ODGA Team

Chief Data Officer
Commonwealth of Virginia

Learn more about the Commonwealth Chief Data Officer in this interview here.

Deputy Chief Data Officer
Commonwealth of Virginia

Learn more about the Commonwealth Deputy Chief Data Officer in this interview here.

Director of Information Technology
Commonwealth of Virginia

Tell us a little about your professional background?

I have an extensive background working with and processing large amounts of data. I come from the nation’s largest retail pricing collection and Analytics Company. I worked heavily in the design, implementation, and maintenance of the core internal applications and SQL servers. I worked with some of the world’s largest retailers to build, manage, and maintain systems and processes that directly affected their day to day operations.

What is the most valuable lesson you’ve learned during your career?

Be a team player – you may be great at what you do but group success is what moves the business forward. Working closely with and learning from your team will greatly help you throughout your career.

What do you enjoy most about working for the Office of Data Governance and Analytics?

I enjoy seeing what efficiencies we can gain or new functionalities that we can create to better process, analyze, and report on the large amount of data sets we consume. 

Director of Data Protection and Governance
Commonwealth of Virginia

Acting Director of Communications
Commonwealth of Virginia

Tell us a little about your professional background?

I graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in May of 2021 with a Bachelor’s in Marketing. I began working with ODGA in January of 2020 and have been learning from this organization ever since!

What is the most valuable lesson you’ve learned during your career?

Meet people where they’re at and always look at every situation and relationship as a lesson learned.

What do you enjoy most about working for the Office of Data Governance and Analytics?

I look forward to connecting with an awesome team daily, learning from all of the talented people around me, and helping grow the Open Data Portal!

What’s your most-used productivity hack?

I use a divide and conquer method. I write everything down, and break tasks up based on how quickly they can be done and by priority.

IT Purchasing Analyst
Commonwealth of Virginia

Tell us a little about your professional background?

I am an enthusiastic Supply Chain professional with a Financial Engineering background. My career path has included the finest of both fields. After serving 6 years as a Financial Consultant and Advisor, I steered my vocation to the ever-changing Supply Chain and Purchasing worlds where I applied my earned expertise in a structured approach to solve strategic and daily purchasing challenges.

What is the most valuable lesson you’ve learned during your career?

Integrity and determination are the undivided, common factor for all organic growth paths.

What do you enjoy most about working for the Office of Data Governance and Analytics?

I find ODGA to be a place where values and work ethics are highly appreciated and encouraged, creating a work environment that promotes growth and development for the whole team.

What’s the best compliment you’ve ever received?

I’ve been told that I am persistent in getting what I want, in a good, constructive way of course!

Data Architect
Commonwealth of Virginia

Tell us a little about your professional background?

I have worked with databases for the last 15 years. I began my career as a database developer (stored procedures, functions, triggers, ETL, etc.) supporting front end applications. For the past 7 years I have worked on data warehouse teams with the goal of making the organization's data more centralized so that researchers/data scientists can perform analytics.

What is the most valuable lesson you’ve learned during your career?

I've learned that the people who really take the time to understand an organization's business tend to perform well in the database/ETL space. When you have a good grasp on the data you are working with, you will build a better process (ETL process/data pipelines) because you know what the data is and how end users make use of the data based on the business.

What do you enjoy most about working for the Office of Data Governance and Analytics?

I've enjoyed being able to work with the team from the ground floor and help build processes that will continue to help the state make positive decisions that will benefit Virginians.

Data Analytics Specialist
Commonwealth of Virginia

Project Manager
Commonwealth of Virginia

Tell us a little about your professional background? 

I previously worked in the banking industry for the past ten years. I have an extensive background with collections/recoveries, data analysis, and process management. As a Team Lead, I contributed to multiple special projects and coordinated with external clients to maximize productivity and efficiency.

What is the most valuable lesson you’ve learned during your career?

 I've learned to have courage, ask questions, and challenge myself to exceed expectations.

What do you enjoy most about working for the Office of Data Governance and Analytics?

More than anything, I really enjoy the people I work with. Everyone has been so supportive and kind since the first day I started and our bonds continue to get stronger. I appreciate that everyone is comfortable just being themselves and able to have fun together while remaining productive. We’ve turned our recently developed agency into a family and I am beyond grateful for each member of the ODGA team.

Power BI Specialist
Commonwealth of Virginia

Tell us a little about your professional background? 

I’m a business intelligence developer that has specialized in Microsoft Power BI for the last 6 years. My interest and expertise are in data governance, business, and interacting with stakeholders. As a Microsoft Power BI Developer, I have created data models, mapped the overall data workflow from source systems to BI analytics, and overseen ETL and BI development teams from a technical perspective. Through an iterative process, I have created reports and analytics for business users.

What is the most valuable lesson you’ve learned during your career?

• Know what I stand for--and what I don't. It gives me clarity. I stand for persistence,
  hard work, and never taking shortcuts.
• The best way to learn is through the power of failure. I learn from
  my mistakes, and not to repeat them.
• Don't be afraid to do the unexpected. That nervousness you feel means you're growing.
• Remain humble
• Never stop learning, because it gives you courage. The more knowledgeable you are, the
  more comfortable you feel.

