Upcoming Events
Our programming and workshops below are free to individuals living within a 100-mile radius of Aberdeen, SD, or located in South Dakota. These workshops are offered in-person or via Zoom, and the recordings are uploaded to our online classroom the following day. Attendees under 18 are welcome but must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Build Your First Website: No-Coding Needed
Perfect for beginners! This workshop walks you through the basics of building a website using no-code platforms like Wix, Squarespace, and more. We’ll compare pricing, features, and best use cases, then show you how each tool works so you can choose the right fit and confidently build your first site.
Presenter: Kendra Hinz, Aberdeen Development Corporation
Kendra Hinz is the Marketing and Special Projects Director at the Aberdeen Development Corporation and Program Coordinator for the Northern Innovation & Startup Center, where part of her role is managing the websites and digital content for both organizations.
She has hands-on experience working across platforms like WordPress, Squarespace, Vagaro, and Wix, and regularly works with entrepreneurs through workshops and programs focused on building and growing their businesses. Kendra graduated from Northern State University with degrees in Management Information Systems and Business Management.
Aberdeen Business Pitch Competition Application Info Session and Q&A
Interested in applying for the Aberdeen Business Pitch Competition?
Join us for an informal Q&A session where you can learn more about the competition, gain clarity on the application process, and get your questions answered. Whether you’re still exploring your idea or finalizing your submission, this session is designed to help you feel confident and prepared to take the next step.
Zoom Meeting Information
Zoom Link: https://northern.zoom.us/j/99922877250 pwd=yvpHYWFlS51dlABO3s5jA26O7lBBtk.1
Meeting ID: 999 2287 7250
Passcode: startup
Create Smarter, Not Harder: Using AI for Social Media Content
30 Days of Content: A Social Media Workshop Series (Workshop 1 of 3)
Struggling to come up with social media posts? This workshop shows you how AI can be your new content sidekick. We’ll explore tools to brainstorm ideas, write captions, script videos, and even repurpose content—so you spend less time stressing and more time creating posts that actually work.
Presenter: Dr. Hannah Walters, Northern State University Professor
*About Hannah
Dr. Hannah Walters, an Associate Professor of Marketing at Northern State University, is passionate about marketing, consumer insights, problem-solving, and strategic storytelling. She is the driving force behind Advancing Marketing with AI: Applications, Insights, and Analysis, a book published in 2025. In her courses, she blends real-world insights with a deep focus on AI's transformative impact on consumer behavior and marketing strategy.
30 Days of Content: A Social Media Workshop Series
This 3-part series breaks social media down into simple, doable steps. You’ll learn how to plan your content, create posts that actually work, and leave with a fully mapped-out 30-day content plan you can start using right away.
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This workshop introduces essential Canva Pro tools to simplify the design process. Participants will learn how to create clean, consistent visuals using templates, brand kits, and editing features. The session is hands-on, allowing attendees to apply skills directly in Canva Pro.
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This session focuses on social media best practices to help entrepreneurs improve reach and consistency. Participants will learn when to post, what content performs best, and how to stay consistent. Attendees will leave with practical strategies they can apply right away.
Design Made Easy: How to Use Canva
30 Days of Content: A Social Media Workshop Series (Workshop 2 of 3)
If design feels overwhelming, this workshop will make Canva your new best friend. We’ll walk through the Canva Pro tools that make creating clean, consistent graphics way easier—brand kits, templates, photo editing, exporting and sizing, apps, and quick tips to help your visuals look polished without overthinking it. This is a hands-on session, so bring your laptop and come ready to work directly in Canva Pro as we build together.
Presenter: Madeline Dell, Century Business Products & Catalyst IT
* About Madeline
Madeline Dell is an Aberdeen native and self-taught Canva creator who helps small businesses and nonprofits elevate their branding and content. She teaches practical methods that empower entrepreneurs to create polished, cohesive brand materials with confidence.
30 Days of Content: A Social Media Workshop Series
This 3-part series breaks social media down into simple, doable steps. You’ll learn how to plan your content, create posts that actually work, and leave with a fully mapped-out 30-day content plan you can start using right away.
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This workshop shows how AI can simplify social media content creation. Participants will explore tools to brainstorm ideas, write captions, script videos, and repurpose content. Attendees will leave ready to create effective posts with less stress.
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This session focuses on social media best practices to help entrepreneurs improve reach and consistency. Participants will learn when to post, what content performs best, and how to stay consistent. Attendees will leave with practical strategies they can apply right away.
Maximize Your Reach: Posting and Scheduling Tips for Entrepreneurs
30 Days of Content: A Social Media Workshop Series (Workshop 3 of 3)
Learn posting best practices and simple strategies to help entrepreneurs build a stronger social media presence with better reach and consistency. We’ll cover when and how often to post, what types of content perform best, and how to stay consistent without overthinking it. You’ll leave with practical tips you can start using right away to show up online more confidently and effectively.
