The International Cost Estimation and Analysis Association (ICEAA) held its 2018 Annual Workshop in Phoenix, Arizona on June 12th through June 15th. This annual forum boasts the premier networking and knowledge sharing opportunity across the international cost community. Cost analysts across the world gather once a year to share research, engage in training, and shake hands across companies and at all levels of leadership within the industry.

Each year Technomics employees contribute to this event, but in 2018, our team stole the show! We presented 11 separate research papers (15% of the industry total selected submissions), provided 20% of the training sessions offered, and assumed leadership roles critical to the successful execution of this year’s workshop!

Highlights

Let’s take a quick look at some of the highlights of the conference!

2018 Best Paper Overall Winner:
Eric Lofgren presenting, “Cost and Competition in U.S. Defense Acquisition”

 

2018 Junior Analyst of The Year:
Marc Stephenson

 

Our 2018 Technomics Team

A little bit more about roles, accomplishments, and contributions!

Omar Akbik

2018 Paper/Presentation
Social Media and Submarines: How Machine Learning and Unconventional Methods Can Change Cost Estimating (TI01)

2018 Trainings
Inflation (CEB05)
Risk Analysis Basic (CEB09)

Omar Akbik is a lead analyst with Technomics specializing in analytics, cost analysis, and strategic advisory. His work focuses on interagency data and technology integration as well as analytical analysis of federal programs. He has previously supported life cycle cost estimating, alternatives and business case analysis, as well as application development for various clients throughout the federal space. Mr. Akbik is a Certified Cost Estimator/Analyst (CCEA), a PMI-Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP), and holds degrees in economics and finance.

Remmie Arnold

2018 Leadership
Conference Training Chair

Remmie Arnold is a CCEA certified cost analyst at Technomics Inc. He has been a member of ICEAA for 5 years and served as an ICEAA Workshop Training Chair from 2015 – 2018. Mr. Arnold currently supports the Missile Defense Agency’s Aegis BMD programs through cost research, annual budget development, life-cycle cost estimating, and documentation review. He currently holds a B.S. in Statistics from Virginia Tech and is working on an M.S. in Applied Economics at Johns Hopkins.

 

Peter Braxton

2018 Paper/Presentation
Risk-Adjusted Contract Price Methodology (RU02)

2018 Trainings
Advanced Probability and Statistics (ACT05)
Regression Nonlinear/Multivariate (PAR03)

Peter J. Braxton is a Senior Cost Analyst at Technomics, where he currently serves on the Training and Outreach Team for the Cost Assessment Data Enterprise (CADE). He has also supported the Air Force Cost Analysis Agency, Naval Center for Cost Analysis, and Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army – Cost and Economics on data collection and cost research efforts, and Defense Acquisition University on curriculum development. Peter has been recognized by ICEAA for Service to Society (2013) and Education (2007).

Rick Collins

2018 Paper/Presentation
An Empirical and Visual Tale of a Cross-Country Bicycle Adventure (CP01)

Rick Collins is Technical Director and former CEO of Technomics, Inc. He has more than 37 years cost analysis experience, including 26 years in the private sector at SAIC and Technomics and 11 years in the government at the Naval Center for Cost Analysis (NCCA). He was awarded the 2017 ICEAA National Estimator/Analyst of the Year Award for Contributions in Management. He rode his Specialized Sequoia across the U.S. in the summer of 2017.

Jackie Dalton

2018 Trainings
Learning Curve Analysis (CEB07)

Jackie Dalton is a Senior Associate at Technomics, Inc. with almost two years of experience performing cost analysis and estimation associated with developing, producing, operating, and supporting military programs. Currently, she is providing vital support to the Navy’s Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program (SEWIP) Block 3 program within PEO IWS 2E. Previously, she supported life cycle cost estimating for U.S. Customs Border and Protection (CBP) within DHS. Jackie holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the Pennsylvania State University and is pursuing an Accelerated Masters Program in Systems Engineering from the University of Virginia.

