Sona is the Entrepreneur Coach and Start-up Specialist here at the Center for Innovation. Her days here are never the same as she meets with students, faculty, and staff to coach and mentor and instruct in their start-up journey. When she isn’t meeting with people, she typically works on improving and managing the programs in her portfolio.
Tell us a little bit about yourself!
I was born and raised in the former Czechoslovakia/ Czech Republic. I love to dance, I own a dog and a bearded dragon, I speak 5 languages – various skill level, and I am learning how to keep plants alive (gardening).
What college did you attend and what was your major?
My alma mater is Vysoka Skola Banska – Technicka Universita Ostrava, in Ostrava, Czech Republic. It is a university with a primary focus on engineering degrees. I earned an MBA in public finance and public policy and nonprofits from there.
What is your favorite book or movie?
Movie – Divine Secrets of the YaYa Sisterhood or Spanglish. Book – Essentialism by Greg McKeown
If you could drop everything and go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
The Czech Republic. But I love to travel, so I could go to Iceland, Italy, or Turkey!
What is your favorite thing to do in your free time?
Sleep, work out, cook, and read. Oh, and travel. And dance. I need more free time!
What is your favorite part of living in Grand Forks?
Everything is within a very reasonable distance in town, and the rush hour is very short.
What is your favorite part about working at CFI?
My role allows me to be creative, use my strengths, and work on the things I enjoy – developing relationships with students, faculty, and staff, build and grow programs, and witness cool things in the making.
Tamara Bertram, our Innovation Training Specialist, recently attended CPSI (Creative Problem-Solving Institute), an annual conference dedicated to exploring and fostering creativity and innovation. It brings together a diverse group of professionals, educators, and innovators to share insights, learn new techniques, and collaborate on solving complex problems using creative methods. The conference includes various workshops, keynote speeches, and networking opportunities, all aimed at enhancing participants’ creative problem-solving skills.
Tamara facilitated a session called, “From Bach to Brainwaves: Music’s Power to Boost Concentration and Imagination”. This session was designed to understand how music can help you focus and spark new ideas. From musical warm-ups to background music set to the right mood, music can enrich any classroom, workshop, or creative problem-solving session. This session is unique as it offers strategies for educators and facilitators to use music in a way that is approachable and easy to implement in any classroom or training situation. With this session, you will learn how to effectively use music to encourage creativity and discover fun ways to incorporate music activities without needing a background in music.
She also attended and completed CPS Level 3: Creative Problem-Solving Facilitation Techniques.
Level 3: Facilitating CPS
Facilitation skills are central to the effective use of CPS, whether in formal meetings or informal brainstorming sessions. This course is designed for those who already know the CPS process in theory and are ready to put it into action as a facilitator. This course uses peer-group practices to prepare participants for working with actual clients. Through this course Tamara learned how to facilitate each step of the CPS process.
Other sessions were all breakout-style in the afternoons, all with different topics. Afternoon sessions offered practical and inspiring models to help attendees assess their work, life, and options for a more satisfying professional path.
“Life Strategic Planning” tackled common feelings of burnout and provided four mental models to bring clarity and prioritize effective next steps.
“Why Isn’t Creativity a School Subject?” introduced Create 8, a curriculum addressing the gaps in creativity education and interactive and reflective learning methods.
“Flightpath”, participants developed strategic plans using Creative Problem Solving (CPS) and business tools.
“The Hero’s Journey” workshop connected personal creative journeys to the archetypal hero’s journey, offering insights for living a creative life.
“Solo Genius is a Myth” emphasized the importance of social relationships in creativity, guiding participants to map their social capital for better productivity and well-being.
Each session combined adult learning techniques, interactive strategies, and personalized action plans to enhance engagement and learning outcomes
The Empathy Map is a powerful tool used in Design Thinking to better understand users’ needs, behaviors, and experiences. This tool helps businesses and individuals step into the shoes of their users or customers to create more user-centered solutions.
How to Use the Empathy Map:
Define Your User. Clearly identify the user or customer segment you are focusing on. Create a persona to represent this user.
Divide the Map into Sections. The Empathy Map is divided into four quadrants:
Says: What does the customer say out loud in interviews or public?Thinks: What does the customer think about, but might not say out loud? Consider their worries and aspirations.Does: What actions and behaviors does the customer exhibit?
Feels: What emotions is the customer experiencing?
Collect Data. Use various methods such as interviews, surveys, observations, and user feedback to gather information about your customer.
Identify Pain Points and Opportunities. Analyze the Empathy Map to identify the customer’s pain points, frustrations, needs, and desires. Look for patterns and insights that can inform your business or marketing.
Benefits of the Empathy Map:
Deeper Understanding: Provides a comprehensive view of the customer’s experience.
User-Centered Solutions: Helps create solutions that are more aligned with the customer’s actual needs and emotions.
Enhanced Communication: Facilitates better communication and understanding among team members by providing a shared reference point.
Innovative Thinking: Encourages thinking beyond traditional solutions by focusing on the customer’s perspective.
Applying the Empathy Map in Business and Life:
In Business:
Product Development: Use the Empathy Map to design products that better meet user needs.
