A welcome and greetings to the 2023 Winter Forum Data Deep Dive from the Municipal Management Association of Northern California President, John Stefanski, and event chair, Katie Regan.

Gain insight into the city manager’s approach to using data in local government.

Why Data Matters and How to Make it Happen

As a seasoned Chief Data Officer in both a city and state government, Joy will share her unique perspective on the power of data to drive positive change in local government. She will discuss the importance of making data accessible and approachable for all government personnel, through the implementation of data-as-a-service. Joy will share real-life examples of how data has been used to improve transparency and accountability, increase efficiencies, and make data-driven decisions that have had a tangible impact on the community. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the critical role data plays in modern local government and learn how to leverage data to drive positive change in their own organizations.

Presenter:
Joy Bonaguro, Chief Data Officer for the State of California

Data-Driven Problem Solving: A Hands-On Workshop on Root Cause Analysis

Root cause analysis is an approach to problem solving that looks at the underlying issues driving questions and to make data-driven recommendations and actions. This interactive workshop session will provide attendees with the tools and techniques they need to conduct effective root cause analysis. The session will cover the following key topics:

• The importance of root cause analysis in local government
• Techniques for asking the right questions to diagnose the true problem
• Hands-on exercises to reinforce the concepts and techniques covered.

Attendees will leave with a better understanding of how to use root cause analysis to solve problems effectively and make data-driven decisions. The session will be interactive, and attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions, share their own experiences, and work on an example.

Presenter:
Kevin O’Connell, Owner and Principal Research/Data/Evaluation Consultant at O’Connell Research

Storytelling with Data in Local Government: Communicating Local Government Impact

Data is an essential tool for local government decision-making, but it is often difficult to communicate its impact to a non-technical audience. It can also be difficult to get the right data in a clean enough state to use it for storytelling. This session will provide attendees with the tools and techniques needed to effectively collect, clean, and visualize data to communicate the impact of their work to stakeholders, elected officials, and the public. The session will cover the following key topics:

• The importance of data storytelling in local government
• Best practices for transforming data
• Best practices for creating effective data stories
• Techniques for visualizing data to effectively communicate information
• Strategies for effectively communicating data-driven insights to non-technical audiences
• Examples of successful data storytelling in local government

This educational session will be interactive, with plenty of opportunity for attendees to ask questions, share their own experiences and learn from other local government professionals. Attendees will leave with a better understanding of how to use data storytelling to communicate their work effectively and build buy-in for their initiatives.

Presenter:
Vedika Ahuja, Product Manager – Data and Insights at the City of San Rafael

Building Data Teams in Local Government: The Challenges and Opportunities

This panel discussion will bring together local government leaders who have experience building data teams, both with and without dedicated budget and staff. Join City Manager of Bakersfield, Christian Clegg, Chief Data Officer of City & County of San Francisco, Michelle Littlefield, and Chief Information Officer, Hong Sae, as they discuss their successes and challenges, providing valuable insights and practical advice for individuals interested in getting more hands-on with data and for organizations eager to bring data to the forefront. This conversation will explore questions like:

• What are the basics of data terminology?
• How is a data team different from an IT team?
• Who is on a data team and what skills do they have?
• How does a data team work with the rest of the organization?
• What can individuals do if they want to get involved in data work?

Through this interactive panel discussion, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities of building data teams in local government and will have an opportunity to ask their own questions as well.

Presenters:
Christian Clegg, City Manager of the City of Bakersfield
Michelle Littlefield, Chief Data Officer at the City & County of San Francisco
Hong Sae, Chief Information Officer at the City of Roseville
Moderated by:
Katie Regan, Director of Performance and Data Analytics at the City of Stockton

• Real-world examples of GIS applications in local government, including emergency management, land use planning, and asset management
• Challenges and successes in implementing GIS
• Best practices for integrating GIS with other systems and data
• Strategies for building a GIS-literate workforce
• Opportunities for collaboration and sharing data across agencies

Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from multiple agencies, representing different types of local government and different departments, and will be able to ask questions and share their own experiences. They will leave with a better understanding of the potential of GIS in local government, and with practical strategies for implementing GIS in their own organizations.

Presenters:
Katie Reed, Technology Services Manager at the City of Bakersfield
Ben Ogren, Senior GIS Specialist at Mariposa County
John Leon, GIS & Addressing Manager at the City of Fremont
Ruby Wun, Data Coordinator at the City of Fremont
Moderated by:
Juan Heredia, Administrative Analyst III at the City of Bakersfield

Ride the Wave of AI

AI is rapidly changing the way we work, live and play. In this talk Sadie will dive into the opportunity available with AI, where the field is headed, and how you can participate in the AI ecosystem.

Presenter:
Sadie St. Lawrence, Founder & CEO of Women in Data