People I Have Met Along My Research Journey!
Marianne Schafer
Since I entered the research industry in 1984, I have met literally hundreds of people. Many of them I still call friends. Like countless others, I entered the industry by accident. Over the past 22 years I have met many interesting, smart and passionate people. I would like to highlight a few researchers from time to time (those that I don’t currently work with or am not related to).
The first of researcher I would like to highlight is Marianne Schafer.
Marianne was founder and President of Field Facts and is still involved in the industry today working at Field Facts Worldwide. Marianne was my first boss. She always had a can-do attitude. I wish I had a dollar for every time she said “just take the job and we will figure out a way to get it done.” She was right EVERY time. She also knew all the tricks of the trade. I remember 20-something years ago when she walked over to a table I was working at and noticed I was counting questionnaires to send to 30 cities for a research project. She looked at me, took a stack of 50 questionnaires, weighed them and said in her British accent, “Don’t bother counting them; just put 2 1/2 pounds in each box!”
I didn’t realize the effect she had on my career until years after I left the company. As I recall, Marianne’s dad worked until he was well into his 90’s. I think this is one of the reasons she has the incredible work ethic she has. What a lady!
Please feel free to post comments, especially if you happen to know Marianne and have stories that you would like to share.
September 5th, 2006 at 11:21 am
Merrill,
This is an excellent topic and a timely one as well. I have met many people in the market research industry since my “birth” as an interviewer in 1978 at Suburban Associates. For whatever reason this industry seems to generate more good people to work with than others. The market research business, when you get above the hourly level, seems to be less transient enabling longer and stronger relationships to be built. We all know many friends and family outside our industry who do not have comparable friendships or relationships in their business.
One that had a big impact on me in the last few years was Warren Mitofsky, who passed away this past Friday evening.
I first met Warren a few years ago. I had heard the stories over the years of the legend and was in awe when I first met of the man. The awe turned to respect and admiration as I began to work with him. What I immediately noticed was that whenever he spoke everyone else stopped. He would smile, and in a voice that was always strong, ask a question or make a statement. Whatever he said was ALWAYS food for thought or a cogent question. He would make you think with event he shortest statement such as “Why”.
Warren was the first television pollster. CBS had the forsight to find the right man at the right time. As his career progressed he stay current with all the new research and data collection techniques from telephone sampling, which he helped revolutionized, to CATI to the Internet to utilizing IVR for exit polling for the more recent elections.
Along the way he made many friends and made more of us good researchers by making sure we all knew the real meaning of the words quality and ethical behavior. Warren always shared his knowledge and thoughts when asked. (And sometimes when he wasn’t)
He was a true gentleman. a funny person and a great client. We should all be so lucky.
June 17th, 2007 at 12:09 pm
This is exactly what I expected to find out after reading the title People I Have Met Along My Research Journey!. Thanks for informative article