PRA - Key Persons
Abdelrahman is a research assistant, and his work at PRA focuses on market research. His time as a student of psychology gave him years of experience in both highly academic writing and lab settings, and he now brings that mix of invaluable skills to the team at PRA.
Data analysis is a core aspect of Abdelrahman's job. He is particularly skilled in the use of Python, and uses the software to automate data entry and develop custom report visualizations. In addition, he is regularly tasked with scheduling interviews and transcribing the focus groups that are often part of the market research team's work. He also contributes extensively to report and proposal writing.
Aislin manages PRA's data analysis team and provides training and guidance to programming staff. She and her team have an essential role, working closely with other staff including survey operations and project managers to ensure timely data analysis of the highest quality.
Over the years, Aislin has played an important part in projects for a variety of clients in both the public and private sectors, from small to large scale. Her educational background in mathematics and statistics provides her with a solid foundation to support the multitude of research activities at PRA.
Aislin also has wide-ranging experience, from multivariate statistical analysis to computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) and computer-assisted web interviewing (CAWI) programming. Furthermore, her early years as an interviewer in our survey operations centre provided her with insights into the research process from beginning to end, from survey design and testing, to the telephone interviewing process, paper and electronic survey processing, data coding and cleaning.
Nowadays, Aislin devotes much of her time to finding innovative solutions to address our clients' needs for insightful analysis.
Alex brings a strong academic foundation and an array of skills to his work as a research associate. His background in economics enables him to apply a variety of quantitative techniques to his work, including data analysis, the use of probit and logit models, and multivariate regression-based research design.
His contributions to PRA's work include projects in the domains of public health, law, and the environment. He supports clients with survey and data analysis, literature and document reviews, and extensive background research. Alex has particular expertise in applied econometrics and casual inference, and extensive experience investigating and reporting on economic and social phenomena. Clients and colleagues alike benefit from Alex's breadth of academic and professional experience.
Amparo is an experienced financial comptroller, bookkeeper, human resource and office management professional, and has supported every aspect of PRA's operations for decades.
Amparo is skilled in accounting software, is a magician with spreadsheets and somehow juggles accounts receivables and payables, payroll and group benefits with ease. She is fully bilingual in English and Spanish and has some working knowledge of French.
Job Titles:
- SENIOR RESEARCH ASSOCIATE
- TECHNICAL SERVICES MANAGER
Bob has a wealth of experience and has managed a wide range of complex evaluation studies and other research in areas as diverse as telecommunications, technology training, agricultural subsidies and disability supports.
Another major focus of Bob's work at PRA is supporting the technical aspects of research, such as survey management, sample development and web-based research. He routinely draws on decades of experience with computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) systems and information technology (IT) infrastructure and advises other research managers on specific types of technology or technical capabilities to support them and their clients.
In addition, Bob manages PRA's own IT systems, ensuring data integrity, communications and security are maintained throughout the network.
With his ability to utilize various research methods and use technology to support research, Bob is a truly multifaceted research professional.
Brigitte is a seasoned researcher who has mastered many complex analytical situations. Her training in business, extensive experience in diverse subject matter areas and focus on the top standard of research provide clients with highly effective support on all research and consulting assignments.
Brigitte is a Credentialed Evaluator. She has managed numerous federal and provincial-level evaluations and related studies, and has worked extensively with non-profit organizations. While her work focuses on program evaluation and performance measurement, she has also led several strategic planning assignments and operational and service-level reviews.
Brigitte's skill set includes facilitating focus groups, working groups, strategic board meetings and presenting findings to stakeholders and decision-makers - all in both official languages.
She served on the Board of the National Capital Chapter of the Canadian Evaluation Society (CES) for five years, she has been teaching essential skills courses for CES and she currently serves on the Board of an organization with deep Franco-Manitoban and Métis roots, Le Musée St. Boniface Museum.
Cara's early years as an interviewer in our survey operations centre provided her with insights into the telephone interviewing process, followed by data entry and coding, and survey pre-testing, all the way to supervision of interviewers. She also has extensive experience developing and maintaining databases, and compiling data on the operations of our survey centre. Nowadays, one of Cara's key responsibilities is programming surveys on our CATI and CAWI software platform.
Christine offers clients and colleagues timely and thorough edits. Thanks to her wide range of professional experiences and commitment to ongoing professional development, Christine is able to provide clients with polished, high-quality documents.
