North Dakota Professional Communicators News

Registration is open for NDPC’s Spring 2026 Conference

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 22:09:01 GMT

You're invited to the NDPC state conference on April 30, 2026, at the Gorecki Alumni Center, University of North Dakota, in Grand Forks, ND.

Spend the day learning from engaging speakers, gaining practical communication insights, and connecting with professionals from across the state.

First-time attendee grants and student scholarships are available.

>> Conference Details

>> Register now

2026 communications contest underway

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 22:01:01 GMT

The 2026 NPDC Communications Contest officially opened October 15. Get your submissions in before January 21, 2026, to take advantage of the early bird rate. Several NDPC members brought home national awards from the NFPW conference this fall. Let's do it again in 2026!

About the Contest
The NDPC Communications Contest, a state affiliate of the NFPW Communications Contest, recognizes the work of professional communicators over the age of 18 living or working in North Dakota regardless of their gender or professional status. Entrants must be both NDPC and NFPW members.

PLEASE NOTE: This contest is open to NDPC entrants who are also NFPW members. Non-member or Associate NDPC member submissions will not be accepted. Any entries from non-members submitted despite this rule will be disqualified.

Please join or renew your NDPC memberships via the NFPW site PRIOR TO submitting to the contest. The organizations' memberships run on the calendar year, January through December.

You are not eligible to enter the 2026 Communications Contest if you have not yet paid for your 2026 membership. Every person included in a group award submittal must also be a member of NDPC and NFPW. The costs for combined NDPC/NFPW memberships are listed below:
Professional Memberships $110
Student $35
Retired $35

Important dates

All work must have been published or broadcast between Jan. 1, and Dec. 31, 2025, to be eligible for entry in the contest.
The early bird deadline is January 21, 2026, at noon. A one-time $25 fee will be assessed to all entrants after this date.
The book final deadline is February 4, 2026, at noon. Due to the extended time it takes to judge book categories, all books must be entered by this date.
The final deadline for entries is February 18, 2026, at noon. All remaining entries must be entered by this date.

Cost
Before the early bird deadline, the first entry costs $30 and each subsequent entry costs $15. After the early bird deadline, the first entry costs $55 and each subsequent entry costs $15.

Preparation

Before you start gathering submissions, familiarize yourself with the available categories and their descriptions.
When you decide which categories to enter, please read the requirements for each category carefully.
Before you start entering your work online, we recommend organizing your entries into a folder.

Registration
Contest submissions will be handled online through the NDPC Communications Contest web page.

Judging
Judging will be completed by March 16, 2026. NDPC Communications Contest winners will be contacted directly and recognized by NDPC.

National competition
First-place NDPC Communications Contest winners will advance to the national competition, the NFPW Communications Contest. In order to compete at the national level, entrants must be members of the National Federation of Press Women and be in good standing.

Questions
If you have questions about the contest, you may contact NDPC Contest Co-Chair Heather Syverson.

NDPC member ties for second in national communications contest sweepstakes

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 18:45:08 GMT

Winners of the 2025 National Federation of Press Women (NFPW) Communications Contest were recognized Sept. 13, 2025, at the NFPW contest awards dinner and ceremony in Golden, Colo.

Twenty NDPC members earned 40 awards for their work in writing, editing, photography, graphics and design, advertising, web and social media, communication programs and campaigns, public relations, information for the media and speeches.

NDPC's Amy Wieser Willson tied for second place in the NFPW National Communications Contest Sweepstakes. Read more>>

Amanda Kosior named 2025 Communicator of Achievement

Fri, 16 May 2025 18:50:25 GMT

Amanda Kosior is North Dakota Professional Communicators’ 2025 Communicator of Achievement. Kosior has over 25 years of experience in media/public relations, community engagement, internal/human resource communications, social media strategy, advertising, branding, and multi-media content creation.

Kosior is a board member and marketing director at JLG Architects, a nine-office, multi-studio firm of more than 220 employee-owners. She leads the firm's award-winning graphic designers, environmental branders, writers, social media planners, photographers/videographers, and studio marketing coordinators. Her work is dedicated to strengthening internal and external communications that enhance firm culture, client relations, and community integration.

Beyond JLG, Kosior founded the popular NorthDakotaNice.com website and blog, which has catalyzed weekly network appearances on the ND Today show. When she's not blogging or spending time with her two sons, she mentors marketing/communication students at the University of North Dakota. Kosior graduated with a bachelor’s degree in communications and a minor in English from Boston University.

Kosior has been a member of NDPC and NFPW since 2020, awarded over 50 awards in North Dakota, as well as 14 national-level recognitions through NFPW. In 2023, she took second place in NDPC’s sweepstakes competition, and in 2024, she was awarded first place.

Communicator of Achievement is the highest honor NDPC can bestow upon one of its members. It is presented annually to a member of NDPC and NFPW who has distinguished themselves within and beyond their profession. Kosior will be NDPC’s nominee for the communicator of achievement award at the National Federation of Press Women conference September 11-13 in Golden, Colo.

Communications contest results announced

Tue, 13 May 2025 20:35:14 GMT

North Dakota Professional Communicators announces the winners of the 2025 NDPC Communications Contest. Thirty-two NDPC members earned more than 100 awards for their work in writing, editing, photography, graphics and design, advertising, web and social media, communication programs and campaigns, public relations, information for the media and speeches. Read more>>

NDPC loses longtime member

Tue, 17 Sep 2024 19:29:14 GMT

Linda Sailer joined North Dakota Professional Communicators in 1972 and remained active through 2019. She died July 31, 2024, at age 76, in Dickinson, N.D.

Linda attended North Dakota State University where she majored in physical education. Linda served as the lifestyle editor for The Dickinson Press covering the community’s stories with passion for over 50 years.

She regularly earned awards for her feature stories, section editing and photography in both the NDPC and NFPW communications contests. In 2014 and 2015 Linda won first place in the NDPC sweepstakes competition, and she had many second- and third-place sweepstakes finishes over the years. Linda was named NDPC's 1998 Communicator of Achievement.

The family is accepting donations to establish a North Dakota journalism scholarship in Linda’s honor.

