Following an early career in theater and film production and a 15-year career as a marketing executive in the television industry, Fran Reiter served as NYC Deputy Mayor for Planning and Community Relations and, subsequently, for Economic Development and Planning during Mayor Rudolph Giuliani’s first term. Her many accomplishments include authoring and overseeing the implementation of the Lower Manhattan Revitalization Plan, negotiating the citywide Adult Use Rezoning and the community agreement that led to the first Williamsburg rezoning, and leading the restructuring of the NYC Division of AIDS Services.

Fran left government service to run Mayor Giuliani’s successful 1997 re-election campaign then returned to the private sector, serving as President and CEO of the NYC Convention and Visitors Bureau (now NYC & Company) and Executive Director of the Joseph Papp Public Theater/NY Shakespeare Festival. In 2003, she was a founding partner of lobbying firm Reiter/Begun Associates which merged with J. Adams Consulting in 2011, creating the Reiter Giuliani Group, LLC, now RG Group. With 40 years of private and public sector expertise, Fran provides government relations, strategic advisement, and lobbying services to a diverse array of businesses and non-profit organizations.

At the request of Governor Andrew Cuomo, Fran returned to public service in November 2012 to serve as Executive Deputy Director of State Operations, overseeing all state agency operations and the realization of the Governor’s major enterprise-wide initiatives, including the implementation of the Office of Information Technology Services, the Business Service Center, and the eLicensing program. Fran returned to RG Group in September 2014 to head the firm’s Albany office. In early 2021, she retired from RG Group and established Reiter Consulting, LLC, providing strategic advisement to businesses and organizations doing or seeking to do business with New York City and State government.

In April 2023, Fran was named Executive Director of The NYS Forum. Fran has been an adjunct professor at New York University and the Baruch College School of Public Affairs. Additionally, she has been a guest lecturer at NYU, the New School for Social Research, and Columbia University.

Dr. Brandon Olson holds a PhD in Information Technology with a specialization in Project Management and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP). Dr. Olson is a Professor and director of the Master of Science in Applied Data Analytics and Master of Science in Project Management programs at the College of St. Scholastica. In his role at St. Scholastica, he teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in Data Analytics, Computer Information Systems, IT Leadership, and Project Management. Dr. Olson has several published works and presents on topics in data analytics, project management, portfolio management, and knowledge management. In addition to his scholarship and work at the college, he serves as a consultant in the areas of data analytics, project management, and project governance.
 

Yulia Kosarenko is a consultant, author, coach and course creator. Her career spans more than 25 years of bringing IT and business together through business analysis, architecture, analytics, and change management. She helped define business transformations in insurance, education, logistics, banking, payments, and pension investment industries.She is the author of the books "Business Analyst: a Profession and a Mindset" and "Business Analysis Mindset Digital Toolkit" and teaches analytics courses at Humber College in Toronto.Yulia is active in business analysis and analytics communities, leading webinars, speaking at conferences, coaching, and creating online courses. You can always find her at why-change.com.

 

Ryland Leyton, CBAP, PMP, CSM, is a business analyst, author, speaker, educator, Agile coach, and technology translator. He has worked in the technology sector since 1998, starting off with database and web programming, gradually moving through project management and finding his passion in the BA and Agile fields.

Ryland is passionate about strong analysis practice and prefers Agile environments where possible. He has built both Agile and waterfall SDLC processes for development teams, customizing each one to the challenges facing that particular client group.

Ryland is one of the authors of the Second Edition of the IIBA Agile Extension to the BABOK, as well as the IIBA Agile Analysis Certification.

He is an active member of the IIBA, speaks at local and national conferences on BA, PM, Agile and career development topics.

Rylands’ book "The Agile Business Analyst: Moving From Waterfall to Agile" is considered a standard in the Agile BA field. His 2019 publication of "It's About Your Career: Skills For A Lifetime Of Loving Your Work!" has become valued by those growing and guiding their careers. His most recent book (Adolph, Hastie & Leyton) “The Rock Crusher: A flow based model for backlog management”, is an in-depth how-to manual regarding best practices in backlog management.

Ryland can be reached via www.RylandLeyton.com and his courses and talks explored at RylandLeyton.Eventbrite.com.

Lori Ford, CBAP, CSM, CPO is a solution driven Senior Level Business Analyst with 25+ years’ developing company-wide software solutions for companies such as Gas South, Verizon Telematics, SP Richards, State Farm, ADP and UPS. Recognized for her ability to identify, design, and deploy innovative technologies to maximize profit and align with company objectives. Vast experience driving all aspects of system delivery life cycle employing BABOK techniques within the Agile framework. As a mentor, on-board and trained business analyst at Gas South.

Lori graduated from Troy University and recently moved back to Alabama after working in Atlanta, Ga for over 30 years. She is an avid golfer and college football fanatic. Specifically, the University of Alabama and the SEC. Lori volunteers with the Crossroads Career Transition ministry to educate, equip, and encourage people to maximum their potential to get the right job. She currently serves as President of her HOA.

Cindy Brummer, Creative Director and Founder, focuses on UX design, business development and company vision. She is a former TV news producer who transitioned into UX design in 2005. She is a UT grad (go Horns!), and her goal is to get better every day. (Ask her about the class she’s taking or the book she’s currently reading.) Her favorite part of her job is working with her team through the ideation process of discovery and design. Her least favorite part is squinting at spreadsheets. In her free time, she teaches UX/UI design as an adjunct professor at The University of Texas at Austin and coaches boxing as a Level 1-certified USA Boxing Coach for the YMCA of Austin.

Cindy is also the VP of Operations for the IIBA Austin Chapter.