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2025 FWS Data Management Workshop
Welcome to the 2025 US Fish & Wildlife Service Data Management Workshop!

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Tuesday, February 11
 

8:00am EST

Introduction & Welcome
Tuesday February 11, 2025 8:00am - 8:30am EST
Speakers
avatar for Steve Chase

Steve Chase

NCTC Director, USFWS, NCTC
Steven Chase is the Director at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Conservation Training Center (NCTC) in Shepherdstown, WV.  A native of Connecticut, Steve holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication with an Earth Science Minor from the University of Hartford... Read More →
CK

Chelsea Kross

Data Science Course Leader, USFWS, NCTC
Tuesday February 11, 2025 8:00am - 8:30am EST

8:30am EST

Quality Management
Tuesday February 11, 2025 8:30am - 9:00am EST
Tuesday February 11, 2025 8:30am - 9:00am EST

9:00am EST

Data Quality
Tuesday February 11, 2025 9:00am - 9:30am EST
Speakers
TD

Tod Dabolt

DOI Chief Data Officer, DOI
Tuesday February 11, 2025 9:00am - 9:30am EST

9:30am EST

BREAK
Tuesday February 11, 2025 9:30am - 10:00am EST
BREAK @ Robert Byrd Auditorium
Tuesday February 11, 2025 9:30am - 10:00am EST

10:00am EST

The IUCN A.P.E.S. Database - A Tool for great apes conservation: Development, Lessons learned and Innovations
Tuesday February 11, 2025 10:00am - 10:30am EST
This talk will explore the 20-year history and development of the IUCN APES database, a unique repository for population survey data on chimpanzees, gorillas, bonobos, and orangutans. We will outline the entire workflow of the APES database, from data requests to data storage, based on a simple folder structure created with the R programming language. This structure is efficient for accommodating the various types of data associated with ape research and conservation, including both tabular and spatial datasets. We will share insights on the switch from a relational database to the current structure, lessons learned, and the collaborative frameworks that support the APES project. We also look forward to receiving feedback from conference participants at this meeting.
Speakers
LK

Lars Kulik

Guest Researcher, Senckenberg Museum of Natural History
avatar for Tenekwetche Sop

Tenekwetche Sop

A.P.E.S. Database Manager, Senckenberg Museum of Natural History
Tuesday February 11, 2025 10:00am - 10:30am EST

10:30am EST

Soha's Title for her Talk
Tuesday February 11, 2025 10:30am - 11:00am EST
Speakers
SM

Soha Mahgoub

FWS ACIO/AD, USFWS
Tuesday February 11, 2025 10:30am - 11:00am EST

11:00am EST

Data Management Needs Assessment
Tuesday February 11, 2025 11:00am - 11:30am EST
Speakers
avatar for Erica Mize

Erica Mize

FWS Data Architect, USFWS
Erica Mize is an avid conservationist and self-professed conservation data champion. Erica has worked with the Service for 8 years and currently serves as the Data Management Division's Science Advisor. She's had an interesting career including experiences with parasites, plague... Read More →
JD

Jason Duke

FWS Associate Chief Data Officer, USFWS
Tuesday February 11, 2025 11:00am - 11:30am EST

11:30am EST

TBD
Tuesday February 11, 2025 11:30am - 12:00pm EST
Speakers
Tuesday February 11, 2025 11:30am - 12:00pm EST

12:00pm EST

Tuesday Lunch
Tuesday February 11, 2025 12:00pm - 1:00pm EST
Tuesday February 11, 2025 12:00pm - 1:00pm EST

1:00pm EST

Training Session 1
Tuesday February 11, 2025 1:00pm - 3:00pm EST
Data Quality I - Louis Blume, Molly Middlebrook 

