Great Hall

Suggested for All Attendees

Join Community Action leaders, staff, and partners from South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming as the Region 8/CAPND Conference officially kicks off. This opening session will welcome attendees from across the region and feature keynote speaker Doug Peters presenting From Carrying the Weight to Leading the Way, an inspiring and thought-provoking session focused on leadership, resilience, teamwork, and the important work of Community Action.

Great Hall

Suggested for All Attendees

Denise Harlow, National Community Action Partnership

Cheryl Williams, NASCSP

Savanna Arral, CAPLAW

Hear directly from Community Action’s national partners as representatives from the National Community Action Partnership, NASCSP, and CAPLAW provide timely updates impacting agencies across the country. This session will highlight federal and national trends, policy developments, emerging opportunities, compliance considerations, and resources designed to strengthen Community Action work at the local level. Attendees will gain insight into the broader landscape shaping programs and services while connecting national priorities to day-to-day operations within Community Action Agencies.

Great Hall

Suggested for All Attendees

Join Community Action leaders from across Region 8 and the Nation for a panel discussion focused on the challenges, opportunities, and emerging trends shaping Community Action work today. Panelists will share perspectives on leadership, innovation, workforce realities, partnerships, service delivery, and the evolving needs of the communities we serve. Through guided discussion and shared experiences, attendees will gain insight into how agencies across Region 8 are adapting, collaborating, and working together to strengthen Community Action for the future.

Harvest Hall, Directors Room

Suggested for Executive Directors, Agency Leadership, Board Members, HR, and Financial Directors and Staff

Savanna Arral, CAPLAW

This workshop will address the legal issues that CAAs face under the human resources and financial operations and oversight directives of the CSBG Organizational Standards (Categories 7 and 8). We will discuss how CAAs can proactively implement procedures and ensure appropriate recordkeeping to be able to document compliance with these standards, as well as how these procedures may fit within a CAA’s existing policies. This session will also cover working with attorneys and the CAA’s governing body to ensure that each participant in the process is familiar with its roles and responsibilities in meeting the standards.  

Great Hall

Suggested for Executive Directors, Program Coordinators, Board Members, Agency Management, Data Practitioners. 

Maribeth Schneber-Rhemrev, CCAP, PMP, NCRT, National Community Action Partnership

Strong data capacity depends on more than technology—it requires accurate, complete, and well-integrated information that staff and leadership trust and use. This session explores how roles, routines, and leadership practices influence data quality and application, helping participants identify gaps, clarify responsibilities, and strengthen a culture where information reliably informs decisions and improves outcomes.

Embassy A & B

Suggested for All Attendees

Hugh Poole, NASCSP

Harvest Hall, Executive Room

Suggested for All Attendees

Fred Richmond, Center for Applied Management

Community Action Agencies are guided by ROMA principles and practices that support the delivery of services and strategies with the expectation of having a positive impact on the client, agency and community. This workshop will provide a guide and checklist for self-assessment to answer several fundamental questions: how well do we deliver services, and do we produce results? 

Harvest Hall Board Room

Suggested for Weatherization Attendees

Jake Nuckolls, Building Performance Center 

Harvest Hall Conference Room

Dave Gutterud, UND Environmental Training Institute 

Suggested for Weatherization Attendees

Addresses the electrical hazards present on nearly every weatherization job, from residential service panels to extension cords and portable tools. Grounded in OSHA construction standards (29 CFR 1926.404) and practical field scenarios.

Content covers the physiology of electrical shock (why 75 milliamps — well below what most tools draw — can be lethal), the four types of electrical injury, job-site risk assessment, safe practices at circuit breaker panels, proper GFCI use and when it's required, extension cord selection and inspection, and PPE selection for electrical work. The session closes with emergency response: what to do — and what not to do — when a coworker is being shocked.

Participants leave able to conduct a basic electrical risk assessment, identify the most common hazardous conditions in older ND housing, and apply correct work practices around panels, cords, and live equipment.

Great Hall

Suggested for Executive Directors, Program Coordinators, Board Members, Agency Management, Data Practitioners

Maribeth Schneber-Rhemrev, CCAP, NCRT, National Community Action Partnership

Step into your data and see the story it tells through a hands-on data walk. Participants will move among interactive stations using Region 8’s real data to uncover patterns, raise questions, and explore meaning in collaboration with peers. Along the way, you’ll not only experience this engaging approach firsthand but also gain insight into how to design and host your own data walk back at your organization. This session turns analysis into an active, shared experience and offers fresh perspectives on the trends, successes, and challenges revealed by the data.

