About Me

I make data make sense, and I have opinions about music and drummers.

I’m Mark Bradbourne, a data and analytics professional based in Northeast Ohio. I spend my time helping people turn their data into something they can actually use. That means designing clear visualizations, building analyses that answer real questions, and pushing spatial and custom charts further than anyone asked me to.

The analyst part

I took my first job in data in 1997, and I’ve been at it ever since. Recently (2026) I picked up a Specialized MBA in Business Analytics from Ohio State’s Fisher College of Business. Tools have come and gone over the years, but the job hasn’t changed: find out what the numbers are saying and why. You likely know me from my wrk in the Tableau Community, or my appearances on the IronViz stage as a Sous Vizzer and Judge.

Mostly, though, I care about communication. A dashboard that doesn’t get used is just an expensive screensaver. I put a lot of thought into how design, accessibility, and audience shape whether an analysis actually lands with the people it’s meant for.

The music part

I’ve host Songs That Don’t Suck for 190+ episodes. It’s a weekly music podcast built on a Gen X metalhead’s view of song recommendations, music history, and the strange economics of the music industry. I’m also part of Rock and Roll Autopsy with Scott and Rico, where we take one song apart and figure out what makes it tick.

I’m a drummer by trade, if bar bands, college jam sessions, and one memorable bachelor party count as a trade. My tastes run from Iron Maiden to Rush to Guster, and I’ll argue for every one of them.

What you’ll find here

This blog is where my two worlds meet: data visualization techniques and deep dives, takes on analytics and accessibility, side projects I can’t stop building, and the occasional detour into music, history, or whatever has my attention this week.

Say hello

If you want to talk data, swap song recommendations, or tell me I’m wrong about Rush, I’d love to hear from you.

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