Meet The Team

Hi there! Originally, I’m from Erskine, MN, but have called Grand Forks home for the past 20+ years…gulp! I’ve worked in the marketing, communications, and event industry since graduating from UND, and have had the privilege to serve my community through involvement in various organizations, service clubs, and boards over the years. If I’m not at the office, you’ll probably find me outside. I’m always up for drinks on a patio, a good bonfire, camping, and hikes through the woods with my husband, Josh, and our two goldendoodles, Winston & Hazel. From October-April, I have a standing weekly appointment with a slick pair of shoes, an 8 lb. ball, and a Domino’s thin crust (jalapeno, pineapple, onion and roasted red pepper…in case you’re wondering) at the bowling alley. I love game nights with friends, music, good food, sweatpants, and travel. I dream of having a little farm full of barnyard critters – a Brown Swiss cow, donkey, a couple of goats, pigs, a sheep or two and maybe an alpaca.

Hi, I'm the wizard behind the curtain. It all started when I was in my high school media arts class working on a PowerPoint project. [I loved art, but was just introduced to computers at that time – Yes! I’m that old] Once I got a taste for graphic design, I was hooked! I spent my college years studying typography and design; and have been a designer for 20+ years.

I grew up in a small town in northwest Minnesota, graduated from UND, and now live in East Grand Forks with my husband and two active boys (15 & 12) who keep me running. When I’m not working, you’ll find me at the football field, a gym, or baseball diamond. I was blessed to have grown up with sports in my life, and I continue to, and enjoy, making it a priority today. Outside of design, family, and sports, I love singing at my church, spending time at the lake, swinging some golf sticks, and hitting up a good restaurant every now and then. Life can get crazy real fast, and though I love the fast pace, I enjoy the quiet moments, too.

​Hello! I’m Marla DeFoe. I grew up in small town North Dakota and came to Grand Forks for college. I never left! I am living in Thompson, ND with my husband, two children (17 & 13), and my black cat, Odin. I love volunteering with the local communities in Thompson and Grand Forks, working with the Public Arts Commission, Downtown Development Association, and Thompson Theater Arts, just to name a few. I have recently lent my voice to the GFisCooler campaign as a blogger, which has been so much fun! In my free time, you can find me anywhere there is good food and live entertainment. I pride myself on my musical and pop culture trivia knowledge. If you want to get me out of the house, just invite me out for tacos.

A wife, and a mom of six (two sets of twins), I enjoy being a part of the Grand Cities region, where I have lived my entire life. I graduated from Northland Community & Technical College in East Grand Forks. When Amazon.com was in Grand Forks, I started my career by managing a temporary team of 75+ employees. I have now been an employee at BBI International for almost 20 years! I love to meet new people and find myself interested in hearing their individual stories. When I have the chance, I take advantage of any spontaneous singing opportunity, enjoy the outdoor sunshine, spend time with my family, and relish in my passion for cleaning & organizing.

Hello! I'm Danielle Piekarski. I grew up in Northern Minnesota and moved to Grand Forks to attend UND in 2019. The University and the Grand Forks area felt so welcoming and homelike, which made my college choice an easy decision. I graduated from UND in May 2022 and decided to stay awhile. Some of my favorite things to do in the area are to attend live music events, play frisbee golf, and go for walks in the beautiful local parks.

Hey everyone! I am a Grand Forks native, however I spent six years living in Denver before moving back to town with my wife Jill to raise our family. I have a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Dakota and a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Mary, Bismarck. My career has been spent in the world of marketing and sales, yet music and sports will always be my life passions. While minoring in music as a student at UND, I was a member of the UND Jazz Band where I traveled to Switzerland to perform in the Montreux Jazz Festival along with other venues in Austria and Italy. I was also a drummer in many performances for Summer Performing Arts (SPA), including the original Keep the Faith production as well as local bands Drambuee, Fatlip, Groove Union and The New Hi-fi and have made guest appearances with Jazz on Tap. I even had the opportunity to play with Bo Diddly during his 75th Anniversary Tour in Grand Forks! For the last several years, I’ve been playing gigs across the region with the local band, Paint the Town, as well as the contemporary service band at Calvary Lutheran church.

When I’m not behind the drum set or at work, you can find me at the lake, playing a mean game of racquetball (where I may or may not get the occasional black eye), or shuttling my daughters to various activities. Recently, I became a board member of the Public Arts Commission where I can lend my marketing knowledge and be a voice for local artists. I currently live in Grand Forks with my wife Jill and my two daughters, Miabella (12) and Juliet (9).