Sandi Enser

2018 Paper/Presentation
Using Sustainment CSDR Data (AO03)

Sandi Enser has supported DoD in a variety of cost estimating and systems engineering roles. She has been a senior analyst at Technomics, Inc., for eight years. She serves as the Sustainment SME for the Defense Cost and Resource Center (DCARC) at OSD CAPE. She is responsible for implementing and monitoring contractor sustainment reporting for all DoD services. She holds an MBA from George Mason University and a BA in Economics from Smith College.

 

Thomas Harless

2018 Trainings
Risk Analysis Basic (CEB09)

Thomas Harless is a CCEA certified cost analyst with over five years of experience at Technomics, Inc. He has been a member of ICEAA for 5 years. Thomas currently supports SPAWAR 1.6, developing and maintaining life-cycle cost estimates for several program offices. He holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Virginia.

 

Ryan Horn

2018 Trainings
Regression Linear (PAR02)

Ryan Horn is a Lead Analyst at Technomics, Inc. in Arlington, Virginia where he specializes in training, learning material development, and other pedagogical efforts for Cost Analysts within the Department of Defense. He previously served as an Implementation/Training Consultant in the Healthcare IT industry and also served as a Financial Auditor at a Big 4 CPA firm. Ryan holds a M.S. in Marketing and a B.S. in Accounting and Information Systems from Virginia Tech.

 

Eric Lofgren

2018 Paper/Presentation
Best Overall Winner: Cost and Competition in U.S. Defense Acquisition (AO05)
Processes of Weapon Systems Acquisition (CP10)

2018 Trainings
EVM Advanced (ACT12)

Mr. Lofgren works for Technomics, Inc. and supports the Cost Assessment Data Enterprise (CADE) project for OSD CAPE which collects and makes available contract cost and earned value data. In this role, he also supports special economic studies and independent cost assessments. Mr. Lofgren has won best papers at ICEAA in 2017, 2016, 2014, and 2013. He holds an M.A. in economics from George Mason University.

Patrick McCarthy

2018 Paper/Presentation
Exploring How Systems Age (and Fail) and the Impact on O&S Cost Estimates (AO07)

2018 Trainings
Manufacturing Cost Estimating (ACT06)
Learning Curve Analysis (CEB07)

Federal and private industry performing cost analysis and Industrial Engineering studies. He has previously worked as a Cost/Price Analyst and Team Lead with Booz Allen Hamilton and the Army Contracting Command and as a Senior Industrial Engineer and Team Leader with General Dynamics Land Systems. Pat is CCEA certified and holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in Industrial Engineering from Purdue University.

Stephanie Myrick

2018 Paper/Presentation
Potential Impacts of Non-Major Program Data Collection on Cost Estimating (AO01)

Stephanie Myrick is an analyst at Technomics, Inc. with experience in data collection, economic analysis, and project management. She supports the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation (CAPE) Defense Cost and Resource Center (DCARC). While supporting this client, she leads the Navy team, enforcing cost and software data reporting (CSDR) requirements, assisting stakeholders through the planning process, and validating contractor cost data.

Orly Olbum

2018 Paper/Presentation
An Empirical and Visual Tale of a Cross-Country Bicycle Adventure (CP01)
Risk-Adjusted Contract Price Methodology (RU02)

Orly Olbum is an Associate with Technomics, Inc. She has one year cost analysis experience and is currently performing data acquisition and database management for the Air Force Cost Analysis Agency (AFCAA), as well as supporting Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) 1.6. She graduated from Penn State with a BS in Statistics.

Rachael Pascale

2018 Trainings
EVM Advanced (ACT12)

Rachael Pascale is a cost analyst at Technomics, Inc., with four years of cost experience. She has supported major US Navy acquisition programs through lifecycle cost estimates, cost drills, and earned value management in addition to supporting the Department of Homeland Security Cost Analysis Division with database mapping, supporting independent cost estimates, and reviewing LCCEs. Ms. Pascale earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Virginia Tech.

