Driving Business Transformation with Real-Time Analytics Using Apache Kafka and KSQL

Nick Dearden is a technology and product leader at Confluent, where he enjoys leveraging many years of experience in the world of data and analytic systems to help design and explain the power of a streaming platform for every business. Prior to Confluent, he led the data platform group for a leading online real-estate seller and was chief architect for a cloud-based financial analytics platform. His early career stretches all the way back through multiple data warehouse and business intelligence adventures to the green-screen days of mainframe banking systems.

John Thuma is currently the Director of BI Solutions at Arcadia Data. With 25 years of field experience, John has developed solutions for multiple vertical industries including: banking/financial services, retail, life-sciences, and others. John has also led very complex initiatives for Microsoft Corporation, SAP, and other software companies throughout all phases of the system development lifecycle.

Over 25 years of experience in business and IT consulting. Has successfully delivered complex strategic roadmap, digital transformation, solution architecture, custom development, and integration projects at leading companies in a variety of industries. Previous clients include AT&T, Daimler Chrysler, EMC, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Johnson Controls, Kraft Foods, Lufthansa, Sprint Canada, UPS and Walgreens. Specialized skills in business strategy, digital transformation, governance, solution development, big data, and data analytics.