David Wendt, PhD

Manager, Innovation and AI Governance @ Sherwin-Williams

About

I’m a PhD statistician with 30 years of experience in data science, now focused on AI governance and innovation. I help organizations navigate risk, ethics, and complexity by bringing clarity to the systems they build—and the choices they make. Behind every algorithm is a choice. I help people see those choices—so they can make better ones. My approach blends intentionality and improvisation: we design with care, but respond to the world as it changes. This balance has shaped how I build systems, lead teams, and speak to others. I also draw from narrative systems and tabletop role-playing games—not for escapism, but because the best games teach us how real systems work. Not the rules in the handbook—but the unspoken rules at the table. Trust. Timing. Respect. Adaptation. These are the same ingredients that shape good governance and ethical innovation. My Core Values: Intentionality & Creativity Authenticity & Transparency Relationships & Engagement My mission is to help people succeed—not just by explaining complexity, but by revealing what matters inside it. Now booking speaking engagements for 2025–2026. “We document the rules so we can be intentional when we break them.” —David Wendt

Country

United States

City

Cleveland

Industry

Chemicals

Skill

Statistics, Writing, Game Design, Data Analysis, Employee Engagement, Analysis, Market Research, Analytics, Project Management, Predictive Analytics, Management Consulting, Research, Predictive Modeling, Business Analysis, Statistical Modeling, Change Management, Program Management, Business Analytics, Data Management, Competitive Intelligence

Experience

Manager, Innovation and AI Governance

Sherwin-Williams

2024-2 - Present · 2 yrs 8 mos

Cleveland, Ohio, United States

Lead Data Scientist

Sherwin-Williams

2023-10 - Present · 3 yrs

Cleveland, Ohio, United States

Director of Data Science - Marketing Insights and Analytics

Sherwin-Williams

2021-6 - 2023-10 · 2 yrs 5 mos

Cleveland, Ohio, United States

Go To Market / Coordinated Marketing and Sales Director

Nationwide

2017-12 - 2020-11 · 3 yrs

Columbus, Ohio Area

Served as the measurement work stream lead for lead management. Directed a cross-functional team to develop a self-service one-view of the truth for the program. Identified and assessed benefits opportunities for the program. • Envisioned an online visual dashboard that updated in a timely manner, which achieved 100% adoption of new technologies across front line associates and surpassed efficiency goals. • Formulated a modeling strategy to drive program results and identified multi-node modeling strategy that automatically adapted to changing market, which was rolled out to the enterprise. • Recognized as an enterprise expert in data and modeling.

Customer Insights and Analytics Data Scientist – Senior Consultant

Nationwide

2010-10 - 2017-12 · 7 yrs 3 mos

Developed and implemented test designs for active marketing campaigns in collaboration with strategic and creative leads. Analyzed and interpreted data from sales and marketing activity using SAS and SQL. • Presented data-based insights to leadership while influencing tactical and strategic decision making. • Boosted client retention by 10% by adapting lifetime analysis techniques to identify at-risk clients that were transferring to another company. • Established methodologies to measure marketing campaigns.

Organization Effectiveness Associate Research Consultant

Nationwide

2004-10 - 2010-10 · 6 yrs 1 mo

Partnered with analytical experts to develop meaningful reporting and visualizations. Supervised and motivated the team in performing at optimal levels. Consulted with vendors to develop analytic approaches and interpret results. • Influenced and supported enterprise-wide decision making through the application of internal and external research. • Developed and refined internal employee-related metrics to measure and enhance efficiency and engagement.

Church Council Member

All Saints Lutheran Church

2004 - 2006 · 2 yrs

Worked with a team of volunteers to set vision and to provide guidance on the financial, personnel and business interests of a congregation of more than 3,000 members.

Measurement and Data Analysis Systems Research Scientist

Battelle

2001-10 - 2004-9 · 3 yrs

Charged with accountability for leading statistical research for a variety of clients in the government and private sectors. Utilized SAS and S-Plus. • Spearheaded the implementation of statistical techniques including timeseries analysis and hierarchical Bayesian data combination. • Identified and applied statistical approaches, generated graphic summaries, and wrote summary reports.