Leadership Team

Amy Hebard, PhD - President/Chief Research Officer/co-founder

Amy Hebard has spent 25 years as a marketing and market research professional. For 17 years (1986-2003) she honed her skills in the telecommunications world, the last four of which she headed up the Consumer Market Research Division at AT&T which was responsible for conducting 120-150 studies annually (a yearly budget of up to $15 million). Since leaving AT&T, she has created two successful companies, Hebard Research Services, LLC (a one-woman market research consulting firm for advising clients on effective research strategies to support their marketing) and Rockhopper Research, Inc. (a full-service firm of 14 people who provide leading edge online research for domestic and international clients). Rockhopper Research is the dedicated research arm for earthsense LLC. Dr. Hebard's clients since AT&T have included Alcatel-Lucent, AMR Research, Deloitte, Genworth Financial, The Conference Board, and Verizon, among others. Amy is PRC certified at the Expert Level by the Market Research Association and has a BA from Ithaca College (philosophy) and a PhD from Columbia University (psychology).

Amy lives in Maplewood, New Jersey with her husband, Jim.

Wendy Cobrda - CEO/ co-founder

Wendy Cobrda has spent the past twenty years honing her unique combination of target marketing skills. The first ten years were spent working for established marketing leaders such as Claritas, Market Statistics, Mediamark Research Inc. and Group 1 Software. In 1997, Ms. Cobrda formed Catenate as a means of linking together the myriad datasets and analysis techniques she learned early in her career. Celebrating ten years in business, Catenate has completed multiple projects for clients such as Hewlett-Packard, Experian, Turner Broadcasting, John Hancock, Unicel, Remedy Staffing, Pottery Barn, Borders, among others. Catosphere.com is Catenate's co-branded website (powered by ESRI, the world's leader in GIS technology) which features self-serve demographic reports and maps. thINKPlaza.com is Catenate's Specialty Printing Community which feeds the thINK Printer User panel. Wendy currently serves at the Marketing Director for the worldwide non-profit Association of Independent Information Professionals and is a member of various industry associations. Previous to entering the market research world, Wendy earned a BA in Communications from SUNY Oswego, where she was the General Manager of the college radio station. After college, she worked with the Radio Advertising Bureau and she worked part-time in the New York market as a traffic reporter for Shadow Traffic where she was heard regularly "on the 8's" weekends on WCBS-AM among other stations.

Wendy lives in Manlius, NY with her husband Peter, and her two children.

Doug Foster - CIO
Doug began his career as an urban planner in 1990. He designed, built and managed the City of Ithaca's GIS, and managed all demographic data including the Census verification and redistricting. In 2000 he started his own consulting company in database programming and marketing with clients such as MRI and JP Morgan Chase. In 2004 he worked on a national homeownership initiative and managed the information and report system, along with project initiatives such as green building. Doug is excited to be combining his passion for "living green" with his experience in information management.

Mark Hardy - COO
With over 20-years hands-on experience, Mark is a seasoned General Manager with functional expertise in Sales, Marketing, Product Development and Strategy. Mark spent the first part of his career at Procter & Gamble, and then transitioned into the Marketing Services Industry where he has worked at leading Database Marketing and Market Research Companies. Having held senior roles at Information Resources, Greenfield Online, Dun & Bradstreet and GfK NOP, Mark has experience managing companies at every phase, from establishing an online start-up to reinvigorating a global corporation. Throughout his career, Mark has worked with a wide range of clients such as Nestle, Hallmark, Wal-Mart, HP, Ralston-Purina, Ford, State Farm and Celestial Seasonings to name a few. In 2000, he was named runner-up for the MIT Sloan e-business Industry Transformation Award, for launching a disruptive Internet-based application for consumer and customer research.

Zach Luse - Director of Web Technology

Megan Kovacs - Insights Product Manager

As a graduate of the University of Michigan School of Business, Megan has been specializing in data analysis and primary and secondary research for over 20 years. She got her start with Coopers & Lybrand (one of the "Big Eight" way back then!) in the National Mergers & Acquisitions group, producing information-rich business and industry reports for the firm's clients. She further developed her skills as a member of the Treasury and Investment division at Great Lakes National Bank (a subsidiary of TCF Financial Corporation) creating forecasting models, evaluating financial product offerings, and strategizing the bank's daily monetary position. For the past ten years she has been a valued member of Catenate, LLC. Combined with an instinct for emerging trends and a strong grasp of data interpretation, Megan is an invaluable partner in identifying, analyzing and determining marketing and strategy solutions.

