ABERDEEN, S.D. – From advising on industry trends to consulting on curriculum, advisory boards serve as crucial partners to the Northern State University School of Business.

“Advisory boards are our critical bridge to the business community, not just locally and regionally, but nationally and internationally as well,” said School of Business Dean Dr. Doug Ohmer. “The boards keep us informed on trends in industry, changing and developing needs for the workforce, concerns that industry members have on almost every aspect of business.”

The School of Business has two advisory boards: the Business Advisory Board, which serves the Business School as a whole; and the Banking and Financial Services Advisory Board, which is industry-specific, serving Northern’s B.S. and M.S. programs in Banking and Financial Services. 

The boards, which meet once a semester on the NSU campus, consist of business leaders from across the region, including multiple states. Board members serve as a primary resource for faculty looking for guest speakers, or for a field visit to a local business, Ohmer said. Some faculty have developed class projects solving an issue for a board member’s business. 

“Many of our advisory board members’ businesses provide not only internship opportunities for our students, but also career employment opportunities as well,” Ohmer said. “We’re lucky that some of our advisory board members’ businesses come directly to campus to hold career days and interview students on campus.”

Impact on Academics

Board members also provide input that can have impacts on academics. For example, Ohmer said, the Business Advisory Board informed the School of Business about the growing development in the need for individuals with education in supply chain and logistics management. This allowed Northern to respond quickly by creating a specialization in supply chain management within the existing management major. 

Also, as faculty create new courses and programs, they can ask advisory board members for advice and comments. 

“We can then use this input to fine-tune new courses and programs, or update current courses and programs as well,” Ohmer said.

Input from the advisory board helped the School of Business make the final determination to take the analytics course from being just a requirement for marketing majors to a course that will soon be taken by all business majors at Northern.

Build a Support Network

The boards also help build a support network for both the Business School and Northern.

“Through involvement with the Business School, the university can strengthen the bond between itself and the regional community – specifically the business community – which, to use a metaphor, are the largest customers of the university’s product (students as they graduate),” Ohmer said.

He said he’s grateful for all that the boards have done and continue to do.

“I’m thankful for all the support that these individuals have provided to the School of Business in the past, and I look forward to working with our advisory board members as I assume the permanent role of Dean of the School of Business,” Ohmer said.

Current Banking and Financial Services Advisory Board members:

• Bret Afdahl, S.D. Banking Commission (Pierre)
• Tim Ahartz, BankWest (Pierre)
• Eric Bauer, Great Western Bank (Aberdeen)
• Matt Behm, Home State Bank (Willmar, Minn.)
• Chad Bergan, Dacotah Bank Inc. (Aberdeen)
• Corey Bobzien First Savings Bank (Sisseton)
• Bob Compton, Dacotah Bank Inc. (Aberdeen)
• Mark Dunn, First Premier Bank (Watertown)
• Dana Dykhouse, First Premier Bank (Sioux Falls)
• Daryl Ebach, Dacotah Bank Inc.           
• Curt Everson, S.D. Bankers Association (Pierre)
• Rod Fouberg, Dacotah Bank Inc. (Aberdeen)
• Mike Gibson, BankWest (Pierre)
• Bruce Haerter, Farmers State Bank (Hosmer)
• Mark Hahler, CorTrust Bank (Aberdeen)
• Brent Heinert, Plains Commerce Bank (Aberdeen)
• Josh Hogue, Reliabank Dakota (Watertown)
• Dave Johnson, Reliabank Dakota (Watertown)
• John McGee, First Security Bank/LA Amundson Investments (Sioux Falls)
• Peter Mehlhaff, Great Plains Bank (Aberdeen)
• Joshua Ness (Scranton, N.D.)
• Megan Olson, Independent Community Bankers (Watertown)
• Garry Peterka, Quoin Financial Bank (Miller)
• Ryan Schimke, Great Western Bank (Aberdeen)
• John Schwan, Schwan Financial Group (Aberdeen)
• Joe Senger Dacotah Bank (Aberdeen)
• Kevin Tetzlaff, First Bank and Trust (Brookings)
• Matt Tobin, South Dakota Trust Companies (Sioux Falls)
• Cindi Walsh, US Bank (Aberdeen)
• Richard Westra, Dacotah Bank Inc. (Aberdeen)

Current Business Advisory Board members:

• Leah Brink, Daktronics (Brookings)
• Dave Burgard, Midstates Group (Aberdeen)
• Matt Campbell, My Place Hotels (Aberdeen)
• Bob Compton, Dacotah Bank Inc. (Aberdeen)
• Kevin Fiedler, Ken's SuperFair Foods (Aberdeen)
• Tyhe Gerlach, Northwestern Mutual (Aberdeen)
• Mary Grund, Molded Fiberglass (Aberdeen)
• Barb Hauge, 3M (Aberdeen)
• Mike Hunstad, Northern Trust Asset Management (Chicago, Ill.)
• Justin Kehrwald, Tradehome Shoes (Cottage Grove, Minn.)
• Nathan Kessler, Lamont Companies (Aberdeen)
• Kelly Kjelden, POET (Groton)
• Jess Koehler, The Koehler Organization (Aberdeen)
• Danielle Lamont, Avera St. Luke's (Aberdeen)
• Lynn Lander, City Of Aberdeen (Aberdeen)
• Steven Lust, Steven Lust Automotive (Aberdeen)
• Mark McNeary, Primrose Retirement Communities (Aberdeen)
• Mark Schaub, Molded Fiberglass (Aberdeen)
• Tom Seyer, Rhodes Anderson Insurance (Aberdeen)
• Judy Stulken, Agtegra Cooperative (Aberdeen)
• Rod Tobin, Siegel, Barnett & Schutz Law (Aberdeen)

About Northern State University

Northern State University is a regional university that offers outstanding academics and exceptional extracurricular activities at an affordable price on a safe, welcoming campus. Northern State recently announced its Educational Impact Campaign, with a goal of raising $55 million for a new South Dakota School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, new athletic and recreation fields, and an on-campus regional sports complex. Once the campaign is complete, NSU will be the recipient of more than $100 million in privately funded building projects and scholarships within a decade. To learn more, visit NSU Admissions.