Elaine Ortiz, MS: Senior Research Associate

elaineo@gnocdc.org

Elaine Ortiz is a Senior Research Associate for Nonprofit Knowledge Works. She is responsible for researching, vetting, and managing data sets for Data Center projects. Elaine’s expertise lies in identifying the most reliable source of data for each unique set of research questions. She has particular expertise with the American Community Survey, Decennial Census, Current Population Survey, Current Employment Statistics, and United States Postal Service Delivery Statistics. Elaine is also a co–author of several Data Center reports.

Elaine came to Knowledge Works after four years with an Iowa think tank where her research ranged from state fiscal policy to labor market conditions to a census of Iowa’s homeless population. She has presented her research nationally, including a publication by The Commonwealth Fund. Elaine has a MS in urban and regional planning from the University of Iowa and a BA in economics from Hanover College.

Expertise

Federal statistics
Sustainable systems for processing large datasets
Economic and fiscal policy

Experience

Research Associate, The Iowa Policy Project
Program Associate, Migrant and Seasonal Farm Worker Program, Iowa Workforce Development

Education

MS in Urban and Regional Planning, University of Iowa
BA in Economics, Hanover College

Select Publications

Plyer, A., & Ortiz, E. (2011, April 15). Shifts in population and loss of children across the New Orleans metro area. Greater New Orleans Community Data Center. Retrieved June 27, 2011, from http://www.gnocdc.org/ShiftsInPopulationAndLossOfChildrenAcrossTheNewOrleansMetroArea/index.html
Plyer, A., Pettit, K., & Ortiz, E. (2010, November 30). Optimizing blight strategies: Deploying limited resources in different neighborhood housing markets. Greater New Orleans Community Data Center. Retrieved June 27, 2011, from http://www.gnocdc.org/OptimizingBlightStrategies/index.html
Plyer, A., & Ortiz, E. (2010, August 4). Jobs that matter most: Regional export industries in the New Orleans area. Greater New Orleans Community Data Center. Retrieved June 27, 2011, from http://www.gnocdc.org/ExportIndustries/index.html
Plyer, A., Turner, M. A., Pettit, K., & Ortiz, E. (2009, November 12). Housing production needs: Three scenarios for New Orleans. Greater New Orleans Community Data Center. Retrieved June 27, 2011, from http://www.gnocdc.org/HousingProductionScenarios/index.html
Ortiz, E., & Plyer, A. (2011, June). Valassis lists data as an indicator of population recovery in the New Orleans area. Greater New Orleans Community Data Center. Retrieved June 27, 2011, from https://gnocdc.s3.amazonaws.com/reports/GNOCDC_ValassisListsDataAsAnIndicatorOfPopulationRecovery.pdf
Ortiz, E., Fischer, P., MacDonald, H., & Walz, S. (2006, January). 2005 Iowa statewide homeless study. Iowa Finance Authority. Retrieved June 27, 2011, from http://www.iowafinanceauthority.gov/documents/filelibrary/ich/2005HomelessStudy.pdf
Ortiz, E., Fischer, P., & Gordon, C. (2005, December 1). On the fringe: The substandard benefits of workers in part–time, temporary, and contract jobs. The Common Wealth Fund. Retrieved June 27, 2011, from http://www.commonwealthfund.org/Content/Publications/Fund-Reports/2005/Dec/On-the-Fringe--The-Substandard-Benefits-of-Workers-in-Part-Time--Temporary--and-Contract-Jobs.aspx
Fischer, P., & Ortiz, E. (2003, May). Taxes and state economic growth: The myths and the reality. Iowa Policy Project. Retrieved June 27, 2011, from http://www.iowapolicyproject.org/2002-2004docs/030515-tax-cuts.pdff

Select Presentations

Bonaguro, J., Ortiz, E., & Ross, D. (2008, October). Postal data and google maps shine light on New Orleans recovery. Presented at the Urban and Regional Information Systems Association Annual Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana.
Ortiz, E. (2005, June). Everyday low benefits: Access to health insurance in the age of Wal–Mart and Kelly Services. Presented at the Institute for Women’s Policy Research Eighth International Women’s Policy Research Conference, Washington D.C.