Our Judges
Welcome to our honored judges for the 2025 Battle of the Buns on March 15, 2025!
Dr. Kimberly Kolkhorst
Gastroenterology Section Chair, Essentia Health
Dr. Kimberly Kolkhorst is a gastroenterologist and chair of the gastroenterology department at Essentia Health. She has been living and working with us here in Fargo since 2016. She completed her GI fellowship and Internal Medicine residency at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida.
She completed medical school at the University of New England in Biddeford, Maine. She has a supportive husband and two busy children who enjoy playing lots of hockey. She enjoys running and singing. She believes that healthcare is best achieved through strong partnerships with her patients.
Brian Shawn
Senior Business Development Partner at Sanford Health
Brian Shawn is a Senior Business Development Partner at Sanford Health and works with Orthopedics & Sports Medicine partners along with Sanford Sports Academies at the Fargo Parks Sports Center. He also continues to dabble in television play-by-play for Summit League basketball and Missouri Valley football games as well. Originally from Bloomington, Minnesota, Shawn graduated from John F. Kennedy Senior High School in 1997 and went on to the University of North Dakota to earn his undergraduate degree in Communications in 2002.
After undergoing genetic testing, Brian was found to have Lynch Syndrome. He was quickly referred for a colonoscopy due to the high likelihood of colon cancer. The colonoscopy revealed he has Stage III colon cancer in January of 2021. He had surgery a week later that followed up chemotherapy and immunotherapy infusions for a year. He has been cancer free ever since.
Brian serves on the Board of Directors for Homeward Animal Shelter, the Fargo Vocational Training Center, is a member of the Fargo Lions Club and holds the position as Honorary Brigade Commander for the 141 Maneuver Enhancement Brigade of the North Dakota National Guard.
Brian, his wife Jessica, daughter Amelia and yellow lab, Max, live in South Fargo.
Pat Monson
Founder, Live Like Rach
Pat has more than 45 years of legal experience in North Dakota and Minnesota. She founded the Center for Mediation & Consultation (CMC), PLLC in Fargo in 2012 in order to give her more time with her aging parents. Pat is an AV® rated attorney by Martindale-Hubbell®, the highest such rating available to any individual lawyer generated from evaluations by other members of the bar and the judiciary and is a strong indicator of a lawyer’s high ethical standards and legal ability.
Pat graduated from the University of North Dakota in 1972 with a double major in German and Psychology. She received her law degree in 1979 from the University of North Dakota Law School, where she served as Articles Editor of the North Dakota Law Review.
During her time in the legal profession, Pat has been active in the North Dakota State Bar Association and its many committees including the North Dakota Supreme Court Judicial Ethics Committee, Supreme Court Disciplinary Board, Chair (2014-2018); State Bar Association Ethics Committee (1994-1999), State Bar Association Judicial Nominating Committee (1998-2004), Inquiry Committee Southeast (chair, 1999-2005), Supreme Court Joint Procedures Committee (1990-2001), Women Lawyers Section (president, 1988-1989), Ronald Davies American Inn of Court (founding member and program chair, 1997-2000; treasurer, 2000-2005), Cass County Bar Association (president, 1991-1992).
In 2019, following the death of her 36 year-old daughter Rachel Ellingson from early onset colorectal cancer, Pat started the Live Like Rach non-profit organization whose mission it is to raise awareness of the signs of this disease especially in young people where it is reaching epidemic proportions. Pat is married to Eric Monson and has 3 other children; daughter Rebecca Ellingson, step-children Michael Monson and Jessica Monson and 3 grandchildren, Adlie, Caden and Zachary.