1 day Ago By Carrie McDermott
GRAND FORKS – Seven area professionals have been named to the Prairie Business magazine’s 2024 list of “40 Under 40.” They are: Andria Pinkerton, senior director of legal services with the Community Violence Intervention Center (CVIC); Brittney Blake, corporate counsel with Altru Health System; Derek Holt, market president for Grand Forks with First Community Credit Union; Holland Slick, financial advisor with Alerus; Sarah Prout, vice president of Marketing & Communications at UND Alumni Association & Foundation; Tony Nordby, civil engineer and office manager at Houston Engineering; and Tyler Verbout, director of finance at DigiKey. ADVERTISEMENT They will be honored at an event in the fall, along with Prairie Business magazine’s other honorees for “Top 25 Women in Business,” and “Leaders and Legacies.
” The 40 Under 40 exceptional professionals include industry executives, administrators, community leaders, entrepreneurs and more. Pinkerton, 36, is the senior director of legal services at the CVIC, where she has practiced civil law for over seven years. She provides trauma-informed representation for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in various civil cases, including family law and protective order hearings.
She advances equity for staff and clients and outreach to marginalized communities. Pinkerton has contributed to successful grant applications for federal funding totaling over $1.3 million for legal services over seven years.
Pinkerton serves as treasurer of the Randy H. Lee American Inns of Court and on the Global Friends Coalition Board, supporting new Americans and refugees. Additionally, she is on the statewide ethics committee for the state bar association and volunteers as a youth girls’ hockey coach.
Blake, 38, serves as corporate counsel at Altru Health System, embodying its mission, vision, and values through her dedication to improving community health in Grand Forks. She’s worked for the CVIC, advocating for victims of interpersonal violence, and later served as a prosecutor in the Grand Forks State’s Attorney’s Office, handling cases of child abuse and domestic violence. Blake inspires others to reach their fullest potential while leading with kindness and compassion.
Beyond her legal work, she has taught dance for over 25 years, creating a safe environment for young people of all backgrounds to express themselves, collaborate, and build self-confidence. Through her various endeavors, Blake consistently makes a positive impact on her community. A lifelong Grand Forks resident, she graduated from Central High School, Point Park University, and the University of North Dakota School of Law.
ADVERTISEMENT Holt, 40, is market president for First Community Credit Union (FCCU) in Grand Forks, and has worked in the financial industry since 2002. In this role, he has changed the whole culture of the Grand Forks market. Holt brought with him a positive attitude and a strong work ethic.
He was able to secure a partnership with UND Athletics in his first year with FCCU. He has a passion for people and the community he serves. Holt provides excellent leadership for FCCU and empowers the team to want to be better people and to give back as much as possible.
His recent work with the UND partnership shows how important community is to him. Holt is involved with many organizations and actively seeks out any opportunities to be involved in the community. His door is always open, and he listens to his team members.
Slick, 32, is a financial advisor with Alerus in Grand Forks, where she collaborates with clients to address their financial needs, from family changes to estate planning, and provides comprehensive guidance to help them achieve their goals. After graduating from UND in 2015, she joined Alerus as a credit analyst, applying her accounting background. She transitioned to financial advising in 2017, a role she’s held for seven years.
As part of the Alerus wealth team, Slick is responsible for managing $4.4 billion in wealth assets under administration as of June 2024. She works with individuals and families across the Northern Plains and nationwide to enhance their long-term financial wellness, positively impacting their lives and contributing to the region’s economic health.
Slick holds several professional designations and licenses in North Dakota and Minnesota. A lifelong learner, she is pursuing the certified private wealth advisor (CPWA) designation, expected in 2025. She has also been active in the Community Foundation of Grand Forks and East Grand Forks and was a member of The Chamber of Grand Forks-East Grand Forks leadership class.
Prout, 39, is the vice president of Marketing & Communications at the UND Alumni Association and Foundation, where she has worked since 2018. During her tenure, she has re-envisioned the UND Alumni Magazine, helped launch the UND Angel Fund, and played a key role in the Nistler College of Business & Public Administration building campaign. Recently, she led marketing and events for the Forever UND campaign, which achieved a record-breaking $100 million in gifts.
ADVERTISEMENT In her role, Prout directs branding and messaging for fundraising campaigns and alumni engagement, overseeing a team responsible for the organization’s image through events, publications, and social media. She is known for her innovative spirit and ability to inspire her team, earning respect within the organization and the community. She and her husband, Tom, have three children.
She leads an active lifestyle, enjoying yoga, running, cycling, swimming, and hiking in her spare time. Nordby, 39, is a civil engineer and office manager at Houston Engineering, Inc. (HEI) in Thief River Falls, Minnesota.
He began his career at HEI by overseeing construction on various flood control and drainage projects in the Red River Basin, focusing on construction quality, quantity tracking, and coordination between project owners and contractors. He quickly transitioned into hydraulic and hydrologic (H&H) modeling and AutoCAD Civil 3D design for rural flood control, drainage, and diversion projects. Nordby has worked closely with the Middle-Snake-Tamarac Rivers Watershed District (MSTRWD), leading client management for over 10 years.
He currently manages multiple watershed districts and county drainage projects, spearheading three capital improvement projects in flood control and stream restoration, along with daily drainage repairs, permit reviews, and engineering services. As a skilled engineer and remarkable leader, Nordby embodies HEI’s core values and the seller-doer model, where professionals handle both sales and service delivery. This approach integrates business development with client work, contributing significantly to HEI’s success.
Verbout, 38, has been with DigiKey in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, for 14 years and has served in several roles including purchasing operations, technology business, finance operations and accounts receivable. In his current role as finance director, he leads a cross-functional team to implement initiatives like a third-party software solution and establish reporting metrics. He is an analytical thinker with a strong attention to detail, which helps him understand business drivers and metrics to lead successful business operations.
Verbout has been instrumental in helping DigiKey create a strong foundation for financial success by helping align DigiKey’s financial strategy, performance and sustainability, a nominator wrote. He has played a key role in helping the company navigate significant growth and manage through dynamic market cycles. He has helped champion the integration of new financial technology, helping foster a culture of transparency and accountability while building a strong team to support finance operations and planning throughout the business.
ADVERTISEMENT Verbout has a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting and a Bachelor of Business Administration, Finance, from the University of Minnesota, Duluth..
