MAY 2025 - PART 2

May 1st, our Chamber had the honor of hosting the second Annual Military Family Appreciation Night at Dockside. The event celebrates the strength, sacrifice, and resilience of our local military families.

With laughter echoing and a warm, welcoming crowd of families and volunteers, the night was filled with connection, gratitude, and heartfelt appreciation. Guests enjoyed a delicious meal of hot dogs and burgers generously provided by Cedar Inn, along with custom patriotic cookies from ND Coffee Connection—a sweet touch that made the evening even more memorable. 

We also want to give a big thank-you to our community partners—Devils Lake Cars, First Community Credit Union, NDTC, Real Estate 7, Service Member Family Support, and State Farm – LeeAnn Overby for setting up booths with extra games, prizes, and activities that made the night even more special for our military families.

A final thank you to everyone who attended, volunteered, or helped spread the word!! 

Executive Director Suzie Kenner and Marketing Coordinator Veranna Schindele attended the North Dakota Travel Industry Conference held in Minot, April 28 - 30. The annual conference is a statewide gathering of tourism professionals, hospitality leaders, and marketing experts dedicated to shaping the future of travel and tourism across North Dakota.

Throughout the three-day event, we gained valuable insight into the state of the travel industry, participated in sessions focused on emerging trends, destination marketing, and community engagement, and explored new ways to strengthen and promote Devils Lake as a must-visit destination.

We were proud to join a strong showing from our own region, including representatives from Spirit Lake Casino & Resort, Ski Jump Adventures, and Woodland Resort—a true testament to the Lake Region’s commitment to growing tourism and elevating visitor experiences. We were also thrilled to see local community member KJ Greywater take the stage as a panelist during one of the breakout sessions, sharing insights that brought both expertise and local perspective to the table.

Events like this not only inspire fresh ideas but also reinforce the power of collaboration. Together, we’re shaping a vibrant and welcoming future for tourism in the Devils Lake area.

Grab your partner, dust off your gear, and get signed up for one of Devils Lake’s most anticipated fishing events of the year!! The 49th Annual Chamber Walleye Tournament is quickly approaching!

New in 2025, the Chamber Walleye Tournament is a Tier 1 Event with Lund Champions Club! Lund Boat Owners can be eligible for up to $10,000 in additional prizes!

Marketing Coordinator Veranna Schindele represented Devils Lake Tourism at the International Roundup Conference (IRU) in Rapid City, South Dakota May 6-9. IRU is a key tourism event that connects U.S. destinations with international and domestic tour operators from around the globe.

Veranna focused on promoting Devils Lake and the state of North Dakota to travel professionals looking to build itineraries that feature authentic, welcoming, and adventure-filled destinations. Over the course of the conference, she completed over 40 back-to-back 10-minute appointments, building strong international connections and planting the seeds for future inclusion of Devils Lake in global travel offerings.

North Dakota had a strong presence at the event, including Fred Walker, Global Marketing Manager for North Dakota Tourism, as well as tourism professionals from Fargo, Minot, Watford City, Medora, Bismarck-Mandan, the North Dakota Native Tourism Alliance, and MHA Tourism.

 Together, these representatives showcased the state’s diverse attractions and cultural experiences to a wide-reaching audience of travel decision-makers.

This conference was an exciting step forward in increasing Devils Lake’s international visibility—and we’re eager to see how these new relationships grow into opportunities that bring more travelers to our incredible community.

On Sunday, June 8, the Children’s Mobility Awareness Festival, will be taking place at Lakewood Park. The event is focused on inclusivity and mobility awareness. The festival will coincide with a very special moment with the park’s new wheelchair-accessible boat lift. This innovative installation will ensure that everyone, regardless of ability, has the opportunity to experience the joy of fishing in our beautiful lake.

To make this event a success, we need volunteers! Whether it’s helping with set-up, assisting families during activities, or simply offering a welcoming smile, your time and energy will help create a fun experience for all.

What is the Sunshine Clinic's favorite thing about being a business in Devils Lake? 
It is located in Downtown with a small town feel and so is the medical care with all the modern conveniences. Everything is within walking distance. We are proud to serve people with no transportation.  

It is private healthcare at its best.

Tell us something unique about your business.
“PAYING IT FORWARD” The Sunshine Clinic is unique in that we are grooming our own children in the community for successful careers. We are proud to give back to the community and have summer students with hands on experience !

Since April 2020 Mattea jumped into the clinic during the heat of COVID-19 pandemic and served passionately through the summer and recently received her "White Coat" as a Physician's Assistant at Loma Linda University in Loma Linda, CA. 

Summer 2021 and summer 2022 we had Joyful Autum, and she is pursuing her degree in Nutrition at University of North Dakota.   

Ellie, with her excellent professionalism, served us, the end of summer 2021. She is a proud graduate of University of Mary in Bismarck and back to serve our community as a registered nurse.  

Rachel was the first person to say hello at the Clinic as soon as you walked in while pursuing her online degree in Business Administration at Mcville University from 2022 to 20024. We are proud to have her home and working at LRSC. 

Kenzie is only in high school and doing great things behind the scenes since summer 2024. She just participated in the National Arts Competition this month and they are heading to the Nationals!    

Hallie, with her warm gentle voice and kindness joined us in the summer of 2024. She is at Concordia (MN) pursuing her Pre-Medical degree and will be coming back this summer!

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The Technical Skills Training Grant offers North Dakota employers a chance to strengthen their teams and close workforce gaps while getting reimbursed for doing it! The program provides cost-share assistance for eligible training programs that develop technical skills in high-demand occupations. Businesses, nonprofits, and industry associations are eligible to apply.

Whether you're onboarding new employees, reskilling current staff, or building partnerships with training providers, this grant is a valuable tool. Reimbursement is available for both internal and third-party instruction, with funding cycles open throughout the year.

Learn more about the Technical Skills Training Grant here!

Upcoming Events

May 16 - LRSC Graduation

May 16 - Booster Club Steak Fry

May 22 - End of an ERA Dance Party

May 30 - 33rd Annual Devils Run

For a full calendar of community events, click here!

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