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Bits and Bytes Blog
ODGA Team Expands
Monday, May 10, 2021
Shwetha Tadimalla – Data Curation Lead
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 are you most looking forward to as you begin work within the Office of Data Governance and Analytics?
I am inspired by the vision and excited about the opportunity to put it into action, "To maximize the value of Commonwealth data and inform actionable intelligence that helps Virginians live better lives."
Favorite place to travel?
Disney Land, Florida. It really is a happy place where magic and fun happen!
What’s your favorite food?
I am a foodie! I constantly love trying new dishes and cuisines, but Indian cuisine is my favorite!
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.
What’s your favorite thing to do on the weekends?
I love spending time with my family, and since I'm an avid fitness enthusiast, I love to catch up with either a long run or a group class.
Valerie Gresham- Project Coordinator
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 are you most looking forward to as you begin work within the Office of Data Governance and Analytics?
In addition to the knowledge and experience I will gain, I look forward to becoming an asset to my team. Together, I believe we can innovate processes and pave the road to success.
What kind of music do you like?
I listen to a variety of music but if I had to pick my top three genres, it would be hip hop, dancehall, and afro beats.
Favorite place to travel?
I absolutely love Jamaica.
What’s your favorite thing to do on the weekends?
On weekends I spend a lot of time with family and friends. We tend to host different events often, such as holiday parties, girl's night, game night, etc. During football season, my Sunday afternoons are devoted to supporting the Philadelphia Eagles.
Bharat Savaram - Power BI Specialist
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 are you most looking forward to as you begin work within the Office of Data Governance and Analytics?
I really enjoyed the warm welcome! I look forward to 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.
What’s your favorite food?
I’m an Indian and love to eat and cook, and am quite the foodie. Food gives us energy. Without food, there is no life. There are so many dishes available in today’s world: some like Indian foods like Biryani, Dosa, etc. whereas some like western foods like pizza, burgers, and noodles, etc. I like Mexican and Thai, but seafood is my favorite because it tastes fabulous.
Favorite place to travel?
My all-time favorite place to travel is Visakhapatnam. It is known to be a coastal city present in India called “A Gem of South India." From chilling out at the beach to watching their favorite film in Jagadamba, Vizagites love their life in the city. Be it the street food, the holy shrines, or even the multiple nature escapades, Visakhapatnam has numerous features to keep us hooked. Every few kilometers you find a beach in Visakhapatnam. The famous five are R.K beach, Tenneti Park beach, Rushikonda beach, Yarada beach, and Bheemili beach. On the weekends you could find 3/4th of the people in the city spending time at these beaches.
Soren Sonson - Technical Project Manager
Tell us a little about your professional background?
I have an extensive background in data warehousing, business intelligence, data governance, and architecture. This includes data and application integration to databases, large database conversions, and compliance. I have worked across industries from the Federal government, non-profits, publishing, beverage, manufacturing, higher education, and various types of financial services.
What is the most valuable lesson you’ve learned during your career?
Communication is the key to trust in any relationship. Trust is earned and not given with a position. Lead by example and be fair to your team.
What are you most looking forward to as you begin work within the Office of Data Governance and Analytics?
I am looking forward to a positive workplace environment that allows me to grow. In addition, I am looking forward to an organization that embraces their mission statement. The CDO has set the bar high for the team and the state.
What’s the first or best concert you’ve been to?
The BSO and John Williams always do a summer concert at Tanglewood. The last one I attended was all aeronautical movies. The music ranged from Star Wars, the Right Stuff, The Aviator, and Top Gun. The movie scenes were playing on the big screen. It is in the Berkshire mountains in the summer at night. Families sit on the lawn to have picnics.
Favorite place to travel?
I have been to Ireland 3 times. It is the beauty of the land, farm to table food, water views, mountains, and truly the nicest people on earth that keeps me going back.
What’s your favorite food?
My favorite food is Spanish tapas. The freshness of the food and the small plates allow you to taste many flavors.
Payton Lamb - Data Engineer
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 are you most looking forward to as you begin work within the Office of Data Governance and Analytics?
I look forward to 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.
What kind of music do you like?
I like R&B and Rap. Funny enough, one of my favorite songs is Garth Brook’s – Friends in Low Places.
Favorite place to travel?
I really enjoyed the Dominican Republic.
What’s your favorite thing to do on the weekends?
If my kids are not in sports, my family and I like to go down to the beach in Ocean View Norfolk. The City of Norfolk has done a really good job of cleaning up the area and making the beachfront a really great place for people to enjoy themselves.
Maliha Shamim – Database Administrator
Mounika Bobba - Data Analytics Specialist
Anthony Dib - IT Purchasing Analyst
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 are you most looking forward to as you begin work within the Office of Data Governance and Analytics?
I find the ODGA to be the 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!
What’s your favorite food?
My persistency also shows in continuously working on getting the best home-made burger.