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.

LUTICHA DOUCETTE, INNOVATION ANALYST
Luticha Doucette graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology with a degree in bioinformatics. At RIT, her focus was in proteomics and analyzing the surfaces of proteins. After graduation she worked as a fellow at UR in a genomics lab where she determined the structures of venom proteins of Nasonia vitripennis and assembled genomes of various parasitoid wasp species. As an Innovation Analyst in the Office of Innovation, her projects revolve around education, equity, and wages. Luticha is passionate about making change in our community by creating equitable policy and by challenging the status quo. She is VP of the board of the National Coalition Building Institute of Rochester and sits on the board of Rochester Accessible Adventures. She is an avid fencer, kayaker, cat lady, and nerd.

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, EXECUTIVE STAFF ASSISTANT

Eitan Sirkovich provides research support and project development aid to the Mayor's Office of Innovation. 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.

AUBREY GRUBE, AMERICORPS VISTA
Aubrey 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.