by info-services@infotechinc.com | Apr 24, 2020 | Blog
For a business that is slow to hire and where colleagues often casually mention they have been on the team for 20 years, adding a team member is a meaningful move for Infotech Consulting. When Brooke Harmer joined the team, she didn’t have time to worry about fitting in – there was work to be done.
“I think that being interviewed by four people should be more intimidating than it actually was. I could really tell that everyone was super caring and interested in each other’s lives; like they genuinely seemed like friends, which was very different from any other interview I’ve been in and you could tell that they really loved the work.”
Brooke began her Infotech Consulting career as a part-time Case Development Specialist in the middle of one of the busiest seasons the company has ever had. While finishing her graduate degree, before going full time in June, she worked the long days and hard hours alongside her new team and her energy was – and continues to be – infectious.
“Brooke came in and hit the ground running and did an awesome job,” said Jodie Newman, Director of Case Development and the senior member of Brooke’s team. “She joined when we were in the throes of putting together not just one but two reports, being sent out the same day for the same case, and having that intense report experience so close to joining I think was really good for her. She totally rolled with the punches and did an excellent job and really helped us out.”
Prior experience is always helpful during a trial by fire, and Brooke was no stranger to the work at hand.
“I’ve been exposed to antitrust work before,” she said, “but this has been a lot more in depth than my previous work. There are way more projects to work on and I get to learn so much every single day, which was really important to me in a job. We get to work a little bit on everything, which I think is cool. There’s a lot of variety.”
In fact, she said, the variety is one of her favorite parts about Infotech Consulting, even before everything was shaken up when the coronavirus hit the United States. Now, the busy schedule of reviewing documents and depositions and cases and code is a digital collaboration.
The time at home has offered unique benefits and challenges to all, and Brooke has been using it to exercise and spend time with her parents’ dog.
“If I could have any pet in the world, I still want to say it would be my parents’ dog, because I really love that dog,” she said with a laugh. “Maybe a lioness.”
When work transitions back to the office, Brooke said she is excited to get involved in the sustainability initiatives Infotech has in place.
“I thought it was really cool when I got hired that the whole kitchen was plastic-free. I minored in sustainability studies,” she said. “I was like one class away from getting my second major in it, but I really wanted to start my masters in economics. I love how applicable it is or can be to so many different topics. I think that’s why I chose it; it’s a social science, but it is also very analytical. It’s both qualitative and quantitative.”
Case development is a lot of industry research, developing the story and figuring out the timeline and what happened when. It takes a lot of time and intense focus, and Brooke, the perfect fit for a team of consultants, enjoys every minute and has no plans to pursue anything else.
“I really love Infotech,” she said, “so, honestly, I may be good for life.”
by Jodie Newman | Feb 24, 2020 | Blog
At a wedding several years ago, I overheard my Dad joke about how his only daughter, a Boston College law grad and a former Boston labor lawyer, was baking cookies for a living. Yes, I briefly juggled being a new mom and my own business, Jodie’s Cookies. Believe it or not, my legal training and experience did come in handy in starting and running a small business. Hey, I wasn’t just baking the cookies; I was negotiating and drafting agreements with customers for our late-night cookie deliveries, keeping the books and managing employment issues.
The Road Typically Traveled
If someone had asked me in law school what my legal career would look like, I bet my answer would have been something like, “I want to be a labor lawyer at a law firm.” And that’s what I did for a number of years, starting out in the document room (yup, reviewing paper!) and working my way up to advising clients, making court appearances and writing briefs. I jumped on every opportunity to participate in labor negotiations – like sitting across from United Steelworkers during a heated negotiation over pension benefits that would lead to a strike – even if it meant late hours keeping up with my other cases.
A Leap of Faith with Skills to Support
When I transitioned to the first of my several jobs outside of the normal practice of law, all of those skills and experiences went with me. Some of those jobs were a leap of faith, but my employment law experience helped make sure that faith wasn’t unfounded. Those same core skills I learned in law school and while practicing at a big law firm research, writing, negotiating, analyzing, problem-solving – is what made excelling at non-traditional legal roles possible.
In my career, I transitioned to a corporate role, moving from in-house counsel to Director of Comp & Benefits for Tufts Health Plan and then stepping into a role as an HR Director at Infotech. After starting a family, I ran Jodie’s Cookies for a few years, but, when Infotech’s CEO Jim McClave called me more than a decade ago and asked me to return to Infotech to do research for a new case, I jumped at the chance to take on a new challenge.
