Michael Watson is currently a partner at Opex Analytics and an Adjunct Professor at Northwestern University. At Opex Analytics he helps bring new analytics solutions to companies. Prior to Opex Analytics, he was a manager at IBM in the ILOG supply chain and optimization group. At Northwestern, he teaches a program on operations management and managerial analytics in the McCormick School of Engineering’s Masters in Engineering Management (MEM). He teaches optimization in Northwestern’s Master of Science in Analytics program. He holds an M.S. and Ph.D. from Northwestern University in Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences.

      Derek Nelson is currently a senior principal at OPS Rules and an Adjunct Professor at Northwestern University. At OPS Rules, Derek leverages analytics to help companies improve operational performance. Prior to OPS Rules, Derek held consulting, product management, and technical sales roles in optimization and supply chain software for LogicTools, ILOG, and IBM. At Northwestern, Derek has taught service operations management to undergraduates in the Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences department and will soon be teaching in the Master in Engineering Management (MEM) program. Derek holds an M.S. in Operations Research from Cornell University.