"Koski Research took an integrated and comprehensive approach to a complicated business question. We strongly believe that our new brand positioning will resonate with patients and make the brand relevant to key segments of non-patients."
"Koski Research's thoughtful questionnaire design and analysis is integral to meeting our internal goals for promoting the independent advisor category through increased media coverage. Because the findings are so relevant, we generate mass market attention for independent investment advisors."
"We constantly strive to improve the client experience, and Koski Research gave us a benchmark of where we currently stand and helped inform our decisions on where to allocate resources to have the greatest positive impact going forward."
It's fantastic when you work with good, solid people who deliver reliable, tangible results.
We've spent years conducting research, and we spent years buying and managing research services on the client side. We focus on asking better questions because we've found it produces better research results. We strive to deliver exceptional service because we ourselves have found that a great research partner can be invaluable to strategic and tactical decision-making.
WHEN WORKING WITH US, YOU CAN COUNT ON:
- High levels of energy, analytical thinking, and creative problem-solving
- Ready-access to senior staff
- Seamless execution
- Smooth, streamlined processes for active, timely communication
- Executive-Ready Reports that eliminate the need for deciphering or rewriting
Our years in the field include 1000s of conversations with consumers, executives, and small business owners. We also have deep experience in the financial services industry, where we've surveyed, studied, and spoken with investors, advisors, providers, finance officers, management teams, and intermediaries.
Quanititative
Online—Flexible online survey programming, including the ability to show static and dynamic images to test advertising, marketing communications, and product design.
Telephone—High quality telephone interviewing services.
Mail—Survey design and administration.
Choice techniques—Optimize feature and price trade-offs and develop "what if" modes.
Multi-variate analyses—Apply advanced statistical techniques to take greatest advantage of the data and drive decision-oriented results.
Qualitative
- One-on-one phone and in-person interviews
- Traditional focus groups
- Online focus groups
Competitive
- Store, online and catalog mystery shops
Lilah Koski, Founder and President
As founder and president of Koski Research, Lilah Koski guides the development and implementation of all research programs, with a simple and essential focus on crafting better research, which starts with better questions.
Lilah brings 20 years of experience in marketing research to each project, including well over a decade in financial services. She has designed, directed, and personally conducted thousands of conversations with consumers, executives, and small business owners. In addition, Lilah possesses an intimate understanding of financial services, having spent years speaking with and studying providers, intermediaries, advisors, finance officers, executives, and investors. She brings in-depth knowledge of a wide array of research methodologies and a variety of consumer and business audiences.
Prior to founding Koski Research, Lilah led the marketing research team at Charles Schwab & Co., where she managed highly impactful research projects in both the business-to-business and consumer spaces.
Lilah graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Michigan and has a Master's in psychology from the University of California.
John Gilfeather, Executive Vice President
As Executive Vice President at Koski Research, John's role is to apply the lessons learned in his 40+ year career to Koski Research clients.
John spent a significant portion of his career at Yankelovich, where he learned the craft of research from the bottom up. He ultimately was Managing Partner at Yankelovich, responsible for all of the firm's custom research. In 1999, John joined Roper Starch Worldwide as Vice Chairman and filled several roles in the firm. In 2004, he was named head of Roper Public Affairs - responsible for all public release and corporate reputation research conducted by the firm. From 2007 - 2009, John was Executive Vice President in charge of the US Stakeholder management unit of TNS. Prior to joining Koski Research, he was President of John Gilfeather & Associates - consulting practice dedicated to providing senior counsel and training to research firms and research departments.
John has a degree in Sociology from the University of Notre Dame and attended Columbia University for graduate studies. He was Chair of the Council of American Survey Research Organization (CASRO) and founding member of the Institute for Public Relations Commission on Measurement and Evaluation. He was on the Board of Advisors of the University of Georgia Master in Marketing Research program for 20 years.
Lisa Wilcox Corning, Director of Brand Strategy and Qualitative Research
Lisa Wilcox Corning has two decades of market research and consulting experience, focused on branding and advertising strategy, including positioning, naming, logo design, and packaging development. She specializes in strategic marketing initiatives, new product development, and communications strategy. Her extensive research and consulting experience includes international corporations in the financial services, healthcare, technology, retail, food and beverage, sporting, telecom, natural gas, advertising, public relations, design, and management consulting industries.
In addition to her role at Koski Research, Lisa is a partner of Healy/Wilcox Marketing Group, a company she co-founded after her years as a partner at The B/R/S Group, and member of the creative research department at Young & Rubicam, New York.