Jeffrey Pincus

2018 Paper/Presentation

Social Media and Submarines: How Machine Learning and Unconventional Methods Can Change Cost Estimating (TI01)

Jeffrey Pincus is a Senior Associate at Technomics, Inc. focusing his work on developing data analysis capabilities, as well as helping the Government solve their analytical challenges. Prior to Technomics, Jeffrey worked as an economist at AECOM, specializing in economic development and big-data models. In his tenure as an economist, he performed feasibility and analysis studies for projects around the U.S and Latin America.

Kenneth Rhodes

2018 Paper/Presentation
Software Data Collection and Analysis for Proposal Evaluation (SW06)

2018 Trainings
EVM Advanced (ACT12)

Ken Rhodes is a CCE/A certified Senior Analyst / Project Manager at Technomics. He has ten years of experience performing cost analysis and acquisition support for the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and OSD, and specializes in the areas of software development and advanced radar life-cycle cost estimating. He has performed multiple Business Case Analyses (BCA), Integrated Baseline Reviews (IBR), and cost / price assessments for defense programs.

Nicole Robertson

2018 Paper/Presentation
Robust Non-Design, Code, Test, and Integration Cost Estimating Relationships (EA08)

2018 Trainings
Inflation (CEB05)

Nicole Robertson is a Senior Associate at Technomics, Inc. supporting the Missile Defense Agency (MDA). Prior to time at MDA, Ms. Robertson was a microbiologist supporting Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division. She has a Bachelor’s in Biology from Moorehead State University.

Amy Schmidt

Amy Schmidt is a CCE/A and PMP certified Senior Analyst with Technomics specializing in cost analysis, decision support, financial management, and portfolio management. She has 20+ years of experience in various financial roles and is currently supporting the Department of the Navy Office of the Chief Information Officer performing cost analysis and project management for electromagnetic spectrum reallocation efforts. Ms. Schmidt holds degrees in Cost Analysis, Business Administration, Finance, and Accounting.

Abigail Snoznik

2018 Trainings
Cost Estimating Techniques (CEB02)

Abby Snoznik is an analyst at Technomics, Inc. She has just under two years of experience working for the Cost Analysis Division at the Department of Homeland Security. She currently specializes in ships and aircraft cost estimating performing independent cost assessments for the department. Abby earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Pennsylvania State University.

 

Britt Staley

2018 Leadership
Papers Program Track Chair

2018 Paper/Presentation
Robust Non-Design, Code, Test, and Integration Cost Estimating Relationships (EA08)

Britt Staley is a Lead Cost Analyst at Technomics, Inc. supporting the Missile Defense Agency (MDA). Prior to her time at MDA, Ms. Staley was a cost analyst supporting Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division and a statistician at the U.S. Census Bureau. Ms. Staley served five years in the US Army as an Intelligence Analyst and has a Master’s in Applied Economics from Georgetown University.

Marc Stephenson

2018 Paper/Presentation
Investigation of the Disconnect Between the Use of CSDRs Cost and Contracting Communities (CP09)

Mr. Stephenson is an analytical consultant at Technomics, Inc. with experience in data collection and validation. His experience at Technomics, Inc. includes supporting OSD Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation (CAPE) Defense Cost and Resource Center (DCARC). Mr. Stephenson’s experience supporting this customer includes implementing the cost and software data reporting (CSDR) requirement, metric analysis, data validation, and direct on-site client support. Mr. Stephenson holds a B.S. in Economics from Penn State and is pursuing an M.A. in Economics from George Mason.

 

Tampa Here We come!

The 2019 Conference will be in Tampa, Florida next year! If you want to take advantage of this great opportunity to network and knowledge share, ensure you submit your abstracts by November 5, 2018. Hope to see you there!