Daniel Lee is Innovate Memphis’ newest team member and Data Governance Lead for Data Midsouth, our online hub where users can access a wide variety of civic data sources and reports in one centralized place. Daniel came to Innovate in Fall 2024 from Seeding Success where he supported data management, analysis and reporting with a focus on early childhood and Pre-K services. Get to know Daniel’s contributions and insights with our Staff Spotlight Q&A.

What brought you to Innovate Memphis?

I was drawn to Innovate Memphis and Data Midsouth project because of its mission to drive meaningful change through data-driven solutions. The opportunity to shape data governance practices in a way that directly impacts the community was especially compelling to me. I appreciate the organization’s focus on innovation and collaboration, making it an ideal place to apply my expertise while learning from diverse stakeholders.

What does “data governance” mean? Why does it matter for the Memphis community?

Data governance is about ensuring that data is accurate, accessible, secure, and used effectively to make informed decisions. What people may not realize is that this requires a lot of communication and collaboration to get access to key sources and work with each data provider to understand exactly what each dataset includes and how each data point is measured and defined. It also means catching potential issues like missing/incomplete data and conflicting sources of information so we can resolve them or be clear about the limitations to avoid a “garbage-in, garbage-out” scenario. For the Memphis community, getting data governance right means enabling better services, driving equitable policy decisions, and fostering transparency. Whether it’s improving public transportation, housing, or economic development, strong data governance ensures that insights we provide in our reporting are trustworthy and beneficial to all residents.

How do you make data governance come to life in your day-to-day responsibilities?

Day-to-day, I focus on defining and implementing data quality standards, ensuring compliance with best practices, and collaborating with different teams to make the data we have on our platform more user-friendly. I spend a lot of time writing and updating internal “data wikis” for our team and data dictionaries for external Data Midsouth users so that they know exactly where each source is coming from, how often it’s updated, any known quality issues or data limitations, and how data points are calculated. The purpose is to minimize confusion and misunderstandings for users and also make it easier for our team to replicate our work, especially since we work with a lot of part-time contractors and students. I also work on monitoring data integrity, streamlining reporting processes, and improving how data is managed and accessed to support informed decision-making. For example, whenever we bring in a new data source or update an existing one, I analyze it to flag things like missing data or big outliers that could affect accuracy so we can catch issues before we publish potentially bad data.

What are some hidden gems in Memphis that more people should know about?

1) CrossFit/Functional Fitness Gyms – These gyms are a true hidden gem because they take the guesswork out of working out. You show up, push yourself, and grind alongside a community of people who share the same goal—living their healthiest life. Beyond just fitness, the community aspect is huge, offering opportunities for friendly competitions and opening doors to other sports and fitness activities you can explore with like-minded people.

2) China Master (Oak Court Mall) – This spot has THE BEST honey chicken I’ve ever had—period. It’s the only place I’ll go for honey or bourbon chicken, and it holds a special place in my heart. My brother and I used to go there after church, and that tradition makes every bite even better. It’s one of those places that might not look like much from the outside, but once you try it, you’ll never want to go anywhere else for those flavors.

3) Wiseacre Brewing Co. – Of course, Wiseacre is known for its beer, but the real hidden gem is the environment—especially during sporting events. It’s an incredible social spot where you can catch a game, enjoy great company, and, best of all, try their Thud Butt pizza at the downtown location. The toppings are unexpected but work together in a way you’d never imagine, making it one of the most unique and delicious pizzas in the city.

What are you looking for accomplishing the most in 2025?

In 2025, I’m excited to keep strengthening data governance frameworks for the Data Midsouth website, ensuring data is not only well-managed but actively used to drive positive change. A key goal is to implement more automated data quality monitoring and to enhance collaboration with local organizations, so we can maximize the impact of data-driven insights for Memphis.

If you are interested in learning more about Data Midsouth, contact us at datamidsouth@innovatememphis.com