Meet Donna!

Donna Heck is the concierge strategist at the Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber of Commerce, where she is a key player in the welcoming and acclimating of new residents to the area. She’s passionate about creating personalized, warm experiences for newcomers to help them connect with the community in meaningful ways. She works closely with businesses to organize curated tours, lunches, and other engagement opportunities for job candidates and new hires. Donna also manages the Icebreakers program. Her work is all about blending innovation with intentionality, making sure that each newcomer experiences the vibrant and unique lifestyle that our region offers!

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The Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber of Commerce has introduced a unique initiative to make the transition of moving to, living, working, and playing in the FM area smoother. The Icebreakers program. To put it simply, this initiative connects newcomers with passionate locals who are eager to share the best of what the FM Area has to offer. But, it’s not just the fresh faces who can benefit and take part in this program, there are some great perks for locals too—let’s break it down.

What is the icebreakers program?

The Icebreakers program is designed to help new residents explore and get to know the Fargo-Moorhead area by connecting them with community members who are not just familiar with the region but invested in its vibrancy. These community members, or “Icebreakers,” serve as friendly guides or approachable connection points, offering personal introductions to local events, hidden spots, and social circles that these new individuals might otherwise not discover on their own.

Concierge Strategist Donna Heck said that the Icebreakers aim to break down barriers through social connections, making it easier for people to feel at home in their new community. Whether it’s a coffee meetup, a shared interest activity, or an introduction to a few new friends, the program focuses on sprouting organic friendships that help newcomers integrate into the community quickly and comfortably—or, as comfortable as it can be to meet new people. Because, as much as we amp ourselves up for it—we can all get a bit nervous or feel intimidated by the thought of making new friends, it’s not as easy as it was when we were on the playground.

That’s where this program steps in—both for newcomers and locals who are just looking to simply connect.

“It’s about breaking down barriers through social connections, and hopefully easily connecting people to a community,” Donna said. “What we want to do is meet or exceed the lifestyle or the space that they came from.”

Who are the icebreakers

The Icebreakers themselves are a diverse group of individuals from widely varied professional and personal backgrounds—and that’s intentional. They range from business leaders and entrepreneurs to hobbyists and volunteers, all united by their love for the Fargo-Moorhead area. Each Icebreaker has its unique interests—from cooking and photography to outdoor adventures and board games—ensuring that there’s something for anyone to connect through.

The idea is to pair newcomers with Icebreakers who share similar interests, making the process of making friends and integrating into the community both natural and enjoyable. You can find the “perfect match” by utilizing the drop-down lists that sort through the Icebreakers by three main categories—age and family type, industry, and interest.

How the program works

Participating in the Icebreakers program is simple. Newcomers visit the program’s website and browse through the profiles of current Icebreakers. Once they find someone who shares their interests, they can reach out and arrange a meetup. Each Icebreaker has provided their preferred contact method (be it a social page or just an email), and you can choose how and when you’d like to connect with them. Once initiated, the Icebreaker will invite you to at least two local events and introduce you to other community members, facilitating a smooth integration into Fargo-Moorhead living.

“You gravitate towards things that are comfortable because those are the warm fuzzies in life, those are the things that fill your heart and your passions,” Donna said. “When you have to step outside that circle, where do you then develop another circle that you that you can build on? This [program] is really more of a proactive process of acclimating somebody to our community, by giving somebody access quicker. I don’t want to say seamlessly, because I don’t think you make friends seamlessly—there are those friendships that happen, but otherwise, it takes effort. It takes effort to put yourself out there, to meet people, or to reach out to somebody. If you’re in a social situation where you just show up versus reaching out to somebody who has intentionally made themselves available to you to help you make those introductions… That’s really what the icebreaker’s responsibilities are.”

Even if you’ve lived in the area for years, the Icebreakers program can be a great way to explore new interests and expand your social circle. We know the FM area stays busy, and there are always new things to try, new people to meet, and professionally or personally connect with new subcommunities—sometimes you just need a hand to guide you there.

How did it begin?

