JACK KUREK

Woodbridge, CT ***** 203-***-**** ada6k0@r.postjobfree.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackkurek/

Client end user focused Business/Data Analyst solving critical business issues to increase profits, sales, and productivity; reduce risk, improve data security.

CORE BUSINESS COMPETENCIES

Business Process Analysis, Business Requirements Elicitation, Business Systems Analysis

Enthusiastic learner for new applications and business processes

Client data validation using SQL query and Excel analysis

US and non-US Retail Industry: Mass, Apparel, Specialty, Grocery, Chain Drug, Wholesale, DIY

Health Care: Retail Chain Drug Business & Pharmacy Operations: Rx processing, Third Party Adjudication

End User and IT liaison, Business Process Improvement

Productivity Analysis (stores, warehouse, process), Change Management

Problem solution value analysis (Stakeholder Benefit Value Studies)

Testing (User Acceptance Testing, Regression, Functional)

Big Data Analysis, Project Management, Business and IT Strategy Alignment

Business and Functional Requirements Documentation (BRD, FRD)

Investigative documentation, user experience (UX), application usability

Use Cases, As-Is and To-Be Diagramming

Tactical and Long-range Product / Application Planning, IT Portfolio Analysis

Experience with configurable SaaS application software (Space Optimization, Price Optimization)

SDLC (Design, Development, QA, Test, Implementation, Training, Waterfall, Agile)

Team player, individual contributor, detail oriented, innovative problem solver

Tools: SQL (query, inspect, analyze, extract), Excel (vlookup, pivots, charts, histograms), Tableau (visualizations to illustrate data validation exceptions), Alteryx, MS Project, Visio, JIRA (requirements, problem logging), Confluence and Box (documentation)

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Revionics

Senior Data Science Analyst / Business Analyst 2012 – 7/2019

Applied retail industry, client, and business analyst experiences in development of analytics for extracting significant facts, analyses and interpretation of “big data” generated by clients

Performed Data Validations (sales and pricing) for clients implementing Price Optimization.

Utilized client sales and pricing information, analyzed accuracy, identified outlier data in preparation and cleansing of client data for use in Price Optimization SaaS application. SQL data validation queries expanded to include provisions for non-US clients with VAT/GST.

Specific Business and Data Analysis activities included: Data validation process, SQL queries for analysis, mining, and data extraction from standardized client data bases. Validations performed on store level client sales, master prices, average selling price and other performance and parameter data across pricing zones. Extracted data loaded to Excel for additional analysis (graphs, histograms). Tableau visualizations used to clarify data errors and exceptions, visualize cyclic data patterns, identify data sparsity and voids. Business requirements and specifications developed for standardizing the validation process. Master templates created for SQL queries, Excel worksheets, and Word documents. Validation results summarized into Word/PowerPoint reports and presentations created for delivery to clients.

Results: Faster implementation, fewer data errors, optimized price recommendations, increased sales 1 – 5% and profits .2 – 1.5%.

Revionics completed the purchase of Retail Optimization in June 2012. As an innovative contributor, continued work with Macro and Micro Space Optimization, clients, and deepened my involvement with the science, requirements, and development of cloud-based products.

Retail Optimization Inc.

Senior Business Consultant / Analyst 2008 – 2012

Applied skills and industry experiences at startup company Retail Optimization Inc. ROI was developing an innovative Macro Space Optimization application. The application integrated macro space optimization, space aware assortment planning, and strategic store operational planning to properly size center store stocking sections. Business Analyst responsibilities beyond performing store optimizations included interacting with the developers, developing specific functional business requirements (captured in stories), and extensive testing: functional, regression, logical results, usability, operation. Defects were reported using Jira, usability documentation recorded in Confluence which was later used to produce user manuals.

Optimized over 1000 individual stores for several Tier 1 supermarket clients.

Utilized client sales and business strategy parameters in the optimization process. Assisted clients with the implementation of optimization recommendations in tailoring individual stores to local customer shopping behaviors and demographics. Provided SKU rationalization recommendations as a result of the optimization process.

Results: Implementation of recommendations resulted in a 2-5% increase in store’s bottom line performance.

Fast Switch, LTD

Business Analyst 2007 - 2008

Specific Business Analyst responsibilities included development of business (BRD) and functional (FRD) requirements, testing requirements, and test cases. Client (Valassis) developed a new Ad Targeting System in order to market an optimized combination of newspaper, mail direct, and e-media products.

Created and maintained the Business and Functional Requirements for the optimization and reporting segments of the new ad targeting system

Results: New system improved productivity and scenario turnaround by 10x

SCORE – Counselors to America’s Small Business 2004 – 2007

Business Counselor

Counseled entrepreneurs starting or operating a small business. Applied retail and Business Analyst expertise helping clients to understand business functions including startup, financial requirements, inventory management, business expansion, business evaluation, competitiveness in the marketplace (SWOT), customer retention, CRM, and additional topics germane to clients’ unique problems.

Kyrus Corporation 1999 – 2004

Business Analyst / Project Manager

Developed IT strategies for the integration of fuel systems in both checkout (Point-of-Sale) and back office applications. Business Analyst activities included: studies focused on identification and quantification of store-based business problems and requirements, functional and technical quality assessments of store application technologies, and recommendations for cost-effective IT and process based solutions to business problems. Project managed high visibility pilot installations.

Created and conducted a “Front-end Productivity” study for large warehouse (mass) retailer.

Identified critical issues impacting checkout productivity. Recommended technology implementations and operational changes improving cashier productivity and customer service.

Results: Implementation produced a 30+% increase in efficiency.

IBM – SENIOR POSITIONS Previous to 1999

Retail Solutions Manager

Retail Solutions Analyst and Consultant, Retail and Distribution Solutions

Certified Consultant – IT Strategy & Planning, IBM Consulting Group

Consulting Industry Specialist, IBM Store Systems

Significant Business Analyst Achievements at IBM:

Directed development and build of an IT Strategy and Plan for a major Canadian airline.

Developed innovative methodology allowing the consulting team to focus on key problem areas, identify high value applications, and align IT plan with airline's business strategies, goals, and objectives.

Results: Execution of new IT plan resulted in the achievement of sales, profit and customer objectives in subsequent years.

Managed the development and installation of a retail pharmacy system (Rx processing) for a large chain pharmacy client (Thrifty Drug Stores).

Project included development of BRD (Business Requirements) and FRD (Functional Requirement) documents, UX for pharmacists’ data entry, managing the development, education, and implementation teams. The system included; Third Party Billing, drug interaction checking, and Inventory Management.

Results: Implementation in over 700 stores, system resulted in a 25% increase in pharmacist productivity, a 10% increase in third party prescription profit, significant reductions in pharmacy inventory, and an increase in customer service.

Managed the development and installation of a Point of Sale system for a large chain pharmacy client.

This project included managing the development, education, and implementation teams. Rollout to over 700 stores

Results: New POS system resulted in a 15% increase in store bottom-line profits with implementation of price management, price lookup, promotional pricing, and resulting reductions in FTE labor.

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Arts, Mathematics, University of California, Riverside

AWARDS & COMMUNITY SERVICE:

IBM – Systems Engineering Symposia and Achievement Forums (recognition for outstanding client service)

IBM – Golden Circle, Club Director (for $25MM sell, development and installation of Pharmacy System)

IBM – Vice President, Regional Manager, Branch Office (recognition for significant software and hardware implementations)

Commissioner – Inland Wetlands Agency

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