Jamestown Ope'n Forum

George Barnes has spent much of his life serving others. He doesn’t seem particularly interested in stopping.

In this Veterans Day episode of Jamestown Ope’N Forum, Vincent and Warren sit down with George, a 20-year Air National Guard veteran and the new president of the Jamestown All Vets Club. George talks about beginning his military service in 1977, loading weapons on fighter aircraft, the leadership lessons he carried home and why service still feels less like a choice and more like a calling.

The conversation also explores what LeRoy Wegenast taught George about leadership, what...

A giant chicken, 19 completed passports and one simple challenge for your holiday shopping list: think local first.

In Episode 23, Vincent and Warren sit down with Emily Bivens to talk about how Jamestown’s Loyal to Local Holiday Passport grew from a borrowed idea into one of the Chamber’s biggest annual programs. They get into what Emily hoped would happen when the program first started, why it sometimes takes a few years for a community tradition to catch on, and how everyday purchases can add up faster than you might think.

The conversation also includes the...

Amanda Sargeant spends her days talking with farmers, business owners and entrepreneurs about something that can make almost anyone nervous: money.

In Episode 22, Vincent and Warren sit down with Amanda to talk about what a lender actually looks for, why a “no” today doesn’t always mean no forever, and why someone with an idea doesn’t need to arrive with every detail figured out. The conversation also gets into Amanda’s unlikely path from a childhood plant business to lending, why she loves visiting family farms, what makes her believe in an entrepreneur, and how First Community...

Shannon Klatt and Mercede Fiebiger spend a lot of time telling new moms something they may desperately need to hear: you’re doing something right.

In Episode 21, Vincent and Warren sit down with Shannon and Mercede from the James River Valley Breastfeeding Coalition to talk about why the group formed, what it means to support families without adding more pressure, and how something as simple as a private room, an encouraging conversation or a place to ask questions can make a difficult season a little easier.

The conversation gets into lactation support around Jamestown, infant-friendly wo...

Jay Boyd came to Buffalo Grill trying to answer a pretty important question: how do we make sure this place sticks around?

Then Chef Davone Mitchell entered the picture. What started with a phone call between two people who didn’t really know each other became a new menu, a different approach in the kitchen and a shared goal of creating the kind of food and experience people shouldn’t have to drive to a bigger city to find.

In Episode 20, Jay and Davone join Vincent and Warren to talk about turning things around, building a te...

Emily Bivens has listened to all 18 episodes of Jamestown Ope’n Forum.

And she has notes.

For this month’s Chamber Chat, Emily takes over the host chair, sends Vincent and Warren to the guest seats and conducts an audio audit of the show. Why does Vincent ask people their shoe size? How much research actually happens before an interview? Did anyone expect a question about lemonade stands to turn into one of the show’s best stories?

Along the way, the three look back at what Ope’n Forum has become, what they’ve...

How well do you really know the place you live?

Allison Limke returns for another Tourism Takeover to talk about why tourism marketing sometimes starts with the people who already live here, what visitors actually do when they stop in Jamestown, and why “there’s nothing to do here” might have more to do with habit than what’s actually available.

From visitors who planned a quick stop and ended up staying the night to the simple challenge of visiting a local attraction you haven’t seen in years, this episode is an invitation to look at Ja...

Jordan Koushkouski wasn’t looking to buy just any bar. He was waiting for this one.

Decades after his grandfather operated Park Bar in downtown Jamestown, Jordan had the chance to bring the name — and the building — back into the family. What followed was a foreclosure auction, eight dumpsters of cleanup, a few surprises behind the walls and the challenge of deciding what pieces of the past were worth keeping.

In Episode 17, Jordan joins Vincent and Warren to talk about family history, breathing new life into an old downtown space and creating a place that feels...

For Annie Keffeler, the connection with horses started long before A Moment of Freedom.

As a child, difficult days often ended with a bike ride to the neighbors’ pasture, where Annie discovered something about horses that stuck with her: they didn’t judge, and simply being near them helped everything feel a little lighter.

