Introducing the Department of Enterprise Data, Analytics and Research, Plus Other Project 360 News
It is with great pleasure we announce news of staff promotions and transitions that stem from our strategic plan’s cross-cutting imperative to mobilize technology. That work has happened under the heading of Project 360, a multiyear project focused on modernizing and aligning Chautauqua’s technology tools to improve patron and staff experiences.
The next phase of Project 360 will focus on the implementation of a customer relationship management (CRM) system — Salesforce. This initiative will unfold over the coming years and eventually impact every department at Chautauqua. Salesforce will provide transformational tools, enhancing and replacing systems currently being used in Advancement and Marketing, and introduce new tools to benefit every department and every staff member throughout Chautauqua. To best situate us for the transformation that Salesforce will create for Chautauqua, we are creating a new department: Enterprise Data, Analytics and Research.
The new department will be led by Nicole Szydlo, who has served Chautauqua for many years in the role of Director of Advancement Services and as a member of the Project 360 Team. Nicole will lead the Department of Enterprise Data, Analytics, and Research as Senior Director. Her expertise and leadership will be crucial in shaping the department’s strategy and guiding us through this transformative period. The Senior Director of Enterprise Data, Analytics and Research provides strategic leadership, oversight, and management responsibility to elevate the Institution’s data as a critical strategic asset. This role ensures the organization’s data accuracy, completeness, and reliability while leveraging data analytics to provide actionable insights that drive business decisions.
Joining Nicole’s team are Business Intelligence Analyst Luis Cerna and Reporting Analyst Nathan Peterson, both transitioning from the Department of Marketing and Communications to support this centralized, cross-functional group.
In a related transition, Project Director Drake Johnson will take on the role of Salesforce Administrator, moving from the Office of Strategic Initiatives to the Department of Information Technology, led by Director of Technology Innovation Mike Dawson, . Drake fills the role left open by Mike’s earlier transition to his current role.
Please join us in congratulating Nicole, Luis, Nathan, and Drake as they take on these new roles, contributing to the advancement of our technology roadmap.
We would also like to take a moment to acknowledge the incredible efforts of the entire Project 360 team, along with many other staff members, over the past two years. Their dedication has brought us to this point, with major accomplishments including the implementation and optimization of a new ticketing and sales system, the rollout of NetSuite’s ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning software), and the transition to several other software solutions. Please join us in celebrating their outstanding work.
If you have any questions about the new department or its impact, feel free to reach out to me or your department’s executive staff member. For inquiries related to the status or future phases of Project 360, Sam Nelson is available to assist you.