JERSEY CITY, N.J., April 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Opera Solutions, LLC, a global firm that applies advanced analytics to solve the Big Data challenges of many of the world's leading organizations, on Wednesday hosted the first in a series of discussion events with private sector leaders focused on how the explosive growth of data – and newfound ways to access and leverage that data – is revolutionizing business and society.

The inaugural breakfast was led by Newark Mayor Cory Booker, discussing the need for transformative and revolutionary technology in government.

"When I walked into City Hall in 2006, I had to immediately find ways to reimagine government and immediately find ways to find solutions that were not obvious," Booker noted during his remarks at the breakfast. "And that's where it became clear that Einstein was right – imagination, in many ways, is more important than knowledge."

Mayor Booker also discussed how advances in technology and emerging analytics platforms are being adopted to benefit all aspects of Newark government, particularly within the area of education reform.

"This idea of predictive analytics is amazing," he said. By leveraging the power of analytics, Booker added, "You can begin to work in a much more proactive, constructive way to turn lives around."

The breakfast, held at the Crosby Street Hotel in Manhattan, attracted some of the New York technology scene's most influential figures, including Rachel Sterne, Chief Digital Officer of New York City; Andrew Rasiej, head of Personal Democracy Forum; Bob Lessin, Vice Chairman, Jefferies & Co., and Toby Daniels, Crowdcentric CEO and head of Social Media Week.

"With the technological landscape evolving enormously over the past few years, there is no denying the result -- a remarkable flood of important data sources that hold particular promise for government entities," said Rob Bothe, Strategic Leader of Opera Solutions' Government Services group. "For our first Big Data discussion event, we were excited to be joined by Mayor Booker, who is undoubtedly one of the most technologically progressive and forward-thinking figures in public service today."

About Opera Solutions

Opera Solutions (www.operasolutions.com) drives rapid profit and performance improvement by delivering "Big Data Analytics As An Ongoing Service" to corporations and government. Founded in 2004, the firm has grown to 500+ employees and has offices in New York, Jersey City, San Diego, London, Paris, Shanghai, and New Delhi. Solutions Areas include Marketing Services, Credit and Risk Services, Global Markets Analytics, Supply Chain Services, Data Transformation Services, and Custom Applications. Opera brings all its Solutions Areas to bear on problems facing state, local, federal, and international governments through its dedicated Government team.  For more information, visit Opera Solutions at www.operasolutions.com or email governmentsolutions@operasolutions.com.

Media Contact:
Katie Smith-Adair
The Morris + King Company for Opera Solutions
212-561-7475
katie.smith-adair@morris-king.com

SOURCE Opera Solutions, LLC