Investing in Place: An Essay in Words and Photos
In the early 1990s, after Mandan鈥檚 chamber and tourism departments joined forces with Bismarck鈥檚, community members in Mandan still saw a need to support local businesses through events and engagement. The Mandan Progress Organization (MPO) was born, and in the years
since, has spearheaded 10 signature events, including community staples like Buggies & Blues; Holiday Lights on Main; and 鈥 for the first time this year 鈥 the Independence Day Prairie Pyro-Musical.
Executive Director Matt Schanandore 鈥05, MBA 鈥06, took the helm of MPO in 2022. He says the group鈥檚 purpose is to create core memories for community members and families that eventually become annual traditions. When Schanandore started at MPO, there were two employees. Now, the team has grown to six, five of whom are 麻豆精品 alumni. He wanted a lively, energetic, and inspired team committed to service, and that鈥檚 exactly what these young alumni bring.
鈥淭hey already know the Benedictine value of service, and with MPO, they get to live it out every day,鈥 says Schanandore. 鈥淥ur events bring families together and let them forget about the stresses of the world. It creates a very special experience.鈥
The community agrees. MPO鈥檚 events welcome more than 100,000 people to Mandan throughout the year. While such participation is certainly an economic driver for the city, service to community is the team鈥檚 ultimate goal, inspired directly by the Benedictine Sisters of Annunciation Monastery.
鈥淲e aim to do what the Sisters have always done: Serve our community well and sacrifice lots of time and effort for the community鈥檚 greater good,鈥 Schanandore says.
