Other issues: New Connections Using Data to Drive Change In the Mix Evaluation Training Promoting Diversity Among Evaluators	OMG VOICES Stepping Up Deputy Director, Victoria Dougherty, explains her recent appointment, discusses her current projects, and shares a few principles underlying OMG's groundbreaking evaluation training programs. How has your job changed since moving from Project Director to Deputy Director? Well, I'm now more focused on the staff as a whole. Together, we represent a tremendous base of knowledge. As Deputy Director, I make sure our staff's knowledge and skills are used well and play off each other in ways that best serve our clients. Our ambition is to maximize the benefits our clients gain from our research and consulting. You joined the OMG Center six years ago. What prior professional experiences laid the groundwork for your Deputy Director role? I've worked for all types of players and sectors in our world. I worked for direct-service programs; I've done policy work at the federal, state, and county levels; and I've worked in nonprofit think-tanks. Some of the positions have been in government, some have been with nonprofits. Together, these experiences provided insights into multiple points of view about social change and potential interests in OMG's work. Through my years at OMG, I integrated my past and became familiar with the OMG collaborative learning approach. I was ready and able to step up as the organization grew. The more involved I became, the more inspired I was to learn and deepen my commitment. What's currently in your evaluation portfolio? I'm directing eight evaluations for OMG clients in college access and success, and early childhood program areas. I also work with an OMG team that provides evaluation training to foundations and nonprofits. How do you approach your evaluations? OMG works with each client to determine the best research to pursue after we've looked at the client's program and the broader system in which the program operates. All of our research -- all of OMG's work -- is heavily weighed toward application. That's why we partner with clients and develop a collaborative approach. How did you become an evaluator? I took some evaluation classes in graduate school at the University of Chicago. My first job after grad school was developing a strategic plan for a community action agency in Cook County. My next job was for the Office of Evaluation and Inspections of the Office of Inspector General for the US Dept of Health and Human Services. I've been an evaluator ever since. You are also one of OMG's lead evaluation trainers. What sets OMG's training programs apart? OMG has been providing groundbreaking evaluation training to nonprofits for about a decade. Whether a one-day workshop or long-term training program, every aspect of our training is designed to make sense in the trainee's practice. We help trainees think through practical problems in their organizations and show them how to realistically apply evaluation methods in their work. Our training process calls for strong, participatory engagement; and there's a lot of dialogue and practice throughout. Do any of your OMG management and training skills come in handy as a wife and mother of five- and seven-year-old sons? Positive reinforcement can work wonders in the home, too. For more information about other members of the OMG Staff, visit the OMG Staff section of this website. OMG Voices is produced by the OMG Center for Collaborative Learning. Stepping Up is the third issue.