Mark A. Anderson to receive MSUM Hartz Award: Reception held today

Mark-Anderson-webMark A. Anderson, president & CEO of BlackRidge Financial, has been selected to receive the university’s 33rd annual L.B. Hartz Professional Achievement Award.

An awards reception will be held Tuesday, Sept. 29 in the Comstock Memorial Union Ballroom on campus.

The award is named in honor of the late L.B. Hartz, the founder of Hartz Wholesale Company headquartered in Thief River Falls. It’s presented annually by MSUM’s College of Business and Innovation to an individual who has created economic opportunities for others through innovation, entrepreneurship and community service.

Anderson co-founded BlackRidge Financial and through BlackRidgeBANK operates 11 banking offices and an independent insurance agency. He was also co-founder of Community First Bankshares, which operated from 1987 through 2004 when it was acquired by another banking organization. There he served as executive vice president, CFO, president and CEO.

Anderson is an adjunct finance professor at MSUM and provides academic guidance for the Dragon Investment Fund, a student-managed investment fund.

Anderson received a degree in finance from MSUM. A lifelong learner, Anderson earned a Doctorate of Business Administration and le Diplôme de Certifact de Recherche dans la Science d’Administration from Grenoble École de Management and an Executive Doctorate of Business Administration from École Supérieure de Gestion à Paris et Paris School of Business – both triple-accredited French Grande Ecoles, and holds masters degrees from Northeastern University in finance, Creighton University in investment analysis, California State University and an MBA from the University of St. Thomas.

He holds professional designations as a Chartered Financial Analyst charterholder and Certified Management Accountant, and holds a certificate in financial management.

Anderson services on the MSUM Paseka School of Business Advisory Council and is a recipient of the Outstanding Business Alumni Award and the Distinguished Alumni Award, both from MSUM. He has also served on multiple nonprofit organization boards of directors.