Kim Swanson - Business Manager

Kim honed her management and organizational skills through a variety of challenging positions at Crawford and Company (Atlanta, GA). Her professional career began as a Vocational Rehabilitation Councelor for the private sector assisting individuals with various disabilities. Eventually Kim supervised and managed several offices throughout Central New York. Her responsibilities included daily operations, supervision of staff, marketing as well as maintaining a caseload. Kim currently still maintains industry certifications required for this field including New York State certifications as well as Certified Disability Management Specialist (CDMS). Kim holds a BA in English and Humanities from Columbia College.

Kim left her profession to be at home with children, Alex and twin girls, Rachel and Christine. Being a homemaker fully prepared her for the challenges within the business industry (no lie)! Kim taught preschool during this time. Kim and her husband, Chuck (a Computer Security Specialist), live in Manlius, NY, with their children and two kittens.

Rich Mithoff - Director of Business Development

Richard Mithoff is a geographer with an extensive sales and marketing background in GIS and Demographics. Richard has several years experience as a sales executive for a successful web-based data and mapping firm where he helped the growth of their online subscriber base. As the go-between for clients and developers, Richard acted as a product manager to make customer requests a reality. Mr. Mithoff began his career as a cartographer for AAA Southern California where he created and updated member road maps that are catalogued in the Library of Congress. Richard also held a position with Harte-Hanks Inc. as a GIS Analyst creating specialized thematic maps, reports and databases for a sales force of over 100. Prior to his GIS/Demographic experience Richard received a Bachelor's degree in Geography from California State University, Fullerton, where he focused on physical geography and meteorology. He holds a license from the California Department of Real Estate and has consulted with many homeowners regarding their mortgage financing.

Richard currently resides in Mission Viejo, California with his wife Gail and 2 children.

Statistical Team

Bridget Bly, PhD

Henry Greene, PhD

Henry Greene is currently an adjunct professor at the University of Hartford. He has served on the faculties at Salisbury University, the University of Rhode Island, and Indiana University in Malaysia. Henry has a BS in Mathematics from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, an MS in Mathematics from Wichita State University, an MS in Computer Science from the University of Rhode Island, an MBA from the University of Hartford, and a PhD in Marketing from the University of Massachusetts. His interests are in direct marketing, database marketing, customer relationship management, and direct mail. He has worked in the direct-marketing industry for several years and has worked as a marketing analyst and consultant for Y&R, IBM, and Information Xperts. He has worked with marketing departments in several large corporations: Sears, Rent-A-Center, GEICO Auto Insrance, Dominoes, Pizza Hut, Radio Shack, Fleet Bank, and Physicians Mutual, among others. His recent publications are in direct marketing applications. He is a recent winner on the best doctoral paper submitted to the Direct Marketing Education Foundation Conference. His current research interest is in direct marketing and classroom innovation.

Analysts

Matthew Klein

Matthew Klein has analyzed and written about consumer segments and their effect on business trends for fifteen years. A former editor with American Demographics magazine, Matt also contributed to the flagship publication, Marketing Tools magazine, and wrote the Forecast newsletter. After leaving American Demographics, he wrote extensive reports for a leading marketing intelligence company on specific categories of consumer products, with clients among the largest retailers and brands.

Matthew Bliven

Matt is currently a senior at Syracuse University, completing a dual major in Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises; and Marketing Management. He spent the summer of 2007 traveling and studying throughout Europe. As part of the D'Aniello Entrepreneurial Internship Program at the Whitman School of Management, Matt was partnered with earthsense. Matt's responsibilities at earthsense include competitor analysis and industry research. Matt has worked throughout his college career as a supervisor for the Intramural Sports Program at Syracuse University and has also interned with the New York State Police Department's Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI).

Kate DeVoe

Advisors

Jacquelyn Ottman

An internationally recognized consultant and green marketing pioneer who helps businesses find competitive advantage by developing and marekting environmental sustainable products and services. Her New York City-based firm, J. Ottaman Consulting, Inc., which she founded in 1989, has advised over 60 Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and not-for-profit organizations including 3M, IBM, and the United States Enviromental Protection Agency's Energy Star and Design for Environment Programs.

