CIO Magazine: INFORMS’ CAP program ‘pays off’

INFORMS’ Certified Analytics Professional (CAP®) program was recently listed first by CIO magazine among the “11 Big Data Certifications That Will Pay Off.” Created by the largest society in the world for professionals in the fields of analytics, operations research and management science, INFORMS’ CAP exam is given at hundreds of computer-based testing centers worldwide through an agreement with Kryterion (a full-service provider of customizable assessment and certification products and services).

Eligible candidates for the CAP certification exam can now choose to schedule their exam through INFORMS’ online testing center partner Kryterion, as well as strategic partnerships with colleges and universities and testing and training companies. Kryterion provides more than 700 testing locations (including 400 in the United States) in more than 100 countries. CAP exams can now be scheduled almost any day of the week and at a time and location that best suits the candidate. Exam locations can be found at http://www.kryteriononline.com/host_locations/.

Introduced in the spring of 2013, the CAP program was created by subject matter experts, many of whom are INFORMS members. The CAP credential is designed for general analytics professionals in early- to mid-career. The exam is based on a rigorous job task analysis, and it is vendor- and software-neutral.

Candidates can apply at www.informs.org/applyforcertification. Upon payment, eligible candidates receive an online voucher to present on the Kryterion site.

Benefits of analytics certification include the ability to advance one’s career by self-identifying as a professional that sets you apart from the competition, as well as a strong sense of satisfaction in earning an industry developed credential. The CAP designation demonstrates a continuing commitment to maintain or increase one’s level of knowledge through a mandatory continuing education obligation.

The CAP program assists hiring managers in selecting analytics talent, and it shows that an organization hiring CAP professionals follows best analytics practice.

The following individuals received CAP certification during the first half of 2014:

Brian Backer, Johns Creek, Ga.

A. Dwayne Ball, Lincoln, Neb.

Eriketa Bakiri, Cincinnati

Mehmet Begen, London, Ontario

William Bentley, Alpharetta, Ga.

David M. Blum, Arlington, Va.

Brad Boehmke, Dayton, Ohio

Alan Briggs, Odenton, Md.

Aaron Burciaga, Fairfax, Va.

Charles Burdick, Silver Spring, Md.

Fernanda Maria Campello de Souza,

Edmonton, Alberta

Ibrahim Capar, Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Andrew Churchill, Poolesville, Md.

Kelly Cormican, Virginia Beach, Va.

Elizabeth Dalton, Liberty Township, Ohio

Chao Deng, Morrisville, N.C.

Shannon Downs, Loveland, Ohio

David Durkin, Roswell, Ga.

Krista Elefante, Reston, Va.

Rachel Ferst, San Mateo, Calif.

Michele Fisher, Park South, South Africa

Daniel Ford, Bethesda, Md.

Nick Freeman, Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Peter Furseth, Dallas, Texas

Mark Gallagher, Fredericksburg, Va.

Ira Gershkoff, Ashburn, Va.

Nathaniel Givens, Williamsburg, Va.

Jessica Guo, Portland, Ore.

Brian Harris, Alexandria, Va.

Daniel Hudson, Hanover, Md.

Stephen E. Hunt, Jr., Sumter, S.C.

Alev Kaya, Summit, N.J.

Dong-Gook Kim, Dalton, Ga.

Andrew Kuoh, Washington, D.C.

Jon Kidder, Mount Pleasant, S.C.

Andrew Kiekhaefer, Coralville, Iowa

David Krahl, San Jose, Calif.

Robert Liebe, Stafford, Va.

Michael Maguire, Washington, D.C.

Craig Maxey, South Riding, Va.

James Muccio, Fairfax, Va.

David Munoz, Mexico D.F., Mexico

Joseph Olah, Elkton, Md.

Jonathan Owen, Beverly Hills, Mich.

Sung-Hee Park, Dalton, Ga.

Johann Pasion, Manchester, N.H.

Jesse Pietz, Monument, Colo.

Christopher Provan, Springfield, Va.

Scott Radcliffe, Roswell, Ga.

Nishit Shah, Maple, Ontario

Scott Smith, Arlington, Mass.

Wei Song, Mississauga, Ontario

Jason Southerland, Fort Belvoir, Va.

Eric Stephens, Nashville, Tenn.

James Stone, Reading, Mass.

Brando Sumayao, Chula Vista, Calif.

Matthew Wagner, Silver Spring, Md.

Rodney Zwainz, Crofton, Md.