Analytics Events
The Center for Business Analytics holds two large annual events, the technically oriented Data Science Symposium in the fall and the Analytics Summit in the spring.
Both events feature national and internationally recognized leaders, experts and practitioners in the analytics and data science industries. Our events are open to the public, with about 75% of attendees from local, national and international business, non-profit and government organizations. The balance are analytics/data science students, researchers and faculty from UC and other institutions.
Held in the fall at Carl H. Lindner Hall, the Data Science Symposium provides a forum for experts to deep-dive on data science topics and tools. This event features multiple keynote speakers as well as hands-on tutorials and technical talks.
The Analytics Summit is an interdisciplinary conference that emphasizes on how data science impacts diverse fields such as healthcare, finance, retail, and policy. The conference brings together internationally-recognized speakers from notable organizations to present on a wide variety of analytic topics. The event is typically held in the spring at the Sharonville Convention Center. Attendees include industry, university faculty and students. Topics can range from tools and techniques to applied business solutions.
Partner with Us
- Submit a speaker proposal: We are open to submissions from analytics experts and trainers who would like to speak at our events. Speaker proposal form
- Sponsor: We are seeking event sponsors who want to connect with the analytics and data science leaders and professionals who attend our events. Several sponsorship options are available.
- Participate: Are you a startup technology, analytics, machine learning or AI company? Contact us to learn how you can participate in these events.
To inquire about any of the above, contact Shannon Memory.
Analytics Without Borders
The Center for Business Analytics and Lindner's department of operations, business analytics, and information systems sponsor this event open to the public to bring forward-looking ideas, cutting-edge technologies and conversation to all.
Analytics Summit 2025: "Follow the Money"
Join us on May 6, 2025, at the Sharonville Convention Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, for the 2025 Analytics Summit, where we’ll explore the theme “Follow the Money.”
Spending patterns are powerful indicators of market direction. By tracking funding, acquisitions, and resource allocation, individuals and businesses can anticipate future trends and align their strategies accordingly. The keynotes talks will investigate where investors and businesses are placing their bets on transformational technologies.
Past Events
Data Science Symposium 2024
The Data Science Symposium was held on October 11, 2024. This sold-out event comprised of two transformative keynote addresses and 10 breakout sessions helped attendees reshape their understanding of data science and AI.
Keynote Speakers
- Rehgan Bleile, co-founder and CEO of AlignAI and founder of Women in Analytics.
- "From Models to Agents: The Evolution of Data Science and AI"
- Jeffrey Shaffer, Kirk and Jacki Perry Professor of Analytics and Assistant Professor-Educator at the Carl H. Lindner College of Business
- "The Future of AI: The Wild West of Modern Technology"
Thornton May
Futurist and Author at The Digital Value Institute
"Analytics & YOUR Future"
As the opening keynote, Thornton will answer “What can you, a proud member of the University of Cincinnati “analytics community” do TODAY to ensure that thirty years from now YOU will have realized the full promise of YOUR amazing potential?” Analysts are the hidden super-heroes of our collective future. It’s time to celebrate how WE are going to change the world
Richard Harknett
UC Ohio Cyber Range Institute
“Algorithmic Agency: Organizational Adaptation in a World of Fluidity”
His closing keynote will talk about how it’s not about the code or the data collection itself, but the role and responsibility you assign algorithms (including artificial intelligence, or AI) in your organization. His keynote will give an overview of the uneven regulation that applies in this area which is coming in fits and starts, but will also argue that this will only partially impact how your organization adapts and leverages these opportunities in the future.
Tools and Techniques
Leading the Way
This track focuses on innovative approaches for strategy, foresight, leadership, and organizational development needs to support data and analytics. Topics could include research, innovation, collaboration with industry and institutions, or policy and decision-making.
Speakers:
- Kelly Cohen, Brian H Rowe Endowed Chair and Director, AI Bio Lab, Digital Futures.
"Towards an AI Future which is Responsible and Ethical" - Mehmet Saglam, Johnson Associate Professor of Finance, University of Cincinnati
"Can Generative AI Help Predict Asset Returns?" - Bill Nicholson, Assistant Professor-Educator, University fo Cincinnati
"Are You Smarter than an AI Model? Exploring Contents and Provenance of Generative AI Benchmarks"
The AI Revolution
The AI revolution encompasses the rapid development and deployment of AI-powered systems and applications that have the potential to significantly change how we live, work and play. This track considers the transformative impact of artificial intelligence technologies on various aspects of industry, institutions, and everyday life. work, and interact.
