Meet the Team

HENRY FITTS, DIRECTOR OF INNOVATION
Henry Fitts serves as the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Innovation and Strategic Initiatives at the City of Rochester. Henry helped found the team by securing a grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies, enabling the City to hire additional full-time analysts. Previously, Henry worked with the City’s Department of Neighborhood and Business Development on downtown and special projects, and served as City Council liaison for the department. A native of Rochester, Henry has a degree in Sociology and Urban Studies from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. Henry brings skills in data analysis, GIS mapping, and writing, and is most passionate about inclusive economic development. In his spare time, Henry is an avid home brewer and enjoys long walks with his wife Alana and their dog Spyro.

KATE MAY, CHIEF PERFORMANCE OFFICER
Kate May is the Chief Performance Officer for the City of Rochester, where she helps departments use their data to drive evidence-based decisions and increase operational efficiency. Prior to joining the Office of Innovation in July 2017, Kate worked as the City and County of Denver’s Senior Operational Data Scientist and leader of the Denver Data Lab, where she used lean process engineering and statistical modeling to improve how departments worked with their human and financial resources and taught classes in data analytics and visualization. Kate has a masters in Data and Policy Analysis from Indiana University’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs and a bachelors from the University of Rochester. Outside of work, Kate spends her time helping her husband with his woodworking/fabrication business, enjoying outdoor recreation, And walking her two dogs.

AMY VENTURA, PROCESS IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATE
Amy Ventura is a native of Baldwinsville, NY and graduated from SUNY Geneseo in 2011 with a degree in sociology and a minor in business administration. After graduating, she moved to Rochester to serve as an AmeriCorps VISTA member and coordinated the City of Rochester’s Biz Kid$ program. She then worked as a departmental finance coordinator and a budget analyst before joining the Office of Innovation in 2015. She currently directs the Kiva Rochester program. Amy serves on the board of Rochester Community Television, Rochester Young Professionals, and RocCity Coalition. She co-founded the RocIDEA Connection (formerly the Equity Series), which provides trainings and seminars to help Rochesterians build a more inclusive and equitable future for our city.

BRENDA MASSIE, ADMINISTRATIVE ANALYST
Brenda Massie is an Administrative Analyst and has been with the City since 2015. Her work includes a range of topics and she coordinates the Rochester Shared Mobility Program. She enjoys projects involving grant writing, best practice research, and learning. In her spare time she gardens, travels, listens to podcasts, and serves on the Board of Reconnect Rochester. She’s a Rochester native and lives in Highland Park with her husband, daughter, and three-legged dog. She holds a B.S. from Ohio State and a MPA from Cornell.

EITAN SIRKOVICH, INNOVATION SPECIALIST

Eitan Sirkovich provides research support and project development aid to the Mayor's Office of Innovation. His work has included affordable housing and educational initiatives as well as online payment upgrades. His background is in community organizing, and prior to joining the City, he served as an intern in the Obama Administration's White House Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs. There, Eitan organized White House events around such topics and programs as My Brother's Keeper, 21st Century Policing, and healthcare enrollment under the ACA. Eitan graduated from SUNY Geneseo with a Bachelor's in Political Science.

JESSE LLOP, SENIOR DATA ANALYST

Jesse Llop focuses on data strategy and analytics, with particular interest in the organizational challenges in coordinating data across departments and fostering a culture of data-driven decision-making. Before working for the city, he performed bio-statics and machine learning at the University of Rochester. His research work mainly focused on the functional genomics of lifespan in Caenorabditis elegans, a tiny worm that lives about 20 days. Jesse hails from nearby Livingston county, where he grew up raising and training horses on the family farm. He received his bachelors in Computational Biology from Cornell University, followed by an MBA from the Simon School of Business here in Rochester. Hobbies include origami, horseback riding, and family time.

AUBREY GRUBE, AMERICORPS VISTA
Aubrey Grube is assistant program coordinator to the Kiva Rochester program. She recently graduated from Amherst College where she studied Sociology, but also studied Diversity and Community Studies at Monroe Community College and is proud to call Rochester home. She has a background in qualitative research, contributing to Dr. Vanessa Fong’s Dalian project and conducting evaluations for Girls Rock Rochester. As an Americorps VISTA, she is focused on ensuring Kiva Rochester’s sustainability through impact assessment and resource development.