Innovative and Pro Bono Analytics: A Winning Combination
Written by Erick Wikum and Dave Hunt.
When Wes Chaar, José Antonio Carabajal, CAP, and Peter Williams from Turner Broadcasting won the 2017 Caterpillar and INFORMS Analytics Society Innovative Applications in Analytics Award (IAAA) for their application entitled “Audience Targeting Solutions Powered by Advanced Analytics,” they knew that they wanted to do some good with their $2,000 in prize money. Fortunately, they did not have to look far; they decided to team up with the INFORMS Pro Bono Analytics (PBA) to support two important initiatives. Half of the prize money will further PBA’s commitment to Star of Hope Mission, which serves the homeless population in Houston. PBA sponsored a micro-volunteer opportunity with Star of Hope for attendees of the 2017 INFORMS Annual Meeting in Houston. The other half of the prize money will be used as seed money to support a similar micro-volunteer event at the upcoming fall 2018 INFORMS Annual Meeting. PBA Committee Chair Dave Hunt said “We greatly appreciate the generosity of the Turner Broadcasting team. One of PBA’s activities is to give back to the host city for the INFORMS fall conference, and the donation from Turner is being used to support nonprofit organizations working with disadvantaged residents of Houston and Phoenix.”
Pro Bono Analytics is an INFORMS program to link Operations Research and analytics professionals who are willing to volunteer their analytical skills with nonprofit organizations working in underserved areas or with underserved populations, that could benefit from analytics. To sign up as a Pro Bono Analytics volunteer, or to learn more about the program, please visit www.probonoanalytics.org or stop by the INFORMS Center in the Exhibit Hall at #2018analytics.
Turner’s award winning, innovative analytics application dramatically improves the granularity with which it can target audiences, benefitting advertisers, audiences and Turner alike. As it turns out, through PBA, the application also benefits the homeless and others in need, and that’s truly a winning combination.
This year’s finalist for the Innovative Applications in Analytics Awards are presenting in Baltimore on April 16, 2018 in the INFORMS Prize Track.
Watch the winning 2017 IAAA presentation from Turner, and if you are attending the Analytics Conference, watch Turner compete for the 2018 Edelman Award for achievement in operations research and advanced analytics.