Making Data Accessible - Megan Burdi 

Tidy Data - A Strategy & Mindset - Bonnie Campbell 
FWS gathers a tsunami of data daily. To be usable this data must first be tidied. Tidying allows us to process data more efficiently for understanding and use. This course aims to encourage consideration and use of the tidy data strategy & mindset for the data we use in FWS.
Combines presentation & hands on activities.
Learning Objectives:
Recognize the difference between tidy & messy data
Identify & fix issues that make data messy vs. tidy
Add tools to your quiver for making data tidy
Speakers
MB

Megan Burdi

National Librarian, USFWS, NCTC
Megan Burdi is the National Librarian for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at the National Conservation Training Center. She has a passion for making information more accessible and discoverable through digital stewardship and research services. In her role, she finds innovative... Read More →
BC

Bonnie Campbell

Regional Data Manager, USFWS
Tuesday February 11, 2025 1:00pm - 3:00pm EST

3:00pm EST

BREAK
Tuesday February 11, 2025 3:00pm - 3:15pm EST
Tuesday February 11, 2025 3:00pm - 3:15pm EST

3:15pm EST

Training Session 2
Tuesday February 11, 2025 3:15pm - 5:00pm EST
Data Quality II - Louis Blume, Molly Middlebrook

Quarto for QC Reporting - Jason Ross, Jacob Cochran, Jonah Withers

DGEC - Code Versioning, Collaboration & More
 - Bonnie Campbell
Learn about DOI GitHub Enterprise Cloud (DGEC), related policies, its origin and implementation. DGEC features, access requirements, collaboration, tie-in with code.gov and more.
Combines presentation & hands on activities.
Learning Objectives:
Know why DGEC is important for your work
Know where to go for DGEC information & support
Know how to obtain access, establish repositories, leverage features
Become familiar with internal & sponsored collaborators workflows
Speakers
JR

Jason Ross

IT Specialist (Data Management), USFWS
JC

Jacob Cochran

Fish Biologist, USFWS
JW

Jonah Withers

Fisheries and Ecological Services Data Manager, USFWS
BC

Bonnie Campbell

Regional Data Manager, USFWS
Tuesday February 11, 2025 3:15pm - 5:00pm EST
 
Wednesday, February 12
 

8:00am EST

From Field to Database: Integrating Diverse Data for Comprehensive African Elephant Population Insights
Wednesday February 12, 2025 8:00am - 8:30am EST
Conserving African elephant populations requires the integration of diverse, regionally collected datasets to create a cohesive and actionable understanding of population size, distribution, and trends. Methods such as aerial surveys, dung counts, GPS tracking, and, in dense habitats, camera traps, acoustic monitoring, and DNA analysis contribute valuable data, yet they vary widely in collection approaches and settings. The African Elephant Database (AED) plays an essential role in consolidating these disparate datasets, transforming diverse data into a unified, reliable resource that informs conservation strategies. By synthesizing this information, the African Elephant Specialist Group (AfESG) provides critical insights to range states and international organizations like CITES, supporting evidence-based management and policy decisions. This integration-driven approach highlights the power of data integration and harmonization in addressing conservation challenges across Africa.
Speakers
RO

Rachel Ouma

IUCN AfESG Administrative Assistant, IUCN
RM

Rose Mayienda

IUCN AfESG Database Manager, IUCN
MY

Mohammed Yahya

IUCN AfESG Senior Program Officer, IUCN
Wednesday February 12, 2025 8:00am - 8:30am EST

8:30am EST

Data Sovereignty in BIA
Wednesday February 12, 2025 8:30am - 9:00am EST
Speakers
avatar for Veronica Lane

Veronica Lane

Chief Data Officer, BIA
Dr. Veronica Lane is the Chief Data Officer (CDO) serving the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs.. As CDO, Dr. Lane works on developing and implementing data policy, overseeing data governance, and developing data management practices and coordinating data strategy... Read More →
Wednesday February 12, 2025 8:30am - 9:00am EST

9:00am EST

Data Sovereignty
Wednesday February 12, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am EST
Speakers
RS

Regan Smyth

NatureServ
Wednesday February 12, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am EST

10:00am EST

BREAK
Wednesday February 12, 2025 10:00am - 10:30am EST
Wednesday February 12, 2025 10:00am - 10:30am EST

