Jabali Williams

Director of User Experience (Keynote Speaker)

Equal parts artistry and usability, user experience toes the line of strategy, design and technology. As CHIEF’s first ever Director of User Experience, Jabali is charged with making sure our work, and our teams, balance these two often-conflicting objectives. Tapping into his background in web design, marketing and business development, Jabali approaches client engagements from all angles—a broad perspective that allows him to uncover previously-missed insights. Day to day, Jabali performs research and documents findings, creates strategy documents, use-case scenarios, content and wireframes, all while working cross-functionally and leading our all-star internal UX Team.

Shawn Gogas

Web Manager
Internal Revenue Service, HCIS Web Team

Over 30 years of Federal Government service across the IRS from criminal investigation to leading major web modernization projects to help the IRS meet their modernization goals. He successfully launched the IRS Careers website leveraging a cloud-based infrastructure, modern CMS, responsive design, and API integration to provide the IRS with a platform allowing them to find the best candidates.

Silvia Salazar

Audience Research Laboratory Manager
National Cancer Institute, NIH

Conduct research on the cancer information needs of Latino audiences with the goal of designing and evaluating cancer education programs such as websites, booklets, and other educational materials using theoretical frameworks in the fields of public health and market research.

Dave Bell

Technical Advisor, User eXperience Group (UXG), SSA
Social Security Administration

I began my career in usability as an intern at IBM in 1989, establishing a full-time position the following year, designing “green screen” interfaces for internal business systems. In 1995, during the infancy of the Web, I moved to GE Information Services and supported both internal and external client services and web-based systems. In 1998 I began working at a startup company, SpaceWorks, Inc., where I tailored the interface of the company’s “out of the box” business-to-business e-commerce product for various customers throughout the U.S. While at SpaceWorks, I had my first experience as a manager of a design team.

In 2002 I began work at Lockheed Martin, contracting to the Social Security Administration, again, designing for both internal and public-facing products that supported retirement, disability, and enumerations services. I joined SSA in 2005 and managed the Usability Center from 2007 to 2013, during which time the UX team expanded from four SSA employees and 15 contractors to 17 SSA employees and 20-25 contractors and User-Centered Design was fully integrated into software development lifecycle for all public-facing applications. Since 2013 I have served as Technical Advisor to SSA’s User Experience Group.

Michèle Causey

Director of User Experience & Design
Internal Revenue Service

Michèle Causey is the Director of User Experience and Design (UXD) in the Office of Online Services at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). With over 15 years of experience delivering user-centered interactive solutions within both the public and private sector, Michèle is responsible for delivering a unified customer experience to taxpayers via digital channels.

She has worked on a variety of projects including content management systems, mobile strategies, and applications such as “Where’s My Refund?”, “Where’s My Amended Return?”, IRS Direct Pay, and other key IT initiatives including Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA). As Director of UXD, Michèle is working towards the IRS’ goal of providing taxpayers with a more comprehensive and intuitive online experience including the ability to fulfill all tax obligations virtually.

Prior to joining the IRS in December of 2010, Michèle worked at the MITRE Corporation and a number of technology firms supporting agencies such as the Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland Security and various Department of Defense entities.