Lisa graduated with honors from Brown University with a Bachelor's degree in Literary Theory, and earned her Juris Doctorate from The University of San Francisco School of Law, where she graduated magna cum laude and was an editor of the USF Law Review.
Cindy R. Ford, Ph.D., Director of Advanced Analytics
Cindy has two decades of management and statistical consulting experience, focused on solving complex problems in challenging marketing research projects.
Before her current position, Cindy served as a Senior Vice President at Decision Analyst, where she built and developed the Statistics and Analytics team. Previously, Cindy managed customer and employee satisfaction for Service Strategies as its Director of Research.
Cindy also served as the Director of the Center for Statistical Consulting and Research at Southern Methodist University, and as an expert statistical witness with the USDA, FDA, EEOC, Department of Energy, FDIC and various law firms. She currently sits on the AMA's Advanced Research Techniques (ART) Forum Program Committee.
Cindy holds a Bachelors degree in mathematics and Masters degree in applied mathematics and statistics from Baylor University, and Ph.D. and Masters degree in Statistical Science from Southern Methodist University.
Vinnie La Russa, Research Director
Vinnie La Russa is a research director at Koski Research, where he is instrumental in managing all aspects of the marketing research process, including research design, survey development and programming, vendor management, data analysis, and reporting. Vinnie has managed large-scale research studies in the financial services, healthcare, retail, and technology industries.
Before joining Koski Research, Vinnie was a research assistant at West-Ed, where he specialized in qualitative data analysis. Previously, Vinnie managed business operations, competitive research, and pricing for a regional music retailer.
Vinnie earned his Bachelor's in psychology from the University of California and his Master's in psychology from California State University.
Brandy Skipton, Research Manager
Brandy Skipton has extensive experience managing marketing research projects in both in-house and vendor-side settings, including segmentation and profiling, product development, brand and advertising, concept testing, customer acquisition, user satisfaction and loyalty, product awareness and usage, and marketing communication development. Brandy's experience spans the financial services, retail, and technology industries.
Prior to her role at Koski Research, Brandy served as a research manager at Charles Schwab & Co., where she implemented a wide range of market research programs that impacted strategy and marketing decisions across the firm. Previously, Brandy was a project director and client lead at Socratic Technologies, where she specialized in developing custom survey tools, managing survey programming and testing, and developing insightful analyses and recommendations in report writing.
Brandy graduated with highest honors from the University of California.
Michael Hartmann, Research Associate
Michael's proven analytical skills and attention to detail play a significant role in each client engagement for Koski. Prior to bringing his talents to the Koski Research team, Michael was an analyst for The Data Center, analyzing census information and social science research. He also worked as a school counselor for at-risk youth and was a high school math teacher in the Oakland unified school district.
Michael earned his Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Oregon State University, a Master's degree in Education from University of California, and is currently obtaining his Masters in Statistics with a focus on Computational Statistics from California State University.
Branding
Challenge
With Ogilvy PR, a California-based healthcare organization embarked on the creation of a new brand identity and marketing communications strategy.
Solution
Koski Research designed and supported a multi-phased study to understand the company's current brand perception and to indentify insights to shape the new brand identity. The Koski Research team tested potential positioning and messaging platforms among a representative sample of over 1,000 Californians. The research was a foundational component of the organization's new brand and marketing communications strategy.
Result
The client is currently launching a new brand and marketing campaign.
Messaging & PR
Challenge
Charles Schwab wished to further support its position as a thought leader in providing investment management solutions to the affluent through independent advisors.
Approach
Koski Research implements a semiannual internet-based study with over 1,000 independent investment advisors to measure their market outlook and understand how they are meeting their clients' needs.
Result
Study findings receive in-depth coverage in mass-media channels such as CNBC, Bloomberg, and Investor's Business Daily.
Client Loyalty Program
Challenge
An international commercial bank sought to develop a comprehensive client experience program.
Solution
Koski Research designed and conducted a comprehensive research program with clients from all of the bank's segments. The program included:
- Annual client satisfaction and loyalty study
- Qualitative in-depth interviews with client segments
- Transaction-based surveys to obtain feedback on specific service transactions
The Koski Research team benchmarked client loyalty, utilizing the net promoter score (NPS), and analyzed opportunities for service improvements, revealing technology and operations as the highest priorities.
Result
The bank instituted a service improvement program that yielded a 23 percentage point improvement in client service team satisfaction scores. In addition, the back re-evaluated its client segmentation approach and identified target segments for growth