Heather Syverson named 2024 Communicator of Achievement

Fri, 19 Apr 2024 13:29:23 GMT

Heather Syverson is North Dakota Professional Communicators’ 2024 Communicator of Achievement. Syverson has enjoyed more than 20 years in the communications industry, moving from traditional journalism to communications consulting over the course of her career.

She had her first taste of press life as an award-winning reporter and news editor at the North Dakota State University student newspaper, The Spectrum. After graduating from NDSU with a Bachelor of Science degree in mass communication, Syverson became a news producer at KXJB TV, just before the station merged with KVLY TV. She was promoted to executive producer at Valley News Live, the combined KXJB and KVLY news stations. Working in local news provided a front row seat to the biggest news stories of the time, including catastrophic flooding on the Red River in 2009.

The experience of helping manage the coverage of the historic flood piqued her interest in the infrastructure that keeps communities safe. In 2011, Syverson began working for AE2S, a civil engineering consulting firm that specializes in water projects. Over the past 13 years at AE2S, Syverson has provided communication consulting services for multi-billion-dollar water supply projects, as well as flood and drought mitigation infrastructure projects in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota. Noteworthy projects include the Red River Valley Water Supply, Western Area Water Supply, Western Dakota Regional Water System, and the FM Area Flood Diversion.

Currently, Syverson is overseeing communication initiatives for more than 50 AE2S clients in North Dakota, Minnesota, Colorado, and Utah related to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Lead and Copper Rule. In addition to her work as a communication strategist, Syverson serves as AE2S media manager overseeing the firm’s media relations and newsletter publications.

Syverson has been a member of the National Federation of Press Women and its North Dakota affiliate since 2013. She has received multiple communications contest awards from NDPC and NFPW as an individual and alongside her AE2S colleagues over the years.

Communicator of Achievement is the highest honor NDPC can bestow upon one of its members. It is presented annually to a member of NDPC and NFPW who has distinguished themselves within and beyond their profession. As NDPC’s honoree, Syverson advanced to NFPW’s national competition, which will be held June 20-22 in St. Louis, Missouri.

Nominations Now Open for NDPC 2024 Communicator of Achievement

Wed, 17 Jan 2024 03:26:21 GMT

It’s time for NDPC members to choose our 2024 Communicator of Achievement (COA). This is the highest honor we bestow upon one of our members, and nominations are now open.

Do you know an exceptional communicator who is a member of NDPC and NFPW?

If so, nominate them for COA! Email aboutndpc@gmail.com, and tell us how your nominee has distinguished themself in professional achievement, community service, and service to NFPW and NDPC.

Nominations don’t have to be lengthy or detailed but should address the award criteria identified above.

Nominees must be NFPW members, so if you’re not sure, you can ask the person you plan to nominate or log in to the NDPC website and search the member directory: https://www.aboutndpc.org/directory.

Don’t delay! Nominations are due Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024.

2024 Communications Contest Opens

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 21:46:22 GMT

Communicators, it’s our time to shine! Entries are now being accepted for the 2024 NDPC Communications Contest! This is an excellent opportunity to share your top-notch work created in 2023 and get some public recognition for your hard work. State award winners will be announced in May. All first-place winners will advance to the NFPW National Communications Contest. Winners at the national level will be announced in June during the 2024 NFPW Communications Conference in St. Louis, Missouri.

The contest is open to writers, authors, copy editors, public affairs professionals, photographers, publishers, graphic designers, and others in the communications field. Check out the list of categories.

Deadlines:
Early Bird Deadline is January 17, 2024
Book Final Deadline is January 31, 2024
Final Deadline for all other entries is February 7, 2024

Fees:
Entries submitted before January 17: $25 for first entry, $5 for each additional entry.

Entries submitted after January 18: $50 for first entry, $5 for each additional entry.

Eligibility:
All work must have been created or published in 2023 to be eligible. According to NDPC bylaws, you must have a NFPW membership to enter the Communications Contest.

We had some amazing submissions last year that went on to win awards at the NFPW conference. Let’s showcase more of our high quality communications work!

- Heather Syverson, NDPC Contest Co-Chair

NFPW's 2023 national conference in Cincinnati

Mon, 11 Sep 2023 00:30:00 GMT

A big thank you to NDPC for the Ellen Crawford scholarship to attend the national conference in Cincinnati this past June. I am grateful and honored to receive it.

A highlight was visiting the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. The museum has three floors packed with the history of slavery to freedom. It includes an authentic slave pen built in the early 1800s in Kentucky. Murals, movies and interactive displays tell stories of stepping into freedom through the Underground Railroad. A couple of freedom trails ran through Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin to reach Canada. One display focuses on the current state of trafficking and other forms of exploitation.

Keynote conference speakers also featured the Underground Railroad with stories of enslaved ancestors, abolitionists and freedom seekers.

Other topics and workshops included becoming an entrepreneur and how to embrace change, as well as funding sources from the Scripps Howard Fund for journalism education and childhood literacy.

Workshop panels addressed ChatGPT, what it is, how it works and its impact on media and technology. Other topics included finding different publishing routes, a refresher on editing, and how print and digital teams can work together.

I encourage members to attend and apply for the scholarship to next year’s conference in St. Louis, June 20-22. It will enrich your knowledge and friendships from around the country.

– Merrie Sue Holtan

Tracy Frank named 2023 Communicator of Achievement

Fri, 09 Jun 2023 23:38:09 GMT

Tracy Frank of West Fargo is North Dakota Professional Communicators’ 2023 Communicator of Achievement.

An award-winning writer and communicator, Frank has more than 20 years of experience working in a variety of communications platforms, including print and broadcast journalism, advertising, marketing, internal communications, social media, and public relations.

Frank became a writer to tell the stories people were unable to tell themselves, to use the written word to make a difference, and to change how people view the world around them. She recently started working at CCRI Inc., a nonprofit organization based in Moorhead, Minn., that is dedicated to enhancing and enriching the lives and learning of people with disabilities.

The past seven years, Frank worked as a marketing writer at Bell Bank. Before that, she was a Forum Communications reporter for 10 years. Frank co-wrote the locally inspired musical, Weather the Storm, which was based on the 1957 Fargo tornado. She is heavily involved in community service for a variety of local nonprofits including theater groups, animal rescue organizations and human services.

