Eric Y. Frimpong is a highly accomplished leader and manager with over 25 years of experience in drug evaluation research, mental health and developmental disability services research, policy and labor market research. Eric currently leads as the Director of Policy, Strategy and Research (PSR) at the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL). In this capacity, he directs a multidisciplinary division composed of nationally recognized economists, data scientists and engineers, statisticians, and labor policy, analysts. The division is responsible for evaluating workforce programs, developing labor policies, producing labor market data and services related to workplace rights. PSR customers include jobseekers, counselors, researchers, elected officials, media, students, training providers and higher education institutions, policy makers, industry associations, businesses, nonprofit organizations, state agencies, regional economic development councils, workforce development boards, and local, state and federal governments. 

Before assuming the Director role at NYSDOL, Eric’s career saw him in pivotal roles at both federal and state levels. As Director of Data Reporting, and Analytics, New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, he spearheaded the founding of a new research unit, establishing a data governance framework, designing data systems, collection instruments, analysis, and building a proof of concept for Oracle cloud services. 

During his tenure as the Deputy Director, Office of Performance Measurement and Evaluation, NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH), he served as a lead evaluator, principal consultant, and statistical advisor. He managed a staff of 30 research scientists and 11 graduate student interns. Eric led the methodological development and analysis of data collections of NYS and national impact including the evaluation of the Health and Recovery Plan, a redesign of 1115 Behavioral Health Medicaid Waiver; Self-Directed Care; NYS System of Care for children and transition-aged youth with serious emotional disturbance; OMH Reinvestment funded programs; NYNY III Supportive Housing, Vital Access Providers, and SAMHSA’s Emergency Response Grant and Mental Health Block grants. Additionally, he transitioned the agency’s legacy reporting system to a dynamic Tableau platform. His work at OMH also included direct oversight of OMH’s Open Data NY submissions and a principal investigator for five OMH research projects. 

Eric's experience includes a significant period at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), where he served as a Senior Mathematical Statistician. In this role, he provided statistical review and evaluation of numerous New Drug Applications (NDAs) and Investigational New Drug Applications (INDs) and predicted the amount of Schedule II drugs needed for analgesics and research purposes nationwide. He also provided statistical leadership in FDA post-marketing epidemiological studies and developed guidance and policy on the design and analysis of drug safety studies. He also contributed to Regulatory Science and Review Enhancement research grants and FDA/CDER guidance documents. His contributions to the FDA were recognized with the Frances O. Kelsey Drug Safety Excellence Award in 2013.

Eric earned his Ph.D. in Statistics from the University at Albany, SUNY. He also holds an M.S. in Biostatistics and an M.A. in Mathematics from the same institution. He received his B.A. in Mathematics from the University of Science and Technology, Ghana. Throughout his career, Eric has been actively involved in research and scholarly activities, with numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals. He has also presented research findings at conferences and forums.

In his spare time, Eric enjoys playing soccer, walking, reading, DIY, and spending time with family.

Susan Koehn, Senior Consultant Susan Koehn is a practitioner with 30+ years of experience working at the intersection of economic and workforce development. Prior to joining Lightcast earlier this year, Susan served as Vice President for the Milwaukee7 Regional Economic Partnership and Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce. There, she worked to improve the capabilities of regional employers to attract, retain and develop talent to fuel growth in Southeast Wisconsin. She designed initiatives to connect employers to workforce resources and build a long-term sustainable talent pipeline in collaboration with K-12 and higher education.

Susan has successfully cultivated strategic partnerships between employers, industry associations, and the education/workforce partners that make up their talent “supply chain” in order to foster skills attainment aligned to industry needs, labor force attachment, business growth, and the economic mobility of citizens. A guiding principle of Susan's career is that we move faster and have greater impact if we collaborate - across organizations, across geography, and across sectors of the economy. Susan earned a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and a Master's degree from the University of Wisconsin - Madison. A proud Midwesterner, Susan spends as much time as possible enjoying the forests and fresh water of the Great Lakes region, especially Wisconsin’s beautiful Door County.