Harvest Hall, Executive Room

Suggested for All Attendees

Fred Richmond, Center for Applied Management

All too often, the role and contribution of social service agencies to the greater good of the individual and community is not understood. SROI measures change in ways relevant to the people or organizations that experience or contribute to it, assigning monetary values to represent social, environmental, and economic outcomes. We are data collectors and can account for the delivery and impact of our services. Can we use this same data to tell a different story, that funding Community Action is a not only for a good cause but is a good investment as well? 

Embassy A & B

Suggested for All Attendees

Dr. Shellie Beeker, North Dakota State University 

Harvest Hall Conference Room

Dave Gutterud, UND Environmental Training Institute 

Suggested for Weatherization Attendees

Covers the primary physical injury risks in weatherization work: falls, confined space entry, respiratory hazards, and heat-related illness. Organized around OSHA's Fatal Four, with content tied directly to weatherization job conditions rather than general construction.

Fall content covers the hierarchy of fall hazard controls, personal fall arrest system components and inspection, suspension trauma and the rescue requirement that most workers don't know about, and ladder safety. Confined space content addresses how to recognize when a crawl space or attic becomes a permit-required space and what to do when a worker experiences symptoms inside. Respiratory protection covers respirator selection, the difference between a dust mask and a NIOSH-approved N-95, and medical and fit testing requirements under 29 CFR 1910.134. Heat stress content distinguishes heat exhaustion from heat stroke and covers prevention strategies for attic and summer work.

Participants leave with practical knowledge they can apply on the next job, not general safety theory.

Harvest Hall, Executive Room

Suggested for Executive, Leadership and Management staff

Susan Williams, The Village Family Service Center

This session will provide a practical refresher and skill-building opportunity for supervisors. Topics will include the responsibilities of a supervisor, qualities of effective supervision, the importance of building trust between supervisors and staff, and three selected focus areas: delegation, managing peers, and accountability.

Harvest Hall, Executive Room

Suggested for All Attendees

Fred Richmond, Center for Applied Management

Data-drivenness is about building tools, abilities, and, most crucially, a culture that acts on data…….Carl Anderson”. CAAs are competent data collectors usually in compliance with third party reporting requirements. How do we turn this data into information that can be applied to the management of the agency? In this workshop we will introduce an 11 step program for establishing processes that support service delivery, accountability and measuring success.

Harvest Hall, Directors Room

Suggested for Executive Directors, Fiscal Directors, Board Members

Ashley Engel and Jeremy Ulmer, Brady Martz

Strong financial oversight is a shared responsibility between nonprofit management, governing boards, and external auditors. This session will explore the distinct roles each plays in maintaining sound internal controls, financial transparency, and organizational accountability. Presenters will discuss the audit process, including the responsibilities of management and auditors, and share practical internal control strategies that can be implemented by organizations of all sizes. Attendees will learn how to identify potential red flags in financial reports, understand key indicators of organizational financial health, and gain insight into the concept of going concern. The session will also provide an overview of the Form 990, including what board members should know, how it tells the story of an organization, and opportunities to strengthen that narrative. Finally, participants will receive guidance on responding to single audit findings and using them as opportunities for continuous improvement.

Harvest Hall Conference Room

Dave Gutterud, UND Environmental Training Institute 

Suggested for Weatherization Attendees

Provides weatherization workers with a working understanding of radon: what it is, how it enters buildings, why it matters in North Dakota, and what WAP rules allow them to do about it.

North Dakota is entirely within EPA Radon Zone 1 — the highest-risk designation — and radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers nationally. Because weatherization tightens the building envelope, it can increase indoor radon concentrations if entry points are not addressed. The session explains why, what precautionary measures are allowable under DOE WPN 17-7 (vapor barrier installation, sealing foundation penetrations, covering sump pits), and what is not allowable (mitigation systems, testing as a WAP activity). Client education and informed consent requirements specific to North Dakota are covered in detail, including the requirement for a signed consent form on every ND WAP job regardless of whether testing has been conducted.

Participants leave understanding the ND-specific radon risk, what they can and cannot do under WAP, and how to have an informed conversation with clients about mitigation options.

Harvest Hall, Executive Room

Suggested for Executive, Leadership and Management staff

Susan Williams, The Village Family Service Center

Supporting healthy lifestyles and encouraging employees to be proactive in caring for themselves contributes to a healthier, more productive workplace. When your “to-do” list is longer than your available time, how do you manage the challenge?

This session will address common time management myths, explore strategies to help participants better manage their schedules, and provide practical tips for overcoming procrastination.

