About Us Hero

About Us

The story behind PDA

We’re an evaluation firm in Minneapolis dedicated to helping health initiatives succeed with sound, effective data-centric solutions.

We’re a Certified B Corporation!

We’re an evaluation firm in Minneapolis dedicated to helping health initiatives succeed with sound, effective data-centric solutions.

We’re a Certified B Corporation!

We Acknowledge Native Lands

We work on the homeland of the Wahpekute, one of the seven primary bands of the Dakotas. The Dakota people lived in Minnesota for thousands of years before being unjustly forced into signing the Treaty of Traverse des Sioux to cede land in southern and western Minnesota to the U.S. government in 1851. The government has never paid the approximately $3 million promised in the treaty.

Land acknowledgment is one small step towards showing respect, honoring Indigenous people’s history, and increasing awareness. Acknowledgment is power when coupled with action. We are partnering with organizations like MIGIZI that foster the educational, social, economic, and cultural development of American Indians with financial donations and ongoing volunteerism.

How we got here

PDA was founded in Minneapolis by Dr. Michael Luxenberg as a one-person statistical consulting company in 1984.

We quickly expanded to encompass database management, software development, and program evaluation.

When ClearWay Minnesota, a nonprofit dedicated to reducing tobacco use and exposure, was established in 1998 after a state settlement with tobacco companies, PDA became their first evaluator. Soon after, we became a national leader in the evaluation of tobacco control programs.

Michael’s son Harlan joined PDA in 2005 and served PDA in numerous roles including web programmer, analyst, and evaluator before becoming Chief Operating Officer in 2011 and taking the helm as President & CEO in 2015 when Michael retired.

Now in our fourth decade, PDA has continued to grow, both by bringing on new clients and by building lasting relationships with long-term clients, four of whom have been with us for over a decade. Today we support health and wellness initiatives through evaluation, statistical consulting, and technological development, all with an underlying company commitment to sustainability. We always have been, and will always be, located in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

In 2019, we upped the ante. We are now proud to be a Public Benefit Corporation in the state of Minnesota and a Certified B Corporation (learn more). This reflects our values of creating positive social impact in our community and the communities we serve while protecting our environment. It means we are legally accountable to advance the common good.

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The team behind your data

We’re a team of dedicated evaluators, analysts, and developers with diverse backgrounds and a common desire to improve communities through public health initiatives.

Meet Your Data Nerds

How we do it and why

We value collaboration, both within our teams and with our clients. We tailor every evaluation and analysis to meet the needs of that particular project and client. We’re dedicated to objectively gathering, analyzing, and interpreting information to produce innovative, cost-effective solutions.

As a Certified B Corporation, we make decisions that benefit all stakeholders – clients, communities, staff, and the environment.

Our Clients

Commitment to Our Clients

  • Collaborative approach
  • Long-term relationships (many clients have worked with us for over 10 years)
  • Training to guide implementation
  • Cutting-edge solutions

Our Community

Commitment to Our Community

  • Support of local small businesses
  • Sponsorship of local farmers market
  • Socially responsible investing options for employees
  • Ongoing volunteer partnerships with local nonprofits

Our Team

Commitment to Our Team

  • Excellent benefits: Health, dental, and life insurance, paid parental leave, and Simple IRA match
  • Generous paid time off, flexible and part-time work schedules
  • Professional development opportunities
  • Standing desks for all employees

Our Environment

Commitment to Our Environment

  • Carbon neutral office operations (and proud of it)
  • 100% post-consumer recycled paper products
  • Paper, glass, cans, plastic, and e-waste recycling
  • Green cleaning supplies and non-disposable dishware

Ready to join us?

We’re always looking for smart, dedicated people to join our growing team. We enjoy standing desks, co-woofers, and views of the Mississippi River from our office in Northeast Minneapolis. Will you be the next to join our team?

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