The People Who Make it Happen: Sara Rogers

At ISA, strategy doesn’t start with instinct. It starts with insight.

This series pulls back the curtain on the people who make that insight possible: the researchers, analysts, creatives, and collaborators who help our clients see clearly and decide confidently.

Today, we’re spotlighting our wonderful Sara Rogers.

Sara is our Research Associate for Geodemographic and Market Analysis, and she brings data to life in ways that change how leaders think. With degrees in Environmental Systems Science and Sustainability — and academic recognition as a Robert G. Bone Scholar — Sara has built her career around using spatial data and information visualization to drive smarter decisions.

Specializing in ESRI ArcGIS systems, Sara helps our school, college, and nonprofit partners understand the communities they serve — and the ones they hope to reach. In recent years, Sara has also led efforts to build data culture inside organizations. She helped guide the Town of Normal to What Works Cities certification (the international standard for data excellence in city governance), embedding data-driven decision making into budgeting, strategic planning, and transparency efforts. Her work centers on equipping executive leaders with the tools and insights they need to move both operations and strategy forward.

Like Ian, Sara is a proud Illinois State University alum and she remains deeply connected to her alma mater, mentoring students and advising on innovative design initiatives.

Outside of work, Sara is a community builder at heart. Whether she’s leading a technology committee for a local Catholic elementary school, hosting family game night, connecting in yoga class, or facilitating her long-distance book club, she brings the same intentionality and leadership to her personal life as she does to her professional work.

We’re so grateful to have her shaping the data behind our strategy, and helping our clients turn information into impact.