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Today’s ACE spotlight is @mmontgomery! Keep reading to learn more about Matt and what makes him a unique Alteryx super user.
Tell us a bit about your professional background.
My journey with Alteryx began eight years ago, and from the moment I was introduced to it, I knew this was the direction I wanted to take for the next phase of my career.
After finishing a small use case with the tool, I started and built my consulting practice around Alteryx, specializing in helping clients leverage its diverse use cases. As an independent contractor, I primarily support Alteryx-based clients with enablement, project work, strategy, and more. Depending on the project's needs, I’ve either led teams or worked solo, always adapting to deliver the best results.
Before working with Alteryx, I spent 7-8 years in news media and sports journalism. During that time, I used Tableau at one of the news organizations I worked with to build dashboards. This caught the attention of local firms, leading me to a data visualization role. However, I realized that data prep was needed for dashboards, and I found that process more interesting.
Me (on the right in dark blue) following the 2022 Grand Prix. I competed alongside now-ACE Kelsey Kincaid (left in red), ACE Emeritus Ben Gardner-Moss (Teal), ACE and winner Claire McCollough (Light blue center), and Robert Annen (yellow) along with the amazing Alteryx staff (green and racing suits)!
What is your favorite Alteryx tool, and why?
I spent a lot of time thinking about this question but landed on the Formula tool. The tool's versatility and ease of use make it incredibly efficient for transformations. Compared to other software's versions of similar syntax, it simplifies the process significantly.
I particularly enjoy combining it with the capabilities of other tools—like parsing, data prep, and spatial functions—so it can serve as a one-stop solution for a variety of transformations. Without the Formula tool, these steps would require multiple different tools, making the workflow unnecessarily longer and more complex.
What has been your favorite Alteryx project? Can you tell us about the business problem you solved?
One of my favorite projects was managing a client's entire reporting migration after they switched ERPs. I can call it my favorite now because enough time has passed, but at the time, it felt like I was in a constant fire drill for three months straight. I inherited the project late and had to meet the original deadlines under intense pressure. It forced me to tackle a wide range of challenges—communication, project management, development, and change management—all at once.
In the end, I believe it was one of the most formative experiences in my career, as it prepared me to handle any future obstacles. I felt empowered by the leadership to do things the way I wanted to do them as long as the project guidelines were met.
We successfully delivered the scoped reports, using Alteryx for data preparation and Tableau for visualization. The client was thrilled with the outcome, which was a huge turnaround from where we started.
What advice do you have for new community members?
Alteryx offers a wealth of free, valuable resources to help you learn, including learning paths, weekly challenges, interactive videos, and lunch-and-learn sessions. Plus, the platform has a dynamic and supportive user community that can provide answers to your specific questions or offer solutions to common problems. Unlike many other software tools or programming languages, Alteryx supports your growth from beginner to expert, guiding you through each step while keeping you within the same ecosystem.
Me (on the left) with fellow ACE Alex Abi-Najm as I was his pit crew for the 2024 Grand Prix race.
What is your favorite way to engage as an ACE? Also, what area of the online community do you spend the most time in?
I'm brand new to being an ACE, so I'll have a better answer soon! I spend most of my time tackling weekly challenges or reading various blog posts. I like to stay up to date on new tool functionality and ways to solve problems better or rethink my approaches.
What discussion topic(s) could Community members tag you in for help?
Certifications (I have them all at the moment), non-standard use cases, business problems, weekly challenges, or working as an independent contractor.
What is one fun thing about you that community members might not know?
During my junior year at Marquette University, I interned in ESPN's research department at their headquarters in Bristol, CT. It was an incredible experience, where I had the chance to meet several on-air talents and serve as the 'go-to' data person for sourcing obscure stats, identifying trends, and validating data for content used across their TV programs like SportsCenter, Baseball Tonight, and ESPNNews. It was a fast-paced, high-stakes environment, and I learned how to quickly find and verify information to support the network’s content needs.
Me with actor Matt Jones, who plays the role of 'Badger' in the tv show 'Breaking Bad'. He was next to me when my friends and I went to LA for the Bears-Chargers game in 2023.