A member of the National Federation of Press Women and its North Dakota affiliate since 2018, Frank has received numerous communications contest awards from the organizations, including NFPW’s 2022 National Sweepstakes Award.

COA is the highest honor NDPC can bestow upon one of its members. It is presented annually to a member of NDPC and NFPW who has distinguished themselves within and beyond their profession. As NDPC’s honoree, Frank advances to NFPW’s national competition, which will be held June 22–24, 2023, in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Accepting Nominations for 2023-2024 NDPC Board Members

Sun, 30 Apr 2023 02:23:22 GMT

Nominations are open for the 2023-2024 NDPC Board. There are several board positions available and we are looking for volunteers to step up and get involved. If you or someone you know would like to take on a leadership role - this is a great opportunity! Email nominations to NDPC President Tammy Fogle by Friday, May 12.

Apply for the Ellen Crawford NFPW Conference Memorial

Thu, 27 Apr 2023 02:21:57 GMT

NDPC/NFPW members who are interested in attending the NFPW Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio, are eligible to apply for the Ellen Crawford NFPW Conference Memorial.

Funds were donated in Ellen’s memory to support continuous development for NDPC, NFPW and its members. NDPC will cover the early bird registration expense, up to $405 for one member. Apply today!

Application requirements
The applicant must:

Be a current NDPC/NFPW member.
Provide a written request of what the applicant hopes to gain from attending the conference.

Application deadline

Applications are due by Monday, May 15.
Email written request, stated above, to aboutNDPC@gmail.com.
Recipients will be notified by Wednesday, May 17.

Remembering Ellen Crawford, NDPC treasurer for life

Tue, 28 Feb 2023 01:37:15 GMT

We received the sad news that NDPC treasurer and much-beloved NDPC and NFPW member Ellen Crawford passed away this morning after her third battle with cancer. Ellen was a longtime leader and member of NDPC and served the organization in many ways, most recently, and almost permanently, as treasurer.

Ellen spent 26 1/2 years as a reporter, copy editor and page designer for The Forum in Fargo and 17 years as an information specialist for North Dakota State University Agriculture Communication, retiring in 2022. Her editing skills and grammar knowledge were unparalleled. Her work was recognized throughout her career with numerous state and national awards from NDPC, NFPW and the North Dakota Newspaper Association.

An officer and active member of NDPC, Ellen served the organization as college contest chair, membership directory editor, second vice president/contest chair, first vice president/membership chair and president before becoming treasurer for life in 1999. In 1997 and again in 2012, NDPC named her its Communicator of Achievement, the highest honor bestowed by the organization. Rarely missing an NDPC or NFPW annual conference, Ellen also served NFPW in various roles, including Education Fund Board director and treasurer.

Ellen was an avid antique collector, a voracious reader, a walker and traveler, and a lifetime cat lover and owner. Her beloved Maine Coon, Quincy, has been adopted by a friend.

Most importantly, Ellen was a mentor and good friend to many, and she treasured her NDPC connections and friendships.

A memorial gift from NDPC will be used for a grant or scholarship award to support others in their communication journey. NDPC members are welcome to contribute to this award.

Ellen Crawford funeral service details:
Monday, March 6, 2023
Visitation: 9-10 a.m.
Funeral Service: 10-11 a.m.
Boulger Funeral Home and Celebration of Life Center, 123 10th St., Fargo, ND, 58103

Burial will be at Rosehill Memorial Cemetery, Minot, N.D.

The full obituary can be found on the Boulger website:
https://boulgerfuneralhome.com/obits/ellen-l-crawford/

NDPC Seeks Outstanding Communicator; Nominations due Feb. 17, 2023

Tue, 31 Jan 2023 01:30:00 GMT

Are you or do you know an outstanding communicator? NDPC is currently seeking nominations for our 2023 Communicator of Achievement (COA) award, the highest honor bestowed by NDPC and NFPW upon members who have distinguished themselves within and beyond their field.

The COA award recognizes exceptional achievement in the communications field, as well as service to our state and national organization and the community. Nominations need not be lengthy or detailed but should be persuasive and address the award criteria identified.

More details about the award are available online. Submit nominations to Sarah Mudder by Friday, Feb. 24, 2023.

NFPW conference hits on bold, brave and legendary communication efforts

Wed, 27 Jul 2022 04:26:13 GMT

It’s been a month since NDPC hosted the NFPW national conference, and we can hardly believe how fast that month has flown by. It was a delight to have so many NFPW members join us in Fargo and experience so much of what our incredible community has to offer.

As we organize our conference notes and begin to apply what we learned, we wanted to share a few important takeaways:

Nicole Phillips, Kindness advocate, taught us that we are in control of our thoughts and it’s important for us to be aware of where our thoughts are throughout the day; in fact, she challenged us to set an alarm as a reminder to stop and think about what you’re thinking about as well as to create a mantra to reject and replace unhelpful thoughts.
Former Washington Post reporter and “If You Lived Here You’d Be Home by Now” author Chris Ingraham delighted us with stories about his entertaining experiences in Red Lake Falls, but also shared the challenges of publishing work through a newsletter versus a larger distribution method.
Bold North brand creator and former Michelle Obama staffer Andrea Mokros enlightened us on building a brand that is both authentic (real and true) and accessible (everyone can embrace and relate to) and reminded us that a brand is not just what you say but what you do and how people experience it.
In his delightful presentation, consultant and fundraiser Patrick Kirby gave us several ideas for treating customers/clients like nonprofit donors, such as leading with appreciation, engaging creatively and not being afraid to pick the phone to make a phone call or send a thank you note (or five!). Patrick also mentioned some important questions to ask donors/clients/customers to get to know them and said he'd send those later, which he did. These are the questions:

In your own words, tell me a bit about the work you do! (My website interpretation is only so good!)
What are you most proud of in the last year?
What are you most excited about in the next year?
Where are you seeing others struggle in your industry?
What are innovations that make you excited for the future of your work?
What do you love the most about your job? Your team?
Where do you see your team focusing their efforts? How do you show up for each other?
What issues is your team passionate about?
Where do you look for ideas to innovate your work?
Is there anything I can do to help?

