Connecticut Data Collaborative Adds Three Directors to Board

Photo byCT Data Collaborative

The CTData Collaborative (CTData), a nonprofit organization with a mission focused on connecting people and data to promote informed decision-making, has added three members to its Board of Directors. The three recent additions - Julia Camarco, Lakshmi Prathima Devarasetty and Rachael Klayman – bring diverse skills and experience that will strengthen the Board and benefit the organization.

CTData works to advance equity in Connecticut by democratizing access to public data and building data literacy skills, assisting state residents, nonprofits, policymakers, and funders in using data to drive policy, program, and service improvements. The organization strives to promote and engage data users in implementing equitable data practices across the state.

CTData also works with nonprofit organizations to develop Data Strategic Plans© to map out their use of data to further their organizational missions and offers a range of programs and working groups through the CTData Academy.

Julia Camarco is a corporate attorney and a partner at Shipman & Goodwin LLP in the firm’s Business and Corporate Practice Group, where she has a broad transactional practice representing operating companies, venture capital and private equity funds, health care providers and other business entities. She has been named as a New Leader in the Law by the Connecticut Law Tribune and as a Rising Star in Business/Corporate by Super Lawyers. She has a Juris Doctor from Columbia Law School and a Bachelor of Science in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University.

Lakshmi Prathima Devarasetty is Head of Engineering at Google with a decade of experience in the Cloud and Data domains. Her journey entails spearheading innovative product initiatives, leading distributed engineering organizations, and cultivating high-performing teams. Her expertise spans across multiple areas including multi-cloud, cloud compute, distributed systems, big data and data analytics. Devarasetty is deeply committed to expanding the use of technology for societal advancement, and she strives to bridge existing gaps and empower communities through technology.

Rachael Klayman, a Senior Development Officer at Ascendus, is dedicated to driving financial ascension for those excluded from economic opportunities. During her 20-year career in the nonprofit sector, she has focused on organizational development, strategic planning, resource development, and process improvement. Her leadership roles have been instrumental in enhancing organizational efficiency, DEI integration, and building inclusive environments. She holds a B.A. in Communications, a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management, and is a certified associate in Project Management.

“As CTData expands its work with support from State government and the philanthropic sector, our new board members enhance the quality of an organization that is already strong,” said CTData Board Chair David Nee. “We are confident that Julia, Prathima and Rachael bring strong skills that will help broaden our strategic horizons. Moreover, they are all deep-keeled people who lead with their values and resonate with ours.”

“We are thrilled to have Rachael, Prathima, and Julia as members of the Board, and welcome the considerable expertise and vast experience that they have, which will help guide our work and advance our numerous endeavors in Connecticut,” said Michelle Riordan-Nold, Executive Director of CTData.

The CTData Board is chaired by David Nee, retired executive director of the Graustein Memorial Foundation. Officers include Robert Santy (Treasurer), retired President and CEO of the Connecticut Economic Resource Center, and Paula Palermo (Secretary) Data Director of Norwalk ACTS. Members include Christopher Brechlin of COMPASS Youth Collaborative, Carmel Ford of Guidehouse, Rydell Harrison of Partners for Educational Leadership, Tyler Kleykamp of Connecticut Foodshare, and Beresford Wilson.

CTData operates a data “helpline” for assisting data users with obtaining, displaying, interpreting, and using data, and is a member of the National Neighborhood Indicators Partnership. CTData recently published Town Profiles of each of Connecticut’s 169 cities and towns in partnership with AdvanceCT, and added a data dashboard focusing on a range of issues impacting young children in Hartford on the website www.ctdata.org.

The annual CTData Conference will be held this fall on October 17 at the Heritage Hotel in Southbury, CT. The keynote speaker will be Sixto Cancel, Founder and CEO of Think of Us, a visionary leader spearheading transformative change in the foster care system, including capturing and utilizing lived experiences as data. More information about the conference and CTData is available on the CTData website at www.ctdata.org.