Keynote Speakers

"Peering Into the Future"

Bill Inmon, CEO and Best-Selling Author, DataVox and Forest Rim Technology

William H. Inmon (born 1945) is an American computer scientist, recognized by many as the father of the data warehouse. Inmon wrote the first book, held the first conference (with Arnie Barnett), wrote the first column in a magazine and was the first to offer classes in data warehousing. Inmon created the accepted definition of what a data warehouse is - a subject oriented, nonvolatile, integrated, time variant collection of data in support of management's decisions. Compared with the approach of the other pioneering architect of data warehousing, Ralph Kimball, Inmon's approach is often characterized as a top-down approach. William H. Inmon was born July 20, 1945, in San Diego, California. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from Yale University in 1967, and his Master of Science degree in computer science from New Mexico State University. He worked for American Management Systems and Coopers & Lybrand before 1991, when he founded the company Prism Solutions, which he took public. In 1995 he founded Pine Cone Systems, which was renamed Ambeo later on. In 1999, he created a corporate information factory web site for his consulting business. Inmon coined terms such as the government information factory, as well as data warehousing 2.0. Inmon promotes building, usage, and maintenance of data warehouses and related topics. His books include "Building the Data Warehouse" (1992, with later editions) and "DW 2.0: The Architecture for the Next Generation of Data Warehousing" (2008). In July 2007, Inmon was named by Computerworld as one of the ten people that most influenced the first 40 years of the computer industry. Inmon's association with data warehousing stems from the fact that he wrote the first book on data warehousing he held the first conference on data warehousing (with Arnie Barnett), he wrote the first column in a magazine on data warehousing, he has written over 1,000 articles on data warehousing in journals and newsletters, he created the first fold out wall chart for data warehousing and he conducted the first classes on data warehousing.

“How Does IT, Data & Analytics Show Value in the Organization” 

The job security of Data professionals has never been in more peril than it is now. Organizations are laying off their Data teams because they can't see a correlation between Data work and business value. Just as software developers did in 2001, we need to reimagine the way that Data work is done, and more effectively communicate and evangelize the importance of Data and Information to our companies. I am proposing a Manifesto for Data Value Delivery (aka, the Data Value Manifesto) to spark a discussion in the DM community about what needs to change in our profession. Your ideas and insights are welcome to this discussion.

Lawrence Burns, Data Consultant, Author and Instructor

Larry Burns has worked in IT for more than 40 years as a data architect, database developer, DBA, data modeler, application developer, consultant, and teacher. He holds a B.S. in Mathematics from the University of Washington, and a Master’s degree in Software Engineering from Seattle University. He most recently worked for a global Fortune 200 company as a Data and BI Architect and Data Engineer (i.e., data modeler). He contributed material on Database Development and Database Operations Management to the first edition of DAMA International’s Data Management Body of Knowledge (DAMA-DMBOK) and is a former instructor and advisor in the certificate program for Data Resource Management at the University of Washington in Seattle. He has written numerous articles for TDAN.com and DMReview.com and is the author of Building the Agile Database (Technics Publications LLC, 2011), Growing Business Intelligence (Technics Publications LLC, 2016), and Data Model Storytelling (Technics Publications LLC, 2021).

Speakers

"Beyond the Hype: What It Really Takes to Be AI Ready"

In today’s landscape of AI hype, headlines are dominated by Large Language Models and generative tools promising to revolutionize every industry overnight. But true AI readiness goes far beyond flashy demos and cutting-edge algorithms. AI is not new—it’s been evolving for decades. What is new is the scale and urgency with which organizations are racing to implement it, often without the foundation needed for long-term success.

Marcia cuts through the noise to explore what real AI readiness looks like—starting with the fundamentals. We’ll examine why simply “strapping AI onto legacy systems” can backfire, exposing critical data quality issues and system incompatibilities that threaten reliability, scalability, and trust. From managing risk through data lineage to building strong data architecture and governance, we’ll look at the underlying structures that support effective AI.

Marcia will also discuss the continued relevance of classical statistical methods—tools that, in many contexts, outperform newer models in efficiency and explanability. Finally, she will explore the trade-offs between centralized and decentralized data systems, especially in the context of data privacy, compliance, and user trust.

If your organization is caught up in the AI wave but unsure where to anchor, this talk offers a grounded perspective—and a path forward.

Marcia Drake, Chief Solution Officer & Founder, Ecoheart Coaching and Consulting 

Marcia Drake is a global changemaker with a relentless passion for saving lives and putting data into action to solve real-world challenges. With over two decades of award-winning leadership in data and IT across state, federal, and private agencies, Marcia’s journey has been marked by making data-driven decisions, solving global problems, and evaluating and advancing public safety and health. Recognized as “Data Leader of the Year 2022” by Women in Data and listed among CDO Magazine’s “Global Data Power Women 2023,” Marcia is celebrated for her exceptional contributions to data and analytics worldwide. Her diverse expertise spans traffic safety and emergency management, transportation, healthcare and trauma, court, law enforcement, behavioral health, social science, sustainability and GIS data. As a trained anthropologist and crime, traffic and intelligence analyst, she quickly became involved in large scale information technology project to improve the data needed, and rose to leadership positions as a data quality coordinator and later chief data officer. Marcia is also an entrepreneur and is Chief Solutions Officer and Founder of Ecoheart Coaching and Consulting, LLC, an emerging global provider of data, coaching and sustainability solutions. Notable career accomplishments include implementing a Data-Driven Program for Field Operations Bureau at the Washington State Patrol using data to drive down fatal and injury impaired driving and other collisions, incorporating the use of GIS technology and early data reporting for the US Department of Transportation collision database. Marcia also stood up one of the first data quality programs for statewide courts in the United States for Washington State’s system that facilitates 41,000 judicial transactions for more than 17,500 court, state, federal and public users each month, and helped Native American Nations within the United States stand up one of the first cross-nation Strategic Highway Safety Plans, bringing together tribal, state, and federal partners to reduce collisions on tribal lands. She also served as Deputy Chief Data Officer of Data Acquisition and Management for the Washington State Health Care Authority, overseeing 2,000 health care related databases. She provided direct support to Microsoft in over 100 different countries and regions, working with Microsoft Global Security Investigations, and assisted Pinkerton Investigations with designing technical solutions used by other clients globally as a subject matter expert on physical security incidents, data and investigations. Marcia serves on multiple company advisory boards globally, including YON E Global in Amsterdam, working for Women’s Health.

