Open to opportunities

Sam Edelstein

@samedelstein1

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Strategic data and AI leader with over 10 years of experience.

United States

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What I'm looking for

I am seeking a role that allows me to leverage my expertise in data and AI to drive innovation and efficiency, while fostering a collaborative and growth-oriented company culture.

I am a strategic data and AI leader with over 10 years of experience in building cloud platforms and shipping LLM products. My journey has been marked by a blend of hands-on technical expertise and business acumen, resulting in significant savings and efficiency improvements in various organizations. At Insight Venture Partners, I led the development of an LLM product suite that saved over 600 staff hours each month and scaled the Data & AI organization from a solo hire to a robust team of 8 FTEs and 10 offshore contractors.

My previous role as Chief Data Officer for the City of Syracuse allowed me to innovate and implement data-driven solutions that generated over $4.5 million in savings. I spearheaded initiatives like the predictive water-main program and smart street-light conversion, which not only saved costs but also enhanced community engagement through improved transparency. I am passionate about leveraging data to drive organizational success and foster a culture of accountability and innovation.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Vice President, Data & Analytics

Current

Insight Venture Partners

Jan 2023 - Present (2 years 6 months)

Led the development of an LLM product suite, automating HR application checks and powering earnings-call and 10-K analysis, resulting in significant time savings. Scaled the Data & AI organization from a solo hire to a team of 8 FTEs and 10 offshore contractors, directing agile pods to deliver AI products.

LLM GPT Data Architecture Snowflake Fivetran Agile Data Governance

Senior Director, Data & Analytics

Insight Venture Partners

Sep 2021 - Present (3 years 10 months)

Architected a cloud data platform integrating 12 data sources, underpinning custom GPTs and reporting for over 400 users. Enabled firm-wide ChatGPT adoption through prototypes, training, and guardrails, freeing over 2200 staff hours monthly.

Cloud Data Platforms GPT Data Integration Data Reporting User Training

Assistant Director, Alumni Relations

Syracuse University

Jan 2021 - Present (4 years 6 months)

Built segmentation models that increased event attendees and alumni engagement. Managed data vendors and supervised one direct report, contributing to improved alumni relations strategies.

Segmentation Data Management Vendor Management Alumni Engagement Data Analysis

Senior Consultant

BlueGranite

Jul 2020 - Present (5 years)

Modernized analytics stacks for public and private sector clients on Azure, significantly accelerating BI delivery. Engineered high-throughput ELT pipelines and data lakes for multi-TB workloads, producing high-value executive dashboards.

Azure Databricks Data Lake BI Delivery

Adjunct Professor

Syracuse University

Jan 2017 - Present (8 years 6 months)

Designed and taught graduate courses in Data-Driven Government, Data Visualization, and Data Science. Mentored over 80 students on applied-data projects, fostering practical skills in data analysis.

Data Science Data Visualization Data Driven Government Curriculum Development Mentoring Higher Education

Chief Data Officer

City of Syracuse

Mar 2016 - Present (9 years 4 months)

Built the city's first Office of Accountability, Performance & Innovation, securing funding and delivering over $4.5 million in documented savings. Implemented a predictive water-main program using machine learning and acoustic sensors, avoiding significant emergency costs.

Data Analytics Machine Learning IoT Public Sector Innovation Team Leadership Budget Management

Analytics Coordinator, Office of Innovation "i-team"

City of Syracuse

May 2015 - Present (10 years 2 months)

Modernized the city's data estate, integrating sensor feeds, GIS layers, and permit workflows into a centralized warehouse. Authored the city's first Open Data Policy and oversaw the implementation of a public data platform to enhance transparency.

Data Warehousing GIS Open Data Policy Data Management

Communications Associate, New Media

Cultural Tourism DC

Jan 2011 - Present (14 years 6 months)

Managed the social-content calendar and launched a mobile website. Contributed to digital media strategies and online presence.

Social Media Management Media Strategy

English Teacher

Ichung Middle School

Jan 2009 - Present (16 years 6 months)

Planned and delivered English curriculum for over 100 students. Developed teaching materials and managed classroom activities.

Curriculum Development Classroom Management

Research Assistant / Deputy PM

ICF International

Jan 2007 - Present (18 years 6 months)

Developed a mentor-matching tool for a federal client and co-managed a $300k budget. Authored survey reports adopted by multiple agencies, demonstrating strong analytical and project management skills.

Research Project Management Budget Management Survey Design Data Analysis

Education

Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework

Syracuse University

Bachelor of Arts, Economics & Policy Studies

Grade: cum laude

Graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics & Policy Studies. This program provided a strong foundation in economic principles and policy analysis.