One of the world’s leading cosmetics companies, Estée Lauder, is among the many organizations on this year’s roster of practicum project sponsors for the Master of Science in Analytics (MSA) Class of 2015. The seventeen projects—which span aerospace, autos, chemicals, consumer goods, banking, energy, professional sports, transportation, heavy machinery, and government—were selected from over 50 proposals submitted to the Institute. In addition to Estée Lauder, new this year to the list of sponsors are: AT&T, Cigna, Cresco, John Deere, International Ag, Liberty Mutual, MetLife, Raytheon, RTI, Sensus, and the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League. Returning sponsors include: Eastman Chemical, M&T Bank, Quaero, Railinc, The J.M. Smucker Co., Volvo, and the CIA.
“We’re delighted to have the opportunity to collaborate with so many leading organizations working at the forefront in applying analytics,” said the Institute’s director Dr. Michael Rappa. “The practicum projects are a critical and unique feature of MSA learning experience, and I’m grateful to all of the sponsors—new and returning—for their tremendous support of our students.” Since the MSA’s inception in 2007, the Institute has taken on 87 practicum projects from 61 sponsors representing virtually every industry sector.
MSA Class of 2015 Practicum Sponsors
AT&T – AT&T (Dallas, TX) is a premier communications holding company and one of the most honored companies in the world. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the U.S. and internationally. AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. The company’s suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world.
Cigna – Cigna (Bloomfield, Connecticut) is a global health service company dedicated to helping people improve their health, well-being and sense of security. Its products and services include an integrated suite of health services, such as medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy and vision care benefits, and other related products including group disability, life, and accident coverage. Cigna has $32.4 billion in annual revenues and sales capability in 30 countries and jurisdictions, with approximately 80 million customer relationships throughout the world. The company has approximately 35,000 employees worldwide.
Central Intelligence Agency – The Central Intelligence Agency (McLean, Virginia) is an independent government agency responsible for providing national security intelligence to senior U.S. policymakers.
Cresco – Cresco Ag (Memphis, Tennessee) is independent agricultural information management company with a mission of helping farmers gather and compare data in order to make better management decisions for their farms.
Deere & Company – Based in Moline, Illinois, Deere & Company (brand name John Deere), manufactures agricultural, construction, and forestry machinery, diesel engines, drivetrains used in heavy equipment, and lawn care equipment. John Deere also provides financial services and other related activities. In 2013, it was listed as 85th in the Fortune 500 America’s ranking and 307th in the Fortune Global 500 ranking. Deere employs approximately 67,000 people worldwide.
Eastman Chemical – Eastman is a $9 billion global specialty chemical company based in Kingsport, Tennessee that produces a broad range of advanced materials, additives and functional products, specialty chemicals, and fibers.
Estée Lauder – The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (New York, New York) is one of the world’s leading manufacturers and marketers of quality skin care, makeup, fragrance and hair care products. Founded in 1946, this technologically advanced, innovative company has gained a worldwide reputation for elegance, luxury and superior quality. The Company’s products are sold in over 150 countries and territories.
Jacksonville Jaguars – The Jacksonville Jaguars are an American professional football franchise based in Jacksonville, Florida. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference (AFC) of the National Football League (NFL). Their home stadium is EverBank Field.
International Ag Insurance Solutions – International Ag (West Des Moines, Iowa) works with agencies to deliver innovative crop insurance solutions for agriculture. International Ag focuses on protecting crop producers by providing tailored risk management and crop insurance solutions for agriculture.
M&T Bank – Established in 1856 as Manufacturers and Traders Bank, and today known as the M&T Bank Corporation, it is one of the 20 largest U.S. headquartered commercial bank holding companies, with current assets of $78 billion and nearly 13,000 employees.
Liberty Mutual Insurance – In business since 1912, and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, today Liberty Mutual is a diversified insurer with operations in 30 countries around the world. The company is the third largest property and casualty insurer in the U.S. and is ranked 76th on the Fortune 100 list of largest corporations in the U.S. based on 2013 revenue. Liberty employs more than 50,000 people in approximately 900 offices throughout the world, and offers a wide range of insurance products and services.
MetLife – Founded in 1868, MetLife (New York, New York) is a global provider of life insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management. It is one of the largest life insurance companies in the world, serving approximately 100 million customers with operations in nearly 50 countries. MetLife counts over 90 of the top one hundred FORTUNE 500 companies among its corporate clients and is the largest life insurer in the U.S. and Mexico.
Quaero – Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, Quaero helps clients build long-lasting, profitable relationships with their customers. Its scalable customer data platform and advanced analytics capabilities ensure that insight derived from data guides every interaction across all channels. Specialties include: multi-channel marketing, cross-channel customer interaction, customer strategy, customer intelligence, database marketing, analytics, and customer segmentation.
Railinc – Railinc (Cary, North Carolina) is the railroad industry’s most innovative and reliable resource for IT and information services. It supports business processes and provide business intelligence that help railroads and rail equipment owners increase productivity, achieve operational efficiencies and keep their assets moving. Railinc is the industry’s largest and most accurate source for real-time interline rail data.
Raytheon – Raytheon Company, with 2013 sales of $24 billion and 63,000 employees worldwide, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, security and civil markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 92 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as cyber security and a broad range of mission support services. Raytheon is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts.
RTI International – RTI (Research Triangle Park, North Carolina) is one of the world’s leading research institutes, dedicated to improving the human condition by turning knowledge into practice. Its staff of more than 3,700 provides research and technical services to governments and businesses in more than 75 countries in the areas of health and pharmaceuticals, education and training, surveys and statistics, advanced technology, international development, economic and social policy, energy and the environment, and laboratory testing and chemical analysis.
Sensus – Sensus (Raleigh, North Carolina) is a leading clean technology solutions company offering smart meters, communication systems, software and services for the electric, gas, and water industries. Sensus technology helps utilities drive operational efficiency and customer engagement with applications that include advanced meter reading, data acquisition, demand response, distribution automation, home area networking and outdoor lighting control.
The J. M. Smucker Co. – A $6 billion consumer product goods company headquartered in Orrville, Ohio, The J. M. Smucker Company has been family run for four generations. Since 1998, the company has appeared on Fortune Magazine’s annual listing of best companies to work for.
Volvo Trucks – Volvo Trucks N.A. (Greensboro, North Carolina) is part of the Volvo Group, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of trucks, buses, construction equipment and marine and industrial engines. The Volvo Group employs 115,000 people and has production facilities in 19 countries. It is a publicly held company headquartered in Göteborg, Sweden.
Learn about how to sponsor a practicum project in the future.