Jamestown Ope'n Forum

Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce
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Jamestown Ope’n Forum is a conversation about Jamestown, North Dakota, told by the people who live there, work there, and want to see it grow. Hosted by staff from the Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce and Jamestown Tourism, this podcast offers a platform for honest conversations about business, community life, leadership, events, and the ideas that keep Jamestown moving forward. The goal is simple; Help listeners better understand how Jamestown works and why people live and work there. Jamestown Ope’n Forum is a table conversation and "ope"nness is intentional. We know growth rarely happens in straight lines, and good conversations rarely follow a script. Listeners can expect episodes that touch on community projects, workforce topics, leadership, local history, and the realities of running businesses and organizations in a place like Jamestown. If "ope" is part of your everyday language, you've found the right place.

  1. 5d ago

    Jamestown Ope’n Forum | Episode 16: They Don’t Judge with Annie Keffeler

    For Annie Keffeler, the connection with horses started long before A Moment of Freedom. As a child, difficult days often ended with a bike ride to the neighbors’ pasture, where Annie discovered something about horses that stuck with her: they didn’t judge, and simply being near them helped everything feel a little lighter. In Episode 16, Annie joins Vincent and Warren to talk about the connection between horses and riders, the transformations she has watched happen in the arena, and the pull she felt to create A Moment of Freedom — even before she fully knew what it would become. Guest: Annie Keffeler President & Founder, A Moment of Freedom Learn More: https://amomentoffreedom.com https://www.jamestownchamber.com

    Jamestown Ope’n Forum | Episode 16: They Don’t Judge with Annie Keffeler

  2. Sep 9

    Jamestown Ope’n Forum | Episode 15: 75 Years Connected with Dakota Central

    In Episode 15, Vincent and Warren sit down with Holly Utke and Brianne Partlow of Dakota Central as the company celebrates 75 years of keeping people connected. What begins as a look back at rural telephone lines quickly turns into Dakota Central trivia, party lines, chicken hatcheries, dial-up internet, fiber, and a reminder of just how much the way we communicate has changed. Holly and Brianne share how Dakota Central grew from its rural telephone roots into the company it is today, including its expansion into Jamestown and becoming the first provider in North Dakota — and one of the first in the nation — to fully connect its service area with fiber. Along the way, Holly shares her own path from the internet help desk in 2000 to CEO and General Manager, while Brianne talks about the marketing, PR, social media and other work that helps tell Dakota Central’s story. But 75 years of connection turns out to mean more than technology. The conversation explores why community is one of Dakota Central’s core values, why relationships built while knocking on business doors more than two decades ago still matter today, and why having local people available when something goes wrong continues to separate a local provider from other options. The episode also gets into the people behind Dakota Central, including long-tenured employees, popcorn in the office, cubicle golf and what new employees say they enjoy most about working there. Holly and Brianne also look ahead at AI, growing data use and the challenge of predicting whatever comes next — something Dakota Central has been doing in one form or another for 75 years. Guests Holly Utke CEO & General Manager Dakota Central Brianne Partlow Dakota Central Learn More https://dakotacentral.com https://www.jamestownchamber.com https://www.discoverjamestownnd.com

    Jamestown Ope’n Forum | Episode 15: 75 Years Connected with Dakota Central

  3. Sep 4

    Jamestown Ope’n Forum | Episode 14: Do Good Things, Bring Good People with Nick Bruns

    In Episode 14, Vincent and Warren sit down with Nick Bruns of Nodak Insurance to talk about risk, entrepreneurship and why he continues to invest his time, money and energy into Jamestown. Nick traces that mindset back to growing up in an entrepreneurial family, including an early venture as a teenager when he and a friend installed a commercial door and opened a fireworks stand. Years later, a simple lesson from his dad stuck with him: if a community supports you as a business owner, you should find ways to support that community in return. That philosophy has followed Nick into projects throughout Jamestown. He talks about taking on an overlooked property, recognizing gaps in the community, helping create Drift Prairie Brewing Company and launching new ideas when he believes there is a problem worth solving. But Nick also explains why having an idea isn't enough. The conversation explores calculating risk, knowing the worst-case scenario, learning from ideas that don't work as planned and finding good people who can help turn an opportunity into something sustainable. Nick shares his household philosophy of “do good things, bring good people with you,” why he believes fear of failure can keep good ideas from ever getting started, and what he hopes to pass along to his own children as they grow up around entrepreneurship. Guest: Nick Bruns Nodak Insurance Learn More: https://www.jamestownchamber.com https://www.discoverjamestownnd.com

