Jamestown Ope'n Forum

Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce

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 20: Worth the Detour with Jay Boyd & Davone Mitchell

    Jay Boyd came to Buffalo Grill trying to answer a pretty important question: how do we make sure this place sticks around? Then Chef Davone Mitchell entered the picture. What started with a phone call between two people who didn’t really know each other became a new menu, a different approach in the kitchen and a shared goal of creating the kind of food and experience people shouldn’t have to drive to a bigger city to find. In Episode 20, Jay and Davone join Vincent and Warren to talk about turning things around, building a team behind the scenes and what it takes to make a restaurant somewhere both locals and travelers want to come back to. Guests: Jay Boyd General Manager, Buffalo Grill Davone Mitchell Head Chef, Buffalo Grill Learn More: buffalogrillnd.com jamestownchamber.com

    Jamestown Ope’n Forum | Episode 20: Worth the Detour with Jay Boyd & Davone Mitchell

  2. Oct 7

    Jamestown Ope’n Forum | Episode 19: We Have Notes — An Audio Audit with Emily Bivens

    Emily Bivens has listened to all 18 episodes of Jamestown Ope’n Forum. And she has notes. For this month’s Chamber Chat, Emily takes over the host chair, sends Vincent and Warren to the guest seats and conducts an audio audit of the show. Why does Vincent ask people their shoe size? How much research actually happens before an interview? Did anyone expect a question about lemonade stands to turn into one of the show’s best stories? Along the way, the three look back at what Ope’n Forum has become, what they’ve learned about Jamestown and its businesses, and why getting past the organization to the people behind it has become the most interesting part of the show. Host: Emily Bivens Executive Director, Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce Guests: Vincent Kloubec Co-Host, Jamestown Ope’n Forum Warren Abrahamson Co-Host, Jamestown Ope’n Forum Learn More: https://jamestownchamber.com

    Jamestown Ope’n Forum | Episode 19: We Have Notes — An Audio Audit with Emily Bivens

  3. Sep 30

    Jamestown Ope’n Forum | Episode 18: Try What You Already Have — Tourism Takeover with Allison Limke

    How well do you really know the place you live? Allison Limke returns for another Tourism Takeover to talk about why tourism marketing sometimes starts with the people who already live here, what visitors actually do when they stop in Jamestown, and why “there’s nothing to do here” might have more to do with habit than what’s actually available. From visitors who planned a quick stop and ended up staying the night to the simple challenge of visiting a local attraction you haven’t seen in years, this episode is an invitation to look at Jamestown a little more like a visitor would. Guest: Allison Limke Visitor Experience Manager, Jamestown Tourism Learn More: https://discoverjamestownnd.com https://jamestownchamber.com

    Jamestown Ope’n Forum | Episode 18: Try What You Already Have — Tourism Takeover with Allison Limke

  4. Sep 23

    Jamestown Ope’n Forum | Episode 17: Back in the Family with Jordan Koushkouski

    Jordan Koushkouski wasn’t looking to buy just any bar. He was waiting for this one. Decades after his grandfather operated Park Bar in downtown Jamestown, Jordan had the chance to bring the name — and the building — back into the family. What followed was a foreclosure auction, eight dumpsters of cleanup, a few surprises behind the walls and the challenge of deciding what pieces of the past were worth keeping. In Episode 17, Jordan joins Vincent and Warren to talk about family history, breathing new life into an old downtown space and creating a place that feels familiar without being stuck in the past. Guest: Jordan Koushkouski Owner, Park Bar & Lounge Learn More: Park Bar & Lounge — Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce Member Directory Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce JamestownChamber.com

    Jamestown Ope’n Forum | Episode 17: Back in the Family with Jordan Koushkouski

  5. Sep 16

    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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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
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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
    20
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce 2025
  • Show Website
    Jamestown Ope'n Forum