Ryan Aasheim has served as Chief Business Development Officer for the Greater Fargo Moorhead Economic Development Corporation (GFMEDC) since 2019.
Through this work, Ryan is responsible for leading the GFMEDC’s business development efforts including new primary-sector business attraction and existing business retention and expansion. This includes understanding and serving the needs of the more than 400 primary-sector businesses in the Greater Fargo Moorhead region. To ensure targeted companies and site selection consultants understand the opportunities for business growth in the region, Ryan’s business attraction efforts focus on several key strategic targeted sectors, including AgTech, Bioscience and Medical Device, and Autonomous Systems and UAS. Since joining the EDC, Ryan has also led the development of a new Document Ready Site (certified site) program designed to streamline the site selection process providing project developers and consultants increased speed to market. Since 2023, Ryan has led the organization of the region’s only Bioscience Summit which just hosted the 3rd annual gathering in October 2025.
Network building, connectivity, and collaboration are all critical components to success and Ryan works diligently across sectors to identify and bring together and convene partners where common interests and shared opportunities exist. Ryan’s experience working with tech companies, manufacturers, and innovators in agriculture, autonomous systems, bioscience, and adjacent industries puts him in a unique position to understand where partnerships may exist and how to bring together the right stakeholders to support regionally impactful economic development opportunities.
Prior to joining the GFMEDC, Ryan served as the business development manager of the Red River Corridor Fund, a $3.5 million debt and equity fund, at Praxis Strategy Group and led the organization of over 20 industry catalyzing events including the UAS Summit in Grand Forks, ND and Precision Ag Summit in Jamestown, ND.
Since joining the EDC in 2019, Ryan has led or supported over 160 successful projects that have created over 2,923 new jobs, led to the utilization or addition of over 6,462,000 sqft of commercial real estate, all of which has generated over $4.1 billion of new capital investment by new and expanding companies.
Known for his analytical approach, relationship-driven leadership style, and deep understanding of regional economics, Ryan is a frequent collaborator on initiatives related to workforce, site development, infrastructure, and industry competitiveness. He is passionate about ensuring the region continues to grow as a place where businesses thrive and people choose to build their careers and lives.