Public relations exec Michelle Olson enlightened us on why diversity and inclusion is so important in communications professions, pointing us to the many resources available at voices4everyone.prsa.org.
For anyone who attended the passion panel, Rebecca Undem published the blog post she mentioned about how burnout can actually be about being snuffed out. She mentioned during the panel that she was writing this and had not yet published it. Attendees might be interested in reading the final post.
For anyone who attended the podcasting panel, Jessie Woinarowicz from Glaze and Grit put together some great notes and information about podcasting available at https://www.glazeandgritpodcast.com/nfpw. Password is nfpw.

The conference was full of so much more information, but those are some highlights and follow-up info we wanted to share. You can read so much more in the July edition of Agenda, including more about LuAnn Schindler, the national COA; our very own Tracy Frank, the sweepstakes winner, and so much more from the national conference.

We can't wait to see everyone again in 2023 in Cincinnati!

NDPC selects Mudder as 2022 Communicator of Achievement

Fri, 08 Jul 2022 03:30:00 GMT

North Dakota Professional Communicators recently selected Sarah Mudder of Mandan, N.D., as its 2022 Communicator of Achievement.

“Being named Communicator of Achievement is a great honor that recognizes both excellence in the communications field as well as service to NFPW and the community,” said Tammy Fogle, the statewide organization’s president. NDPC is an affiliate of NFPW, a nationwide organization of professional women and men pursuing careers across the spectrum of journalism and communications.

Mudder currently serves as NDPC’s southwest district chair and is a member of its board. She pushed for and is leading a movement for a united statewide organization with a consistent dues structure and branding. At the on-set of the pandemic, Mudder recommended that NDPC invest in a virtual meeting platform that is now used to host rotating monthly meetings allowing the members to learn from and make connections outside their immediate geographic area.

“Sarah has been instrumental in the survival of NDPC during the height of the pandemic and beyond,” added Fogle. “It is evident how much she values NFPW and our local affiliate by her actions to promote the organization and the programs we offer.”

Mudder is the communications and events coordinator at North Dakota Housing Finance Agency (NDHFA) where she works to bring awareness to the state’s most pressing housing issues.

“I have worked with Sarah since 2002 and appreciate the professionalism she has brought to the agency,” said NDHFA Executive Director Dave Flohr. “She has a demonstrated commitment to our mission of providing affordable housing opportunities for all North Dakotans.”

In addition to serving as NDHFA’s primary liaison to the media and the director of its educational and promotional efforts, Mudder manages the agency’s social media channels, edits and produces newsletters and other announcements, is NDHFA’s go-to editor and its records manager.

Connections made through years of government service have provided Mudder with unique community service opportunities. She has used her communications skills to help with a handful of mostly successful political campaigns and she was honored to serve as the media coordinator for Roughrider Honor Flight.

Married to Layn Mudder, a freelance photographer, the Mudders have a very spoiled English Cocker Spaniel named Annie. In their downtime, they enjoy traveling to visit historic sites and museums, kayaking calm waterways, attending stock car races and trying out new restaurants. Her favorite adventures include trips to Laura Ingalls Wilder’s home sites in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota and Missouri.

As NDPC’s honoree, Mudder advanced to the national NFPW competition. She was one of six nominees recognized during NFPW’s annual conference, which was held in June 2022 in Fargo, N.D. LuAnn Schindler of Clearwater, Neb., co-publisher and editor-in-chief of the Summerland Advocate-Messenger, was chosen as NFPW’s 2022 Communicator of Achievement. NFPW has presented this prestigious award for 65 years.

North Dakota multimedia storyteller wins national sweepstakes award

Tue, 28 Jun 2022 02:05:47 GMT

A North Dakota multimedia storyteller has won the overall sweepstakes award in the National Federation of Press Women’s 2022 Professional Communications Contest. Tracy Frank of North Dakota was honored June 25, 2022, at the NFPW contest awards dinner and ceremony in Fargo.

Frank joined Bell Bank in 2016 as a marketing content writer after more than a decade as a respected local and regional journalist. She successfully made the transition from journalism to corporate marketing and communications, bringing her curiosity, perseverance, and love of a good story to her role at Bell, where she is now a senior multimedia storyteller, creating content for marketing campaigns, informational newsletters, feature articles, videos and more.

Originally from Casselton, N.D., Frank earned a degree in journalism from the University of Maryland, where she studied abroad during a Semester at Sea (visiting 10 countries) and interned at ABC’s “20/20” news show in Washington, D.C. Returning to North Dakota, she was a reporter for 10 years at The Forum newspaper in Fargo before serving as a news reporter, fill-in anchor and producer at WDAY-TV.

A member of North Dakota Professional Communicators and NFPW since 2018, Frank has won numerous communications contest awards and was named the second-place Sweepstakes winner for NFPW’s national contest in 2020.

“Being named the 2022 National Sweepstakes Award winner is a tremendous achievement and a testament to the high quality of Tracy’s work,” said NFPW President Karen Rowley. “NFPW members adhere to the highest standards in their work, and we’re delighted to be able to recognize that. Congratulations to both Tracy and North Dakota Professional Communicators.”

Kindness is Contagious: Nicole Phillips named keynote speaker for 2022 NFPW conference

Mon, 14 Feb 2022 23:41:28 GMT

Kindness is Contagious in the Workplace
Could kindness be the key to becoming a better leader and coworker? Yes! And it doesn’t take a complete overhaul of your workplace. Keynote Speaker Nicole Phillips will explain the research-based chain reaction that happens within our bodies when we lead with kindness. She will also explore an interactive and practical set of micro-actions anyone can do to foster kinder communication and bring out the best in each employee. These tips will have an immediate impact on your entire organization's culture. Hearing Nicole share how to say no to the negative and yes to kindness will leave you feeling uplifted, refreshed, and equipped to better enjoy your life both personally and professionally.

About Nicole Phillips
Nicole spreads the message of the healing power of kindness as host of the show “The Kindness Podcast,” which was named by Oprah Magazine as one of the Top Three Happiness Podcasts in 2021. She also has a weekly column called “Kindness is Contagious” that runs in newspapers across North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota.

Nicole earned a Broadcast Journalism degree from the University of Wisconsin and has worked as a television anchor and reporter in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Madison, Wisconsin; and Fargo, North Dakota. You may have seen her on Hallmark Channel’s Home & Family show, HGTV’s House Hunters, or The Price is Right, where she learned a lot about kindness and won a car! Nicole is the author of five books, Kindness is Contagious, Kindness is Courageous, Workplace Positivity, The Negativity Remedy, and Borrow My Brave. As Miss Wisconsin 1997, she spent the year touring the state talking to kids and adults about overcoming crisis.

