Learning eXchange Track: Data Analytics

Susan Lawhead, Session Leader

Sr. Associate Test Engineer
SAS
Susan@LinkedIn

• Bio: Susan currently works as a Test Engineer in SAS Professional Consulting, working specifically on the State and Local Government team. Prior to this role, she spent time as a resource management analyst for the group. After gaining experience in process/policy development, staffing, and budget management through a career in education, Susan returned to UNCW for her MSBA in 2020. During her time in the MSBA, she worked as a business intelligence developer, providing insights to decision-makers at a marketing/publishing firm. Susan also serves on the advisory board for UNCW Business Analytics programs.

Session Details:

• Discover how the Business Analytics process can make you an indispensable asset in any industry. In this session, you’ll learn how business analytics empowers you to influence business decisions, craft compelling data stories, model and transform data, and ensure proper data governance. Don’t miss this chance to dive into the business analytics process and discover how it can shape your career and make you a sought-after problem-solver in any industry.

Matthew Klingler, Session Leader

Database Analyst
Craven County NC Government
Matthew@LinkedIn

• Bio: Matt Klingler is passionate about research, qualitative analysis, quantitative analytics, critical thinking, and problem solving. His goal is to discover insights that bring clarity and direction towards business development by enhancing productivity, performance, and operations.
  
  He has been working with analytics for five years and is presently a Database Analyst with Craven County NC Government along with assisting local groups on a case/project basis. Prior to this, Matt worked with a variety of healthcare and athletics organizations within the realm of Sports Medicine.
  
  Matt holds a Master of Science in Business Analytics from the University of North Carolina Wilmington, a Master of Science in Health, Physical Education, and Recreation from Emporia State University (KS), and a Bachelors Sports Medicine from MidAmerica Nazarene University (KS).
  
  Most importantly, Matt enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter in both New Bern and Wilmington, exploring locally unique shops, restaurants, coffees, and parks.

Session Details:

• Intro to PowerBI
• Comparison between PowerBI and Tableau
• Connecting to Data
• Transforming and Cleaning Data
  • Power Query
  • M Formula or SQL
• Introduction to DAX
  • The Strength of PowerBI – Use It!
  • Calculate and Filter functions
  Iterative X functions
• Putting it All Together
• Resources

Jose Castillo, Session Leader

Senior Vice President of Informatics & Analytics
Alera Health

• Bio: Jose Castillo serves as the Senior Vice President of Informatics & Analytics at Alera Health. In this role, he spearheads transformative initiatives in data ingestion, normalization, analysis, and visualization, leveraging cutting edge technologies such as AI and Machine Learning to translate complex datasets into actionable insights. An engineer by training, Jose joined Alera Health in 2018. Before joining the company, Jose spent more than 17 years working as the Engineering Manager for the leading Engineering & Construction company in Venezuela, leading large, multidisciplinary, multi-billion-dollar projects in very complex and multicultural environments around the world. In academia, he spent over 15 years teaching courses in structural design, project management, or calculus as an assistant professor, and served as the advisor for 20+ research projects for both undergrad and grad students. He was also a board member in the College of Engineering at his alma mater in Venezuela. Jose holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and a master’s in project management from the Andres Bello Catholic University in Venezuela, and an MBA from North Carolina State University, with concentrations in Finance, Operations & Supply Chain, and Data Analytics. He’s also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) since 2015. In his free time, you will find Jose coaching youth soccer, at the golf course, or traveling with his wife and three daughters.

Session Details

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Nelson Youri, Session Leader

Co-Founder and CTO
Lumos Data
Nelson@LinkedIn

• Bio: Youri is a creative force at the intersection of data, finance, and technology. With both a B.S. (2010) and an M.S. (2011) in Applied Mathematics from the University of North Carolina Wilmington, he has spent over a decade bridging theoretical insights with real-world fintech solutions. In 2021, he co-founded Lumos Data, where a close-knit team of incredibly talented individuals—many of whom share roots at UNCW—develop AI-driven tools for financial institutions, loan origination systems, and other lenders. Their shared mission is to expand fair, accessible capital for small and medium-sized businesses.
  
  As CTO, Youri fosters a culture of collaboration and ingenuity, guiding teams to transform complex data into tangible results. He believes the best breakthroughs spring from creative thinking and a genuine focus on the people behind the numbers. By blending innovation with practicality, Youri and the Lumos Data team are dedicated to making finance more inclusive, accessible, and impactful for all.

Session Details:

• Discover how AI is reshaping the fintech landscape—and why banks and financial institutions should view it as an accelerator rather than a threat. In this session, Youri from Lumos Data dives into the evolving role of AI in lending, spotlighting the advanced modeling and credit risk tools his team has developed to enhance SMB financing. Learn how Lumos’ intimate knowledge of small-business needs—combined with robust AI-driven analysis—unlocks more accurate assessments of borrower risk, streamlines loan origination, and ultimately expands fair access to capital. Attendees will gain practical insights into the state of AI in fintech, strategies for implementing AI responsibly, and how to harness these technologies to drive efficiency, accuracy, and growth.

Rachel McLawhon, Session Leader

Analytical Training Coordinator
SAS
Rachel@LinkedIn

• Bio: Rachel holds a B.S. in Mathematics and both a B.S. and M.Ed. in Mathematics Education from North Carolina State University. She has been with SAS since 2016, and in her current role with the SAS Global Academic Program, she assists in the creation of diverse learning materials engaging academics with SAS software and is an analytical trainer, specializing in Base SAS programming, Visual Analytics, and open-source integration.

Session Details

• In this engaging one-hour session, discover how SAS Visual Analytics can transform your data into actionable insights. Learn to create interactive dashboards, generate compelling reports, and uncover trends and patterns using intuitive visual tools. Participants will gain a hands-on understanding of key features and best practices, with the option to follow along on their own computers. Whether you're new to SAS Visual Analytics or looking to enhance your skills, this workshop will empower you to unlock the full potential of your data.
  
  
• To take full advantage of this session, it is recommended you bring your laptop
  and are encouraged to build a profile at https://www.sas/com/profile/ui/#/create