Speakers:
- Michael Howard, CEO, Nichefire
"Predicting the Pulse of the World: Understand Culture with Generative AI & Predictive Analytics" - Satoru Hayasaka, Data Scientist, Knime
"LLMs In a Low-Code Environment – Is it Possible?" - Kristy Wedel, Senior Manager Data Science, Abbott
"The Future of AI: A Roadmap for Ethical and Accountable Artificial Intelligence"
Tell the Story
This track contemplates how using data and visualizations to communicate a compelling narrative about key insights is the way to convey complex information in a way that is easily understandable and engaging for the audience. Topics could include data visualization, storytelling and related.
Speakers:
- Alexandra Castillo, Vice President and Chief Data and Analytics Officer, & Jenna Burget, Sr Business Intelligence Analyst, UC Health
“Prescribing Insights: A Data-Driven Tale in Healthcare Storytelling” - Christopher Chin, Data Storytelling and Presentation Trainer, The Hidden Speaker
"Data Storytelling is Hard: Let AI Make It Easy" - David Ciommo, Data Visualization Principal, Humana
"Data Storytelling: The Cognitive Journey to Data Literacy"
Industry
Data and Analytics Essentials in Industry
This track considers how data analytics has become an essential tool for the industry, offering valuable insights that help operators optimize operations, understand customer behavior, and improve overall business performance.
Speakers
- Dave Cherry, Executive Advisor, Cherry Advisory
"Beyond the Buzz: Crafting a Business-Centric Analytics Strategy for True Digital Transformation Impact" - Nan Jararam: CEO and Founder, CoStategix & Jeremy Henry: Vice President of Technology, CoStrategix
"Proactive Data Quality Management and Observability for AI Success" - Financial Panel: Rob Golden, Great American Insurance Group, Rob Carnell, Huntington Bank, Shanna Anderson, Fifth Third Bank, Myra Chen, Capital Group
Leadership/Organizational Effectiveness
Digital Transformation Through Analytics
What does it take to drive the organizational transformation necessary to become a data-driven enterprise? This track has leaders talking about how to build and execute a Data & Analytics strategy. – staffing, organizing, training, technology platforms, data engineering, cross-functional collaboration, etc.Are you a data leader, data scientist, analyst, or engineer with a passion for sharing your knowledge?
Speakers:
- Vivek Anand, Pricing Analytics Expert
"Machine Learning Applications in B2B Price/Revenue Optimization" - Sarah Denman, Vice President, Data Science-Merchandising Analytics, 84.51
"Kroger Analytics Evolution Through Tech and Talent" - Brandon Lee, CEO, Fistbump
“Twinning Your Way to Sales Outreach Success: Amplifying Your Team's Voices with Generative AI”
Analytics Summit 2023 Keynote Speakers
Christina Qi, CEO @ Databento
Title:
"2023: Fantastic Machines and How to Tame Them"
Abstract: TBD
Bio: Christina is an expert in the field of Artificial Intelligence and cloud computing and holds her BS in Management Science from MIT. A Forbes "30 Under 30" honoree, Christina is a Member of MIT's Board of Trustees. She has deep expertise in data science, data management, and related fields. In her talk, she will explore the meteoric rise and unintended consequences of the latest trends, including CHatGPT and Lensa, and the inevitable decision that every company will have to make (bot or no bot)?. Through personal stories and unexpected encounters, she’ll discuss data access and affordability (why does the cost of data rise each year?) as well as common biases when analyzing data (why does it work in simulation but not in the real world?). She will explore the advantages and short comings of theses technologies in our daily lives.
Xiao-Li Meng, Jones Professor of Statistics, and the Founding Editor-in-Chief of Harvard Data Science Review
Title:
“Being, Training, and Employing Data Scientists: Wisdoms and Warnings from Harvard Data Science Review”
Abstract: “What Does It Take to Be a Successful Data Scientist?” “Is Data Science Education a Jack of All Trades?” “How Can We Train Data Scientists When We Can’t Agree on Who They Are?” These thought-provoking questions are the titles of articles in Harvard Data Science Review (HDSR). This talk surveys and reflects on data science training, employment and deployment in the BIG (Business, Industry, and Government) world based on such articles, and many more.
Bio: Xiao-Li Meng, the Founding Editor-in-Chief of Harvard Data Science Review and the Whipple V. N. Jones Professor of Statistics, is well known for his depth and breadth in research, his innovation and passion in pedagogy, his vision and effectiveness in administration, as well as for his engaging and entertaining style as a speaker and writer.
Analytics Summit 2023 Track Sessions
FIVE ALL-DAY TRACKS - 15 SESSIONS
- Business Intelligence
- Advanced Analytics
- Operations Analytics
- Public Analytics
- Commercial Analytics
Past keynote speakers include:
- Eric Siegel: Founder of Predictive Analytics World and Author of Predictive Analytics: The Power to Predict Who Will Click, Buy, Lie, or Die.
- Tom Davenport: Author of Competing on Analytics and cofounder of the International Institute for Analytics.
- Stephen Few: Recognized as a world leader in the field of Data Visualization.