Simon Chadwick

Before starting CAMBIAR, Simon Chadwick was Global CEO of NOP World, a $400 million market research and consulting company. In this role, he was responsible for creating a cohesive global group out of nine highly distinctive and successful research companies in the UK, U.S., Europe and Asia. Before joining NOP, Simon ran a number of research, consulting and CRM companies within the WPP Group, including The Winona Group, Research International USA, Research International UK and Research International Italia. In his 27-year career in the market research industry, Simon started a number of successful companies as well as becoming known for his ability to restructure and "turn around" companies facing difficulties.

Simon is active in the leadership of the market research and marketing industries; he was 2004 Chair of CASRO (Council of American Survey Research Organizations) and was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Marketing Science Institute. He has been a member of the Board of Advisors of the MSMR (Masters in Market Research) program at the University of Texas Arlington and is a Fellow of the Market Research Society. He holds an MA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from Oxford University, England and has done post-graduate studies at both Columbia and Harvard business schools in Change Management and Strategic Management.

Joseph Cioffi - Davis & Gilbert, LLP

Joseph Cioffi leverages his past experience as a brand Manager at Nabisco and financial analyst at Kraft Foods to create value-added solutions for advertising, marketing and other corporate clients in the areas of financings, restructurings, acquisitions, joint ventures and divestitures.

He has developed a particular expertise in understanding the legal relationships among advertising agencies, their clients and media vendors. As part of his general corporate practice, he has assisted in the growth of large and small marketing communications companies through asset-based and receivables-backed securitized financings. As part of his creditor rights and reorganization practice, he has helped marketing companies improve their financial condition through restructurings of their debt and equity obligations, acquisitions and divestitures of distressed assets and protection against the financial distress of their customers. Mr. Cioffi routinely provides guidance on doing business with insolvent entities, inside and outside of bankruptcy, and issues related to preferential and fraudulent transfers.

For his new product efforts at Nabisco, Mr. Cioffi received the honor of being named one of the "Top Marketers of the Year" by Advertising Age magazine.

Raymond Pettit, PhD

Dr. Pettit is a principal at MarketShare Partners, a global firm that measures return on marketing investment and guides optimal marketing improvements for its clients. He is author of a new book commissioned by the Advertising Research Foundation entitled "Learning From Winners" (Psychology Press, 2007), sponsored by Microsoft Corporation. Ray works at the critical juncture of technology and marketing science to drive improved return on investment of marketing, branding, and advertising, and helps corporations foster innovation and accountability. Ray is also the co-author of "Market Research in the Internet Age" (John Wiley & Sons). Ray received his bachelors degree from the University of Michigan and both masters and doctoral degrees from the University of Illinois. He has been a Quantitative and Market Research Consultant and Executive for a number of U.S. and European firms.

Syracuse Incubator Advisors

Nasir Ali

Nasir is Vice President, New Venture Development for the Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce. Ali's primary mission is to support the creation of an entrepreneurial culture in Syracuse and the Central New York region. In addition to managing the Syracuse Technology Garden and Sam Williams Business Center, Ali also coordinates CNY Angel, a group of early stage investors; manages a network of experienced mentors; and oversees www.GrowSyracuse.com, a one-stop online resource for the region's entrepreneurs.

Ali moved to Syracuse from Washington, DC, where he was an Associate at Booz Allen Hamilton charged with helping IRS Commissioners manage over $1 billion in technology modernization and workforce restructuring initiatives. Prior to this, he co-founded New Think (a mobile commerce services firm) and WritersPoint (an offshore technical writing company). Before beginning his career as an entrepreneur, Ali turned around large-scale software, telecommunications, and systems integration projects for Fortune 100 companies. He received his MBA in Finance and Operations Management from Yale University's School of Management, where he helped initiate a joint Masters degree program in Industrial Environmental Management. Ali graduated from Princeton University with a degree in Physics and a concentration in Economics.

Paul Brooks - Paul Brooks joined the Syracuse Technology Garden as Executive Director in July 2006. He is responsible for management of the Technology Garden and oversight of its programs and entrepreneurship outreach. His focus is to foster high tech entrepreneurship in the Central New York region through start-up business incubation, both resident and virtual.

