I just returned from a 55 hour trip to Ft Lauderdale and I am very excited. You are probably thinking – Ft Lauderdale, the sun, spring training, the beach in February…of course you are in a good mood and had a great time! All of that is clearly true in having a good time. However, I did none of that. I was in a conference room discussing the industry I love the most: our industry–the Marketing Research Industry.
I was there with 46 other people, brainstorming, discussing strategy, discussing what 2013 will look like. I came away very impressed. It was 47 people who are passionate, intelligent, successful researchers and business owners coming together for one common goal: OUR ASSOCIATION.
Looking around the room I saw so many people who were excited about what we were doing and how we did it. We had second generation researchers like Jacki Spear, Steve Schlesinger, Adam Weinstein and Colleen Moore Mezler. We had researchers like Jim Longo, Merrill Shugoll and Bette Anne Champion who are married to other researchers. In the room we had Past MRA Presidents Michael Mermelstein, Jane Cook and of course 40 year board member Howard Gershowitz who admitted during the session his company did interview dinosaurs.
In addition we had MRA staff, current MRA presidents of all of the chapters and our advisory board with everyone participating and sharing ideas.
I have presented at many conferences and colleges over the years and had a one hour presentation on the first day. This one was a little different for me. For some reason I was a little more pumped, a little more excited than normal. I ended my presentation with “It has been an honor and a privilege to present to you today…” That was a mistake! It should have been a much 
bigger picture. I should have ended with “It is an honor and a privilege to be in a room, on a national board with such a talented, passionate and intelligent group of people.”
Thank you for allowing me to be part of this group. The MRA future is bright because of each of you and your contribution.
I look forward to hearing from others who were in the room and if they felt the same.
Colleen Moore Mezler says:
I couldn’t agree with you more Merrill. As always, I thoroughly enjoyed your speech and appreciate your willingness to help. You can capture an audience like no one else I know.
As President-Elect of the MRA I had the honor of leading the Strategic Planning process this year. We shared some wonderful ideas about not only moving the association forward but also (and most importantly) how to help our member companies move forward. We really try to focus on what is best for our members and how to help them make their businesses more successful.
I love this quote and think it is totally appropriate for the group that met in Ft. Lauderdale.
“When a group of dedicated individuals work together…the sky is the limit.”
A special thank you to Larry Brownell, Paul Schuman and Merrill Dubrow for all that you did to make the Strategic Planning process a success in Ft. Lauderdale. I appreciate all of your hard work, advice and dedication to our industry. We could not have done it without all of you.
Merrill Shugoll says:
Merrill (I love the name Dubrow):
Being active in MRA and a member of the Board of Directors for the last 7 years has taught me so much about myself, the Association, my business and our industry. The old addage, “Give and you shall receive,” is so true. The strategic planning sessions for MRA were stimulating, and will provide a map for the Association to guide its members through exciting and challenging times. It was a priviledge to be a part of it and to work along side so many committed and bright colleagues. I commend Colleen, Larry and the entire MRA staff, our wonderful Advisory Board with a special thanks to Paul, and, of course, you, for your terrific kick-off presentation, which was very motivational. As President of MRA, I’d like to especially thank everyone who participated in MRA’s Strategic Planning sessions. I was inspired by all of you. Warmest regards, Merrill
Steve Schlesinger says:
Once again, the opportunity to listen and interactive with this group is incredibly inspiring. It is such a learning process for me and makes me proud to be a member. I can only imagine the work that went into the three days. Thank you to all those involved, especially Colleen and Larry, in planning the strategic process and helping to lead our association. MRA is “shaping and directing the future of our profession” – no question about it.
Sheldon Nidetz says:
I concur with all of the above. I would especially like to applaud the inclusion of the chapter presidents in this process. This should serve to further strengthen the relationship between National and the Chapters. I believe I now have a much better understanding of the “big picture” of our Association. I also feel more of a professional kinship with our national leaders, now having had the opportunity to exchange ideas face to face; previously this was for the most part only the case with Larry, Kara, and the Workgroup volunteers. I strongly encourage more of this “intermingling” (above and beyond the triennial Strategic Planning) in the future. This might develop even more grassroots-to-National leadership, adding to Merrill D.’s thoughts of the MRA’s future being in good hands. A big thank you and kudos to all who participated!
John Heakin says:
Good luck to you Merrill and all your colleagues in MRA leadership. I look forward to seeing where the new young leaders take us and what the MRA will be like in the future. In the meantime, it has been a an honor and priviledge to serve for the past 35 years.