Schedule & Events

As the Executive Director for the State Association, Andrea works on a number of initiatives and programs including training and technical assistance for North Dakota’s Community Action Agencies. She has worked in the non-profit sector for 17 years and has been with the CAPND since 2008.

Andrea has a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from North Dakota State University and a Master’s Degree in Public, Human Service, and Health Administration from Minnesota State University Moorhead. Andrea is a Certified Community Action Professional and National Certified ROMA Trainer and ROMA Implementer. She also serves as the Lead for the Regional Performance Innovative Consortium for Federal Region 8; a successful collaboration between the Community Action State Associations and State Community Services Block Grant Offices who serve all 75 Community Action Agencies and CSBG-eligible entities in the states of: Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming.

Andrea has served as the Chair on the Board of Directors for the North Dakota Coalition for Homeless Persons and is a previous member of the North Dakota State PTA Board. She is the proud recipient of the 2017 Charles Braithwait Award for Leadership for her efforts to ensure ongoing National support for the Community Action Network.  Andrea was also recognized as an Honored Member of the Governor's 2020 Census Task Force in appreciation for her dedicated services for a complete count in North Dakota. In 2021, Andrea was honored as a nominee for the YWCA Woman of the Year as a recognition for her contributions to her community. 

Andrea lives in West Fargo with her husband, daughters and rescue pups (Archie and Holden) who are reminded on daily basis that they are devastatingly handsome!  She has a strong affinity for people who use their turn signals in parking lots, is an ardent supporter of daily chips and salsa consumption, a die hard Conan O'Brien fan, and feels strongly that the world is a better place when we all learn to love, respect and enjoy each other.

Erv Bren is the Executive Director of Community Action Partnership in Dickinson/Williston and has been employed with the agency for 46 years.  Erv held the position of Fiscal Officer for Community Action Partnership from 1976 thru 1988.  He then became the Assistant Director/Fiscal Officer from 1989 thru 1995 and in 1996 became the agencies Executive Director. 

Mayor Scott Decker is a native of Dickinson, North Dakota and a graduate of Dickinson Sate University.  He served 21 years in the United States Army and in the North Dakota Army National Guard.  Mayor Decker was first elected as a Dickinson City Commissioner in 2014 and was elected as Mayor in 2016.

Julie Obrigewitsch has been with the Dickinson Convention & Visitors Bureau since January 2010. As the Sales Coordinator and Social Media Manager, she works to bring meetings, conventions, and sporting events to Dickinson. She also facilitates the digital marketing, website maintenance, and analytical reports for the Dickinson CVB. Julie was the recipient of the Telegraph Award for Marketing Technology during the 2020 Governor’s Travel and Tourism Awards. She is a Grow with Google Partner and is the current President of the Destination Marketing Association of North Dakota.

It’s easy to use, enjoy, and become a fan of MS 365, especially when you’re aware and utilize some of the best tips and tricks available to take full advantage of this remarkable office software suite.  Microsoft Office 365 is a collection of services offered by Microsoft and includes the same core applications as the traditional version of Office, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, among others.

Is your organization looking to move to the next level, but unsure where to start? The National Community Action Partnership’s Organizational Self-Assessment tool is designed in partnership with the Nonprofit Risk Management Center specifically for Community Action Agencies to gain critical insight into key areas of organizational operation and strategy. This insight can help inform and focus agency action to strengthen practice, build capacity, and continuously improve. This session will discuss the tool, its use, and how to utilize the results to plan operational improvements to move your CAA towards excellence.

The National Community Action Partnership will share new information gathered in a research report that captured the characteristics, activities, and resources of agencies with strong data systems and processes. Participants will learn about how using this information can guide agencies as they create new practices and planning processes‐ what is required to shift to a mindset of data as an asset, what does it mean to be a data driven community action agency? It will also explore the characteristics (knowledge, skills, background) of individuals within those agencies who provide the required leadership to implement processes, practices, and planning. The overall context of the report is making the pivot in data practice in preparation for or when the environment we work in shifts (pandemic, social dynamics, disasters, general change in the community of the agency‐how data systems and processes are crucial to responsiveness, reliance, sustainability, and growth.

Bruce Hagen started working in weatherization for Dakota Prairie Community Action Agency in Devils Lake in 1982.  In September 2009, Bruce took a position with the North Dakota Department of Commerce as a Residential Energy Specialist.  His duties included training, monitoring, and working on software the state is developing. In 2013 he became Weatherization Program Manager.  He also oversees the Building Code/ADA Program, Third Party Inspection Program, Manufactured Home Installation/SAA Program, and the Energy Conservation Grant for Public Buildings. Bruce currently serves on the Energy OutWest Board of Directors.