The Icebreakers program’s inception is traced back to Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber President and CEO Shannon Full’s personal experience. Prior to joining the FM community, Shannon had interviewed for a previous role in Wisconsin. Shannon and her fiancé were intentionally connected with several local couples during that process, which led to a strong, lasting friendship. She ultimately took the position and gave credit to that initial connection for her acceptance of the role. This idea of community introduction became the catalyst for the Icebreakers program.

The Chamber saw an opportunity to replicate this experience in Fargo-Moorhead, to help new residents not only find their place at work but also in the community.

“How do we onboard the community? How do we provide that comprehensive onboarding process for that person to have a fulfilling lifestyle?” Donna said.

To bring this vision to life, the Chamber secured seed funding and a $9.6 million workforce grant, which enabled the creation of the Icebreakers program. The initiative is designed to foster loyalty to the community and local businesses by helping new residents quickly acclimate, build connections, and feel at home in the Fargo-Moorhead area.

“When [a new resident’s] lifestyle is complete or when they’re comfortable there, they’re better employees. They have greater performance. They work harder, they’re more satisfied. They stay longer. They have loyalty to the business. They speak highly of the business that they’re invested in,” she said.

The program is as much about personal fulfillment as it is about enhancing professional success, ultimately benefiting both individuals and the businesses that bring them to Fargo-Moorhead.

Why Fargo?

“If you look at any surveys or lists of what the friendliest communities out there are, this region always, always pops up,” Donna said.

We’ve got friendly down, but this program aims to move beyond just friendly gestures by offering personal invitations. Going that extra step that most would be more than willing to do, but sometimes is the step that’s the hardest to initiate.

With the larger area’s population expected to increase to 360,000 by 2045, the Icebreakers program is a proactive effort to ensure these new residents arrive welcomed and stay and thrive in the community.

Website Navigation

The Icebreakers program is here to help you find your perfect match—aka, a local guide who shares your interests and can introduce you to the best of the FM Area. Here’s how to use the website to find your Icebreaker!

Visit the Icebreakers Page
Sort and Filter: Use the drop-down buttons to filter Icebreakers by family details, industry, and interests. Whether you’re a family-focused foodie, a professional who also loves hiking, or anything else in between, this tool makes it easy to find someone who aligns with your lifestyle.
Browse the Profiles: Scroll through the list of Icebreakers, where you’ll see friendly faces and their top interests. From gardening and coffee shops to board games and photography, there’s someone who shares your passion.
Make Your Selection: Click on the “Connect” button next to the Icebreaker that resonates with you. This will take you to a brief profile where you can learn more about them and how to reach out.
Reach Out: Send a message and set up your first meet-up. Your Icebreaker will invite you to local events, introduce you to new friends, and help you feel right at home.
Enjoy Your Adventure: Join in on activities, explore the best of Fargo-Moorhead, and start building those meaningful connections that make a new place feel like home!

Tip: Don’t be shy—each Icebreaker is here because they love meeting new people and showing off what makes this area special. So, go ahead, break the ice!

Interested in being an icebreaker?

Requirements

Be an advocate for the great FMWF region in a positive and authentic way!
Complete the online application.
Attend an initial training and networking session with other Icebreakers.
Provide at least one method of contact to be shared with new and potential community members.
Be willing to respond to requests from the FMWF Chamber Concierge.

Guidelines

Not a platform for formal presentations, lead generation, or selling your personal business or services of any kind.
Connection with new and potential community members, serving as a positive and authentic representation of the FMWF region.
Most of all…be a friend and have fun!

If you love meeting new people and showing off what makes Fargo-Moorhead special, becoming an Icebreaker might be the perfect fit for you. As an Icebreaker, you’ll meet newcomers, invite them to events, and help them connect with others in the community. It’s all about being friendly, flexible, and open to making new friends. If this sounds like it’s right up your alley, visit the Icebreakers website to apply and get started!

Get Involved

Whether you’re new to Fargo-Moorhead or a longtime resident, the Icebreakers program is a great, free, and self-navigated way to deepen your connection to the community. Visit the Icebreakers website to meet who could be your first friend (or friend of a friend of a friend) in Fargo-Moorhead! Now, let’s meet some Icebreakers!