Taming Public Records Complexity - NAGARA Sponsor Solution Series
About This Session
Overview
Public records professionals are operating under increasing pressure: more requests, more complexity, and less margin for error. This panel brings together perspectives from records compliance, FOIA program operations, and public sector technology strategy to explore how agencies are adapting their workflows to meet rising expectations for transparency and responsiveness.
Panelists discuss what's driving the surge in request complexity, how clarification and follow-up cycles drain staff capacity, and what breaks when demand outpaces process. Drawing from real agency experience, they share practical approaches for improving consistency, reducing risk, and managing high-volume, high-complexity requests without overburdening staff or sacrificing accuracy.
Attendees leave with actionable guidance on how agencies are using clearer processes and targeted automation to regain control, streamline communication, and respond with confidence while maintaining compliance and public trust.
| Duration |
57 Minutes |
| Format |
Panel Discussion |
| Series |
NAGARA Sponsor Solution Series |
Presenters
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Melanie Zorn Pusateri
Senior Product Marketing Manager • Granicus
Melanie Zorn Pusateri is Senior Product Marketing Manager, PMMC, for records request management solutions at Granicus, bringing over six years of experience in B2G SaaS. She has spearheaded thought leadership in the public records space through benchmark reports and industry surveys that inform product strategy and advance conversations on public sector digital transformation. Melanie is passionate about uncovering the challenges governments face, analyzing data, and connecting insights across jurisdictions to create practical resources that help agencies work with greater clarity, confidence, and even enjoyment.
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India Mitchell
Staff Attorney • Clayton County Georgia Board of Commissioners
India Mitchell is a Staff Attorney for the Clayton County, Georgia Board of Commissioners in metro Atlanta with a background in administrative, employment, and government law. Her practice focuses on public records compliance, particularly under the Georgia Open Records Act and Open Meetings Act. She has extensive experience advising government departments and records custodians on managing complex and high-volume records requests while balancing transparency with operational realities. India has developed and delivered trainings on records management, compliance, risk mitigation, and workplace legal matters, helping translate complex legal requirements into clear, workable processes. She is a recipient of the 2026 Granicus Digital Government Changemaker Award.
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LaDonna Seely
FOIA Coordinator • City of Newport News
LaDonna Seely is FOIA Coordinator for the City of Newport News and has served as a communicator at the federal, state, and local levels of government for 30 years. Her career with Fortune 300 companies, national nonprofit organizations, and Congressional offices has included roles as a journalist, magazine editor, lobbyist, speechwriter, press secretary, and marketing professional. The City of Newport News recently received the Virginia Coalition for Open Government Award, recognizing LaDonna's leadership in implementing a new FOIA protocol, most notably a searchable FOIA request archive and library, which has created a continuous cycle of transparency, operational efficiency, and improved access to the City's public records. She holds a bachelor's degree in Mass Communications from the University of Wisconsin and a master's degree in Public Affairs from the University of Minnesota.
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Presenting Sponsor