Empathy first, always. To uncover authentic human stories, you need people who are genuinely interested in the rich lives of others. At Aspen Finn, we want the lives we touch to be better because of us. This means we treat each other, our clients and the people we research with kindness and respect.
Executive Vice President
Julia Eisenberg serves as the Executive Vice President at Aspen Finn. In this role, she delights in managing an incredibly smart group of strategic thinkers. Julia is happiest when helping clients use insights to drive growth.
Julia has been working and learning in the research industry for over 15 years – first on the client side for Gap, Inc. and Crocs, and most recently in strategy and insight which led to the creation of Aspen Finn. While a researcher at heart, Julia started her career in operations, and so the Aspen Finn team was uniquely built to balance creativity and business acumen.
Outside Aspen Finn, you’ll find Julia riding bikes and building LEGOs with her family, enjoying the Rocky Mountains and supporting the arts in Denver.
Vice President, Strategy
Christy serves as Vice President, Strategy at Aspen Finn and has been conducting strategic research for nearly two decades on behalf of both corporate and political clients.
Well versed in a wide range of qualitative and quantitative techniques, Christy’s extensive research background includes everything from designing complex project proposals and moderating focus groups to analyzing and presenting findings. In her current role, she draws on her full service experience to ensure she asks the right questions, understands the business challenge at hand and is able to propose actionable and meaningful research designs. A highly consultative partner, she works with clients on projects across a wide range of industries including media/entertainment, technology, financial services, political, non-profit and many more.
Christy calls Denver home and is raising two very active (not so little) boys that keep her on her toes.
Business Development Manager
Jordan Wheeler is VP of Strategy, helping bridge the gap between the needs of clients and the solutions offered by Aspen Finn. Jordan has always loved all things marketing and helping people solve problems. He finds his role with Aspen Finn a perfect marriage of both affinities.
With a business development background that spans multiple industries, Jordan has been able to help clients find solutions no matter what they need. He began his career in the trenches, recruiting participants and hosting researchers in his local facility, and most recently spent several years working directly with researchers, advising on project solutions. His unique experience continues to provide a helpful perspective for his work at Aspen Finn.
Jordan is a Nashville native who has never been to a Honky Tonk. Outside the office you’ll likely find him woodworking in the garage, honing his amateur chef skills, or rewatching The Office for the 22nd time.
Vice President, Strategy
Tim Kunkel is Vice President of Strategy at Aspen Finn. In this role, he finds fulfillment in being a trusted partner in guiding clients to success by designing strategic research plans that meet their specific business challenges.
Tim has been working, learning, and supporting the insights industry for 15+ years. While considered a process & logic oriented Vulcan by some – he also brings & encourages outside-the-box approaches to meeting objectives. Tim’s extensive research experience spans the spectrum of the insights industry from full service strategic consulting to the largest brands in retail, media, CPG and consumer technology, through the ins-and-outs of qualitative and quantitative methodologies, technologies (ResTech), panels and operations. He additionally serves on the Board of the Insights Association’s South-Central Chapter.
Outside of work (and sometimes during), Tim is a self-deprecating story-teller, a reader, a rider and sometimes crasher of bikes (mountain, road, gravel, folding). He is repeatedly awarded the ‘best dad in the world’ by his two young daughters.
Vice President, Strategy
Sonya Turner, our resident storyteller and asker of all the questions, works with clients in retail, media, healthcare and financial services to translate business needs into research strategy.
As VP of Strategy, Sonya’s steady hand guides the design, execution and analysis of some of our most complex global research initiatives—skills she honed being the only Spanish major at Davidson College who actually liked being assigned research papers. Since earning her MS from NYU, Sonya has spent nearly 20 years using insights to help clients drive their business forward.
Sonya calls Colorado home, and spends her time running ultramarathons, exploring the mountains, traveling anywhere there’s good food and live music, serving as a mentor for high school students, and running a personal Uber service for two teenage boys.
Vice President, Quantitative Strategy
Ned Pickett serves as the Vice President of Quantitative Strategy at Aspen Finn. He brings years of experience conducting quantitative research for a wide range of industry and is adept at combining quantitative and qualitative insights. Ned is the happiest when he is utilizing his expertise to help businesses grow by equipping his clients and business partners with the necessary knowledge to make decisions.
