MFDA Executive Director Finalists Announced

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October 4, 2024

MFDA Executive Director Finalists Announced

FARGO, ND (October 4, 2024) - The Metro Flood Diversion Authority Planning Committee designated three finalists today for the Metro Flood Diversion Authority executive director position. The finalists for the position follow.

Jason Benson, of West Fargo, North Dakota, has worked for the Cass County Highway Department since 2000, including as its county engineer since 2011. In that role, he has served as a senior technical advisor for the FM Area Diversion project. Benson also is a brigadier general in the Minnesota Army National Guard, serving as the assistant division commander for Operations and Maneuver, 34^th Infantry Division, in the Middle East. He's a professional engineer who earned a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from North Dakota State University, Fargo; a master's degree in management from the University of Mary, Fargo campus; and a master's degree in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College in Pennsylvania.

Dennis Lambert, of Lettsworth, Louisiana, has worked as a cost/benefit analyst at IEM since 2020. He previously worked as the chief market manager/area manager for COWI North America Inc. from 2013-17. During part of that time, he worked as a technical lead on the Qualification Tier 1 selection for the FM Area Diversion project's public-private partnership. He's a professional engineer who earned bachelor's degrees in environmental engineering and civil engineering and a master's degree in environmental engineering from Tulane University, New Orleans.

Daniel Sundberg, of Fargo, works as a site lead for Bayer Crop Services, a position he has held since retiring from the U.S. Army as a lieutenant colonel in August 2023 after 20 years of active-duty service. He earned a bachelor's degree in economics from Saint Norbert College, De Pere, Wisconsin; a master's degree in policy management from McCourt School of Public Policy, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.; and a master's degree in business administration from Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.

The MFDA Board will interview the three finalists in a special meeting on October 18, 2024, at the Fargo City Hall Commission Chambers. It will be broadcast live on TV Fargo Channel 56 and the City of Fargo's YouTube channel and later shared on the Metro Flood Diversion Authority's YouTube channel.

Michael Redlinger, City of Fargo city administrator, and Robert Wilson, Cass County administrator, have served as co-executive directors for the MFDA since April 2024, when the former executive director resigned. They will continue in the role until the new executive director takes the helm, which is expected to occur by early 2025.

About the Metro Flood Diversion Authority

The MFDA is a permanent North Dakota political subdivision that is cooperatively implementing the Fargo-Moorhead Area Diversion comprehensive project with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The MFDA works in partnership with the Red River Valley Alliance in a public-private partnership as well as the City of Fargo, City of Moorhead, Cass County, Clay County and the Cass County Joint Water Resource District. More information is available at www.FMDiversion.gov.