    Jamestown Ope’n Forum | Episode 14: Do Good Things, Bring Good People with Nick Bruns

  4. Sep 2

    Jamestown Ope’n Forum | Episode 13: In Your Corner with Emily Bivens

    In Episode 13, Vincent and Warren welcome Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Emily Bivens back to the Ope’n Forum to tackle a word that can sound a lot more political than it really is: advocacy. Emily explains why advocacy is at the heart of what a Chamber of Commerce does and why it can look very different depending on what a business or community needs. Sometimes it means looking into legislation that could affect a member. Other times it means making a referral, connecting two businesses, supporting community beautification or simply helping a member find the right person or resource. The conversation gets into a real example involving Bison 6 Cinema, why the Chamber gives member businesses referrals first, how events like Buffalo Days can advocate for the image of a community, and why the relationships the Chamber builds matter when a business needs someone in its corner. The Bivness returns as Vincent, Warren and Emily share how they completed the previous connection challenge before Emily issues a new one: become a more informed voter by getting to know your ballot. The conversation closes with voter education, local candidate forums and the role the Chamber can play in helping residents connect with the people asking for their vote. Guest: Emily Bivens Executive Director Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce Learn More: https://www.jamestownchamber.com

    Jamestown Ope’n Forum | Episode 13: In Your Corner with Emily Bivens

  5. Aug 26

    Jamestown Ope’n Forum | Episode 12: Be the Boss of Your Stuff with Ashley Strukel

    In Episode 12, Vincent and Warren sit down with Ashley Strukel of Good Help Organizing to talk about clutter, overwhelm, and why getting organized is often about much more than finding the right storage bin. Ashley explains her goal of helping people become “the boss of their stuff” through practical, nonjudgmental solutions built around the way they actually live. She talks about why people often wait until they feel completely overwhelmed before asking for help, the shame that can come with letting someone into a messy space, and why the number of things someone owns has nothing to do with their value as a person. The conversation explores the emotional side of organizing, why one system does not work for everyone, what success actually looks like for a client, and the difference between creating an Instagram-worthy space and creating a home that makes everyday life easier. Ashley also admits that even a professional organizer has a “Monica closet” and shares the two items she is still irritated about losing during a move nine years ago. Ashley also shares what she has learned while building her first business, why supporting local businesses has always mattered to her, and why Jamestown feels like the “Goldilocks” community — not too big, not too small, with enough happening without becoming overwhelming. The conversation closes with the limits of what an organizer can solve alone and why collaboration with other community resources can be important when someone needs help beyond organizing. Guest: Ashley Strukel Good Help Organizing Learn More: https://goodhelporganizing.com https://www.jamestownchamber.com https://www.discoverjamestownnd.com

    Jamestown Ope’n Forum | Episode 12: Be the Boss of Your Stuff with Ashley Strukel

  6. Aug 19

    Jamestown Ope’n Forum | Episode 11: We’ve Got Your Back with Dr. Stephen Kutscher

    In Episode 11, Vincent and Warren sit down with Dr. Stephen Kutscher of Rock Solid Chiropractic to talk about building a business, becoming part of a community, and why giving back has become an important part of the way he approaches both. After practicing in Colorado for more than a decade, Dr. Kutscher and his family made the move to North Dakota to be closer to family and give their children a different environment to grow up in. Jamestown became a natural fit, and in the years since, Rock Solid Chiropractic has continued to grow while becoming increasingly involved throughout the community. The conversation explores why Dr. Kutscher believes local businesses have a responsibility to invest in the communities that support them, what makes a good day at work, and why working directly with patients ultimately brought him back to the part of his profession he enjoys most. He also discusses the work and uncertainty that come with starting a business, the importance of building relationships, and what he has learned from the people he has served along the way. The episode also gets outside the office as Dr. Kutscher shares what surprised a Southern California and Colorado transplant about life in Jamestown, including its mountain biking trails, outdoor opportunities, slower pace, and the benefits of raising a family in a smaller community. Guest: Dr. Stephen Kutscher Rock Solid Chiropractic Learn more: https://www.jamestownchamber.com https://www.discoverjamestownnd.com