Customer Service: Improve customer service strategies by understanding customer emotions and behaviors.
Marketing: Create marketing messages that resonate with the target audience’s feelings and thoughts.
In Life:
Personal Relationships: Gain insights into the thoughts and feelings of friends and family to improve communication and empathy.
Problem-Solving: Approach personal challenges by understanding your own thoughts, feelings, actions, and spoken words.
Career Planning: Reflect on your own experiences and aspirations to make informed career decisions.
The Empathy Map is a versatile tool that can be adapted to various contexts, helping both businesses and individuals develop deeper insights and more effective solutions.
Haylee is CFI’s Marketing Outreach Coordinator, she is responsible for developing, creating, and managing the Center for Innovation’s marketing and outreach activities (digital and physical assets). She also plans events and assists with outreach for our various programs. She also assesses, monitors, and analyses CFI’s marketing and outreach efforts!
Tell us a little bit about yourself!
I graduated from UND Spring 2023, and I have been at CFI since July 2023. I’m originally from Valley City, ND! I’ve always loved writing, photography, editing, and being involved in various clubs/organizations. In college I found my passion for social media by holding social media/Marketing positions for my sorority, Alpha Phi, and on the UND Student Government Executive board!
What college did you attend and what was your major?
I attended the University of North Dakota! I studied English and Communication,
What is your favorite book or movie?
My favorite book is The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, it’s a short & easy read but also very meaningful!
I have a lot of favorite movies, but I think my favorite is The Truman Show.
If you could drop everything and go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
I would go to Norway; I’ve always wanted to go!
What is your favorite part of living in Grand Forks?
Grand Forks has a very welcoming and tight knit community, wherever I go I feel like I always run into someone I know and chat with them! I’m from a small town and Forks reminds me of home but also has a lot of opportunities! I also love the green way and beautiful ND sunsets 😊
What is your favorite part about working at CFI?
I’ve learned SO much through my position at CFI! We work with so many interesting people and companies. I love getting to work with my interns on creating content, organizing events, and working on developing their skills! My coworkers also make work a fun place to be!
Jeff is CFI’s Economic Competitiveness Officer. He recently joined our team and his day is usually spent engaging with people across the UAS sector to facilitate the completion of use tests/flight demonstrations specific to a grant that CFI is working on.
Tell me a little bit about yourself!
I am a lifelong resident of ND and claim Michigan, ND as my hometown. I have called Grand Forks home since 1984. I am married, have an adult daughter and two cocker spaniels who have their own Instagram account, (@bailey_nd_oakley_nd). Prior to joining the Center for Innovation I worked in the field of sports medicine as a Certified Athletic Trainer and was a partner in a local/regional group of outpatient physical therapy clinics.
What college did you attend and what was your major?
I received my undergraduate degree from UND in 1987 and my MBA from Troy State in 2001.
What is your favorite book or movie?
I can’t really say I have an outright favorite for either. However, there are several movies that I can quote almost verbatim.
If you could drop everything and go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
I would have to say the Holy Land
What is your favorite thing to do in your free time?
Although there are several activities I enjoy, my favorite thing to do is to just hang out and connect with family.
What is your favorite part of living in Grand Forks?
There are many things I love about this community, but I will have to say attending UND hockey games tops the list.
What is your favorite part about working at CFI?
I love the camaraderie and willingness of the team to help each other out. The open exchange of information is refreshing and extremely beneficial.
When it comes to solving complex business problems, many companies invest weeks, if not months, in extensive meetings, project planning, and strategy sessions. But in today’s fast-paced environment, businesses need results quickly—and that’s where Solution Sprints come in. In just two hours, you can go from challenge to actionable solutions, saving both time and money. Let’s dive into how this process works and why it’s more efficient than traditional methods.
What Is a Solution Sprint? A Solution Sprint is a rapid, focused problem-solving session designed to deliver fast, practical solutions to your business challenges. In just two hours, your team moves through a structured process that includes defining the problem, brainstorming, prototyping, and creating a clear action plan. Unlike longer, traditional processes that can stretch for weeks, a Solution Sprint allows you to tackle specific issues quickly and efficiently.
How Does a Solution Sprint Save You Time? Traditional problem-solving methods often require multiple rounds of meetings, discussions, and decision-making. This process can be slow, costly, and ineffective, especially for businesses that need fast solutions. In contrast, a Solution Sprint condenses the entire process into just two hours, helping teams get straight to the point without losing momentum.
Consider this: Weeks vs. Hours: A typical strategic planning session might take days or weeks to complete, whereas a Solution Sprint delivers actionable results in just two hours. That’s a time savings of over 90%. Rapid Decision-Making: Teams are forced to make quicker decisions during a sprint, leading to faster results. No more endless back-and-forth.
