Developing Data Analytics Capabilities Conference

Registration now open!

Optional Pre-Conference Workshops: March 18, 2025
Conference: March 19-20, 2025

University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education & Hotel | 1197 S. Lumpkin Street, Athens, GA 30602

Registration after Jan. 24, 2025: $285

Pre-conference workshops will take place on March 18, 2025: Half-day session: $90 | Full-day session: $170

The image shows a large group of people sitting at tables in a conference room and the people are focused on the front of the room.

Learn what's new

Please join us for a two-day conference to learn about integrating emerging data analytics technology and data governance. Pre-conference workshops are available to those who want to take a deeper dive before the event. You will have the opportunity to connect with experts in the field, identify your organization’s data readiness and consider next steps for increasing your data analytics capabilities.

The image shows a group of people in a classroom setting with a woman at the front of the room speaking to the audience. The attendees are viewing a large screen on the wall behind the speaker that has a spreadsheet on it.

Who Should Come?

This conference will benefit those involved in data-informed decision-making for state and local governments, universities, colleges and school systems. With three tracks to choose from, there are topics relevant to various levels of professionals' experience with data.

Don't miss out!

If you work with data or want to learn more about data-informed decision-making in government or academic settings, you won’t want to miss this conference!

Conference Information

Conference Tracks

Please select your conference track at registration based on your current career needs. Choose from three available tracks:

The Leadership track is geared toward participants in management and leadership roles in their organizations. No technical skills are required for these sessions.
The Analyst track is geared toward participants who collect, analyze, package and present data for decision-makers.
The Technical track is geared toward a more technical audience and will focus on more complex topics.

Pre-Conference Workshops

Add an optional pre-conference workshop on Tuesday, March 18. These offerings can be added to your conference registration for an additional cost. A half-day session is $90, or make it a full day of learning by adding two sessions for $170.

Power BI for Beginners (limited space available!) 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Power BI for Intermediate Levels (limited space available!): 1-4 p.m.
Data Strategy Basics (limited space available!): 1-4 p.m.

Lodging

For your convenience, we have a block of rooms at the University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education & Hotel available at a special conference rate. Lodging is limited, so please book early!

University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education & Hotel | 1197 South Lumpkin Street, Athens, GA 30602
706.542.2134

Please view the registration site for lodging information and hotel block code.

Speakers

Keynote Speakers

Kate Burns
Executive Director, Metrolab Network

Kate serves as the executive director of MetroLab Network, a non-profit that drives positive impact in communities by empowering collaboration between local government and universities. Before joining MetroLab, she was a senior associate at Cityfi, a firm focused on fostering innovation and new thinking in the urban environment. Kate has also been part of two mayoral administrations, first as innovation policy advisor for Mayor Sly James in Kansas City, Mo. and then as technology policy advisor for Mayor Jenny Durkan in Seattle, Wash. These roles shared similar missions and values, including drafting new regulatory schemas for transportation networks and short-term rentals, as well as implementing and promoting privacy and surveillance regulations. Kate was a part of the MetroLab network while in Seattle and Kansas City and continues to uphold a passion for the work between cities and universities. She has a juris doctorate from the University of Missouri Kansas City, and a B.S. in journalism from the University of Kansas.

Seamus Dowdall headshot

Seamus Dowdall
Legislative Director, Telecommunications & Technology, National Association of Counties (NACo)

Seamus is the legislative director for telecommunications and technology on the National Association of Counties’ government affairs team. In this role, Seamus serves as the liaison to NACo's Telecommunications and Technology Policy Steering Committee and advocates directly to federal partners in the Administration and on Capitol Hill to advance policy priorities on issues including broadband deployment and accessibility, wireless technology siting, and emergency communications policy. Seamus also works with county officials from across the country to set organizational priorities and policies for telecommunications and technology issues through hosting regular webinar programming and providing technical assistance resources.

Plenary and Breakout Session Speakers

Donnie Beamer, Mayor’s Senior Tech Advisor-CTO, City of Atlanta
Kanti Chalasani, Division Director, Georgia Data Analytics Center, Office of Planning and Budget (OPB)
Nikhil Deshpande, Chief Digital and AI Officer, Georgia Technology Authority
McCall Ginsberg, Deputy General Counsel, Department of Administrative Services (DOAS)
John Kreeger, Senior Compliance Auditor, State Purchasing Division, Georgia Department of Administrative Services (DOAS)
Brent Lanford, Chief Information Officer, Middle Georgia Regional Commission
Rich Loftus, Vice Chancellor for Strategic Implementation, University System of Georgia
Stephanie Lopez-Howard, Director, Data, Analytics, & Research, Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD)
Mike Perkins, IT Senior Manager of Apps and Data, Finance and Administration, University of Georgia
Chad Purcell, Chief Information Officer, Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH)
Daphanie Scandrick-Keit, Office of Analytics and Program Improvement, Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH)
Carrie Steele, Director of Agency Sourcing, Department of Administrative Services (DOAS)
Phillip Wallace, Director of Development Analytics, Office of Development, Georgia Institute of Technology