Friday, November 18, 2022 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
3333 Busbee Drive NW, Kennesaw, GA 30144
Kennesaw State University’s School of Data Science and Analytics had another successful Analytics Day, celebrating undergraduate and graduate analytics students’ work. The event featured poster presentations of students’ analytics research and guest speakers discussing evolving trends in analytics and data science.
Analytics Day provides our students with an opportunity to discuss their analytical work with thought leaders and practitioners from across the region, giving them the opportunity to discuss collaborative projects with local businesses. This event provides organizations with a platform to meet students at all levels who are considering careers in advanced analytics.
This year’s event was held on Friday, November 18, 2022, on the Kennesaw Campus at the KSU Center, located at 3333 Busbee Drive NW, Kennesaw, GA 30144.
Winning Poster Presentations
Congratulations to all of our poster presentation winners!
Undergraduate Students
1st Place - Monika Vlad - Every Child Deserves to Belong
2nd Place - Dalton Shaver - OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM: Improving Mission Effectiveness by Identifying Trends
in Successful Terrorism
3rd Place - Vanessa Sunar - Roller Coasters - What is Your Thrill?
Graduate Students
1st Place - Lythia Amoakon & Maria Casas - Flight Delays: A Feature Importance Analysis
2nd Place - Emma Pham - A Longitudinal Analysis of the Pattern of Change Over Time for Soybean Yield (1990
- 2013) by Country
3rd Place - Lindsay Duncan & Tim Martin - Was Inflation Predictable? Classical vs. Modern Monetary Theory
Agenda
7:30-8:30am: Student Poster Competition Judging (sponsors only)
8:30-10:25am: Student Poster Presentations and Breakfast
10:30am: "Welcome"
Dr. Sumanth Yenduri, Dean, College of Computing and Software Engineering, KSU
10:45am: "Data Science Dollars: Roles, Salaries and Future Trends in Data Science"
Dr. Beverly Wright, Head - Data Science Solutions, Burtch Works
11:15am: "Analytics Careers at CGI"
Doug Leal, Director of Consulting, CGI
Brad Bonner, Director of Consulting, CGI
11:25am: "Analytics Careers at Best Buy"
Wes Straight, Director of Technology Transformation, Best Buy
Warren Hearnes, Vice President, Head of Data Science, Best Buy
Jimmy Hendricks, Senior Director, Data Science, Best Buy
11:35am: "My Research Journey as CSAR Data Scientist and Collaboration with Travelers"
Sudhashree Sayenju, PhD Candidate in Analytics and Data Science, KSU
11:55am: "How Data Analytics are Shaping the Utility of the Future"
Tim Jarrell, Vice President, Power Supply, Rates and DER Strategy, Cobb EMC
12:25: Announcement of Student Poster Presentation Winners
Cheryl Pressley, Data Analytics and Reporting Leader, Southern Company
Keynote Speakers
Tim Jarrell
Vice President, Power Supply, Rates and DER Strategy
Cobb EMC
Tim Jarrell is vice president of power supply, rates and DER strategy for Cobb EMC.
Tim’s team is responsible for all power supply planning, contracts and compliance,
residential and commercial rate strategies and distributed energy resource development
and strategy. In this role, Cobb EMC has expanded its renewable energy portfolio by
360%, implemented a campus solar and battery energy storage project and is currently
implementing a campus microgrid. Prior to this role, Tim served as Cobb EMC’s associate
vice president for information system programs and project management office.
Tim has spent 25 years in the energy industry; beginning his career as an electric
power trader with SCANA Energy Marketing in 1996. During this time, Tim was a trader
in most major markets of the U.S. He later transitioned into a senior rates analyst
role working with the gas and electric side of South Carolina Electric & Gas. Later,
he became rates manager for SCANA Energy in the deregulated natural gas market in
Georgia after completing the Future Leaders in Gas High Tech program at SCE&G. Tim
then spent six years as a senior project manager for Energy Consulting, LLC, where
he worked on risk management programs and power supply contracts for multiple EMCs.
Tim has received the Project Management Professional Certification (PMP) along with
a Six Sigma Black Belt designation.
Tim has a Bachelor’s degree in marketing management from Florida State University,
Masters in Organizational Management from University of Phoenix and additional post
graduate work in accounting and finance from Keller Graduate School of Management.
Outside of the office, Tim is active in numerous Cobb County community organizations. He serves as Treasurer of the Allatoona High School PTSA, a charter member of the Senior Resource Foundation of Cobb County, Advisory Board member for the Devereux Foundation, 2012 alumni of Leadership Cobb, member of the PMI Atlanta chapter, Georgia Solar Energy Association and SAS Utility Advisory Board.
Tim and his wife Nicole have two adult daughters, Victoria, and Hensley.
Beverly Wright, PhD, CAP
Head - Data Science Solutions
Burtch Works
Dr. Beverly Wright has over 30 years leading and delivering data science and analytics solutions through corporate, consulting, and academic experiences. She has served as executive, leader, and advisor of data science and analytics teams to help provide solutions for solving complex business problems.
As Head of Data Science Solutions for Burtch Works, Beverly provides guidance to a variety of businesses and non-profit organizations to frame and solve critical issues using modeling and advanced analytics resources.
She also provides executive training for high-level professionals through her role as Director of Data Science at University of Georgia.
Beverly gives back to her community through operating a nonprofit through Technology Association of Georgia called TAG Data Science & Analytics – FOR GOOD Initiative, where she leveraging volunteers, data, tools, and other resources to tackle community challenges.
She also serves as Chair for TAG Data Science & Analytics, Chair for INFORMS Analytics Society, Past Chair, INFORMS Analytics Certification Board, Board Member at Georgia Institute of Technology’s Master of Science in Analytics program, Board member at Miami Dade College – AI Program, and podcast host for TAG Data Talk.
Beverly earned a Certified Analytics Professional (CAP®) and possesses a PhD in Marketing Science, MS in Analytical Methods, and BBA in Decision Sciences.
Featured Speakers
Brad Bonner
Director of Consulting
CGI
Doug Leal
Director of Consulting
CGI
Wes Strait
Director of Technology Transformation
Best Buy
Warren Hearnes
Vice President, Head of Data Science
Best Buy
Jimmy Hendricks
Senior Director, Data Science
Best Buy
Sudhashree Sayenju
PhD Candidate, Analytics and Data Science
Kennesaw State University
Prize Sponsors:
Recruiting Sponsors:
Poster Sponsor:
Refreshment Sponsors:
Sponsorship Flyer
If you are interested in sponsoring Analytics Day, please contact Bill Franks.
General Information
The School of Data Science and Analytics at Kennesaw State University is a one stop-shop offering general education courses, an undergraduate minor, online certificates, a master’s degree, and we have the first PhD in Data Science and Analytics in the US. Industry and government organizations partner with us to find solutions to their data-centric problems through the Center for Data Science and Analytics (CDSA) and the Human Studies Lab, two of the most successful and dynamic research units at the university.
The KSU Center is located just off I-75 in Kennesaw, only one mile from the main campus of Kennesaw State University. The address is 3333 Busbee Drive NW, Kennesaw, GA 30144. There is plenty of free parking.
If you have any questions about Analytics Day, please contact Nicole Ferguson or Cara Reeve.