The July 2-for-1 SAS training discount is a limited-time offer (in the U.S.) allowing customers to bring a colleague with them to a training class for free, giving companies the chance to train more than one person at a time.

For research analysts Chris Cable and Yelena McElwain from Nathan Associates, Inc., SAS Education’s July 2-for-1 training offer was the perfect opportunity to get the training they needed – twice. Read on to learn how Chris and Yelena benefited from taking SAS training together.

SAS Education: You took advantage of the July 2-for-1 offer in 2008 and in 2009. Why did you decide to come to training together? Are you working together on a project?

Cable and McElwain: We are both research analysts in our litigation consulting practice and use SAS extensively in this role. We prefer attending training together because it is helpful to discuss the topics during and after the training.

SAS Education: How are you using what you’ve learned in your classes?

Cable and McElwain: Taking the classes [SAS Programming 2: Data Manipulation Techniques and SAS Macro Language 1: Essentials] together definitely helped deepen our understanding of the material. We use the macro skills from the courses quite often, not only in our own work, but also in helping our co-workers.

SAS Education: Did you take these training courses because there was a 2-for-1 discount?

Cable and McElwain: We were not waiting for a 2-for-1 offer; we were interested in improving our SAS macros skills and the discount allowed us to take the courses we needed at the same time. We will most likely take advantage of the offer again in 2010.