About
Data Grotto is a site devoted to exploring the use of data to support real decisions.
Annotated Performance Dashboard
Confessions of a Data Scientist
Dr. Ron Schack's New Book
DATAGROTTO is a website devoted to advanced data analysis, data visualization, use of data for real-time decision making. Dr. Ron Schack, who has over 20 years of experience in these areas, created Data Grotto to help people interested in data by sharing important data principles, advanced analytic techniques, and real-life examples.
Dr. Schack is a partner with The Charter Oak Group, LLC, a well-regarded public policy and performance management consulting firm. Ron holds a doctoral degree in political science from the University of CT, where he also received a master’s degree in public affairs and studied philosophy as an undergraduate.
Dr. Schack’s areas of expertise include performance measurement, performance management system development, Results-Based Accountability (RBA) framework and systems development, public budgeting and multi-mode program evaluation. He has expertise in advanced statistical analysis (including structural equation modeling) and forecasting methods.
Dr. Ron Schack is a partner with the Charter Oak Group, LLC. To find out more about the Charter Oak Group, go to www.charteroakgroup.com
For the past 10 years, Dr. Schack has provided performance measurement technical assistance to the CT General Assembly Appropriations Committee. Ron recently developed an RBA Implementation Plan for the CT Juvenile Justice Policy Oversight Committee, as well as a set of population indicators for the juvenile justice system. Working with the Justice Education Center, Inc., Ron has staffed the Eyewitness Identification Taskforce since 2011, and recently completed an analysis of the eyewitness procedures conducted since 2014. Dr. Schack is currently assisting in the development of a data-integration approach for the Harford Opportunity Youth Collaborative (HOYC).
Dr. Schack also enjoys teaching, most recently teaching research methods and public budgeting at Trinity College.
When he is not consulting, Ron likes to compose and record music (he plays 12 string bass), study medieval long sword, and read cosmology, philosophy, and classic fantasy literature. He lives with his wife, Lisa in Manchester, CT.