Dave Abatangelo, Director, Business Intelligence, EVRAZ North America

Dave Abatangelo is currently the Director of Business Intelligence for Evraz North America where he is responsible for all aspects of data management and delivery. He is excited to have helped make data a more integral part of Evraz’s culture.

Dave has been working with data for 20+ years at companies like Allstate, Oracle and Slalom Consulting as well as Evraz and has become pretty adept at connecting people with the information needed to excel in their jobs.

Jeff Chien, Senior Manager, RCG Global Services

Full biography coming soon!

Paul Eichamer, Director, Financial Planning and Analysis, CNA Insurance

Full biography coming soon!

Doug Ellis, Director of Worldwide Presales, Datawatch

As the Director of World Wide Presales at Datawatch, Doug brings more than 25 years of technology and finance experience to the team at Datawatch. This role follows a 12 year tenure at Cognos through their growth and acquisition by IBM in 2008. Doug’s education includes an Accounting degree from Indiana University and an MBA in Finance from Murray State University. His work experience includes Accounting and Finance roles as a CPA before moving full time into technology sales and channel enablement. The Datawatch role leverages all of this experience to deliver a complete solution to our clients.

David Floress, Business Intelligence IT Lead, USG

Dave is a seasoned IT professional with over 30 years of experience in software development, business intelligence, and teaching. He leads an analytics team at Chicago-based US Gypsum – a leading manufacturer of building products and innovative solutions around the world. His team is responsible for enabling a data-driven climate and making data available to users allowing them to make informed business decisions. Dave is excited to be a part of bringing Data Lake Analytics to USG and opening a whole new world for users in self-service analytics.

Jeremy Gruenwald, Senior Architect, Centric Consulting

Jeremy is a technology architect with over 15 years experience developing and architecting enterprise software and solutions. He has worked in both industry and consulting roles across a number of industries including insurance, professional services, and life sciences. Jeremy brings deep execution experience having implemented dozens of enterprise applications. Jeremy leverages his experience to develop visionary yet pragmatic strategies and architectures for his clients.

Dave Hoffenberg, Senior Director, Platform Analytics, Conversant

IT professional with over 20 years of experience. I have worn different hats, with roles in the Web, Financial, and Government space.

I am currently a Senior Director of Analytics for the ad-tech firm, Conversant. I lead a team of analyst, where we build data centric solutions to provide key internal KPIs to help improve our platform and product offerings.

I’m also an adjunct professor for DePaul University, primarily teaching courses in Intro and Advanced SQL.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my wife and three kids, and learning the ropes with our new family member, Bailey, a mix of a Cavalier and Poodle.

Jim Ingle, Executive Vice President, Messina Group

Jim is an Executive Vice President leading the Consulting division of the Messina Group. Jim brings over 30 years of thought leadership and consulting experience to Messina Group. A proven entrepreneur, thought leader, and “data wrangler” with a proven record of client business transformation and management of 100 million dollar plus project portfolios. Jim is an accomplished thought leader and possesses a unique blend of management, business, and technical analysis skills.

The consulting division at Messina Group specializes in helping clients through their digital journey with advisory services, and digital transformation services. Accomplished through cloud data and application platforms such as Microsoft, Salesforce and proprietary data platform as a service Analytics Hub. These services have been applied cross industry with specializations in Airlines, Financial Services, Life Sciences and professional services industries.

Prior to this role at Messina Group Jim managed and lead the business intelligence practice of 2000+ global resources, and expanded the practice into Big Data and advanced analytics. Jim is fluent in the latest data architectures and practices as well as the intricacies of a global delivery model. In addition, Jim was formerly a founding partner of The Revere Group, a 600+ employee, Chicagoland consultancy, with a role as Chief Solution Officer he established and managed many of the firm’s delivery practices.

Konrad Konarski, AI and IoT Practice Lead, V-Soft

I am inspired with captivating technologies that transcend the norm and challenge the impossible. I believe in leading by example, continuously growing as a professional, trusting and empowering my teams, and always treating everyone with respect and dignity. I am a recognized thought leader in Cognitive, Internet of Things, and Design Thinking with over 20 years of experience that is looking forward to always challenging myself and growing as a professional.

