Volunteer

Want to take your membership with MRA to the next level? MRA has many volunteer opportunities for short term projects or on-going service. Network and promote yourself and your company by helping out your association and your profession.

Education/Communication Opportunities
Committee/Leadership Opportunities
MRA Workgroups & Committees

Education/Communication Opportunities

Write an Article
Know something we don’t? Write about it. MRA is always seeking writers for Alert! Magazine. Contact Tara Cantore at 860-682-1000 or tara.cantore@mra-net.org.

Conduct a Webinar
Provide education to the profession from the comfort of your computer. Conduct a webinar and spread your knowledge with your peers. Webinar presenters are always needed. Contact Jennifer Cattel at 860-682-1000 or jennifer.cattel@mra-net.org.

Speak at Conference
Share your expertise with the profession by speaking at one of MRA’s highly valued conferences. Speaking proposals are accepted year round, but are reviewed and considered for selection approximately three months before each conference. Submit a speaking proposal today!

Participate at the Local Level
MRA and it's local chapters are always looking for volunteers. Contact Lisa Lockwood at 860-682-1000 or lisa.lockwood@mra-net.org or your local chapter for the latest opportunities.

Committee/Leadership Opportunities

Join a Workgroup or Committee
Volunteer as a member of one of MRA’s many workgroups and committees. Network with peers while advancing your professional skills and helping the Association.

Volunteers are the heart of MRA. Without the efforts of volunteers, MRA would not be the one source for the opinion and marketing research profession. MRA greatly values and appreciates each and every one of its members who offer their time and expertise. The value of any association can be directly attributed to the contributions of its members.

Those interested in volunteering are invited to serve on the local or national level. If you would like more information on volunteer opportunities, call Lisa Lockwood at (860) 682-1000.

MRA Workgroups & Committees

Education

Contact Jennifer Cattel at 860-682-1000 or jennifer.cattel@mra-net.org

Education Workgroup
Angela Lorinchak, PRC, Metro Research Services., Chair

Mission: To anticipate the educational environment and needs of the survey and opinion research professional, develop and provide educational opportunities for the advancement of knowledge, and offer innovative delivery venues, providing opportunities for all involved in the industry.

Education Review Board
Anne Brown, PRC, Gazelle Global Research Services, Chair

Mission: Reviews all education content- specifically Webinars and Conference sessions.

Annual Conference Program Committee
Alice Butler, PRC M/A/R/C Research, Chair

Mission: Plan and execute all aspects of Annual Conference education program.

First Outlook Conference & Expo Committee
Brad Larson, PRC, Thoroughbred Research Group, Chair

Mission: Plan and execute all aspects of First Outlook Conference education program.

Webinar Program Committee
Bridgid Michaud, PRC, Direct Resource, Inc., Chair

Mission: Manages Webinar content, recruits speakers and develops structures.

Publications Committee
Melanie Courtright, DMS Research, Chair

Mission: Writes monthly education column in Alert! Magazine.

Certification

Contact Jennifer Cattel at 860-682-1000 or jennifer.cattel@mra-net.org

Certification Board
Ted Donnelly, PRC, Baltimore Research, Chair

Mission: To guide the design, implementation, and administration of the PRC program and accreditation programs developed and operated by MRA, ensuring that all standards of appropriate certifying entities are met and that all programs are conducted at the highest level.

PRC Review Committee
Debra Schlesinger-Hellman, PRC, Schlesinger Associates Inc., Chair

Mission: Reviews candidates when subjective review required. In addition to setting standards for review for use by staff and Committee, develop an appeals process and reviewing exam results for skews and errors.

PRC Development Committee
Peter Van Brunt, PRC, ReData, Inc., Chair

Mission: Develops a bank of test questions that includes representation from all research segments including specialty areas, maintain a resource list for candidate test preparation, develops and maintains list of recommended study materials for all certification. The committee also develops standards for new certifications or specialties, provides ongoing input on industry trends affecting currency of exam material and receives feedback from Review Committee regarding questions or exam composition

Business Services

Contact Kristen Darby at 860-682-1000 or kristen.darby@mra-net.org .

Business Services Workgroup
Magda Cooling, PRC, Opinions... of Sacramento, Chair

Mission: In keeping with the larger MRA goals of service and agility, the mission of the Business Services Workgroup is to provide the information and resources our members need to conduct business. We will identify their needs, and create agile task forces to investigate (collect, compile, analyze, evaluate, review), and implement (promote and communicate).

Membership

Contact Lisa Lockwood at 860-682-1000 or lisa.lockwood@mra-net.org

Membership & Chapter Workgroup
Bette Anne Champion, PRC

Mission: To increase membership through recruitment and retention, to maintain and improve Chapter relations and facilitate volunteer recognition

Quality/Standards

Contact Patrick Glaser at 203-300-5563 or pglaser@mra-net.org

Quality/Standards Workshop Committee
Kathy Pilhuj, Scarborough Research, Operations Center, Chair

Mission: To plan, organize and execute the annual Quality/Standards Workshop. The Quality/Standards Workshop brings together professionals from a diverse set of for-profit, non-profit, government and academic backgrounds to present, discuss and debate respondent cooperation problems and solutions.

Training Module Committee
Kathy Pilhuj, Scarborough Research Operations Center, Chair

Mission: Develops, maintains and updates the MRA Telephone Interview and Supervisor training module series. The Training Modules are a comprehensive training program containing well over 40 hours of customizable training for call center personnel.

Tracking Study Committee
Kathy Pilhuj, Scarborough Research Operations Center, Chair

Mission: To oversee the implementation, execution and analysis of the regular Research Profession Tracking Study. This project involves research organizations inputting information about the performance of their studies into an online form. The data yielded from the project informs best practices, cooperation trends throughout the survey research profession and developments in research organization administration.

Government Affairs

Contact Howard Fienberg at 202-775-5170 or hfienberg@mra-net.org or LaToya Rembert-Lang, Esq. at 202-775-5171 or llang@mra-net.org

Government Affairs Committee
Michael Mermelstein, PRC, G2 & Associates and Jane Moore, PRC, Kantar Operations, Co-Chairs

Mission: To monitor relevant legislative and regulatory activity, to ensure that the interests of the research community are protected, to create guidance to legislative / regulatory approach and to educate industry members regarding relevant legislative, statutory and regulatory issues.

Qualitative Subcommittee

Mission:

State Capital Network

Mission: Protect and promote the whole research profession by assisting in monitoring and responding to legislative measures that impact the research profession, and foster positive relationships with policymakers and their staffs.