Buffalo State University
Data Science and Analytics Seminar Series Spring 2025
BACON 115 – 4:30 PM – 5: 45 PM
February 10, 2025 – BACON 115 – 4:30 PM – 5: 45 PM
Joseph Trapp
Founder and CEO
Third Estate Ventures, Inc.
Areas Covered
Detecting Government’s Artificial Inflation of Real Estate Prices
Open Data Portals and FOIL/FOIA that provides municipal data access
Land use controls (e.g. zoning) that shift value based on what is permitted in a particular area
Government failures to uphold laws shifting value from failed expectations
Crowdsourcing and other methodologies to access hard to acquire data (i.e. WhoseYourLandlord, CompStak)
Bio
Joe is a founder of Third Estate, which is focused on optimizing neighborhood value and physical conditions. Graduating magna cum laude in 2016 from the University at Buffalo School of Law with a concentration in Finance and Development, Joe focused his studies on community and economic development, as well as disruptive financial technologies. While in law school, he clerked for United States Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of General Counsel and received a fellowship from the New York State Association for Affordable Housing for his work on community development using a specialized homeownership and debt forgiveness method inclusive of revenue optimization for municipalities. Joe graduated from Colgate University in 2013 (Honors in History) and Nichols School in 2009 (cum laude). You can also find Joe at his family’s law firm, Greco Trapp PLLC, where he assists clients on matters concerning municipal and public interest law.
March 3, 2025 – BACON 115 – 4:30 PM – 5: 45 PM
Dr H David Sheets
Director of the Master’s Program in Data Science, Professor
Merrimack College
Areas Covered
Use of cross entropy to measure performance
Forensic Science
Adapting methods from AI to Human Examiners
Bio
Dr. Sheets was trained as a Physicist, but has worked for many years as an applied Data Scientist, working in a wide variety of collaborative, interdisciplinary teams to address a variety of questions. He has published scientific works in biology, entomology, forensics, paleobiology, physics, anthropology and art conservation. He is a co-author of a leading textbook in Geometric Morphometrics, a set of methods for carrying out hypothesis testing based on the shapes of non-human organisms. His current work focuses on approaches to measuring the performance characteristics of forensic firearms and handwriting examiners, and on data science approaches to the analysis of surface textures on art objects.
March 17, 2025 – BACON 115 – 4:30 PM – 5: 45 PM
Saverio Sam Marrazzo
CIO
Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus inc.
Areas Covered
From Reactive to Proactive: The AI Advantage – Why waiting for problems isn’t an option anymore—predictive analytics and machine learning are transforming road maintenance, resource allocation, and public safety.
AI Isn’t Just for Tech Giants – How cities, businesses, and even small organizations can leverage AI, automation, and real-time data streams to work smarter, not harder.
What’s Next? The Future of Data-Driven Problem Solving – From potholes to public transit, energy grids, and even government operations—AI is reshaping the way we think about efficiency.
Bio
Saverio “Sam” Marrazzo – Technology Innovator & AI Strategist Chief Innovation Officer at BNMC in Buffalo, NY, where he leads the development of cutting-edge technology strategies that drive innovation, security, and economic growth. With over 25 years of experience in IT strategy, architecture, and management, Sam has held leadership roles at Fortune 200 companies including Praxair, Avnet, and McGraw Hill, where he specialized in IT strategy, project management, and emerging technologies. Sam’s expertise spans AI, blockchain, healthcare, and sustainability, consistently pushing the boundaries of technology and user experience. He has been instrumental in launching impactful platforms such as: Ognomy (Telemedicine for Sleep Apnea) – Revolutionized sleep studies by enabling remote diagnoses and streamlining patient care. Green Project Technologies (ESG Emissions Tracking) – Developed an AI-powered platform to help private equity and law firms automate sustainability reporting. QAS.ai (AI for Endovascular Procedures) – Led the development of a real-time AI assistant for surgeons to improve decision-making during complex medical procedures. GrowerStats (Food-as-Medicine Initiative) – Created a platform integrating prescription-based nutrition programs with point-of-sale systems to improve food accessibility in underserved communities. Postpartum Depression Gaming Platform (University of Memphis) – Co-developed an AI-driven engagement platform to improve mental health research and survey participation. Blockchain Innovations at University at Buffalo – Contributed to blockchain-based projects in supply chain, digital identity, and data security. As an Adjunct Professor at the University at Buffalo School of Management, Sam has been teaching Product Management for over five years, mentoring students through real-world consulting projects. He also co created a Co-Op program that bridges academia and industry, giving students hands-on experience with local businesses. Sam serves on the Board of InfoTech WNY, actively advising startups and emerging tech companies such as OrderApetit, Ognomy, and Green Project Tech. A United States Navy veteran, he holds a BA in Business Systems from Daemen University and an MBA from the State University of New York at Buffalo. His mission? To bridge the gap between traditional industries and modern AI-driven solutions—using technology to solve real-world challenges and drive economic growth
March 31, 2025 – BACON 115 – 4:30 PM – 5: 45 PM
Dr Timothy Webb
Associate Professor & Graduate Director
University Of Delaware
Areas Covered
Importance of Domain Expertise
Knowing your stakeholder audience
Selling your model.
