Business Forum Explores Analytics
Tru-Biz Forum speakers Michael Rejniak, Riley Bonnesen, Jason Ward, Hannah West and moderator Hannah Tucker.
The Tru-Biz Forum invites business leaders in a variety of fields to share their expertise and insights. The upcoming forum focuses on business analytics-related topics with renowned experts in the area, including Riley Bonnesen (’19), data analytics manager at JE Dunn Construction; Michael Rejniak (’96), lead information security engineer at Mastercard; Jason Ward (’96), director of data science at H&R Block; and Hannah West (’15), senior data analyst for Climate Corporation. The event moderator will be Truman student Hannah Tucker, accounting and management major.
Bonnesen leads the data analytics team at JE Dunn Construction, where he is responsible for empowering and developing business intelligence, automation and machine learning solutions. A 2019 economics major, Bonnesen was also a member of Delta Sigma Pi and the Bulldog Student Investment Fund.
Rejniak is a lead information security engineer at Mastercard in St. Louis. He is currently responsible for establishing a data-driven approach to network security automation and for management analytics. At Truman, Rejniak earned a degree in business administration and was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon, Interfraternity Council (IFC), Blue Key Honor Society and Financial Management Association.
Ward is director of data science at H&R Block (Machine Learning Lab) in Kansas City. He has been with H&R Block for more than four years. Previously, he was vice president of brand research, strategy and innovation with BrandIQ and had been director of consumer insights with DineEquity, Inc., where he owned the voice of the consumer across the Applebee’s brand and drove data-based decision making in the areas of product development, operations, marketing communications, strategy, retail design and brand positioning. Ward earned a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology at Truman.
West is senior data analyst on the business analytics team at Climate Corporation in St. Louis. She began her career in 2014 at Monsanto as an IT co-op working on the SharePoint team. She was hired full time at Monsanto in 2015 and spent several years there before moving over to the audit department to start her data analytics career.
All students, faculty, staff and local business people are welcome for inspiration and learning with the renowned speakers. The bridge ceremony and networking will follow the forum.
