Hi Vet Forum,
The Edelman Award Committee Chair, Don Kleinmuntz, has asked us to share this volunteer opportunity with the forum. Please read on for more details and contact him directly if interested.
INFORMS and the Practice Section are pleased to sponsor the Franz Edelman Award, with finalists competing for the award at the 2027 Analytics+ conference and the winner announced at the Edelman Gala banquet on Monday night of that conference. The Award highlights outstanding contributions of operations research and advanced analytics in the for-profit, non-profit, and government sectors. The purpose of the Franz Edelman competition is to bring forward, recognize and reward outstanding examples of operations research, management science, and advanced analytics in real-world practice. For more about the award, see
Franz Edelman Award - INFORMS
The Committee is responsible for evaluating and selecting semi-finalists and finalists for the award. We are seeking approximately 5 new members for the committee (the exact number will be determined by the number of previous committee members who choose to leave the committee). To be eligible to serve, you must be an INFORMS member and not currently serving on another INFORMS level award committee for 2027. (Subdivision/community level awards or service on 2026 award committees are not a problem.) Work will commence October 1, 2026. There will be several conference calls through the end of December and a subset of committee members will be selected to serve as verifiers, coaches, or judges, with responsibilities extending through the Analytics+ Conference (date to be determined but likely sometime in April 2027). Assume a time commitment of about 40 hours, including conference calls and off-line work to review application materials. Verification of semi-finalists, coaching, or judging activities would add to that total time commitment. Serving as a coach ideally involves registering for and attending the 2027 Analytics+ Conference. Serving as a judge absolutely requires attending the conference for the full duration of the competition presentations and the post-competition deliberations. Typically, this takes place on Monday of the conference.
The skill set required includes:
- Able to read and evaluate a broad range of projects covering a cross-section of Operations Research, Management Science, and advanced analytics methodologies, and at least a Masters degree in a related discipline. Doctorate preferred.
- Significant experience with implementation of sophisticated models and methods in complex real world practice settings. Breadth of experience is preferred to depth within any one method or industry.
- Schedule flexibility to prepare for and participate in three hour long conference calls during the work day in the United States (8 am to 6 pm US Eastern Time, Monday through Friday).
- Prior experience with the Edelman Award either as a committee member or a contestant is preferred, but other experience will be considered.
If you are interested in this opportunity, please reach out to Committee Chair Don Kleinmuntz as soon as possible, but no later than August 20. My email address is don@kleinmuntzassociates.com. Include a summary of your qualifications, including any past experience on the Edelman Committee, and a link to a professional bio (e.g., your LinkedIn page).
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Kathryn Walter
Senior Operations Research Analyst
Avista Corporation
Spokane WA
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