For over 20 years he has been helping companies grow by providing the consumer’s story and perspective with business partners. During this time, Ned has had the pleasure of working on both the client and research consultancy side of the industry. This includes working for Newell Brands, where he worked closely with marketing, R&D, sales, and operations helping them utilize consumer and marketing insights to inspire and guide the launch a new to the world brand of tools. Ned has always shared Aspen Finn’s holistic approach to research consultancy, of utilizing both qualitative and quantitative insights to understand the consumer’s narrative and generate insights that drive growth throughout a band’s lifecycle.
Outside of work, you will find Ned riding through the woods of Georgia on his mountain bike or supporting his daughter’s passion for ballet and his son’s passion for soccer.
Vice President, Analytics
Cheryl Muldoon serves as the Vice President of Analytics at Aspen Finn. In this role, she enjoys synthesizing her insights from cognitive psychology with expertise from over 20 years of experience in advanced analytics across all business lifecycle phases and a wide variety of industries.
Cheryl holds a Ph.D. in cognitive psychology and her background in teaching enables her to effectively communicate analytical insights to audiences of varying levels of technical sophistication. Through her tenure in the market research industry at companies such as Harris Interactive and Nielsen, Cheryl has honed her skills in a wide variety of advanced analytics, including choice modeling, segmentation, market structure, path modeling, and pricing techniques.
Outside Aspen Finn, you are most likely to find Cheryl riding downhill mountain bike trails, cruising along the shoreline on her road bike, and exploring new territory on scenic gravel roads.
Vice President, Research Strategy
Carole Schmidt serves as a Vice President, Research Strategy at Aspen Finn. Carole is passionate about integrating the “voice-of-your-customer” early in brand, positioning, product, and communication development. Whether studying data center operations, gamers’ late night snacking, anglers’ fishing equipment, or morning coffee behaviors, Carole loves intersecting with customers at critical points in the path-to-purchase where true insights are discovered and seeds of innovation take root.
Since college (Northern Illinois University Journalism/Psychology), Carole’s expanded her professional development in Creative Problem Solving certification, by creating method innovations (MineSights, kideation, and Geo-Stories), as a contributing author in two textbooks, was a Quirk’s Excellence in Research Researcher of the Year Finalist (2019), and is now pursuing her New Product Development Professional (NPDP) certification. Away from work, Carole and family share a love for camping/hiking the stunning Oregon outdoors, chairing her neighborhood park committee, and participating in zany team events, including leading her Push Mower Drill Team each August.
Research Strategist
Chelsea Gibbons is a Research Strategist at Aspen Finn. In this role, she is responsible for overseeing large-scale projects and insights development within the Analytics and the Report Writing department. She has also been instrumental in driving the company’s innovation, evaluating and implementing new qualitative methodologies.
Having spent 12+ years in the research industry, Chelsea has executed hundreds of research projects in a diverse range of client industries. Chelsea uses this background to evaluate a client’s needs and recommend the appropriate research methodologies that will help clients garner the insights they need to grow their business.
Outside of Aspen Finn, Chelsea enjoys being a competitive swimmer on her master’s swim team, watching reality TV, and re-learning the fundamentals of elementary school with her two boys.
Research Strategist
As a seasoned qualitative research strategist, moderator and insights sleuth, Chris is expert at conducting in-person, online and mobile qualitative studies that uncover the insights needed to drive smarter business decisions.
Chris brings a unique perspective to projects in that she’s worked on the client, ad agency and provider side of the consumer insights business, and on both US only and multi-country global qualitative studies. As a result, she’s as comfortable working on the fuzzy front end of product innovation as she is executing all of the various projects needed during the product lifecycle and workshopping the findings with client teams to craft applicable business building strategies.
Her breadth of experience includes CPG, personal care, entertainment, retail, travel & leisure, automotive, durables, education, and financial services.
Chris is an alum of Marquette University. And, when she’s not talking with and observing consumers, she moonlights as an adjunct marketing instructor at Chicago’s Columbia College.
Research Strategist
With more than 20 years of research, strategy, branding, and positioning experience, Lisa has defined and solved market opportunities for commercial brands, destinations, and public organizations around the world. Lisa’s approach to research and strategy combines the principles of business, design, and the social sciences including behavioral and cognitive psychology. She has applied these principles to the development and socialization of products, places, communications, markets, and brands in five continents. She has sought insight from consumers of all ages.
