WASHINGTON- As Deputy Director of the U.S. Census Bureau, Thomas L. Mesenbourg knows numbers.
But he says his job requires more skills.
“All the numbers in the world do you little good unless you can put them in some context and actually draw the lessons out of what those numbers are telling you,” Mesenbourg said.
Since landing his first job at the bureau in 1972, Mesenbourg has played a number of roles at the nation’s largest statistical agency.
Before entering his present position in May 2008, Mesenbourg served as the Associate Director for Economic Programs since August 2005. Other roles included chief of the Economic Census and Surveys Division, chief of the Economic Census Staff and Associate Director for Economic Programs.
In 2004, Mesenbourg received the Presidential Distinguished Senior Executives award. He led a team to introduce programs that measure e-commerce. Under his leadership, the bureau expanded its economic statistics.
Path to Power
Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, Mesenbourg knows what it’s like to travel. His father worked for Uniroyal Inc., formerly known as the U.S. Rubber Company, and the family moved often throughout the Midwest before settling in the nation’s northeast region.
He received his bachelor’s degree in economics from Boston University in 1968. From 1969 to 1971, he served in the military, ending his tour in Germany. In 1971, he received his master’s from Penn State University.
2010 U.S. Census
“We’re very grateful to the American public for stepping up to the plate and actually filing out that form,” Mesenbourg said.
In the latest count, 72 percent of households mailed back the 2010 census form. Mesenbourg said a number of factors contributed to that.
The bureau partnered with more than 200,000 different organizations to inform Americans about the census. Many of these groups were local, some specifically geared towards hard-to-reach demographic groups, such as immigrants. Mesenbourg said the partnerships were key in getting Americans to fill out the form.
“We’re from Washington, so not everyone believes what we have to say,” he said with a laugh. “It’s much more meaningful if we’ve got the local minister or the local community organizer telling folks ‘listen it’s easy, it’s safe and it’s important to participate.’’
More than 600,000 enumerators are out knocking on doors to those who did not respond by mail. Mesenbourg said this process will continue until July 10..
Mesenbourg shares what it takes to get an accurate census (Chika Oduah/MNS)
The Network
Mesenbourg reports to Robert Groves, director of the U.S. Census. He also works closely with Arnold Jackson, Associate Director of the Decennial Census, Dan Weinberg, Assistant Director of the Decennial Census and others involved in with carrying out this year’s national census. The bureau is under the Commerce Department headed by Gary Locke.