NDACo Annual Conference

MARK YOUR CALENDAR! The 2025 NDACo Annual Conference will be held October 26-28.

Step right up to the County Fair: 50 Years of Community for a nostalgic, hometown celebration packed with laughter, comfort food, and county pride. From gingham and mason jars to funnel cakes and fair games, this golden anniversary brings the heart of North Dakota’s counties to life like never before.

ROOM BLOCKS: We do not reserve room blocks. Please choose the hotel you desire, and when you make your reservations, ask for the State Rate. The Bis/Man CVB has an excellent list of hotels at noboundariesnd.com/where-to-stay/hotels. Click on the Lodging Comparison Chart to compare amenities.

Online registration will close October 10.

2025 rates:*

  • Full Conference - $270
  • One day - $195
  • First-time Attendee - $165
*Registration after October 10, including on-site registrations will be assessed an additional $50.

AGENDA

SUNDAY, Oct 26

3:00-6:15 Registration Desk Open

3:00-5:00 County Recorders Association Meeting – Upper Level Prairie Rose Room 104

4:00-5:00 Load Pass Meeting – Upper Level Prairie Rose Room 103

5:00-6:15 Welcoming Social – Upper Level Atrium
 

MONDAY, Oct 27

7:00-6:30 Registration Desk Open

7:00-8:15 Continental Grab-n-Go Breakfast – Main Level Hall A

7:30-3:30 NDDOT County Meetings Room PR 106 next to elevator on main level. 

8:20-10:00 Opening General Session – Main Level Hall A

  • Welcome Messages
  • EICG Awards
  • Keynote Speaker: Adrianne Haslet, Boston Marathon bombing survivor 

10:00-12:00 Exhibit Hall Networking Break – Main Level Halls B & C

10:45-12:00 Nationwide Committee Meeting (Committee Members Only) – Upper Level Prairie Rose Room 104

12:00-12:45 Lunch – Main Level Hall A

  • ILG Awards
  • Scholarship Presentations

1:00-2:15 Workshop Block (3 Concurrent Sessions)

Tentatively working on:

- When Disaster Strikes...ND Counties Respond

This workshop will focus on two recent disasters in North Dakota with wildfires and tornados that claimed lives and destroyed an immense amount of property. Hear about the response efforts and lessons learned. 

Jesse Jahner, Cass County Sheriff  

Karolin Jappe, McKenzie County Emergency Manager  

Chauncy Schultz, National Weather Service 

- PERS Retirement Plan Updates

NDPERS representatives will give an overview of legislation passed during the 2025 legislative session that impacted the Public Safety Plan.  A brief update regarding the elected county officials conflict will also be discussed, along with an update on the resolution.

- NACo Research and Advocacy: Counties Preparing for Federal Funding Changes

Attendees will learn how federal budget changes are affecting county budgets and what to expect next.

Barbara Frydenlund, Nurse Administrator-Rolette County 

Jonathon Harris, Associate Director of Research, Counties Futures Lab-NACo  

Joan Hollekim, Mountrail County Commissioner & NDCCA President 

Zeke Lee, Legislative Director, Public Lands and Western Interstate Region-NACo

2:15-3:15 Exhibit Hall Networking Break – Main Level Halls B & C

3:15-4:45 ALL COMMISSIONERS: NDCCA Business Meeting – Upper Level Prairie Rose Room 105

3:15-4:45 Member Association Meetings (Recorders begin 3:00)

4:45-5:15 NDACo Board of Directors Meeting – Upper Level Prairie Rose Room 102

5:15-6:30 Exhibit Hall Networking Social – Main Level Halls B & C

6:30-10:00 Dinner & Evening Entertainment – Main Level Hall A

 

Tuesday, Oct 28

7:15-2:15 Registration Desk Open

7:30-8:45 NDACo Delegate Council Meeting (Full breakfast for delegates only) – Main Level Hall A

7:30-3:45 NDDOT County Meetings – Room PR 106 next to elevator on main level. 

8:00-8:45 Continental Grab-n-go Breakfast – Upper Level Atrium

9:00-10:15 Workshop Block (3 Concurrent Sessions) Prairie Rose Rooms

Tentatively working on:

- Policy Strategies to Support Energy Growth

Join in this panel discussion to hear how counties have developed policies to support new energy interests like data centers and battery storage facilities. 

Alan Claus Anderson, Chair of Polsinelli’s National Energy Practice Group 

Randy Christmann, ND PSC Commissioner Christmann 

Don Flaherty, Dickey County Tax Director & Ellendale Mayor 

Chris Ollson, Ollson Environmental Health Management 

Melissa Vachal, Mountrail County Planning & Zoning

- Infrastructure Funding – The What, When and How 

There were many changes to transportation funding approved by the 69th Legislature.  Join the NDDOT and Office of the State Treasurer representatives as they navigate through the funding sources, like Prairie Dog, Flex Funds and grant opportunities for infrastructure projects for counties and townships. The experts will be in the room, so bring your questions.

Brandon Beise, PE-NDDOT Local Government Division 

Nicole Krivoruchka, Director of Finance-Office of State Treasurer  

- AI in County Government: Dos, Don'ts and How-Tos

Gain a clear understanding of what artificial intelligence actually is (and is not). Learn from NDIT's journey from policy creation to the implementation of AI-based productivity tools in non-technical terms and see how Cass County is employing AI. This session willl help you “wade into the waters” of using AI to make your county more efficient.  

Bob Henderson, Director of Technology-Cass County

Skyler Lunsford NDIT Enterprise Copilot Administrator 

Jason Anderson NDIT Data Insights & AI Manager  

 

10:15-10:30 Refreshment & Snack Break – Upper Level Atrium

10:30-11:45 Workshop Block (3 Concurrent Sessions)

Tentatively working on:

- Survival Stories of Budgeting in the New “Cap” Environment 

Attend this fueled conversation to learn how counties navigated their first budget cycle with the restrictive 3% cap. Hear the issues discovered, challenges in meeting local needs and results from panelists sharing their experiences.

Presenters TBA

- GIS Use Cases and Importance of Public Data 

NDACo GIS Program and NDIT Geospatial Program work together toward a common goal of sharing importance of GIS and answering the question of “Where does the data come from and why should it be public?” 

Kaitlyn Bakken, NDACo GIS Coordinator

Bob Nutsch, NDIT Geospatial Program Manager 

- Effective Talent Acquisition in a Competitive Market

The session will focus on better understanding the current talent market, understanding tools organizations should implement to create effective talent acquisition and employee retention program; increase candidate pools in a complex and challenging environment; improve your position as an organization of choice for current and potential employees.

Jason Sutheimer, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, CWP, HR Business Partner-ND Adjutant General  

 

12:00-2:00 Lunch and General Closing Workshop – Main Level Hall A

 - Dakota Daytrips with Cliff Naylor: Hear from the author himself, journeying and chronicling three books worth of North Dakota travel stories. It'll make you even more proud of your home state than you are now.

2:00 Grab-n-Go Snack

All events will happen at Bismarck Event Center

2025 Cancellation Policy:
  • Cancellations received on or before September 26 will not be charged.
  • Cancellations received after September 26 but on or before October 6 will be charged a $50 administrative fee.
  • Cancellations received after October 6, including no-shows, will be assessed the full registration fee.