Choosing the Right Path
After well over a decade, I am still here at Infotech and I love how I can use my legal experiences and skills every day as a part of the Infotech Consulting team. From drafting and editing reports and discovery requests to preparing effective demonstratives, to researching and keeping projects on track, I am applying those same skills I started to develop in law school and as a new lawyer.
So my advice to new lawyers? Hone your skills, know that opportunities for lawyers go beyond the walls of law firms and don’t be afraid to take the road less traveled – it will make all the difference.
by info-services@infotechinc.com | Jan 13, 2020 | Blog
At Infotech headquarters, the Consulting business takes up much of the third floor where the team diligently works on complex casework and detail-oriented projects. It’s often quiet. Walking through the hushed corridors and silent library, it makes one wonder: Are they hard at work or just really boring?
In fact, there is much personality to be found, so it seems only fair to showcase this unique team of statisticians, economists, analysts, and consultants in a profile series.
Meet Paula Mullally – Senior Analyst, Case Development.
In her three years at Infotech, Paula Mullally has gone from primarily data cleaning and database building to a role in mostly case development doing what she loves best: tons of research.
“A lot of what I do now is almost a paralegal function, which is funny because my masters is in applied economics,” she said. “I got to bypass the expensive and stressful law school part,” she said.
Over the last few years, Paula has grown into even more responsibility, now sharing the ownership of the intern program Infotech Consulting offers where she helps mentor the next generation during their time here. It’s an ever-evolving position that has grown with her, rather than growing stagnant.
“We threw so much at Paula when she first joined us. I think we asked her to go through about a thousand data programs and find any inconsistencies. Not the most fun first project. She handled it like a champ and did fantastic work,” said Dr. Jamie McClave Baldwin, President of Infotech Consulting. “It became clear quickly that Paula could do it all. So at that point we really had to ask where she would be happiest long term. For Paula, that’s case development, with a side of analysis and data work.”
“The fact that my supervisors were able to craft my role to my strengths is pretty unique,” Mullally said, mentioning that it’s that same flexibility the company offers which has been such a benefit since having her first child in 2018.
With “work-life balance” being such a buzz phrase in the business world, she said it might not be the most popular answer, but being a working mom has been less balance, more ebb and flow, and a whole lot of grace.
“Some days I feel like I’m handling one easily and really struggling with the other,” she said. “On rare occasions, I feel like I’m a pro at balancing both.”
To stay sane amidst the fluctuating chaos and peaceful moments of a busy life, Mullally said she loves running, New York Times crossword puzzles and her favorite pastime: baking.
Standing in her mother’s kitchen, helping measure ingredients and mix them together, kick-started her love for the art of baking. Now, more often than not, her creations are made from a combination of her own expertise and imagination.
“I once made up a key lime graham cracker cookie recipe that’s a staple in my household,” she said.
Between her sense of humor and business sense, Paula is an irreplaceable member of the Infotech Consulting team – and not just because of the baked goods she brings in.
by Hector Del Valle | Jan 6, 2020 | Blog
Full disclosure: I do not work in HR. I’m not a recruiter. But at least once a year, I read résumés and conduct interviews looking for a couple of talented students to join the McClave + Associates team for a summer internship. Every go-round, I come up with a few tips that I think every applicant for an internship or entry-level job should know. Because at Infotech we believe in setting people up for success, I want to share with you some of what we look for when we select interns.
Before anything else, know that the hiring team wants to like you!
Working for Infotech is an honor, and it’s an honor that we are eager to share with people who are just starting to think about their career paths. Internships are an opportunity to find out where your interests do – or, in some cases, do not – lie in a work setting. Ideally, Infotech wants you to have a productive, challenging, and enjoyable learning experience and come back to us when you’re looking for full-time employment. At the least, we want you to leave having experienced a positive, engaging work environment knowing a little more about your career goals.
Although the tips I’ll share in this article are somewhat tailored to what we look for in Infotech Consulting internship candidates, many are universal. I also encourage you to seek out professional guidance when crafting résumés and cover letters. If you’re a student, your university likely has a career center, for which your tuition is paying regardless of whether you avail yourself of their services. Make an appointment. Bring your résumé, cover letter, or an outline of each and any job postings to which you want to apply. Can’t make it in to meet in person? Ask if you can get a consultation via email, or at the very least, check their website for general guidelines. You’d be surprised how many candidates can separate themselves from the pack just by knowing a few very basic best practices.
The Resume and Cover Letter
Infotech Consulting prides itself on being detail-oriented, thorough, and meticulous in our work. If you claim to share these values and traits, be sure your application fully supports this claim. Spell check your resume. Look at your formatting. If you hand it to a friend, can they find the important information in there? Does the name of the company and the position you reference match the one to which you’re applying?
