Schafer named honorary chair of Business Challenge 30th Anniversary

Edward T. Schafer to present at Business Challenge’s 30th Anniversary

Former North Dakota Governor Edward T. Schafer has been named honorary chair of the Business Challenge 2007. Business Challenge, celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, is a week-long entrepreneurial business camp held on the Dickinson State University campus in Dickinson, N.D. and historic Medora each summer.

Participants learn entrepreneurial skills, listen to motivational speakers, engage in hands-on activities and earn credit by running a mock business. Educator companies build teacher networks and learn to integrate the “real world” into classroom activities. High school students learn about career opportunities in North Dakota and gain fundamental business skills.

Schafer’s late father, Harold Schafer, played a vital role in establishing Business Challenge and served as the very first Honorary Chair 30 years ago.

“I am honored to represent Business Challenge as Honorary Chair for its 30th anniversary,” Schafer said. “My father’s love for North Dakota, and especially her young people, is legendary. I am working hard to continue in my father’s footsteps by educating our youth on the importance of leadership, entrepreneurship, networking and decision making. These are skills that will lead people to success in life and in business throughout our state.”

Schafer was born and raised in Bismarck and graduated from the University of North Dakota in 1969 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. He received a master’s degree from the University of Denver a year later. He then returned to work at his father's Gold Seal Company, where he had started in the mailroom when he was 14 years old. He worked in most of the divisions of the company, including the Medora division, and eventually was elected President. During his tenure, the company saw a 50% increase in sales and the net worth tripled. Gold Seal was sold in 1986 and the Medora division was spun off into a public foundation.
In 1992 Schafer was elected Governor of North Dakota and four years later was reelected with 67% of the vote, becoming the first Republican in the state's history to be elected to a second four-year term. During his time in office he identified economic development, education and fiscal discipline as his top priorities. Schafer also focused on technology. He received the Internet Leadership Award in 1999 from the United States Internet Council for his pioneering work with technology in state government.

“During the eight years I served as North Dakota’s Governor, I saw more clearly the value in providing our youth with opportunities to gain hands-on experience in business. The week-long experience of Business Challenge is one-of-a-kind and provides a tremendous opportunity,” Schafer said.

The former Governor currently serves on the University of Mary Harold Schafer Leadership Program Strategic Committee, University of North Dakota Foundation and Alumni Boards, The Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation Board of Directors and Northern Lights Council (Boy Scouts) Board of Directors. He founded and serves as Chair of The North Dakota Wheelchair Foundation.

Schafer also remains committed to connecting North Dakota’s rural areas to the rest of the world and is continuing that work now in the private sector. He was a co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Extend America, a start-up company with plans to provide a high-speed voice and data infrastructure in five states in the Midwest.  The mission of Extend America is to bridge the digital divide by providing access to medical care, distance education and commerce in rural areas.  Extend America was sold to Sprint in 2006.

Schafer and his wife, Nancy, live in Fargo and have 4 children and 8 grandchildren.