North Dakota's new Commerce Commissioner envisions a robust economy in the state's future. NDSU alumnus Shane Goettle, appointed by Gov. John Hoeven on Nov. 30 to head the Department of Commerce, is predicting great things.

"We have some very exciting things to energize us in the future. I'm very optimistic," said the 1992 NDSU graduate. "I think it's even safe to say that North Dakota is blossoming in the economic development arena."

Goettle heads a department that is a blend of three former state agencies -- Tourism, Community Services and Economic Development and Finance -- and the Workforce Development Division. Charged with both strengthening and streamlining the state's economic development efforts, Goettle says the state has the tools to move forward.

"I see opportunity with these four divisions now in place to do an even better job of leveraging the resources of all the divisions into a position that we are better able to serve the communities of North Dakota," he said.

According to Goettle, the governor has targeted the five industries of energy, valued-added agriculture, high-technology business services, tourism and advanced manufacturing to lead North Dakota's economic growth. Successful public/private partnerships such as the NDSU Research and Technology Park are expected to play a vital role.

"Gov. Hoeven has certainly made the concepts of research parks and Centers of Excellence a centerpiece of his economic development efforts," said Goettle, explaining that the Centers of Excellence program makes $50 million available for institutions of higher education to collaborate with business partners. "What we want to do is match up the private sector with the resources of our universities and do an even better job of developing new technologies that can be commercialized and grown here in North Dakota.

"NDSU's Research & Technology Park stands as a model that we can do further developing the governor's Centers of Excellence program," he said. "I like to see my alma mater reaching out to better meet the needs of our business community in North Dakota."

To help further the state's economic development efforts, Goettle said important work is underway to explore issues related to intellectual property and the commercialization of technology. Ordered by the State Legislature, the study is a joint effort by the Department of Commerce and the North Dakota University System. The report is expected to be completed by this summer.

"We want to look at best practices around the country, and come back to our policymakers with information and recommendations we could adapt here, streamline and do an even better job of establishing firm partnerships between our universities and our private sector," Goettle said.

Goettle has statistics to back up his optimism about the economy. He notes that North Dakota is one of only two states during the past five years to increase its advanced manufacturing sector with the creation of 1,900 jobs. "That's, in part, because of the kinds of things that we see being done in the tech park at NDSU and the companies they are working with. It also speaks to the general business climate of North Dakota, that companies can feel good about doing business here and expanding here."

In addition, North Dakota is among the leaders in per capita income growth. "Recently we were second only to Connecticut in that growth. Our per capita personal income increased 25 percent between 2000 and 2004," Goettle said. "So, while businesses are finding ways to prosper, so are our families and individuals who are seeing the results in their paychecks."

A native of Donnybrook, N.D., Goettle studied agricultural economics at NDSU. He went on to earn his law degree at Hamline University, St. Paul, Minn. After practicing law in Minot for seven years, he was appointed as counsel to the chairman of the Federal Housing Finance Board. In 2004, he moved to the U.S. Department of Agriculture where he was chief of staff for the department's Rural Development Mission Area.

Goettle lives in Bismarck, N.D., with his wife, Brenda, and their four children.