In our line of work, one of our primary tasks is communicating statistical and economic principles and analyses to people who do not have backgrounds in statistics and economics: attorneys, judges, juries. Being able to present your work clearly and simply is a huge asset here, and we notice when an applicant can do so.
Unless you have publications or presentations, your resume does not need to be – and probably shouldn’t be – more than one page. I know, it can be hard to cull down; but this forces you to focus on what is most important and relevant for the position to which you are applying.
Pith is crucial for your cover letter, too.
Speaking of cover letters, writing a good one is challenging. It’s difficult to be sufficiently formal and still make an impression. My best advice for this is to use your cover letter to tell me something about you that your resume doesn’t. Maybe you once nannied for triplets and now excel at prioritizing tasks under pressure. Maybe you took a unique class that has changed the way you approach new problems. Just because it’s not formal work experience doesn’t mean it isn’t indicative of your skills or interests. If your cover letter reads as something other than the long version of your resume, I’m going to notice.
On a related note, consider sharing a special hobby or interest on your resume. Sometimes the best way to get a job candidate comfortable and talking – or just to break up the usual set of interview questions – is to ask about something unique on their resume. Do you like crossword puzzles? Do you play club croquet? Do you bake award-winning pastry? Let’s chat about it! Believe it or not, these details can tell me important things about you as a candidate that I might not get from standard interview questions.
The Interview
Interviews are your chance to shine. Often, I find that a candidate who looked “pretty good” on paper is more impressive once I start chatting with them.
If you’re doing a video interview, find a quiet place to do so. Having your roommate strolling around in the background or battling the noise of the student union to hear your responses is incredibly distracting to everyone involved.
If you’re interviewing in person, you can’t get away with pj pants and a nice shirt — but you should still wear something that makes you feel comfortable and confident. Yes, it’s important to look polished; it’s also much easier to relax and focus on the interview when you don’t feel constrained or unnatural in your clothes.
Finally, one of the primary differences between a “meh” interview and a “wow!” interview is when the candidate asks US thoughtful questions at the end. We like to talk about our company and our work! This may also be an opportunity for you to show us that you have done a little research about the company or industry.
I am proud of the culture we have here at Infotech, and I look forward every year to inviting interns to experience our work environment. With a little attention to detail, you can land a spot at your dream internship, whether that be here or somewhere else.
by info-services@infotechinc.com | Sep 3, 2019 | Blog
After more than five years of uncertainty, the Florida Supreme Court reversed course and announced the Daubert standard will now govern the admissibility of expert testimony within the Florida court system, replacing the Frye standard. See In Re: Amendments to the Florida Evidence Code, No. SC 19-107, May 23, 2019. Courts apply strict rules on the admissibility of scientific evidence in legal cases in order to prevent junk science and unqualified experts from influencing a judge or jury.
Following revisions to the Federal Evidence Code in 1993, the Supreme Court of the United States set forth a new standard for the admission of expert testimony in the case Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc. See Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharm., Inc., 509 U.S. 579 (1993). Prior to 1993, the Frye standard was widely used throughout federal and state courts. See Frye v. United States, 293 F. 1013 (D.C. Cir. 1923). Since 1993 most state courts have adopted the Daubert standard, but Florida remained uncertain and moved back and forth between the two standards.
Frye vs. Daubert
Under the Frye standard, the court is tasked with reviewing whether the methodology being employed by the expert is generally recognized as being scientifically accepted. If this finding is made, then the question of whether the methodology is applied correctly would be a question for the jury. In addition, Frye is limited to new or novel scientific evidence. Under the Daubert standard, the court is charged with evaluating the methodology and, unlike under Frye, whether the application of that methodology is applied by the expert reliably to the facts of the case. Daubert requires that “the trial judge must ensure that any and all scientific testimony or evidence admitted is not only relevant but reliable.” Daubert, 509 U.S. at 589. Unlike Frye, Daubert applies to all expert testimony.