Embassy A & B

Suggested for All North Dakota Attendees

Jennifer Henderson, North Dakota Housing Finance Agency

North Dakota Housing Finance Agency (NDHFA) will present findings and data trends from its statewide housing studies and research initiatives focused on housing affordability, availability, population trends, and projected housing needs across North Dakota. This session will explore current market conditions, barriers impacting homeowners and renters, regional housing challenges, and emerging trends affecting communities throughout the state. Attendees will gain valuable insight into housing data, planning tools, and statewide trends that can help inform local decision-making, community development efforts, and future housing strategies. 

Harvest Hall, Directors Room

Jennifer Mueller, Southeastern North Dakota Community Action 

Suggested for Fiscal staff who utilize the MIP software. 

MIP offers powerful budgeting and reporting tools that can streamline financial management and reduce reliance on spreadsheets. In this session, Jennifer Mueller will share practical strategies for maximizing the MIP Budget Module based on nearly a decade of experience using the software for forecasting, budgeting, and financial reporting at both CAPND and SENDCAA. Participants will explore ways to make MIP work harder for them, learn how to improve efficiency through built-in budgeting features, and identify tasks currently being performed in Excel that could be automated or simplified within MIP. Whether you are new to the Budget Module or looking to get more out of your existing system, this session will provide practical tips to enhance your financial management processes.

Harvest Hall Board Room

Suggested for Weatherization Attendees

Jake Nuckolls, Building Performance Center 

Harvest Hall, Conference Room

Suggested for North Dakota Weatherization Attendees

Dr. Yao Yu, North Dakota State University

This session presents findings from statewide needs assessments conducted in 2020, 2023, and 2026 in North Dakota, with a focus on trends and priorities related to Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ). Because people spend approximately 90% of their time indoors, IEQ plays a major role in occupant health, comfort, well-being, and productivity. IEQ includes indoor air quality (IAQ), lighting, acoustics, and thermal comfort, with IAQ being especially important due to its direct impact on health. Poor IAQ has been linked to respiratory illnesses, allergies, asthma, carbon monoxide exposure, and Sick Building Syndrome (SBS), and may also negatively affect cognitive performance and learning outcomes.

The session will introduce key IEQ and IAQ concepts and relevant standards and guidance (e.g., ASHRAE Standards 62.2 and 55, and EPA guidance), followed by a summary of statewide survey findings highlighting regional differences and how IEQ concerns have evolved over time. The presentation will also discuss practical approaches for improving IEQ while maintaining energy efficiency through HVAC optimization, building energy modeling, and data-driven operational strategies. The goal of this session is to provide practical and actionable insights that support healthier, safer, and more sustainable indoor environments across North Dakota communities.

Harvest Hall, Executive Room

Suggested for Executive, Leadership and Management staff

Susan Williams, The Village Family Service Center

Transparent communication is essential to building trust, strengthening workplace relationships, and creating a more engaged and positive work environment. When employees understand expectations, decisions, and organizational direction, they are better equipped to contribute with confidence and clarity.

This session will help participants understand what transparent communication is, why it matters in the workplace, and how leaders and teams can create a more open, honest, and transparent working environment.

Embassy A & B

Suggested for Executive, Leadership and Management staff, Board Members

Dedra Carey, HUD

This session will provide attendees with an overview of HUD’s FY2026 strategic objectives and how they align with current Administration priorities, including reducing barriers to affordable housing, reducing homelessness, protecting taxpayer funds, and streamlining business processes. Participants will also receive updates from the HUD Region 8 Program Office, hear about federal partnerships and initiatives, and learn more about HUD’s customer resource management approach and available technical assistance supports. This presentation will offer valuable insight into federal priorities, collaborative efforts, and resources available to support housing and community development work across the region.

Harvest Hall, Conference Room

Suggested for All Attendees

Mac Berns, Absolute Studios 

Harvest Hall, Executive Room

Suggested for Executive, HR, Fiscal Directors, Case Managers and Direct Service Workers, Board Members

Fred Richmond, Center for Applied Management

This workshop for case managers and direct service workers identifies the basic skills and practices necessary to be successful in their job. It explores the economics of insufficiency and scarcity, its impact on clients and organizations, the importance of front line staff, and offers a replicable model for client/case management that can demonstrate outcomes and organizational effectiveness. 

Jerry Bruzek and Nick Fletcher

Harvest Hall Board Room

Suggested for Weatherization Attendees

Jake Nuckolls, Building Performance Center 

The Region 8 Community Action Association welcomes you to join us for an evening at the FM Redhawks baseball game as we celebrate Community Action together!  

The Surfside Patio has been reserved exclusively for conference attendees.  

Your complimentary ticket includes access to the exclusive deck and a two-hour all-you-can-eat buffet! 

