Fargo Area Woman: MaryJane Nipstad

Education: B.S. Business Administration with minors in Finance and Marketing, MSUM
Business: Vice President-Client Services, BlackRidgeBANK
Community Volunteering: Board Member Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Red River Valley, United Way of Cass Clay, YWCA of Cass Clay

It is hard to imagine MaryJane in work clothes laboring in a hay field during the hot final days of summer. MaryJane did just that. Most people do not know that she grew up on a cattle farm in central North Dakota, started driving tractor at age 15 and spent her summers in the hay field cutting and baling hay. MaryJane said,” I feel my work ethic and determination came from my experiences growing up on a farm.”

MaryJane’s work ethic, determination and perseverance have been key attributes during her college years, first employment and today as a bank executive. While in college, MaryJane not only had her major area of study but also tacked on two rigorous minors - all while working two to three jobs which added up to fulltime employment.

After college, MaryJane joined Community First which then bought out by Bank of the West in 2004. She was with Bank of the West for two years and then joined the executive management of BlackRidgeBANK which was started by former executives with Community First.

Now as the BlackRidge VP of Client Services and working in a male dominated industry, MaryJane strives to work quickly and efficiently and to work proactively with male co-workers. She mentioned that theirs is a quickly changing industry especially since banks have a strong on-line presence and take advantage of the latest technical opportunities to streamline client services.

MaryJane also needs to respond rapidly to banking rules and regulations that can change quickly. MaryJane said that she enjoys being employed in a smaller company because she can move projects along faster and more efficiently than if she was with a very large bank.....