Data Consulting

I fix data problems for a living.

The cartooning is just a passion project.

What kinds of data problems?

The Data Sprawl Problem

Where does your data live?
Who has access?
Who doesn’t?
Who should have access?
Who shouldn’t?
Is your data secure?

The Data Disconnect Problem

How do you facilitate data use?
Are you using dashboards or reports?
Are they effective?
Do the people who need the data, see the data?
Is it useful data?
What is your process for creating connection?

The Slow Data Problem

Are you automating reports?
Have you created the resources necessary to speed up the reporting process?
Do you have a collection of tailored report templates and design assets?
Do you have a data design style guide?

The Data Literacy Problem

Are your people data people?
If not, what is your plan for improving their capacity?
If so, what is your plan to support their continued growth?
Are you leveraging widely available training resources?
Are you tailoring existing resources to meet your specific organization needs?
Do you have an internal certification strategy?

The Data Community Problem

Do you have a data culture?
Do your data people know each other?
Are there opportunities for your people to practice their data skills?
How do you facilitate connection and peer to peer learning?
How do you plan to keep your data people engaged?

The Data Leadership Problem

Who is responsible for your data?
Is your IT leadership data savvy?
Is your program leadership tech savvy?
Are your leaders data use gatekeepers, data use facilitators, or data use champions?

The Data Technology Problem

Do you have a preferred set of data tools and software?
Do the people who need to analyze or visualize the data, know how to use the tools?
Do your data products require training for use?
Is your data stack missing essential software?
Are you reliant on outdated software or tools with limited functionality?

Chris and I worked together on the communications team at EnCompass LLC. He has deep Tableau experience and understands how to effectively communicate complex technical concepts to a variety of audiences. I appreciate his “big picture” perspective and strategic mindset, which helps to connect the dots between needs, resources, and opportunities.
In addition to his technical expertise, he is also an excellent team builder. Mentoring seems to come naturally to him, and I have so appreciated having him as a sounding board, as a motivator to push myself outside my comfort zone, and as an encourager for my creative confidence.
In terms of both “hard” and “soft” skills, he has helped me to push my data visualization expertise to a new level.
Crystal Cason, Senior Visual Design Specialist at EnCompass LLC

Why hire Chris Lysy? (My Background)

The data world is filled with techies, researchers, evaluators, and designers. Most data professionals find a niche, perhaps as field specific data analysts, big data coders, Excel trainers, Tableau evangelists, infographic makers, data journalists, or data storytellers.

But I have never been able to do just one thing.

Across my two decades long data career I have worked professionally with data as a research data analyst, computer systems analyst, program evaluator, data management documentation specialist, graphic designer, web designer, eLearning developer, subject matter expert, content strategist, senior communications specialist, illustrator, and business strategist.

While I may not have deep experience in any single area, I have a breadth of experience unmatched by most of my peers.

This wide experience has led me to work effectively on data projects that require a mix of technology, design, and data expertise. Having served in positions within each field, I also have an insiders view of the different roles and how they need to work together to successfully complete innovative data projects.

Chris provided senior visual design leadership on a project I lead. We had a data visualization challenge and wanted to take the design of a series of regular executive briefs to a new level. Chris was able to communicate with and learn from our project teams and client and develop a series of unique visualizations through Tableau. He just has a natural talent for taking technical data and making it compelling for an audience that is not always data savvy.
Amy Mulcahy-Dunn, Chief of Party, USAID Data Evidence for Education Programming

You can see more of my work at clysy.co m

A few recent examples of my work.

In 2015 I developed and launched the first iteration of my personal virtual data design workshop. We launched with a minimum viable product and used iterative human centered design methods to evolve the workshop design over time. Ultimately it mixed asynchronous learning modules with synchronous office hours.
In 2016, while still working for Westat (a large social science research organization) I was the youngest member of a board appointed data visualization working group. In this role I was tasked with helping to evaluate Westat’s current visualization capacity and provide insight to senior management on proposed future directions and investments.
In 2017 and 2018, I led dashboard prototyping efforts for several organizations in the non-profit, university, and NGO worlds. At the time many organizations were in the process of testing new interactive dashboards created using Tableau. They were also adapting their mindset from static Excel datasets to automatically updated Tableau workbooks.
In 2019 I kicked off a project mixing data visualization/reporting capacity development with UX design support and research methodology development for a Department of State funded NGO initiative. During the project we developed new methods for evaluating training efforts using human centered design methodologies and retrospective rubrics. Instead of a traditional report, findings were designed to be delivered using a virtual learning platform built within Sharepoint.
In 2020 I started a CDC funded project to develop an evaluation community of practice for their national Opioid Data to Action program. This project, which started during COVID, required the development of a brand new community strictly through the use of virtual platforms. I continue to develop, iterate, and facilitate this community.
In 2021 I launched my own evaluation Community of Practice designed to create networking opportunities for a global evaluation network.
These are all just examples as I have worked on a number of other data projects over these years for Federal, State, Local, Non-Profit, For-Profit, and NGO clients. These projects include infographic design, report design, reporting strategy evaluation, UX/UI design, cartoon illustration, business consulting, web development, and digital strategy.

A strategic, whole-systems, human-centered design thinker, Chris brought to us expertise in data science, technology and learning systems. Chris listened deeply internally and externally, asking questions that created new insight for our teams.
Clients frequently expressed their appreciation for Chris’s collaborative and creative approach, while colleagues consistently valued his mentorship. Chris brought to us expertise in areas as diverse as building online learning platforms, cybersecurity, human-centered design, and R&D strategy.
I highly recommend Chris as an architect and facilitator of online training, strategist in learning and technology, and valued strategic business advisor.
Tessie Catsambas, CEO/CFO at EnCompass LLC

Want to Explore Working Together?

Thinking about hiring me as a consultant?

Need a team leader on an innovative project?
Looking for a data training lead or Community of Practice developer?
Need a variety of support and would like to hire me as Fractional Chief Data Officer?
Just need short term help with one of your data problems?

Let’s start with an initial chat on Zoom.

We’ll talk about your project needs and see if I’m a good match. If not, I have a network of super smart colleagues that I am more than happy to refer.

Go ahead and just grab a spot on my calendar.
Or send me an email: chris@freshspectrum.com