{"668021":{"#nid":"668021","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Meet Alexa Ramirez, GTRI Project Portfolio Manager and Marching Band Color Guard Director ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EGeorgia Tech graduate Alexa Ramirez has always had strong Yellow Jacket roots. Now, she is the project portfolio manager for the Health Emerging and Advanced Technologies (HEAT) Division in the Information and Communications Laboratory at GTRI, and she directs the color guard for the Yellow Jacket Marching Band. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u201cI was already pretty familiar with Georgia Tech by the time I enrolled as an undergraduate in 2005 because my dad, Paul Ramirez, is a 1973 graduate in building construction,\u201d she said. \u201cI grew up coming to Tech games and coming to campus all the time. I went to my first game as a 6-month-old child.\u201d \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EAfter earning a bachelor\u2019s degree in \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/inta.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003Einternational affairs\u003C\/a\u003E in 2009, Ramirez earned a master\u2019s in British and Russian interwar history at Georgia State University and also worked as a graduate assistant at GTRI. She went on to work for a nonprofit in D.C. before returning to Atlanta and GTRI in 2016. She has been with the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gtri.gatech.edu\/focus-areas\/health-emerging-and-advanced-technologies\u0022\u003EHEAT Division\u003C\/a\u003E for three years. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u201cMost of our work in the HEAT Division is for the CDC,\u201d she said. \u201cWe perform data analytics and systems interoperability for health data of all kinds.\u201d Her favorite project is the mortality reporting project, which has been in the works for more than five years, making it one of the oldest projects in the department\u2019s portfolio.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u201cOur team is helping the CDC with efforts to modernize and standardize mortality and death reporting across the U.S. so the CDC can receive that information in a timelier manner from cities and counties reporting that data,\u201d Ramirez said. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003ECoroners and medical examiners across the country employ various methods to gather and report the data. \u201cPeople are using everything from paper to somewhat advanced technological systems when reporting, but nobody is doing it the same. So, we\u2019re creating a standardized process,\u201d she said. \u201cDeath reporting is something most people never think about, but it\u2019s pretty interesting.\u201d \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003ERamirez\u2019s favorite part of the job is working with her team and with brilliant scientists. \u201cIt\u2019s a good environment. Also, it\u2019s nice knowing that the work we do as a group with the CDC is going to have a positive impact, hopefully on the country and the world.\u201d \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELife With the Color Guard\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EShe has a second job at Tech, directing the color guard for the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/marchingband.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EYellow Jacket Marching Band\u003C\/a\u003E. Her love of the color guard began at Pope High School in Marietta, Georgia, where she was in the color guard all four years. She has performed with several organizations, and she has taught and choreographed for many Atlanta-area high school programs over the years. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EShe joined Georgia Tech\u2019s color guard during her second year. She took a break from color guard when she moved to D.C., and reengaged when she moved back to Atlanta, temporarily filling in as a Yellow Jacket director.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u201cHelping out turned into me doing the job,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019ve been here ever since. This fall will be my ninth year.\u201d\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003ERamirez has two assistant coaches, Mallory Kliesrath and Maddie Jones, CS 2017, who help manage the squad, including auditions each spring and three camps over the summer. During football season, the color guard performs at all home games and travels with the band to the big away games, such as Georgia, Florida State, and Clemson. They rehearse from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m., every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. This work is in addition to Ramirez\u2019s GTRI job. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u201cMy workday starts at 6:00 or 6:30 a.m., so I work eight hours for GTRI, and then I teach color guard until 6:30 at night,\u201d she said. \u201cI do it because I love it and I love the kids. They all have been taught color guard in different ways, or not at all, and we turn them into a cohesive group. It\u2019s fun watching their growth, seeing the result at the end of each season, and being proud of them.\u201d \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EWhen she isn\u2019t working, Ramirez likes to run. She has completed nine half marathons, one full marathon (the Marine Corps Marathon), and several 5K and 10K races, including the Peachtree Road Race. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u201cI\u2019ve done the Peachtree five times. This year will be my sixth,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd I\u2019m doing what is called the \u2018triple peach,\u2019 when you run the Peachtree Road Race, the Atlanta 10 Miler, and the Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon all in the same year.\u201d \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EShe also bikes and goes to the gym to stay in shape. She generally likes to be able to run a 5K at any time. