Life at IGS Energy: Meet Amber Chen
Amber Chen earned her PhD in statistics from The Ohio State University and originally worked in the healthcare and insurance industries. When she discovered IGS Energy, the company’s culture and passion for innovation attracted her to switch to the energy sector, and she’s been with us for almost 6 years.
“IGS has been the best working environment I’ve experienced,” said Amber, senior data scientist. “I have respectful, intelligent teammates and business partners, and I also feel valued by leadership, as managers here consistently acknowledge my work. I learn something almost every day — either project-, business-, or life-wise.”
In addition to her pivotal role within IT, including her work in AI integration, Amber also enjoys being able to go back to her roots applying traditional statistical methods — particularly frequentist methods — to meaningful work. “It’s exciting to see that my expertise in statistics can be utilized in various business areas,” Amber said. “I can explore, investigate, and deeply engage in analytical processes to deliver impactful insights.”
While a fan of scary, supernatural, and extraterrestrial media, on the job, she’s more “count” and less “Dracula” — advancing data science past what used to be considered “sci-fi” into reality.
Here, she shares her IGS story
Calculating her career path
IGS hired me as a data scientist in Enterprise Analytics, and I instantly connected with the team’s expertise, vision, and collaborative approach. From day one, I felt valued and included in their growth plans.
My first project involved creating a forecasting model to predict future power usage — a vital tool for our Supply and Risk team to make informed energy purchasing decisions. Being a part of this project was incredibly rewarding, and we’re continually evolving it with more innovative, efficient models.
After 1.5 years, I was promoted to senior data scientist, and our team eventually made an organizational change to Advanced Analytics. I’m grateful for my manager's support — they’ve been my manager my entire time here — and I know joining this company was the right choice.
Analyze + optimize
My primary role involves analyzing data and building predictive models. Every model is the result of a true team effort, both with my teammates and business partners. Without collaboration, a model can only predict results — it won't have the opportunity to be effectively utilized by others.
One of my primary projects, Energy Insights, helps automate the analysis process and streamline the generation of reports. This resource offers actionable insights to help customers manage energy consumption more efficiently. I also work on optimizing our commercial and industrial (C&I) sales team’s records using Bayesian statistical models to ensure cleaner data management, while also generating new leads and allowing the sales team to engage customers more efficiently and effectively.
Along with those projects, we also support large language model (LLM) implementation and evaluation to support many parts of the company with AI.
Putting more intelligence into AI
Generative AI is one of the most talked-about technologies right now. At IGS, we’ve developed various AI-driven solutions, including bots to assist our Solutions Center team and using LLMs to analyze calls and extract customers’ utility bill information. Additionally, I’ve worked with the HR department to create an HR chatbot, which is designed to help employees by answering their questions with tailored responses about benefits and HR documents.
Our primary focus has been on AI innovation with LLMs and other open-source alternatives, such as Llama and Mistral. We continually adapt to the rapid evolvement in AI technology.
A team to count on
I truly value the relationships I’ve built with my team. These connections go beyond work — they’ve become integral to my life. Whether it’s recommendations for a great chiropractor, finding a new dog, or even advice on cooking spices, birthday party ideas, or handcrafted gifts, my teammates have been a constant source of support and inspiration.
What I appreciate most is the blend between professional collaboration and a sense of community. Our team environment is family-friendly and fosters a connection that extends into daily life, making it a truly supportive and fulfilling experience.
Acing life outside the office
I enjoy spending time with my family: my husband, kids, and dog. I have two children — my daughter, who's 10 years old, and my son, who's almost 2 years old. I love playing with them and working out together. They bring me so much joy and often surprise me in the best ways. My daughter’s school hosts plenty of activities that require volunteer support, and I enjoy being able to contribute and become involved.
Recently, I discovered a new hobby: playing tennis. Even though my back isn't in the best shape — and I feel it every time I play — I really enjoy the game. I need a chiropractor to help with the pain, but I’m determined to keep playing. Starting with an in-house league, I’d love to try participating in USTA leagues someday.
Onward into the future
I’m excited about IGS's future, particularly projects in solar energy and C&I sales optimization — and other teams in the company as well. Personally, I aim to challenge myself by taking on more responsibilities and continuing to grow by honing my technical and soft skills along my career path.