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Agenda

Virtual Exhibit Hall

Speaker Biographies

Keynote Address
No Bad Days: How to Live the Rest of Your Life Without Having Another Bad Day
Hunter Pinke

After becoming a paraplegic in a skiing accident during the winter of 2019, North Dakota native Hunter Pinke was told by health professionals that he would have good days and bad days going forward. He told them they were wrong. He doesn’t have bad days. Hunter has learned to stack good days upon good days and live a life of gratefulness and joy. Hunter will help you:

• learn where joy truly comes from,
• discover the three truths that can get you through any tough day,
• learn how your small gesture of kinds could change the world,
• discover the healing that comes with helping someone else, and
• be entertained and inspired by his examples and stories.

Hunter Pinke is a lifelong North Dakotan who grew up in the rural town of Wishek, ND. While attending Wishek high school, Hunter participated in Class B basketball, 9-man football, track and field, American Legion baseball, FFA, International and State Science Fairs, Science Olympiad, choir, band, piano festivals, drama and speech. He graduated in 2016 as the valedictorian of his class of 18 students.

Hunter went on to pursue a college education from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, ND. In addition to his studies, Hunter was a tight end on the UND football team and served as team captain for the 2020-2021 season. During his time at UND, Hunter served for three years on the leadership team of the UND Fellowship of Christian Athletes and is devout Christian. 

In the winter of 2019, Hunter was injured while skiing in Keystone, Colo. He suffered a severe spinal cord injury and a broken back after a collision with another skier propelled Hunter into a tree. Hunter was airlifted off the mountain and underwent an eight-hour surgery at St. Anthony’s Hospital in Lakewood, Colo. Hunter suffered a complete spinal cord injury, leaving him currently paralyzed from his chest down.

Hunter did his spinal cord injury rehabilitation at Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colo.

Hunter returned to the University of North Dakota where he graduated with a bachelors of science in Mechanical Engineering. Hunter currently attends the University of Arizona where he is pursuing a graduate degree in architecture while also competing on the university’s wheelchair basketball and handcycling teams.

Hunter’s greatest passions include outdoor recreation in rural North Dakota and Minnesota, participating in or being a fan of any type of athletics, and sharing his story of gratefulness and overcoming adversity throughout the country.

Elected Officials Training - Agenda
The League will hold Elected Officials Training in conjunction with the Annual Conference. This training will run from 10 am to 4 pm on Thursday, September 22, and lunch will be provided. The fee for the Elected Officials Training is $45 if the participant is also registered for the Annual Conference or $75 if the participant is not registered for the Annual Conference. There is no spouse/guest registration fee for the Elected Officials Training. Register by clicking on the Register Here link at the top of this page.

Room Blocks
Room blocks are available at the hotels listed below from Wednesday, Sept. 21 through Saturday, Sept. 24. When booking rooms, please refer to the 2022 ND League of Cities Annual Convention block to access the rates quoted. The room block release date is for all hotels is August 23. Room rates will not be guaranteed at these rates after that date.

Canad Inns Destination Center (attached to the Alerus Center)
1000 S 42^nd ST
September 21-22 - $86.40 plus tax
September 23-24 - $169 plus tax
701-772-8404

Baymont Inn & Suites
951 S 42^nd ST
$89 plus tax
701-757-2345

Country Inn & Suites
3101 S 42^nd ST
$86.40 plus tax
701-757-2200

Expressway Suites of Grand Forks
4040 11^th AVE S
$79.95 plus tax
** If any one city books and pays for 5+ rooms, the 6^th room is free. If any one city books and pays for 3+ rooms, one room will be upgraded for free.
701-757-7000

Hilton Garden Inn
4301 James Ray Dr
September 21-22 - $86.40 plus tax
September 23-24 - $120 plus tax
701-775-6000

Holiday Inn Express
4051 32^nd AVE S
$109 plus tax
701-772-7700

Sleep Inn
1350 S 42^nd ST
$86.40 plus tax
701-757-2900

SpringHill Suites by Marriott
2837 S 42^nd ST
$119 plus tax
701-757-4150

Staybridge Suites
1175 42^nd ST S
September 21-22 - $86.40 plus tax
September 23-24 - $129 plus tax

Jan Jordan Scholarship Fund Silent Auction
All proceeds go to the Jan Jordan Scholarship Fund.