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Baker

Culinary: Dakota Harvest, Grand Forks, ND
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Do you want to be a Baker?

Do you have a passion for cooking and baking and want to explore how you might follow that passion? Are you interested in learning about both the creative and business side of running a bakery? Do you want a hands-on experience that will put your entrepreneurial skills, work ethic, and innovative culinary skills to the test? Then pack up your apron and head for Grand Forks, North Dakota, and join George Kelley and Paul Holje at Dakota Harvest Bakers for a VocationVacations® career mentorship to learn how to become a bakery owner or just enjoy exploring the art of fine baking.

Both George and Paul grew up learning to cook and bake. “I cross-trained with my mom and dad. My mom did the indoor cooking and my dad the outdoor,” laughs George. He was also influenced by his aunt and grandmother, traditional bakers who taught him about baking from scratch. He admits, however, his first cake was made with the help of Betty Crocker. Paul’s introduction to cooking came from his life growing up on a small grain farm. “I watched my mom do the cooking for the field workers and helped her mill wheat from our fields to make bread,” remembers Paul.

Although interested in cooking and baking, neither followed a culinary career. George went on to become an air traffic controller, and Paul an architect. However, the idea of opening a restaurant when they retired was always in the back of their minds. Their plans changed in 2004 when George learned his job was being outsourced. At about the same time, due to the downturn in local construction business, Paul was laid off from his architectural job. “We decided it was time to figure out what we wanted to be when we grew up and give early consideration to our ‘retirement restaurant’ idea,” explain Paul and George.

Since there were no “from scratch” bakeries in the city of Grand Forks, George and Paul seized the opportunity to open one. They spent more than a year doing their research and developing a sound business plan. They knew they were ready, but felt they needed some solid, hands-on experience and insights into both the production and business side of a bakery. In October 2005, they took a bakery owner VocationVacation in Portland, Oregon. This experience helped identify the good ideas they had and veered them away from the bad ones.

Encouraged by their VocationVacation experience, they moved ahead with their plans. They found a great building to purchase and, with the help of a solid business plan, were able to secure financing. In 2006, Dakota Harvest Bakers opened its doors. “Our research showed the most successful bakeries are ones with a tripod business platform – retail, wholesale and café,” says George. That has been the business model they have followed and which has proven very successful.

Today, Dakota Harvest Bakers employs more than 30 employees at their two locations in Grand Forks – the second location was opened in 2009. Hard work, flexibility, quality control, good problem solving skills and a hands-on ownership style have contributed to their success. But they also contribute their success to their passion for what they do. “We are passionate about serving good food made with quality, local ingredients and providing outstanding customer service,” say Paul and George. They are currently in the process of researching franchising Dakota Harvest Bakers locations in the region.

Paul works at the bakery on a full-time basis, and George’s day job is as an occupational safety program manager for the FAA. However, he is active in the day-to-day operations, arriving early in the morning before going to his job and returning late in the afternoon.

George and Paul continue to be innovative in what they offer their customers and recently, due to popular demand, began making wedding cakes. “We had this fantastic couple who wanted a Tiramisu cake shaped like the Mayan pyramid at Chichen Itza, and we pulled it off,” laughs George. And when the customer is happy, so are George and Paul. “It is so rewarding to have been able to introduce artisan baking to the community and know our customers recognize this quality and will go out of their way to come to our shop,” says Paul. One of George’s biggest rewards? “The smile on the four-year-old who bites into our classic snicker doodle cookie just like the ones I ate as a kid made from my 40-year-old family recipe.”

A Bakery Owner VocationVacations® career mentorship with George Kelley and Paul Holje at Dakota Harvest Bakers, can be selected from three options:
  • Two-day baking experience focusing on breads
  • Two-day baking experience focusing on pastries
  • Three-day day experience including baking, all aspects of production, retail, wholesale and business activities
Depending on the option selected, activities will include some or all of the following:
  • Follow all food service and health codes standards and regulations
  • Measure and mix ingredients in accordance with established formulas
  • Produce doughs, batters or other pre-baked products
  • Shape dough to form breads, pastries or other goods
  • Bake products in accordance with established oven procedures
  • Decorate pastry goods
  • Package baked goods for a delivery to retail and wholesale customers
  • Prepare breakfast and lunch items for retail sale
  • Conduct inventory of ingredients and supplies
  • Organize product displays in retail shop
  • Serve retail customers
  • Learn basics of business planning, account, financing, labor and ingredient costs, product pricing, marketing, “green” business management, etc.
The Bakery Owner VocationVacations® career mentorship with George Kelley and Paul Kolje at Dakota Harvest Bakers Includes:
  • Two or three days of a one-on-one Bakery Owner VocationVacation career mentorship
  • The opportunity to participate in a total of one hour of pre- and post- VocationVacations career coaching from an accredited, affiliated VocationVacations career coach
  • A pocket-size VocationVacations journal so you can document your dream job coming to reality
  • Light lunches with your mentors

Available: Based on mentor's availability.

Price: Three days - $1249; Two Days - $949 Per Person

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Suggested Accommodations

Guesthouse International Inn

Fairfield Inn
(Not included in the price of the VocationVacations® holiday)

Other activities and tourist destinations while on your VocationVacations® adventure:
Reservation, Cancellation and Rescheduling Rules and Conditions:
Each requested date for a VocationVacation is 100% dependent upon the mentor’s approval of dates.  Each Vocationer is required to sign a liability release stating that they are 18 years or older, 21 years or older if the VocationVacation involves the production or serving of alcohol.  Full payment of the VocationVacation is required to make a reservation. A $100 non-refundable fee is assessed if a VocationVacations experience is cancelled or rescheduled prior to 14-days of the scheduled VocationVacations holiday, based on the approved availability of the mentor to reschedule. A VocationVacation cannot be rescheduled and is non-refundable if cancelled within 14 days of the scheduled VocationVacations holiday. Written notification of cancellation or rescheduling is required in all cases.  Grounded Nomads, LLC dba VocationVacations encourages all customers to acquire travel insurance to cover any unforeseen expenses due to cancellation or rescheduling.