University of Cincinnati Alumnus Wins Prestigious General Electric Edison Award

The Edison Award was named for native Ohioan Thomas Alva Edison, one of General Electric’s founders and the most prolific inventor in history (holding 1,093 patents). The award was created to recognize the vital contributions of GE scientists, engineers and technologists to the current and future vitality of the corporation. Presented annually, GE’s most prestigious technical award recognizes those individuals who have made truly outstanding technical contributions. Award recipients receive a $25,000 grant to fund research at a university of their choice.

The Edison Award was presented to Keyes by Jeff Immelt, President and CEO of GE.  

The citation for the award states:  “Tim has provided critical leadership in developing new risk-based capital requirements and technology for Corporate Financial Services. The suite of predictive models and innovative commercial portfolio measurement and management have a potential impact of $6 billion in volume growth and $50 million in net income. The technology also enables additional volume growth and improved risk management efficiency and has already provided positive impact to other GE Commercial Finance businesses. Tim’s work has led to 15 patent applications.”
 
Keyes has selected as the recipient of his $25,000 grant the UC Center for Productivity Improvement (CPI). CPI will conduct research in the area of credit scoring models.

Keyes received a BS in Mathematics from Ashland College, an MS in Mathematics from Miami University, an MS in Industrial Engineering from UC (90) and a PhD (1993) in Quantitative Analysis from UC under Martin Levy. Keyes returned to UC in January 1999 to present a seminar, "Six Sigma Quality: Accomplishments, Challenges and Opportunities," as part of the 1998-99 CoB seminars.

"I look back at my time at UC to be a hugely fruitful period in my formal education - which prepared me both broadly and deeply for a satisfying and somewhat successful career so far at GE," says Keyes. "I'm very proud to provide UC with the Edison grant as an expression of appreciation from me and GE. I look forward to seeing the benefits of work that will follow."

He is a Senior Vice President, Manager - Risk Systems & Analytics, and Capital Allocation Leader in the Corporate Financial Services Division of General Electric Company, where he has held positions of increasing responsibility, including Six Sigma Quality Leader and Certified Master Black Belt. 

Keyes joined GE in 1994, is a recipient of numerous GE awards and has authored 19 professional presentations and publications. He has been President and Vice President of the Connecticut Chapter of the American Statistical Association (ASA), a member of the ASA Committee for Applied Statisticians and National Representative for the Albany Chapter.  In 2005, Keyes was selected for the annual “Honor a Statistician” award from the Connecticut Chapter of the ASA for his professional contributions.

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