continue working to ensure our state remains the gold standard for quality of life.”

Teigen’s appointment is effective Tuesday, Sept. 6. He succeeds former commissioner James Leiman, who resigned from the position effective June 30 to become the chief development officer with the Institute for Economics and Peace. Leiman continues to work for Commerce on a part-time basis to drive economic development projects in the state.

Burgum expressed his gratitude for Shawn Kessel, who has been serving as interim commissioner since July 1 and will now return full-time to his role as Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Commerce Commissioner.

The Department of Commerce works to improve the quality of life for North Dakota citizens by leading efforts to attract, retain and expand wealth. Commerce serves businesses and communities statewide through committed people and partners who offer valuable programs and dynamic services. The department has four divisions: Tourism, Economic Development, Workforce Development and Community Services.

Sanford attends 2022 Farm Progress show

Lt. Gov. Brent Sanford last week attended the Farm Progress Show, also known as the Super Bowl of Agriculture, billed as the nation’s largest outdoor farm event that annually hosts over 600 exhibitors from around the world.

Iowa Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg hosted Sanford and fellow lieutenant governors at the event.

"In North Dakota we’re on the cutting edge of ag tech innovation. (It was) great to visit the Farm Progress Show in Iowa with lieutenant governors from states all over the nation, seeing the latest farm products and ag innovation from manufacturers across the country," Sanford posted about the event.

The first Farm Progress Show took place on Oct. 2, 1953, on the Earl Bass farm in Armstrong, Ill., and hosted over 75,000 visitors, according to the event's website.

Main Street ND Summit 2022

Agenda now available for 2022 Main Street ND Summit

The 2022 Main Street ND Summit agenda is now available.

This year’s summit, which will be held Oct. 25-26 at the Bismarck Event Center, will be free for all attendees. A pre-summit event will also be held on Oct. 24 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Morton Mandan Public Library.

During the summit, attendees will have the opportunity to hear from a variety of world-renowned keynote speakers and partake in engaging breakout sessions that will provide the tools and resources to support community volunteers, local champions, business owners, and elected leaders at both the local and state level as they work together to create unique communities to attract a talented workforce.

Confirmed speakers for the 2022 summit include:

• Anthony Melchiorri, the host of Travel Channel’s "Hotel Impossible," "Five Star Secrets" and "Extreme Hotels."
• Amanda Brinkman, the chief brand officer at Deluxe and creator, producer, and host of the "Small Business Revolution."
• Think 3D, a business management consultant company that helps clients build intentional cultures. Their belief is that a healthy culture has three dimensions: personal, professional and potential.

A fourth keynote speaker will be announced once confirmed.

The engaging breakout sessions will cover a broad range of topics all relating to workforce. Sessions will be led by a variety of national, state and local leaders who will provide advice, resources and personal insight on ways to attract and retain a talented workforce.

The agenda and registration for the 2022 Main Street ND Summit can be found at msnd.link/summit-2022

Labor Commissioner Erica Thunder to serve as first director of Diversity and Cultural Competency at DOCR

Gov. Burgum on Friday announced that state Labor Commissioner Erica Thunder has resigned from the role, effective Sept. 30, to accept the newly created position of Director of Diversity and Cultural Competency at the North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DOCR).

Thunder has led the Department of Labor and Human Rights since June 2019. She was serving as judicial systems administrator for the North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission when Burgum appointed her as labor commissioner.

“We are deeply grateful for Erica’s outstanding service as labor commissioner, including progress made to streamline work, upgrade software systems, eliminate paper, and improve business processes, policies and procedures to provide better service to North Dakota citizens,” Burgum said. “While we will miss her on the cabinet, we’re excited that she has accepted this impactful new position with DOCR, and we appreciate the highly capable team she has supported at the Department of Labor and Human Rights.”

“Words are not enough for the gratitude I feel in first being appointed Commissioner, to the DOLHR team, to my fellow Cabinet colleagues, to the many stakeholders I have worked with, and of course, the great honor it has been to serve North Dakota citizens in their Labor and Human Rights’ needs,” Thunder stated in her resignation letter.

As the DOCR’s first-ever Director of Diversity and Cultural Competency, Thunder’s responsibilities will include understanding and documenting pathways in which Native Americans and other minorities enter the criminal justice system and developing recommendations to address systemic problems, as well as developing, evaluating and identifying community resources on tribal lands. The position also involves leading the establishment and enhancement of culturally competent programs, services and activities; developing strategies to address overrepresentation and recidivism of minorities in the corrections system; and building productive relationships among the tribes, communities, minorities and the DOCR.

“We are grateful that Erica is joining the DOCR team. Her wealth of knowledge and experience will allow the DOCR to enhance culturally specific interventions, supports, and resources in collaboration with the tribal nations with whom we share geography in North Dakota,” DOCR Director Dave Krabbenhoft said.

The labor commissioner position will be posted immediately.

The Department of Labor and Human Rights is responsible for enforcing North Dakota labor and human rights laws and for educating the public about the laws. The department also licenses employment agencies operating in the state and can verify the status of independent contractor relationships.

Boards and Commissions openings

Currently, there are many boards or commissions openings accepting applications.

Boards and Commissions is made up of North Dakota citizens appointed to represent their community and peers as they help influence policies and programs that play an instrumental and invaluable role to help Empower People, Improve Lives and Inspire Success.

The Governor appoints to over 150 Boards and Commissions representing a wide variety of industries.

To be considered for an appointment candidates are invited to complete the application located below.

Boards and Commissions

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