Marcia has received numerous awards throughout her career, including Outstanding Analyst and Customer Service Awards from the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT), National Center for Statistical Analysis (NCSA), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, and the Washington State Patrol. She has served on and chaired numerous local, state and federal committees, and as a grant peer reviewer for United States Department of Justice.

Most recently, Marcia is a graduate of the Oxford University AI Programme, and is CEO of Ecoheart Coaching and Consulting, finding ways to put data in action continue to uplift society and create real world impact.

"Information Governance for Enterprise Generative AI Platforms - The Quest to Enable Microsoft 365 Copilot" 

Generative AI technologies offer powerful capabilities for leveraging enterprise data. However, adopting these platforms necessitates careful consideration of information governance to mitigate risks associated with data privacy and security. This session will provide an introduction to Generative AI, emphasizing the importance of Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) architecture. The presenter will examine critical information governance strategies required for successfully deploying enterprise Generative AI solutions, using Microsoft 365 Copilot as a primary example. With a specific focus on unstructured data, this session will identify various challenges related to oversharing and propose effective methods to address them. Additionally, the session will aim to clarify the complex landscape of Microsoft technologies designed to mitigate oversharing risks. Attendees will gain insights into implementing best practices for information governance, thereby enabling their organizations to fully realize the potential of Generative AI.

Enzhou Wang, Chief Data Officer, City of Tacoma

As the Chief Data Officer at the City of Tacoma, Enzhou Wang is responsible for the city's data & analytics and AI programs. He also oversees the GIS team and the web & digital collaboration teams. Before joining the City of Tacoma, he was a senior IT manager at the City of Bellevue, an enterprise architect at Seattle City Light, and a software developer at Microsoft and Esri.

Panel Discussions 

Panel 1: Application of AI Across Industries

• David Toth, Technical Community Manager, Forward Networks
• Hafiz Huda, Creative Director and Consultant, Birne Branding + Design
  
• Karl Weaver, APAC Business Development Director, Newport Technologies
• Ramya Grama, Starprise Global
• Shilpa Tiwari, Startup Advisor and Mentor
  

Panel 2: History of DAMA and the Future of Data and AI

• Bill Inmon, CEO and Best-Selling Author, DataVox and Forest Rim Technology
• Eva Smith, Chief Information Officer, Edmonds Community College
• Lawrence Burns, Data Consultant, Author and Instructor
• Michael Brackett, 1st President of DAMA-PS
• Peter Aiken, President, DAMA-International, Associate Professor of Information Systems, Virginia Commonwealth University

SPONSORS

Diamond Sponsor

Unify Consulting is a leading AI and management consulting firm designed to help you overcome challenges and achieve your goals. Whether you are on a data, growth, or organizational journey, our agile, modular, and bespoke approach can meet you where you are today and bolster your team with skills that propel you into tomorrow. Let’s co-create meaningful connections and solutions that move you forward faster.

Gold Sponsors

For over a decade, Quadrant Technologies has established itself as a trailblazer in the IT services sector through dedication and perseverance. As a globally renowned company, they celebrated us for our extensive range of services, unwavering commitment to sustainability, and exemplary corporate citizenship. Our global expansion has led us to serve clients across various locations, including Vancouver, San Jose, Dallas, Guadalajara, Costa Rica, Charlotte, Edison, Dublin, London, Warangal, Hyderabad, Bangalore, and Singapore.

Qualdo™ helps enterprises effortlessly monitor mission-critical data quality issues, ML model errors, drifts, anomalies, and data reliability across modern database management tools. It continuously tracks and traces the health of data and sends real-time notifications in autopilot mode.

PROMOTIONAL PARTNERS

HIMSS Washington - A local chapter of the Health Information and Management Systems Society, focused on providing leadership in healthcare for the management of systems, technology and information. The Chapter promotes an organized forum for continuing education and exchange of ideas amongst its members to improve healthcare information and management systems that support patient care and wellness.

ISSA is the community of choice for international cybersecurity professionals dedicated to advancing individual growth, managing technology risk and protecting critical information and infrastructure. The Information Systems Security Association (ISSA)® is a not-for-profit, international organization of information security professionals and practitioners. It provides educational forums, publications, and peer interaction opportunities that enhance the knowledge, skill, and professional growth of its members. Join today.

Seattle Data Guy - Our background and experience revolve heavily around data engineering, solutions integrations, data modeling, analytics, machine learning and data science. We have done everything from lead executive level meetings to discuss how to integrate machine learning and data science teams successfully to develop robust data science suites in python and R that help automate a good portion of the data science process. Paired with our understanding of data modeling, we have been able to successfully impact on the companies we have been involved with.

Seattle Data-AI-Security - To foster a zero-cost, inclusive community that encourages collaboration, learning, and innovation in Data, AI, and Security. We aim to empower professionals and enthusiasts by providing access to knowledge-sharing events, networking opportunities, and resources to build responsible and ethical AI solutions.