Our Team

Chad and Angie (Krebsbach) Thompson, Founders of PGAS, were born and raised in Minot, ND. They were high school sweethearts and married in 2004. They have four boys: Oliver, Palmer, Wells, and Ford.

Angie previously worked as a dental hygienist and now is a stay-at-home mother. Angie has been on the Our Redeemers School PTO board and has helped with Our Savior Lutheran Church youth program. She currently sits on the board of the Magic City Discovery Center. Angie is the board of director's secretary and the coordinator of the PGAS Annual Banquet and Family Social and PGAS Golf Scramble. Angie also is in charge of all Prairie Grit Adaptive Sports merchandise!

Chad is the president of Norsk Brothers LLC which developed and owns an adaptive reuse property in downtown Minot called the AT Lofts that houses 21 loft apartment units and The Starving Rooster restaurant. Chad is the president of The Starving Rooster LLC. He is president of Dakota Kid LLC which owns/operates four Qdoba Mexican Eats restaurants. He has been involved in commercial real estate for the past 10 years, having his real estate license with 701 Realty. He sits on the Rehab Services Board and the Minot Hockey Booster Board. Chad is the president of the board for Prairie Grit Adaptive Sports.

Palmer, the Thompson’s second boy, was born with spina bifida and was the inspiration for the vision of Prairie Grit Adaptive Sports. Early on in Palmer’s life, the Thompsons found that sports and recreational opportunities for people with special needs were limited in the Minot area. Angie and Chad value the importance of physical activity, being part of a team, winning, losing, and having goals to strive for. Prairie Grit Adaptive Sports was founded by Chad and Angie Thompson in 2016 with the mission of providing sports and recreational opportunities for children and adults living with physical and developmental disabilities to enhance their quality of life, allowing them to share their passion for sports and recreation with their son and others in the community. In 2017, Angie and Chad began to donate 1% of sales from Qdoba Mexican Eats in Minot, Williston, and Dickinson to PGAS. This ongoing generous donation has allowed the non-profit to hire Krystal Butgereit as the full-time executive director of PGAS.

“This journey has been amazing for our family and the local support in the Minot area has surpassed our expectations. We couldn’t be happier to be a part of Prairie Grit Adaptive Sports. We have big plans in store for PGAS and look forward to the future growth of our programming.”

Krystal (Cook) Butgereit, Executive Director, pictured with her husband, John, and their two children.

Krystal Butgereit, Executive Director, graduated from the University of North Dakota with a master’s degree in occupational therapy in 2005. She has mainly practiced in the area of pediatrics and is passionate about helping both children and adults live their lives to the fullest! Therapy services is where Krystal’s connection began with the Thompson family, as Palmer’s occupational therapist.

Krystal has been a part of the Prairie Grit Adaptive Sports board of directors since the beginning and has since become the executive director. Krystal and her husband, John, have two boys, Sully and Boden. The Butgereit family is active in many sports and recreational opportunities and love to share their passion with others.

“Prairie Grit Adaptive Sports brings joy to the Minot area through offering recreational and leisure activities for children and adults with special needs, volunteer experiences, and giving opportunities. Prairie Grit participants and their families have become our family. Thank you for your continued generosity and support — with the communities’ help the possibilities are endless!”

Chad Richeson, Gaming and Fundraising Manager, was raised in the Minot area. He graduated from North Dakota State University in 1999 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Corporate and Community Fitness. He was a firefighter for the City of Minot for 12 years. It was during this time that he began volunteering with the Muscular Dystrophy Association as a camp counselor and realized how rewarding it is to work with individuals with physical/mental challenges.

Chad has been a member of the Prairie Grit Adaptive Sports Board of Directors from the beginning. Chad is also a board member for the Minot Hockey Boosters and member of the Y’s Men’s Club. He and his wife, Jodee, have two sons, Cole and Luke. His hobbies include sports photography, hunting, fishing, and watching his sons participate in various activities.

Averi Bradley, Program Assistant, is a 2020 graduate from Minot High School. During high school she was active in golf, basketball, hockey, and fastpitch. Averi is attending Minot State University, majoring in Elementary and Special Education. Averi was the 2020 Prairie Grit Adaptive Sports Volunteer of the Year for her countless hours spent enthusiastically helping our program grow and making PG events and activities fun and motivating for participants. Averi also serves as Prairie Grit Adaptive Sport's assistant sled hockey coach. "My favorite part about being involved with Prairie Grit is seeing people succeed in things they didn't think they could do."

Chris Douglas, Head Sled Hockey Coach, was born with spina bifida and experienced a further spinal cord injury following a surgery at age 11, which impaired the function of his legs from the waist down. Following his injury, he was introduced to sled hockey in 2011. He was a member of the United States gold medal winning teams in 2015, IPC Ice Sledge Hockey World Championships and at the 2019 World Para Ice Hockey Championships in Ostrava, Czech Republic. Chris provides his expertise and leadership to Prairie Grit's youth and adult sled hockey players.

Derek Hackett, Marketing Director, is an accomplished communicator with a dynamic blend of creativity, strategic insight, and a touch of humor. With a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcasting and concentrations in Graphic Design, Communication, and Political Science from Minot State University, Derek brings a wealth of experience to his role as the Marketing Director.

Derek's journey is marked by significant achievements, including a seven-year tenure as the Public Information Officer for the City of Minot, where his unique ability to infuse wit and humor into communications left a lasting impact. His exceptional storytelling skills were further recognized with an Emmy Award during his time as an anchor and reporter at KX News, the local CBS affiliate.

As a specialist in crafting simple and engaging communication strategies, Derek is adept at harnessing digital platforms to amplify an organization's message. His entrepreneurial spirit is evident through the successful establishment of his own regional business, Pretty Lights, when he was just 20 years old. Derek's dedication to enhancing the quality of life aligns perfectly with our nonprofit's mission of providing sports opportunities for individuals with physical and mental disabilities.

With a professional yet light-hearted approach, Derek is poised to drive our brand's growth, foster community engagement, and deliver impactful entertainment across various digital channels to help grow Prairie Grit’s presence throughout the region. We're thrilled to welcome Derek to our team as we work together to create a brighter future through accessible sports opportunities.