Kate Marquez-Sweeney is the Business Development Coordinator on the Business Strategy team, and she joined Education Analytics (EA) in 2022. Kate is from Santa Cruz, California, and attended California State University-Chico, Tuscia University, and California State University-San Jose.
How would you describe your role on the Business Strategy team?
The Business Strategy team identifies opportunities for growth, fosters partnerships, and ensures alignment between EA’s solutions and the evolving needs of education agencies. As the Business Development Coordinator, I support these efforts by coordinating bid responses, tracking outreach, managing business development meetings, and maintaining EA’s revenue pipeline. In addition to contributing to market research and proposal development, I track EA’s impact by mapping where our products and services are used across the United States, providing insights that shape our strategic growth and outreach.
What interested you in working at EA?
Before joining EA, I was a high school teacher and later served as my school’s Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) coordinator, so I was responsible for collecting and organizing data for accreditation. Through that experience and my work on our data committee, I saw firsthand how messy and challenging data collection can be, especially when trying to make data meaningful for decision making.
When I was ready for the next step in my career, I knew I wanted to stay in the education industry and continue making an impact. EA’s mission of using data to drive meaningful change and improve student outcomes immediately resonated with me. Now, as EA’s Business Development Coordinator, I am able to connect district leaders and educators with the tools and insights they need to make informed data-driven decisions.
We know that every day is different, but what would a typical day at EA look like for you?
My work at EA varies day to day and week to week, depending on our current priorities. If our team is actively working on a request for proposal (RFP) response, that typically takes precedence, given the tight and strict deadlines. Otherwise, I start my day by reviewing emails, Slack messages, and my calendar to organize my tasks.
I respond to inquiries in our partnership inbox, attend meetings with potential partners to discuss our solutions, work on a proposal, or conduct market research. I also track the status of contracts and renewals, ensuring we’re moving forward at the right cadence. This work helps with revenue projections, budgeting, and staff allocations, making sure we align opportunities with EA’s broader strategic goals. Each day brings something new, but the core responsibility of my role is to ensure that EA stays proactive in its partnerships and business development efforts.
What skills do you possess that you find helpful in your role?
Being organized and keeping track of deadlines is essential, especially when responding to RFPs or following up with potential partners. I’ve also learned the importance of flexibility, as priorities can shift quickly when a new opportunity with a tight deadline arises. Strong communication skills are equally important, whether I’m engaging with partners, coordinating across teams, or ensuring that projects stay on track. Ultimately, balancing structure with adaptability helps me support EA’s business development efforts.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your role?
One of the most rewarding aspects of my role is seeing an initial opportunity evolve into a formal project that directly supports education agencies. Watching something move through the pipeline—from an inquiry or proposal to an active partnership—is incredibly fulfilling. Our team plays a key role in keeping EA’s business growing, which in turn allows our talented engineers, researchers, and analysts to do what they do best: building impactful data solutions that help students and educators. Being part of that process and seeing our work come to life makes this role very meaningful.
What is your favorite project that you’ve worked on at EA?
When I first joined EA in October of 2022, I had the opportunity to work on a large RFP response for the Texas Education Exchange, a statewide initiative led by the Region 4 Education Service Center to support data interoperability and analytics. It was exciting to be part of a teamwide proposal effort, see us win the bid, and watch the opportunity turn into a real project.
EA has now been working with Texas districts to implement StartingBlocks (ODS/API), Stadium (data warehouse), Podium (administrator dashboards), and Rally Analytics Platform (teacher analytics platform)—helping schools integrate their data and access meaningful insights. It's been incredibly rewarding to see this project come to life and know it will have a lasting impact on education across the state.
If you had to choose a different team to work on at EA, which team would you pick and why?
I’m a people person! I enjoy meeting with partners and keeping lines of communication open. If I were to join a different team at EA, I would likely choose the Partner Strategy team. In my current role, once a business opportunity moves through the pipeline, I shift focus to the next one. I think I would enjoy staying engaged with our partners throughout the duration of a project—seeing firsthand how our work impacts them and ensuring their needs are met along the way.
What changes do you anticipate in your field in the next year?
In the next year, I anticipate the continued expansion of EA's products and services into new regions, bringing our data solutions to more education agencies. As schools, districts, and states increasingly prioritize data interoperability and analytics, I'm excited to see how EA grows to meet their evolving needs.
What is something you enjoy in your free time?
I recently moved to Chicago from Santa Cruz, California, trading a West Coast beach town for a Midwest city—and I absolutely love it. One of my favorite things to do is explore new restaurants, as food is truly my love language! Chicago’s diverse food scene has been amazing for trying new flavors and cuisines.
Experiencing my first Midwest winter meant more time indoors, which led to a lot of cooking and experimenting in the kitchen. While I’ve enjoyed the snow, I’m looking forward to warm weather, patio dining, and picnics by the lake. There’s always something new to discover in Chicago, and I can’t wait to keep exploring!
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I was convinced I was destined to be a singer or dancer. I loved putting on performances, complete with dress-up outfits, backup dancers (aka my younger brother, neighbors, and cousins), and full productions for our parents. I was sure I was meant to be a star, until I realized I wasn’t exactly gifted with a great singing voice. Plans had to pivot.
While my career took a different path, I still love to express myself through fashion. Working remotely means I don’t get to "dress up" as often, but I always look forward to EA’s winter parties—a perfect excuse to pull out a fun outfit and see my coworkers in person!
What is something that you would tell your younger self about your career?
I would tell my younger self that it’s okay to make changes, you don’t have to stay in the same career for 40 years. Before joining EA, I worked for Hyatt Hotels, where I gained valuable experience in hospitality, problem resolution, and working with people. Then, I shifted gears, went back to school, and got my teaching credential, which led me to a career I absolutely loved. When I was ready for something new, I transitioned to EA, where I’ve been able to apply skills from both of my previous careers.
Each experience has shaped how I approach my work, and I believe the diversity of my career path has been an asset. EA has opened so many opportunities for me, and I’m excited to continue growing here!