ITCND would like to congratulate those who were recently elected (listed below) to the board of directors. They will be serving a two-year term from Jan. 1, 2012-Dec. 31, 2013. A full listing of the ITCND board of directors is available at the ITCND website.

   1. Eric Gjerdevig, Summit Group Software, Fargo
   2. Ron Gronneberg, City of Fargo
   3. Kalvin Kingsley, KK BOLD, Bismarck
   4. Jeremy Neuharth, State Bank and Trust, Fargo
   5. Timothy O’Keefe, UND, Grand Forks
   6. Carol Rogne, DFC Consultants, Bismarck, Dickinson and Fargo
   7. Abigail Barber-Burgum, Microsoft Fargo
   8. Deanna Klein, Minot State University, Minot
   9. Tracy Koenig, Tharaldson Hospitality, Fargo

The West Fargo school board has decided that training for computer networking careers will be one of the unique offerings at West Fargo’s new high school when it opens. Curriculum in the areas of in health care and auto and diesel engine mechanics will also be included. The current high school will be the home for career training in early childhood education, building trades, recreational engines and industrial production skills. Both schools will have a wide range of business, marketing, industrial arts, and family and consumer science courses duplicated on their campuses.

The new classes come as recommendations of a 25-member Career and Technical Education Advisory Committee, which include ITCND President Gary Inman.

The INFORUM article is available here.

The North Dakota Department of Career & Technical Education (CTE) has entered into an agreement with Certiport to provide IT industry certification testing to all secondary IT students and instructors at no charge. Each secondary student taking an IT course will be given an opportunity to take an industry certification exam at the end of the course to demonstrate his or her IT proficiency and skills. This provides an opportunity for students to begin building a robust resume at an early age and to acquire job skills to increase employability.

For more information, contact Wade Kadrmas, CTE IT Supervisor, at 701-328-3178.

Baker Boy – Dickinson
Celebrating more than 50 years of baking excellence, Baker Boy believes in providing top-quality products that meet the needs of our customers. Today, Baker Boy has earned the position as one of the prominent bakeries in the Upper Midwest, providing over 400 varieties of frozen, par-baked and baked products. Product selection includes a mouthwatering assortment of breads, buns, specialty breads and buns, donuts, muffins, cakes, cookies, sweet rolls, pastries, croissants, biscuits, subs and hoagies, garlic toast, fry bread dough, pretzels, pizza dough, toppings and seasonal items.

Future opportunities for Baker Boy and the IT industry in the state:
As Baker Boy continues to expand and automate many of its manufacturing processes we foresee the need for additional IT staff to support the equipment and processes. We also will continue to count on existing IT partner companies and potential new partners to help support this automation.

Current challenges facing Baker Boy and the IT industry in the state:
We have a small IT department, and due to the ever-evolving world of technology and our IT’s increasing reach into the manufacturing process, our biggest challenge is, and will continue to be, finding the time to investigate and experiment with new technologies that will allow us to continue to grow our company and stay ahead of the curve as an IT department.

Learn more about the Baker Boy here or by contacting Cole Simnioniw at 701-456-1512.

If you are interested in having your business featured in an upcoming "Member Bits & Bytes," email ITCND.  Requests will be honored on a first-come, first-served basis.