William J. Sheldrake, President
The President and founder of Policy Analytics is Bill
Sheldrake, a recognized and respected leader in economic analysis, state and
regional government policy, and statistical research. With more than 20 years
experience in public policy analysis, research, and finance, Bill’s
expertise makes him an invaluable resource for clients who seek out Policy
Analytics to help them in defining analytical projects, structuring organizational
issues, or carrying out complex research projects.
Bill Sheldrake is perhaps best known for his leadership of the Indiana Fiscal
Policy Institute where he served for more than eight years as President and
CEO. The Institute, a non-partisan, independent, governmental research organization,
is widely regarded as the leading voice on public sector fiscal policy issues
in Indiana. Under his leadership, the IFPI conducted research on human capital
shortages in Indiana, examined public pension funds, and assisted in the development
of Indiana tax restructuring legislation, among many other projects. In addition
to leading the organization, Bill was the principal investigator and published
reports on these and other policy issues which have resulted in new or amended
legislation for the State of Indiana.
Before serving with IFPI, Bill was on the staff of the Indiana State Budget Agency, the state’s office of financial control for ten years. He was Indiana’s chief revenue forecaster, head of tax analysis, and Deputy Budget Director during his service there. Bill is also a former member of the National Board of Trustees of the Governmental Research Association and member of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board Advisory Council.
Bill earned a master’s degree with a public finance concentration from Purdue University.
Alan Degner is a principal at Policy Analytics. Mr. Degner has held numerous leadership roles in state government. Between February of 2003 and January of 2005 he served as the Commissioner for the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. From 1999 to 2001 he was employed within the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, including a time as Chief of Staff. Mr. Degner was employed at the Indiana Economic Development Council from 1989 to 1998. During his time at the IEDC, he served as Executive Vice President as well as the Manager of Business and Legislative Affairs.
Mr. Degner holds a Juris Doctorate from the Indiana University School of Law at Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis. He has also earned a Bachelor of Science in Management from the Krannert School of Management at Purdue University in West Lafayette.
Tina Rongers MUPP, Senior Consultant
Tina Rongers joined Policy Analytics in the Fall of 2006, focusing on Public Outreach and Projects in Northwest Indiana. In 2005, Tina received a Master’s of Urban Planning & Policy with a specialization in economic development from the University of Illinois-Chicago and anticipates starting a PhD program in the Fall of 2007.
Rongers’ work experience includes the areas of workforce development, economic development, financial services, strategic planning and project management. Her research background also includes: the environment, community development, gender and racial equity and quality of life.
Currently, she works as a project manager for Calumet College of St. Joseph’s Public Safety Institute, as a consultant at Policy Analytics and serves as a lecturer at Indiana University Northwest, School of Public and Environmental Affairs.
Bart Brown MPA, Senior Consultant
Bart Brown joined Policy Analytics in early 2007, focusing on Public Finance projects in Central Indiana. Mr. Brown received a Master's of Public Affairs with a specialization in public finance and management, and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Economics from Indiana University.
Mr. Brown has over 13 years experience forecasting revenues and expenditures for local units of government. Some of Brown's past positions include serving as the Deputy Controller for the City of Indianapolis, Deputy Commissioner of Finance for the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles, and Clerk-Treasurer for the City of Beech Grove, Indiana.
In addition to his work at Policy Analytics, Mr. Brown serves as the Chief Fiscal Officer to the City-County Council of Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana.
Jason O'Neill, Staff Consultant
Jason O’Neill joined Policy Analytics in the spring of 2006 as a staff consultant, focusing on Public Finance. In 2005, Jason graduated Summa Cum Laude from Geneva College in Beaver Falls, PA with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a concentration in Information Technology. Jason has been involved in projects serving Policy Analytics clients in the areas of Economic Development Planning, Economic Analysis and Forecasting, and Marketing Analysis. Jason has also served in multiple settings in an information technology capacity
Patrick Barkey, Consulting Scientist
Patrick Barkey is Director of Economic and Policy Studies in the Miller College of Business at Ball State University and a Consulting Scientist with Policy Analytics since July 2004.
He has been involved with economic forecasting for twenty-four years, as a graduate student at the University of Michigan, a faculty member at Indiana University, and as an analyst at American Electric Power. In his current position as Director of Economic and Policy Studies, he oversees and participates in a wide variety of projects in labor market research, and state and regional economic policy issues.
His recent research has been on the educational attainment of the Indiana labor force, the effect of smoking on the state economy, and the potential for high technology development in Central Indiana. His newspaper column appears in a dozen newspapers throughout the state, and his weekly statistical publication, the Indiana Business Bulletin, is relied on by banks, newspapers, and other businesses that need timely and comprehensive economic information on the state and its regions. He attended the University of Michigan, receiving a B.A. ('79) and Ph.D. ('86) in economics.
Rachel Harter, Consulting Scientist
Rachel Harter, Vice President of Statistics and Director of the Statistics and Methodology Department at NORC, is an expert statistician, an accomplished programmer, and an experienced director of large-scale analytical projects. Across a wide range of studies, Harter has been responsible for complex probability sample design, database management, survey and statistical analysis, and technical writing and editing. She joined NORC in 1995 after serving as a Manager and Research Director at A.C. Nielsen Co. Harter received her Ph.D. in statistics from Iowa State University.