Census Bureau Adds Two New Members to Census Scientific Advisory Committee

Kenneth Simonson — the Associated General Contractors of America’s chief economist — and Jack Levis — the director of process management at United Parcel Service — will join other subject-matter experts in advising the Census Bureau director on a wide range of variables that affect the cost, accuracy and implementation of the Census Bureau’s programs and surveys, including the once-a-decade census.

“I am honored these two outstanding individuals have decided to accept our offer to join our Scientific Advisory Committee,” Census Bureau Director John H. Thompson said. “They will make excellent contributions that will be of great value in advancing our programs and our science. I am looking forward to working with them.”

The Census Scientific Advisory Committee members, who serve as volunteers at the discretion of the Secretary of Commerce, are chosen to serve based on their technical expertise and scientific knowledge. The new members will be seated immediately.

Simonson has been with the Associated General Contractors of America, the leading trade association for the construction industry, since 2001. He was the 2012-2013 president of the National Association for Business Economics, the professional organization for individuals who use economics in their work. His previous work includes policy advice and economist duties for the U.S. Small Business Administration, American Trucking Associations, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, among others. Simonson has a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Chicago, a master’s in economics from Northwestern University, and has done graduate work at the Université de Paris, Johns Hopkins University and Georgetown University.

Levis has more than 35 years of management experience at UPS. As director of process management, he is responsible for providing operational technology solutions for a business that employs 102,000 drivers who deliver 16.9 million packages a day. Levis has been the business owner, process designer and program manager for UPS’ award-winning Package Flow Technology suite of systems. That suite of tools and process redesign has resulted in a reduction of 85 million miles driven per year, saving 8 million gallons of fuel. Levis earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from California State University Northridge and a master’s certificate in project management from George Washington University. He holds advisory council positions for multiple universities and associations.

The committee, which is comprised of up to 21 members from multiple disciplines, advises the Census Bureau on the uses of scientific developments in statistical data collection, survey methodology, geospatial and statistical analysis, econometrics, cognitive psychology and computer science as they pertain to the full range of Census Bureau programs and activities, including census tests, policies and operations.The Census Scientific Advisory Committee is chaired by Dr. Guillermina Jasso of New York University.