About Our Team
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OvationMR
IT'S A GREAT DAY FOR DISCOVERING WHY
We love what we do. A globally diverse team, we leverage our different experiences for Problem-solving – Data – Insights… It’s in our DNA. Yes, some of the team came by our marketing research skills quite intentionally. While others, like many reading this, fell into this industry remarkably while on another path. Together in our partnership, we are tenacious and resourceful problem solvers who seek to improve outcomes.
Working together as a team for over 15 years, we have built over 200 online panel sites & communities for some of the world’s best-known brands and most prestigious market research companies. Using innovation as a focal point for delivering the most reliable insights our technology platforms for market research solutions and panelist validation and engagement methods are still used widely in the online research panel industry.
You will love what we do. In 2016, we started OvationMR to raise the bar in online sampling so we could do what we love for you. We have built the most reliable, deep feasibility: Online B2B & Consumer research panels specifically for you.
For custom research or brand tracking studies, you can be confident OvationMR will outperform any panel company DIY sample on every measure.
Remember:
- You will work with experienced industry pros who know Online Panel Technology & Sampling Methodology and Insights.
- Be confident in your success because OvationMR has managed 1000s of projects and built over 200 online panels & communities.
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“Market research insights & quality today are better than when we relied on any previous methodology, thanks to the digital economy, sampling technology, and science.“
Jim Whaley
CEO
I am a technologist, writer, and entrepreneur – but I am a researcher first…
I started when I was in my early teens doing various research jobs in Atlanta to earn part-time summer money. We did every field job and every kind of sampling: Phone, door-to-door, convenience sampling from lists, intercepts.
After university, I went to work for IBM as a Systems Engineer to help customers implement business systems in the Finance, Insurance, and Manufacturing & Distribution sectors.
After two amazing years, I found my passion – Marketing Tech – to solve customer challenges in just about every industry category. Using research methods and competitive intelligence to build growth-accelerating solutions for clients, we broke new ground, segmenting and building customer profiles for targeted campaigns.
After six years at IBM, I had the opportunity to purchase the Burke Call Center, where I had worked earlier and started my 27-year career as a research industry entrepreneur.
I have built and sold two research firms and a couple of technology companies and provided consulting and mentorship for many established market research companies and new people in the industry. I am a member of the Forbes Business Council, a Trustee for the Archive of Market and Social Research (AMSR), and am pleased to serve on the Boards of Directors for Market Research Institute International, Significant Insights, and the Market Research Educational Foundation.
I seriously love what I do in online research – at OvationMR – and for You – Our Customer.
“Our industry is experiencing rapid change, and OvationMR, through knowledge and leadership, provides a beacon for decision-makers facing decisions that require evidence.”
Michel Jones
Chief Financial Officer and People Officer
Coming up in the Victoria region of southern Australia was simple and hard and may define one’s sensibilities as places often do…
After graduating from the University of Melbourne with a political science degree, I was off to the business world. I honed my skills as an HR specialist and management consultant at firms like PwC and IBM.
I leveraged my know-how into an advisory capacity and began consulting with organizations that needed to realign resources and needed both strategic and tactical plans to execute.
I have worked worldwide (APAC, Europe, India, Americas) globally, advising both large and small firms on business growth strategy and culture.
What I’m most proud of is my ability to help companies become both well run and more human, and at the same time by showing leaders, they are not competing forces.
What I am most excited about at OvationMR is we have a great research pedigree, and at the same time, we don’t have the burden of institutional legacies.
Where market research companies are concerned, we can make things simple – not hard. We can create innovative solutions with new technology and ideas.
All of which are driven by our greatest asset – Our People.
“There is not a better time to be a researcher with the growing appetite for data and insights and the ability to find a reliable partner like OvationMR”
Jenn Whaley
Chief Commercial Officer
I am a 3rd generation market researcher… I had my share of marketing research immersion from an early age.
We traveled the world met many interesting people because of the family business – not to mention all the great stories.
After graduating from Rutgers University with a degree in Business Sciences, I went into the pharmaceutical industry as a field marketing solutions representative.
I created programs for independent pharmacies to attract and retain local and regional customers with solutions that would help educate their customers about the usage and persistency of their prescriptions.
I also built a graphics design firm that served small and medium enterprises to promote their online digital marketing campaigns, which we would tie to performance metrics.
I have helped dozens of retail pharmacies and pharmaceutical distributors to improve their DTC programs.
Additionally, I served for two years as CMO of The Pace Group, a real-estate trust, where I also obtained my commercial real-estate license.
Several years ago, I decided, after several invitations, to join the team at OvationMR.
It has been nothing short of fantastic! And so, once again, I am fully immersed in the market research experience where
I work with researchers from brands, institutions, and market research companies.
