University at Buffalo School of Management

Happy 100th During the first week of fall classes, School of Management students took a cake break to unwind and connect. Spring 2024 Buffalo Business 3 Centennial road trip: Chicago A n a n t h I y e r, S c h o o l o f Management dean, visited Chicago on Nov. 6 as part of the school's ongo- ing centennial celebration and met with a group of esteemed alumni from the area. The group gathered at The Smith in downtown Chicago for their first opportunity to meet the dean, and spent the evening shar- ing their insights on the best parts of their School of Management experi- ence, and how they can continue to support the school's efforts into the next 100 years. Joining the dean were: Anthony Falvo, BS '17, MBA '18, manager - global network planning and alli- ances, United Airlines Inc.; Thomas Kowalski, BS '75, senior advisor and director, Private Company Boards; Kevin Meszaros, BS '92, senior vice president, Marsh McLennan; Kevin Murray, '83, partner, Wexford Capital Partners; Brandon Tammaro, BS '15, vice president of strategic growth, Wow Bao; Danielle Vazquez, MBA '19, director of support services, Rush Medical College; and John Watts, BS '81, MBA '83, advanced analytics leader, Morning Consult. "It was wonderful to connect with fellow alumni in the city I now call home to discuss our shared passion for keeping the School of Management at the forefront of modern business," said Falvo. Dean Iyer will continue travel- ing to celebrate in similar ways with alumni nationwide in the months to come, and looks forward to meeting alumni across the country. Analytics/AI conference brings new perspectives to businesses and higher education As part of the School of Management's Centennial Conference series, organizers welcomed more than 130 attendees from 40 organizations to the inaugural Eastern Great Lakes Analytics Conference on Nov. 3 and 4, marking the first formal gathering of industry experts and academic researchers in Western New York dedicated to exploring the frontiers of data analytics and artificial intelligence. The first day of the event featured a prestigious lineup of industry speak- ers, including executives from M&T Bank, National Fuel, HiddenLayer and Lockheed Martin, who shared their expertise on real-world applications of data analyt- ics and AI. The next day, researchers from such renowned institutions as Cornell University, University of Rochester, University of Pittsburgh and the University of Toronto showcased their cutting-edge advancements in data analytics and AI, sparking engaging discussions on the impli- cations of these innovations for businesses. "The blend of academic and industry participation fostered a stimulating envi- ronment, enabling attendees to delve into the latest advancements in data analytics and AI while exploring their practical appli- cations," says Sanjukta Smith, chair and associate professor of management science and systems. Smith co-chaired the conference with Kyle Hunt, assistant professor, and Dominic Sellitto, clinical assistant professor, both in the school's Management Science and Systems Department. "The success of the Eastern Great Lakes Analytics Conference underscores our commitment to fostering innovation and collaboration in the field of data analytics and AI," says Ananth Iyer, dean of the School of Management. "As the region's premier business school, we are poised to continue leading the way in shaping the future of these transformative technologies and empowering businesses to harness their full potential." Additional conferences in the Centennial series include the Experience the Globe to Africa conference in Ghana held in January, and the Labor and Accounting Group conference at the School of Management coming up in April. Planning is underway for additional confer- ences in spring 2024. Centennial dinner at The Smith in Chicago Sanjukta Smith, Kyle Hunt, presenter Abigail Maines, BS '97, MBA '99, of HiddenLayer, and Dominic Sellitto.

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