Cal Klewin, Executive Director
Cal Klewin, the Executive Director of the Theodore Roosevelt Expressway, is a native of Bowman, North Dakota. Prior to this position, he was the Executive Director of the Bowman County Development Corporation for 15 years. While serving at that role in Bowman County, a population of 3242, he was instrumental in many projects ranging from small family-type businesses to corporate expansions. He has recruited energy companies and assisted them in expansion of their facilities. He was also involved in the start-up and subsequent expansion of Erickson’s Meat, a USDA inspected meat- processing facility. He assisted Paulson Premium Seed and Conditioning with expansions. They export to world markets from Bowman, North Dakota. Mr. Klewin was also involved in the development of the Bowman Multi-Purpose Building and other civic projects to enhance the quality of life of residents.
Transportation has been an important element in economic development efforts and while serving in economic development capacities, Cal was very active in the promotion of the Can-Am Hiway Association which promoted trade and travel throughout Canada and the plains state’s of the United States. Working with Local, State and Federal officials to promote the awareness and potential of economic impacts that Corridor Infrastructure can have to a region has been a focus of Mr. Klewin.
Cal also is the past chairperson for the North Dakota High School Finals Rodeo, which has been held in Bowman for many years. Cal’s work encompasses the energy, tourism, retail, manufacturing, transportation and value-added agriculture industries.
He is also a past president of the Bowman Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the Rhame American Legion as well as other civic organizations. Cal is a United States Army Veteran. He has been in property management for 25 years and is a licensed real estate broker in North Dakota, and has had real estate transactions in South Dakota and Montana for residential, commercial, and agriculture properties. He and his wife, Peggy, also own and operate an Angus cattle operation in Bowman, North Dakota.
Mark Sovig, Arnegard, ND
Mark Sovig owns and operates Timber Creek Land Resources Company, a professional land company providing title research, examination and curative; leasehold checks; and lease and right of way acquisition services in the Williston Basin. He is a 1984 graduate of North Dakota State University with a Bachelors of Science degree in Agricultural Economics and an Industrial Engineering emphasis on program and project management.
Mark began his service on the Theodore Roosevelt Expressway Association Board of Directors as its Vice President in October 2008. Prior to his entry into the energy industry, his career included 18 years at Regional Development Councils as an Economic Development Planner and then as Executive Director where he had been involved with Ports-to-Plains since 2004 and worked to develop the TRE Association. He currently serves on the boards of the McKenzie County Job Development Authority, Region I & VIII Community Action Partnership, and Missouri View Heights Housing Corporation.
Mark has also been active in several civic, regional and state boards and organizations including: North Dakota Planning Association, ND DOT Strategic Statewide Transportation Forum, Williston State College Strategic Planning Committee, Williston Extension and Research Center Planning Committee, NW ND Tech Prep Advisory Board, MonDak Agricultural Open Planning Committee, Arnegard Lion’s Club and Wilmington Lutheran Church. He is a member of the American Association of Professional Landmen and the Landman’s Association of North Dakota. He and his wife Nadine are third generation residents of his family farm in rural McKenzie County.
Dr. Brad Bekkedahl, Williston, ND
Brad Bekkedahl, City Commissioner for Williston, North Dakota, began his service on the Ports-to-Plains Board of Directors in October 2008, following the Cooperative Agreement between Ports-to-Plains and Theodore Roosevelt Expressway. Brad was born and raised in Williston, where he was an honor society graduate of Williston High School. He attended Jamestown College in North Dakota where he received a bachelor's degree (Magna Cum Laude) in biology and minored in chemistry and sociology. Brad then furthered his education at the University of Minnesota where he received his DDS degree in 1984 in dental surgery.
Brad was appointed as a Reserve Commissioned Army Officer Captain, Dental Corps, USAR from 1996-2002. His assignments included AMEDD in Fort Sam Houston and 82nd Airborne, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He continues to serve in the North Dakota Army National Guard where he has served since 2002. Brad served active duty from 2005-2006 on Operation Iraqi Freedom at Camp Adder, Tallil, Iraq.
Awards Brad has received during his years of service include the NDNG State Training Ribbon; NDNG Commendation Medal; Army Service Ribbon; Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M Device; Iraq Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal; Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal; Global War on Terrorism Medal; Army Achievement Medal; Army Commendation Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal.