Gates open at 6:00 pm and the game begins at 7:02 pm. 

Great Hall

Suggested for All Attendees

Sarah Kemp-Tabbut, University of North Dakota

Many people do not access behavioral or physical health care despite having thoughts of or being at risk of suicide. Yet many of them signal to others – directly or indirectly – that they are struggling. This workshop is designed to provide friends, family and others with information on how recognize and respond to suicide risk with an additional focus on reducing access to lethal means – especially firearms. Participants learn how to talk with someone who might be having these thoughts in a collaborative, non-judgmental and supportive manner. CALM Conversations is divided into four sections. In Section 1, participants learn basic facts and misconceptions about suicide, common risk factors and warning signs, and the importance of means safety in keeping at-risk individuals safe. In Section 2, participants learn to ask about mood and suicide, with opportunities to practice asking questions in their own words. Section 3 focuses on connecting at-risk individuals to both formal and informal sources of support. Section 4 focuses on discussing means safety and making the environment safer for the at-risk individual until their mood state improves. CALM Conversations is intended for a general audience and requires no prior training in mental health or suicide prevention. The workshop is 90 minutes in length.

Harvest Hall, Board Room

Suggested for Weatherization Crew Members Only 

Norris Elshaug, Dakota Prairie Community Action 

This roundtable is a focused opportunity for crew members to discuss what they need to be successful in their roles. It’s a chance to share positive strategies, solutions, and techniques that help improve efficiency and job satisfaction. We’ll explore the importance of understanding program goals, meeting performance targets, and why it’s crucial to complete jobs on time.  

We’ll engage in open dialogue to help crew members understand the bigger picture, from meeting averages to having a personal stake in the success of each project. This is a solutions-oriented discussion aimed at enhancing teamwork and ensuring we’re all aligned in achieving our goals.

Harvest Hall, Conference Room

Suggested for Weatherization Foremen Only 

Matt Igard, Community Action Partnership Regions 1 and 8

 This roundtable provides Weatherization foremen with an opportunity to connect with peers from across the region to discuss leadership in the field, crew management strategies, production expectations, communication, and day-to-day jobsite realities. Foremen play a critical role in balancing quality work, safety, efficiency, and team morale while helping crews stay on track and meet program goals. This session is designed to encourage open discussion around practical solutions, successful leadership approaches, and techniques that help crews operate effectively in the field. Participants will have the opportunity to share challenges, discuss what is working well in their agencies, and learn from one another in a collaborative, solutions-oriented environment focused on strengthening Weatherization teams across the network.

Great Hall

Suggested for All Attendees

Sarah Kemp-Tabbut, University of North Dakota

Many people do not access behavioral or physical health care despite having thoughts of or being at risk of suicide. Yet many of them signal to others – directly or indirectly – that they are struggling. This workshop is designed to provide friends, family and others with information on how recognize and respond to suicide risk with an additional focus on reducing access to lethal means – especially firearms. Participants learn how to talk with someone who might be having these thoughts in a collaborative, non-judgmental and supportive manner. CALM Conversations is divided into four sections. In Section 1, participants learn basic facts and misconceptions about suicide, common risk factors and warning signs, and the importance of means safety in keeping at-risk individuals safe. In Section 2, participants learn to ask about mood and suicide, with opportunities to practice asking questions in their own words. Section 3 focuses on connecting at-risk individuals to both formal and informal sources of support. Section 4 focuses on discussing means safety and making the environment safer for the at-risk individual until their mood state improves. CALM Conversations is intended for a general audience and requires no prior training in mental health or suicide prevention. The workshop is 90 minutes in length.

Harvest Hall, Conference Room

Suggested for North Dakota Weatherization Attendees

Alyssa Kroshus-Helling, North Dakota Department of Commerce

In this session, we’ll explore the Standard Work Specification- Aligned Field Guide . We will review how it can help guide the Weatherization work we do to ensure quality and effectiveness. By the end of this session, you’ll have a clear understanding of contents within the SWS, and how it plays a pivotal role in achieving our mission in serving low-income families through Weatherization. 

Harvest Hall, Board Room

Suggested for Weatherization Estimators Only 

Jerry CAP, Community Action Partnership Region 6

This roundtable is a valuable opportunity for estimator staff to connect, share experiences, and discuss best practices for foundational work, basements, and other key weatherization techniques. We’ll explore methods for tackling common challenges and look at creative solutions to deal with rising material costs. This session is designed for peer-to-peer learning and collaboration; a chance to support each other in finding practical solutions. Come prepared to share what’s working in your region, learn from others, and leave with fresh ideas to enhance your estimating process moving forward.