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Design & Intelligence Lab, Center for Biologically Inspired Design, iDreem Lab
Georgia Institute of Technology
 

About Me
Family
Born the son of Ron and Irene Helms, I have three sisters, Marie, Kristen, and Kathy and three nephews, Johnathan, AJ, and the newest member Liam. I grew up in the Chicago suburbs, and with the exception of a brief stint for college in Urbana-Champaign, spent my first 30+ years in and around Chicago. I now reside in Midtown, Atlanta where I have lived for the last 8, enjoying life as an instructor and research scientist! I was recently married, June 6, 2015, to the beautiful and brilliant Laura Warner.
Education
PhD in Computer Science, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, 2013
MS in Computer Science, DePaul University, Chicago, 2004
BA in Finance, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 1999
Chicago
Originally from Chicago, an avid Bears fan and a die-hard Cubs fan. I lived in the Bucktown, Wicker Park, The Gold Coast, and Wrigleyville neighborhoods of Chicago.
Previous Careers
I worked for Teradata for 7 years as an Senior Industry Consultant in the Insurance and Financial Services division. I was awarded numerous honors at Teradata, including Teradata Consultant of the Year 2004, Consulting Excellence Award 2005, and numerous Consultant of the Quarter awards. I've been published in the Society of Insurance Researchers, AM Best, and Best's Review, and was a regular speaker at industry conferences. I still consult occassionally for Fortune 500 financial and insurance companies, primarily on aligning business goals with enterprise data strategy.
Biking, Hiking and Other Hobbies
I don't own a car, by choice. I have arranged my life so that I can bicycle everywhere, which keeps both me and the earth a little healthier. I also run, when my knees allow it and enjoy hiking with friends on the great trails found throughout Georgia. I could not get through life without music. For a sense of my musical tastes check out my pandora profile.