Panelists

Paul Bloch, President & Co-Founder  |  DDN Storage

Mr. Bloch co-founded DataDirect Networks, and brings over twenty five years of experience in starting, growing and successfully managing technology businesses, including serving as the President of DataDirect Networks, Inc., Personal Writer, Inc., and MegaDrive Systems, Inc. Previously, Mr. Bloch enjoyed a successful tenure as a director for Hi-Tech Consulting Group, a European management consulting firm based in the United States. Mr. Bloch graduated with an Engineering degree from National Superior School of Telecommunications (ENST) in France and a Masters in Electrical Engineering from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).

Edson Crevecoeur, Director, Business Intelligence |  The Miami HEAT Group

Edson Crevecoeur is the Director of Business Intelligence at the Miami HEAT Group. With over 15 years of enterprise data architecture and analytics experience, Edson has designed data solutions and business processes for companies such as UnitedHealth Group, SunGard, Glaxo-Smith Kline, and Viacom. His focus for the last few years has been on integrating cloud-based big data platforms (AWS, Microsoft Azure) with on-premise technology investments. Edson holds several business intelligence industry certifications, including the Microsoft Business Intelligence Solutions Expert designation. He has a Masters in Health Services Administration and Graduate Certificate in Enterprise Systems from Central Michigan University,  and a Bachelor’s of Professional Studies in Business from the Metropolitan College of New York.

Alicia d’Empaire, Assistant VP, Business Intelligence and Decision Support |  Baptist Health South Florida

Alicia d’Empaire is the Assistant Vice President of Business Intelligence and Decision Support Systems at Baptist Health South Florida. In her role, Alicia is responsible for data integration needs to aggregate data from multiple applications to be able to provide analytic solutions to all areas of the organization including Population Health, Bundled Payment, ACO, Research and Grants, Clinicians, Quality and Finance initiatives. Alicia has thirty years of healthcare IT experience, and has led many large system implementation initiatives including the Data Warehouse/Business Intelligence Strategy at BHSF. She is also responsible of all Clinical and Financial Decision Support systems, and leading Meaningful Use adoption.  Alicia holds a Master of Business Administration, a Certificate in Health Administration, and a Bachelors of Science in Systems Analysis from the University of Miami. In 2013, Alicia was selected to join the Leadership Council of Healthcare Data Warehouse Association (HDWA) and in 2014, became a member of the South Florida HIMSS board.

Joseph Johnson, PhD, Assoc. Prof., Marketing  |  UM School of Business Administration

Dr. Joseph Johnson is Associate Professor of Marketing at the University of Miami’s School of Business Administration. He teaches Marketing Analytics, New Product Development, Strategic Brand Management, and a PhD Seminar entitled “Quantitative Methods for Marketing Strategy”. His research focuses on the use of data and analytics as a decision aid for managers. He has developed and collaborated on a host of analytical models. His research on financial markets has been featured in Financial Times of India, MSNBC, and Kiplinger’s Personal Finance. He appeared on the Nightly Business Report to discuss how consumer decision making leads to financial bubbles. Dr. Johnson has over a decade of global industry experience through his work at Hindustan Petroleum, Tata Steel, and SSB, Oman, where he developed pricing and promotion response models for Toyota’s auto line up. In the US, he has worked on projects with Affinova, Miami-Dade County Asian-American Advisory Board, Dell, Eli-Lilly, eMpulse, Hope Foundation, Holy Rosary Church, Ocean Reef Club, Proton Data Security, SAS, UM Health, 20th Century Fox Studios, and CheapOAir.

Samuel H. Johnson, Vice President, Global Marketing  |  Ryder System, Inc.

As the Vice President of Marketing for Ryder, a $6.4B FORTUNE 500®, transportation-and-supply-chain-solutions company with more than 26,000 employees, Mr. Johnson is responsible for all aspects of Customer Loyalty and Market Intelligence.  He joined Ryder in 2005 as a Senior Manager of Strategy & Development, and then became part of the FMS Sales & Marketing team as Director of Customer Retention. Throughout his career, he has held leadership roles in several fortune 500 companies. Starting at a Coca-Cola bottler and beverage distributor, and then as a management consultant with A.T. Kearney, Inc. Mr. Johnson holds an MBA in Marketing & Supply Chain Management from Michigan State University and a B.Sc. (Hons) in Engineering from The University of the West Indies. He serves on the board of directors of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami and on the board of governors for the National Private Truck Council.

Isaias (“Isi”) Sudit,  Founder  |   TROVE  Predictive Data Science

Mr. Sudit has spent the last 25 years creating and building high growth companies. Prior to founding TROVE, he developed and launched three companies in the technology and data aggregation service industry. In 2004, he started LOC-AID® Technologies, Inc. to focus on the developing LBS market. Prior to that, he founded Datumcom in 1995, which became the leading international supplier of vehicle-based positioning services and infrastructures. Isaias led the transition of Datumcom into the telematics field, where the company became a leader at the intersection of communications, computing, and vehicles. General Dynamics acquired his first venture, Datumtech (now Datum Tech Solutions), in 1997. Isaias has raised over $40+ million in investment capital for his ventures, and is an active member in the South Florida entrepreneurial community. He sits on the advisory board of Entrepreneurs Organization (EO), and The Idea Center at Miami Dade College. Isaias holds Bachelors and a Masters of Science in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering from The Ohio State University.

Gang Wang, PhD,   Manager, Operations Data & Analytics, Hotel Operations |   Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd.

Dr. Wang is a senior analytical professional with 10+ years of experience in areas of revenue management, itinerary planning, marketing, and process improvement. He leads teams to build analytical infrastructure and execute data-driven strategies to support a multi-million dollar operation including revenue from food and beverage, casino, technology, and retail. Prior to joining Royal Caribbean Cruises, he helped multiple leadership projects at Ford Motor Company in areas of product development, supply chain management, and manufacturing.  He has published journal articles in operations research and engineering management. Dr. Wang received his Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from Wayne State University.