Dawn Michels
Honorary Member • DAMA-MNRationale (What For)
Recognized for her decades of leadership in data management, Dawn has been a cornerstone of DAMA-MN as President, Past President, and ongoing advisor. Her dedication to building enterprise information architecture capabilities and her advocacy for DAMA at the international level have made her a trusted voice and role model for professionals across the industry. She is honored for her strategic vision, mentorship, and commitment to advancing both the chapter and the global DAMA community.
Bio
Dawn is a strategic thought leader and planner for enterprise information architecture. She partners with business and technology leaders to develop robust data and information capabilities, helping organizations leverage one of their most valuable assets—information. With over 25 years of experience, she specializes in transforming information into knowledge and insights that provide strategic advantage and competitive edge. Her career has spanned retail, manufacturing, insurance, medical devices, and financial services industries, where she has led enterprise architecture planning, data design, governance, and business intelligence initiatives. Dawn holds her CDMP (Certified Data Management Professional) from DAMA International, specializing in Business Intelligence, and currently serves as Chair of the DAMA International Presidents Council. She also remains actively engaged with DAMA-MN as Past President, continuing to guide and mentor the chapter. Dawn’s passion for data extends into education and public speaking. She has served as adjunct faculty at the Universities of St. Catherine and St. Thomas, teaching courses in Management Information Systems, Information Management, and Data Warehousing. She has spoken at more than 20 international data conferences, as well as for professional organizations across the country, sharing knowledge and advancing best practices in data management. A Toastmasters Silver achiever and VP of Membership for Thrivent Toastmasters #1767, Dawn brings strong communication skills to every stage and classroom she steps into. Data is both Dawn’s passion and vocation, and she continues to give back generously by sharing knowledge, developing professionals, and strengthening the data management community at every level.
Contributions & Milestones
- Over 25 years of data design experience across multiple industries, including retail, manufacturing, insurance, medical devices, and financial services.
- Served as President and Past President of DAMA-MN, leading chapter growth and transformation efforts.
- Chair of the DAMA International Presidents Council, representing chapter leaders and fostering collaboration across the DAMA community.
- Achieved CDMP certification from DAMA International, specializing in Business Intelligence.
- Taught Management Information Systems, Information Management, and Data Warehousing as adjunct faculty at St. Catherine and St. Thomas Universities.
- Presented at 23 international data conferences and multiple professional associations on data management and governance topics.
- Accomplished Toastmaster Silver; currently VP Membership for Thrivent Toastmasters #1767.
- Advocate for enterprise information architecture, data governance, metadata management, business intelligence, and master data management as core enablers of business strategy.