OvationMR provides the best insights solutions delivered by 3 generations of market research experience.
“Along the way, two driving forces have consistently guided me: innovation and entrepreneurism.”
Bart Borkosky
Chief Research Officer
From the moment I first learned about marketing research, I was locked in…
Like many industry leaders of this time, I started as an interviewer with Burke conducting telephone surveys.
Marketing research has it all; helping clients make better business decisions, giving confidence to investors, facilitating the creation of great products, contributing to economic growth, and continually discovering new things about people and business.
It’s a fast-paced business, and each week brings new challenges. So what’s not to like?
As both an agency owner and client sides of the industry,
I’ve worked in consumer and B2B sectors, including restaurant/hospitality, automotive, and industrial products.
My experience includes conducting research for Fortune 50 companies, mid-size regional brands, and product inventors.
I’ve conducted research around the globe, including North America, China, Africa, and most of Europe.
I am pleased to be leading Insights and Sampling Design.
At OvationMR, we take our experience and find innovative ways to leverage technology to create solid sampling and research solutions.
We develop Customer Satisfaction Success by working closely with our clients to ensure they are delighted from start to finish.
“I can’t remember something we were asked to do that was impossible, and we didn’t find a way.”
Wayne Wong
Chief Advisory Officer | Global Operations
New York City-born and raised. Like the City – I’ve seen a lot, and I have a lot to give…
New York is a big, complex, busy place full of people with huge hearts and ambitions. We get a lot done here, and we learn to take care of people.
After graduating from City University of New York – Queens College, I went into finance on Wall Street for a year, but my real love was programming.
A friend told me about an opportunity in market research at SRBI (now ABT Associates, Inc.), learning the ropes.
Later I was offered a web programming position at All Global, where I led a team of healthcare survey programmers.
We managed all aspects of online research projects from programming, sampling, translations, and reporting.
After All Global, I joined a startup panel technology company Globalpark, which built custom panels and communities for big brands, physician panels, and market research companies.
We created panels for General Mills and Bosch, and Wells Fargo, and Girl Scouts of America. We also built the PSL Group’s panel and the American College of Physician’s membership panel.
I am pleased to be driving the solutions team again at OvationMR. We are a genuine technology-enabled online research company with deep experience.
We have every resource we need at our fingertips to deliver for our clients.
“Organizations are looking to partner with an agile insights agency who consistently delivers value, like here at OvationMR”
Jeff Gerken
Executive Vice President Global Sales
Market research executive with experience in global corporate scaling by building and managing multi-million sales teams.
Extensive knowledge of qualitative and quantitative research methods, marketing, project management, and innovation strategies.
“MR pro with knowledge of Qual and Quant research methods, marketing, project management, and innovation strategies”
Eric Larsen
EVP Research & Product Development
Erik’s work in market research has taken him across the world supporting companies in both Europe and the United States.
Erik Larsen has 15 years of experience in behavioral science and marketing. He began his career working with a Silicon Valley start-up conducting bad actor detection for intelligence agencies, law firms, and financial institutions. After a stint in sales and marketing, Erik decided to combine his passions for data, human behavior, and finding solutions to real world business problems into a career in market research.
Erik’s work in market research has taken him across the world supporting companies in both Europe and the United States. Erik Larsen is Senior VP of Research & Product Development at OvationMR.
“I am inspired when we help our customers, leverage data-driven insights, and work to transform challenges into opportunities.”
Paul Chesterman
EVP Marketing & Enterprise Solutions
I am a seasoned research professional with a passion for human-centered insights.
I am a seasoned research professional with a passion for human-centered insights.
I’ve worked for both software companies and research agencies throughout my career, providing me with a unique understanding of the intersection between insight needs and the platforms that facilitate them.
My approach is always centered around creating a culture of collaboration, innovation, and customer-centricity. I am constantly inspired by the possibilities that emerge when we listen to our customers, leverage data-driven insights, and work together as a team to transform challenges into opportunities.
Outside of work, I am passionate about spending time with friends and family, cooking, and outdoor activities like gardening, hiking, kayaking, and skiing. Working remotely, I spend most of my day behind a computer, so balancing that with time spent out in nature is important to me. These activities help me stay centered, and act a source of inspiration and motivation in my professional life.
I am always open to connecting with fellow customer-centered professionals. Feel free to reach out if you would like to discuss potential collaborations, share insights, or simply connect.
“I work best when combining quantitative + qualitative data and presenting it in a consumable and understandable way.”
Claire Kuhn
Senior VP Insights & Strategy
Claire is a firebrand of insights for action, advocacy, and doing the right thing in her community.