In Episode 16, Annie joins Vincent and Warren to talk about the connection between horses and riders, the transformations she has watched happen in the arena, and the pull she felt to create A Moment of Freedom — even before she fully knew what i...

In Episode 15, Vincent and Warren sit down with Holly Utke and Brianne Partlow of Dakota Central as the company celebrates 75 years of keeping people connected. What begins as a look back at rural telephone lines quickly turns into Dakota Central trivia, party lines, chicken hatcheries, dial-up internet, fiber, and a reminder of just how much the way we communicate has changed.

Holly and Brianne share how Dakota Central grew from its rural telephone roots into the company it is today, including its expansion into Jamestown and becoming the first provider in North Dakota — and one of the fi...

In Episode 14, Vincent and Warren sit down with Nick Bruns of Nodak Insurance to talk about risk, entrepreneurship and why he continues to invest his time, money and energy into Jamestown.

Nick traces that mindset back to growing up in an entrepreneurial family, including an early venture as a teenager when he and a friend installed a commercial door and opened a fireworks stand. Years later, a simple lesson from his dad stuck with him: if a community supports you as a business owner, you should find ways to support that community in return.

That...

In Episode 13, Vincent and Warren welcome Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Emily Bivens back to the Ope’n Forum to tackle a word that can sound a lot more political than it really is: advocacy.

Emily explains why advocacy is at the heart of what a Chamber of Commerce does and why it can look very different depending on what a business or community needs. Sometimes it means looking into legislation that could affect a member. Other times it means making a referral, connecting two businesses, supporting community beautification or simply helping a member find th...

In Episode 12, Vincent and Warren sit down with Ashley Strukel of Good Help Organizing to talk about clutter, overwhelm, and why getting organized is often about much more than finding the right storage bin.

Ashley explains her goal of helping people become “the boss of their stuff” through practical, nonjudgmental solutions built around the way they actually live. She talks about why people often wait until they feel completely overwhelmed before asking for help, the shame that can come with letting someone into a messy space, and why the number of things someone owns has nothing to do w...

In Episode 11, Vincent and Warren sit down with Dr. Stephen Kutscher of Rock Solid Chiropractic to talk about building a business, becoming part of a community, and why giving back has become an important part of the way he approaches both.

After practicing in Colorado for more than a decade, Dr. Kutscher and his family made the move to North Dakota to be closer to family and give their children a different environment to grow up in. Jamestown became a natural fit, and in the years since, Rock Solid Chiropractic has continued to grow while becoming increasingly...

In Episode 10, Vincent and Warren sit down with Ryan Fettig of Affordable Motors to talk about selling used vehicles, building trust, and doing business in a community where customers quickly become familiar faces.

Ryan shares how a routine trip through the Chamber office eventually turned into a friendship with Vincent and membership in the Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce. He also discusses growing up around his family’s automotive businesses, which began when his father opened Dale’s A-1 Auto in 1988, and how Ryan eventually began managing Affordable Motors.

The conversation explores the stereotypes surrounding used...

In Episode 9, Vincent and Warren welcome Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Emily Bivens back to the podcast for another round of The Bivness.

Emily explains why connections may be one of the Chamber’s most valuable and overlooked benefits. The conversation explores how events like STIR help people build relationships, why personal invitations make networking easier, and how the Chamber regularly connects residents and businesses with trusted local resources.

The group also discusses the Chamber’s role in helping restore the interactive mural at Hugo’s after it was vandalized. Emily shares how the Ch...

In Episode 8, Vincent and Warren sit down with Alyssa Looysen, Director of Business Development, and Jamie Czapiewski, Operations Coordinator, with the Jamestown/Stutsman Development Corporation.

Alyssa and Jamie explain what economic development looks like behind the scenes, from supporting childcare expansion and workforce programs to addressing housing needs and helping businesses invest in Jamestown and Stutsman County. They also share why major projects often require months or even years of conversations, planning, approvals, and patience before the public sees the results.

