Unit 1 held a retreat at Icelandic State Park on May 7 and 8, where staff participated in sessions aimed at fostering a positive work environment and learning about specialty courts. The event featured a presentation by Lee Ann Barnhardt titled “Fill the Bucket…Creating a Positive Workplace,” which focused on how small, intentional actions can help create an environment where staff feel valued.
The retreat included interactive activities to encourage team building. Staff left with “drops”—tokens intended for sharing meaningful recognition among colleagues to “fill each other’s buckets.” These efforts were designed to promote mutual appreciation within the workplace.
Jess Throlson provided an overview of North Dakota’s Specialty Courts, discussing adult treatment court, juvenile treatment court, domestic violence court, and veterans court. Throlson also highlighted that new specialty courts will be added to other units later this fall.
In addition to educational sessions, participants engaged in team-building activities such as the “Where in the Wild is that Courthouse?” trivia challenge and daily scavenger hunts. These activities aimed to strengthen teamwork among staff members.
Staff Attorney Mikan Lovcik was noted as taking part in one of the session activities during the retreat. Organizers said these events help foster both professional development and camaraderie among Unit 1 employees.
