GRAND FORKS – A Grand Forks developer has been named as a co-chair for the UND Center For Innovation Foundation board.
Gisi, a real estate developer and the founder and chairman/CEO of Edgewood Healthcare, was named as co-chair by board members in an announcement Tuesday, April 19. Gisi is co-founder and a board member of Edgewood Real Estate Investment Trust and chairman/CEO of Senior Healthcare Innovation Consortium Inc. He has been on the Center for Innovation’s foundation board since 2016.
“I am very excited to have been appointed as co-chair of the Center for Innovation Found board of directors alongside (Dale Morrison),” Gisi said. “North Dakota is witnessing a growing need to support and enable innovation throughout the state. My goal is to continue encouraging the Center for Innovation to act as a champion and supporter to North Dakota’s entrepreneurs.”
Dale Morrison has been chair of the CFI Foundation for 10 years, a position that he called a “labor of love.” He said the CFI has been an “innovation catalyst” that has had an impact on UND and beyond. Gisi, he said, will be able to provide local leadership to the board.
“I asked Phil to co-chair the board with me to enable CFI to optimize our forward opportunity fully,” Morrison said. “Phil lives in the community and can provide the local leadership I cannot provide living on the east coast. Phil is an entrepreneur and an innovator, and he will provide exemplary leadership.”
Amy Whitney, director of the UND Center For Innovation, said she is looking forward to Gisi’s new role, and for the leadership he can bring to the foundation.
“I appreciate Phil’s guidance, and his experience is an asset to the Foundation board, as well as our clients and tenants,” Whitney said.
The Center For Innovation Foundation focuses on economic development, growing entrepreneurial ventures and providing services that help to access capital for entrepreneurs. The CFI Foundation board of trustees have backgrounds in owning businesses, as government officials, UND affiliates, investors and as mentors to the Center For Innovation.
Linda Pancratz, CEO of Mountain Capital LLC, among other positions, serves the foundation as vice-chair. Former North Dakota Gov. Ed Schafer is an additional trustee, as is Howard Dahl, co-founder and CEO of Amity, who also holds other business positions.