Interim CIO / Director of ITD

Mike Ressler is the Deputy CIO and Director of ITD. He is responsible for the administration and management of all operational functions providing centralized information technology services. 

ITD was established to provide and regulate information technology solutions for state government, which includes analyzing emerging technologies and evaluating the impact they may have on the state's system. The department also coordinates IT activities with government agencies, schools, universities, and vendors to create and maintain a statewide information technology plan.  ITD manages a statewide network that connects all state agency facilities, state universities, schools, libraries, and county courthouses. The department provides hosting services for schools and state government as well as software development services for the majority of these agencies. ITD also coordinates the state’s enterprise initiatives like Geographic Information Systems (GIS), the Criminal Justice Information Sharing (CJIS) program, the Health Information Exchange, Large Project Oversight, Enterprise Architecture, Longitudinal Data System, and the state’s Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system.

Mr. Ressler received a Bachelor of Science degree with a double major in accounting and business administration from the University of Mary in 1983. In 1992, he received a third major in computer information systems. In 2002, Mike attended Harvard University and received a certificate in Driving Government Performance from the John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Before coming to ITD in September of 1984, Mike worked for a regional CPA firm in Bismarck.

Mike and his wife Kathy have three sons and enjoy walking, golfing, bowling and spending time as a family.