Do you want to communicate better with consumers and creators of enterprise data? Do you want to effectively communicate within IT application teams about the meaning of data? Do you want to break down data silos and promote data understanding? Conceptual data models are the answer!

Many companies skip over the creation of conceptual data models and go right to logical or physical modeling. They miss reaping the benefits that conceptual models provide:

• Facilitate effective communication about data between everyone who needs to understand basic data domains and definitions
• Break down data silos to provide enterprise-wide collaboration and consensus
• Present a high-level, application-neutral overview of your data landscape
• Identify and mitigate data complexities

You will learn what a conceptual model is, how to create one on the back of a napkin in 10 minutes or less, and how to use that to drive communication at many levels.

Speaker: Laurel Sturges

Laurel Sturges, a seasoned data professional, has been an integral part of the tech community helping businesses better understand and utilize data for over 40 years. She refers to problem-solving as an adventure where she really finds passion in the process of discussing and defining data, getting into all the details including metadata, definitions, business rules, and everything that goes along with it. Laurel is an expert in creating and delivering quality business data models and increasing communication between key business stakeholders and IT groups. She provides guidance for clients to make informed decisions so her partners can build a quality foundation for success.

Laurel has a diverse background serving in a multitude of roles educating individuals as a peer and as an external advisor. She has served in many industries including manufacturing, aviation, and healthcare. Her specialization is relational data theory and usage of multiple modeling tools.

Outside of the data world, Laurel is learning to garden and loves to can jams and fresh fruits and veggies. Laurel is an active supporter of Special Olympics of Washington and has led her company’s Polar Plunge for Special Olympics team for 10 years, joyfully running into Puget Sound in February!

Speaker: Kasi Anderson

Kasi Anderson has been in the data world for close to 20 years serving in multiple roles including data architect, data modeler, data warehouse design and implementation, business intelligence evangelist, data governance specialist, and DBA. She is passionate about bridging the gap between business and IT and working closely with business partners to achieve corporate goals through the effective use of data. She loves to examine data ecosystems and figure out how to extend architectures to meet new requirements and solve challenges. She has worked in many industries including manufacturing and distribution, banking, healthcare, and retail. In her free time, Kasi loves to read, travel, cook, and spend time with her family. She enjoys hiking the beaches and mountains in the Pacific Northwest and loves to find new restaurants and wineries to enjoy.