Crystal Lake, Illinois, United States
Hi, I'm Nick Garofalo — data whisperer, process optimizer, and proud automation enthusiast. I specialize in transforming manual chaos into streamlined, scalable solutions. Whether it's wrangling SQL queries, automating workflows, or building tools that make teams wonder how they ever lived without them, I’m all about making data work smarter—not harder. While I’m grateful for the recognition I’ve received, I’m always pushing myself to sharpen my skills and stay ahead of the curve. My approach? A healthy dose of curiosity, a dash of caffeine, and a personal mantra I call E.A.T.: Efficiency. Accuracy. Transparency. (Also, snacks. But mostly the first three.) I thrive on collaboration, bring a positive energy to every project, and love finding creative ways to capture and leverage customer data to drive better business decisions—without breaking the budget. Let’s connect. I promise I’m as easy to work with as I am excited about clean data. ~Nick
As a part-time liquor clerk, I support daily operations in a high-volume retail environment, ensuring compliance with local laws and company policies related to alcohol sales. My responsibilities include: - Providing knowledgeable, customer-focused service across wine, beer, and spirits selections - Managing inventory, restocking shelves, and maintaining organized, visually appealing displays - Verifying age and handling transactions with accuracy and discretion - Assisting with product recommendations based on customer preferences and seasonal trends - Collaborating with team members to uphold store standards and deliver a smooth shopping experience This role has sharpened my attention to detail, customer service instincts, and ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced setting—all valuable traits I bring to technical and strategic environments.
Engineered scalable SQL-based report automation for transactional and subscription-based data as well as supporting general reporting requests using any tools available to me. Led data modeling, report development, and delivery for both client-facing and internal teams using SQL, Python, AWS Athena, SSRS, VBA, and Excel Delivered large-scale data projects including campaign analysis, secure extractions, and custom delivery formats (e.g., compression, encryption) Consulted directly with clients to refine report specifications and coached them in self-service analytics using their existing datasets Interfaced with nearly every internal team, translating between business objectives and technical solutions to accelerate delivery Supported product development and anomaly detection efforts through advanced data research and structural insight Spearheaded the development of "prototype" reports and dashboards still in active use, laying groundwork for deeper insights and scalable reporting frameworks Maintained a dual fluency in both business and technical communication, minimizing friction in cross-functional collaboration
- Contributed to short-term initiatives requiring rapid onboarding and cross-functional collaboration. - Gained hands-on exposure to Salesforce and Power BI, expanding familiarity with CRM workflows and data visualization tools. - Adapted quickly to evolving priorities, while identifying areas where long-term needs diverged from core technical strengths. - Maintained strong working relationships and delivered value within scope, despite limited alignment with primary expertise.
- Engineered T-SQL workflows to ingest data via FTP from remote repositories into Microsoft SQL Server, ensuring secure and reliable transfers. - Developed stored procedures and transformation scripts to reshape incoming datasets into analysis-ready formats aligned with business logic. - Designed an Excel macro tool to streamline imports of proprietary, non-standard data formats into SQL Server, reducing manual intervention and error rates. - Conducted SQL query optimization and server performance testing, enhancing system responsiveness and scalability for downstream analytics.