The conversation explores why Alyssa and Jamie chose to build their lives in Jamestown...

In Episode 7, Vincent and Warren sit down with Nate Willer, Branch Manager and Mortgage Loan Originator with Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation, Chamber Ambassador, Young Professionals of Jamestown member, Chamber Board member, and annual Chamber Banquet co-host.

Nate shares how returning to Jamestown after college led him to become deeply involved in the community, and why joining the Chamber, Young Professionals of Jamestown, and the Ambassador Committee helped launch both his business and his network.

The conversation explores the importance of community involvement, relationship building, professional networking, leadership, and why "you get what you give" when...

Each month, Emily, Executive Director of the Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce and Jamestown Tourism, joins Vincent and Warren to discuss what's happening around the community, highlight Chamber initiatives, and share updates that matter to local businesses and residents.

In this first edition, the conversation focuses on Buffalo Days, one of Jamestown's signature community celebrations. Emily explains how the Chamber works with dozens of organizations to market and coordinate the event, shares what's new this year, and gives listeners a preview of everything happening during Buffalo Days weekend.

The team also introduces "The Bivness", a...

It's the first-ever Tourism Takeover!

In this episode, Vincent and Warren hand the microphones over to Allison Limke, Visitor Experience Manager for Jamestown Tourism, and Luke Zimmer, Site Supervisor at Frontier Village, for a behind-the-scenes look at some of the biggest tourism projects happening in Jamestown.

The conversation covers Jamestown's new 24/7 World's Largest Buffalo live camera, tourism partnerships across North Dakota, the growing impact of Frontier Village, and the exciting progress on Bison Bend Miniature Golf, a new attraction opening in 2027.

Luke also shares stories from meeting visitors from around the world, what...

Welcome back to Jamestown Ope'n Forum!

In Episode 4, Vincent and Warren sit down with one of Jamestown's most recognizable residents; Shirley Jackson of Riddle's Jewelry.

For more than two decades, Shirley has served as a Chamber Ambassador, welcoming new businesses, celebrating ribbon cuttings, recognizing outstanding customer service, and helping chamber members and new residents in the community feel welcome.

With her usual high energy delivery, Shirley shares why she first became an Ambassador, how volunteering has shaped her life, and what she's witnessed as Jamestown has continued to grow during her time as...

In Episode 3 of Jamestown Ope'n Forum, Vincent and Warren sit down with Mike Lawson, Director of Operations at Cavendish Farms in Jamestown.

As Cavendish celebrates 25 years in Jamestown and continues a major modernization project, Mike shares what happens behind the scenes at one of the community's largest employers. From workforce development and automation to community involvement and company culture, this conversation explores what it takes to keep a manufacturing operation running around the clock.

Mike discusses how Cavendish is investing in its employees, supporting local projects, partnering with community organizations, and preparing for the future...

In Episode 2 of Jamestown Ope'n Forum, Vincent and Warren sit down with Patrick Kirby of Do Good Better Consulting following his visit to Jamestown for a nonprofit leadership and fundraising workshop.

Patrick shares insights on nonprofit fundraising, donor relationships, chamber membership, community engagement, leadership, and why organizations should spend more time celebrating their wins.

The conversation explores how nonprofits and businesses can learn from one another, the value of community connections, and practical ways organizations can strengthen relationships with supporters, volunteers, donors, and customers alike.

Along the way, Patrick discusses creative fundraising ideas...

Welcome to the very first episode of Jamestown Ope'n Forum.

In this introductory episode, we pull up a chair and introduce the team behind the Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce and Jamestown Tourism. Join Emily Bivens, Allison Limke, Vincent Kloubec, and Warren Abrahamson as they share their roles, what they work on every day, and some of the things that might surprise you about the work happening behind the scenes.

We also talk about why we decided to start a podcast and what listeners can expect from future episodes.

Along the way, you'll...