10:30am EST

Roundtable Discussion
Wednesday February 12, 2025 10:30am - 12:00pm EST
  • Data Quality Metrics - Facilitator: Andy Allstadt
  • Data Quality Workgroup - Facilitator: Maren Tuttle-Lau
  • DM Roles & Responsibilities - Facilitator: Jane Alder and Karen Torres
  • Needs Assessment Discussion - Facilitator: Erica Mize
Facilitators
JA

Jane Alder

IT Specialist - Data Scientist • HQ IRTM Data Management Division, USFWS
AA

Andy Allstadt

Regional Data Manager • Science Applications, USFWS
avatar for Erica Mize

Erica Mize

FWS Data Architect, USFWS
Erica Mize is an avid conservationist and self-professed conservation data champion. Erica has worked with the Service for 8 years and currently serves as the Data Management Division's Science Advisor. She's had an interesting career including experiences with parasites, plague... Read More →
KT

Karen Torres

IT Specialist - Data Scientist • HQ IRTM Data Management Division, USFWS
avatar for Maren Tuttle-Lau

Maren Tuttle-Lau

Geneticist/Quality Assurance Specialist • Fisheries, USFWS
Pronouns: she/her/hersLanguages spoken: EnglishDuty station time zone: CentralI serve as a Geneticist, QA/QC Specialist in the Region 3 FAC Invasive Carp eDNA Program and am based out of Whitney Genetics Lab located within the Midwest Fisheries Center. I also serve on the R3 FAC Data... Read More →
Wednesday February 12, 2025 10:30am - 12:00pm EST

12:00pm EST

LUNCH
Wednesday February 12, 2025 12:00pm - 1:00pm EST
Wednesday February 12, 2025 12:00pm - 1:00pm EST

1:00pm EST

Training Session 3
Wednesday February 12, 2025 1:00pm - 3:00pm EST
  • Data Quality I - Louis Blume, Molly Middlebrook 
  • Continuous Improvement I (Lean Sigma Six White Belt) - Billy Skaradek Byrd Auditorium
Wednesday February 12, 2025 1:00pm - 3:00pm EST

3:00pm EST

BREAK
Wednesday February 12, 2025 3:00pm - 3:15pm EST
Wednesday February 12, 2025 3:00pm - 3:15pm EST

3:15pm EST

Training Session 4
Wednesday February 12, 2025 3:15pm - 5:00pm EST
  • Data Quality II - Louis Blume, Molly Middlebrook 154IW
  • Continuous Improvement II (Lean Sigma Six White Belt) - Billy Skaradek Byrd Auditorium
Wednesday February 12, 2025 3:15pm - 5:00pm EST
 
Thursday, February 13
 

8:00am EST

Roundtable Discussion
Thursday February 13, 2025 8:00am - 9:30am EST
  • Continuous Improvement Discussion Facilitator: Andy Allstadt
  • Data Quality Working Group Facilitator: Maren Tuttle-Lau
  • How Do We Work Better Together? Facilitator: Kenny Elsner
  • Needs Assessment Discussion Facilitator: Erica Mize
Facilitators
AA

Andy Allstadt

Regional Data Manager • Science Applications, USFWS
KE

Kenny Elsner

HQ-IRTM-FWS GPS Coordinator, AGOL Administrator, Cartographer • IRTM, USFWS
avatar for Erica Mize

Erica Mize

FWS Data Architect, USFWS
Erica Mize is an avid conservationist and self-professed conservation data champion. Erica has worked with the Service for 8 years and currently serves as the Data Management Division's Science Advisor. She's had an interesting career including experiences with parasites, plague... Read More →
avatar for Maren Tuttle-Lau

Maren Tuttle-Lau

Geneticist/Quality Assurance Specialist • Fisheries, USFWS
Pronouns: she/her/hersLanguages spoken: EnglishDuty station time zone: CentralI serve as a Geneticist, QA/QC Specialist in the Region 3 FAC Invasive Carp eDNA Program and am based out of Whitney Genetics Lab located within the Midwest Fisheries Center. I also serve on the R3 FAC Data... Read More →
Thursday February 13, 2025 8:00am - 9:30am EST

