Duke Steenmeyer

Hey there! The first thing I'd like to mention would be that while my location states I reside in Fargo, North Dakota, I am not actually a native of the Midwest: I originally hail from Washington State, and was a proud resident of the Pacific Northwest once upon a time.

I moved across the country in June of 2023; I had always wanted to move, as I was a firm believer that there was & is more to the world than where you grow up, but I'd be lying if I said that I didn't miss it sometimes. North Dakota and its people have treated me well, but there is almost nothing that can replace the smell of rain upon the evergreens for which my home-state is renowned, nor compare to the quality of seafood cuisine with which Washington offers so generously. The mountains deserve to be acknowledged as well, but so follows a laundry list of items I could continue to rant about; home is where the heart is, and now, that's in Fargo, North Dakota. 

Moving here, I brought with me knowledge from my time spent at Central Washington University where I received my Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology; I minored in Law & Justice and Psychology, while also managing to receive a Forensics Certificate simultaneously. Originally enrolling at CWU, my intention was to pursue work in the criminal justice field, but I chose to focus on social sciences for one reason specifically: a growing fascination for people. In my non-professional opinion, people are the end-game; always have been, always will be. 

Being a 90's kid, I've watched the world around me grow at such an exponentially swift rate that.. it reminds me to give pause, to life: to take time to smell the roses, enjoy that first sip of coffee, to take pleasure in cleaning off my dog's muddy paws when we finish playing outside, to listen a little more intently than I used to, or to ponder a little longer before I speak because the question I ask should have some weight to it rather than become a part of the endless symphony of noise and business that surrounds us. These thoughts are not to suggest that I possess an inherent fondness for lazy behavior, but rather serve as a gentle reminder to myself to enjoy the little things, and the little moments; because that's what life is full of, the little things. And I personally find the most enjoyment in little things that involve other people, by far and wide. 

Which leads me to my favorite activity on the planet: Brazilian jiu jitsu. I've learned a seemingly countless amount of lessons through my 6 years of practice within the martial art, of which each deserve their own short story, but can be condensed to a few character traits I've identified from the best of the best individuals that I've encountered from within this community. These traits include, but are not limited to: patience, kindness, courage, accountability, straight-forwardness, parallel thinking, grit, and stoicism. These are the traits I try my utmost to hone, sharpen, and nurture as I progress throughout all areas of my life. It has made me a better man, a more conscientious friend, a more intentional partner, and a more stalwart worker when I have chosen to commit to something.

Full-Time Charitable Gaming Keyholder

• Proper communication skills including: listening to, providing, & receiving customer feedback, effectively communicating state laws & regulations, providing an engaging and entertaining environment, and adaptability to wide varieties of personalities.
• Organizational skills regarding filing, filling out, and correcting paperwork.
• Maintaining confidentiality regarding customer information and security codes & protocol for multiple locations.
• Swift, consistent, and accurate mathematical calculations of hand totals, bets, and payouts while simultaneously performing various & multiple physical/mental tasks related to: pull-tabs, bingo, raffle games, and pigwheel.

Concrete Finisher & Foundation Specialist

• Timeliness both on arrival & during travel to job sites, as well as while performing finishing-related tasks.
• Performance of proper tool cleaning & maintenance etiquette consistently and effectively.
• Adaptability to unforeseen developments at a moments notice in consistent supply on a per-job basis.
• Prompt completion of time-sensitive tasks & goals in a efficacious manner.
• Grit, determination, and perseverance of incalculable obstacles as they present themselves.

Central Washington University Building Manager

• Maintaining integrity both on-site as an employee and off-site as a student.
• Demonstration of effective group communication & facilitation skills.
• Thorough understanding & performance of emergency-related procedure in case of an unpredictable/dangerous event presenting itself.

Institution

• Central Washington University

Graduation Year

• Class of 2018

Degree

• Bachelor of Arts, Sociology

Minors & Certifications

• Psychology
• Law & Justice
• Forensics Certificate