Mari Almanza is the EMS Data Analytics Coordinator at the Milwaukee County Office of Emergency Management, where she leads initiatives in syndromic surveillance, overdose intelligence, and emergency informatics. With a multidisciplinary background in health science and computer science, and a master’s degree in epidemiology, Mari was drawn to EMS for its unique intersection of data, physiological response during trauma and emergencies, and real-time public health action. Earlier in her career, she contributed to wearable tech research focused on optimizing human performance—an experience that deepened her interest in how data can inform care under pressure. She began her public health work during the COVID-19 pandemic, supporting disease surveillance, dashboard development, and informatics strategy across local and state agencies. Today, she builds tools that transform complex field data into actionable insights, supporting both daily operations and large-scale events like the RNC and DNC. Her work focuses on modernizing public health infrastructure through informatics, equity, and cross-agency coordination.