Our Board & Advisory Committee
Driven to advocate for and support women business owners, our board and committee members tirelessly volunteer their time, skills, and connections to amplify the impact women business owners have in their businesses and beyond.
Board of Directors
The NDWBC Board of Directors is dedicated to guiding the organization with a clear focus on fulfilling our mission and goals. With their diverse industries and statewide presence, they ensure program effectiveness, secure necessary financial resources, and maintain robust financial oversight, fulfilling the fiduciary responsibility to protect and manage NDWBC’s assets. Their responsibilities include selecting and supporting an Executive Director, participating actively in strategic planning, and upholding legal and ethical standards. They emphasize building a competent board and enhancing our public standing. Board members are expected to represent NDWBC, attend at least 80% of meetings, participate in programs, and respond promptly to information requests. In return, NDWBC provides essential information, training, program updates, and professional engagement. By meeting these commitments, board members contribute to NDWBC’s success and governance.
Kathy Cochran
Board Chair
FOUNDER, ELEVATE2 CONSULTING, LLC – FARGO, ND
Kathy Cochran is a founding partner of Elevate2 Consulting, LLC, an organization which provides management coaching and advisory services. She is interested in advocating for women entrepreneurs and working to break down systemic processes and practices to better support women. As a grandmother herself, Kathy is looking to create generational change for women in business.
Emily O’Brien
Vice Chair
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, BIOSCIENCE ASSOCIATION OF NORTH DAKOTA – GRAND FORKS, ND
Representative of the North Dakota Legislature serving District 42 Emily O’Brien, a native of Lakeville, Minnesota, a graduate of the University of North Dakota in Entrepreneurship and Business Management, and is currently pursuing her Master’s in Entrepreneurship. A few of the many organizations she works with and boards she serves on include, Gamma Phi Beta Sorority, Dakota Venture Group (the nation’s first student venture capital fund). Emily is a Sanford University Innovation Fellow.
Emily has a passion for helping startups and nonprofits, investing, event planning, and working with others. Emily strives to help businesses grow and develop and to learn all that she can. She is strongly driven to giving her best to the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Kodee Furst
Director
DIRECTOR OF 50 SOUTH CAPITAL – DICKINSON, ND
Kodee’s life’s focus is grounded in supporting women and solving big problems. In addition to NDWBC, she currently serves on the Boards for North Dakota’s LIFT Fund and Emerging Prairie and is a Founding Partner for North Dakota’s Women’s Entrepreneurship Week. After graduating from NDSU, she moved out of state and traveled across the country, but found her way back to North Dakota in 2015. She resides in Dickinson with her husband, Matt, and their son, Dane.
Dr. Susan Mathison
Director
FOUNDER, CATALYST MEDICAL CENTER & SPA – FARGO, ND
Dr. Susan Mathison, founder of Catalyst Medical Center in Fargo, is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the FM area, including Essentia Health Fargo and Sanford Medical Center Fargo. She has been instrumental in building up Fargo’s entrepreneur ecosystem activities, partnering with CTB on Women’s Startup Weekend and was sharing her experiences as a panelist for Leading Ladies Luncheon. Dr. Sue enjoys expertise in navigating partnerships, diversifying funding options, and board leadership. She is a strong support of North Dakota Women’s Business Center, especially in the Greater Fargo Area.
Teran Doerr
Director
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR BOWMAN COUNTY – BOWMAN, ND
Born and raised in a small town in South Dakota, Teran has a heart for rural. She completed her Bachelor’s in Business Administration at the University of Mary and is raising three children with her husband in Bowman, North Dakota. Her driven personality and passion for making a difference have always led her towards taking on new things with enthusiasm. She’s passionate about her family, faith, work, community, goals, health, relationships, music and living her best life.
Teran is the Executive Director of Economic Development for Bowman County, serves on the Economic Development Association of North Dakota Board, and is Chair of the North Dakota Rural Development Council.
BRISELDA HERNANDEZ
Director
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SOURIS BASIN PLANNING COUNCIL – MINOT, ND
Briselda Hernandez serves as the Executive Director for Souris Basin Planning Council, a North Dakota nonprofit that supports communities, leaders, and entrepreneurs to advance economic progress for North Dakota Region 2. She has over 10 years of supporting small businesses throughout the region.
Briselda graduated from the University of San Diego with a Bachelor of Business Administration and earned a Master of Public Administration from the University of North Dakota. Briselda is passionate about building an equitable region and state. She defines economic development as creating an economy in which all have a fair opportunity to participate, prosper and reach their full potential.
Lindsey Rath-Wald
Director
PRIVATE BANKER FOR FIRST INTERNATIONAL BANK AND TRUST – BISMARCK, ND
As a Private Banking Officer at First International Bank & Trust in Mandan, ND, her passion for supporting and promoting women business owners extends beyond banking. Recognizing the challenges faced as a woman in a male-dominated industry, she empathizes with the struggles encountered by women in various fields. Lindsey’s ultimate goal is to advocate for these women, ensuring their challenges are acknowledged and addressed. An active supporter of the North Dakota Women’s Business Center, she strives to contribute to their efforts in making a positive impact on the communities they serve.
Advisory Committee
At NDWBC, we prioritize making programming decisions based on real-time input from owners, shareholders, and clients. This approach ensures our initiatives are relevant and impactful. During our quarterly meetings, we engage in an in-depth discussion with our diverse committee of experts. This committee includes business owners, industry stakeholders, and valued clients who provide a wide range of perspectives. Our goal is to understand and anticipate the upcoming trends and challenges facing small businesses. By collaborating with this knowledgeable group, we aim to stay ahead of the curve and tailor our programs to meet the evolving needs of the small business community. This proactive strategy helps us support small businesses more effectively, ensuring they thrive in a dynamic market environment.
Angela Barber
Adventure Academy | Dickinson
Ashton Hauff
The Good Kids | Bismarck
Shannon Michels
Karma Convenience Stores & Pinks Bar & Grill | Minot
Kate Rutten
L3Harris Technologies | Fargo
Tanya Lee
Tanya Lee LLC & Fénix Flame Villas | Rugby
Sadie Schaeffer
Emerging Prairie | Fargo
Sandi Luck
Bully Brew & ND Coffee Roastery | Grand Forks