She crafted a brand strategy that the client, whose brand portfolio spanned more than a dozen labels, called “the most comprehensive branding program in our history” and was on the team that transformed the language of personal computing. Lisa’s clients have included Amway, Best Buy, Chrysler, IBM, Condé Nast, Crown Equipment, Dominica, Emerson, The Hartford, Highlights for Children, Humana, LG, McDonald’s, Nestlé, Owens Corning, Sony, Thermos, Walmart, and many others.
Lisa is an accomplished moderator, lecturer, and writer. She is a graduate of The Ohio State University, where she maintains a mentorship with Fisher College of Business. Lisa is also an enthusiastic home chef and a canvaswork designer whose lines, Nooxie Noble and High Street Canvas, are distributed nationwide.
Digital Research Strategist
Nancie Carollo is a Digital Research Strategist at Aspen Finn. She stewards research projects from the kickoff—listening closely to the client’s hopes and needs—through to the final report. Nancie often serves as research designer, moderator, and analyst on such projects, and enjoys the long-term business relationships that result.
Nancie continues to build on her five years of market research experience and background as an editor. Data, especially human behavioral data, tell a story. At Aspen Finn, we are always looking for that narrative thread.
Outside of work, Nancie belongs to a family of “foodies” who frequently bond over interesting, delicious meals. She gardens energetically during every short-but-sweet Rocky Mountain summer and has practiced and taught yoga for many years.
Digital Strategist
Kathryn Graeff is a Digital Strategist at Aspen Finn. In her role, she utilizes empirical research and data analysis to better understand people—their perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors—and what these insights mean for businesses and brands.
She holds a Master of Science degree in Psychology Research and draws upon her background in psychology and statistics to uncover and communicate compelling consumer stories. Kathryn especially enjoys any opportunity to integrate both quantitative and qualitative insights to tell the narrative behind the data and offer clients the complete picture.
Kathryn is a Nashville, TN native, and when she’s not trying out new baking recipes, you can find her crafting, cheering on her favorite sports teams, or getting lost in a good book.
Senior Research Manager
As a Senior Research Manager, Jayme leads the Denali full-service client team, overseeing qualitative and quantitative research studies on a global scale.
The Denali teams’ focus is uncovering the “so what and now what” of research and using their deep experience to successfully execute hundreds of projects each year. Jayme has more than 14 years in various roles with qualitative and quantitative research, including concept testing, ethnographies, path-to-purchase, brand perception, exploratory and longitudinal research.
Aside from making magic happen at Aspen Finn, she’s a busy mom of two girls who enjoys yoga, traveling and the outdoors.
Director, Business Development
For over a decade, Katie has been involved in myriad facets of the research industry. From recruiting and supporting technology platforms, to operations management and overseeing a team of dedicated researchers, she has helped execute thousands of research projects.
Driven by her passion for strategic partnerships, her focus is immersing herself in her client’s business– understanding not only its history and composition, but its evolution in the marketplace, and opportunities for long-term value and growth. She is wired in “the experience” and bringing out the human element. She consults colleagues across several industries including media and entertainment, tech, automotive, real estate, education and others, and strategizes on disruptive trends and their implications. Katie and her team received the MRMW award for Best Mobile Qualitative Project in 2016, recognizing innovation and excellence in market research. Katie has been published in QRCA’s Views publication, and is involved in various market research associations such as WIRe and the Insights Association.
Katie has a BA in Global Studies from the University of Tennessee, focusing on globalization politically, economically, and culturally. She is a Nashville native, and enjoys honing her Master Gardener skills and checking off legendary artists on her concert bucket list.☺
Business Development Manager
Nisha Sheth serves as Business Development Manager at Aspen Finn. In this role, she enjoys working with a group of strategic thinkers, listening to the opportunities being explored and challenges being faced by clients, and designing research to help get answers to key business questions.
Nisha has been working and learning in the research industry for over five years – first on the client side for Hanesbrands and Charles Schwab, and most recently in business development strategy and consultative insights at Aspen Finn. While she always had a curious and analytical mind, Nisha started her career in accounting and finance, bringing a blend of creativity and business sense to the table.
Outside Aspen Finn, you’ll find Nisha making her way across the world and visiting cities and countries on her “bucket list,” learning about different cultures and exploring local food scenes. In addition to that, she is happy to call Denver home, and loves spending time with family, friends, and the newest member in her life, her puppy, Luna.