Born and raised in Metro Detroit, I pride myself on bringing my own brand of midwestern kindness & empathy-driven leadership to the big city. I am an enthusiastic market research analyst, New Yorker, & community volunteer. I’m a huge fan of making new friends, co-mentoring, & blazing trails.
Currently, I am SVP of Research and Insights at OvationMR. I am part of a power research team, and I love it! I also serve as the Director of New Professionals for the Insights Association Central Atlantic Chapter and the Spartans Serve Chair for the Greater NYC Spartans.
Additionally, I am the recipient of the inaugural Quirk’s Marketing Research Education Foundation Everyday Hero Award, the 2018 Medical Marketing & Media Young Marketer Award, the 2020 GiGi’s Playhouse NYC Volunteer Champion Award, the 2021 Significant Insights 30 Under 30 list and 6 consecutive Presidential Service Awards.
In my personal time I enjoy advocating for individuals with Down syndrome, attempting to live a zero waste lifestyle, crafting, binge reading library books on my kindle and brunch..
“Research Innovator at EthOS and OvationMR | Transforming Consumer UX CX Omnichannel In-the-Moment Experiences with Agile People-Driven Insights & AI”
Ann Collins
Senior VP Insights & Strategy
Anne is a research innovator and industry veteran who has seen and pioneered massive positive change.
I am a highly motivated research and insights expert with over 20 years of experience. I specialize in #UX, #UXR, #userexperience, #resops, #mrx, #insights, #ethnography, #DiaryStudies, #ominichannel, #design, #uxdesign, #usertesting, #userresearch, #empathy, #empathymapping, #generativeresearch, #everydaylives, #CX, #qualitativeresearch, #humaninsights, #humancentric, #consumerinsights, #customerjourney, #research, #video, #behaviouralinsights.
I helped found EthOS which we sold to OvationMR, and I am happy to be part of OvationMR because together we have the platform and the team to deliver on the promise of bringing research out of the lab and into the hands of everyday consumers and helping our clients make more informed and confident marketplace and organizational decisions.
“I am happy to be stepping into the role of leading Customer Experience and be part of OvationMR. together we have the platform and the team to deliver big.”
Dave Watkins
Senior VP Customer Experience
Dave is a relentless seeker of customer truth. The kind of truth that turns feedback into great customer experiences. This is our primary mission at OvationMR
I have done just about everything in market research operations, client service, delivery, and product development.
EthOS is a Human Insights platform that helps companies close the empathy gap between them and the people most important to their business. As a mobile-based tool, EthOS facilitates the collection of real-world experiences, so companies can see how people interact with their products and services as they go about everyday life. This allows companies to discover hidden problems, unearth new business opportunities, and better understand the needs of their customers, consumers, and employees.
I helped found EthOS which we sold to OvationMR, and I am happy to be stepping into the role of leading Customer Experience and to be part of OvationMR because together we have the platform and the team to deliver on the promise of bringing research out of the lab and into the hands of everyday consumers and helping our clients make more informed and confident marketplace and organizational decisions.
It truly is a great day for discovering why!
“There is no greater reward than helping someone overcome a challenge. I pride myself in my work and service to others.”
Alex Sutter
VP, Qualitative Insights
I’ve always been a motivator with the ability to create strong relationships. Communication along with a strong work ethic is needed to be successful
Experienced business development professional, with a demonstrated history of excelling and training in the sales and marketing industry. I thoroughly enjoy helping to provide and implement solutions to a challenge. There is no greater reward than helping someone overcome a challenge and moving forward together. I pride myself in my work and service to others.
“Safeguarding Market Research Data From Response to Results!”
Kim Yunek
Director of Data Privacy and Technology
Broad technical knowledge with the ability to foster effective collaboration between technical and non-technical teams.
Operations Director with over 2 decades of experience in business operations across various industries, including telecommunications, employee insights, and market research. Progressed from hands-on technical roles to strategic leadership positions due to inate trouble-shooting, communication and technical skills.
Proven history of enhancing operational and system efficiencies while maintaining a steadfast dedication to delivering exceptional quality. Has successfully led numerous strategic initiatives, including website redesign, cost-saving initiatives, IT system implementation and product expansion..
“I’ve been in MR over 7 years and have done everything quant and qual. I feel happy to be representing OvationMR.”
Stephen Gonot
VP Quantitative Operations
Focused, dedicated, and a hardworking individual. He concentrates on his goals and completes projects efficiently and tactfully.
Stephen always pursues his jobs with a focus on client satisfaction and task completeness. He is not afraid of a challenge or working long hours to meet project deadlines. Truly a person who lives for his job.
