Key Team Members
Robert Porter, CEO
Robert is proficient in all stages of the research process, including survey and study design, questionnaire development, data analysis, and reporting. Robert makes certain that employees in all of our centers meet our high standards, directing and executing all strategic plans and policies of the company.
His vision and leadership have been vital in the development of priority plans, performance measurements, management controls, acquisition strategies and implementations that have made our company’s tremendous growth in size, capabilities, and revenue possible. Robert is a recognized expert in mergers and acquisitions.
Amy Benner, Senior Vice President
Amy holds an MBA with a Marketing concentration from Oakland University, a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan, and has completed thorough training in moderating research techniques at the Burke Institute, highlighting her diverse skill set and accomplishments.
Amy brings over 14 years of market research and strategic consulting experience to Research America. She is responsible for growing client relationships and the management of all market insights and strategy development initiatives.
Rex Repass, Subject Matter Expert
Rex Repass is a retired president of Research America. He continues to provide technical and industry-specific knowledge to Research America’s CEO and client service teams on an ad hoc basis.
During Rex’s 45-year career, he led market/opinion research and consumer insights engagements for major global companies including Honda, Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Cigna, Meta Platforms (Facebook), Thomson Reuters, and Procter & Gamble. After joining Research America in 2016, the company grew organically and through acquisition. In 2019 the company was named a Top 50 market research firm in the U.S. based on annual revenue by the GreenBook Research Industry Trends Report (GRIT).
Diane K. Ray, Vice President of Strategic Innovation
With international business experience in over 25 countries, and a wide-ranging career in science, business development, research, and innovation, Diane brings a competitive advantage to any business growth initiative. Institute client experience includes Amway, Astra-Zeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, CIBA Vision, Campbell’s Soup Co, Herr Foods, Armstrong World Industries, Pergo, PECO Energy, Eastman Kodak, NASA, and Sprint to name only a few.
Jan Nash, Vice President
With an M.A. in Applied Market Research, Jan equips the Institute team with 20 years of market research experience in the consumer and pharmaceutical industries. Her expertise includes both qualitative and quantitative research across many methodologies. She has performed primary research for companies such as The Discovery Channel, The Washington Post, Ortho-McNeil, Pfizer, Ross and other well-known national clients.
Michelle Collins, Vice President of Recruiting
With a B.S., Marketing, PSU and qualitative research training from the Burke Institute. Michelle is directly involved in quality assurance, development, coding, and project methodology, ensuring integrity of process between each marketing research client and the company. She implements training systems throughout Research America, and reviews interviewing processes.
Michelle has over twenty-five years’ experience in the Marketing Research Industry, including operations management, database development, project direction and supervision. Michelle is active in both the Pharmaceutical Marketing Research Group and The Marketing Research Association. Past Vice President of the Philadelphia chapter of the Marketing Research Association.
Greg McIntosh, Vice President of Market Research
Greg is a career marketing research professional. Prior to joining Research America, Greg was a founding member and partner for almost 20 years in his own marketing research firm, conducting full service custom projects for Fortune 500 clients. In 2015, the company was acquired by Research America. Previously, he held senior management positions in two other marketing research companies.
His career includes the development, management, and presentation of over a thousand marketing research studies, each custom-designed to meet the strategic and tactical business decision needs of clients. Those clients have relied on Greg for his ability to efficiently comprehend and distill business issues, design qualitative and quantitative market research solutions, and analyze, synthesize, and present findings including actionable recommendations.
Corinne Lucas, Vice President of Market Research
Corinne Lucas leads as an Operations Manager / Senior Qualitative Interviewer, receiving extensive qualitative research training from both RIVA and the Burke Institute, the two premier qualitative market research continuing education/training organizations in the U.S. She is an alum of Temple University in Philadelphia, where she majored in Criminal Justice, as well as having a Certificate from the University of Georgia’s Pharmaceutical Marketing Research Program.
Corinne has 15 years of experience working in marketing research for all types of business verticals including consumer, pharmaceutical, and other healthcare clients. She has been immersed in managing both qualitative and quantitative studies, day-to-day operations, analysis, consultation and report generation. Corinne is a creative and passionate moderator, demonstrating high emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills. In her free time, Corinne enjoys spending quality time with her two sons, Timothy and Lucas and her three adopted cats, Dusty, Spes, and Lil Buddy.
Megan Popp, Senior Market Research Director
Megan’s thorough training in qualitative research training at the Burke Institute, and a degree in English from Miami University, Megan's approach to communicating results is influenced by her background, keeping it clear, succinct, and engaging.
Upbeat, social, and vibrant. Megan brings great enthusiasm to her work and is able to transition easily from one pursuit to the next with unlimited focus. As a Senior Qualitative Consultant, her social aptitudes and industry training enable Megan to connect, discover, and communicate with ease. Whether she’s leading a focus group or a Creative Problem Solving session, or training a team on new qualitative research and strategy techniques, Megan enables clarity and a shared vision for advancement.
Lynne Lockwood, Senior Research Analyst
Lynne has over 30 years’ experience designing and managing a wide range of studies including new product evaluations, customer satisfaction, product positioning, advertising development and assessment, consumer and market segmentation, pricing, and more. Lynne’s depth of knowledge helps her think outside category boxes and methodological lines, designing custom research solutions that solve even the most complicated client research questions. She contributes to internal methodology development, trains research associates, and authors category assessment and trends reports. Her client research summaries illuminate complex data, providing focused, timely and forward-thinking solutions.
Amy Cubera, Market Research Director
Amy has worked in market research since 2010 and is familiar with and passionate about industries such as agriculture, construction, exterior building materials, and heavy equipment. Amy particularly enjoys being hands-on and working in the field and has experience with product clinics, focus groups, IDI’s, as well as some secret shopper projects.
Kathryn Schulte, Senior Project Director
Kathryn has nearly 21 years of experience in market research, analysis, operations and management. Kathryn’s client expertise encompasses both qualitative and quantitative methods including consumer, professional and political polling research. Among others, her specific client experience includes Warner-Lambert, Pfizer, Wyeth, Colgate Palmolive, Sunoco, Sony, Disney, ABC News and The Washington Post.