Business View Magazine | December 2018

176 177 HECTOR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT tlstroh.com 701.239.4198 TL Stroh is a full-service Architectural and Interior Design firm based in Fargo, North Dakota. Founded in 1990, the firm is committed to fulfilling clients’ needs while developing efficient and innovative design solu- tions. A 1929 building in Historic Downtown Fargo, ren- ovated by TL Stroh as their office, is a striking example of the company’s signature architectural style – a style visible in outstanding projects they have completed throughout North Dakota, as well as in the states of Minnesota, Oregon, Arizona, Texas, and Montana. Of course, none of this success would be possible without the TL Stroh people; a wealth of talented, high- ly-skilled individuals committed to the group effort. Their dedication and passion is what makes the team work, the company work... Founded in 1990 with only three employees, the well-established firm now designs and manages millions of dollars in construction each year. Approximately half of that work is for institutional clients such as cities, counties, state agencies and universities. The remaining is private sector work including corporate facilities, technology facilities, healthcare, reli- gious, restorations, a variety of interior design commissions, and residential projects for discerning individual clients. Moving forward under the philosophy, “Great Relation- ships Produce Great Buildings”, TL Stroh has formed a very loyal client base, while also garnering multiple awards of distinction for design and material use. A focus on com- munication throughout the design and construction process, and attention to construction details, ensures a smooth, on-schedule building process. Working in this atmosphere of open dialogue and mutual respect, the firm creates truly exceptional buildings and unique solutions that exceed cli- ent expectations and raise the company’s status as a leader in architecture and design. TL STROH ARCHITECTS & INTERIORS Airlines. The Airport is also home to the Fargo Air National Guard and a unit of the North Dakota Air National Guard, as well as 190 general aviation and corporate aircraft. Shawn A. Dobberstein has been Hector Inter- national’s Executive Director since 1997,when he replaced Joe Parmer,who had been Airport Director for the previous 50 years.He reports that the Air- port is 100 percent self-sufficient for its day-to-day operations, subsisting on revenues derived from the parking lot, car rentals, landing fees, terminal rents, and a percentage of the gross revenues from field businesses, such as its FBOs, the gift shop, etc. “We do collect some taxmoney from the City of Fargo,”Dobberstein adds.“State statute allows airport authorities to collect up to four mills within their taxing jurisdiction.We’re only collecting two mills, just under $900,000 per year,which is direct- ed to a construction fund.We use those dollars to match federal grants; if it’s a 90 percent federal project, it comes down to five percent state and five percent local.We can onlyuse city-generated reve- nue to purchase items eligible under the Airport Improvement Program or the Passenger Facility Charge Program, such as snowremoval or aircraft rescue or firefighting equipment,as well asmarketing.” Another current revenue generator is a farming operation that takes up about half of the Airport’s 4,000 acre footprint.“We went on a huge buying spree back in 2004-08, and bought a lot of property off the end of our primary runway,” notes Dob- berstein. “All of that is farmland.We rent it out to others; they come in and farm it and we generate cash rent off of that – about $300,000 a year.We also have some non-aeronautical businesses in our former passenger terminal, which was con- structed in 1953 and closed in 1986 when the current terminal building opened. Our tenants in-