- Jack Levis: Director of Process Management, UPS.
- Zeynep Tufekci: Technosociologist, Author, Professor at University of North Carolina
- Cynthia Rudin Professor of Computer Science at Duke University and 2021 winner of the "Squirrel AI Award for Artificial Intelligence for the Benefit of Humanity" from the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI)
This in-person, all-day event included three featured speakers, two sixty-minute Tech Talk track sessions with four presentations in each track (eight total), and a post event reception.
Featured Speakers (everyone attends)
- Bill Inmon (Father of the Data Warehouse), Forest Rim Technology: "Accessing Data in the Lake"
- Stefan Karisch Amazon:“Operations Research & Analytics at Amazon”
- Ethan Swan, ReviewTrackers: “From Models to Value through ML Engineering”
Tech Talk Session Speakers : Two sessions with four concurrent talks in each: (choose one talk in each session). Speaker sessions and times TBD
- Spencer Baucke, PhData: "Enabling Power BI and Snowflake"
- Dungang Liu, UC: "Sing a song without P-values: embracing analytics tools leading to insights and actions"
- Doug Meiser/Geoff Marsh: Amend Consulting, “How to Prepare Your Data Science Teams for a Recession”
- Jesse Piburn, Oak Ridge National Labs: "Advances in Geopgraphic Data Science..."
- Jeff Gunderson, Delta Analytics: "Collaboration with Jupyter Notebooks"
- Derrick Martin & Darryl Gleason, Nationwide Insurance: "Emerging Trends in Data Science"
- Yan Fu, Ford Motor Company, "Leveraging Data, Insight and Analytics to Help Build a Better Sustainable World"
- Kris Still & Johhny Avant, CoStrategix: "The Sounds of Silence: Reducing Noise One Iteration at a Time with Transfer Learning and Synthetic Data"
Please contact Larry Porter at porterlc@ucmail.uc.edu or 513-556-4742
Opening Keynote Speaker
"Waiting is Not an Action: World-Class Data & Analytics Leadership is Needed Now!"
Andy Walter
P&G (retired) / AJW-Advisory LLC
With two years now of incredible disruption, transformation, and acceleration across every industry, the Data & Analytics Leadership needed now is changing rapidly. Andy Walter – Board Director & Strategic Advisor and Author of Waiting is Not an Action, will explore the latest industry trends and insights from over twenty Analytics Leaders, and provide actionable steps for you now and into the future.
Closing Keynote Speaker
"Building a Modern Data Strategy"
Kathy Koontz
Amazon Web Services
Applying old organizational models and methodologies to modern cloud technology won’t allow companies to achieve the kind of results and agility they expect. Companies need an operating model, organizational model, and data literacy approach that enables data-driven decision making throughout an organization. In this session, we will explore:
- The people, process and technology considerations in building a modern data strategy
- Methods for driving agility across the business
- Getting your teams into a data-first mindset
Supply Chain Analytics Track Speakers
- Evaluating Roadway Safety Performance: An Iterative Approach
Peter Fortunato & David Shuey: OKI Regional Govts - Leveraging Emerging Supply Chain Technologies to Drive Efficiency
Adrian Kumar: DHL - Title TBD
Ian Smith from REDI Cincinnati
- Prescriptive Analytics in Action - Inventory Management
Doug Meiser and Joe Ratterman: Amend Consulting, Nick Austin: F&M Mafco
- Whole Hospital Modeling for Patient Flow
Tyler French: UC Health & Denise White: University of Cincinnati
- Test Analytics
Ryan Fitzpatric: GE Aviation
- Using ML to Improve Data Quality and Drive Customer Preference
Perry Seal & Mini Rajkumar: Kroger, Kris Still: CoStrategix
- Marketing Analytics (B2B Commercial Sales)
Branden Pauly: Meritor
- Building an Innovation Ecosystem
Dan Whitacre: Kroger
Analytics Management and Leadership Track Speakers
- Data Centricity as the best solution to manage complexity in the digial age
Ruben Sardaryan: Infocratic - Predictive Analytics in Business context and end-to-end machine learning applications"
Ankita Mangal: Procter and Gamble
- Analytics Leadership in a Time of Crisis
Zahir Balaporia: FICO
- Predicting Trends That Matter: How to Use Social Data and AI to Develop Impactful Predictions
Michael Howard: NicheFire & Joe Kikta: USBank - AI About the Data Lakehouse
Bill Inmon: Forest Rim Technology - Beyond the Noise: Generating Recommendations with Graph Data Science
Zach Blumenfeld, NEO4J
- Third Eye Brewing (across the street from the Convention Center)
Analytics Summit 2022: Selected Videos from Ruben Sardaryan and Bill Inmon
Due to travel difficulties, these speakers presented via Zoom and allowed us to share their talks. All other presentations were live and were not recorded.