Nicole is married to her childhood crush who is a college men’s basketball coach at Northern State University. The couple lives in Aberdeen, South Dakota, with their three children and oversized Goldendoodle.

2022 NFPW Conference Information

College students encouraged to enter college communications contest

Mon, 07 Feb 2022 15:46:38 GMT

It’s time to prepare entries for NDPC's 2022 College Communications Contest. This contest is a great opportunity for college communications students in two-year or four-year colleges or universities in North Dakota or at Minnesota State University Moorhead and Concordia College to gain recognition for their work and receive feedback from judges in the communication profession.

The deadline for entering the 2022 contest is Tuesday, March 1, 2022.

Contest rules, categories and entry forms are available at https://www.aboutndpc.org/College-Communication-Contest.

All contest entries must have been published, aired or produced between March 1, 2021, through February 28, 2022.

Students can earn money through the sweepstakes prize. Points will be assigned for entries that place, and the two students who earn the most points will receive prizes in the amount of $100 and $50, respectively.

Email ndpccollegecontest@gmail.com with questions about the contest.

Mark your calendars for June 23-25, 2022!

Fri, 10 Dec 2021 01:59:52 GMT

North Dakota Professional Communicators is excited to host the 85th Annual National Federation of Press Women Conference in Fargo. NDPC is affiliated with NFPW, an organization of communication professionals across the country.

Hundreds of fellow communicators will travel here to “Be Bold. Be Brave. Be Legendary. Discover the Possibilities of the New Communications World.” The lineup of top-notch speakers will focus on ways professional communicators can adapt and achieve success in our constantly evolving industry.

NDPC President Tammy Fogle and Immediate Past President Sadie Rudolph are the 2022 conference co-directors. They are working with local committee members to ensure this conference is truly LEGENDARY and North Dakota’s warm hospitality welcomes those who travel here to attend.

This is a perfect opportunity for those who have not made it to a NFPW conference previously to attend the national conference right here in North Dakota. In addition to networking opportunities, the annual NFPW conference features professional development, the awards banquet for the NFPW Professional and High School communications contests, local tours, and a chance to hear from regional, national, and possibly international speakers. Join us!

Please check the NFPW’s conference page regularly for updates.

NDPC awards three scholarships to local college students

Wed, 19 May 2021 15:50:00 GMT

Three area college students have been awarded scholarships from North Dakota Professional Communicators to assist in their academic endeavors in the future.

Anna Dragseth, a junior at North Dakota State University; Erick George, a junior at Minnesota State University Moorhead; and Marissa Shiock, a junior at Minnesota State University Moorhead, each received a $500 Marion J. Piper Scholarship. The award is named in honor of a longtime NDPC member who died in 1969.

Dragseth is majoring in broadcast journalism with a minor in political science. She worked as the NDSU University Relations student writer, is involved with KNDS Radio and serves as the communications coordinator for Agriculture Communicators of Tomorrow. She also works as the assistant manager at Bison Information News Network, a student-run campus news organization. Dragseth is originally from Watford City, North Dakota.

"Thank you so much for choosing me as the 2021 NDPC scholarship recipient," Dragseth wrote in her thank you note to the scholarship committee. "I am beyond honored to receive this prestigious scholarship. I will be interning at RFD-TV this summer and Nashville and plan on putting the scholarship money towards living expenses."

George is majoring in broadcast journalism and multimedia journalism with a minor in mass communications and political science. For two years, he has been involved with the student-run Campus News program, serving as anchor this past year. He is originally from Battle Lake, Minnesota.

"This generous gift will be a great financial support toward my higher education. It is a great blessing and honor to have you give so generously and value my education," George wrote. "By awarding me the Marion J. Piper Scholarship, you have allowed me to focus my attention on my education without financial stress. Your generosity is an inspiration to me. I hope one day to help future students achieve their goals with a charitable spirit just as you have helped me."

Shiock is majoring in multimedia journalism, photojournalism and broadcast journalism with a minor in media analysis. She is involved with the student-run Campus News program, serving as head producer and news photographer, and also shoots photos for the MSUM Go!Team and the Dragon football team. She is originally from Bismarck, North Dakota.

Communications contest results are in!

Tue, 11 May 2021 22:54:45 GMT

North Dakota Professional Communicators announces the winners of the 2021 NDPC Communications Contest. Thirty-one NDPC members earned 145 awards for their work in writing, editing, photography, graphics and design, advertising, web and social media, communication programs and campaigns, public relations, information for the media and speeches. Read more>>

Fogle named 2021 Communicator of Achievement

Fri, 30 Apr 2021 22:36:41 GMT

Tammy Fogle, digital marketing specialist for North Dakota State College of Science, has been selected as the 2021 Communicator of Achievement by the North Dakota Professional Communicators. The COA is the highest honor NDPC can bestow upon one of its members. It is presented annually to a member of NDPC and the National Federation of Press Women who has distinguished him or herself within and beyond his or her profession. Read more>>

NDPC invites members to participate in logo design contest

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 14:15:16 GMT

Let's spruce things up!

With all the improvements we’ve made throughout the past year, it’s time to spruce up our brand too. The NDPC logo should be more modern and inviting. It should be professional and edgy, but communicators should feel welcomed to our organization when they see our logo. That’s where you come in. You are invited to participate in the NDPC Logo Design contest!

Here is the information you will need:

Name: North Dakota Professional Communicators (NDPC)

Industry: Non-profit organization supporting North Dakota communicator professional development

Audience: North Dakota communicators of all ages. Our membership is made up of men and women from college students all the way to retirement.

Color and Type Choice: Up to you! Flex your creative muscle.

How to submit: Please package all the above materials into a zipped folder and send to aboutndpc@gmail.com Feel free to send using file-sharing sites like Dropbox or Google drive.

Deadline to submit: April 21 at Midnight CST

Prize: a $250 Visa Gift Card

Questions: Feel free to email Sadie Rudolph, NDPC President.

