As a data analytics analyst, I am dedicated to using data-driven insights to drive strategic decision-making and enhance organizational effectiveness. I am enthusiastic about analyzing trends and patterns that illuminate opportunities for solving business problems and guide new products and services. I strive to unlock the full potential of big data to enable business areas to make strategic decisions. My goal is to create a culture of data-driven decision-making that empowers State Farm to thrive in the rapidly evolving world of insurance.Working in insurance was a bit of an accident for me (no pun intended 😉). I received my Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies from Northeastern Illinois University in 1990. I worked for several years as a recycling coordinator for municipal and county governments. I then went on to receive my Master of Science in Conservation Biology from Illinois State University in 1997. For my thesis research, I examined the interactions between a hemiparasitic plant, Pedicularis canadensis (wood betony), and members of a tallgrass prairie community. My career took a turn when I took an IT job at State Farm in the Fall of 1997. This originally was a means to pay bills and a way to remain in the Bloomington-Normal, Illinois area. I thought I would stay just a short time. But more than 26 years later, this wonderful career has helped me raise a family and expand my toolbox of skills to include: • statistics / data analytics / data science • coding (Python, R, & SAS) • design thinking & strategy • team building, and • project managementI am interested in the intersection of people + nature + big data + underwriting + catastrophe exposure & management + coastal areas + GIS & geospatial analysis + climate change. Let’s connect if you’re interested too.