Brent Evenstad is the General Manager at Menards, currently operating in Fargo, North Dakota. With over 13 years of experience within the same company, Evenstad has built a consistent career, progressing from entry-level sales roles to senior management positions. His journey reflects a structured development path that merges practical retail expertise with business management education.
Evenstad’s professional foundation was laid at the University of North Dakota, where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Business Administration and Management. Since then, his entire professional growth has been with Menards, a privately held home improvement retail chain based in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. His role as General Manager places him at the strategic core of store operations, people management, inventory oversight, and customer service delivery.
Education and Early Professional Foundation
Brent Evenstad enrolled at the University of North Dakota in 2010, pursuing a BBA in Business Administration and Management. His education focused on understanding organizational systems, management principles, and operational decision-making. He graduated in December 2014, having already gained part-time experience with Menards during his academic years.
While still a student, Evenstad began working in floorcoverings sales in May 2012. This early exposure to retail operations provided him with frontline insight into customer service, product knowledge, and store layout functions. He spent over two years in this role, balancing academics with work and developing familiarity with Menards’ internal systems and customer service approach.
Professional Growth at Menards
Management Intern and Initial Sales Role
In May 2014, Evenstad briefly transitioned into a management intern role. This position, which lasted through the summer, served as an introduction to store leadership responsibilities, including managing schedules, overseeing sales teams, and handling basic departmental metrics.
Following the internship, he resumed his role in floorcoverings sales on a part-time basis until January 2015, at which point he began working full-time as a manager trainee. This marked the beginning of his full-time career with Menards.
Entry into Full-Time Leadership
Front End Manager 2nd Assistant
- Mar 2015 – Jul 2016
- Location: Grand Forks, ND
In this position, Evenstad was responsible for customer checkout operations, supervising cashiers, and ensuring smooth customer transactions. He contributed to improving checkout efficiency and participated in staff scheduling and front-end customer support.
Account Service Manager
- Jul 2016 – Feb 2017
This role involved more back-end administrative responsibilities, including order processing, vendor coordination, and addressing customer service issues. It further exposed him to Menards’ logistical and support systems, strengthening his understanding of retail business operations.
Departmental and Assistant General Management Roles
Yard/Receiving Department Manager (2nd and 1st Assistant)
- Feb 2017 – Nov 2017
- Location: Grand Forks, ND
Evenstad advanced to department-specific managerial positions in yard and receiving operations. His duties included supervising warehouse logistics, managing inventory intake, and overseeing deliveries and stocking. He first served as 2nd Assistant and was promoted to 1st Assistant within five months.
Department Manager – Plumbing & Housewares
- Nov 2017 – May 2018
- Location: Grand Forks, ND
Here, Evenstad gained experience in managing a merchandise-focused department. He led a team responsible for plumbing and housewares sales, product stocking, and inventory control. This role allowed him to build a deeper understanding of department-level profitability and layout strategy.
Assistant General Manager Roles Across States
Minot, North Dakota (May 2018 – Nov 2019)
Evenstad’s first Assistant General Manager (AGM) role took place in Minot. In this capacity, he began overseeing broader store operations beyond a single department. He was tasked with ensuring customer satisfaction, coordinating staff development, and managing daily retail logistics.
Sioux City, Iowa (Nov 2019 – Apr 2021)
Relocating to Sioux City, Evenstad continued as AGM, applying his management skills in a new geographic and demographic setting. This move demonstrated his flexibility and capability to adapt to different store dynamics and team cultures.
General Manager: Leadership in Rochester and Fargo
General Manager – Rochester, Minnesota
- Apr 2021 – Jan 2025
Evenstad assumed full responsibility for the Menards store in Rochester. In this senior leadership role, he managed a wide array of store functions — from staffing and scheduling to inventory and sales. His leadership during this period coincided with the post-pandemic retail environment, requiring attention to operational efficiency, health protocols, and changing consumer patterns.
General Manager – Fargo, North Dakota
- Jan 2025 – Present
Returning to North Dakota, Evenstad now serves as the General Manager of the Fargo Menards location. In this position, he continues to manage complex store operations. His responsibilities include budget management, employee performance oversight, logistics coordination, and strategic sales planning.
With over 13 years of continuous service, Evenstad’s progression from part-time sales to General Manager demonstrates a strong commitment to internal growth, stability, and long-term contribution to the Menards organization.
Leadership Approach and Operational Responsibilities
As a General Manager, Evenstad is accountable for the entire lifecycle of retail operations within his store. His daily responsibilities typically include:
- Personnel Management: Hiring, training, evaluating, and supervising over 100 employees.
- Sales Oversight: Meeting sales targets, analyzing sales data, and ensuring product performance across departments.
- Customer Satisfaction: Implementing policies that enhance customer experience and complaint resolution.
- Inventory Management: Coordinating orders, managing supplier relationships, and reducing stock errors.
- Compliance: Ensuring safety regulations, labor laws, and company policies are strictly followed.
His style is rooted in hands-on engagement, which allows him to maintain clear communication with both frontline staff and assistant managers. His promotions through various store sizes and cities have also developed his ability to adapt strategies to local needs.
Internal Promotion and Loyalty
One of the most consistent themes in Evenstad’s career is internal promotion. From intern to department manager to general manager, each stage has been achieved within the Menards ecosystem. His path is illustrative of a corporate culture that values long-term commitment and performance-based growth.
His loyalty to the organization — spanning over a decade — reinforces trust within the company’s internal hiring framework. It also makes him a valuable mentor for younger managers and employees entering the retail sector.
Significance to Menards Retail Network
Menards, as one of the largest home improvement chains in the United States, relies heavily on experienced, location-specific leadership. General Managers like Brent Evenstad play a vital role in upholding company values, executing local strategy, and driving store-level success.
Evenstad’s background makes him an example of how retail leadership can be developed systematically from within. His knowledge of store operations, personnel development, and regional customer behavior contributes to the brand’s sustained performance in midwestern markets.
Community Integration and Local Impact
While his role is primarily business-focused, general managers often become key figures in their local retail economies. Evenstad’s leadership roles in cities like Grand Forks, Minot, Sioux City, Rochester, and Fargo have each involved interaction with local hiring, regional suppliers, and customer relationships.
Through job creation, staff mentorship, and consistent store leadership, he contributes to local economic development and service access in the communities Menards serves.
Conclusion
Brent Evenstad’s career is a clear illustration of what structured career development looks like within a retail organization. From his academic background in business administration at the University of North Dakota to his decade-plus progression through various Menards roles, he has exemplified consistency, reliability, and a capacity for operational leadership.
Now serving as the General Manager of Menards in Fargo, North Dakota, Evenstad continues to oversee complex retail operations with a pragmatic, systems-oriented approach. His story is not one of rapid disruption or external accolades, but of dependable growth, hands-on leadership, and commitment to a singular organizational mission.
FAQs
1. Who is Brent Evenstad?
Brent Evenstad is the General Manager at Menards in Fargo, North Dakota, with over 13 years of experience at the company.
2. What is Brent Evenstad’s educational background?
He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of North Dakota, completed in December 2014.
3. How did Brent Evenstad begin his career?
He started as a part-time floorcoverings sales associate while in college before becoming a management intern and later a trainee.
4. What roles has Evenstad held at Menards?
His roles span from department manager and assistant general manager to general manager across cities like Minot, Sioux City, and Rochester.
5. What makes Brent Evenstad’s career path notable?
He has spent his entire professional journey within Menards, demonstrating long-term loyalty and steady promotion within one organization.
