NDIT Accountant Gives Back With ‘Time, Talent, and Treasure’
As the room around her erupted into cheers and happy dances, Dana Henry (Lemmel) took a second to close her eyes and let the good news sink in. For the first time ever, North Dakota Information Technology (NDIT) had just been named one of the Top 10 Young Professional Workplaces by the Bismarck-Mandan Young Professionals Network. In the thrill of the moment, she couldn’t help but beam from ear to ear.
It was an especially sweet announcement for Henry, considering she was the one who submitted the nomination for YPN’s annual awards ceremony in the first place. Having joined NDIT in April 2023, she had immediately fallen in love with the agency’s culture, and she felt like it deserved to be recognized.
She cherishes the people. She appreciates the professional growth opportunities. She’s thankful for the robust benefits package. But most of all, she loves that NDIT’s leaders consistently support her with the time and resources she needs to give back to her community.
Dana Henry and fellow NDIT team members gather for a picture with their Top 10 Young Professional Workplaces award from the Bismarck-Mandan YPN.
Embracing a Life of Community Service
Henry, a Staff Accountant at NDIT, has earned a reputation among her teammates for being game for just about any giveback opportunity. When she’s not crunching the numbers, she’s crushing it in her philanthropic adventures.
Raising money for childhood cancer research? You’ll find Henry, clippers in hand, buzzing heads at the annual Brave the Shave event. Putting on a blood drive? She’ll be first in line at Vitalant’s front door. Fighting back against poverty? You can bet your bottom dollar that this aspiring CPA will save the day—dressed to the nines as part of the local United Way’s Little Black Dress campaign.
No cause, it would seem, is too big or too small for Henry. If it will make a positive difference in the world, you can count this accountant in.
Henry thrives on giving back to her local community in countless ways. No cause is too big or too small.
Championing Others at Every Turn
At the YPN awards ceremony, the room eventually quieted down and everyone settled back into their seats—but Henry remained perched on the edge of hers. The time had now come for the final award of the evening—YPN Board Member of the Year—and she gripped the rim of her table in anticipation. Smiling and leaning over to a friend in a nearby group, she whispered confidently, “This one’s going to Lindsay. She truly deserves this.”
Henry had no doubt. After all, their mutual friend, Lindsay, had been everywhere over the past year—on every committee, at every event—working tooth and nail to make an impactful difference in the local community. But then, the emcee shouted an unexpected name.
“Dana Henry!”
Henry’s jaw dropped lower than an accountant’s coffee level on April 14, and the table erupted in laughter and applause. “You really didn’t think it was going to be you?” a delighted co-worker asked. Henry shook her head, stunned. “No, I really didn’t!”
She hadn’t seen it coming—but her team members had an inkling. While Henry insisted there were many others in the room more deserving of the recognition, the NDIT crew and others reaffirmed her undeniable efforts and impact—and expressed how proud they were to stand by her side in support.
Henry poses with her Board Member of the Year award, presented by the Bismarck-Mandan YPN.
Finding Home Sweet Home at NDIT
Henry’s path to that YPN awards ceremony was anything but conventional. Born and raised in Klamath Falls, OR, she’s the daughter of two teachers and a self-described “open book.” Her experiences span college athletics, academic advising, massage therapy school, an MBA, and a string of public service roles across six states. She’s been a volleyball coach, a blackjack dealer, a union member, and an accomplished pageant queen—among countless other roles. Not to mention, she’s also the first female wrestling official in North Dakota.
It’s safe to say Henry is a true Jane of all trades. But no matter where life has taken her, her compass has always pointed toward service to others. It’s something NDIT’s leadership saw in her from day one, and it’s one of the many reasons why they knew she’d be a great fit for the team.
“I’ve always believed in giving your time, your talent, and your treasure,” she says. “Even if you don’t have much treasure, you can always give your time. NDIT has always supported that mindset.”
When Henry joined NDIT, she found something she hadn’t necessarily expected in a government IT agency: flexibility, trust, and a culture that values people above all else. She was especially surprised at how supportive the agency is when it comes to encouraging team members to give back to community causes they care about.
“NDIT treats me like a professional. They trust me to get the work done, and they support me in doing what I love outside of work,” Henry says, adding that she enjoys being a great connector, building relationships across agencies, and helping others navigate complex billing systems with a smile.
NDIT’s support has helped Henry thrive—not just in her role, but in her passions. She’s a detective at heart, digging into invoices and vendor records to ensure every dollar is accounted for. The ledger life is clearly her forte. And when she’s not balancing spreadsheets, she’s enjoying work-life balance—something that also caught YPN’s eye when they were carefully considering who to include on their Top 10 Young Professional Workplaces list.
“NDIT truly cares about honoring those work-life parameters and fostering flexibility,” she says. “They want you to be fulfilled and happy.”
Henry has been crowned in several state pageants, most recently as Mrs. North Dakota.
Being More Than ‘Just a Name on a List’
If you ask Henry why it’s worth it to be part of Team NDIT, she’ll gladly go on and on about the agency’s uplifting culture, excellent benefits, and many growth opportunities. But what she emphasizes most is purpose.
“You’re not just a name on a list. You have a tangible impact on every citizen and partner agency in this state,” she says. “Whether you’re in cybersecurity, desktop support, or accounting like me, you’re helping improve lives.”
And if you’re lucky, you might even find yourself at a table one day, surrounded by co-workers who care about you and believe in you, hearing your name called when you least expect it.
In fact, at NDIT—you can count on it.