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u201cI\u2019m not fast, but I can go the distance.\u201d \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAlexa Ramirez grew up going to Georgia Tech football games. Now she works at GTRI and directs the color guard for the Yellow Jacket Marching Band.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Alexa Ramirez grew up going to Georgia Tech football games. Now she works at GTRI and directs the color guard for the Yellow Jacket Marching Band. "}],"uid":"27713","created_gmt":"2023-06-07 15:37:52","changed_gmt":"2023-09-19 19:18:57","author":"Victor Rogers","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2023-06-09T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2023-06-09T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"670953":{"id":"670953","type":"video","title":"Meet Alexa Ramirez","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EGeorgia Tech graduate Alexa Ramirez has always had strong Yellow Jacket roots. Now, she is the project portfolio manager for the Health Emerging and Advanced Technologies Division in the Information and Communications Laboratory at GTRI, and she directs the color guard for the Yellow Jacket Marching Band. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","created":"1686263235","gmt_created":"2023-06-08 22:27:15","changed":"1686263267","gmt_changed":"2023-06-08 22:27:47","video":{"youtube_id":"sBIUfe0dS2M","video_url":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/sBIUfe0dS2M"}},"670944":{"id":"670944","type":"image","title":"Alexa Ramirez","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EAlexa Ramirez works in the H\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003Eealth Emerging and Advanced Technologies (HEAT) Division in the Information and Communications Laboratory at GTRI. (Photo by Allison Carter) \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","created":"1686224260","gmt_created":"2023-06-08 11:37:40","changed":"1686224799","gmt_changed":"2023-06-08 11:46:39","alt":"Alexa Ramirez in front of GTRI sign. ","file":{"fid":"253917","name":"Alexa Ramirez- 009.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2023\/06\/08\/Alexa%20Ramirez-%20009.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2023\/06\/08\/Alexa%20Ramirez-%20009.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1013741,"path_740":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2023\/06\/08\/Alexa%20Ramirez-%20009.jpg?itok=fEC0Bght"}},"670945":{"id":"670945","type":"image","title":"Alexa Ramirez","body":"\u003Cp\u003EAlexa Ramirez does double duty as a GTRI project portfolio manager and color guard director for the Yellow Jacket Marching Band. (Photo by Allison Carter)\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","created":"1686224860","gmt_created":"2023-06-08 11:47:40","changed":"1686225115","gmt_changed":"2023-06-08 11:51:55","alt":"Alexa Ramirez and her reflection, at GTRI. ","file":{"fid":"253918","name":"Alexa Ramirez- 014.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2023\/06\/08\/Alexa%20Ramirez-%20014.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2023\/06\/08\/Alexa%20Ramirez-%20014.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1351625,"path_740":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2023\/06\/08\/Alexa%20Ramirez-%20014.jpg?itok=O5fc3WmJ"}},"670946":{"id":"670946","type":"image","title":"Alexa Ramirez","body":"\u003Cp\u003EAlexa Ramirez performing with the color guard on Band Alumni Day. (Photo courtesy of Alexa Ramirez)\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","created":"1686227375","gmt_created":"2023-06-08 12:29:35","changed":"1686227716","gmt_changed":"2023-06-08 12:35:16","alt":"Alexa Ramirez performing with the color guard on Band Alumni Day. ","file":{"fid":"253919","name":"image008.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2023\/06\/08\/image008.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2023\/06\/08\/image008.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":422330,"path_740":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2023\/06\/08\/image008.jpg?itok=1QyqdF4H"}},"670947":{"id":"670947","type":"image","title":"Alexa Ramirez","body":"\u003Cp\u003EAlexa Ramirez (right) with the color guard. (Photo courtesy of Alexa Ramirez)\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","created":"1686227737","gmt_created":"2023-06-08 12:35:37","changed":"1686227899","gmt_changed":"2023-06-08 12:38:19","alt":"Alexa Ramirez with the color guard.","file":{"fid":"253920","name":"image002.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2023\/06\/08\/image002.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2023\/06\/08\/image002.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":838799,"path_740":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2023\/06\/08\/image002.jpg?itok=PMVj6yGJ"}},"670948":{"id":"670948","type":"image","title":"Alexa Ramirez","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EAlexa Ramirez has completed nine half marathons, one full marathon, and several 5K and 10K races, including the Peachtree Road Race. (Photo courtesy of Alexa Ramirez) \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","created":"1686227909","gmt_created":"2023-06-08 12:38:29","changed":"1686228083","gmt_changed":"2023-06-08 12:41:23","alt":"Alexa Ramirez at a race. ","file":{"fid":"253921","name":"image003.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2023\/06\/08\/image003.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2023\/06\/08\/image003.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":354246,"path_740":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2023\/06\/08\/image003.jpg?itok=h6NnMi25"}}},"media_ids":["670953","670944","670945","670946","670947","670948"],"groups":[{"id":"1317","name":"News Briefs"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022victor.rogers@comm.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EVictor Rogers\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EInstitute Communications\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}