The people behind ALT-EXP
Meet the NewForce graduates who contributed to the ALT-EXP Data Explorer. Their roles span data analysis, project coordination, mentorship, operations, public service, creative production, and visual storytelling.
A 2026 applied data, GIS, and analyst-training project.
The team brings technical, creative, operational, and community-centered perspectives to applied data work in West Virginia.
I am a NewForce graduate who loves using both my analytical and creative skills! I have experience with Python, SQL, Excel, Tableau, and Power BI. I love taking complex datasets and finding valuable insights. I also have a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. I am looking forward to bringing my skills to a data analyst role where I can make a meaningful impact.
Biography forthcoming.
As a versatile Data Analyst, I bring over 12 years of professional experience managing complex information systems, database classification, and high-volume logistics. Before transitioning into tech, I built a strong track record auditing over 10,000 digital assets for the DC Public Library and managing time-sensitive delivery data at FedEx Express.
I recently graduated as a NewForce Cohort 12 professional to turn my passion for problem-solving into a tech career. For my capstone project, I used Python to clean and organize an e-commerce catalog of 755 products, calculating a real-time store valuation of $45,281.75. I excel at taking messy, unorganized files and turning them into clean, structured records, and I am ready to bring my data skills to any environment, whether working independently or as part of a collaborative team.
John Meeker is an operations professional, data analyst, and civic builder based in Shepherdstown, WV—someone who has consistently made the road by walking it.
He brings startup energy—learning Python, SQL, Tableau, and geospatial tools; self-hosted server infrastructure; hands-on AI deployments—grounded in the discipline of someone who spent years keeping complex systems running inside higher education and financial production environments. He earned his data chops through the NewForce Analytics bootcamp and his operational instincts through six years coordinating digital classroom content at American Public University System. John doesn’t just build fast; he builds to hold.
Leo is a lifelong learner with a passion for uncovering stories and sharing knowledge. He began his career studying patisserie and baking at Le Cordon Bleu Pittsburgh before exploring a variety of fields, including traditional and digital art commissions, cultural heritage digitization at Johns Hopkins University’s Sheridan Libraries, and tourism through his work with Shepherdstown Ghost Tours.
Most recently, Leo completed NewForce’s Cohort 12 Data Analytics program, where he developed skills in Excel, SQL, Python, Power BI, Tableau, and GIS mapping. His favorite aspect of data analysis is uncovering patterns that might otherwise go unnoticed. Whether analyzing transit performance, historical records, environmental observations, or public health data, he enjoys connecting seemingly unrelated pieces of information to reveal a larger story and provide context for decision making. As a visual artist, he is interested in geographic analysis and data visualization, using maps and spatial data to better understand patterns, relationships, and communities.
Outside of work, Leo enjoys hiking, gardening, foraging, and creating art. These pursuits have strengthened his curiosity, persistence, and problem solving skills, qualities he brings to every project he undertakes.
I started my career in creative production shaping how stories get told, and eventually pivoted into data analysis to better understand why they land. It turns out the skills translate more than you’d expect. I spend my free time bird watching which inspired my capstone.
I’m a detail-oriented analyst with deep roots in West Virginia. My family has lived in this state for generations, and I want to ensure future generations can stay here to learn, build, and prosper as our ancestors did.
Throughout my career, I’ve been driven by a passion for problem-solving and a stubborn resilience, especially in rural health and prevention work. Working in West Virginia has allowed me to build meaningful connections with communities while navigating real challenges: limited resources, systemic barriers, and the needs of populations that are too often overlooked. Rather than discouraging me, those obstacles have only sharpened my dedication to creating positive change.
I’m a lifelong learner at heart. My undergraduate degree is in Criminal Justice with an emphasis in Police Administration, and I have minors in Sociology and History. My Master’s degree is in Leadership Studies with an emphasis in Higher Education and Public Administration, along with a minor in Appalachian Studies. Over the past 15+ years, I’ve worked across higher education and public administration in the public health sector.
Generation WV has given me the tools to grow as a professional and to apply those skills to my community by analyzing data, spotting trends, and building dashboards that bring the issues that need our attention into focus. My goal is simple: help surface the problems that matter most so West Virginia’s communities can thrive.
Biography forthcoming.
Jimmy is a graduate of NewForce Cohort 10 and served as the ALT-EXP project coordinator, mentor and UI design.
