In many enterprises, data governance remains a conceptual initiative rather than an enabler of decision-making. In this session, attendees will explore how to launch a data governance program from the ground up, assess the current state of their organization’s data maturity relative to industry peers, and introduce best practices that shift the mindset toward data-driven decisions. Drawing on real-world experience, the presentation guides participants through: (1) conducting a governance readiness assessment, (2) benchmarking data maturity against peer organizations in their industry, (3) designing a governance operating model including roles, stewardship, and accountability, and (4) embedding practices that make data a strategic decision-making asset rather than a tactical by-product. Whether your organization is just starting or seeking to elevate its program, this session delivers practical frameworks, metrics, and lessons learned to move from reactive data handling to proactive data leadership.

1. How to evaluate your organization’s data maturity and benchmark against industry peers.
2. A step-by-step framework for launching or revitalizing a data governance program with measurable outcomes.
3. Best practices for shifting organizational mindset: positioning data stewardship, embedding accountability, and enabling analytics to drive decisions.
4. Key metrics and communication strategies to secure executive buy-in and maintain momentum.

Speaker: Mike Chereso, VP, Enterprise Analytics, Inland Real Estate Group

Mike Chereso is the VP of Enterprise Analytics at Inland Real Estate Group, where he leads the organization’s Enterprise Data Foundation initiative and the advancement of its Data Governance program. Mike directs the modernization of Inland’s data architecture, the deployment of Microsoft Fabric as an enterprise analytics platform, and the implementation of a federated governance operating model supporting more than 20 business lines. His work focuses on elevating data quality, strengthening regulatory and operational rigor, and enabling organization-wide analytical maturity. Mike brings a multifaceted background across data strategy, financial strategy, and commercial real estate, with prior leadership roles at CoStar Group and Deloitte. His experience spans designing enterprise data strategies, optimizing global delivery models, guiding M&A integration, and advising institutional real estate owners and investment managers. Recognized for transforming complex, siloed environments into scalable and trusted data ecosystems, Mike specializes in aligning governance, technology, and business priorities to deliver measurable and enduring enterprise value.

Speaker: Barbara Kneeshaw, Director of Special Projects, DATAVERSITY

Barbara Kneeshaw is Director of Special Projects at DATAVERSITY, where she leads strategic initiatives focused on data literacy, data governance education, and professional certification development. Previously, she was a Director at Walmart, where she led enterprise-wide data literacy and data governance education initiatives, helping scale data capabilities across a global organization.

Barbara specializes in translating complex data concepts into practical, applied learning experiences that drive measurable impact. She is a strong advocate for data education as a critical enabler of successful data governance, with a focus on the role of change management in embedding governance into everyday work.

Her work helps organizations move beyond frameworks toward sustained adoption by aligning people, processes, and data initiatives for long-term success.

Speaker: Beth Jones, HR Data Governance Lead, Humana

Beth Jones is a seasoned Data Governance professional with over two decades of experience in data and analytics, including the last 10 years advancing Data Governance practices at Humana. As Lead of Enterprise Data Governance, Beth plays a pivotal role in shaping how data is understood, protected, and responsibly used across the organization. In late 2024, Beth transitioned into a strategic role leading Data Governance within Humana’s Human Resources function. Faced with over 10,000 data assets, an ongoing cloud migration, and operating as a team of one, she developed an adaptive governance strategy tailored to HR’s unique needs. By establishing data domains and aligning owners and stewards, Beth enabled the HR organization to embrace Data Governance—demonstrating how a flexible, context-aware approach can drive adoption and impact. She holds a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Eastern Kentucky University and a Master’s in Organizational Leadership from Indiana Wesleyan University.

Speaker: Brendon Allen, Data Governance, SeekWell

Brendon Allen has spent his career building data and analytics systems that drive real, measurable impact. He’s passionate about learning, teaching, and making data more useful for everyone. Grateful for the teams, mentors, and communities who’ve supported him, he’s always looking to pay it forward. In winter, you’ll find him skiing any chance he can get; this year, he’s trying mountain biking to fill the long, warm void that is summer. Brendon’s excited to connect and contribute. Continuing technical interests include blending the spectrum of data and software engineering, ML/AI, and all things data governance.