Grist Mill Exchange

Our team is out in Omaha this week, having conversations with prospective government-focused data providers for the Mill, as well as PMs, analysts and program leaders within government agencies who need fast access to mission-focused data. Look for Ben Crocker and Elisa Prian at DoDIIS Worldwide this week in Omaha, and let us know if you'd like to get in on one of those conversations!

Lucky enough to be in Honolulu for TechNet this week? Look for Jennifer Obernier or Ben Crocker of Grist Mill Exchange, and discuss how the Mill can help you quickly acquire the mission-focused commercial data you need.

Colleen Fagan joined the GME team in 2023, taking on a leadership role in product management. Closely monitoring market trends, she collaborates with data providers to ensure their offerings are best positioned to align with customer needs.   Drawing from her extensive background in both military and civilian leadership, Colleen brings a unique perspective to her work at GME. "As a DOD data consumer, I saw firsthand the critical importance of original source information. In high-stakes scenarios, the need for accurate, reliable, and relevant data becomes paramount.”    Colleen views the integration of commercial data into government problem sets as a transformative opportunity. "It's exciting to be at the forefront of this movement, facilitating the use of superior, highly relevant commercial data in critical decision-making processes. Our work has the potential to revolutionize how government challenges are approached and resolved."

Caroline Wizeman Gerenyi joined GME in August of 2023 as the Vice President of Marketing and Communications, having spent the previous decade running marketing and communications programs for various software, data, and AI products and startups.   “One of the best things about working at GME is knowing that the Mill is filling an urgent need with customers,” Caroline said. “As a communicator, there’s no better situation than what we have here – a capability that customers really want and need, and an energetic, agile team with a clear vision for how to deliver it at scale.”   In her time at GME, Caroline has worked to build a strong, memorable brand for the company that carries through all communications as well as the Mill platform. “Our goal is for every touchpoint with a customer, partner, data provider, or team member to feel authentic and align with our core GME values, which center around innovation, trust, and an exceptional understanding of our customers’ mission needs.”

Grist Mill Exchange’s VP of Provider Development, Phyllis George, has been growing GME’s roster of bespoke, mission-focused data providers since she joined the team in 2023.     Prior to joining GME, Phyllis spent more than 20 years working for the federal government in various leadership roles. These experiences helped her see firsthand the invaluable role that timely, accurate data plays in assessing and responding to a wide range of situations. “Whether serving domestically, or overseas, understanding the landscape, the language and the norms is critical to developing strategic plans, adjusting course as needed, and having insight into indicators of change that may impact your decision making,” she said. “Timely, accurate data was critical to responding to the unexpected.”   “GME was the perfect place for me to land when leaving government,” Phyllis said. “Being able to build relationships with companies and explore new technologies and data opportunities is phenomenal. I love my job.”

Grist Mill Exchange’s Senior Vice President of Engineering, Jeff Kunkle, has been with the company since 2022, bringing his leadership and vision to both the technical platform and the business. One of the things Jeff most enjoys about GME is the fast-paced culture where experimentation is encouraged. “Our engineering team iterates on new ideas faster than any I've been a part of, with over 400 production deployments in 2023,” Jeff said. “That speed has enabled us to bring new functionality to customers at an incredible pace.” Jeff and the engineering team have been applying new AI technologies to several areas of the platform and business, including search, curation, and data analysis. “It's an exciting time to be in technology. Our team's ability to rapidly innovate and experiment with new ideas while remaining pragmatic has enabled us to effectively use AI technologies to speed internal processes and provide a better data catalog experience for customers. These advances have been a game changer for GME.”

Our Vice President of Growth and Strategic Partnerships, Ben Crocker, started working with GME in January 2023, joining the team by way of our strategic partner, Core4ce.    Ben says he loves coming to work every day, building something completely new with a tight-knit team that comes in with a wide range of experiences, skills, and backgrounds. “The GME team is really agile and dynamic,” Ben said. “When we need to adapt or make a change, it’s one meeting, and we make it happen.”    Working with a diverse set of customers and partners around the world is also a highlight for Ben. “It’s never boring. Our customers have very different data requirements and use cases, and we’re in the unique position to help them map out solutions.”   “I’ve never been part of a company before where the responses from people I talk to are so overwhelmingly positive about what we do. Nine out of ten meetings we have end in people wanting to work with us.”

We're lucky to have you steering the ship, Jennifer Obernier!

Dr. Jennifer Obernier is Grist Mill Exchange’s CEO. She joined the company in February 2022 as a Senior Vice President of Delivery and took on the role of CEO last October. She brings an extensive history of government service across a wide range of leadership roles and agencies.    As a founding member of the GME team, Jen values the collaborative, dynamic, and creative culture of the company. “GME epitomizes innovation, offering an environment where creativity is not only encouraged but purposeful,” she said. “In my role as CEO, I am passionate about fostering growth and nurturing the exploration of both ideas and our team’s talents. GME stands out in the startup world for its predominance of women leaders and experts. I take immense pride in our exceptional team and the remarkable achievements we are realizing together.”

"Data-centric organizations realize that data is not just the asset that drives their business in the future -- it becomes the central component of their business in the future." As companies plan for this transition, Grist Mill Exchange is helping to connect them with untapped markets in need of their commercial data: myriad government organizations around the world. Learn more at gristmillexchange.com.