About Us

Origins and Initiatives

Minn-Dak Manufacturer's Association started in the mid-70s with a consortium of visionary founders, comprising business proprietors from eastern North Dakota and western Minnesota, predominantly within the manufacturing sector. The association convened monthly, fostering discussions on pertinent manufacturing themes encompassing quality assurance, workforce dynamics, workman compensation, and trade policies.

The spirit of the association's foundation remains today as the organization provides monthly tours from September-May of a local manufacturer along with a holiday social in December. These monthly meetings provide networking opportunities and knowledge sharing for our members.

As a non-profit trade association, the organization is led by a volunteer board of directors. The association partners with other state and local agencies to provide education and advocacy to the manufacturing community. In 2024, the association started offering student memberships to post-secondary students pursuing a degree in manufacturing or engineering. In addition, the association started a scholarship program for high school students who will pursue their degree in manufacturing or engineering.

2023-24 MDMA Officers and Board of Directors

  • Patrick Mineer

    President

    Patrick@GoldenPath.net
    CEO & Founder
    Golden Path Solutions
    (701) 866-2620

    LinkedIn

  • Ryan Aashiem

    Board Director

    RAasheim@fmedc.com
    Chief Business Development Officer,
    Greater Fargo Moorhead Economic Development Corporation
    (701) 364-1919

    LinkedIn

  • Nate Bruns

    Board Director

    nbruns@cardinalcorp.com
    Quality and Continuous Improvement Manager
    Cardinal IG
    (701) 306-0482

    LinkedIn

  • Tom Dryburgh

    Board of Director

    tdryburgh@moorheadschools.org
    Community Outreach Coordinator
    Moorhead Career Academy, Moorhead Public Schools
    (218) 443-1657

    LinkedIn

  • Kambiz Farahmand

    Board Director

    Kambiz.Farahmand@ndsu.edu
    Professor, Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering
    North Dakota State University
    (701) 231-5694

    LinkedIn

  • Josh Herbold

    Treasurer

    JJHerbold@bremer.com
    Vice President | Commercial Relationship Manager
    Bremer Bank
    (701) 492-2609

    LinkedIn

  • LeAnne Jaenisch

    leanne.jaenisch@ndscs.edu
    Associate Professor/Program Coordinator
    Robotics, Automation and Mechatronics Technology
    North Dakota State College of Science
    (701) 671-2176

    LinkedIn

  • Jeremy Messer

    Board Director

    f_jeremym@marvin.com
    Director of Engineering and Continous Improvement
    Marvin Windows
    (701) 367-2533

    LinkedIn

  • Jodie Mjoen

    Board Director

    jodiem@impactdakota.com
    CEO/President
    Impact Dakota
    (701) 712-1646

    LinkedIn

  • Paul Naseth

    Board Director

    PNaseth@borsheimcrane.com
    Business Development
    Borsheim Crane Service LLC
    (701) 893-0214

    LinkedIn

  • Carl Wedelbo

    Board Director

    precisionmachinefargo@gmail.com
    President
    Precision Machine LLC
    (701) 219-3418

    LinkedIn

  • Chad Wolf

    Board Director

    chad.wolf@mcneilus.com
    General Manager
    McNeilus Steel
    (701) 730-4572

    LinkedIn

Former Officers and Directors (Partial Listing)

  • Ryan Bacon, Director of Operations, JDP Automation, Incorporated

  • Leah Baker, Marketing & Communications Director, Stoneridge Software

  • Ray Berry, Engineering Manager, Infinity Replacement Windows

  • Shane Cossette, Chief Operating Officer, TRS Industries, Inc.

  • Jeffrey Dostal, Quality Assurance Manager, Fargo Assembly Company

  • Kurt Ehrmantraut, Target Industry Liaison, Job Service North Dakota

  • Al Engstrom, Plant Manager, Giant Snacks

  • Byron Ekdom, VP - Commercial Banking Relationship Manager, Bank of the West - Fargo, North Dakota

  • Alan Fowler, Business Operations Manager, IoT, Appareo Systems

  • Brian Fuder, Apprenticeship ND/CDL Manager, North Dakota State College of Science

  • Mike Haapala, Human Resource Manager, Crary Industries

  • John Henning, Chief Engineer, GPK Products, Inc. | Indiana Seal

  • Brian Johnson, VP of Operations, Marvin Companies

  • Steve Lee, Director of Manufacturing, IDA Corporation

  • Barbara Lichtsinn, Account Manager, Melet Plastics

  • Holly Neva, Workforce Development Sourcing Specialist, Butler Machinery

  • Kray Olson, Manufacturing Engineering Manager, Trail King Industries

  • Steve Osland, Chief Plant Engineer, Pan-O-Gold Baking Co

  • Josh Payne, Manufacturing Engineer Supervisor, John Deere Electronic Solutions

  • Zach Peterson, Director of Business Development Manager, Vigilant Aerospace Systems

  • Julie Rostberg, Business Service Consultant, Job Service North Dakota

  • Larry Stanko, Training Account Executive, NDSCS, Outreach Division

  • Mark Vaux, Executive Vice President, Business Development, Greater Fargo Moorhead EDC

  • Mark Volesky, Senior Business Advisor, Impact Dakota

  • Reuben Tschritter, Manufacturing Extension, North Dakota State University

  • Julie Whitney, Senior Vice President, Bremer

  • Reza Maleki, Professor of Practice, North Dakota State University

  • Patrick Brandt, Quality Engineer, John Deere Intelligent Solutions Group