Sean Neben, Senior Architect, Centric Consulting

Sean is a technology leader with over 18 years of deep Insurance industry experience. He has worked in both industry and consulting roles across the insurance value chain and with both and small P&C carriers. With experience in Strategy (roadmaps, business cases and IT Strategies), execution (10 core system modernizations) and fast-pace delivery (product-focused digital engagements), Sean brings a pragmatic perspective to solving insurance-industry challenges.

Thomas Parkinson, Co-founder, Peapod

Thomas Parkinson co-founded Peapod with his brother Andrew in 1989 when he was 29 years old. With $50,000 in seed money from friends and family, the Parkinson brothers pioneered the online grocery delivery concept and created the first e-commerce company in the world. Twenty-eight years later, Peapod is now owned by Ahold Delhaize and maintains its leadership as the largest e-grocer in the U.S., serving 24 markets in the Midwest and on the East Coast.

As Peapod’s CTO, Thomas serves as the company’s technology visionary. He is responsible for Peapod’s web and mobile product development, IT infrastructure, supply chain systems and R&D. Even after 30+ years in the software development field, Thomas retains his passion for creating unique online experiences and delivering superior customer service.

Thomas holds a Masters in Industrial Design from Pratt Institute and a BA from Wesleyan University in Connecticut. For fun, he plays in a rock band, Who’s Your Daddy. Thomas and his wife have placed 1,517 orders with Peapod, which is the equivalent of one order every week since the founding of the company.

Michael Ruppe, Strategic Account Executive, Datawatch

Michael has been working in technology for over 30 years. As an applied research engineer focused in Manufacturing, his sandbox included technologies previously found in the most advance aerospace applications, which are now in everything from bicycles to fishing rods. In more recent adventures he has been involved in fully integrated data environments spanning enterprise systems from (ERP, data collection & execution systems), to advanced analytics (BI, mobile & cloud) technology. Currently Mike is working with Datawatch, applying a proven technology to power the New Data Marketplace. Mike’s resume includes; McDonald Douglas, IBM, MicroStrategy, Datawatch and various independents representing new and complimentary technologies.

Chris E. Stout, PhD, Vice President, Department of Clinical Research and Data Analytics, University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine

Dr. Chris Stout is Vice President of Clinical Research and Data Analytics at ATI, the nation’s largest orthopedic rehabilitation and sports medicine corporation, with over 800 clinics and 23,000 patients seen daily. He has an extensive background in technology ventures with clinical overlap. He’s held academic appointments at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, the University of Illinois at Chicago’s College of Medicine, and Rush University. Dr. Stout was educated at Purdue University, The University of Chicago’s Booth Graduate School of Business, and Forest Institute, where he earned a doctorate in clinical psychology. He was a Post-doctoral Fellow in neuro-developmental behavioral pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. He has received four additional doctorates (honoris causa) including a Doctorate in Technology. He’s a bestselling author and also published software developer. He’s lectured worldwide and was an invited faculty by the World Economic Forum to Davos. He is a popular LinkedIn Influencer and writes on global health, medicine, and humanitarian activism, with over 440,000 followers. He also writes for Geek.ly on technology, big data and predictive analytics in healthcare. Dr. Stout hosts a popular podcast that covers various topics including medical innovations from Blockchain to machine learning.

Srini Vokkarane, Sr. Data Scientist Lead, Navistar

Accomplished professional with progressive experience defining and driving complex data-intensive projects, including developing data models and strategy. Proven track record of identifying process improvement opportunities, creating solutions to increase efficiency, and leading effective teams. Thrives in high-volume environments with the ability to optimize ever-changing business needs, improve outreach, and continuously deliver results beyond expectations.

Adept at cultivating partnerships and building lasting relationships across global business sectors, including executive-level communications. Ability to steer strategic vision, clearly communicate statistical results, and analyze data to provide critical information that directly impacts decision-making. Skilled in conducting hands-on research using various software.

Greg Woodard, Principal, Solve

Full biography coming soon!