Sarah Schacht

A consulting firm focused on innovative public interest technology strategy, data standards design, partnership engagement, and earned revenue development.

• Skilled at creating new programs which meet the complex technology needs within governments and civil society organizations
• Clients include national associations funded by US federal agencies (CDC, NIST), civic tech companies Socrata, multiple civic tech startups, governments, nonprofits, and civil society organizations like USAFacts and the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA)
• Proactive and resourceful strategist, project manager, and advisor for open data and public interest technology organizations. Produces original research, including ecosystem scans and key informant interviews
• Demonstrates flexibility, deadline-orientation, and organizational skills through effective management of multiple client projects
• Developed data standards for two clients, Socrata and CDC/NEHA, the SAFE aquatic data standard and the LIVES restaurant inspection data standard
• Client work from 2016-2020 includes operations work for national associations, earned income planning, media engagement, reporting, and speaking at events on behalf of clients

USAFacts is a not-for-profit organization that provides data and reports on the United States population, its government's finances, and government's impact on society.

• Engaged with House and Senate Ethics, crafting the first certificate program meeting complex ethics requirements of Congress
• Lead development and executed a new curriculum on open data and data proficiency, in collaboration with UC Berkeley's public policy school
• Recruited and coached 15 open government and open data experts to present to congressional staff
• Delivered specialized coursework on open data standards to equip congressional staff for federal to local data system applications, resulting in new federal open data policies
• Fostered cross-party collaboration and trust among congressional staff, enhancing program effectiveness

A fellowship focused on building pipelines for low income students to enter public interest technology careers. Fellowship impacted by covid pandemic, included extensive covid data standards research.

• Research and program development
  • Developed college to government workforce pipeline concept, for the State Chief Data Officer Network, including funding model and grant proposal
  • Developed 50 state COVID data analysis managing a team of four informatics capstone students, produced report and public speaking regarding outcomes. Ran interviews with 20+ individual public health data managers through trusted relationships and government engagement 

Commercial building owner developing opportunities for small business and artists in an economically challenged small town. Part time responsibilities.

• Founded Washington's largest outdoor mural collection
• Served as a commissioner on Oak Harbor's planning commission  & affordable housing task force (2021-2023)
• Experienced in construction management, zoning, real estate financing

A firm recognized for cloud-based SaaS solutions that deliver data-driven innovation and cost savings for public sector leaders and their constituents.

• Spearheaded Socrata LIVES Accelerator, designed to increase the adoption of standardized scoring among public health departments, writing materials, promotions, and analyses of public policy implications. Wrote 2.0 of LIVES standard. See: http://www.LivesStandard.com
• Developed government engagement and earned media strategy, leading to new Socrata clients and 12 governments in program pilot
• Partnered with Yelp, Google, TripAdvisor, and UK-based restaurant startups

A social purpose corporation assisting philanthropic organizations online

• Major clients included the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Kapor Center for Social Impact
• Led the implementation of legal, organizational, budget, and client management strategies
• Directed research and wrote white papers analyzing client social media presence, capabilities, and opportunities. Client-facing work with high profile stakeholders

A donor collaborative based in London working to expand the impact and scale of transparency and accountability interventions.

• Mentored civil society organizations, Environmental Working Group, and Directorio Legislativo on technology design and implementation, mobile applications, and government engagement

Designed and launched a series of conferences and summits that joined government and tech experts for collaboration on open government and transparency technologies, strategies, and policies. Produced conference tracks focused on professional development in the field.

• Crafted multiple conferences, 125 speakers 1,400 total attendees, over $100,000 in sponsorships

A groundbreaking online legislative transparency and civic engagement nonprofit organization.

• Designed a legislative tracking tool for public use leveraging on open data (in 2005) which provided free, nonpartisan legislative tracking service for residents of Washington State. First  USA online tool to integrate legislative video records, constituent communication tools, and legislation tracking on one platform
• Provided advising to governments in US and abroad on ICT for legislatures, open government and open data

Pioneering campaign technology and online organizing

• Designed the technical plan and user interface for New Hampshire for Dean and Generation Dean websites, the largest online youth organizing effort at its time.

The Public Leadership Credential reflects Harvard Kennedy School's commitment to improving public policy and leadership and creating a safer, freer, more just, and more prosperous society.

A month long intensive government fellowship with 80 selected "senior executives" from across the USA and international governments.

Ellensburg, WA

Minored in Sociology, majored in political science.