9:30am EST

BREAK
Thursday February 13, 2025 9:30am - 10:00am EST
Thursday February 13, 2025 9:30am - 10:00am EST

10:00am EST

Training Session 5
Thursday February 13, 2025 10:00am - 12:00pm EST
  • Making Data Accessible - Megan Burdi 156/158IW
  • RMarkdown (or Quarto) for QC Reporting - Jonah Withers 109IE
  • Continuous Improvement: Process Mapping - Billy Skaradek 154IW
  • Train the Trainer: Metadata for ArcGIS Pro - Jeena Koenig G30
  • Train the Trainer: Metadata for mdEditor - TBD G24
Speakers
MB

Megan Burdi

National Librarian, USFWS, NCTC
Megan Burdi is the National Librarian for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at the National Conservation Training Center. She has a passion for making information more accessible and discoverable through digital stewardship and research services. In her role, she finds innovative... Read More →
JW

Jonah Withers

Fisheries and Ecological Services Data Manager, USFWS
JK

Jeena Koenig

Data Coordinator • Fish and Aquatic Conservation Program, USFWS
Thursday February 13, 2025 10:00am - 12:00pm EST

12:00pm EST

LUNCH
Thursday February 13, 2025 12:00pm - 1:00pm EST
Thursday February 13, 2025 12:00pm - 1:00pm EST

1:00pm EST

TBD
Thursday February 13, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST


Speakers
JS

Joeseph Saboe

US Digital Service
Thursday February 13, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST

2:00pm EST

Fixing Broken Systems
Thursday February 13, 2025 2:00pm - 2:30pm EST
Speakers
JK

Jeena Koenig

Data Coordinator • Fish and Aquatic Conservation Program, USFWS
Thursday February 13, 2025 2:00pm - 2:30pm EST

2:30pm EST

Continuous Improvement in FWS
Thursday February 13, 2025 2:30pm - 3:00pm EST
Speakers
avatar for Maren Tuttle-Lau

Maren Tuttle-Lau

Geneticist/Quality Assurance Specialist • Fisheries, USFWS
Pronouns: she/her/hersLanguages spoken: EnglishDuty station time zone: CentralI serve as a Geneticist, QA/QC Specialist in the Region 3 FAC Invasive Carp eDNA Program and am based out of Whitney Genetics Lab located within the Midwest Fisheries Center. I also serve on the R3 FAC Data... Read More →
Thursday February 13, 2025 2:30pm - 3:00pm EST

3:00pm EST

BREAK
Thursday February 13, 2025 3:00pm - 3:30pm EST
Thursday February 13, 2025 3:00pm - 3:30pm EST

3:30pm EST

Team Data Champion Award Winner
Thursday February 13, 2025 3:30pm - 3:45pm EST
Speakers
Thursday February 13, 2025 3:30pm - 3:45pm EST

3:45pm EST

Individual Data Champion Award Winner
Thursday February 13, 2025 3:45pm - 4:00pm EST
Speakers
GD

Gabe DeAlessio

National Wildlife Refuge System GIS Coordinator • NWRS, USFWS
Thursday February 13, 2025 3:45pm - 4:00pm EST

4:00pm EST

Closing Remarks
Thursday February 13, 2025 4:00pm - 4:30pm EST
Speakers
JD

Jason Duke

FWS Associate Chief Data Officer, USFWS
Thursday February 13, 2025 4:00pm - 4:30pm EST

4:30pm EST

Wrap-Up and Feedback Survey
Thursday February 13, 2025 4:30pm - 5:00pm EST
Speakers
CK

Chelsea Kross

Data Science Course Leader, USFWS, NCTC
Thursday February 13, 2025 4:30pm - 5:00pm EST
 
2025 FWS Data Management Workshop
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