Rudi Shumpert - Rude Man

Because we all need a lift at this time of year, I’m profiling some folks to be found in the web analytics industry.

Today, we turn our attention to Rudi Shumpert, international dabbler and man-about-web-analytics.

Are you sitting comfortably?  Then let’s begin.  Rudi, tell us a little about yourself.

I was born and raised in South Carolina, but escaped to Atlanta after college.  I’m a husband & father and I fund these passions working in development and analytics.   When I am not working through analytics implementations I coach my son’s baseball team, and dabble in woodworking.

What is the oddest thing you’ve ever been asked to prove in a web analytics report?

Hmmm…once I was asked to get keyword information on the pages on the site that had received zero visits in the last six months.

If you were a report visualisation, what kind of one would you be and why? (if the answer is pie chart, get off my blog now!)

I would have to be a scatter chart.  I am all over the place working on different projects.  You can’t pin me down to a specific quadrant.  I like to be somewhat unpredictable.

What do you think of the web analytics community campaign to have Michele Hinojosa change her name to Jojoba (or Jojojoba, in times of festivity)?

As far as I knew, her name has already been changed.

Do you dream in black & white, or colour dashboards?

Shades of grey.  I not a big fan of absolutes, especially in development.  Many different ways to kill a cat.

Who is your superhero-sans-cape in the web analytics community and why?

There are a few to choose from.  I could only pick one it would be Jason Thompson.  I really admire folks that are not afraid to rock the boat, and offer up thoughts and opinions that are honest and well thought out.  And then are willing to stand behind them.  See the lineage of a long line of stubborn above.

What do you say to people who think website tracking is an evil task by evil people for evil purposes?

I don’t associate with those kind of people, so there is little opportunity for conversation.

What is the best thing about web analytics, besides the red-hot reputation for coolness?

The community.  It’s a bunch of good, passionate, fun loving people.  I’m happy to be part of the asylum.

What is your wish for 2011?

World Peace.  Short of that I want to see more free training and education options from every vendor, more local/regional Web Analytics Association events, more WAW events in Atlanta, and more exposure and participation in the Analysis Exchange.

What three items would you take to a deserted island – assuming that deserted island was conveniently wired for electricity and the internet?

This is a tough one.  I’m going to have to follow the path of the kobayashi maru and say a boat, a map home, and food for the trip.  I like the peace and quiet, but I need my family.  This work, geek stuff, is a bit further down the list.

Check out the full list of interviews in the Silly Series here!