Princeton Consultants

Join us for an Analytics+ #2025Analytics Workshop: Data-First Best Practices & Integrations with Princeton Consultants & Databricks with Irv Lustig and Siddhesh Pore Many O.R. and Machine Learning textbooks and guides focus on the models and algorithms. Automated machine learning software assumes that your data is in an easily consumable format. Optimization software providers often give examples assuming that data is organized in data structures appropriate for modeling languages or programming idioms. In the real world, data is messy, and this workshop will address how to handle this challenge and achieve outstanding results. Significant work is required to organize and understand data and to successfully deliver advanced analytics solutions. Irv Lustig will discuss a “Data-First” approach and, using examples, illustrate best practices for organizing data for machine learning and optimization with considerations for deployment in applications. Irv will also discuss the pitfalls that can occur by not taking numerous data-related issues into account when developing an application. Siddhesh (Sid) Pore of Databricks will then discuss how Databricks’s Data Intelligence platform enables building optimization techniques on the platform. Sid will present an overview of Databricks and its ability to handle large-scale data processing and analytics. Sid will delve into the integration of solvers within the Databricks environment, discussing various implementation options and best practices. The core of the discussion will focus on how Databricks can be used to prepare data, build optimization models, and efficiently solve complex decision problems at scale. Sid will cover the process of integrating solvers, managing data flows, and visualizing results. Commercial-grade solvers like Gurobi Optimization, along with data and analytics platforms like Databricks, are increasingly being used by businesses to address optimization challenges. These platforms help prepare data inputs and turn solver outputs into actionable applications. To illustrate these concepts Sid will present a live demonstration, using Gurobi as the solver, walking step by step through integrating solves within Databricks.

Interest in #optimization and #AI is strong in Mongolia, as seen in this video of the launch party in Ulaanbaatar for the newly translated The Optimization Edge by Steve Sashihara. Bolor Jargalsaikhan and Data Deus are encouraging Mongolian executives to identify and cultivate optimization opportunities.

Exciting news from Ulaanbaatar! The Optimization Edge by Steve Sashihara was translated into Mongolian by optimization practitioner and entrepreneur, Bolor Jargalsaikhan, who has made it her mission to popularize optimization in her country. The launch party was a big success and hundreds of copies have already been sold. English-speaking businesspeople interested in this useful introduction to #optimization can buy it on Amazon Kindle: https://lnkd.in/enDiB5VC

At our year-end firm meeting, Bob Steen discussed an assessment of optimization opportunities, entailing a series of executive interviews, with a national leader in HR and related services.

At our year-end firm meeting, Robert Randall discussed best practices to ensure robustness in data and model results.

At our year-end meeting Michele Belfort-Mihalyi discussed Canada's Enhanced Train Control (ETC) initiative, which will entail a staged process with successive levels of implementation. Compliance is anticipated by 2030.

At our year-end firm meeting, Steve Charbonneau, Heath Hevlow, Attila Mihalyi and Brian Yu discussed the development of a project estimation and cost tracking software application. #projectmanagement

Season’s Greetings!   We are delighted to share that we are making a donation on behalf of our clients and friends to Experience Camps, https://lnkd.in/deiNh6q4, which provides free, one-week summer camps and yearlong services for children grieving the loss of a parent, sibling, or primary caregiver. Through community-building and fun, they offer a transformative experience that helps children feel less alone, build resilience, and develop lifelong skills to navigate their grief. Building hope and healing since 2009, this outstanding organization serves children nationwide and maintains a four-star rating on Charity Navigator.   May you and your loved ones enjoy the holidays. All the best in 2025!

At our Q4 firm meeting, Irv Lustig cited the mathematician Augustus De Morgan and the aerospace engineer Edward Murphy Jr. in discussing in software development the importance of preparing to handle all errors with proper logging.

We enjoyed our Q4 firm meeting and reception, kicked off by Steve Sashihara, on Friday at Princeton University's Quadrangle Club.