Finding Clarity Through the Haze

Dear DAMA-MN Community,

July has reminded many of us across Minnesota and the broader United States that conditions can change quickly. Excessive heat, wildfire smoke, air quality alerts, and hazy skies have shaped our daily routines, outdoor plans, commutes, and conversations.

It is a timely metaphor for the work we do in data management.

When visibility is poor, good decisions become harder. When conditions are uncertain, trusted signals matter more. When the environment changes, resilient systems, clear communication, and disciplined preparation help us respond with confidence.

That is true for public health and weather alerts. It is also true for data.

Organizations today are navigating their own forms of haze: fragmented systems, inconsistent definitions, weak metadata, poor data quality, unclear accountability, growing AI expectations, and decision environments where leaders need timely, trusted, well-governed information. DAMA-MN exists to help professionals and organizations cut through that haze by advancing the principles, practices, and professional community that make trusted data possible.

Wednesday, July 29: DAMA-MN Ice Cream Social

Before we get too deep into conference planning, certification study, governance frameworks, and all the serious work of data management, let’s make room for something simple and very welcome in the middle of a hot Minnesota summer: ice cream and conversation.

Please join us for the DAMA-MN July Ice Cream Social at Sweet Science Ice Cream in Edina, Minnesota, on Wednesday, July 29, from 4:00–6:00 PM.

Come enjoy free ice cream provided by Reltio, connect with fellow DAMA-MN members, volunteers, data professionals, and community partners, and spend time with others who care about trusted data, better decisions, and the future of enterprise data management.

Whether you are a long-time DAMA-MN member, new to the chapter, curious about data management, preparing for CDMP certification, or simply looking to meet others in the regional data community, we would be glad to see you.

DAMA Days 2026: Agenda, Tracks, Speakers, and Schedule Coming Soon

Planning continues for DAMA Days 2026, our regional data management conference scheduled for October 6–7, 2026 in Shoreview, Minnesota.

We are preparing to announce and publish the agenda, tracks, speakers, and schedule soon. DAMA Days will bring together data professionals, practitioners, leaders, vendors, educators, employers, sponsors, exhibitors, and community members for two days of learning, discussion, connection, and practical insight.

This year’s program is being shaped around the topics that matter most to our community: data governance, data quality, metadata, architecture, analytics, AI readiness, semantics, master data management, data literacy, and the professional practices that help organizations turn data into trustworthy business value.

Welcome New DAMA-MN Board Leaders: Andy Nash and Greg Klaus

DAMA-MN is pleased to welcome Andy Nash and Greg Klaus to the DAMA-MN Board of Directors. Andy and Greg bring deep professional experience, extraordinary talent, and genuine enthusiasm for data management and the promise of the DAMA-DMBOK® framework. Their perspectives will bring fresh outlook, practical insight, and new opportunities for our members and the broader data management community.

Andy Nash Board Member At-Large Director, Community & Academic Partnerships

Greg Klaus Board Member At-Large

We are grateful for their willingness to serve and look forward to the energy and leadership they will bring to DAMA-MN.

We also want to extend a sincere shout-out to the entire DAMA-MN volunteer leadership community: board members, committee chairs, volunteers, honorary members, advisors, speakers, sponsors, partners, and members who continue to make this chapter possible.

DAMA-MN is a volunteer-powered organization. Every event, study group, newsletter, website update, program, partnership, and professional development opportunity reflects the time, care, and commitment of people who believe in the value of this community.

Fall 2026 CDMP Study Group and Proctored Exam

Registration and planning are underway for the Fall 2026 CDMP Study Group.

This condensed study group is designed to help participants prepare for the Certified Data Management Professional — CDMP Fundamentals exam while building a stronger foundation in core data management disciplines. The study group provides structure, community, accountability, and guided review across key areas of the DAMA-DMBOK® framework.

DAMA-MN is also planning to offer a proctored CDMP exam opportunity during DAMA Days 2026 in October. Whether you are pursuing certification, strengthening your professional vocabulary, preparing for a new role, or deepening your understanding of enterprise data management, the CDMP study group is a practical and supportive way to advance.

