I Came to North Dakota for College and Stayed for My Career
Learn why a UND grad chose to make the Fargo-Moorhead-West Fargo area home.
Looking for a state with fantastic colleges and universities, great jobs, natural and artistic beauty, outdoor recreation, entertainment and friendly communities? Search no more – North Dakota fits the bill. Just ask Nicole Thorfinnson. Originally from a small community near Minneapolis, she relocated to Grand Forks in 2014 to attend the University of North Dakota. She stayed in North Dakota to start her career, and today, she resides in the Fargo-Moorhead-West Fargo area.
Why did you decide to relocate to North Dakota for college?
My sister went to North Dakota State University (in Fargo), and she kept saying that I needed to come over to North Dakota. When I was looking at colleges, I didn’t want to follow her or do exactly what she was doing. The only other school I knew about in North Dakota was the University of North Dakota (UND), and I thought, “I’ll go give it a tour.”
From the minute I got on campus, I fell in love. The people were incredibly welcoming. The school was really geared toward supporting the students, including handing me a personalized folder with a list of scholarships that applied to my major. I spent four years at UND, and I loved it. It was the best time of my life. I loved all the people there, and then I got an internship at the UND Alumni Association & Foundation.
What made you want to stay and start your career in North Dakota after graduation?
While interning at the UND Alumni Association & Foundation, I learned so much that when I was ready to graduate, the CEO offered me a job right out of school. That was kind of the beginning of my “real adulthood” outside of my college years.
I worked for the foundation for three years and then decided I wanted to learn new things. My sister lives just outside of Casselton, so she encouraged me to move to Fargo to be closer to her. I got hired at Advanced Business Methods, a printer/copier dealer in North Dakota, as a general marketing specialist. My time there is crucial to why I chose and continue to stay in North Dakota. They really showed their passion for the people of North Dakota. I also got to travel across North Dakota, and it made me feel more connected to everything the state has to offer.
Later, a friend who was working at Bobcat called me about a social media specialist position. Bobcat is a huge global organization that’s right in my backyard of West Fargo, and I’ve been there for a year-and-a-half now. I get to work for a global company, but I also get to stay in the friendly, kind, quaint, quiet of North Dakota. It’s the best of both worlds.
What do you love about your community?
One thing I love about the Fargo-Moorhead-West Fargo area is that it’s a big community. We’ve got big companies like Bobcat and Microsoft, but we also have fantastic small businesses owned by people who live down the street from you. It’s the biggest city in North Dakota, but I guarantee that every time I go to an event, I run into at least one person I know. It’s a warm community where you don’t feel like a stranger; it’s really unique. People are just so down to earth here.
What’s your favorite way to spend a weekend?
My husband and I are elated that Junkyard Brewing Co., based in Moorhead, opened a location in West Fargo. I absolutely love to go to the Red River Market every Saturday in the summer in downtown Fargo, and lakes in Minnesota are an easy drive away. There’s something new to do or different restaurants to try every weekend. We have things like Happy Harry’s RibFest and the Red River Valley Fair. We’re never really bored or sitting around on weekends wondering what we’re going to do.
You joined the region’s Young Professionals Network. What has your experience been like?
The Young Professionals Network (YPN) has been transformational for me as a way to get involved in the community. It helps me feel like this isn’t just a place that I live and work – it’s a place that I belong. I think YPN has given me the opportunity to meet people around the same age who are going through similar things in life and work, and they have similar interests, like finding things to do on the weekend. Honestly, I’ve made a lot of friends since joining YPN.
This article was sponsored by the North Dakota Department of Commerce.