Alter.Nation
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Today’s ACE spotlight is @cplewis90! Keep reading to learn more about Chris and what makes him a unique Alteryx super user.
Tell us a bit about your professional background.
I am a director of business intelligence and have spent almost a decade in analytics and BI in a wide variety of pillars in different organizations. I have been in HR analytics, finance, BI, merchandising, maintenance and equipment analytics, and a general enterprise analytics organization.
What is one fun thing about you that community members might not know?
I am a huge nerd and love doing analytics outside of work. I often think about how literally everything is data and numbers.
For example, my wife and I want to move closer to our family soon, and we are looking at Seattle. So this past weekend, I spent a bunch of time finding real estate APIs. I looked over the data and tried to create a breakdown of where we should look that’s within our price range and still has decent schools.
What is your favorite Alteryx tool, and why?
The interface tab is definitely my favorite, but the action tool takes the cake because of its versatility, and I like action.
What has been your favorite Alteryx project?
Creating heat maps using spatial analytics to figure out the best location for a new distribution center by leveraging the census data as well.
What is your favorite Alteryx memory?
It was definitely my first Inspire; it opened my eyes to the power of both community and Alteryx as a tool. I was a bit confined before the conference, but it opened me up to the possibilities and drove me to become an ACE.
What advice do you have for new community members?
Leverage all the free resources the Alteryx Community provides: interactive lessons, weekly challenges, certifications, learning paths, blogs, discussion forums, and user groups.
What is your favorite way to engage as an ACE? Also, what area of the online community do you spend the most time in?
Blogs are my favorite way to engage. I really enjoy interacting with the community, but it’s hard for me to engage by going out and answering discussion questions because I don't usually have the time during the day. So blogs are one of the easiest ways to dive into a topic and share knowledge (and I can write them at any time). And then somebody can go out and read a blog and understand more fully than they would from a simple answer or like a workflow provided. With blogs, you can get a little bit more in detail and a little bit more in the weeds. And you can throw your personality into it a little bit more.
Here are a few of the blogs I have written on the Community:
Alteryx Analytic Apps Introduction and Deep Dive Series: Part 1
Automate the Repetitive Stuff to Free Yourself Up to Focus on the Funner, Harder Stuff
Silly question... if you were a kitchen appliance/utensil, what would you be and why?
A spatula, because I eat a lot of burgers and pancakes—I just use it so often
Ok, now finally, let’s do a quick “This or That” to get to know your Alteryx preferences!
Tune in next week to meet another amazing ACE!
Want to learn more about what ACEs do and how to become one? Check out this page to see details about the program.
