Oops! Did you mean Gavin Rozzi?
There is no person named "Gavin Rossi." My last name is spelled with two Zs.
Pronounced ROZ-zee. It rhymes with paparazzi.
If you've landed here, you may have misspelled my name. It happens quite often, so I created this site to clear up the confusion and point you to my actual website, gavinrozzi.com.
Common Misspelling
Gavin Rossi
One of the most common Italian surnames, and not mine.
Gavin Rozzi
About Me
Hi there! I'm a government innovation and modernization executive and data scientist in New Jersey. I'm the founding Director of the DHCR Data Center at the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, where since March 2024 I've built the in-house team that delivers digital services for the State's affordable housing programs, including the NJ Eviction Guide, Bringing Veterans Home and NJHOMES Atlas.
In 2026, New Jersey reached Functional Zero for veteran homelessness, supported by data infrastructure I designed and oversee, and I accepted four NAHRO national awards on the Department's behalf for NJHOMES, the NJ Eviction Guide and the HERF AI model.
Outside state government, I created zipcodeR, an R package with 124,000+ downloads and 53+ peer-reviewed citations, and from 2017 to 2024 I built and ran OPRAmachine, New Jersey's first statewide public records request platform.
Throughout my career, I've noticed a recurring theme: people often misspell my last name as "Rossi" instead of "Rozzi." It happens in emails, official documents, and even when I'm introduced at events. This website serves as a friendly way to clear up this common confusion. So whether you're a colleague or collaborator, now you'll know: it's Gavin Rozzi, with two Zs!
What I Do
- Lead the in-house team that builds New Jersey's affordable housing data tools. See my work in NJ government
- Build open-source tools for data analysis, like my R packages
- Speak and advise on government modernization. Book me to speak or work with me
Recent Highlights
- Oct 2026Accepted four NAHRO national awards on behalf of NJ DCA, for NJHOMES, the NJ Eviction Guide and the HERF AI model
- Sept 2026Launched NJHOMES Atlas, a statewide map of about 42,000 municipally owned vacant parcels across all 564 municipalities
- Aug 2026Earned the Certified Public Manager (CPM) credential from the New Jersey Civil Service Commission
- July 2026New Jersey reached Functional Zero for veteran homelessness. I designed and oversee the data infrastructure behind Bringing Veterans Home, covered nationally by Route Fifty
- June 2026Joined the New Jersey state team in New America's Eviction Data Response Network, one of 11 states selected
- May 2025Member of the A4-S50 team that received the Governor's Team of Excellence Award
Pronunciation Guide
Not sure how to pronounce "Rozzi"? Here's a simple guide.
ROZ-zee
First syllable: RAH
Like in "father" or "car"
This syllable is stressed
Second syllable: zee
Like in "zebra" or "breeze"
This syllable is unstressed
Words that rhyme with Rozzi: "paparazzi", "fuzzy", "jazzy"
Common Mispronunciations
Common misconception: it is not ROH-zee, like "rosy" or "cozy." The first syllable has an "ah" sound, not an "oh" sound, like "father" + "zebra."
Fun Facts About My Name
My last name is somewhat uncommon, while the name "Rossi" is far more common, which often results in confusion and misspellings. I'm here to set the record straight.
The surname Rozzi has Italian origins, primarily from central Italy.
While "Rossi" (with one Z) is one of the most common Italian surnames, "Rozzi" (with two Zs) is much less common.
I've received countless emails, letters, and even official documents with my name misspelled as "Rossi"!
It still happens: the program for the 2026 New Jersey League of Municipalities Conference lists the presenter of the NJHOMES Atlas session as "Gavin Rossi." See the session
Rozzi Family History
Nassau County Police Commissioner
Samuel J. Rozzi
My great uncle, Samuel J. Rozzi, served as the Nassau County, NY police commissioner. He led the police force with distinction and was known for his dedication to public service.
Historical note: During his tenure, Commissioner Rozzi oversaw the Nassau County Police Department at the time of the infamous Lufthansa Heist in 1978, one of the largest cash robberies in American history that later inspired scenes in the movie "Goodfellas."
Family-owned fireworks company
Rozzi Fireworks
While I don't believe I'm directly related to them, the Rozzi Fireworks Company has been creating spectacular displays for over a century. Their vibrant shows have become a tradition in many communities.
The Rozzi Name
The Rozzi surname has a rich history in Italian-American communities. While less common than "Rossi," the Rozzi name has made its mark in various fields including public service, entertainment, and business.
Many Rozzi families immigrated to the United States in the early 20th century, bringing with them traditions and values that have been passed down through generations. The distinctive double "z" in our name represents our unique heritage and family identity.
Email Catch-All
In addition to this site, I've also set up a "catch all" email under the domain gavinrossi.com. This ensures any email sent to an address ending in @gavinrossi.com, whether it's misspelled or not, still gets delivered instead of bouncing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it Gavin Rossi or Gavin Rozzi?
It's Gavin Rozzi with two Zs, not Rossi. While Rossi is a more common Italian surname, Rozzi is the correct spelling. The double Z is distinctive to the Rozzi family name.
How do you pronounce Rozzi?
Rozzi is pronounced ROZ-zee, rhyming with "paparazzi." Common mispronunciations include ROH-zee and ROSS-ee, but the correct pronunciation matches the double Z in the spelling.
Why do people spell it Rossi instead of Rozzi?
Rossi is one of the most common Italian surnames, while Rozzi is less common. People often default to the more familiar spelling. Both names have Italian origins, but they are distinct family names with different spellings.
Who is Gavin Rozzi?
Gavin Rozzi (pronounced ROZ-zee) is a government innovation and modernization executive and data scientist in New Jersey. He is the founding Director of the DHCR Data Center at the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs and a Certified Public Manager. His team built NJHOMES Atlas and the data systems behind Bringing Veterans Home, the initiative through which New Jersey reached Functional Zero for veteran homelessness in July 2026, and in October 2026 he accepted four NAHRO national awards on behalf of the Department. Read the full biography
What is Gavin Rozzi known for?
Gavin Rozzi is known for leading the in-house team behind New Jersey's affordable housing data tools, including the NJ Eviction Guide, the NJHOMES Choice Tool and NJHOMES Atlas. He also created zipcodeR, an open-source R package with 124,000+ downloads and 53+ peer-reviewed citations, and founded OPRAmachine, New Jersey's first statewide public records request platform, which he ran from 2017 to 2024. See the portfolio
Where is Gavin Rozzi's official website?
His official website is gavinrozzi.com, with his biography, resume, portfolio, publications, media appearances and contact page. This site, gavinrossi.com, exists only to catch the common misspelling and send people there. Visit gavinrozzi.com
More on gavinrozzi.com
Now that the spelling is sorted, here is where to find my actual work.
- NJHOMES AtlasA statewide map of municipally owned vacant land, launched in September 2026.
- Bringing Veterans HomeThe initiative behind New Jersey reaching Functional Zero for veteran homelessness.
- NJ Eviction GuideBuilt with DCA's Office of Eviction Prevention. A 2026 NAHRO Award of Merit winner.
- zipcodeRMy R package for ZIP code analysis, with 124,000+ downloads.
- Who is Gavin Rozzi?The full biography, with a timeline and answers to common questions.
- ResumeRoles, education, credentials and awards on one page.
- Media and speakingTalks, panels, podcasts and press coverage.
- BlogArticles on data science, GIS and government technology.