What do you enjoy most about working for the Office of Data Governance and Analytics?

I really enjoy working with the best and brightest group of people. Working with people who truly take pride in their job makes for an unprecedented team atmosphere and organization unlike any other.

Data Governance Lead
Commonwealth of Virginia

Tell us a little about your professional background?

I am a data professional with over 12 years of experience across healthcare, banking, Medicare, and Medicaid payment industries. I have a range of experience in the areas of data management, data quality, business analysis, risk, and metadata management. Driven by excellence, I take pride in my work, build relationships, and bring people together to deliver tangible outcomes. I have been recognized by customers and partners alike as a trusted advisor for providing quality solutions.

What is the most valuable lesson you’ve learned during your career?

Technology is a people business.

What do you enjoy most about working for the Office of Data Governance and Analytics?

I am inspired by the vision, "To maximize the value of Commonwealth data and inform actionable intelligence that helps Virginians live better lives."

What’s the best compliment you’ve ever received?

People have often asked me how I get along well with people who are really difficult to talk to.

Database Administrator
Commonwealth of Virginia

Data Engineer
Commonwealth of Virginia

Tell us a little about your professional background? 

I’ve been working in Richmond in the private sector as a data analyst for about 8 years working with retail pricing data.  I have a lot of experience with summarizing large data sets, analyzing trends, and creating BI reports.

What is the most valuable lesson you’ve learned during your career?

Never stop learning. Data analytics is such a rapidly growing and changing space that there are always new techniques and tools to learn.  

What are you most looking forward to as you begin work with the Office of Data Governance and Analytics?

I’m really excited about working with a variety of data sources. Every day is something new and there’s so much data out there. The scope to collect and combine the data to create efficiencies is pretty limitless.

What’s your most-used productivity hack?

Drinking lots of coffee. Also, I always try to tackle larger problems by breaking them up into more manageable pieces.

What’s your favorite food?

I really like going out to brunch and I love a good breakfast burrito.

What’s your favorite thing to do on the weekends?

I’m a big Liverpool FC fan and I try to never miss a game.

Senior Business Analyst
Commonwealth of Virginia

Senior Software Engineer
Commonwealth of Virginia

Power BI Developer
Commonwealth of Virginia

Systems Administrator
Commonwealth of Virginia

Data Protection Analyst
Commonwealth of Virginia

Communications Analyst
Commonwealth of Virginia

What is the most valuable lesson you’ve learned during your career? 

The key to growth is discomfort, the more you embrace being uncomfortable the better. 

What’s your most-used productivity hack?

 Never assume that you are going to remember what you need to do without writing it down because 9/10 times you won't remember. In order to be productive, write down all of your to-dos!

Cloud Engineer
Commonwealth of Virginia

Procurement Specialist
Commonwealth of Virginia

What is the most valuable lesson you've learned during your career?

Approach new adventures with curiosity and an open mind. Inquisitiveness will help you overcome obstacles and an open mindset will allow you to learn from mistakes.

What are you most looking forward to as you begin work with the Office of Data Governance and Analytics?

Prior to joining the team, I collaborated with ODGA on numerous occasions. With the state data they facilitate, I was able to utilize it for the benefit of local government agencies. The team's ability to simplify complex data made our collaboration seamless. I anticipate growth and expansion for this team, and I look forward to supporting everyone and their unique talents as I witness their continued success.

What's the best book you've read recently?

I have a wide range of reading interests. I appreciate insights from publications you find in Vogue to the Economist. Recently, I developed an interest in culinary innovation. My interests have expanded to include recipe blogs and books as I search for inspiration. I like the balance found between healthy and savory.

What's your most-used productivity hack?

I wake up early. It gives me time to plan or get a good work out in- both help me align my focus for the day.

What's the best compliment you've ever received?

I am proud to have received recognition for my consistency, as it is a testament to my hard work and dedication. I approach every challenge with enthusiasm, knowing that each one presents an opportunity for me to improve and evolve. When tasked with a new project, I may not achieve perfection on the first attempt but persist until I am content with the outcome. I hope my efforts help ODGA achieve excellence in every possible way.

Data Analyst
Commonwealth of Virginia

What is the most valuable lesson you’ve learned during your career? 

Keep on learning and expanding to greater limits.

What are you most looking forward to as you begin work with the Office of Data Governance and Analytics? 

Want to get my hands-on with state data, help to resolve the issue and provide with amazing insights which would be helpful in betterment of Virginians.

What’s the best book you’ve read recently? 

Verity by Colleen Hoover

What’s your most-used productivity hack? 

Learning about new inventions in computer field and able to learn more about technology used in it.

What’s the best compliment you’ve ever received? 

Hardworking, Team-player and open to work in any technology.
 

Senior Software Engineer
Commonwealth of Virginia

Senior Business Analyst
Commonwealth of Virginia

Data Scientist
Commonwealth of Virginia

Senior Front End Software Engineer
Commonwealth of Virginia