Minot Area Chamber EDC: You're halfway through your year as Board Chair. How would you summarize the first six months?

Jarid Lundeen: First, I just want to say something about Ryan Ackerman, who served as chair in 2025. I had the chance to watch him lead our board for a year knowing I was coming up next, and I learned a lot. The way he navigated meetings, kept the vision clear, stayed steady — he set a really high bar, and I'm grateful for his example.

As for my first six months — talk about insightful! I've always loved this city, but this role has given me a line of sight on the work happening here that I just didn't have before. The committees, the relationships, the projects in motion. I get this real inside look at just how many people are quietly grinding away for this place. They deserve to be celebrated for their hard work, because it’s paying off – and now Minot is in a unique moment.

MACEDC: Tell us more about that. What does that unique moment look like from where you're sitting?

JL: You know, I was born and raised here, been in business here for 26 years. And there's a groundswell of energy happening right now that I just haven't felt before. Young people who might have left a generation ago are choosing to stay and invest. The civic leadership in this community — the mayor, the city council, the people working behind the scenes every day — these are spectacular people. 

And then you look at what's on the horizon. North American Iron looks like it will be a generational project. A first-of-its-kind pig iron facility, right here in Minot, creating hundreds of new jobs. That's not a small thing. And it's not the only thing. The Sentinel ICBM upgrades coming to Minot Air Force Base will be huge for this region. And on top of that, we’re helping people move their commodities out of North Dakota to places all over the world at the Minot Intermodal Facility. We’re advocating for our business community and our military community at the State Capitol and in Washington, D.C. There are so many people working hard, keeping their foot on the gas, and it’s paying off right now. I think we’ll look back at 2026 and say, “Wow. That was a pivotal year for Minot.”

MACEDC: In March at the Minot Area Chamber EDC Annual Meeting, you described yourself as “bullish on Minot’s future.” How has your time as Chair influenced that feeling?

JL: You know, I've always been an optimist — that's just my personality. But I’m also a realist. When you work in a retail business, the real world barrels down on you, and you have to deal with that. You can have a positive outlook, but you also have to keep your checkbook balanced. So I think I look at these things with clear eyes.

Being the Board Chair for the Minot Area Chamber EDC allows me to “pop the hood” on Minot, so to speak. It’s a special opportunity. Not everybody gets to see the inner workings, but I get to do that, and what I see is a high-performing engine, powered by passionate civic leaders, amazing military leadership at Minot Air Force Base, and energized people who love this city and want to see it grow and succeed. High-caliber people doing high-caliber work. I would say I’m even more bullish today than I was in March!

MACEDC: You've been an Honorary Commander for more than 20 years. Has your role as Board Chair deepened your connection to the military mission in Minot?

JL: Absolutely. Some of the opportunities I’ve had this year will stick with me for a long time. I got to spend a day with the 91st Missile Wing. I spent a lot of time with Col. Jimmy Schlabach and his team and got to really understand a day in the life of a wing command-er. What I saw was some of the finest humans I’ve ever been around.

I recently had the chance to go with the North Dakota National Guard on their Boss Lift. I got to be in a Black Hawk helicopter, which was incredible. But even more spectacular than that was getting to know some of the National Guard members – local people who serve our nation and our state so well.

And of course, the Prairie Warrior Auction in April was a lot of fun this year. That’s such a high-energy event. I’m not someone who always enjoys public speaking, but it was fun getting out of my comfort zone a bit with such a supportive group of people. I’m pretty proud of the fact that we set a new fundraising record with more than $135,000 going to support Airmen at Minot Air Force Base.

MACEDC: Now that you’ve seen this organization from the inside, what do you want our member investors to know about the work they’re supporting?

JL: My dad always told me that when you’re in business in a community, you have to reinvest. Not just financially – you‘ve got to invest your time, your presence, your attention. The Chamber EDC is where that happens at scale. Every one of the MACEDC’s five pillars – economic development, community development, workforce development, member investor services, and military support – touches something real. The work of attracting talent, making sure site selectors for major projects look seriously at Minot, making sure our military families feel welcome. These things really matter.

I also believe the space that the Chamber EDC creates for networking and connection-building is crucial. We live in a world where you can get everything from hamburgers to undergarments delivered to your doorstep. Knowing that, there is nothing better than getting out of your shell, out of your social network, and stretching out and meeting new people. That engagement outside of your four walls might lead to something else, which might lead to something else.

We’re not Destin, Florida. We may not necessarily win because of our coastlines or our weather. We win because people around here have grit. We work hard and we keep grinding. The Chamber EDC is a big part of how we win as a community.

MACEDC: As we head into the second half of the year, what are you most energized about?

JL: For me, it’s the people. I keep coming back to that. I've started businesses, I've served on boards, I've been involved in this community my whole life — and the people I've gotten to work alongside are second to none. Brekka and her team, the energy they bring every single day, the way they juggle a hundred priorities and never lose sight of the mission and the vision — that's something to be grateful for.

Minot is an amazing community because of the people who have called it home. In every generation of our city’s history, we’ve answered the call. Today is no different. Our job as business owners is to lean into what makes Minot unique. I believe the rest of the world is starting to catch on to the huge potential of this place. Our future is bright! I can’t wait to look back on this time 20 years from now to see how far we’ve come.