North Dakota League of Cities Presents Annual Awards

The state organization recognized two city auditors for leadership and achievement during its September conference.

Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Awards

North Dakota League of Cities Presents Annual Awards

Live Poll

Does formal recognition of city administrative staff improve the quality of leadership in your community?

The North Dakota League of Cities presented annual awards to two city auditors during its conference held Sept. 16-18, 2026, in Grand Forks. The honors recognized long-term commitment and leadership development within the state.

Why it matters

These awards highlight the importance of specialized training and sustained public service in local government administration across the state. Recognizing such contributions helps foster professional growth and operational consistency in municipal offices.

Penny Nostdahl earned 567 Leadership Training Program credits while serving the City of Bottineau since 1988, and Ronda Rustad earned 352 credits during her 12-year tenure at the City of Ray.

The players

North Dakota League of Cities

This organization serves as a collective voice for municipal governments across North Dakota to promote effective local administration.

Penny Nostdahl

She is a city auditor who has served the City of Bottineau since 1988.

Ronda Rustad

She is a city auditor who has dedicated 12 years of service to the City of Ray.

The details

Penny Nostdahl was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award, while Ronda Rustad received the Leadership Excellence Award. These recognitions occurred as the North Dakota League of Cities simultaneously conducted a business session to elect its 2026-2027 executive board.

Sept. 16-18, 2026, marked the annual conference and award presentations in Grand Forks.
The 2026-2027 period defines the term for the newly elected executive board.

Culture Shift

Professional recognition programs like the Leadership Training Program reflect a broader societal trend toward valuing specialized credentialing in public service. These initiatives incentivize municipal staff to pursue advanced skills that ultimately improve the quality of local governance.

The recognition of these auditors underscores the professional standards maintained in local municipal offices across North Dakota. Residents can expect consistent financial and administrative oversight from the offices headed by these high-achieving personnel.

The takeaway

Consistent leadership development programs are essential for cultivating long-term public service expertise. Auditors and municipal staff can implement these training milestones to strengthen their career progression and service delivery.