The finalists for WashingtonExec’s 2024 Pinnacle Awards were announced Sept. 20, and we’ll be highlighting some of them until the event takes place live, in-person Nov. 21.
Next is Katie Rose, director of data operations at the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General, and finalist in the Government Healthcare Project of the Year category for the HHS OIG Data Workbench project. Here, she talks about recent achievements, shares career advice and more.
What key achievements did you have in 2024?
In 2024, our team made significant strides with our Data Workbench project. Since launching the solution in 2023, we have achieved a 75% reduction in the cost of infrastructure and continue to operate at lowered costs. By migrating from an on-premises data warehouse to a serverless-based data infrastructure, our team was able to cut down on software and licensing fees. This not only represented substantial cost savings but also allowed the team to reallocate those funds in other meaningful projects across our organization.
Another key achievement is that we dramatically improved our data delivery capabilities. Previously, data requests could take hours or even days to complete with many back and forth exchanges. Now, with Data Workbench, our team can complete many of these requests in minutes or hours, delivering data into the hands of auditors, evaluators, and investigators faster than ever. This efficiency boost has had a positive ripple effect throughout HHS OIG by giving our stakeholders access the data they need much more quickly, thus facilitating more timely, data-driven decision-making.
What are your primary focus areas going forward, and why are those so important to the mission?
Looking ahead, we have two primary focus areas for Data Workbench. First, we’re working on integrating it more seamlessly into OIG’s overall enterprise architecture. This includes implementing Single Sign-On to enhance user experience and security. Our goal is to integrate with, and to expand Data Workbench usage at the enterprise level making it an integral component of the agency’s enterprise architecture. Second, we’re concentrating on expanding user adoption and use cases. We’re onboarding more diverse datasets with complex risk models and creating a scalable platform that allows our team to quickly access and analyze various data types.
These focus areas are crucial to our mission because they enable us to leverage data more effectively in our oversight role. When we eliminate long, time-consuming data pipelines and replace them with a more integrated, versatile data infrastructure, we’re empowering our team to uncover insights faster and more efficiently. This ultimately leads to better protection of health and human services programs, which is at the core of our mission at the Office of Inspector General.
What is your best career advice for those who want to follow in your footsteps?
My advice is to focus on building genuine relationships. Throughout my career, from consulting to my current role within the federal government, I’ve found that having a strong foundation of trust with colleagues is invaluable. When challenges arise – and they inevitably will – these relationships become the bedrock for collaborative problem-solving.
Being able to work through conflicts constructively, rather than clashing, is a skill that will serve you well in any leadership position. It’s about understanding different perspectives, appreciating where others are coming from, and finding common ground. This approach not only makes the work environment more positive but also leads to more innovative and effective solutions.
Fun Fact: What is something about you that most people do not know?
Many people might not know that I used to play football as a defensive end. This experience, along with my background in improv, taught me valuable lessons about teamwork, trust, and commitment. Whether on the field or in the office, I’ve learned the importance of giving 100% to whatever you do. They’ve also taught me the value of adaptability and thinking on your feet – skills that are just as crucial in the world of federal IT as they were on the football field or the improv stage.