Welcome to the website of the ASA section on Statistical Consulting!

Statistical consulting is the most challenging and most rewarding part of statistics. A consultant uses the art and science of statistics to solve a practical problem. Problems come from many different fields, e.g. marketing, product design, manufacturing, medicine, agriculture, or genetics, but many of us specialize in just a few application areas. Some consultants work at universities or medical centers, some work in industry, and many run their own business. Good consulting requires a strong technical background in statistics, good people skills, and for many, a good business sense. Other sections of the ASA help with the technical aspects of statistics. The statistical consulting section is here to help with everything else.

Since Todd Nick is the Past Chair of our Section that also makes him Chair of the Nominations Committee. He has put together this impressive slate of nominations for this next year’s elections. I think you will agree that the section will be good shape heading into the future years. The nominees for each position are, in no particular order:

Chair-Elect

three-year term from 2013-2015 serving successive one-year terms as Chair-Elect, Chair, and Past Chair

1. Rick Ittenbach, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital
2. Walter Ambrosius, Wake Forest School of Medicine

Representative to the Council of Sections

three-year term from 2013-2015 replacing Raymond Hoffmann

1. Bin Huang, Cincinnati Children’s Medical Center
2. Stuart Gansky, University of California, San Francisco

At-large Member of the Executive Committee

two-year term from 2013-2015 replacing Clinton Brownley

1. Chris Holloman, Ohio State University
2. Charles Davis, CSD Biostatistics, Inc.

Publications Officer

two-year term from 2013-2014 replacing Jennifer Schumi

1. Christopher Swearingen, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
2. Chris Barker, Statistical Planning and Analysis Services, Inc.

The Directory of Statistical Consultants has been up and running and has proven helpful to members. Section members are able to post their availability and consulting expertise. Instructions can be found at the end of this newsletter pages 14 - 16.

The new edition of the Statistical Consulting Newsletter, edited by Christopher Swearingen, is here. Previous editions can be found in the Newsletter subsection of this web-site. Every issue has a variety of interesting articles. This issue includes info about the Section's events at JSM in Miami Beach and headlines and announcements of interest to the section. Thank you to Christopher for readily taking the responsibility and getting this out so quickly. Please check it out.

If you have ideas for topics for future newsletter articles, please let him know, particularly if you'd like to write one.

At the JSM in Miami the Section’s Executive Committee voted to create a new logo for the section’s website and publications. Chris Swearingen, our newsletter editor hired an artist to create our new look. This logo will be on our materials going forward.

Your comments, feedback and articles are appreciated.