Among other factors, where a business decides to locate can play a significant role in its success. One worldwide company, Feed Management Systems, Inc., saw an important opportunity in 2002 and moved a branch of its software development staff to the NDSU Research & Technology Park in Fargo, N.D.

The initial move to Fargo made sense from a business standpoint said CEO Rich Reynertson. "A number of our key [development] people are from the Fargo area, and we already had a tight relationship with Microsoft."

FMS is an award-winning software solutions company for the worldwide feed industry. The company's one-of-a-kind software links critical information between feed manufacturers and their suppliers and customers. This technology is optimal for resolving and responding to crucial food safety issues such as the first ever U.S. case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, also known as "mad cow" disease, in 2003 and requirements of the recent Bioterroism Act.

Under the Act, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration published a new set of regulations that apply to many of FMS's customers. "If you are running our software you are in complete compliance," said Reynertson. Tracking what animals eat, where it came from and how the feed was formulated becomes crucial in a new era of agrosecurity. "If the FDA shows up, you have to be able to get full reports within 24 hours."

As a global company, FMS provides solutions to ingredient manufacturers, feed mills and producers throughout the world. FMS solutions are used in more than 50 countries, covering approximately 60 percent of the worldwide food supply. The company played a critical role in the first case of "mad cow" disease, ruling out feed as a source of the disease. It earned FMS the first of two American Feed Industry Association Food Safety Innovation awards. The company also has received the Inc. 500 award for fast-growing private companies, a U.S. Agricultural Engineering Award, U.S. Outstanding Small Business Award and Minnesota's Technology Leader of the Year award.

While the company has corporate headquarters in Brooklyn Center, Minn., the company's software development staff is located in Fargo for several reasons. Among them are its close ties to Microsoft. FMS is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner and has received the Microsoft Business Solutions 2006 Outstanding ISV Partner of the Year - Partner Choice Award for Excellence, as well as being named 2006 MBS Partner of the Year by Computer Reseller News. FMS won by exemplifying the highest level of customer service, competency and shared collaboration with Microsoft for a vertical industry.

When the NDSU Research & Technology Park's Center for Technology Enterprise building is completed in spring 2007, FMS will move its development staff to the new location. Reynertson said that over the last couple of years, FMS has been able to expand in Fargo, and hire more people who have wanted to stay in the Red River Valley.

Matching expertise and location is crucial for any business. "We seek technology businesses that can cluster in the NDSU Research & Technology Park," said Tony Grindberg, the park's executive director. "Such businesses benefit from collaboration with other technology companies that locate here, as well as from the unique research expertise and facilities available at NDSU."

Since the NDSU Research & Technology Park seeks fast-paced, growing companies to promote economic development in North Dakota, FMS is a good fit. "We're hoping for a tighter relationship with NDSU as we continue to grow," said Reynertson. FMS recognizes NDSU's strong agriculture, food safety and animal science departments, and sees potential for joint projects in the future, said Reynertson. FMS is also making use of their access to NDSU students. The company currently employs three interns and hopes to continue to provide internship opportunities.

For more information about FMS, visit www.feedsys.com.