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Dakota Resource Council

Our Staff

Scott Skokos

Executive Director
Scott@drcinfo.com

Scott has over 10 years of experience working in public policy, politics, and community organizing. Prior to becoming DRC’s Executive Director, Scott worked as a Regional Organizer for the Western Organization of Resource Councils where he was responsible for WORC’s regional oil and gas campaign. Scott also spent four years working as a community organizer at Dakota Resource Council focusing on clean energy and oil and gas. Scott holds a Bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University and a Master’s degree from University of Denver. In his spare time, Scott hangs out with his Goldendoodle, trains for marathons, snowboards, and recently started bike racing.

Sam Wagner

Field organizer - Ag & Food
Sam@drcinfo.com
701-371-5474

Sam Wagner is DRC’s Ag and Food Field Organizer.  Along with being a veteran in the US Air Force, Sam has also held many different labor and agricultural jobs over the years. Sam has also been involved in local politics in his area as a volunteer activist since 2016. Sam holds degrees in History, Electrical Engineering, and Training Management.   Sam is committed to working with North Dakotans to find solutions that will allow rural communities to prosper and grow in the 21st Century. Sam is a family man and Vikings fan from Casselton ND. 

Ishauna Jacobberger

Field Organizer
Ishauna@drcinfo.com

Ishauna graduated from Minnesota State University Moorhead in the fall of 2022. Her focus of study was Sustainability with a concentration in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Ishauna was involved on campus as the Sustainability Coordinator Intern and President of the Sustainable Students Association. She also interned with the FARRMS program where she worked on local regenerative farming, livestock management, and researched soil biodiversity. Prior to joining DRC, Ishauna was self-employed in the construction industry. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, kayaking, mountain biking, and traveling.

Zach Cassidy

Pipeline Organizer
Zach@drcinfo.com
701-224-8587

Zach has more than 7 years of experience working in politics and community organizing. Before being the C02 Pipeline organizer, Zach worked in Sustainable Agriculture in Iowa, where he worked to promote sustainable farming practices and policies. Before that he worked as an organizer in Minnesota for the 2022 midterms. He holds a Bachelors from Eckerd College, and a Masters in Policy from The New School. In his free time Zach loves to get outdoors as much as possible and is a martial artist.

Mike Graalum

Organizer
Mike@drcinfo.com

Mike has been active in local politics since 2016, and has been focused on rural economic development. He is a graduate of the University of North Dakota with degrees in Economics (2009) and Chemical Engineering (2018). He was a lead organizer for Red River Climate Action, and has dabbled in many industries including real estate development, the hemp industry, and solar. Mike comes to the Dakota Resource Council from Aldevron, where he was a night-shift production lead for the Moderna Covid Vaccine project. In his spare time, he gardens, bikes, and hikes with his dog Cato.

Sean Arithson

Communications Coordinator
Sean@drcinfo.com

Sean grew up in Southwest North Dakota on a Hereford ranch near Rhame, ND. He attended the University of North Dakota, where he majored in Communications and nearly completed a minor in Sociology. Sean worked at various radio stations across the state before joining Dakota Resource Council in 2012 as an organizer, eventually transitioning to Communications Coordinator. He is a devoted (and occasionally frustrated) fan of Minnesota sports, the University of Michigan, and the San Francisco Giants. In his spare time, Sean enjoys podcasting. He and his wife Jackie have three children and reside in Bismarck, ND.

Mary Swanson

Office Manager
Mary1@drcinfo.com

Mary Swanson is the office manager at DRC. Mary grew up on a small grain and dairy farm near Arthur, ND. She attended North Dakota State University and has worked at Northwestern Bell, US West and Qwest Communications, first as an operator and later as a credit consultant. Most recently she was an administrative assistant for North Dakota Coalition for Homeless People. In her spare time she enjoys reading, quilting and spending time at the lake. 

Jeffon Seely

Accounting
Jseely@drcinfo.com

Jeffon Seely joined DRC as an accountant/bookkeeper in February 2018. Jeffon received his Bachelors in Accounting from Central Washington University and MBA from the University of Illinois. After college, he used his degree to help small businesses, non-profits, and community organizations improve their productivity, profit, and impact. In addition to his accounting work, Jeffon leads workshops and seminars across the country focused on generations, diversity and inclusion, mindfulness and 21st-century leadership.