INFORMS to host leading international analytics conference in hometown of Baltimore

Spotlight shines on analytics in action at universities and organizations throughout Baltimore-Washington area 

Baltimore, MD, April 6, 2018 – Nearly 1,000 of the world’s leading analytics professionals will arrive in Baltimore for the 2018 INFORMS Conference on Business Analytics and Operations Research on April 15-17 to share groundbreaking applications for analytics and how it is transforming nearly every industry around the world. INFORMS, the largest international association for operations research and analytics professionals, has been based in the Baltimore region for more than two decades, and the analytics applications of organizations from the Baltimore-Washington area will be showcased in myriad ways throughout the Conference. In addition, the economic impact of conference should reach nearly $1 million for the city of Baltimore. 

Changing the world with analytics

From better protecting the world economy against cybercrime, to detecting and preventing life threatening sepsis infections, to creating virtual environments to interact with artificial intelligence technology, analytics is driving the great discoveries and advancements of the future. These applications and more will be the subjects of over 150 presentations and panel discussions that will explore current best practices in analytics utilized by organizations all over the world. The latest research on the next generation of discoveries, from blockchain technology to artificial intelligence, will be key topics of discussion by leading industry professionals. 

The Conference will also include 19 speakers from the Baltimore-Washington area spanning a variety of federal government agencies and private businesses based on different areas of analytics application. Speakers include Bruce Greenstein, Chief Technology Officer, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Mike Morello, Director, Governor’s Office of Performance Improvement, State of Maryland; and Wendy Moe, Professor of Marketing and Director of the Masters of Science in Marketing Analytics, University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business.

INFORMS local footprint

INFORMS, which employs 55 people and is currently located on the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) campus, has been based in the Baltimore area for nearly 25 years and is thrilled to be supporting its hometown and community. According to Visit Baltimore, the financial benefit that a meeting of this size and scope will bring to the city through spending at local shops, restaurants, hotels, and other attractions, will reach nearly a $1 million. In addition, the community is showcased with 13 universities and organizations from the Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C.-area being prominently featured at the Conference in a number of key activities.

The following Baltimore-Washington area organizations are sponsoring the Conference, participating as vendor exhibitors, or interacting with top analytics talent in a one-of-a-kind Career Fair.

• Career Fair Participants: Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA), Mosaic Data Science, Norfolk Southern, Robert H. Smith School of Business
• Vendor Exhibitors: AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowships, GAMS, George Washington University, MOSIMTEC LLC, statistics.com, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
• Conference Sponsors: Booz Allen Hamilton, WebbMason, Metron, Inc.

“INFORMS has been a proud member of the Baltimore community for many years,” said Melissa Moore, executive director of INFORMS. “We are all thrilled not only to be able to welcome our members to our hometown for this year’s conference, but to also share the incredible opportunities that analytics can provide with our community and hope many connections are made that mean future growth and success for Baltimore.”  

About Analytics 

Analytics professionals work with organizations in nearly every industry, government, military and with nonprofits to turn complex challenges into substantial opportunities by transforming data into information, and information into insights that enable better decision making and improved results. 

About INFORMS

With 12,500 members from nearly 90 countries, INFORMS is the largest international association of O.R. and analytics professionals and students. INFORMS provides unique networking and learning opportunities for individual professionals, and organizations of all types and sizes, to better understand and use O.R. and analytics tools and methods to transform strategic visions and achieve better outcomes.

Visit www.informs.org or @informs.

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