    Jamestown Ope’n Forum | Episode 11: We’ve Got Your Back with Dr. Stephen Kutscher

  7. Aug 12

    Jamestown Ope’n Forum | Episode 10: Driven by Trust with Ryan Fettig

    In Episode 10, Vincent and Warren sit down with Ryan Fettig of Affordable Motors to talk about selling used vehicles, building trust, and doing business in a community where customers quickly become familiar faces. Ryan shares how a routine trip through the Chamber office eventually turned into a friendship with Vincent and membership in the Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce. He also discusses growing up around his family’s automotive businesses, which began when his father opened Dale’s A-1 Auto in 1988, and how Ryan eventually began managing Affordable Motors. The conversation explores the stereotypes surrounding used-car sales, why Ryan focuses on finding the right vehicle rather than simply making the most profitable sale, and what happens when a customer experiences a major problem after leaving the lot. Ryan explains why protecting a customer relationship and the business’s reputation sometimes means taking back a vehicle, covering repairs, or accepting a financial loss. Ryan also talks about advising customers against vehicles that do not fit their needs, the challenges facing the current used-car market, and why relationships between local businesses help the entire community grow. The episode closes far away from the car lot with a discussion about Ryan’s adventurous cooking and one particularly memorable Filipino delicacy. Guest: Ryan Fettig Affordable Motors Learn more: https://www.jamestownchamber.com https://www.discoverjamestownnd.com

    Jamestown Ope’n Forum | Episode 10: Driven by Trust with Ryan Fettig

  8. Aug 5

    Jamestown Ope’n Forum | Episode 9: Connecting the Dots with Emily Bivens

    In Episode 9, Vincent and Warren welcome Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Emily Bivens back to the podcast for another round of The Bivness. Emily explains why connections may be one of the Chamber’s most valuable and overlooked benefits. The conversation explores how events like STIR help people build relationships, why personal invitations make networking easier, and how the Chamber regularly connects residents and businesses with trusted local resources. The group also discusses the Chamber’s role in helping restore the interactive mural at Hugo’s after it was vandalized. Emily shares how the Chamber and Tourism originally helped bring the project together and how those same relationships are now helping connect Hugo’s with artist Max Patzner to repair the damage. Whether it is making a business referral, introducing two people who can help each other, or bringing organizations together around a community project, this episode shows how relationships help Jamestown get things done. Emily also delivers this month’s Unfinished Bivness challenge: make an introduction and help someone new build a connection. Guest: Emily Bivens Executive Director Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce Learn more: https://www.jamestownchamber.com https://www.discoverjamestownnd.com

    Jamestown Ope’n Forum | Episode 9: Connecting the Dots with Emily Bivens
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About

Jamestown Ope’n Forum is a conversation about Jamestown, North Dakota, told by the people who live there, work there, and want to see it grow. Hosted by staff from the Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce and Jamestown Tourism, this podcast offers a platform for honest conversations about business, community life, leadership, events, and the ideas that keep Jamestown moving forward. The goal is simple; Help listeners better understand how Jamestown works and why people live and work there. Jamestown Ope’n Forum is a table conversation and "ope"nness is intentional. We know growth rarely happens in straight lines, and good conversations rarely follow a script. Listeners can expect episodes that touch on community projects, workforce topics, leadership, local history, and the realities of running businesses and organizations in a place like Jamestown. If "ope" is part of your everyday language, you've found the right place.

Information

  • Creator
    Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    16
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce 2025
  • Show Website
    Jamestown Ope'n Forum