The Martha and Spencer Love School of Business welcomed students, alumni, and industry partners for Business Analytics Summit, a hands-on showcase of how data turns into decisions.
Students, alumni and industry partners filled the LaRose Digital Theatre and the Koury Business Center for the Business Analytics Summit on Oct. 30. The event was hosted by the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business and the Center for Organizational Analytics.
The day centered on a student challenge using a Crumbl data prompt and a panel on how analytics drives real decisions in hotels, health care, travel and finance. Workshops, a career event and a student poster session rounded out the program.
In a Crumbl-sponsored data challenge, students raced to analyze menu rotation, demand signals, and retention levers. The top four teams advanced to present to industry judges, including Crumbl Chief Operating Officer Grace Chadwick and her team joining virtually.
The winning team members, Maylee Clerici ’26, Andrew Glas ’26 and Mike McLain ’26, showed how Crumbl can balance novelty with familiarity and use data to guide weekly menus and strengthen loyalty.
“We approached the Summit Challenge from a consulting standpoint, unpacking the rotating-flavor paradox and how Crumbl can leverage its advantages for future growth,” said Clerici, a supply chain and business analytics major from Mars, Pa. “Our shared foundation in data visualization and storytelling fueled our coordination and helped us deliver a focused, winning solution.”
The team received $1,000 and a $500 Crumbl voucher. The second-place team focused on community, voice of customer, and a repeatable weekly structure. The runners-up received $500 and a $250 Crumbl voucher.
To close out the day, industry leaders discussed how analytics reshapes decision-making, innovation, and customer experience across sectors from hospitality to healthcare and finance. The conversation centered on aligning analytics with strategy, building trustworthy data, and developing teams that can translate insights into action.
Panelists were:
- Johnathan Capps, chief revenue officer Charlestowne Hotels
- Neil Biehn, vice president, Siemens Healthineers
- John Wimmer, assistant teaching professor, Elon University
- Danielle Nashold ‘04, SVP, technology executive, Bank of America
- Loren Gold, executive vice president, Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Students opened the day with AI with SAS, led by Danny Modlin ’98, senior analytical training consultant at SAS, who guided a hands-on walkthrough in SAS Viya for prepping and exploring data.
A second session, Business Analytics and Career Success, featured Lisa Thaller, former corporate learning facilitator at IBM, and Richard Pro, president and chief analytics and strategy advisor at VRINetics, on translating classroom tools into early-career impact through clear communication, project framing and measurable outcomes.
Students connected with representatives from Labcorp, Bank of America, Red Ventures, SAS, RTI International and Charlestowne Hotels at the career event, while a nearby poster session in LaRose showcased projects from the Center for Organizational Analytics and business analytics courses.
Mark Kurt, associate dean for the Love School of Business, closed the program by emphasizing how workshops, networking and student research together build the skills to lead with data.
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Su Dong
Associate Professor of Business Analytics
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Vinayaka Gude
Assistant Professor of Business Analytics
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Hyunuk Kim
Assistant Professor of Business Analytics & Director of the Center for Organizational Analytics
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Lakeisha Vance
Assistant Teaching Professor of Business Analytics
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Katelyn Walls
Assistant Professor of Business Analytics
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Kem Zhang
Associate Professor of Business Analytics
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John Wimmer
Assistant Teaching Professor of Management Information Systems
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Long Xia
Assistant Professor of Management Information Systems
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Mark Kurt
Associate Dean for the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business & Professor of Economics