2018 Communicator of Achievement Karen Stensrud
Karen Stensrud, vice president for content marketing strategy at Bell Bank, Fargo, has been selected as the 2018 Communicator of Achievement by the North Dakota Professional Communicators.
The group honored Stensrud at its annual spring conference in April at Fargo where she was recognized for her extraordinary accomplishments in the communications profession, her mentoring of young people in the field, and volunteer contributions to her community.
This spring marked the second time Stensrud has received this honor. She also was selected as NDPC's COA in 2010 and went on to be named the National Federation of Press Women's Communicator of Achievement that year.
In the NFPW 2013 Communications Contest, she earned the honor of being named national Sweepstakes winner.
At Bell Bank, Stensrud is responsible for leading a team primarily focused on writing, editing and videography to create content for corporate and executive communications, marketing and advertising, and media relations.
Before joining Bell Bank in 2004, Stensrud owned and operated "Words That Work," a one-woman marketing firm that provided award-winning writing, editing and graphic design of marketing materials for more than 70 businesses and non-profit organizations.
The Concordia College graduate, who earned a bachelor's degree in English writing, began her career as a reporter in Alexandria, Minn., and later worked as a marketing specialist for the former Dakota Medical Center in Fargo. Stensrud also holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in creating writing from Minnesota State University Moorhead.
An NFPW member since 1993, Stensrud has held numerous roles for the organization including High School Contest co-director, Education Fund Board member, parliamentarian and nominating committee chair, and co-planner and facilitator for the national board marketing plan.
For NDPC, Stensrud has served as president for three terms, board member, College Contest co-chair, and Southeast District co-chair.
Her volunteer efforts have benefited various community interests, including the Historic Fargo Theatre, the Women's Fund of the Fargo-Moorhead Area Foundation, Fargo Public Schools, the Women's Business Exchange, United Way of Cass-Clay, Olivet Lutheran Church, and the Fargo-Moorhead Humane Society.
