“OPERATIONS RESEARCH ANALYST” -- a job advertisement in the Oregonian, barely 1” x 2”, was the start of my career that continues today. Having just graduated with an MBA, which followed an applied mathematics degree, I knew that I liked solving problems and I wanted to work with computers. Although it didn’t pay much, I got the job.After 2 weeks learning how to create linear programming models using a DOS-based language, I was in northern Idaho, writing code to optimize a lumber and plywood business. In hindsight, it was an incredible opportunity – to be thrown into the deep end of an important project, forced to be resourceful and creative, and directly responsible for my personal success or failure. That project led to dozens more, including the largest project ever for my company: modeling 1.5 million acres of timberland in East Texas. During that decade, I worked with many large forest products companies like Georgia-Pacific, Weyerhaeuser, and CANFOR, many still in business today.Through a chance meeting, I met a person attempting to create the world’s first visual optimization modeling software. Eventually, this led me to join River Logic soon after it was founded. That early prototype became Enterprise Optimizer (EO), still the world’s only truly visual Prescriptive Analytics modeling software (because it’s really hard to do!)For the last decade, I’ve been Vice President of Product Management, roadmap owner of the EO application and EO+, Azure-based SaaS platform. I spend time on product management tasks, e.g., working with customers, partners, or internal company consultants to plan releases, data sheets, release announcements—but also significant time on testing new features, business development opportunities, customer support issues, and authoring help articles.My career has spanned 75+ projects, almost all successful to a degree. One customer still uses a version of a model that I built 17 years ago. I’ve also worked with CPG, semiconductors, oil and gas, food and beverage, healthcare, wastewater treatment, and many more industries. I’ve solved problems for product mix planning, order allocation, resource allocation, blending, scheduling, cost-to-serve, and trade promotion optimization. Over $1 billion in customer value created and achieved through my direct efforts.When I look back, I realize how fortunate I was to respond to that job advertisement. My career has paralleled the evolution of technology and advanced analytics software. But although technology is always changing, companies always need help solving problems.