Rules and Requirements

1. The entrant must be an NDPC member.

2. The entrant must submit two versions of the main logo.

One logo should spell out North Dakota Professional Communicators
One logo can be the NDPC acronym

3. The entrant must create four district logos that complement the NDPC logo. The four districts are:

Fargo-Moorhead Professional Communicators
Minot Area Professional Communicators
Prairie Communicators
Valley MarComm

4. All assets should be submitted as both:

PNG (for online applications)
PDF (for print applications)

5. The logo(s) should work well on apparel, merchandise, digital and print platforms, including:

Merchandise (mugs, T-shirts, etc.)
Digital (website, ads, social media)
Print (business cards, letterhead, brochures)

6. The entrant must submit a branded document or booklet that contains guidelines on logo usage. It should include basic standards for use of the below identity elements.

NDCP Logo
District Logos
Color Palette
Typography

7. The contest winner must release the logo rights to NDPC and agree to receive no additional compensation.

NDCP Logo
District Logos
Color Palette
Typography

8. If any of the above rules are not followed or requirements are not met, your entry will be disqualified.

Logo Contest Submission Checklist

North Dakota Professional Communicators Logo PNG
North Dakota Professional Communicators Logo PDF
NDPC Logo PNG
NDPC Logo PDF
Fargo-Moorhead Professional Communicators Logo PNG
Fargo-Moorhead Professional Communicators Logo PDF
Minot Area Professional Communicators Logo PNG
Minot Area Professional Communicators Logo PDF
Prairie Communicators Logo PNG
Prairie Communicators Logo PDF
Valley MarComm Logo PNG
Valley MarComm Logo PDF
Logo Usage Guidelines PDF

The NDPC board will vote on entries at the Spring Board Meeting on April 22. The winner will be announced at the end of the NDPC Conference on April 23. Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to seeing your entries!

NDPC offering scholarship to area college students

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 20:56:39 GMT

North Dakota Professional Communicators is again offering area college students the opportunity to apply for the $500 Marion J. Piper Scholarship. Any student enrolled in at least a two-year college or university in North Dakota, or at Minnesota State University Moorhead or Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn., is eligible to apply.

The scholarship honors Marion Piper Sullivan, a former NDPC member and noted North Dakota writer, editor and historian. She died of cancer in 1969.

Learn more about the scholarship and download an application at https://www.aboutndpc.org/page-18079.

2021 NDPC Communications Contest is open

Tue, 13 Oct 2020 14:51:08 GMT

It’s time to start thinking about the work you've created this year as entries are now being accepted for the 2021 NDPC Communications Contest! The NDPC Communications Contest is a great way to showcase your best work.

You will be recognized at the NDPC Spring Conference and all first-place winners will advance to the NFPW National Communications Contest.

The contest is open to writers, authors, copy editors, public affairs professionals, photographers, publishers, and others in the communications field.

Click here to see the list of categories: https://nfpwcontest.secure-platform.com/a/organizations/nd/home

Deadlines:
Early Bird Deadline is January 27, 2021
Book Final Deadline is February 3, 2021
Final Deadline for all other entries is February 10, 2021

Fees:
Entries submitted before January 28: $25 for first entry, $5 for each additional entry

Entries submitted after January 28: $50 for first entry, $5 for each additional entry

Eligibility:
All work must have been created or published in 2020 to be eligible.

According to NDPC bylaws, you must have a NFPW membership to enter the Communications Contest.

- Patience Mosbrucker, NDPC 2nd Vice President

NDPC launches virtual professional development

Tue, 29 Sep 2020 20:55:24 GMT

NDPC will offer virtual sessions until the COVID-19 situation improves. The goal is to offer approximately two sessions per month until it is safe to meet in person. The first few virtual sessions will be free for ALL NDPC members at the national, state and local levels. After that, you will be required to hold at least a state level membership ($30 per year) to attend for free. Local and non-members will be required to pay a registration fee. Registration instructions will be emailed from District Directors prior to each session.

If you would like to upgrade your membership, you can do so online at http://www.aboutndpc.org/join.html. You will receive the remainder of 2020 for free and your payment will be applied to your 2021 membership.

One of the benefits of doing professional development this way is being able to tap into the talented communicators from across the entire state. NDPC is grateful to all the speakers who have agreed to present to our membership.

2020 NFPW Communications Contest and COA Awards

Tue, 09 Jun 2020 20:06:57 GMT

Congratulations to NDPC members who won awards in the 2020 NFPW Communications Contest on June 6. NDPC had another great showing in the first-ever online 2020 NFPW contest awards ceremony themed, “Where Diamonds Shine.” Recipients will receive their certificates via mail in a couple weeks. NDPC will recognize all of our winners on our social media platforms in the coming weeks.

NFPW will honor Communicator of Achievement nominees at a virtual ceremony on Saturday, June 20, at 6 p.m. Eastern. Please consider attending to honor our COA, Danielle Teigen! To RSVP, email NFPW headquarters at info@nfpw.org by June 12. They will send you a link and password.

Two college students receive NDPC scholarships

Fri, 17 Apr 2020 21:30:25 GMT

Two area college students have been awarded $500 scholarships from North Dakota Professional Communicators to assist in their academic endeavors in the future.

Kali Berlinger, a junior at Minnesota State University Moorhead, and Micayla Bitz, a sophomore at Concordia College, each received a $500 Marion J. Piper Scholarship. The award is named in honor of a longtime NDPC member who died in 1969.

Berlinger is majoring in integrated advertising and public relations with a minor in media analysis and mass communications. Berlinger is actively involved in the MSUM chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America, and she plans to use her degree in a communication role that allows her to use new and emerging social media platforms to connect effectively with audiences. She is originally from Morris, Minn.

Bitz is a member of Lambda Pi Eta, a communicator honor society, and she serves as president of the Concordia chapter of College Democrats. She’s also putting her communication skills to use as a fundraising assistant with the community engagement team of a local nonprofit organization. Bitz is majoring in communication studies with a minor in English and political science. She plans to use her degree in a communications career that allows her to “make a difference” and help “make the world a better place.” Bitz is originally from Mandan, N.D.

The Marion J. Piper Scholarship is open to any students enrolled at a North Dakota college or university, or Concordia College or Minnesota State University Moorhead in Minnesota.