How Does a Solution Sprint Save You Money? Every hour spent in meetings or deliberation costs money. Whether it’s the cost of pulling your team away from day-to-day tasks, the fees for external consultants, or the opportunity cost of delayed decisions, traditional problem-solving can be expensive. Here’s how a Solution Sprint saves you money:
Real-World Examples: Businesses Benefiting from Solution Sprints Many businesses have already turned to Solution Sprints for their problem-solving needs and seen impressive results. Here are a few examples:
TruHome Property Solutions: TruHome faced a challenge getting employees to engage with their software platform and CRM system. Through a Solution Sprint, the team developed a strategy to educate employees on the benefits of the CRM, block time on their calendars for using it, and empower staff with more autonomy. They also identified informal influencers within the company to promote adoption. As a result, TruHome saw a significant increase in employee engagement with the CRM, improving overall productivity.
Techguru: Techguru struggled with the onboarding of new employees, and their previous process felt disjointed and time-consuming. The Solution Sprint helped them design a streamlined, engaging training platform with videos that made onboarding fun and efficient. The outcome? New hires were onboarded faster and with a much more positive experience, reducing time spent in the orientation phase and increasing early employee engagement.
A Faster, More Efficient Way to Solve Problems Time is money, and in today’s competitive business landscape, both are precious resources. By investing in a two-hour Solution Sprint, you can quickly solve pressing challenges, get your team back to work, and see results sooner. Whether you’re launching a new product, improving internal processes, or tackling a unique business challenge, Solution Sprints offer a faster, more cost-effective way to innovate.
Ready to save time and money with a Solution Sprint? Sign up now for an upcoming session!
Amy is the Director here at CFI. She can be seen helping with all kinds of things including coaching many cool and unique start-ups working on innovative technologies, mentoring her amazing staff, and if she’s not doing that she’s probably in a meeting. We are honored to have Amy as our leader at CFI! Read more below to get to know her a little more!
Tell me a little bit about yourself!
I grew up in Northern Vermont, I love hiking and being outside. I’m a mother of a graduating senior in 2025. I started playing golf two years ago, and I love creativity and innovation!
Amy working with student
What college did you attend and what was your major?
I attended Clark University (Government & MBA); Northeastern University (Doctorate in Education; Dissertation Focus: Creativity, Innovation & Entrepreneurial Education)
What is your favorite book or movie?
Favorite book – A more Beautiful Question by Warren Berger; Favorite movie – “American President”
If you could drop everything and go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
The Canadian Rockies
What is your favorite thing to do in your free time?
Go for walks!
What is your favorite part of living in Grand Forks?
The Greenway, for the great walking trails and recreation, and hanging out with friends!
Looking to come up with wild, breakthrough ideas? Try assumption reversal. Here’s how it works:
List your assumptions about a particular concept—say, restaurants.
Reverse those assumptions.
Use these new, flipped ideas to brainstorm a unique restaurant concept.
For example, if you assume restaurants are sit-down places with waitstaff, reverse it: what if there were no waitstaff, and customers served themselves in a high-tech, interactive space? Suddenly, you’re exploring fresh concepts that could revolutionize the dining experience.
Assumptions about Restaurants:
Consistent quality
Reasonable wait times
Menu variety
Convenient location
Now, let’s flip these assumptions for fresh ideas:
Inconsistent quality – What if every visit was intentionally different? A dynamic, rotating menu or surprise dish options could add excitement.
Slow service – Imagine a restaurant that makes waiting a feature, with engaging activities or mini-courses served during the wait.
Limited menu – What if the restaurant focused on just one or two specialty items, perfecting them rather than offering variety?
Unconventional location – How could a restaurant thrive in an unexpected place, like a pop-up in an industrial warehouse or a remote area with an exclusive shuttle service?
This approach challenges norms and could inspire innovative ideas for new dining experiences! You can use this method with any challenge you are facing and create a truly unique idea to help find a solution!
Zahra is CFI’s Technical Grant Writer, and she is our only remote employee! She collaborates closely with her colleagues and clients from both academia and industry. Her primary responsibility is to facilitate the development of grant proposals submitted to federal agencies, state organizations, and private foundations.
What college did you attend and what was your major?
I earned my PhD in Biomedical Sciences from the University of North Dakota.
What is your favorite book or movie?
My favorite book is “Franny and Zooey” by J.D. Salinger and my favorite movie is “A Beautiful Mind”.
If you could drop everything and go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
I would go to Paris, France.
What is your favorite thing to do in your free time?
I enjoy watching TV shows that discuss and critique movies.
How do you keep yourself focused while working remotely?
To ensure consistent focus while working remotely, I’ve developed a daily routine that closely replicates an office setting. I use a designated, distraction-free workspace to enhance productivity and organization. To manage my tasks effectively, I utilize time-blocking techniques, allocating specific times for each task punctuated by brief breaks to maintain mental clarity. Additionally, I prioritize tasks and track programs on projects using the Monday platform, which helps me stay on top of deadlines and commitments. Regular interaction with my team via virtual meetings and our Teams platform is essential, as it keeps me connected and contributes to our shared objectives.
What is your favorite part about working at CFI?
My favorite aspect of working at CFI is the professional and supportive team environment. The collaboration among colleagues is not only seamless but also genuinely encouraging, fostering a workspace where everyone feels valued and motivated. This positive atmosphere enhances our collective ability to tackle challenges.
