.jpg)
The second annual Central Dakota Student Career Expo will be happening on Wednesday, November 4, 2026 from 8:30am- 2:30pm at the Bismarck Event Center! The Central Dakota Student Career Expo creates a meaningful connection between students and local businesses, giving high schoolers the opportunity to explore industries, discover career paths, and gain insight into their futures.
Exhibitor List
Acme Tools
Advanced Mechanical, Inc.
Agtegra Cooperative
Anne Carlsen Center
Boilermakers Local # 647
Basin Electric Power Cooperative
BEK Communications Cooperative
Benedictine Living Community-Bismarck
Bismarck State College
BNC National Bank
BNI Coal, Ltd.
Bobcat
Brady Martz
Burleigh County Sheriff
Butler Machinery Company
Capital City Construction, Inc.
Century 21 Morrison Realty
CHI St. Alexis Health
City Air Mechanical
City of Bismarck
City of Mandan
Coca-Cola High Country Bottling Company
Dakota College at Bottineau
Dakota Home Care
Dakota Zoo
Dakotas Electrical Apprenticeship
Edgewood
Eide Bailly
Eide Ford-Lincoln
Energy & Environmental Research Center- UND
Farm Credit Services of Mandan
Fisher Industries
Gate City Bank - Bismarck
General Equipment & Supplies
H.A. Thompson & Sons, Inc.
Harvestone Low Carbon Partners
Interstate Engineering
Kinder Morgan
Kirkwood Bank & Trust
Knife River
Lake Region State College
LATC Lake Area Technical College
Mayville State University
MDU Resources | Montana-Dakota Utilities | WBI Energy
Metro Area Ambulance
Minot State University
Missouri Slope
Missouri Valley Family YMCA
NISC
North American Coal
North Dakota Area Health Education Center
North Dakota Army National Guard
North Dakota Department of Emergency Services, Strategic
North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources
North Dakota Department of Transportation
North Dakota Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
North Dakota Highway Patrol
North Dakota JATC
North Dakota Rural Water Systems Association
North Dakota State College of Science
North Dakota State University
Northern Improvement Co.
Northern Plains Rail Services
Northwest Contracting
Plains Ag/Northern Plains Equipment
Pride Inc.
Puklich Chevrolet
RDO Equipment Co.
ReadiTech Engineering
Richardson Pasta Company
Roers Construction
Sanford Health
Securitas Security USA
Tecta America Dakotas
Thrifty White
TownSquare Media (Radio/MC)
TrueNorth Steel
UND
United Tribes Technical College
University of Mary
University of MN Crookston
Wallwork Truck Center
WRT
FAQs
Wednesday, November 4th, 2026
Bismarck Event Center
8:30am – 2:30pm CST
Friday, October 2nd, 2026
Monday, October 12th, 2026
- Tuesday, November 3rd from 3:00-7:00pm
- If you have registered for a booth space larger than 10 x 20 and will be bringing large equipment, we are requiring you to set up during this time.
- Wednesday, November 4th from 6:30-8:00am
8:30 a.m.
11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m
2:30 p.m.
2:30-3:30pm
Yes.
Yes, subject to availability during set up.
Yes, exhibitor communications will include updated attendee information closer to the expo event date.
Click here for those details.
- Bring interactive displays whenever possible.
- Discuss careers, internships, apprenticeships, and educational pathways.
- Bring employees who can share personal career journeys.
- Focus on exploration and engagement with students.
- Bring your own extension cords and power strips.
- Do not attach materials to walls or facility surfaces.
- Propane and bottles gas is prohibited inside the building.
- Vehicle displays require approval and compliance with facility guidelines.
- Vehicle requirements can be found under the “Vehicles on Display” section here: https://bismarckeventcenter.com/host-an-event/exhibitor-information/
Schools Represented in 2025
- Bismarck High School
- Century High School
- Legacy High School
- Mandan High School
- St. Mary's High School
- Standing Rock
- Washburn
- Beulah
- Hazen
- Turtle Lake-Mercer
- Shiloh Christian
- Grant County
- Wilton
- Wing
- Napoleon
- Wishek
- Underwood
- New Salem-Almont
- Kidder County
- Solen
- Center-Stanton
- Flasher
- McClusky-Goodrich
- Glen Ullin
- Homeschool Participants
Looking for more information?
Are you an educator or individual looking to learn more about this event? Please reach out to us at [email protected] to get in touch with our committee!
School Resources
Career Clusters are a roadmap to the world of work. They group related careers and industries—such as healthcare, information technology, design, education, and more—so you can see the bigger picture of where your interests and talents might take you. By exploring clusters, you’ll discover how classroom learning connects to real jobs, and how different paths can lead to exciting opportunities.
It’s important to remember that careers don’t always fit neatly into a single cluster. The skills you build in one area—like problem solving, communication, or technical know-how—can easily transfer into another. In fact, many careers span multiple clusters and require a mix of skills from different fields. Using Career Clusters as a guide helps you think broadly, explore connections across industries, and keep your options open as you plan your future.
A great first step in exploring a professional career in North Dakota is to investigate the sixteen Career Clusters and the associated pathways to that profession.
- Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources
- Architecture & Construction
- Arts, A/V Technology & Communications
- Business Management & Administration
- Education & Training
- Finance
- Government & Public Administration
- Health Science
- Hospitality & Tourism
- Human Services
- Information Technology
- Law, Public Safety, Corrections & Security
- Manufacturing
- Marketing
- Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics
- Transportation, Distribution & Logistics
- Using RUReady.ND.gov, have your students complete the worksheet below before the Expo to help them identify their top three career clusters.
- If your school does not have access to RUReady Advance CTE has some great resources for students.
- Cluster by Cluster Edition: The National Career Clusters Framework Career Interest Survey
- Motivators Edition: The National Career Clusters Framework Career Interest Survey:
- Encourage your students to use the questions below for exhibitors to learn more about the careers that suit their interests and aptitudes!
- What does a typical day look like in your role?
- What education or training do you need for this job?
- What skills are needed in order to do your job?
- What are the most rewarding and most challenging parts of your job?
- What kind of technology, tools, or equipment do you use most often in your work?
- How did you decide on your career pathway?
- What kinds of entry-level jobs are available for high school students in your company?
- What high school classes should I take to prepare for a career in this field?
- Exhibitors will have signage at their booths listing the Career Clusters their company represents at the Expo. *As the expo gets closer, we will link the exhibitors and their corresponding career clusters here.*
.png)
Committee Members
Annie Noonan - National Information Solutions Cooperative (NISC)
Ashley Weightman – Interstate Engineering
Jared Mack - Eide Bailly
Kasey Janz - Bismarck Public Schools
Keith Schmaltz - Northwest Contracting
Kevin Allan - University of Mary
Kim Jensen – Central Region Area Career and Technical Center (CRACTC)
Kristi Heupel - Job Service North Dakota
Laura Henkelman - Bismarck Public Schools
Leanne Schmidt - City of Bismarck
Linae Enockson - Sanford Health
Micaela Ranisate - Starion Bank
Micaela Thomas - Job Service North Dakota
Paige Jensen - Mandan Public Schools
Pete Rubke - Bismarck Public Schools
Shannon Balerud - Bismarck Public Schools
Adam Vogel – Bismarck Mandan Chamber EDC
Mel Hammons – Bismarck Mandan Chamber EDC
Annie Seidler – Bismarck State College
Justin Folsom – Bismarck State College
Kaitlyn Duncan- City of Bismarck