Meet
Tom

My Story

As a senior data analyst for the University of Chicago, I consulted dozens of non-profits, government agencies, and businesses, whether that meant creating data dashboards, generating reports of key performance metrics, or building data infrastructure. Now, I want to bring that experience to your business!

Tom Ballard

Data Analytics and Infrastructure Consultant

Helping Your Business Make Use of its Data

I help businesses make use of their data so that they can make more informed business decisions. Whether that means automated reporting or data dashboards, I apply rigorous research-grade data methods to real-world business problems.

My Skills

Data Analysis & Modeling

Turn raw, messy data into clear insights and actionable decisions
Build predictive models to forecast outcomes (pricing, risk, demand, etc.)
Identify patterns and hidden relationships in complex datasets

Automation & Data Engineering

Automate repetitive data workflows and reporting
Integrate APIs and databases to streamline data collection
Build scalable pipelines that run reliably without manual intervention

Dashboards & Visualization

Create clean, interactive dashboards (Tableau, Power BI)
Translate complex data into simple visuals for decision-makers

Cloud & Scalable Systems

Deploy data solutions on AWS for reliability and scale
Handle large datasets and parallel processing efficiently

Who I have Consulted

As a senior analyst at the University of Chicago, I advised 50+ organizations across government, media, academia, and private sector — including:

Mayor’s Office of Chicago
University of Chicago
Chicago Tribune
Bloomberg
Illinois Attorney General’s Office
McKinsey & Company
CBS News
ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives)
World Business Chicago
The Atlantic

Testimonials

Javier Lopez

University of Chicago Crime Lab, Analytics Manager

"Tom was one of the analysts the University of Chicago Crime Lab relied on most for high-priority analytical work. He led a significant portion of the Public Affairs Analysis team’s projects and
consistently delivered rigorous analysis for executive leadership, media outlets, and external partners."