July Chapter Meeting Recap: Forcefield Analysis with Danette McGilvray

Our July chapter meeting, “Forcefield Analysis: Breaking Through the Barriers to Your Data Quality Work,” presented by Danette McGilvray, was well attended, practical, and incredibly engaging.

Danette introduced forcefield analysis as a powerful technique for identifying the forces that support progress and the forces that hold data quality efforts back. Participants had the opportunity to think through real-world barriers, discuss the organizational dynamics that affect data quality work, and consider practical ways to reduce resistance while strengthening the forces that move improvement forward.

New Books from Technics Publishing

Several new and timely books from Technics Publishing align closely with the topics DAMA-MN members are actively discussing: semantics, decision-making, analytics adoption, MLOps, governance, AI readiness, and trusted enterprise data.

DAMA-MN members are eligible for a 5% discount on books from Technics Publishing .

DATAVERSITY Events and Conferences

DAMA-MN also encourages members and community contacts to explore upcoming DATAVERSITY events and conferences.

DATAVERSITY continues to offer conferences, webinars, and educational resources across data governance, data architecture, metadata, data quality, analytics, AI, and enterprise data strategy. These programs can be valuable complements to DAMA-MN programming and CDMP preparation.

Stay Connected with DAMA-MN

There are many ways to stay involved with DAMA-MN: attend an upcoming chapter meeting or networking event, participate in the Fall 2026 CDMP Study Group, invite a colleague to join the DAMA-MN community, volunteer for a committee or event, share your expertise as a speaker or panelist, or join us at DAMA Days 2026 in October.

DAMA-MN continues to grow because of the people who show up, contribute, ask questions, share knowledge, and support one another.

As we move through a summer of heat, haze, and changing conditions, we are reminded again that clarity matters. In our organizations, clarity comes from trusted data, shared meaning, disciplined practice, and strong professional communities.

Thank you for being part of DAMA-MN.

Warm regards,

The DAMA-MN Board of Directors and Volunteers

Questions, ideas, or suggestions? Contact us at info@dama-mn.org .

July Ice Cream Social

Wednesday, July 29
4:00–6:00 PM
Sweet Science Ice Cream, Edina

Free ice cream provided by Reltio.

Register Now

Thank You, Reltio

DAMA-MN is grateful to Reltio for hosting and sponsoring our July Ice Cream Social.

Reltio helps organizations succeed in the enterprise AI era by providing trusted, connected, and contextual data. Through the Reltio Data Cloud, organizations can harmonize, unify, and enrich data and metadata across sources and formats — including unstructured data — in real time.

Ice Cream Social Venue

Join us at Sweet Science Ice Cream in Edina for a relaxed summer gathering with DAMA-MN members, partners, volunteers, and friends.

August Chapter Meeting

Details for our August DAMA-MN Chapter Meeting are coming soon. Registration is open, and additional program information will be added as it becomes available.

Watch for updates from Carmen Olsen and Robin Mertes as we finalize the topic, speakers, and session details.

DAMA-MN Quick Links

Register: Ice Cream Social

DAMA Days 2026

Fall 2026 CDMP Study Group

All DAMA-MN Events

Leadership Team

DAMA-DMBOK® Visual

DAMA Days 2026

DAMA Days 2026 is scheduled for October 6–7 in Shoreview, Minnesota. Join us for two days of workshops, CDMP exam opportunities, symposium-style sessions, exhibitors, networking, and regional data management community connection.

Agenda, tracks, speakers, and schedule details will be announced soon. Exhibitor opportunities are available now.

Data Management Conferences & Events

Explore additional conferences, webinars, and learning opportunities across data governance, data architecture, metadata, data quality, analytics, AI, and enterprise data strategy.

View DATAVERSITY Events

DAMA-MN Merch

Fueling data governance one cup at a time.

Visit the DAMA-MN Store

Chapter Sponsors & Partners

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DAMA-MN is proud to be affiliated with DAMA International and grateful for the sponsors and partners who support our growing data management community.