govDATAx 2026: Realizing the Value of Public Data

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(You will be taken to the Data Foundation website to complete registration)

Washington Evaluators is proud to be a Special Policy Partner for this Event! Date: September 15, 2026
Time: 10:00am - 4:00pm ET

Event Description:

govDATAx is the Data Foundation's flagship conference bringing together government leaders, data practitioners, policymakers, technologists, and researchers to advance the use of data for more effective, transparent, and accountable government.

At a moment when the availability, integrity, and accessibility of government data are under renewed scrutiny, the public is beginning to recognize the importance of reliable, timely data in day-to-day decision-making and planning. This full-day convening will examine how public data drives economic growth, supports evidence-based policymaking, enables government accountability, and empowers communities. Speakers and panelists will explore both the concrete value that open, high-quality public data delivers — and the real costs when that data is unavailable or underutilized.

Speakers

• John Bernard, Founder, President, & CEO, America's Pulse

• Maggie Cawley, Chair / Executive Director, National Geospatial Advisory Committee, Federal Geographic Data Committee / OpenStreetMap US

• Gustav Chiarello, Assistant Secretary for Financial Resources (ASFR), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

• Andrew Clarkwest, Ph.D., Managing Director - Employment and Economic Opportunities Program, American Institute for Research (AIR)

• Ken Dieffenbach, Executive Director, Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC)

• Matthew Graviss, Ph.D., Chief Technology Officer, Public Sector, Atlassian

• Deidre Harrison, Senior Expert, McKinsey & Company

• Clark Hedrick, Staff Director/Senior Counsel, Subcommittee on Border Management, Federal Workforce, and Regulatory Affairs (GOBM), Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (HSGAC)

• Mike Horton, Ph.D., Chair, Africa Tech Forum, The Africa Economic Forum

• Renata Maziarz Miskell, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Accounting Policy and Financial Transparency, Office of the Fiscal Assistant Secretary, Department of the Treasury

• (INVITED) Cindy Orellana Good, Deputy Chief Data Officer, Federal Transit Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation

• Sunny Wescott, Executive Director, Geospatial Intelligence Information Sharing and Analysis Center (GEOINT ISAC)

govDATAx is produced by the Data Foundation, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the use of data and evidence to improve government and public policy.

Join Chris Hall as he takes us through using Anthropic's Claude AI to enhance our work, simplify our heavy lifting (1,000 page documents, anyone?) and improve our skills and practices as evaluators. This event will be online, free to WE members and $5 for non-WE members. 

More specific topic details coming soon!

Presenter: Chris Hall is a data analytics and AI leader who specializes in translating “tech speak” into plain English. He’s spent his career helping teams use data, automation, and AI to solve real problems - without needing a computer science degree or a tolerance for buzzwords. Chris is also the co-founder of Halliday, where he works with small businesses to explore practical, responsible ways to put AI to work. He’s passionate about helping newcomers realize that AI is not magic and is something they can start using today.

This event is open to the public. If you have questions about this event, please email programs@washingtonevaluators.org.

Please join the Washington Evaluators for our monthly meeting. Members and non-members are welcome. Please note that Board meetings are held on the third Wednesday of each month.

Location: Online. Zoom link will be sent to those who register. 

Time: 6:30-8:00 pm ET

Agenda: 

1. Welcome and Agenda Review 
2. Governance:
   • Approval of last month's meeting minutes (Secretary)
   • Review of monthly financials (Treasurer)
3. General Announcements
4. President's Report
5. Treasurer's Report
6. Committee Updates:
   • Program
   • Community Engagement (Mentor Minutes, EWB, Scholarships)
   • Communications 
   • Membership
7. Board Action Items (if any)
   

For questions about this event, please email president@washingtonevaluators.org.

From Outcomes to Progress: Exploring Stage-Based Evaluation with POSLM.ai

Led by the Washington Evaluators, September 25th, 2:00pm-3:00pm ET

Event Description:

How can evaluators better capture meaningful progress when participants have not yet reached a traditional “final” outcome?

Join Washington Evaluators for an interactive exploration of progressive, stage-based outcome measurement and how emerging AI-supported tools can help evaluators translate incremental change into meaningful evidence of impact.

During this one-hour session, Quisha M. Brown, MPA, creator of the Progressive Outcomes Scale Logic Model (POSLM), will introduce the stage-based approach and demonstrate POSLM.ai, a new platform designed to help evaluators and organizations build progressive outcome frameworks, define stages and indicators, track participant advancement, and use AI to support the development of measurable outcomes.

Rather than simply watching a demonstration, attendees will be invited to explore the platform themselves. Participants will receive complimentary 30-day beta access to POSLM.ai and will have an opportunity during the webinar to begin experimenting with its features and consider how a stage-based approach might apply to their own evaluation work.

The session will also provide space for discussion, questions, and feedback about the opportunities and challenges of integrating AI and progressive outcome measurement into evaluation practice.

Participants will leave with:

• An introduction to progressive, stage-based outcome measurement

• Ideas for capturing meaningful progress that may be missed by traditional outcome measures

• Firsthand experience using AI to support outcome, stage, and indicator development

• Complimentary 30-day beta access to POSLM.ai for continued exploration

This session is intended as a learning and professional development opportunity for the Washington Evaluators community. No purchase is required, and participation in the POSLM.ai beta is optional.

Please join the Washington Evaluators for our monthly meeting. Members and non-members are welcome. Please note that Board meetings are held on the third Wednesday of each month.

Location: Online. Zoom link will be sent to those who register. 

Time: 6:30-8:00 pm ET

Agenda: 

1. Welcome and Agenda Review 
2. Governance:
   • Approval of last month's meeting minutes (Secretary)
   • Review of monthly financials (Treasurer)
3. General Announcements
4. President's Report
5. Treasurer's Report
6. Committee Updates:
   • Program
   • Community Engagement (Mentor Minutes, EWB, Scholarships)
   • Communications 
   • Membership
7. Board Action Items (if any)
   

For questions about this event, please email president@washingtonevaluators.org.

Led by the Washington Evaluators, September 25th, 12:00pm-1:00pm ET

Event Description: Topic Forthcoming

This event is open to the public. If you have questions about this event, please email programs@washingtonevaluators.org

Please join the Washington Evaluators for our monthly meeting. Members and non-members are welcome. Please note that Board meetings are held on the third Wednesday of each month.

Location: Online. Zoom link will be sent to those who register. 

Time: 6:30-8:00 pm ET

Agenda: 

1. Welcome and Agenda Review 
2. Governance:
   • Approval of last month's meeting minutes (Secretary)
   • Review of monthly financials (Treasurer)
3. General Announcements
4. President's Report
5. Treasurer's Report
6. Committee Updates:
   • Program
   • Community Engagement (Mentor Minutes, EWB, Scholarships)
   • Communications 
   • Membership
7. Board Action Items (if any)
   

For questions about this event, please email president@washingtonevaluators.org.

Please join the Washington Evaluators for our monthly meeting. Members and non-members are welcome. Please note that Board meetings are held on the third Wednesday of each month.

Location: Online. Zoom link will be sent to those who register. 

Time: 6:30-8:00 pm ET

Agenda: 

1. Welcome and Agenda Review 
2. Governance:
   • Approval of last month's meeting minutes (Secretary)
   • Review of monthly financials (Treasurer)
3. General Announcements
4. President's Report
5. Treasurer's Report
6. Committee Updates:
   • Program
   • Community Engagement (Mentor Minutes, EWB, Scholarships)
   • Communications 
   • Membership
7. Board Action Items (if any)
   

For questions about this event, please email president@washingtonevaluators.org.