Work Worth Doing With Gov. Doug Burgum

Three recipients of the 2019 Governor's Awards for Excellence in Public Service discuss what it means to be part of Team ND and how their work helps the people of North Dakota. Gov. Burgum talks with Dr. Penny Hetletved of the Dept. of Corrections & Rehabilitation, Ryan Kramer of the Information Technology Department and Janelle Middlestead of the Insurance Department. Read more about the award recipients at this link.

As chairman of the Western Governors’ Association, Gov. Doug Burgum has outlined the central policy initiative of his term: Reimagining the Rural West. On this episode of the podcast, Burgum talks to Jim Ogsbury, WGA executive director, to explore the three central pillars of the initiative: opportunity, connectivity and community. Read more about the Reimagining the Rural West Initiative at westgov.org.

On the morning of September 6th, Governor Doug Burgum, leaders from four tribal nations, the Department of Human Services and the Indian Affairs Commission gathered at the capitol to sign updated comprehensive agreements - known as Title IV-E agreements - to enhance child welfare services for Native American children and families. This podcast brings you the highlights of that ceremony.   Click here to read more about the agreements.

Dr. Stuart Ablon is the director of Think:Kids, a program in the Department of Psychiatry at the Massachusetts General Hospital. After he spoke to attendees at the Governor's Summit on Innovative Education, he sat down with Gov. Burgum to have a conversation about behavioral health in an educational setting. To learn more about Dr. Ablon's work, visit thinkkids.org.

More than 65 communities across North Dakota have signed up to be involved in the Main Street Initiative. Every one of these communities is different, but what are the best practices that all communities can adapt? To find out, we took a road trip to visit with local leaders like Blue Weber and Katie Rehder in Grand Forks, Cavalier Mayor Lacey Hinkle and Amie Vasichek, city auditor of Lakota. Find out more about the Main Street Initiative at mainstreetnd.com and register for the Main Street Conference on Oct. 29-31 in Bismarck, ND.

On this episode, we’re giving you a special preview of the 3rd annual Governor’s Summit on Innovative Education. Hundreds of educators, students and community leaders will come from all across the state to gather in Jamestown, North Dakota on Aug. 14-15, 2019. They’ll talk about the latest innovations in education and how we can work together to support better behavioral health in our schools. Register for your ticket here: bit.ly/innovativend19

Everybody around the world wants the same thing for their loved ones: long, healthy lives. State Health Officer Mylynn Tufte and the North Dakota Department of Health work to educate the public on ways to stay healthy and avoid preventable illnesses. To learn more about their efforts, visit www.ndhealth.gov

Innovations in financial technology are making it easier than ever to invest your money. But the wide range of new financial services available can open investors up to unfamiliar risks. Karen Tyler, commissioner of the North Dakota Securities Department, joins us to explain how her team is helping protect North Dakota investors. To learn more about the Securities Department, visit www.nd.gov/securities

Colonel Brandon Solberg, superintendent of the North Dakota Highway Patrol, discusses how troopers keep the state's highways safe and efforts to reduce traffic fatalities, while Trooper Jeremiah Bohn takes Governor Burgum on a ride-along and Trooper Jenna Clawson Huibregtse explains her role as a cultural liaison officer.    

Major General Al Dohrmann offers an inside look at the North Dakota National Guard and the Department of Emergency Services while discussing lessons in leadership. Dohrmann, the Adjutant General of North Dakota, commands over 4000 North Dakota Air and Army National Guard men and women with approximately 1100 full-time federal and state employees. Visit ndguard.nd.gov and nd.gov/des to learn more.

Lt. Gov. Brent Sanford joins us for a bonus episode of "Work Worth Doing" to discuss the plan for a new statewide traffic control network for unmanned aircraft systems. Find out why North Dakota is America's proving grounds for UAS.

The future of government-to-government partnerships and relationships is exciting in North Dakota. Between federal, state and tribal governments, we’re seeing greater collaboration and communication, leading to better outcomes for all. Scott Davis, Executive Director of the North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission, joins us to talk about what's on the horizon.

North Dakota's wide variety of landscapes provides a friendly home for a diverse group of wildlife. Its abundant natural resources have instilled a culture of conservation and a love for hunting and fishing that spans generations of North Dakotans. Terry Steinwand, director of the North Dakota Game & Fish Department, joins Gov. Burgum to talk about what the department does to manage these natural resources and work alongside the state's hunters and anglers.   Interested in what you heard on this episode? Learn more at gf.nd.gov

For the first time in recorded history, there are more jobs available in the United States than people seeking jobs. For North Dakota, that means the No. 1 barrier to growing our economy is a workforce shortage. Michelle Kommer, Commissioner of the Department of Commerce, joins us to discuss what North Dakota is doing to address our workforce challenge.

North Dakota's natural beauty is perhaps best encapsulated by our parks ecosystem. As director of our Parks and Recreation Department, Melissa Baker is responsible for taking care of these special places and making sure that visitors can enjoy the splendor of our state.

Snow plow drivers are the heroes of the winter in North Dakota. Governor Burgum joins Craig Sperling, a plow driver for more than three decades, to learn how a statewide fleet of drivers clears thousands of miles of roads after every storm. He also chats with Tom Sorel, director of the ND Department of Transportation, on the future of transportation.

As our Chief Information Officer and director of the Information Technology Department, Shawn Riley is working to make sure the state is equipped for today and prepared for tomorrow. On this episode, we talk about cyber security, technology in schools and working as one across state government.

Ted Roosevelt V, conservation advocate and great-great-grandson of our nation’s 26th President, has recently turned his attention towards a project in North Dakota: the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library. He joins us to discuss the legacy of TR in North Dakota and the future of this project.

Leann Bertsch, director of the North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, has received national attention for her work on prison reform. She joins us for our very first episode to discuss how her department is making better neighbors.