BTA member Advanced Business Methods (ABM), a North Dakota office products and solutions company headquartered in West Fargo, North Dakota, has acquired Central Business Systems Inc. (CBSI), a Jamestown, North Dakota-based office equipment and document solutions provider since 1975. The official announcement was made in West Fargo on Friday, Jan. 5. The move to acquire CBSI first started in the fall of 2023.

"We are excited to be partnering with such a great hometown organization," said Jeff Ellingson, president, ABM. "Dernel and Tracy have formed a great organization with a great staff, and we hope to continue that same path by providing exceptional sales, service and products that all the CBSI customers have become accustomed to. We are thrilled that all the CBSI employees are becoming owners of the company through our ESOP, which will help continue the local hometown feel that is a standard with CBSI."

The acquisition of CBSI fits into ABM's mission and growth strategy. With the addition of CBSI, ABM will be able to add a central North Dakota location. ABM will expand its offerings to include document and electronic hardware destruction, as well as becoming an official Kyocera dealer in some of their markets.

"At CBSI we take pride in our customer care," said Dernel Denning, president, CBSI. "Joining the ABM team, we know that our customers will continue to have excellent service and support. We are very excited to continue providing service to our community and to be a part of an employee-owned business."