WVU's MS in Business Data Analytics is a robust and comprehensive program, built around a foundational emphasis on statistics and data infrastructure. (Full-time: 1 year / Part-time: 2 years)Curriculum Overview:Statistical Methods and Data Mining - Statistical foundations - Descriptive and predictive analytics - Feature engineering - Natural language processing - Unsupervised and supervised machine learning - Business interpretation Data Collection and Data Management - Data ingestion (web, transactional, and social media) - ETL and data warehousing - Big data tools (Spark; Hadoop stack, including HDFS, MapReduce, YARN, Hive, HBase) - Relational database structure and design considerations, schema development and database creation, advanced SQL queries - NoSQL database technologiesDecision Sciences and Simulation - Decision optimization through linear and non-linear programming - Stochastic event-based simulation modelingData Visualization - Visualization methods and best practices - Development and implementation of interactive dashboards and apps (Tableau, Shiny)

Having made the impacts I'd targeted in my last position, and having gained the knowledge I'd set out to, I voluntarily resigned from my last role in order to thin out a growing bucket list, and lay groundwork for the next evolution in my career.While my work in past roles had demonstrated the ability of a well-developed analysis to drive consensus and facilitate improvements in execution, I'd always known there existed more advanced methods which would allow me to bring even more to the table. My research of 20+ full-time master's programs in business analytics brought me to West Virginia University, which I chose for its explicit emphasis on the statistical foundations of modern machine learning, and for its strong US News and World Report rankings. To take part in a program of its caliber has been deeply rewarding.

Medical Implants and Surgical InstrumentationThe healthcare industry is fascinating, and I was delighted to have been recruited by this innovative, aggressively-growing startup. During my tenure, I ensured the company could consistently deliver on its commitment to successful patient outcomes by introducing an appropriate level of rigor for design project / design change reviews, and implementing operational change to ensure that internal, field-facing, and supplier procedures are sufficiently robust.I drove substantial reduction in the company's overall rate of non-conforming product - from 20% to 3% - during a phase of sustained, 50% year-over-year growth in revenues and product volume. I regularly presented executive management with routine and ad hoc analysis relating to product performance, supplier performance, and the overall health of the company's quality system. When it became clear to me that the company had outgrown its existing metrics, I successfully pitched and implemented a revised and expanded set of organizational KPIs which allowed the company to keep a meaningful and comprehensive pulse on its core functions. These initiatives allowed TJO to achieve profitability as a startup, while avoiding the unwanted FDA attention that comes from a field recall, or poor performance in an initial audit. Catching up with former colleagues, I was extremely pleased to learn that 6 months following my departure, TJO underwent its first FDA inspection, which resulted in no findings.

Personal Protective Equipment and Outdoor Recreation ProductsHaving gained attention for my ability to anticipate potential process failures and sources of excess process variability, I was promoted to a role focused on consistently ensuring that new, life-protecting product was introduced successfully within our company's domestic and overseas manufacturing facilities. My understanding for the nuance and challenge of design work, and my grasp on the intricacies of reliable mass manufacture, made this position a natural fit. Partnering closely with the company's designers, quality personnel, and product managers, I facilitated all required manufacturing preparations, evaluated manufacturing process capability, drove capability improvement as needed, and advocated as appropriate for the refinement of new product concepts into designs suitable for production at volume.During my time in this role, I introduced and implemented statistical process capability analysis as a means for demonstrating manufacturing preparedness, or communicating the need for further improvement in process performance / product design. I also standardized the use of Process Failure Mode Effects Analysis (PFMEA) to ensure appropriately robust end-to-end manufacturing processes. These methods are still practiced within the company today.

As the process engineer for life-protecting products in the Snow and Alpine categories, I took personal ownership for the reliability and performance of all completed product within my portfolio. The relationships I fostered, across departments and at org levels ranging from production operators to executive management, enabled me to effectively outline and swiftly implement appropriate process changes in response to newly-identified throughput / quality issues.Under my tenure, these critical product lines never necessitated a field recall, preserving profits as well as the company's elite brand reputation.

Radiographic Imaging MachineryUnder the guidance of the company's owner and principal engineer, I designed critical machine systems, bringing next-generation imaging equipment through the concept, prototyping, and pilot phases in close collaboration with clients, vendors, and our company's production staff.