Daniel Smith

Current

Senior Solutions Engineer at Allianz Life

Past

Senior Performance Mgmt Reporting Analyst at Ceridian
Business Intelligence Architect at Select Comfort
Lead Business Analyst at Carlson Hotels Worldwide

6 more...

Education

TDWI - The Data Warehouse Institute
St. Cloud State University

Recommended

3 people have recommended Daniel

Connections

162 connections

Industry

Information Technology and Services

Websites

Daniel Smith’s Summary

Daniel Smith has worked in information technology related areas that now form the core of business intelligence since 1995. He has extensive experience in Data Visualization, Reporting, Analytics, OLAP, SQL and making sense of data. The majority of his Business Intelligence experience has been with Cognos (IBM); however, he also has significant working experience with six other BI vendors. Daniel graduated from Dassel-Cokato High School in Cokato, Minnesota and joined the United States Navy right out of high school. He served as a Nuclear Engineer for 10 years while also earning an Associates Degree from Idaho State University. Daniel then earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from St. Cloud State University. He is currently employed by Allianz Life Insurance Company in Golden Valley, Minnesota as a Senior Solutions Engineer where he is the lead Cognos engineer supporting a multi-server Cognos deployment (version 8.2) for over one thousand users. Prior to joining Allianz, Daniel worked as a Senior Performance Management Reporting Analyst for Ceridian and as a Lead Business Analyst for Carlson Hotels. Besides being a constant student of business intelligence, Daniel has also presented at Twin Cities Cognos User Group meetings and is a Cognos certified Business Intelligence professional.

Daniel Smith’s Specialties:

In addition to nearly 15 years of SQL experience, I also have extensive experience in specific business intelligence tools. Cognos - 12 years; CA CleverPath (formerly Platinum InfoReports) - 5 years; SQL Server Analysis Services - 4 years; Information Builders WebFOCUS - 2 years; Oracle BI EE (formerly Siebel Analytics / nQuire) - 1 year; Crystal Decisions Standard Edition - 1 year; Crystal Reports - 1 year

Daniel Smith’s Experience

Senior Solutions Engineer

Allianz Life

(Public Company; AZ; Insurance industry)

June 2008 — Present (1 year 2 months)

In my current role, I am the lead Cognos engineer supporting a multi-server Cognos deployment (version 8.2) for 1,100 users and includes Cognos Connection, Framework Manager, Analysis Studio, Report Studio and Query Studio. Responsible for acting as an advisory resource on multiple project teams, clarifying business requirements, performing application analysis and design. I am the chief designer for moderately large projects and create application/system documentation of moderately complex systems. I also evaluate, oversee, and guide work of external Application Development / Application Maintenance vendors.

Daniel Smith’s Education

TDWI - The Data Warehouse Institute

Business Intelligence 2000 — 2008

1) TDWI Webinar (03/03/2009): How to Make Ad Hoc BI a Reality for Non-technical Users by Wayne Eckerson, TDWI Director of Research. 2) TDWI Whitepaper (2009): Best of BI. The Calm After The Storm 2008 In Review. 3) BI Webinar (12/09/2008): Open Sesame: What You Need to Know about Open Source BI and Data Warehousing Featuring Claudia Imhoff, Ph.D. 4) 2008 BI Survey 7 by Nigel Pendse.

Activities and Societies:

Various BI webinars and continuing education.
St. Cloud State University

Bachelor of Science , Finance and Microcomputer Studies , 1993 — 1995

Activities and Societies:

Inducted into two prestigious scholastic honor societies - Beta Gamma Sigma and Phi Kappa Phi.