Expertise
Taking Care of What Matters
Strategic Planning
NSPARC delivers strategic planning services that help organizations move from vision to execution through collaborative engagement, disciplined analysis, and implementation-focused design. We work closely with clients in government, private corporations, and academia to identify consequential questions, clarify priorities, and translate aspirational visions into actionable strategies.
Our approach integrates advanced analytical tools with hands-on, on-site engagement and a collaborative process built on listening, trust, and partnership. This combination allows us to design tailored, evidence-based plans that strengthen organizational capacity, support informed decision-making, and position our partners for long-term success.
Data Modeling, Predictive Analytics, and Machine Learning
We collaborate closely with clients and partners, tailoring our data modeling, predictive analytics, and machine learning solutions to specific needs.
Data modeling creates visual representations of real-world data and its relationships. That helps state agencies, nonprofits, and businesses understand complex data structures and recognize patterns. Predictive analytics and machine learning allow us to predict trends and build predictive models that help organizations enhance their operations and increase efficiency.
Social and Economic Impact Research and ROI Studies
NSPARC evaluates the effects of social and economic programs, policies, or interventions on various stakeholders in Mississippi. We aim to measure the positive and negative consequences of programs and initiatives on such outcomes as employment, income, education, health, and social well-being.
We also conduct return return-on-investment (ROI) studies to evaluate the effectiveness of investments and initiatives across agencies and programs in Mississippi. ROI studies allow entities to make informed decisions about resource allocation, prioritize investments in effective programs, identify areas for improvement, and ensure effective use of taxpayer funds.
NSPARC
Survey and Focus Group Design and Execution
We are experts in survey and focus group design, implementation, and facilitation. We conduct surveys and focus groups for state agencies, nonprofits, and businesses to help them gather valuable information. We can supply quantitative and qualitative analysis of the collected data to comprehensively understand your customer’s preferences, needs, and opinions.
We help organizations make informed decisions, develop effective strategies, and enhance their products or services to better meet their customers’ needs.
Technology Integration and Automation Solutions
NSPARC serves as a technology broker. We partner with organizations to introduce innovative approaches and solutions that meet their specific needs. Whether leading a project, finding and evaluating potential solutions, or simply bridging the gap between technology providers and organizations, we ensure that new systems seamlessly integrate with an organization’s workflow.
Navigating a complex technology landscape and understanding intricate programmatic requirements are in our DNA. Our in-house technology expertise, industry knowledge and connections, and unparalleled attention to detail enable us to simplify the onboarding of technology. That allows organizations to focus on core business goals while we handle the intricacies of finding the right solutions to meet your challenges.
Leadership Team
Steve Grice, PhD
Executive Director
Steve Grice is a research professor and executive director at Mississippi State University. He has secured more than $151 million in research funding and serves as director of Mississippi’s Statewide Longitudinal Data System (SLDS) State Data Clearinghouse.
His work focuses on data-informed research and strategic analysis across education, workforce, and economic systems, with deep expertise in information governance, integrated system design, and applied analytics. He also leads the Mississippi Business Intelligence Research Initiative (MBIR) and regularly collaborates with government and industry partners to generate actionable insights that improve decision-making and impact.
Michael Taquino, PhD
Director of Research
Michael, a research professor and deputy executive director at NSPARC, has over 25 years of experience conducting applied research and leading large interdisciplinary projects.
With his keen eye for detail, he guides NSPARC’s research, data, and analysis activities and coordinates the center’s team of research scientists. Michael holds a PhD in Sociology from Mississippi State University and a doctorate in Human Sciences from the University of Catania in Italy. That background uniquely equips him to develop innovative research approaches to solve the complex workforce and economic development challenges facing Mississippi communities.
Michael Spanbauer, PHD
Strategic Planning and Intelligence
Michael Spanbauer is the assistant director for special research operations at NSPARC, where he leads strategic planning, policy analysis, and performance-focused research. He works with public-sector, private-sector, and institutional partners on time-sensitive initiatives that demand flexibility, rapid problem-solving, and trusted handling of sensitive customer data.
With a background in economic policy analysis and extensive experience working with Mississippi’s Statewide Longitudinal Data System, Michael specializes in translating complex administrative data into decision-ready insights for executive leadership and governing boards. His work centers on strategy development, implementation planning, and outcome measurement in areas such as workforce, education, economic growth, and public policy. In his role, he oversees complex research portfolios, guides multidisciplinary teams, and advances sensitive initiatives that align data, strategy, and execution to support long-term organizational decision-making.
Rui Wang, PHD
Applied Research
Rui Wang, assistant director of applied research, is an economist and applied economic data analyst at NSPARC, managing complex and data-driven research initiatives across workforce, economic, healthcare, and education domains.
She holds a PhD in Economic Analysis and Policy from Tulane University and has extensive experience overseeing and conducting large federally and state-funded projects, including unemployment insurance forecasting, industry and occupational projections, program evaluations, and economic impact studies. As a principal investigator and lead methodologist on Medicaid and workforce evaluations, Rui applies econometric and mixed-methods approaches to support evidence-based decision-making. Through the strong and comprehensive analytical background, Rui helps advance NSPARC’s mission of providing actionable insights to improve public policy and program outcomes across Mississippi
Yanbing Tang, PhD
Statistics and Analysis
Yanbing, associate director of research and applied science, is NSPARC’s lead statistician and manages day-to-day data analytics activities.
With master’s degrees in Statistics and Accounting and a doctoral degree in Geography from the University of Georgia, she effectively applies business and technical skills across domains such as healthcare, education, workforce and economic development, and transportation. Yanbing’s statistical acumen and advanced machine learning programming skills keep NSPARC at the forefront of data-driven decision-making and predictive modeling.
Jon Hochberg
Research Technology
Jon, assistant director of data at NSPARC, has applied his versatile information technology skill set to a vast array of the organization’s critical customer-related initiatives.
His extensive experience supporting and developing database systems has helped NSPARC maintain strong relationships with some of the state’s most important public agencies. Jon has helped develop several data-related solutions for various Mississippi entities and implemented automated reporting solutions, saving those entities considerable time and money.