One month until the 2019 spring conference! Registration closes March 8

Sun, 24 Feb 2019 21:41:19 GMT

March is upon us and that means the 2019 NDPC Spring Conference will be here before we know it!

We have finalized our speaker list, and we are excited to have four fantastic presentations to offer attendees. As a reminder, our speakers include:

Kimberly Jondahl, who will present "Enhancing Mindfulness in the Workplace" with tips for practicing mindfulness at work, as well as provide real-life professional examples of how to incorporate mindfulness into your programs, customer service, marketing, word choices, and public spaces.
Monica Hannan will discuss “Authenticity: The Key to Communication”. There are all kinds of ways to get your message across. You can go the formal route, which is safe, or you can go out on a limb and let your personality and life story come into play. Hannan is an Emmy-Award-winning news manager, television anchor and talk show host at NBC affiliate, KFYR-TV, in Bismarck, N.D.
Rob Keller will present "How to Survive a Media Crisis … When You (Or Your Agency) Become the Story?" His presentation revolves around three major themes: planning, preparation, and execution. When you set the conditions early it can lead to not only individuals thriving in chaos, but organizational resilience after the fact.
Ed Sargeant, Steph Scheurer, and Derek Milner from Agency MABU will present "What's in it for me?” Understanding Your Audience. In a world with instant-everything and short attention spans, how can you capture your audience’s attention to deliver your message? will guide you through our strategic marketing process, help you decipher the tools, and provide examples to help you achieve purposeful communication.

Before our speakers share their knowledge, we will hold our annual membership meeting at 9 a.m. This is an opportunity for you to learn more about the organization, who serves in various roles and elect officers for 2019-2020. Our first speaker will begin at 10 a.m. and we will be wrapped up around 3:30 to allow people time to travel. A full schedule has been posted on the conference page.

Your conference registration also includes the banquet on Thursday night. The banquet is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Radisson, and the event will highlight member milestones, our communicator of achievement as well as the results of the communications contest. We will be sending an email to all attendees after registration closes on March 8 to ask for a headcount regarding the banquet because it is a plated meal (which is included in the registration cost).

If you have any questions regarding the upcoming event, please don't hesitate to reach out to me at danielle.teigen@gmail.com.

As a reminder, our conference is possible due to the generosity of our sponsors: Forum Communications, Bell Bank, MDU Resources Group, The Skrive, Click Content Studios, Odney and Lou Richardson.

-Danielle Teigen, NDPC President

Call for 2019 Communicator of Achievement Nominations

Thu, 03 Jan 2019 20:45:15 GMT

Communicator of Achievement is the highest honor NDPC can bestow upon one of its members. The COA award is presented annually to a member of NDPC and the National Federation of Press Women (NFPW) who has distinguished him- or herself within and beyond his or her profession.

NDPC’s honoree advances to the NFPW competition, where COA judging is based on professional achievement, community service, and service to NFPW and NDPC.

Is there a fellow NDPC member whom you look up to or who you feel embodies the professional values and achievements of a communications leader? If so, now is your opportunity to nominate that person for the 2019 Communicator of Achievement Award.

Please submit nominations to Pam Gibb at pgibb@moorheadschools.org.

The deadline for submissions is Jan. 7.

Don’t wait until last minute to enter the 2019 communications contest

Mon, 03 Dec 2018 19:59:46 GMT

The deadline for entering the 2019 NFPW communication contest seems like a long way off, but it will be here before you know it. Remember: You can save $25 if you enter before midnight in your time zone on Jan. 9, 2019. The contest deadline is midnight Jan. 15 for books and Jan. 22 for all other entries.

But don’t wait until the last minute to start gathering entries.

“I have found it much easier to jot down prospects day to day and retrieve PDFs of newspaper tearsheets from the Hub archives once or twice a month than to try to find everything all at once just ahead of an entry deadline,” says NFPW member Lori Potter.

The reporter, photographer and columnist for the Kearney (Neb.) Hub is a pro at entering the NFPW communications contest. She has received the national sweepstakes award four times, including 2018.

Here are her tips for selecting and organizing work to enter in the contest:

Set aside good stuff early by starting a “2019 Contest Options” folder. When retrieving PDFs of your work to put in the folder, save a digital copy of the version actually published in print or online. Also save original digital images for photos.
Label each file with the date, topic (column, feature, news story, series) and a topic, name, place, etc., so it’s easy to find later.
Read the contest category descriptions to understand the judging criteria for each. Take note of categories that require a statement and the topics that must be addressed in that statement.
Keep an old-fashioned clipbook with page tearsheets and dated clips of everything published with your byline or photo credit. I start selecting contest entries by reviewing the clipbook. The contest options folder can be used in the same way.
Use a legal pad, laptop or tablet to list categories you might want to enter, leaving lots of space between category headers. Starting with January, I write the date and topic or headline of a story, photo, etc., I think fits a category. If something fits more than one category, I write the information under all of the categories.
After selecting entries, go into the contest options folder and change PDF labels so they now start with the category-subcategory number, letter and description. For example: 1.A. News story 7-13-18 storm damage.
Consolidate the start and jump pages for each story into one PDF, and size original photos to the contest limit. Then move the prepped PDFs, JPEGs, links, etc., into a “2019 Contest Entries” folder.

“I prefer to enter everything at once after all entries are sized, labeled and ready in the ‘entries’ folder,” Potter says. “The system also works for entries submitted over time, as long as nothing is moved to the ‘entries’ folder until it’s correctly prepped.”

The contest is two-tiered competition. You compete at the state level first. The contest has an at-large section for entrants from states without an affiliate-level contest and for international entries.

First-place winners at the state level are eligible to move on to the NFPW contest. Some states allow nonmembers to enter at the state level, then join NFPW if they win first place. Other state contests are open to members only, so make sure to check the rules in your state.

Winners in multiple categories are eligible for sweepstakes awards. Sweepstakes awards come with a cash prize at the national level.
NFPW member Gordon Hesse of Delaware says the contest definitely is worth the effort to enter.

He spent three-plus years researching, interviewing and taking photos for his nonfiction historical book, “Island Beach – a Sonnet in the Sands.” Some of the photos took nearly a year to capture, and others had to be taken when the seasons were right. The book also had to go through editorial honing, and layout and design, and he had to write captions for the photos.
He entered it in the contest because he wanted to see if it was worthy of recognition. It was: It won first place at the state and national level.

