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Dana DeMaster named Director Innovation and Strategy

Dana DeMaster has been named director of the Innovation and Strategy division of the Health and Wellness Service Team after serving as the interim director since June 2023.

A Ramsey County resident, Dana was responsible for the overall direction, decision-making and strategy for the new division as it updated and modernized department technology systems and created new, more efficient business processes and workflows. She began work at the county in 2015, starting as a program evaluator in Health & Wellness before becoming a research supervisor and then a research manager.

“As interim director, Dana led this new division as it realigned its operational support services with the departments it serves,” said Health and Wellness Deputy County Manager Kathy Hedin. “Her extensive experience and knowledge of the unique needs of our operations make her the best person to continue this work as Innovation and Strategy improves access to Health and Wellness supports for service teams and communities throughout Ramsey County.”  

Before coming to Ramsey County, Dana was a program evaluator and data analyst at the Minnesota Department of Human Services and at Hennepin. She holds a Master of Public Policy from the University of Minnesota and an undergraduate degree from Saint Catherine University.

Innovation and Strategy was created following the reorganization of the Health and Wellness Administrative division. It handles the strategic functions of Health and Wellness, including program evaluation and research, human services technology support, electronic health record supports and the Early Childhood Care and Coordination initiative. Innovation and Strategy provides strategic planning and is also a center for innovation for all departments in the Health and Wellness service team.