Bios
Unlocking Growth Through Insights
Vicki Felker, Nestle Purina, Vice President & General Manager, Golden Products
About Vicki
Vicki joined Purina in 1985. She has held many leadership roles in the organization during her tenure and is currently leading the Golden Products Division, proudly working to extend their leadership position in the market. In addition to driving strong business results, Vicki’s other passions include recognizing and unleashing potential in others and sharing her time with causes she believes in.
She is a graduate of the Executive MBD program and Washington University. Vicki and her husband, Lyle Walker, have four amazing adult children and five beautiful grandchildren. And, of course, their lives are enriched by their cherished dog, Emma, and their cats, Scarlett and Cheddar.
How to Apply Human Insights to Market Research
Jim White, Reality Check, Founding Partner, Qualitative Research Consultant
About Jim
Jim White has 20 years of experience in consumer insights, marketing and brand strategy. As an advocate of online qualitative research and analysis, I’ve been instrumental in the design and development of online research platforms and analytical approaches for RealityCheck.
He holds a doctorate from Northwestern University in Communications Studies and have taught courses in Communications Research Methods, the Psychology of Attitudes and Persuasion, Popular Culture and Brand Strategy.
Jim Chastain, Reality Check, Founding Partner, Qualitative Research Consultant
About Jim
Jim Chastain has 30+ years of experience in consumer insights, marketing and brand strategy and have worked in advertising agencies around the world and a wide range of Fortune 500 clients with an emphasis on consumer packaged goods. He started RealityCheck in 1996.
Over the years with RealityCheck, he has led several hundred marketing research projects, moderated thousands of focus groups and interviews, and helped develop innovative online tools that uncover deeper insight.
He holds a Bachelors Degree in Journalism from the University of Kansas.
Exploring the Landscape of Latest Technologies and Innovations in Market Research
AJ Johnson, Kynetec, Executive Director, Global Operations
About AJ
AJ is Global Head of Operation and Innovation at Kynetec, and responsible for all areas of digital research innovation. AJ has over 23 years working in market research operations, technology and innovation, AJ has previously held global leadership positions at Ipsos, BrainJuicer and GfK. He has brought innovation to a range of Global clients including P&G, NBC, Pepsi, British Airways, L’Oreal and Nestle.
AJ is the winner of the flowing Global Innovation Awards:
•Best Mobile Innovation, MRMW, 2010
The Future of Big Data + Traditional Research
Barry Jennings, Microsoft, Director Cloud & Enterprise Insights
About Barry
Edge by Ascential - Winning the E-Commerce Shelf
Eric Hoying, Sr. Product Manager, Edge by Ascential
About Eric
Eric Hoying has 20 + years of experience in consumer insights, customer relationship management, and business intelligence at leading retail and CPG companies. For the last 10 years, his focus has been solving challenges specific to ecommerce in setting data strategies and developing measurement solutions.
He holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from Northern Illinois University.
Building Financial Targets Through a Consumer-Based Approach
Dave Mihanovic, Independent Consultant, Former Vice President of Insights & Analytics at Hallmark
About Dave
Dave Mihanovic is an independent consultant specializing in consumer-centered growth strategies to realize brand and business goals.
For more than 20 years, Dave led analytics, consumer insight, brand management, and marketing teams for Hallmark's consumer products and retail businesses. During that time, he guided the development of new growth strategies for the brand and the embedment of critical capabilities in the area of advanced analytics, brand development, consumer experience, personalized marketing, and social media. Dave left Hallmark in early 2020 to start his consulting business after serving as the Vice President of Insights & Analytics for the past 17 years.
Dave has a B.S. degree from Bowling Green State University - where he majored in Operations Research and Applied Statistics - and an M.B.A. from Indiana University - where he majored in Decision Sciences and Operation Management. Dave has been an active member of several professional organizations, including the Conference Board's Market Insights and Brand Councils, the International Institute for Analytics, the Marketing Science Institute, and the AC Nielsen Center's Masters in Marketing Research Program at the University of Wisconsin. Dave lives with his wife, Heather, in Overland Park, Kansas.