Brandon is the Executive Director for the Southeastern ND Community Action Agency and the Coordinator for the Weatherization, Furnace, and Home Rehabilitation programs. He started at the agency over 15 years ago as a crew technician and worked many years as a Crew Lead. He is a BPI certified Quality Control Inspector and Healthy Home Evaluator. Brandon is also a State licensed Lead Inspector and Risk Assessor as well as a Certified Lead Renovator.

As the Executive Director for the State Association, Andrea works on a number of initiatives and programs including training and technical assistance for North Dakota’s Community Action Agencies. She has worked in the non-profit sector for 17 years and has been with the CAPND since 2008.

Andrea has a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from North Dakota State University and a Master’s Degree in Public, Human Service, and Health Administration from Minnesota State University Moorhead. Andrea is a Certified Community Action Professional and National Certified ROMA Trainer and ROMA Implementer. She also serves as the Lead for the Regional Performance Innovative Consortium for Federal Region 8; a successful collaboration between the Community Action State Associations and State Community Services Block Grant Offices who serve all 75 Community Action Agencies and CSBG-eligible entities in the states of: Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming.

Andrea has served as the Chair on the Board of Directors for the North Dakota Coalition for Homeless Persons and is a previous member of the North Dakota State PTA Board. She is the proud recipient of the 2017 Charles Braithwait Award for Leadership for her efforts to ensure ongoing National support for the Community Action Network.  Andrea was also recognized as an Honored Member of the Governor's 2020 Census Task Force in appreciation for her dedicated services for a complete count in North Dakota. In 2021, Andrea was honored as a nominee for the YWCA Woman of the Year as a recognition for her contributions to her community. 

Andrea lives in West Fargo with her husband, daughters and rescue pups (Archie and Holden) who are reminded on daily basis that they are devastatingly handsome!  She has a strong affinity for people who use their turn signals in parking lots, is an ardent supporter of daily chips and salsa consumption, a die hard Conan O'Brien fan, and feels strongly that the world is a better place when we all learn to love, respect and enjoy each other.

A company is only as good as the talent behind it. Performance management is extremely important, as the act of consistently and accurately evaluating employee performance is essential to both individual success and the overall success of an organization. Performance Management is a process for establishing a shared workforce understanding about what needs to be achieved. It’s about aligning the organizational objectives with the employees' skills, competency requirements, development plans and the delivery of results. Participants will understand the elements of an effective performance management system, provide ongoing positive guidance and suggestions for improvement, and follow a fair and objective plan for progressive discipline when performance problems haven’t been solved through other means.

Individuals in different generation have fundamentally different life experiences and influences than those in generations before or after them. These distinctive life experiences lead to differences in how we express values, in our sources of motivation, and in our preferences for communication. And these differences can lead to clashes and conflicts among coworkers of different generations. Multi-Generational Workplace helps participants gain a better understanding of the generations that make up the current workforce and how their unique experiences and expectations impact their view of the workplace. You will be able to identify the challenges of working with multiple generations and learn techniques that foster respectful communication and positive interaction with all groups.

The VA S.A.V.E training will help you act with care and compassion if you encounter a Veteran who is in crisis or experiencing suicidal thoughts. The acronym S.A.V.E. helps you remember the important steps involved in suicide prevention. The acronym S.A.V.E. helps you remember the important steps involved in suicide prevention: Signs of suicide, Asking about suicide, Validating feelings, Encouraging help and Expediting treatment.

Everyone has a mental model based on their perception of how the world works. Mental models provide understanding, guide thinking, and direct decision making. They can be both beneficial and detrimental to success. Individuals, teams, and organizations need to regularly update, flex, and reconstruct mental models to improve performance. Mental Models is a training program that shows participants how to examine their mental models, separate fact from opinion, clarify assumptions, and reveal hidden beliefs. Using interactive exercises and activities, this learning experience illustrates the need to tune into one's surroundings, look for opportunities, and approach work with an open mind.

Challenging Negative Attitudes explores how to deal with negative attitudes in the workplace and create a more positive working environment. This course explores how to adjust your own attitude as well as how to deal with negative people more effectively. Learn how negative norms become entrenched in an organization, department or team and how to create a more positive working environment by controlling the impact of negative situations and people.

Uncover the simple steps you can take to move your life from the ordinary into the extraordinary. Learn the Fred Factor principles that will release fresh energy, enthusiasm, and creativity in your career and life.