Amy

Gorman

Amy Gorman (formerly Minzner) has more than 20 years of experience evaluating and supporting initiatives focused on strengthening communities and enhancing the well-being of those who live there. She uses mixed qualitative and quantitative data collection methods to highlight successful strategies for housing and workforce development investments that foster equitable development. Her evaluation approach provides ongoing formative feedback to promote learning and continuous improvement. She also provides coaching, training, and technical assistance on both a group and individual basis. Clients have included the Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor (DOL), and Housing and Urban Development (HUD), philanthropies, and non-profits.

Gorman is project director for the AdvancingCities National Evaluation. She guides the evaluation strategy and oversees all aspects of the multi-site, multi-year evaluation for the JPMorgan Chase (JPMC) Foundation. Abt serves as the learning partner for JPMC as it promotes equity and economic opportunity through its systems-changing AdvancingCities Challenge.

Gorman also leads the design and implementation of a retrospective impact assessment of the New Hampshire Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B-5) program as part of Abt’s program performance evaluation for the University of New Hampshire. Abt is supporting NH PDG leadership in its efforts to develop an effective, family-centric, early childhood system.

Gorman previously served as project director for a wide range of evaluations, developing the study design, overseeing data collection, analysis and reporting, and managing the staff, budget, and client relations. Among the most recent projects was a developmental evaluation of CFLeads’ Economic Mobility Action Network. She also developed a performance measurement strategy for the Center for Community Progress and collaborated with Knight Foundation program officers to articulate their theories of change and identify aligned metrics.

Gorman managed the evaluation of DOL’s Reemployment and Eligibility Assessment Program to test the impact of this workforce development intervention for unemployment insurance claimants.

She has worked with a variety of clients outside government, such as the JPMorgan Chase Foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, AARP, Boston Foundation, and Habitat for Humanity

Expertise:

• Equitable development/housing
• Research and evaluation
• Strategy development and support
• Inclusive growth
• Project management

Key Projects:

• AdvancingCities Challenge National Evaluation, JP Morgan Chase Foundation
• Strong Cities, Strong Communities Evaluation, HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
• Evaluation of the What Works Cities Initiative, Bloomberg Philanthropies
• Reemployment and Eligibility Assessment Evaluation, DOL Chief Evaluation Office and Office of Unemployment Insurance Policy
• Evaluation of SkillWorks, Boston Foundation