Paul is an experienced entrepreneur having owned Brooks Communications, a technology oriented marketing communications firm. In addition, he has a wealth of sales, marketing and administrative tenure in both high-tech businesses, and financial services organizations. His special area of expertise is business development, sales and marketing, lending that capability to the Technology Garden's services to its clients.

Prior to joining the Technology Garden, Paul was Northeastern Regional Business Development Director of Cincom Systems, a worldwide software development and marketing firm headquartered in Cincinnati. His previous associations include management responsibilities at Xerox Corporation, Sykes Datatronics and CIS Corporation where he served as Vice President Communications and Management Services.

Mr. Brooks holds a BS degree in Business Administration and an MBA in Marketing Management from Syracuse University. In addition to his business involvement he has an active community presence serving as Chairman of the Board of the Greater Cazenovia Area Chamber of Commerce, and as an elected member of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Cazenovia.

Sean Branagan

Is president of Communigration, Inc., a technology marketing firm, headquartered in Syracuse, NY, (in the Syracuse Technology Garden) with technology business clients across the US and UK. He is also a partner in C3 Strategic, LLC, a management consulting firm that works with businesses nationwide seeking change (growth, funding, new markets, etc.), providing them with traditional management consulting services as well as Transition Management Team services (human capital investment attached to performance). A graduate of Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, much of Sean's career experience has been in marketing and communications with firms selling technical products and services. Most recently, he has served as Senior Director of Marketing for a $125 million national IT and Internet Services Company headquartered in Boston's Route 128 technology sector. Sean's experience with the Internet and World Wide Web began in 1993 at a national super computing center. Since then, he has engaged in online strategy, interactive marketing and major website producing for organizations nationwide, including most-notably the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, Cutco Cutlery, the DuPont Registry, Federal Business Council, Indium Corporation of America, Lighthouse International, MariSafe, NaviSite, Rack Room Shoes, Time-Warner/Road Runner, Welch-Allyn and Wilton-Armetale.

Steve Suhowatsky

With an MBA from the Wharton School of Business (University of Pennsylvania), Steve recently served as President and CEO of Panthus Corporation a $150 million mini-conglomerate company with major business holdings in construction equipment (Caterpillar), computer leasing and financing, industrial supplies and home healthcare services. He helped guide the company when it was public company (then known as Syracuse Supply Company) as it divested itself from holdings in shrinking markets (industrial supplies) and invest in new growth areas (home health services and computer leasing). Active throughout his career in the business community, Steve has served on numerous not-for-profit boards, as well as boards of statewide and national organizations. Notably, Steve is a member of the Board of Directors of Excellus, Inc. (former Blue Cross/ Blue Shield) and has been involved in guiding the firm through several mergers and acquisitions. Today the organization is part of a $4 billion family of companies that finances and delivers health care services and the largest of its type in New York State.

Research

Jodi Gregory

Jodi has been the owner and founder of Access Information Services, Inc. for 19 years. She has been in the business of providing organizations with targeted market and industry analysis, competitor tracking, customized industry monitoring, litigation support and other information to address client's business information requirements. Her clients range from small, independently owned companies to Fortune 50 global corporations.

Jodi was selected to share her strategies for starting and building a successful information research service in the book, titled Super Searchers Make It On Their Own published by Information Today and has been quoted in the Information Scientist.

Jodi currently serves as the author of the Business/Finance SpecScan column for Cyberskeptic's Guide to Internet Research. She is a Past President (2006) on the Board of Directors for the Association of Independent Information Professionals. She launched her business after an online career beginning as an Account Development Representative at Lexis-Nexis. She then served as Manager of the Information & Analysis Group under contract providing business intelligence to the U.S. Air Force. Gregory is a frequent speaker on a variety of topics including Business Information Sources, Healthcare Information on the Web, Secrets of a Super Searcher and Starting an Information Services Business. She recently was a featured speaker at Online Information in London and in Poland, for the U.S. Department of State, Office of International Information Programs. She is a member of AIIP, SLA and SCIP.

Jodi lives in Dayton, Ohio with her husband, Drew, two children and a lab mix named Lexis.