It was not until 2013 that the Florida Legislature amended the Florida Evidence Code changing the standard for expert testimony from Frye to Daubert, joining the federal courts and most other state courts. However, the Florida Supreme Court did not acknowledge the change and Frye and Daubert were used inconsistently throughout the state. In 2018, the Florida Supreme Court tried to settle the issue and in a 4-3 decision in DeLisle v. Crane the court affirmed that the Frye standard was the appropriate level of scrutiny for expert testimony in Florida. See DeLisle v. Crane., 258 So. 3d 1221 (Fla. 2018). The Florida Supreme Court found the 2013 adoption by the Florida Legislature of the Daubert standard was an unconstitutional infringement of the supreme court’s power to determine matters of practice and procedure. See DeLisle v. Crane. Then in an unexpected reversal, the Florida Supreme Court, without revisiting DeLisle, adopted the Daubert standard, setting aside the less stringent Frye standard. Roughly six months from the DeLisle decision and with a substantially different bench, the Florida Supreme Court used its executive rulemaking authority and affirmed a new standard for Florida courts. The Court noted that the adoption of Daubert would “create consistency between the state and federal courts with respect to the admissibility of expert testimony and will promote fairness and predictability in the legal system, as well as help lessen forum shopping.” In re Amendments to the Florida Evidence Code, No. SC 19-107 at 6.
Infotech Consulting’s economic and econometric experts have been subject to the scrutiny of both Frye and Daubert as Infotech Consulting represents clients in Florida and nationwide. Each of our experts have routinely and consistently surpassed the more daunting Daubert standard in cases ranging from employment law to healthcare to large multi-district antitrust cases.
by info-services@infotechinc.com | Aug 22, 2019 | Blog
In our time at Infotech Consulting, it is safe to say we have been somewhat spoiled by the broad range of opportunities we have been given. It is not often you find a company that promotes the social well-being of fair, competitive business practices, while also encouraging you to build camaraderie with fellow interns through ping-pong and Pac-Man.
On May 21, 2019, we arrived for our first day not exactly knowing what to expect, but we had a desire to learn as much as possible. From the very first week, it became clear that Infotech takes pride in its work without compromising the well-being of its employees. A fair amount of Infotech Consulting team members have worked here longer than the three of us have been alive, which speaks volumes about how Infotech treats its employees.
Michael’s Recap
I am an economics graduate student at the University of Florida. Upon coming to Infotech, my main point of interest was learning more about data management and data analysis because I know how vital data skills are in the field of economics. I am extremely grateful for the guidance and support of the data management team, and I am especially appreciative of their patience with me as I continue to learn new coding skills. In addition to the exciting new data skills I have learned, I have also been fortunate enough to work with Infotech’s Economic Expert Dr. Rob Kneuper on some of his casework. I feel lucky to have been given such a well-rounded experience so far. There is no shortage of wisdom here. My favorite part of this internship is that I was afforded the opportunity to do legitimate work on projects that the company’s expert witnesses will depend on, which is the sort of confidence and trust that does not appear to be common across many other internships. This team genuinely believes in our abilities, and I think that is essential to any valuable internship.
Tirza’s Roundup
I am a rising junior at the University of Florida studying economics. I first became interested in Infotech because I was doing research on using algorithms to police tacit collusion. Infotech’s bid rigging analysis software is a great example of how data analysis of market structure can be used as circumstantial evidence of collusion, and this internship program has allowed me to gain firsthand experience with antitrust economics. I was already familiar with the case development process through my work at UF with Dr. Roger Blair who does antitrust consulting. However, I lacked the data analysis skills necessary to fully analyze a case. Nine weeks in, I am much more comfortable with SAS and I count that as a success. The case development work I have done has complimented my previous knowledge especially since individual cases always have their own idiosyncrasies. The variation keeps me on my toes and makes the work dynamic. As an intern, I am treated like a valued employee because of the relevant work I do and the attitudes of the many mentors in my department.
Erin’s Report
Just a few months ago I was frantically searching for a summer internship. At the time, I didn’t know where I wanted to be or what I wanted to be doing, but I cannot be happier that my choices led me to Infotech. As a rising senior studying both statistics and political science, I wanted to find a professional experience that would allow me to utilize skills I have gained from both of my majors. Most of my experience with statistics comes from a theoretical background, so it has been very interesting to see how statistics can be applied to a field as interesting as antitrust economics. However, my work has not only been limited to statistics, as I have also been given the opportunity to work with the case development team on research that is imperative in creating accurate statistical models. This internship has provided a unique opportunity to learn about the entire process of econometric and statistical consulting, not just one aspect of it. Although I have learned a lot from the variety of work that I have done over the last nine weeks, I have also had the opportunity to learn from everyone on the consulting team, who are more than happy to answer any question that I have. Everyone is so passionate about the work that they are doing, and the quality of the work done here reflects that. My time at Infotech has taught me how important it is to feel valued by the company you work for and to value the work that you are doing.
Together, we are extremely grateful for the opportunity we have been given!