Brad is also involved with several civic, state, and national organizations: Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Williston, ND, Charter Member since 1960, Past Congregation President; Northern Lights Council, Boy Scouts of America, Executive Committee Member; North Dakota Amateur Hockey Association, Vice President 1987-1994, President 1994-1999; USA Hockey (National Organization Director, Board of Directors 1999-present, Director, Executive Committee 2007-present; Williston City Commission, 1996-present, Finance Commissioner, 1996-present; Williston Basin RC& D Council, Vice-President 1998-present; Tri-County Regional Development Council, Board Member 1998-present; North Dakota Highway 2 Committee, President 1996-present; North Dakota DOT Strategic Statewide Transportation Forum, Committee Member, Highways Sub-Committee; Theodore Roosevelt Expressway, Director 2006-present; and North Dakota Oil & Gas Producing Counties, Executive Committee, 2001-present, President 2005-2007.
Gaylon Baker, Dickinson, ND
Gaylon has been the Executive Vice President of the Stark Development Corporation since 1995. He was the President/Chief Operating Officer of the Greater Downtown Council in Duluth, MN, from 1989 to 1995. He also served as the Executive Director of the South Central Dakota Regional Planning/Resource Conservation and Development Council in Jamestown, ND, from 1985 to 1989. He graduated from Jamestown High School in 1971, from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, with a B.S. in Geography in 1979, and from the North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, with an M.S. in Communty and Regional Planning in 1982. He has received the Governor's Choice Award, Professional Developer of the Year, 2004, and Greater North Dakota Association, Business and Industrial Development Award, 1999.
His interests including hunting, restoring antique cars, feeding his horses, and making hay. His family includes being Grandpa to a baby boy, and has four kids and a great wife.
Gene Veeder, Watford City, ND
Gene Veeder serves as Executive Director of the McKenzie County Job Development Authority and Tourism Bureau in Watford City, North Dakota and has held that position since 1994. He graduated from the University of North Dakota and holds an MS in Administration from Central Michigan University.
Veeder has worked as an advocate for rural economic development policy and funding programs within the community and state and currently serves as the President of the Theodore Roosevelt Expressway Association. During his time as JDA Director, Watford City was chosen as a pilot site for Centers for Excellence in Rural America and McKenzie County developed one of the first technology based economies in the rural Midwest. His community also participated in first extensive Renaissance Zone project in rural North Dakota and the community continues to be a planning and implementation model for economic development and community development in rural America. He has a diverse background in education, public relations, finance, agriculture and planning. Veeder was chosen as the Governor’s Choice Economic Developer of the Year as well as the Association of Counties Excellence in County Award and is the past President of the Economic Development Association of North Dakota. He serves on a number of community boards which include board member for the McKenzie County Rural Water Resource District.
Gene and his wife, Beth, have three grown daughters and operate a ranch in the badlands of McKenzie County.
Bruce Houle, Culbertson, MT
Bruce is the owner of Culbertson Agency, and is also the President of the Culbertson Chamber of Commerce. He and his wife, Suzette, reside in Culbertson, MT.
Terry Johnson, Belfield, ND
Terry is currently the Vice-President and loan officer at the Great Plains National Bank in Belfield and has held his position since July 1997. He is the President of the Belfield Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of Community Development and Agricultural Committee and is the current Secretary for the Belfield Housing Authority, as well as other civic organizations. Terry graduated from Fairview, MT, high school in 1973, attended Dickinson State College from 1973 to 1975, and received a B.S. Degree from Montana State University in Bozeman, MT, in 1981, with a Major in Animal Science, and a Minor in Agricultural Business. He also attended National Consumer Lending School at the University of Oklahoma, the Midwest Banking Institute, University of Minnesota - Morris - 1987-1988, and the Pacific Coast Graduate Banking School, University of Washington, from 1993 to 1995. He and his wife, Elaine, have 4 children. His hobbies include riding horse, team roping, hunting, and chasing kids.
Blaise Emerson
Mr. Emerson is the Executive Director of the Black Hills Council of Local Governments and Black Hills Community Economic Development, Inc. Both organizations serve western South Dakota in improving the vitality of region through economic and community development activities.
He has 15 years of experience in community development throughout the Black Hills region of South Dakota. He has been the Assistant Planning Director for the City of Rapid City and the Community Development Director for the City of Custer prior to joining the Black Hills Council of Local Governments.
He received a Master Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Oregon and a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from North Dakota State University. He serves on a number of regional boards and is active in several civic originations. He and his wife Carmie have two daughters, Elli and Leah.