2015-06-24 Getting to Know Scala For Data Science & MapQuest Location Intelligence

Register here.

Wednesday, June 24, 2015 @ 6:00pm MDT

NOTE: For folks unable to attend in person register and we will email you a livestream link 2 hours prior to event.

Location: MapQuest - 1555 Blake Street, 3rd Floor Denver, Colorado 80202 - Map: http://mapq.st/1IX6K6E

Agenda:

6:00 - 6:20 Schmooze - Food shall be served

6:20 - 6:30 Announcements

6:30 - 7:30 Getting to Know Scala For Data Science by Tom Flaherty

7:30 - 8:30 MapQuest Location Intelligence: Search, Routes, and GPS Location by Donnie Yancey

8:30 - 9:00 Networking

Getting to Know Scala For Data Science - Abstract

Link to slideshow: PDF Slideshow


Recently Scala has gained a lot of traction in Data Science with Apache Spark. So what are Scala's success factors within a Data Science context? First lets look at data:

Data loves Scala's strong typing for asserting its identity. 
Data loves resilient packaging, wrapped under the covers by Scala's Monads. 
Data loves a data driven world, which Scala accomplishes with Pattern Matching.

Second let looks at the scientists:

Scientists love to alter reality, best accomplished by transforming data in Streams. 
Scientists love things to happen all at once, Scala concurrency. 
Scientists love to have all their tools in one place with a multi-paradigm language on their desktop.

So in this talk I will explore Scala's alignment to Data Science and then address the challenge's of Scala's multi-paradigm capabilities with simple code constructs.

Tom Flaherty - Bio

Tom Flaherty has been a Chief Architect for 20 years, where he first become enamored by Scala in 2006. Over the years he has written a symbolic math application in Scala at Glaxo in 2008 for molecular dynamics and in 2010 he created the Front Range Polyglot Panel and participated as its Scala expert.

MapQuest Location Intelligence: Search, Routes, and GPS 
Location - Abstract

As growth continues with geo-location targeting and visitation attribution through mobile devices, MapQuest looks to take advantage of one of the most unique consumer behaviors it obtains from its userbase – where are they planning to go (aka routes). Whether its going to the new store at the mall or to a relative's new house, we understand where the start, where the plan to go, and where they go before they get there when they are using. This creates unique and dynamic opportunities in the marketplace to reach our valuable MapQuest audience.

Donnie Yancey - Bio

As Chief Data Officer at MapQuest, Donnie Yancey is responsible for the overall data & analytical strategy along leading all audience development efforts and the beginning of a new business line – MapQuest DaaS (data-as-a-service), which focuses on providing location based data solutions for mapping & traffic, advertising, and research initiatives across multiple digital platforms. Prior to joining MapQuest, Mr. Yancey (an 11+ year veteran at AOL, Inc.) was Head of Business Metrics & Analytics under the CAO organization and held various positions at AOL within Finance (Head of Financial Strategy & Analysis; CFO for Advertising.com Group, now known as AOL Platforms), Global Strategic Planning & Analytics, and Marketing Analysis. Prior to AOL, Donnie was a Product Manager at Capital One with primary responsibilities in CRM/retention focused strategies, online account services, and new product development. Mr. Yancey holds a BS in Finance and Marketing from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Pamplin College of Business; an MBA in Global Strategy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kenan-Flagler School of Business; and a MS in Quantitative Finance from George Washington University.

Date: 
Wednesday, June 24, 2015 - 6:00pm to 8:30pm