Presenter: Kristin Harms, @TheBasicRanchMom
* About Kristin
Kristin Harms is a ranch wife and mom on her family’s third generation cattle operation out of Leola, SD. Kristin, her husband Jake, and their four kids work alongside her parents at Bieber Red Angus, a registered seedstock ranch offering Red Angus genetics. She handles the marketing, social media, and data management of the business. She has also built a successful online presence as the Basic Ranch Mom. Her brand is focused on creating an inclusive community of women that can relate to the day-to-day nuances of living in rural America.
30 Days of Content: A Social Media Workshop Series
This 3-part series breaks social media down into simple, doable steps. You’ll learn how to plan your content, create posts that actually work, and leave with a fully mapped-out 30-day content plan you can start using right away.
-
This workshop shows how AI can simplify social media content creation. Participants will explore tools to brainstorm ideas, write captions, script videos, and repurpose content. Attendees will leave ready to create effective posts with less stress.
-
This workshop introduces essential Canva Pro tools to simplify the design process. Participants will learn how to create clean, consistent visuals using templates, brand kits, and editing features. The session is hands-on, allowing attendees to apply skills directly in Canva Pro.
Pitching Your Business: What Investors Actually Want to Hear
Learn what investors, lenders, and judges actually want to hear. Mike will cover how to structure your pitch, what to include (and what to leave out), and how to communicate your value clearly and confidently. Perfect for entrepreneurs preparing for a competition or pitching to a bank or angel investor.
Presenter: Michael Bockorny, CEO of The 17-20 Group and Economic Development Professionals Association (EDPA) of South Dakota
Michael Bockorny currently serves as the President & CEO of The 17-20 Group. The 17-20 Group serves a number of clients all focused on business development. Mike’s main focus is serving the Economic Development Professionals Association (EDPA) of South Dakota as their CEO; an organization dedicated to the growth and diversification of South Dakota’s economy through professional development, networking, and advocacy. Prior to his current role he served as CEO of the Aberdeen Development Corporation for over 10 years and prior to that worked in the private sector in senior living, the non-profit sector in a university setting and retail development. Michael has served on numerous Boards through the years; including the Northern State University Foundation, Boys and Girls Club, YMCA, Lake Area Technical College and many others.
Michael has founded/co-founded 19 companies throughout the years and has also taught multiple college courses, primarily focusing on entrepreneurship and small business management. Michael’s business ventures include; multi-family rentals, single family housing developments, various commercial ventures including historic downtown restoration projects, a vintage bookstore, and consulting businesses.
How Do I Pay for This? Funding Options for Entrepreneurs
We’re breaking down every realistic way to fund your business in 2026. From what investors actually want, to what banks need from you, to local gap-funding you might not even know about—we’ve got it covered. You’ll leave knowing exactly how to prep for funding conversations and where you fit in the process.
Presenters (Panel):
Tom Eitreim, Enterprise Institute
Lucas Haskins, South Dakota First Capital
Tyler Wenbourne, Dacotah Bank
Tim Hanigan, Aberdeen Development Corporation
Tom Eitreim
*About Tom
Tom Eitreim serves as Executive Director of the Enterprise Institute. In his role, he works as an entrepreneur coach specializing in early-stage financing. He assists high-growth startup companies to create viable business plans and attract both angel and venture capital.
*About Lucas
Lucas Haskins, MBA is a Principal at South Dakota First Capital, a premier venture capital fund investing in early-stage high growth businesses in SD and across the Upper Midwest. In this role he leverages more than 4 years of experience building, launching, and evaluating hundreds of businesses across multiple disciplines such as Agriculture, Food Technology, Electronics, Aerospace, Medical Devices, Marketplaces, B2B and B2C software. He is passionate about building communities of collaboration which work to regularly shatter preconceived ideas for what's possible.
*About Tyler
Tyler is a Business Banker at Dacotah Bank, focused on helping businesses find the right financial solutions. He works closely with clients to support their professional and personal financial goals, serving as a trusted partner in their success.
*About Tim
Tim Hanigan is the CEO of the Aberdeen Development Corporation and the owner of Prairie Tool Company. In his role at ADC, he works with businesses at different stages, supporting growth and expansion across the Aberdeen area, including access to ADC’s revolving loan fund and gap financing programs.
I Just Want to Sell My Stuff: Simple Tax & Accounting for Entrepreneurs
Take the stress out of your business finances! This workshop breaks down the basics in a simple, practical way by covering how to set up your books, what taxes you need to pay attention to, and the common mistakes new entrepreneurs can easily avoid. You’ll walk away with straightforward systems and tools that make managing your money easier all year long.
Presenter: Candi Olson, CPA, Northern State University Professor
*About Candi
Candi Olson has been a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) since 1996. She joined Northern in 2017 as a full-time accounting instructor in the School of Business. Olson’s professional career has spanned more than 20 years in public accounting and industry environments.
While in public accounting, she assisted clients with a variety of tax matters at Deloitte in Minneapolis. After leaving public accounting, she worked in corporate settings including 10 years at Target Corporation, where she managed a team that handled all aspects of multistate corporate income tax planning, reporting, compliance, and controversy.