North Dakota Assistive is pleased to announce that Mike Chaussee has joined the staff as the Executive Director. He has overall strategic and operational responsibility for the staff, programs, expansion and execution of the mission of ND Assistive.
Mike is a native of Bismarck, ND. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from the University of Mary, Bismarck, and his Master’s Degree in Mass Communication from North Dakota State University.
Mike started his professional career as a broadcast journalist at KXMB-TV in Bismarck as a photographer, then a reporter, assignment editor, and later became the news director. After eight years Mike left the broadcasting arena to teach communications at the University of Mary. Over a span of 17 years at the University he taught communication courses, spent time advising the college newspaper, and became the Chair of the Communications Department.
The bug to get back into journalism caught hold of him, so in January of 2014, Mike returned to KXMB as the assistant news director and a reporter. He said he was having a blast, but soon realized he’s in his 50’s now and ready for a career change. In the fall of 2016, Mike was hired at AARP North Dakota as the Advocacy Director. He spent two legislative sessions at AARP working on many bills, both on the federal and state level.
Mike and his wife Kim have been married for 29 years. Kim is in her 25th year teaching 8th grade US History at Horizon Middle School in Bismarck. They have two children, their son Adam is a social studies teacher in Rugby and daughter Hannah is finishing up at graduate school at the University of North Dakota. Her plan is to teach science/biology. Mike and Kim also have two dogs and recently adopted a second cat.
Mike’s hobbies include golfing, camping, pontoon rides and traveling with his wife. He is passionate about golf and could play every day if life would allow. He plays in a league throughout the summer and has a place in his garage to practice golf during the winter months. He’s a diehard Green Bay Packers fan and passionate about fantasy football too. Mike likes to dabble in photography, but tells me he’s far from good at it (I don’t believe him). He loves to read and listen to audio books and loves getting out twice a day for walks with his dogs.
When I asked Mike what intrigued him to join ND Assistive, his response: “The mission. Plain and simple.” Mike said he learned about ND Assistive while working at AARP and always appreciated what the organization does, who we serve, and, “the really cool stuff!” The more he learned the more intrigued he became. Now, after witnessing the reaction from the people we serve, he said he’s really starting to appreciate how important the organization is.
Mike is located in North Dakota Assistive’s Mandan office.
Welcome to Assistive, Mike! We are so glad that you joined us and look forward to a bright future where there is no impossible.