The Big Data and Analytics Association at Ohio State University (BDAA) was founded in 2014 to educate students about data analytics. The newsletter provides updates on BDAA activities, including hosting a career fair to connect students to employers, providing educational resources to members, and introducing newly elected officers for 2015 who represent a diverse range of majors.

1. BDAA
“Without big data analyt-
ics, companies are blind
and deaf, wandering out
onto the Web like deer
on a freeway. ”
- Geoffrey Moore
In This Issue
 A Note from BDAA
 The Inaugural BDAA
Analytics Career Fair
 Member Education
 Newly Elected Officer
Introductions
 Sponsorship
BDAA members with sponsors Ernst & Young and JP Morgan Chase at Networking Night
A note from BDAA
Big Data and data analytics seems to constantly appear on the
news, in books, and in schools. They are buzz words that everyone
has heard, but they are also words that many people are unable to
define. Here at The Ohio State University, students recognized a
need for a student organization that focuses its efforts on educating
members about the data analytics industry. This group would have
a clear goal: to inspire students to think analytically, empower them
through hands on training and connect them to potential employers.
And so, The Big Data and Analytics Association at The Ohio State
University was founded in the Spring of 2014. Though less than
one year old, BDAA boasts 30 active members and over 270 stu-
dents engaged on the email list. Members represent a diverse
group of majors including, Finance, Marketing, Accounting, Industri-
al and Systems Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering,
Math, and many more. As membership and relationships within and
outside the University continue to grow, BDAA will continue its mis-
sion to become the central communication point for faculty, stu-
dents across disciplines and professionals across industries.
Big Data and Analytics Association at Ohio State Newsletter January 2015

2. Educating Members in Essen-
tial Skills
BDAA was formed first and foremost to be an educational resource. In
order to further this motive, BDAA added an educational page to the or-
ganization’s website. This page includes numerous links to free online
coding courses. It also has download links for R, Python, SAS, and
MySQL along with reference sheets related to these platforms. Further-
more, the page gives access to data sets that allow students to directly
apply their knowledge in the various platforms they have learned. By
providing these resources, BDAA is working to strengthen the skill sets of
its membership.
Interested in becoming a BDAA Sponsor?
Benefits:
 Premier company status at the Data Analytics Career Fair
 Access to the BDAA resume pool
 Job postings sent directly to the entire email list instead of only active mem-
bers
 Logo displayed on the BDAA website and all marketing material
For more information contact John Friess at friess.22@osu.edu
Interested in speaking at BDAA’s meetings?
For more information contact John Friess at friess.22@osu.edu
Inaugural
BDAA
Analytics
Career Fair
This semester, BDAA has be-
gun planning a very unique and
exciting event. On February
11th, BDAA will be hosting the
Data Analytics Career Fair at
The Fisher College of Business.
This career fair will be open to
students in every college at the
University who have an interest
in pursuing a career in the data
analytics industry. Employers
who would like to attend are
encouraged to contact Rehgan
Avon at avon.7@osu.edu for
more information.
Many BDAA members took part in the Financial Modeling Certification Program,
which was generously made available to our organization through Adventis CG
“My involvement in BDAA has
been to set the foundation on
which the organization will
grow in the future. My goal is
to unite students with differ-
ent abilities and insights to
provide an environment of
intellectual and professional
growth. I attempt to connect
with professionals, students
and leaders in academia in
the field of data analytics to
provide beneficial and proac-
tive communication. The
BDAA Career Fair is a step in
the right direction to connect
our members and oth-
er students attending The
Ohio State University to talent
scouts in top companies that
are driving the industry in da-
ta analytics.”
- Rehgan Avon, President

3. Newly Elected Officers for 2015
Rehgan Avon
President - Fall 2015
Year: Senior
Major: Industrial and Systems
Engineering
Work Experience: Simulation
engineering Intern (two rotations),
Honda; Industrial Intern on a Lean Six
Sigma team, United Airlines
Matthew Sweet
Founder & President -
Spring 2015
Year: Senior
Major: Finance
Work Experience: Wealth Manage-
ment, Morgan Stanley; Investment
Banking, MelCap Partners
John Friess
Vice President of
Corporate Relations
Year: Junior
Major: Finance, Economics Minor
Work Experience: Data Integration
Manager, Ohio House Republican
Organizational Committee
Kyle Worden
Treasurer
Year: Freshman
Major: Finance
Alyssa Crock
Executive Vice President
Year: Senior
Major: Industrial and Systems
Engineering
Work Experience: Business Process
& Systems Management Co-op,
Toyota; Master Data Intern, L Brands;
Operations Intern, Hendrickson
Sean C. Robbins
Vice President of Marketing
Year: Junior
Major: Computer and Information
Science
Work Experience: Information Services
Intern, The J.M. Smucker Company;
Business Systems Analyst, J.P.
Morgan & Chase Co. (Summer ‘15)
Seonghui (David) Kim
Vice President of
Internal Relations
Year: Senior
Major: Operations Management
Work Experience: Student Assistant,
Office of Sponsored Programs; Student
Assistant, Espress-OH; Squad Leader,
Republic of Korea Air Force
Derek Sasthav
Vice President of Education
Year: Sophomore
Major: Industrial Engineering
Work Experience: Supply Chain and
Manufacturing Intern, GE Aviation;
Analyst, ANEND Consulting

4. Newly Elected Officers for 2015
Matt Leskovec
Business Chair
Year: Junior
Major: Marketing
Work Experience: Marketing and
Sales Intern, ABB Automation
Yawen Fan
Mathematics Chair
Year: Junior
Major: Math, Finance
Work Experience: Research Intern,
21st Century Fox; Customer Service
Intern, Huatai Securities
Alisa Noll
Engineering Chair
Year: Sophomore
Major: Industrial Engineering
Kyle Berger
Vice President of
Technology
Year: Senior
Major: Computer Science and
Engineering, English
Work Experience: Air Force Research
Lab; Chemical Abstracts Services