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Minnesota CTO Brings Blend of Public, Private Tech Experience

Jeff Nyberg has been tapped to direct the state in matters of information technology infrastructure and strategy. The technologist comes with a 15-year career with companies like Target and Dairy Queen.

Jeff Nyberg, a technologist with a lengthy resume including time at major private-sector companies, has been named Minnesota’s new chief technology officer.

Though the appointment was made with little fanfare beyond updates to the leadership portion of the Minnesota IT Services (MNIT) website, staff confirmed that Nyberg began work Tuesday.

Jeff Nyberg, Minnesota CTO
Prior to joining MNIT, Nyberg worked for Dairy Queen as the director of information systems for nearly two years, according to his LinkedIn profile. He also served as the deputy director of application development and support for the city of St. Paul. For nearly seven years before that, Nyberg worked for the retail giant Target as a merchandising application specialist.

“Jeff has significant experience both in the private and public sectors, performing work with a unique combination of expertise,” Commissioner Tarek Tomes said in an email Friday. Tomes went on to note Nyberg’s ability to lead application development teams and infrastructure teams that deliver critical and shared services.

“He has a tremendously strong customer-focused orientation, coupled with a people-centered approach to delivering technology solutions. We are excited to have him on our team,” he added.

Nyberg will be involved with overseeing the state’s new Data Performance and Management Program, said Tomes.

“We are in the early stages of defining this critical initiative, which will lift up our Digital Estate and provide deep, meaningful insights into the vast amount of data we have at the state,” he said.  

The new addition to the leadership team comes several months after Tarek Tomes was named as the permanent replacement for Brig. Gen. Johanna Clyborne. Clyborne left the post in January as Gov. Tim Walz took office.

Tomes and Nyberg both overlapped in their service of the city of St. Paul for a period of time. Tomes served as chief information officer, while Nyberg was deputy director of application development and support.

Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to include comments from Commissioner Tomes.


Eyragon Eidam is the web editor for Government Technology magazine, after previously serving as assistant news editor and covering such topics as legislation, social media and public safety. He can be reached at eeidam@erepublic.com.