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October 19, 2009 – Several young professionals are finding their way back home to Williston, North Dakota with the goal of pursuing their passions and career, reconnecting with family, seeing old friends and basking in the warmth of a solid economy.
The four individuals featured in this article brought strong qualities back with them that benefit the community. They demonstrate intelligence, motivation, and strong desire to give back to the town they grew up in. Meet Jeremy Wright, Kayla Retzer, Mike Heen and Stephanie Richter; The entrepreneur, the adventurist, the community leader and the entertainer, respectively.
They are all Williston High School graduates and are happy to be back within the comforts of what Williston offers them and their families.
Jeremy Wright – Owner of J Dub’s Bar and Grill
Jeremy Wright had been with Applebee’s for nine years; the last three in Jamestown, ND where he was the General Manager. He decided it was time to leave Applebee’s, venture out on his own and move himself, his wife Nicole and son Graham (4 years old) back to Williston.
“A business opportunity with RTD Enterprises to take over management of a restaurant that used to be called Rivers Edge initially brought me back in January 2007,” he said. “My corporation, N&J Enterprises then took ownership in May that year and in January 2009, I changed the name to my nickname, J’Dubs.”
With his entrepreneurship mind-set, Wright looks for opportunities in which he can give Williston what it needs. “I look for voids and try to fill them,” he said. “This community has given to me my whole life of living here and now it’s my turn to give back.”
He proved this to be true when he facilitated a massive renovation to J’Dubs in the summer of 2008. Some of the new additions were a dining room, serving area, state-of-the art kitchen and a full menu offering steaks, seafood and pasta. “The restaurant now seats 220 people,” said Wright. “We’ve also started serving specialty pizzas that we cook to perfection in a brick oven.”
His goals are to purchase the property and building in which J’Dubs resides within the next three years and start another business venture in the restaurant industry five years after that.
There were several attributes that brought Wright and his family back, other than the business opportunity. “There’s a comfort level here; it’s home to me. I like the community, the economy is good and everyone’s friendly,” he said. “We have a baby due in January and it’s nice to have my family and friends here for support.”
He graduated from WHS in 1998 and his parents are Dr. Ron Wright and Pat of Williston. Jerome and Connie Muller of Grenora, ND are his wife Nicole’s parents.
Wright serves as a member of the Board of Directors at the Williston Area Chamber of Commerce and takes after his dad as a high school football and USA Hockey referee. “I also play on the ‘Old Men’s Hockey League’,” he said.
His absolute favorite thing to do is decorate the entire house (inside and out) including the yard for Halloween and Christmas. Wright admitted that his house is the one with the 13 foot tall black cat in the yard and he’s been known to blow fuses until he gets all the decorations right. “We just can’t use the microwave if all the lights are on outside.”
J Dub’s is located at 1002 2nd Street West in Williston; 701-774-2062.
Kayla Retzer, Recruiter Associate at Williston State College
When asked how the decision was made to move back to Williston, she responded saying “I wanted to make a difference and be fulfilled personally and Williston has given that to me.”
She is an outdoor enthusiast and gets excited about how much there is to do here. “The recreation is great,” she said. “I love fishing, being able to hike in the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park and ride my bike on the trails around here; really just anything outdoors.”
The fact that she can live here, have fun here and have a great job all while living in a safe community is important to her. “These are all perfect ingredients that Williston provides to having and enjoying life,” she said.
She left Williston for five years to attend Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM) and graduated in 2006 with a Mass Communication Major with an emphasis in Public Relations and Advertising. She was a member of the college Rugby team and played tournaments in six states around the U.S.
After that it was off to England in 2007 to visit, work and play Rugby for six months. “While there, I also had the opportunity to watch the Rugby World Cup in France and travel to 13 other countries around Europe.”
Retzer has lived in Williston most of her life and feels it’s important to come back and support the community that raised her. She is employed by Williston State College as their Recruiter Associate, covering the entire Mon-Dak region. “I have an allegiance to this community; it’s been very good for me,” she said. “I’ve been all over the world and I’ve learned how much I truly appreciate what Williston has to offer their citizens.”
Career aspirations for Retzer include working as a general or operations manager for a professional sports team. “I have a deep love for sports and working with athletes is a goal I hope to accomplish one day.”
She concluded by saying she hopes people realize that “professional jobs do exist in Williston; the market is full of opportunity. This is a great place for young professionals.”
