Tony Grindberg graduated from West Fargo High School in 1979. Born and raised in Mapleton, Tony was instilled with a strong work ethic and a focus on civic service from his mother, Jane Grindberg, a School Board member, and his father, Arnold Grindberg, a City Councilman and Mayor. This foundation of work and service has served him well throughout his life as a West Fargo Packer, and continues to benefit him as a Fargo City Commissioner today.

After graduating from West Fargo High School, Tony earned his A.S. degree in 1981 from North Dakota State School of Science (now NDSCS) in Wahpeton, before moving on to Minnesota State University Moorhead, where he received his B.S. degree in 1985. Tony has had a long career focusing on Education and Workforce Development. In 1984, he started his career at the Interstate Business College before serving 10 years as Senior Vice President for the Fargo/Cass County Economic Development Corporation. There, he led the development and start-up of operations for the North Fargo campus of the North Dakota State College of Science.

In 2002, Tony left the Economic Development Corporation to lead the creation of the NDSU Research and Technology Park, where he served as Executive Director. During his 10-year tenure at NDSU, the Research and Tech Park was directly involved in creating a start-up environment that produced nearly 900 jobs in the community and brought millions of dollars in economic activity to the region. Tony left the Research Park in 2012 to join one of the Park’s startup companies, Appareo Systems, as the head of their aviation division.

On July 1, 2016, Tony was hired as the Vice President of Workforce Affairs for North Dakota State College of Science in Fargo, rejoining the operation that he helped launch during his time with the Economic Development Corporation. In addition to private sector experience, Tony also has 22 years of legislative experience in the North Dakota State Senate from 1992 to 2014. Tony championed workforce development, higher education and student scholarships, and the FM Diversion.

Tony held many leadership roles in the Senate, including serving as vice chairman of Senate Appropriations from 2003 to 2014, caucus leader from 1996 to 2000, Senate president pro tempore in 2001, chairman of the economic and workforce development committee, and chairman of the Council of State Governments economic development committee from 1998 to 2002. After retiring from the State Senate, Tony was elected to the Fargo City Commission in 2016.

Over the course of his career, Tony has received various awards and recognitions, including the Legislator of the Year award from the North Dakota Association for Career and Technical Education, the National Federation of Independent Business Guardian of Small Business award, the ND State Chamber of Commerce award for Education Partnership, the Alumnus of the Year award from NDSCS, the U.S. Small Business Administration Small Business award, and the Outstanding Young North Dakotan award.

In addition to his legislative committee work, Grindberg has served on national boards for the General Aviation Manufacturers Association and the Association of University Research Parks, as well as local boards like the Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber of Commerce, the Economic Development Association for ND, and numerous other boards and commissions.

Tony and his wife Karen live in South Fargo. They have three children: Thomas, Ashlyn, and Chase. Thomas, and his wife Shana, live in Fargo, where he serves in the ND State House of Representatives. Ashlyn is studying to be an Occupational Therapist and is in the Master’s program at UND. Chase is studying Agricultural Sciences at NDSU and is currently interning with Senator John Hoeven.