“Throughout my career, I’ve been driven by intellectual curiosity to find answers to questions. I love meeting people and building relationships.“
Cara Christensen
DIrector, Insight Solutions
Whether it’s finding the most uniquely perfect location for an extravagant event or finding the ideal audience for that difficult research project, I’ve been able to quickly uncover a customer’s pain point and identify a strategic solution.
With my refined skill set, I bring customer-centric mindfulness that enables firms to innovate and thrive. This is what I’ve done for clients at Disney as I created custom holiday entertainment offerings for their parks, hotels, and special events, and it’s what I continue to do at OvationMR as I provide end-to-end agile insights solutions in tandem with high-quality consumer, B2B, and healthcare global respondents. With an emphasis on world-class and consultative customer service, OvationMR is trusted by research firms, consulting firms, and brands from around the world.
“OvationMR is about delivering deep insights for our clients from audiences they can trust every time“
Dan Lapreziosa
Business Operations Analyst
Dan is an expert in #customerservice , #qualityassurance , finance, and accounting.
These are all #skills we can leverage as we continue to #grow and offer easier ways for #clients to engage with us.
“Our team is enthusiastic about embracing change and working with a solid commitment to exceed client expectations.“
Suneeth Nair
Account Research Manager
I’m from a small city, Trivandrum- Where people do lots of research before buying anything. That has influenced me to become a market researcher.
I joined a Marketing Research Company Paradigm Sample in 2011, after graduating MBA in Information technology from Bharathiar University. I started my career as a Panel manager. However, I loved to learn different tools and became an expert in Kinesis survey programming. 2012 to 2014, I was the single survey programmer for Paradigmsample.
My operations manager identified that I have good management skills. He helped me change my career to a successful project manager and has over nine years of experience in research and operations in different sectors. Managing multi-country projects and vendor management are the fundamental areas I specialized in, and I’m enjoying each time I helped a customer succeed in their business with our research.
At the end of 2020, I joined OvationMR. I am pleased to work here as we have a great team and technology experts to coordinate the best path to success for every OvationMR client.
“OvationMR Qualitative is about delivering deep insights for our clients from audiences they can trust every time“
David Yeakle
Project Manger, Qualitative
Coming from a research town like Cincinnati, you get a true sense of pedigree which instills a sense of responsibility for getting it right. .
Entrepreneur with a demonstrated history of working sales and marketing in the healthcare and E-commerce industries. Skilled in Sales, Microsoft Excel, Strategic Planning, Marketing Strategy, Leadership Training, and Microsoft Office. Strong business development professional from Miami University.
“Hire good people – Keep them happy. As soon as I came across OvationMR, I knew I found my place….”
Mae Pero
Account Research Manager
I love market research and I love what I do. This is a place holder for my origin story which is coming soon…
Look soon for the story of my journey in life and market research and why OvationMR!
“OvationMR is about delivering deep insights for our clients from audiences they can trust every time“
Denise Mantos
Account Project Manager
Denise is an expert in online survey project management and quality assurance.
She has spent her career in market research developing these essential skills are companies like Dynata and Pure Profile.
Denise brings a wealth of experience to OvationMR and lots of enthusiasm to the the highly motivated global delivery teams.
“I’m here because I’m inspired. We consistently go above and beyond to deliver exceptional solutions for the insights community.“
Roman Gorin
Director, Software Engineering
Roman is a focused professional who possesses excellent problem-solving skills.
He has the ability to analyze complex situations and come up with innovative solutions. His attention to detail is impeccable, and he consistently delivers work of the utmost quality. Moreover, Roman is a collaborative team player who is always willing to lend a helping hand to his colleagues. His positive attitude and willingness to share his knowledge make him a valuable asset to any team.
In summary, Roman Gorin is an exceptional individual who is not only inspiring but also dedicated, focused, and collaborative. I highly recommend him for any position that requires a motivated and talented professional.
“Ovation is a place where I can practice my trade , develop my skills, and be creative while building great products.“
Komal Kedia
Senior Full Stack Engineer
Responsible for managing existing features in product as well as architecture and implementation of new features and products.
Technologies: ReactJS, PHP, NodeJS, GCP, jQuery, Javascript, Docker, AWS, HTML, CSS, Wordpress, MySQl, MariaDB, Firebase, OpenAI, Transcoding, Speech to text, NLU.
Demonstrated history of working in the information technology and services industry. Skilled in Web Applications, Angular, React, Nodejs, MySQL, Firebase, PHP, Yii2, Cakephp, Laravel, Javascript, jQuery, Bootstrap, HTML, CSS, Magento, WordPress.
Strong engineering professional with a Master of Computer Applications (MCA) focused in Computer Science from National Institute of Technology Raipur.
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