Research Manager
Adrianna Chard serves as a Research Manager at Aspen Finn. She is responsible for keeping day-to-day research organized and on track to deliver our clients insights on time.
With over 9 years of experience in market research, Adrianna has been helping clients turn their research questions into compelling insights. She uses her background in tech support and 7+ years as a Research Manager to ensure each project’s success.
Outside of Aspen Finn, you’ll find Adrianna in Nashville, TN cheering on her favorite sports teams (Chicago Cubs and Tennessee Titans), trying out new recipes, re-watching FRIENDS for the 100th time and playing fetch with her sweet 3-year-old black lab.
Research Manager
AJ Dean is a Research Manager at Aspen Finn. From screener development to delivery of research insight, AJ oversees the life cycle of projects and ensures successful completion of all studies. In addition, he enjoys meeting with clients and learning about the specific needs of each research project.
A graduate of Purdue University, AJ has been in marketing since 2018 where he began to develop his love for market research. His passion continues to grow as he strives to learn what “makes people tick.”
Outside of Aspen Finn, you’ll find AJ at his local ice rink coaching high school hockey, watching the latest Marvel movie, or spending time with friends, family, and his furry companions.
Qualitative Analyst
Jennie Josich is a Qualitative Analyst at Aspen Finn. She delights in learning all about the thoughts and opinions of the respondents while helping to convey their message to clients.
With a background in sociology, Jennie began working in the industry as a moderator in 2017, later transitioning into her current position.
Outside of work Jennie enjoys spending quality time with family, watching movies, and working on puzzles (much like piecing together a report).
Qualitative Analyst
Meghan Schock is a Qualitative Analyst at Aspen Finn. She specializes in qualitative data visualization and plays an instrumental role in Aspen Finn’s report optics. Meghan aims to bring research findings to life, striking that often-elusive balance between visual appeal and substance.
Meghan started as an academic researcher in behavioral sciences at the University of Colorado. She has over a decade of experience as a moderator and analyst in the consumer market research industry and is constantly on the lookout for methods to make research data more accessible and usable for clients.
Outside of work, Meghan is a dog-lover and hobbyist photographer who enjoys taking her kids on new adventures, escaping to the Colorado mountains, and cooking a mean breakfast crepe.
Qualitative Analyst
Nile Freeman is a Qualitative Analyst at Aspen Finn, who comes to work excited by the promise of something new. He glides through streams of data and handpicks the most relevant and impactful information that will help solve a client’s problems or answer their questions.
Nile’s anthropological background enables him to attack projects differently at Aspen Finn — with an open mindedness that allows him to quickly identify context and a passion for understanding people and peoples.
In his free time, Nile is a futbol journalist, who is more interested in the way the beautiful game impacts life off the field than on it. He also enjoys bird watching, and volunteering at archaeological dig sites in the shadows of the Appalachians.
Research Associate
Maximilian Popiel works as a Research Associate with Aspen Finn. As such, he handles the nuts-and-bolts of difficult research projects.
Max been working in market research since 2014 in variety of functions and has a background in academic research. He uses this experience to bring holistic and pragmatic solutions to the team.
In his free time, Max enjoys climbing mountains, playing guitar, and caring for a profusion of plants and animals.
Partner Strategist
Colleen is an energetic research strategist who is passionate about consumer behavior. With a background that includes both client side and agency experience, she is able to uncover key insights and offers strategic guidance that helps clients make better decisions.
Her warm and friendly moderating style results in lively and illuminating groups and interviews. Colleen enjoys listening to and engaging with respondents of all ages and backgrounds and is equally comfortable talking to parents, physicians, retirees, or teens. She has deep category experience in CPG, personal care, retail, healthcare, and financial services.
Colleen holds degrees in Marketing from both the University of Notre Dame and the Kellogg Graduate School of Management. She has honed her moderating skills at the Burke Institute and trained in creative brainstorming techniques at CPSI.
Based in Ann Arbor, Colleen enjoys attending her children’s high school music and sporting events. She also loves lacing up her running shoes and enjoying the beautiful Michigan outdoors.
Partner Strategist
Tom is a highly experienced market research consultant, with a strong sense of curiosity and passion for ‘all things qualitative’…energetic, fun and innovative. Tom has worked with a diversity of audiences including children and teens, adult consumers, small business owners and medical professionals.
