1 Million Thanks celebrates the outstanding achievements made in entrepreneurship, technology, and innovation within our region, and extends heartfelt gratitude to YOU – our dedicated community members who consistently show support.

This event recognizes contributions made by individuals and organizations as well as celebrates the community as a whole for its support. And guess what? Everyone in the community (Yep, that means you!) is invited to attend!

Attendees can reunite with old friends as well as make some exciting, new connections. We will be reflecting on all of the incredible strides made in the past year while also looking forward to future impact. It’s a time to come together and show appreciation while sipping champagne, enjoying delicious appetizers, listening to live music, and having a great time!

What to Expect at 1 Million Thanks

  • Delicious appetizers, live music, and our signature champagne toast
  • Connecting with fellow community members
  • Awards honoring individuals and organizations that have made a significant impact in the startup, innovation, and technology communities

This event took place on

Thursday, February 1, 2024

2024 Award Winners

Lifetime Impact

Award

Ron Offutt is one of North Dakota’s and the nation’s premiere agribusiness leaders and philanthropists. As owner of the largest network of John Deere construction and agricultural equipment dealerships in the U.S and founder and chairman emeritus of the R. D. Offutt Company and RDO Equipment Company, Ron has brought jobs and opportunities to this region, especially within the agriculture industry.

Ron Offutt

Founder, RDO Equipment Co.

This award is given to individuals whose impact has left a mark on North Dakota and beyond, inspiring others and shaping a lasting legacy.

Entrepreneur Community Builder

Award

50

50 South Capital

www.50southcapital.com

This award is given to organizations that contribute to the ecosystem in a meaningful way, allowing us to energize and elevate our startup community.

Entrepreneur Community Champion

Award

Rep. Nathe has been an advocate for the startup and capital ecosystems in North Dakota, working to ensure entrepreneurs have the opportunities available to succeed and grow.

State Representative Mike Nathe

North Dakota State Representative

This award is given to an individual that has demonstrated significant growth and success and making impact within and beyond our region.

Technology Community Builder

Award

Cota empowers small independent trucking companies with free cutting-edge logistics technology that was once only available to larger carriers, disrupting the TMS landscape and leveling the playing field. Cota has built a meaningful footprint in our community becoming a technology workforce leader in our ecosystem.

Cota Systems

www.cotasystems.com

This award is given to an organization that has contributed in meaningful ways to support the technology community in our region.

Technology Community Champion

Award

Kara Kalbus’s passion is mentorship and helping others discover their personal paths and achieve their aspirations. She believes in the power of guidance and knowledge-sharing to shape the future of technology and our community. Kara currently serves as the Director in the newly formed Transformation Office at Eide Bailly and has been a mentor with Emerging Digital Academy for the past two cohorts. Kara is dedicated to empowering the next generation of tech leaders.

Kara Kalbus

Eide Bailly LLP

This award is given to an individual that has shown immense commitment to upskilling the technology workforce of North Dakota.

Grand Farm Innovation Champion

Award

The Agricultural Research Service is the principal in-house research agency of the United States Department of Agriculture and has research centers in Fargo, Grand Forks, and Mandan. ARS is one of four agencies in USDA's Research, Education and Economics mission area.
The Agricultural Research Service is the principal in-house research agency of the United States Department of Agriculture and has research centers in Fargo, Grand Forks, and Mandan. ARS is one of four agencies in USDA's Research, Education and Economics mission area.

USDA ARS

www.ars.usda.gov

This award is given to an organization that drives immense agricultural innovation in our region.

Grand Farm Innovation

Project of the Year Award

The vision of FARMS is to create a global AgTech engine characterized by a flourishing ecosystem where new knowledge is co-designed into new technologies, services, and startups to address stressors impacting food insecurity and to establish equitable agricultural opportunity.

FARMS Team

Learn more here

This award is given to a project that has embraced the advancement of innovations in agriculture technologies.

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2023 Award Winners

Dr. David Wells Belief // Gary Tharaldson, Tharaldson Ethanol, Tharaldson Hospitality, and Tharaldson Investments

Entrepreneur Community Champion // North Dakota Small Business Development Centers

Kick-Ass Award // Jessie Azure, Spadesso

Grand Farm Champion // KWS Group

Innovative Grower // Ron Holiday

Technology Community Advocate // Jase Kraft, Full Stack Fargo

Technology Workforce Champion // Perficient

2022 Award Winners

Rookie of the Year // Patty Post, Founder & CEO of Checkable Health

Dr. David Wells Belief // State Senator Ron Sorvaag

Dr. David Wells Belief // State Representative Michael Howe

Team Player // Scheels

Entrepreneurial Leader of the Year // Brady Nash, CEO of BNG

Entrepreneurial Leader of the Year // Ryan Goodman, President of BNG

 

2020 Award Winners

Rookie of the Year // Peter Chamberlain, Co-Founder of WalkWise

Dr. David Wells Belief // Kodee Furst, Co-Founder of Annie Capital

Team Player // Microsoft

Social Entrepreneur of the Year // Kim Pladson, TNT Kid's Fitness & Gymnastics

Entrepreneurial Leader of the Year // Jeff Young, President of Health at WEX

Student Entrepreneur of the Year // Dieumerci Christel, Founder of Enlight

Lifetime Community Impact Award // Lauris Molbert

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2019 Award Winners

Rookie of the Year // Sadiyo Hassan

Social Impact Award // Adam Martin, F5 Project

Team Player Award // Kilbourne Group

Dr. David Wells Belief Award // Roger Larson

Startup of the Year Award // Aldevron

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2018 Award Winners

Rookie of the Year // Ray Berry, Founder of OmniByte

Social Impact Award // Malini Srivistava, eFargo 

Team Player Award // Brian Carroll, HERE Technologies

Kickass Award // Julie Peterson Klein

Dr. David Wells Belief Award // Jim Gartin

Startup of the Year // Jake Joraanstad & Ryan Raguse, Myriad Mobile

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2017 Award Winners

Rookie of the Year // Max Kringen, Founder of Tellwell

Social Impact Award // Joe Burgum & Simone Wai, Folkways

Team Player Award // CoSchedule

Kickass Award // Kirk Anton, Heat Transfer Warehouse

Ashley Morken, Unglued

Startup of the Year Award // National Day Calendar

Belief Award // Bethlehem "Betty" Gronneberg, uCodeGirl

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2016 Award Winners

Rookie of the Year Award // Cooper Bierscheid, Protosthetics

Team Player Award // Botlink

Kickass Award // Eide Bailly

Startup of the Year Award // CoSchedule

Belief Award // Dave and Sammie Binkard

Champion Award // Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors

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2015 Award Winners

Rookie of the Year Award // Blaine & Amanda Booher

Team Player Award // Myriad Mobile

Belief Award // Dr. David Wells

Champion Award // Dr. Sue Mathison & Jim Gartin

Entrepreneur of the Year Award // Courtney Evanson

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