Bio
Tim Webb is an associate professor and the director of graduate programs in the Department of Hospitality and Sports Management at the Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics. He earned his Ph.D. in hospitality and tourism management from Virginia Tech. Dr. Webb has over 10 years of experience in the hospitality industry, holding both operational and corporate-level positions. Prior to joining the University of Delaware, he worked as a data scientist for Delaware North helping to lead the company’s analytics initiatives. He has worked on a number of innovative projects including pricing strategies for concessions at professional sporting events (MLB, NHL and NFL) and iconic locations such as the Rockefeller Center Ice Rink. His research interests are in the fields of revenue management and analytics for hospitality organizations.
April 14, 2025 – BACON 115 – 4:30 PM – 5: 45 PM
Invited Panel
Joseph F Miceli Jr.
Chief Operating Officer
Identity Fusion
Ralph Nicosia
Chief Financial Officer
Superior Lubricants Company, Inc
Eric Hepkins
Chief Executive Officer
Cornerstone Community FCU
Areas Covered
AI is driving a fundamental shift in how organizations verify, manage, and protect identity. With machine learning enabling adaptive, real-time access control, the boundaries of trust are being redefined.
AI is reshaping financial and operational strategy—enabling faster forecasting, smarter resource allocation, and enhanced agility in both manufacturing and service industries.
As autonomous systems make more decisions on our behalf, the question isn’t just what AI can do—but how it should do it. Building ethical frameworks for AI is becoming a critical business priority.
Bio
Joseph F Miceli Jr. is a seasoned technologist and strategist specializing in the intersection of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and digital identity. With over three decades of experience advising Fortune 500 companies and government agencies, Miceli brings deep expertise in applying AI and machine learning to solve complex challenges in Identity and Access Management (IAM). His recent work explores the convergence of AI/ML with autonomous identity systems and the implications of quantum computing on cybersecurity frameworks. Miceli is passionate about shaping ethical and secure AI-driven solutions for the future of digital trust.
Ralph Nicosia is a Senior Financial and Organizational Leader with extensive financial and operational experience specializing in manufacturing and service environments. Undergraduate and post graduate degrees from Canisius University. BS Accounting and Strategy. Experience with public, private, family-owned, and private equity backed organizations. International experience in China, Mexico and Canada.
Eric is a Western New York native with over twenty-five years’ experience in banking and technology. His experience offers a unique perspective, having held senior executive positions in both large global banking as well as small community banking, before finding his true passion with credit unions. His mission is to build-up communities and people through using his gifts and talents to help them realize their potential. In Eric’s current role, he serves as Chief Executive Officer for Cornerstone Community FCU, a Western New York based credit union with approximately $670 million in assets, forty-three thousand members, six branches, and one-hundred fifty employees. Through his tenure over the past seven years, Cornerstone has grown over $200 million in assets, from $425 to over $670 million, and increased it’s workforce by approximately 10% - while keeping costs consistent, growing net income, and delivering enhanced products and services to the membership – including expanding our Field of Membership, achieving record income, and launching a Commercial Lending program. Eric came to Cornerstone from HSBC Bank USA, NA where he held the role of Senior Vice President, US Head of Retail Transformation and Streamlining at HSBC Bank, NA. In this role he was accountable to deliver strategic change at a global and national level for the US Retail Banking and Wealth Management business lines running initiatives of both technology and non-technology-based transformative change. Additionally, he launched the US bank’s first ever project team to operate in an Agile format. Previous to this, Eric served as Head of Retail Banking for Evans Bank, a community bank in Western New York. In this role, he led sales and strategy for the Retail Bank, Wealth Management, Mortgage, and Consumer Lending. In this role, he also overhauled the retail program, including the development of new sales practices. He successfully launched a new relationship-based deposit customer proposition, and launched a new retail small business banking program. Eric holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the State University of New York, College at Geneseo and a Masters of Business Administration from the University at Buffalo, School of Management. Eric is involved in the Western New York community in many ways, including coordinating charitable events for Habitat for Humanity and the United Way. He serves on the Board of Trustees for the Aquarium of Niagara. Eric would like to be known as a Christian, a husband and a father. He has been blessed with five wonderful children, also an avid Ironman triathlete, marathon runner and cyclist.
April 21, 2025 – BACON 115 – 4:30 PM – 5: 45 PM
Danielle Ophir
Product Designer
Recovery Jobs
Areas Covered
In an agile tech landscape set on "Moving fast and breaking things", is there still need for user research and intentional design?
This talk will investigate the unique design challenges and opportunities of LLM-based products and explore how to elevate them through the Design Thinking for Innovation framework.
We will learn how to harness research, empathy, ideation, prototyping, testing and iteration to create LLM products that cut through the noise in an oversaturated tech environment.
Bio
Danielle is a Product Designer and a creative technologist currently working at Recovery Jobs, where she leads design for AI tools that support job readiness in recovery communities. With over a decade of experience across UX, product, and graphic design, she holds dual degrees in Communication and Studio Art, as well as certificates in UX/UI Design and Front-End Development. A Buffalo-based designer and Rising Tech finalist, Danielle brings systems thinking, empathy, and accessibility mindset to AI-driven solutions. Outside of work, she creates surreal digital games and shares questionable life advice through memes of her neurotic poodle, Ollie.
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