Kelley College of Business hosts annual Ray Lewis Lectures

(ABILENE, Texas)–On Sept. 25, the Kelley College of Business hosted its annual Ray Lewis Lectureship in the Johnson Building Multipurpose Room. Dr. Peter Maynard, senior vice-president of global capabilities at Equifax, brought this year’s message on data analytics and artificial intelligence.

“The main purpose for analyzing data is to make better business decisions,” explained Maynard. He highlighted the resurgence of data as a significant factor of economic studies, as the practice of utilizing data in economics began hundreds of years ago. Maynard stated that “in 1776, Adam Smith used data capture to underscore his point about the economy,” to emphasize his point that as early as the 18th century, economists like Adam Smith wrote about data analysis in works like The Wealth of Nations. Now, Maynard stated, data analysis can be applied to a variety of efforts, including improving the way artificial intelligence works.

“Dr. Maynard’s gift is in taking complex systems and simplifying them. He shared with us the importance of truly understanding data,” said president of HSU, Eric Bruntmyer.

Logan Ingram, a senior at HSU, speaks with local business professionals at the Ray Lewis Lectures.

As vice president, Maynard aims to combine Equifax’s extensive data resources and the data owned by colleges and universities. He leads the “Global Capabilities team that focuses on identifying and driving innovative data and analytics solutions,” and “his responsibilities include analytical product development and innovation, identity linking and matching, identity fraud solutions, as well as data and model governance across Equifax’s global markets,” according to Equifax’s website.

During his undergraduate years, Maynard attended the University of Rhode Island, before moving to Tennessee to complete both an MA and a Ph.D. in Economics at the University of Tennessee. Upon finishing his postgraduate degree, Maynard accepted a position at Virginia Commonwealth University as a senior research associate. He later worked as an outcomes analyst with Heritage Information Systems before serving in various roles with Capital One from 2002 to 2013. Maynard then began working for Equifax in December of 2013.

According to Dr. Robert Tucker, interim dean of the Kelley College of Business, the Ray Lewis Lectures began when Ray and Jimmy Kate Lewis donated the funds to host an annual luncheon and lecture “to bring prominent speakers to HSU to address a mixed audience of business professionals and students.” The lectures are held each year in the fall semester and business students are invited to attend and network with local professionals.