| Harold Cook, President, formed Cook Research & Consulting, Inc. in February 1987 after having spent four years as one of three principals at IMI Research Corporation, Minneapolis. Prior to 1983, he worked with other research companies, both local and out-of-state, where he held positions as Account Manager, Marketing Director and Research Systems Director. Harold has conducted marketing research studies for clients in the fields of foodservice, business and industry, medicine and healthcare and consumer products and services. In addition, he has over 30 years experience as a Focus Group Moderator, conducting more than 150 groups per year. Harold is a founding member of the Upper Midwest/Minnesota Chapter of the Marketing Research Association. He is also a member of QRCA (Qualitative Research Consultants Association). |
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| Patrick Leahy , COO , Results-oriented sales & marketing/management professional with a passion for sports industry, 30 years experience including sports related commercial / marketing / brand / strategy / product / administrative roles.
Functional experience includes: business planning, strategic positioning, managing marketing budgets, revenue generation, sponsorship development and sales, promotion and project implementation, brand building, sports property asset management and contract negotiation. Excellent multi-tasking and organizational aptitudes. Extensively traveled and culturally sensitive leader. He has 27 years retail marketing experience including in-store marketing, account management, corporate brand. Leahy, a former SVP of Marketing/Communications for Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART Inc.). Responsible for the development and execution of a marketing/communications plans for an international racing series. He helped develop the strategy and set the vision for the series in partnership with companies like Fedex, Ford, Toyota, Honda, Shell, Firestone, Target, K Mart, etc. He developed a unique marketing platform in sports marketing to satisfy the needs of the series, sponsors and promoters. In 2005 Leahy joined Cook Research and Consulting as COO. managing day to day operations of a full-service market research firm offering both qualitative and quantitative research and analysis. He consults in practice areas including strategy, communications, promotions, business development, marketing planning for retail, agency, government, sports, automotive, consumer products and manufacturing. He has kept the racing mantra as his personal mantra “Speed is Life”. |
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| Ann Leahy, Vice President of Operations, manages daily operation, technology and equipment. She is also is the primary financial contact. Ann brings to COOK research outside business experiences, both in working for large corporations to owning and operating of her own business. Ann will be soon concentrating on expanding COOK’s venue to include research work in the “Sports Marketing” field. | |
| Gayle McCoy, Vice President of Research Services, is responsible for overseeing project development and design, data collection and analysis and final report generation. She joined Cook Research & Consulting in April 2006 with more than 20 years experience in business-to-business and consumer marketing research. Gayle has held senior research and marketing positions in a variety of industries including commercial building products, plastic card services, agricultural leasing and residential home building. Her experience and expertise includes both quantitative and qualitative market research projects, including the design and implementation of customer satisfaction measurement programs, market feasibility studies and customer segmentation projects. In addition she has written strategic marketing plans and participated in the preparation of business plans for a variety of companies. | |
| Bobbi Schribman, Qualitative Research Manager, has been active in marketing research for more than 20 years. She came to Cook Research (then IMI) as a respondent in a focus group. Since then Bobbi has progressed from a research interviewer to her current position. Bobbi’s primary responsible is hiring, training and managing the interviewing staff. She also works directly with clients, preparing proposals, developing focus group screening questionnaires and scheduling the facility use to ensure that the client’s project objectives are met. She manages the participant database, adding new and updating participant data on an on-going basis and acts as Office Manager. | |
| Edward W. Laverdure, joined Cook Research & Consulting in March 2006 and is based out of Oklahoma City, OK.. He brings an impressive background in both the public and private sectors, having held senior management positions in both government and industry. His previous assignments include commanding three Air Force squadrons and two field teams, a diplomatic tour at the United States Embassy, Cairo, Egypt, directing the Business Enterprise Office at The Defense Energy Support Center, directing wholesale logistics support for Balkan peacekeeping forces, and directing supply and fuels support for United States Central Command forces in the Middle East. He recently retired as the senior reserve officer of the 76th Commodities Maintenance Group at The Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center – a $5 billion business unit producing more than 75,000 component part units annually.
Colonel Laverdure served 22 years of active duty and retired from the Air Force in May of 2000. In November of 2002, Colonel Laverdure received a Presidential appointment to the Selected Reserve of the Air Force. His private sector experience includes assignments as Vice President of Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul Services for Comanche Technical Services, Program Manager for Strategic Planning and Communications, Karta Technologies, Global Supply Chain Manager for FCI Electronics, Senior Executive Leadership Analyst for I.J. Martin Consulting, and Member of the Board of Advisors, Diplomats Without Borders, Geneva, Switzerland. Principal assignments in marketing and customer relationship management include development of the first comprehensive brand management and customer communications strategy for the Aircraft Maintenance Group at Tinker Air Force Base, serving as the sole senior logistician on FCI Electronics’ Global Sales Team (C-Level), and developing the electronic commerce supplier engagement strategy for Defense Energy. |