Retzer is a 2002 WHS graduate. Her parents are Wayne and Sheri Retzer of Williston. She also has one sister, Tara Irgens that resides in Williston as well and is an English teacher at the high school.
If interested in becoming a student or touring WSC, contact Kayla at Kayla.M.Retzer@wsc.nodak.edu, 701-774-4220 or 1-888-863-9455.
Mike Heen – Commercial Loan Officer at American State Bank and Trust
Mike Heen had been living in Saint Cloud, MN for nine years when his parents were visiting one week and his dad said to him (as they were putting together a swing set in the back yard), “I wish we had more time to spend together”. This began to spur a thought in Heen’s mind.
He had worked his way up to management at Fingerhut (now Compu Credit) working in collections, but decided it was time for a change. “We had young kids and we were all alone with no family around, Williston had changed a lot and we both wanted to come back home,” he said.
Both Mike and his wife Dena are Williston High School graduates; Mike in 1996 and Dena in 1995. They have one son Alex who is six and daughter Ella who is two and a half. Mike’s parents are Ken and Dianne Heen and Dena’s parents are Merle and Mari Dee Johnson, all of Williston.
Mike and his wife made the decision final in January of this year, as they made their way back to Williston. Heen had been offered a job as a Commercial Loan Officer at American State Bank and Trust and Dena began working part time as a dietician at Mercy Medical Center.
“Moving back was definitely the right choice to make,” said Heen. “There are a lot of good people here, I’m working for a solid organization, there’s a lot going on in town to get involved with and I can go for a walk at 10pm and not worry.” Heen also mentioned the benefit of knowing his neighbors names and being able to have conversations with people as he passes them on the street.
Heen is active in the community serving on the Lion’s Club, Community Builders Organization and the Renaissance Zone Authority Board. He is also on the Band Day Planning Committee and just started a six month Leadership Williston course that is designed to train up the next set of leaders in Williston.
He graduated from North Dakota State University (NDSU-Fargo, ND) in 2000 with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science. He also received an MBA from Saint Cloud State University in 2006.
“Living in Williston gave me the opportunity to develop a relationship with my family that I would not have been able to achieve living so far away,” said Heen. “There are activities here for my entire family. My son is in Tai Kwon Do and we’re all involved in church activities. We’re very happy here.”
If interested in receiving a commercial loan, contact Mike at mheen@asbt.com or 701-774-4100.
Stephanie Richter – Adjunct professor/Dance & Cheer Coach at Williston State College
Stephanie Richter had lived in Williston since she was four years old before graduating from WHS in 2004 and moving to Fargo to attend college at North Dakota State University (NDSU). She graduated in May 2008 with a Theater Performance Major and a Music Minor and chose to come back to Williston to exercise her talents within the community.
“I was approached with a great offer to come back and teach dance at the studio I grew up taking lessons at,” said Richter. “The job was exactly what I was looking for. I was impressed with the number of children involved in such a small community; we have over 100 students from three years old through high school.”
Richter has a great talent in the theater production arena. She has choreographed entire musicals and has been involved in a number of productions. Last year she had the opportunity to choreograph Annie Get Your Gun, which was performed at Williston High School. She also teaches Introduction to Theater and Dance Styles classes at Williston State College along with being their Dance and Cheer Coach.
Her parents are Dave and Debbie Richter of Williston. Her younger brother Doug came back to Williston this year (after being in Jamestown, ND) and is on the WSC baseball team. Her sister Rachel is currently a sophomore at Williston High School.
“It’s great to have my entire family back in Williston; that’s important to me,” said Richter. “Beyond that, Williston is a good place to raise kids and we’re in an economic bubble here; we haven’t been affected like the rest of the country has.”
Richter has been a contestant in the Miss ND pageant for the past three years and last year placed in the top five. She plans to compete for the final time next June and is currently Miss Oil Country 2010. “The support the community has given me is great; I feel a comfort here.”
A goal of Richter’s is to receive her Masters degree in Education, which she is working on. She currently substitute teaches at the elementary, junior high and high school. She is also affiliated with the Go Red Coalition for Heart Disease.
The dance studio Richter teaches at, Dance Fever (owned by Angela Ekblad), will be putting on a production of The Grinch November 28 and 29 at the Williston High School. “I am so fulfilled living here. I get to do what I love and be with my family and friends.”
Dance Fever is located at 18 East Broadway; 701-570-3853. www.dancefevercompany.com
By Angela Kovacs – Williston Economic Development
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