Red Oak Strategic - About The Firm and Team

Red Oak Strategic employs a team with full-stack data science, analytics consulting, survey research and diverse client experiences to tackle client problems with innovative approaches. With skillsets across the spectrum, including cloud-based infrastructures, diverse coding platforms and industry-standard analytics tools, we're prepared to meet any data-related or research problem with a cutting-edge solution.

OUR HISTORY

Red Oak Strategic was founded in 2012 in Washington, DC by our CEO, Mark Stephenson, with the goal of helping clients fully integrate data and analytics into their organizations. At the time, the Red Oak team was designing and executing analytics programs at high levels in US politics, real estate and finance. We knew that by leveraging and applying innovative data science, predictive modeling, and data visualization tools, along with strategic consulting, clients could quickly realize efficiencies and automation in data processes and improve their business performance.

Since being founded 7 years ago, Red Oak Strategic has grown to a full-scale analytics and consulting firm, with clients ranging from Fortune 50 companies, hedge funds, private equity firms, real estate, political campaigns and organizations and marketing efforts. We work on global projects across industries, designing and building data-driven solutions, visualizations, and consulting our clients on how to leverage data science in their operations. We leverage leading-edge, industry skills and tools that other consulting firms fall behind on, while delivering custom, customer-focused value propositions in a quick, efficient way.

Mark Stephenson

FOUNDER & CEO

Mark is the founder of Red Oak Strategic and has worked in the data science, consulting and technology space for over 15 years. He pulls skills from his work as a data scientist, an analytics and data expert, software development manager, political campaign operative, as well as a unique set of technology skills to drive successes for clients.

He has worked with clients large and small in numerous industries, including finance, real estate, politics, supply chain, healthcare and other corporate verticals to design and build effective data science and analytics solutions.

Mark is widely quoted by media outlets as a data science and technology expert and in 2015 was named a top data scientist by Wired Magazine. He works in all phases of the data science pipeline, including data engineering, machine learning and analytics, reporting, management consulting and business strategy.

Patrick Stewart

VICE PRESIDENT

Patrick Stewart joined the team at Red Oak Strategic as VP of Accounts and Business Development. His background in politics and international business provides a unique approach to solving client challenges.

He draws on experience in database management and business intelligence as well as a keen interest in emerging technologies to develop tailored solutions for Red Oak Strategic customers. He works at Red Oak Strategic developing strategies and business solutions for trade association, political, finance and other clients.

Thomas Bacas

DATA SCIENTIST

Thomas Bacas is a Data Scientist at Red Oak Strategic. Before starting his career as a data scientist Thomas worked as a financial analyst at a mutual fund and a business operations analyst overseeing merger acquisition targets for a subsidiary of the multi-national corporation Arkema Chemical.

His experience is in financial analytics, predictive modeling, and other machine learning modeling techniques. Thomas graduated from Wofford College with a B.A. in Finance and Accounting.

Jake Russ

SENIOR DATA SCIENTIST

Jake Russ is a Data Scientist at Red Oak Strategic. He has over five years of experience in data science and predictive analytics in the public and private sectors. He also holds a Ph.D. in Economics from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia.

At Red Oak Strategic Jake uses his expertise in statistical modeling and big data technologies to help clients with their data analytics, visualization, and engineering needs. He builds custom data tools that inform the strategies of political and corporate clients.

Wyatt Dietrick

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Wyatt’s background is founded in both the political and private technology sectors. He offers clients a unique perspective in business development and consumer/voter targeting grounded in data driven strategies. Prior to joining Red Oak Strategic as a Managing Director, Wyatt served as a Senior Business Analyst at ServiceNow where he assisted in driving sales performance in the Federal and Healthcare sectors.

His career began as a political data operative at the Republican National Committee as a Regional Analyst in the 2015-16 election cycle. Following a successful election cycle providing data driven insights and strategy to over 25 State Parties and political campaigns, he served as the Deputy Data Director and Director of Analytics at the RNC during the 2017-18 election cycle. During this time, he oversaw the RNC’s predictive modeling program which was a main pillar in targeting voters throughout the country. Although he hails from Indiana, Wyatt was educated on the west coast, receiving his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at Loyola Marymount University.

Daina Andries

DIRECTOR OF FINANCIAL ANALYTICS

Daina joined the team at Red Oak Strategic as a data scientist after graduating with a Master of Science in Information (MSI) from the University of Michigan. She builds custom visualizations, web scraping tools, modeling strategies and analytics on behalf of trading and private equity firms, along with other Red Oak Strategic client verticals.

As a master’s student at Michigan, Daina honed her skills in programming, ETL, data analytics, and user experience research while working as a visualization consultant at the Clark Library, a special library for maps and geospatial data.