Meet our Startup Drinks captains for our April 26 event, powered by Heat Transfer Warehouse! These people are the hosts and hostesses with the most and mostesses. Personal favorite part is the “fun fact most people don’t know section” — you’ll be surprised what stories these folks can tell you.
Click here to claim your ticket – it’s free, and awesome.
Susan Gartin
Organization: SueG.me
Do you have any nicknames? Not really. Maybe SueG
Something people should ask me about: My passion for advocating for the deaf
What’s your favorite thing about Women’s Startup Weekend? It is hard to name one. I love watching and being part of the building of relationships. I love watching people develop personally and develop their ideas. I love watching confidence build. I love the energy. And, it’s fun.
You’re a transplant to Fargo – how do you make it feel like home? I feel at home when I know people. Therefore, I try to meet as many people as I can. When one moves to a new community, you have to be open to doing things differently and open trying new things. The Startup community is welcoming, fun and full of fresh ideas. I love it!!
If you could launch any business in Fargo, what would it be? Wow! I am not sure. Maybe a specialty food store that carried delicious cheap wine. Actually, I would settle for a Trader Joe’s.
What’s a fun fact about you that most people don’t know? My age
Chris Hawley
Organization: CHA (Chris Hawley Architects)
Something people should ask me about: Anything design related.
If you could design any kind of building for Fargo, what would it be? Anything that feels handmade or local.
How do you think a changing downtown is changing Fargo?
I think that a changing downtown has become the calling card for the whole community and the attitude of the region. To me, it says we care about how we live here and the kind of experiences that are available to the citizens and the visitors. I think the authenticity of the neighborhood is shared by all.
Thinking about Fargo’s vibrancy, what do you see as key factors in that? For me, it comes down to an attitude of what people want to see for themselves. If creative people, developers, bankers, entrepreneurs have a vested interest, you will see great things happen.
What’s a fun fact about you that most people don’t know? At the heart of me is a nomad that really wants to live in an Airstream with bikes strapped to the back.
Dr. K. Brewer Doran
Organization: Offutt School of Business, Concordia College
Do you have any nicknames? If so, share ’em with us: I go by my middle name, Brewer, which obviates the need for further nicknames! But my family and close friends call me Brew
Something people should ask me about: Why Fargo is a better start-up community than Boston!
How do you see higher education affecting the startup culture of Fargo-Moorhead? The higher ed community needs to understand what a gift the startup culture of Fargo/Moorhead is for a business school. In higher ed, we need to find ways to support our students’ interests in starting their own businesses – through curriculum, supporting internships and other experiential education, and finding ways to connect our students with the wealth of resources that are here in the community.
What’s your favorite event / tradition you’ve been part of at Concordia since arriving? TEDxConcordia College
What’s something you value about the Fargo-Moorhead community as a transplant? How energetic, entrepreneurial, intentional, diverse and FUN the business community is.
What’s a fun fact about you that most people don’t know? I have a commercial pilot’s license.
AJ McAleer
What it is like to see a company go from 3 employees to to 35