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Food for thought
Business analytics feeds ongoing growth, according to this database architect from DineEquity.
by Anne Wainscott-Sargent
Q: What’s your favorite item on the IHOP or Applebee’s menu?
A: I have two on the Applebee’s menu—the oriental chicken salad and the new A1 Steakhouse burger.
Q: What will be the next big thing for your business?
A: Continual growth in providing business analytics—it’s more depth and breadth of the information base so the company can see different perspectives. It’s not that we’re adding a lot of completely new subject areas, as much as we’re expanding the existing ones—getting more information from the restaurants and from the franchisees.
Q: What accomplishment are you most proud of?
A: Being a part of the data warehouse implementation and growth at Union Pacific Railroad. I learned a lot. I saw a lot of innovation in the way data warehousing was used and how it could directly affect the bottom line of a business.
Q: Who has been your greatest mentor and why?
A: My greatest mentor was Betty Kight; she was my manager at Union Pacific. She had excellent management skills and was someone who epitomized the idea that you can accomplish whatever you set your mind to.
Q: What skill would you most like to improve?
A: Capturing ideas and acting on them. Because things are moving so fast and constantly coming at me, it’s hard to fully take advantage of an idea or opportunity—unless I write it down immediately. It’s the small things you do day to day, not the big ones.
Q: What is the best part of your day?
A: I’m an early-morning person. I like the quiet. I will go for a walk or read. It lets me prepare for the day and get my mind focused.
Q: What is your guilty pleasure?
A: Cinnamon rolls and onion rings, and “American Idol” on the side. Two of my children went to the local auditions for “American Idol” in Kansas City last year.
Q: If money were no object, what is the one thing you would purchase?
A: I would like to have a small farm with all of the necessary buildings and equipment. It would be a nice place for friends and family to come, get away and enjoy themselves.
Photography by Scott Hepler