How an NDIT Portfolio Manager Turns Vision Into Action for ND
It was a cold day in December 2023, but Andrew Sherwood was preparing to take his place in the hot seat. After slipping on his go-to suit jacket—always kept within arm’s reach in his basement office, specifically for big moments like this—he leaned intently over his desk, adjusting his collar with one hand and shuffling through footnotes with the other.
This was it. The moment Sherwood had been preparing for over the past few weeks. Job interviews had never really fazed him before, but this one was different. It was the chance to do something refreshingly different, coming out of the blue—and from one of the last places he would have ever expected.
Discovering Opportunity in North Dakota
North Dakota Information Technology (NDIT) was seeking an Enterprise Portfolio Manager—a strategic liaison between agency partners and leadership, charged with driving tech investments and delivering measurable results statewide. They needed someone with a knack for turning bold ideas into shovel-ready solutions, all within a complex logistics landscape marked by limited resources and shifting priorities.
In other words, someone who could build concepts from nothing, to something, to something better,
a personal motto Sherwood has lived by his entire life. Like when he transformed his empty backyard into his dream “fun plex,” complete with a swimming area, tiki bar, jungle gym, batting cage, and string lights—a poolside paradise worthy of a resort brochure. Or when he stepped up to coach his daughter’s softball team, taking them from zero wins in the fall to major tournament titles in the spring.
Thinking back on these triumphant moments, Sherwood took one last deep breath before cracking open his laptop and clicking on the meeting invite. As his webcam flickered to life, a clean-cut, silver-haired man sporting a crisp dress shirt and name badge lanyard appeared on the screen—Greg Hoffman, Deputy Chief Information Officer at NDIT. Little did Hoffman know, he had just met the right person for the job.
Sherwood stands in front of the pool section of his self-built backyard "fun plex"—a personal project that, like his professional journey, showcases his talent for turning big ideas into reality with structure, heart, and a whole lot of follow-through.
Packing a Wealth of Knowledge and Experience
After pleasant introductions and some friendly chit-chat, Hoffman turned his attention to Sherwood’s résumé. It was impressive, to say the least. From modernizing Boston Mutual’s operations during the COVID-19 pandemic, to building Midland University’s MBA program from the ground up, to coaching over 30 engineering teams across continents at AGCO—it was clear that he had a gift for bringing structure to chaos and turning bodacious goals into reality.
Hoffman noticed something else about Sherwood, as well. Not just his ability to drive projects to completion, but the way he does it. No matter the challenge at hand, he turns vision into action with humility, optimism, and genuine kindness. For example, it’s not uncommon for Sherwood to kick off a meeting (or, in this case, a job interview) with a warm I appreciate you, my friend.
It’s an attitude that went a long way for Hoffman—and he knew it would do the same for the people of North Dakota.
After he finished scanning the résumé, Hoffman leaned back in his seat, folded his arms, and sported a curious grin. He was about to ask the question that Sherwood had been waiting for all day.
So how do you envision evolving our project portfolio, Andrew?
Sherwood celebrates a hard-earned victory with his daughter’s softball team—a winning moment that reflects his personal motto of turning every challenge “from nothing, to something, to something better.”
Steering the State in the Right Direction
Sherwood paused—just briefly—before answering. Not because he didn’t know what to say, but because he wanted to get it right. This was his next backyard funplex, his softball winning streak. He cleared his throat and proceeded to deliver music to Hoffman’s ears.
"I’d start by helping the state see what it’s building," Sherwood said. NDIT is supporting all these incredible projects and agency missions, but there needs to be greater visibility into the efforts, so that everyone understands where they are in the workflow. The prioritization process must be enterprise-wide, transparent, and—most importantly—stakeholder-driven.
It was at that moment that Hoffman realized something else about Sherwood. He wasn’t merely interested in managing IT projects—this guy wanted to transform how the state worked together as a whole. He even had a name for the solution.
I was kind of thinking something along the lines of the ‘Portfolio Steering Committee,’
Sherwood said.
At the time, North Dakota was in the midst of reimagining what this could look like. Agencies—through no fault of their own—were operating in silos, unaware of each other’s efforts. But that was about to change.
Sherwood shares a joyful moment with his daughter. Just as they once envisioned leading her softball team to a championship, he now brings that same vision and drive to help North Dakota “see what it’s building” through greater project transparency and collaboration.
Finding Purpose at NDIT
Upon joining NDIT in January 2024, Sherwood hit the ground running, laying the groundwork for what would become one of North Dakota’s most strategic IT governance tools. The Portfolio Steering Committee wasn’t just a name or a gimmick—it was a shift from reactive to intentional, from isolated requests to unified outcomes.
Made up of Technology Business Partners (TBPs), Information Security Officers (ISOs), Enterprise Architects (EAs), executive leaders, and a host of project managers, the committee began bringing together perspectives from across the state. The goal was to achieve alignment by integrating structure with strategy.
Agencies involved in the pilot phase quickly saw the difference. One partner remarked, I had no idea NDIT had this much going on!
The transparency was eye-opening, to say the least. For the first time, everyone could see clearly how their projects connected to a broader mission—serving the people of North Dakota.
Leading up to the official rollout of the Portfolio Steering Committee, Sherwood even had the foresight to enhance a sister initiative—the NDIT Dashboard—a digital town square of sorts that provides real-time insights into project progress, priorities, and placements across the state. Agencies could now see exactly where they stood, even if their project wasn’t first in line—and that transparency spoke volumes.
Sherwood connects with fellow NDIT team members—including Chief Information Officer Corey Mock and Deputy Chief Information Officer Greg Hoffman—on a video call about the newly created Portfolio Steering Committee. Together, they work to turn a shared vision into a unified, transparent future for North Dakota’s projects.
Thriving off Connections and Culture
Since joining NDIT, Sherwood has embraced his role as a builder and a bridge. He thrives on making connections—not just between agency missions and statewide strategy—but also with the people around him. His unmistakable humor and ability to keep things light fit in perfectly with NDIT’s warm culture, making him a welcome presence to everyone he interacts with.
And in addition to the meaningful work, the environment at NDIT offers something that’s been a welcome change of pace for Sherwood: balance. After years of high-intensity consulting and globe-trotting roles, he’s finally found a place where he can still do challenging, strategic work—without sacrificing time with his family.
The stability and limited travel mean everything to me,
Sherwood says today. For one, I’m really happy that I can continue coaching my daughter’s softball team. I get to take my kids to school, be home for dinner, and make it to doctor’s appointments—just be present in the day-to-day. It’s huge for me to have this time while my kids are still young.
A glimpse into life beyond the laptop. Sherwood enjoys meaningful moments with his family—thanks to the great work-life balance he’s found at NDIT.
That kind of flexibility—not to mention the excellent workplace benefits—truly makes NDIT worthwhile. It’s a place where leadership understands that people are more than their job titles, where someone like Sherwood can bring his full self to work and still have time to focus on what matters most in life.
Yes, some days are uphill with conflicting projects and priorities. Yes, process transformations don’t always happen overnight. But Sherwood wakes up every morning knowing one thing for sure: he’s moving the needle. His sights are set. His resolve is strong. His outlook for North Dakota is bright.
Because no matter what the day brings, he’s bound and determined to take it "from nothing, to something, to something better."