Analytics Academy

Analytics Academy Launch - December 2020

Intro and Mission

Essex’s Data & Analytics team is excited to announce the launch of our new Analytics Academy this December!

The Analytics Academy is a program developed to help empower our data analytics talent at Essex, providing opportunities for networking, mentorship, and upskilling.  The Academy is kicking off this month, with plans to hold regular monthly meetups through 2021, and to help guide its members to progress individually along tracks to success by providing dedicated resources that hone analyzing skills best suited for their individual departmental roles.
 

  1. Academy Goals
    1. Identify and leverage specific tools, internal resources, and external education materials for upskilling
    2. Network with other advanced analysts at Essex, sharing tips and best practices
    3. Opportunities to present recent projects, receiving suggestions from Data & Analytics and others
    4. Earn internal certifications for key skills and tools
    5. Strengthen your internal business profile at Essex
    6. Understand Essex’s data assets, including recent and newly emerging data products
  1. Selected Academy Topics
    1. Mastering Excel Data Connections & Data Modeling
    2. Advanced Excel Analysis Tools
    3. SQL Basics for Data Access
    4. Power BI Dashboards
    5. Data Analytics with R
    6. Data Analytics with Python
    7. GIS Mapping for Real Estate
    8. Applied Statistics for Data Analytics
    9. Interactive Analytic Reporting with R
    10. Understanding ESS Data Assets
    11. Data Governance at Essex
  1. Who would want to join?
    1. If you are 1) currently in an analytical position at Essex, 2) have at least intermediate level Excel skills (e.g., Pivot Tables, Lookups, and Interactive Charting), 3) regularly conduct work that could benefit from a stronger analytics toolset and a better understanding of Essex’s data assets, and 4) are willing and able to commit time on upskill training and Academy meetups, then you could be eligible to participate in Analytics Academy.
       
  1. How to join?
  2. Our initial group has been determined for the December launch; however, there are limited opportunities to add new Academy members during Q1.  In order to join, you will need approval from a supervisor at Director-level or above, as well as from Paul Morgan, GVP of Data & Analytics, who is head of the Analytics Academy.  To inquire about membership, please contact AnalyticsAcademy@essex.com.
     
  1. Upcoming events
    1. Initial Kick-off meeting - Dec 18th
    2. January meeting - Jan 21st (preliminary date)
    3. February meeting - Feb 25th (preliminary date)
       
    Who we are – about Data & Analytics
     
  • Formed in 2019, Essex’s Data & Analytics Department assumed the company’s traditional functions of market research and business intelligence while adding contemporary advanced analytics and data engineering capabilities to order to meet the demands of our increasingly data-sophisticated and time-sensitive business. 
  • The Department operates a hub-and-spoke model, with core teams focused on building the company’s integrated Data Platform and on data science & advanced analytics to drive business value from new data insights and predictive & prescriptive analytics.
  • The Department also manages DART  (the Data Alignment & Resources Team), which is a network of business unit leaders formed in order to collaborate on data & analytics needs across the organization.  DART aims to reduce data project redundancy, communicate data initiatives to all relevant stakeholders, and organize working groups to coordinate decision-making around data and analytics that impact various business units across Essex.
  • Recent data products launched in 2020 by the Data & Analytics team include the following:
    • Daily Pulse BI Dashboard;
    • our proprietary Market Rent Survey and Daily Asking Rent report;
    • the Funnel Leasing Analytics report;
    • the SightPlan Maintenance Analytics report;
    • the Resident Migration report; and,
    • the interactive Supply Radar dashboard, and more!
August 13, 2021