Tom has extensive experience conducting all forms of qualitative – focus groups, in-depths, ethnography, online and mobile – across a wide range of categories: CPG, automotive, health and wellness, pet care, TV programming, amusement/theme parks, just to name a few. Fun fact: The most fun Tom ever had at “work” was at Mall of America’s Camp Snoopy, where he spent three days interviewing people while riding the log chute and roller coaster.
Tom holds an MBA in Market Research from Bernard M. Baruch College (CUNY) and has attended CPSI (Creative Problem-Solving Institute), the RIVA Moderating Training Institute, and is active in the QRCA (Qualitative Research Consultants Association). He has also been a guest lecturer at Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University.
A father of three grown sons, Tom lives in the suburb of Park Ridge, IL. Outside of work, he is an avid road cyclist, competitive stair climber, and fan of live music.
Partner Strategist
Mindy Predovic is a Qualitative Research Consultant based in the Chicago area. Mindy puts her strategic thinking and creative skills to work for clients in a variety of industries. Her professionalism and knowledge give her credibility with B2B audiences, while her calm and comfortable nature puts consumers at ease. She draws from her 20+ years of experience with a variety of qualitative methods (mobile, ethnographic, traditional, online) to create customized research solutions for each project objective.
Prior to starting her own business, Pipeline Research, Inc., Mindy worked at marketing research and consulting firms such as the Boston Consulting Group, Millward Brown, and Doyle Research Associates. She has been and continues to be a pioneer in qualitative research methods and was an early adopter of approaches like mobile ethnography.
Mindy is a regular Guest Lecturer at Kellogg Business School at Northwestern University. She has also served as Co-Chair of the Chicago Chapter of the Qualitative Research Consultants Association (QRCA). She has presented at marketing conferences given by The Institute for International Research and Teen Power and has written for Quirks and Marketing News. In addition to her formal education, she trained to be a moderator at the RIVA Moderator Training Institute in Bethesda, MD.
Partner Strategist
With degrees in both education and psychology, Jo-Ann views each research project as an exciting opportunity to learn about, and better understand, human motivations and behavior. She prides herself on designing and implementing custom research programs that provide you with answers, insights and actionable recommendations for improving your business. Her strong communication and organizational skills, along with her can-do attitude ensures that your research projects will run smoothly from start to finish. Research participants respond to her genuine interest in their perceptions and opinions and enjoy her warm manner and engaging sense of humor. Jo-Ann has extensive category experience in consumer packaged goods, health care, insurance and finance.
Jo-Ann has a BS degree in Education from Bridgewater State University in Massachusetts and an MA in Psychology from Argosy University in Florida. She also has completed MBA pre-requisite courses and further training at RIVA and CPSI. When she is not moderating, Jo-Ann acts as a roadie and publicist for her husband who is a singer/songwriter. She also enjoys doing home improvement projects and spending time outdoors cycling, hiking and kayaking.
Partner Strategist
Susan Sweet knows how to illuminate insights and make the qualitative research process fun for clients and participants, while using the most innovative online and mobile tools. For the past 20+ years she has worked with brands, institutions and agencies to keep research as real-world as possible while getting to the heart of strategic issues. Known for her deep empathy and positive energy, Susan gets curious to uncover truths and meaning below the surface…everything from product development, message communication and category exploration, to customer segmentation illumination and retail experience evaluation.
Susan enjoys giving back to the qualitative and strategy community, volunteering with Women in Research (WIRe), Association for Qualitative Research (AQR) and the Qualitative Research Consultants Association (QRCA), in addition to speaking at global research conferences. Susan and her family live in Boulder, Colorado, where you can find her hiking with her dog, practicing Pilates, and seeking the perfect cup of coffee.
There really is an Aspen Finn way of doing things. Like many insights consultants, we seek out people whose curiosity knows no bounds, who have a true passion for understanding others and telling stories. But you’ll find a team here who are also excellent listeners, practical and likeable. EQ as well as IQ. It’s the Aspen Finn way.
Are you driven by curiosity? Are you fascinated by how people think, feel and behave? We are constantly on the look-out for creative researchers who love to tell stories. If this sounds like you, and you like the sound of us, we are growing fast and would love to hear from you.