Olea Edge Analytics Hires Former Home Depot Data Scientist Wariya Erez as Director of AI & Analytics

• Stanford alum brings more than 20 years’ experience with Fortune 500 clients
• Created Home Depot’s first in-house developed personalized recommender system algorithm
• Olea expands technology team with second high-profile hire in two months

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Olea Edge Analytics, an intelligent edge computing platform for the water utility industry, today announced the addition of Wariya Erez as Director of AI & Analytics. Erez, a former Principal Data Scientist at Home Depot, brings more than 20 years of experience in transforming business visions into innovative data science solutions.

While at Home Depot, she led the effort to create the company’s first algorithm for a personalized recommender system, a Natural Language Processing model for guided shopping and defined data-focused product strategies. Prior to Home Depot, Wariya worked at a variety of technology companies building scaled data solutions.

Olea Edge Analytics uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to help cities identify problems with high-value commercial water meters and make more informed decisions on managing those assets.

“Our sensors attached to those meters generate tremendous amounts of data, but that goes to waste unless cities understand how to use it,” said Dave Mackie, Olea Edge Analytics’ founder and CEO. “Wariya has a proven track record of turning data into actionable insights for Fortune 500 companies such as Home Depot, AT&T and Best Buy. She’s a tremendous addition to our team.”

The hire is the latest high-profile addition to Olea’s technology group. In May, the company announced it had hired Ben Wilson, former Chief Technology Officer - Energy at Google, as COO.

“Olea’s platform uses AI and analytics in innovative ways to solve a real problem that cities and water utilities are facing,” Erez said. “It’s an exciting time to join the team, and I look forward to being part of this next phase of tremendous growth.”

After earning a master’s degree in management science and engineering from Stanford University, Erez served as the Director of Data Services at Moxie—a digital-first advertising and CRM agency. She led the analytics and data platform to help clients such as Best Buy and OfficeMax to develop data-driven loyalty programs.

Olea Edge Analytics’ recent partnership with the City of Atlanta - Department of Watershed Management serves as a model for cities interested in additional revenue, better asset management and operational efficiency.

To learn more about Olea Edge Analytics, visit oleaedge.com.

About Olea Edge Analytics

Olea's proven technology empowers utilities to optimize water delivery, billing and conservation so cities can generate millions more in revenue. Committed to helping water utilities combat aging infrastructure, meet greater demand and limit rate increases, Olea's patented solution combines IoT and edge computing capabilities to bring transparency, accuracy and reliability to the delivery of the world’s most precious resource. For more information, visit www.oleaedge.com.