Visit https://nfpw.org/professional-contest-2/ for contest rules and categories.

Registration for the 2019 NDPC Spring Conference is open!

Tue, 06 Nov 2018 01:51:02 GMT

The NDPC board is excited to announce our 2019 spring conference will be held Friday, March 29 at the Radisson Hotel in Bismarck!

We are looking forward to bringing the conference closer to our western North Dakota members, although we hope all of you will be able to join us, no matter where you live.

Our theme is keeping us focused on providing you with speakers who can help us create mindful messages for our various audiences. We want you to leave the event with fresh ideas for how to offer effective and insightful communications. We already have two speakers lined up, and we'll be sharing with you who those speakers are in the coming weeks.

We'll recognize members and the 2019 NDPC Communications Contest award winners on Thursday, March 28 during the banquet.

If you’d like to register now, the early bird rate for members is $75 and is good until Dec. 14. Register online now. Non-members can attend for $125 (or join NDPC at the state level and register for the conference at the member rate). You can book a hotel room online at the conference rate of $95 using the code PSCS19 or call 800-333-3333.

We look forward to seeing you in March in Bismarck!

- Danielle Teigen, NDPC President

4 Ways Communications Professionals Can Supercharge Their Summer

Wed, 20 Jun 2018 00:45:34 GMT

When we were children, summer meant enjoying freedom from school schedules, soaking up every ray of sunshine possible, and enjoying ice cream treats in the heat of the day.

As professionals, we’re expected to continue toiling away like business as usual (pun intended). Just because you don’t get to take a 3-month hiatus from your job doesn’t mean you can’t put the summer to work for you.

Here are four ideas for how you can maximize summer and supercharge your career:

Volunteer. Giving back to people is an immediate mood booster, but you can also search for opportunities that match your professional skills with your altruistic instincts. Great at coaching public speakers? Volunteer at a non-profit that specializes in preparing people for interviews. You’ll get to help people as well as put your knowledge to good use.
Network. Golf is not a game for everyone, but the summer offers too many opportunities to participate in golfing events not to at least take advantage of one. Your putting skills may be lacking, but you can put your networking skills to good use by meeting new people. Even if you don’t make immediate business contacts, you’ll at least get a good dose of Vitamin D.
Put technical skills to work. People plan a ton of events for the summer, especially around here because beautiful summer weather is fleeting. Offer your design or photography skills to a family member or friend hosting an event so you can keep your skills sharp. Plus, it could lead to paying work later. If nothing else, you’ll have additional material for your portfolio of work.
Plan playtime. Everyone wants to take vacation at some point during the summer. You can be especially on your game by coordinating with your supervisor to ensure your team can continue operating at its maximum by not leaving the country for two weeks at the same time your boss does. Your thoughtfulness will also endear you to those who look up to you for guidance.

- Danielle Teigen, NDPC President

How to Effectively and Efficiently Create Compelling Content with Corey Perlman

Mon, 04 Jun 2018 23:43:33 GMT

As communicators and marketers, we all know we need content. But how do you break through the clutter and truly capture attention?

Traditionally, many content creators have relied on partnerships and constituents to share their content, but these methods aren’t always reliable. To take back control, Corey Perlman provides the following tips:

Look beyond the surface on social media channels. For example, take advantage of Facebook groups. You can bypass challenges with traditional engagement by using this powerful aspect of the platform.

Find “social media ready” followers. Do you have fans of your brand or organization with a wide sphere of influence? Tap into their audiences. Tag people and businesses in photos, and make sure to use their hashtags.

Take advantage of newsjacking. When you can react to breaking news very quickly with credible backup content, your audience (and the media) will pay attention.

Personalize your brand. Use your content to answer simple, frequently asked questions to simplify complex topics related to your company’s products and services.

Meta data matters. If your content lives on a website and you expect it to be found by search engines, make sure you are using proper meta data, including title tags and meta descriptions.

The bottom line? Your content is a powerful resource, but it shouldn’t be used to directly “sell.” Whether you’re promoting a product or gathering support for your organization’s mission, use your content to educate, and seek to be a resource for your audiences. Take advantage of testimonials and case studies. The rest will follow.

How to Create Comprehensive Content that Outranks Your Competition

Wed, 09 May 2018 02:37:40 GMT

Content marketing is all the rage in the marketing world lately. We create and create and create … and no one pays attention. What gives?

For Ben Sailer, blog editor at CoSchedule, it’s not about just creating great content. It’s about creating comprehensive content. ”Comprehensive content give your audience all the information they’re looking for in one place,” says Sailer.

But how do you do this? Enter the CRAP model (seriously, stick with us).

C – Complete

Comprehensive content has to be complete. It must include information and resources none of your competition can match. This may include videos, images or extra free resources. It also means taking a look at what is missing from the existing content on the web.

Sailer encourages use of the Skyscraper method. Look at the top 10 search results for a given keyword or topic you want to rank for. Then find a way to make it something 10 times better.

R – Research Backed

Comprehensive content does your audience’s work for them. It gives all the background and goes beyond Google to do the research. Further, it doesn’t rely on assumption, but is instead backed by data and insight.

A – Actionable
Comprehensive content allows you to show your audience how to do something, not just tell them. Actionable content could include an instructional video, a step-by-step guide, a link to additional content on your site or a downloadable user’s guide.

Further, think about how these action steps can help drive conversion. Tell your audience clearly what your product does and how it can help them to act. Give your audience all the information they need so they don’t have to leave to get the information somewhere else.

P – Performance Driven
Comprehensive content needs to be performance-driven.

Scope out competitor’s content with a high number of social shares
Use keyword search tools to gauge search interest (Keyword planner, Moz, etc.)
Listen to customer and audience feedback
Use Google Analytics to determine which content has performed well in the past
Check Google auto-complete suggestions
See if any related search suggestions appear for your perspective topic

By following this method, organizations can work to create comprehensive, long-term content that gives their clients and prospects everything they need to know. Further, Sailer encourages organizations to use this model beyond content marketing. Can you apply this to your website? Can people get everything they need when they need it from your website? If not, how do you create a more comprehensive experience?

Click here to see Ben's slide deck.