A former English teacher and digital content creator, Christine has worked with writers and clients from various backgrounds to develop finished pieces for online publication and academic submission. While she has worked extensively in fiction, Christine specializes in technical and academic writing and editing. She is also a member of the Manitoba Editors' Association.
Christine's love of music and all things outdoors led her to become a volunteer at the Winnipeg Folk Festival, where you will find her every July.
Job Titles:
- SENIOR RESEARCH ASSOCIATE
Claire's work as a research assistant at PRA focuses on evaluation and covers a wide variety of projects and tasks. This includes coordinating and scheduling of key informant interviews, coding qualitative data, document and literature reviews, and contributing to case study reporting. Claire also conducts exploratory research.
During her post-secondary studies in psychology, Claire developed a broad range of research skills. These include study design, survey and interview data collection, recruitment, and survey programming. Claire is experienced in statistical analysis and able to draw from her broad background in mental health services and immigrant case processing to support projects rooted in child and family services, health, and the advancement of marginalized communities.
When she's not working, Claire can be found taking in a Beyoncé concert, catching up on RuPaul's Drag Race, or exploring Ottawa's restaurant scene.
Derek is a senior research analyst with a primary focus on market research, utilizing a variety of approaches from surveys to focus groups and mystery shopping. In fact, Derek has accumulated experience working with a variety of clients from both the public and private sectors.
While much of Derek's work focuses on quantitative data collection and analysis, Derek has a wealth of experience collecting, analyzing and presenting data from qualitative research methodologies such as focus groups and key informant interviews.
Derek started with PRA as a field interviewer, applying his previous experience in programming and analysis which provides him with a deeper understanding of the entirety of the research process. This has proven very useful in managing numerous research projects and working closely with other team members to ensure the quality, timeliness and usefulness of research results.
Outside the office, Derek is an avid sports fan and also loves exploring the province of Manitoba, especially in the summer.
Job Titles:
- RESEARCH ASSOCIATE
- Member of the Canadian Evaluation Society
Jeannette is an emerging evaluator with a background in political science, and public and international affairs. She was introduced to research and to quantitative and qualitative analysis while completing her studies. At PRA, Jeannette contributes to a wide array of projects for government departments and agencies as well as non-profit organizations, and has addressed a variety of subject matters involving local, regional, national and international stakeholders.
Her fluency in English and French and excellent communication skills have been assets for the tasks that she regularly undertakes, including the conduct and synthesis of key informant interviews, case studies, focus group synthesis, literature and document reviews, environmental scans, survey analysis, and reporting. Jeannette works out of our Ottawa office.
Jeannette is a member of the Canadian Evaluation Society (CES). Outside the office, she volunteers with her local church. She is also an avid reader, always ready to add new items to her already out-of-control reading list.
Karyn began her career at PRA in our original, modest 12-station survey operations centre as a telephone interviewer. Over the years, she has tackled many roles and is now part of our amazing support team.
Karyn continues to work closely with partners, researchers and the editing team, providing quality control for all documents including complex reports, presentation material, questionnaires and other research tools. She also finds time to prepare content for the web.
Over the years, Karyn has provided training to survey operations and research staff on International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards, and the firm's quality control and project management processes. She has had a key role in internal auditing of those processes and more broadly in continuous improvement at PRA.
In her spare time Karyn enjoys any activities that make the world a happier place, including helping refugees and newcomers with everything from resume writing to job hunting and acquiring life skills such as banking, buying a home, etc.
There is no telling where we would be headed without our coordinator extraordinaire. Kathy is our Office Manager and along with juggling day-to-day activities, she keeps an eye on workload and priorities for the support team and editing team.
Kathy plays a key role in ensuring there is constant communication between the management team and administrative staff in order to meet client requirements and timelines. Kathy also brings extensive experience in proposal and report preparation.
Kathy also manages our focus group facilities, for internal use and rental by external parties. She looks after the logistics - from catering to video conferencing, recording and hosting - to fit each group's needs. Her role is key in ensuring a smooth and positive experience for participants, viewers and moderators. She is also responsible for arrangements for focus groups and consultations that we frequently conduct in other cities across the country.
For over 30 years, Kerry has designed and managed projects in all areas of research. He specializes in designing and implementing quantitative and qualitative research and has successfully conducted hundreds of surveys at the local, regional and national levels for private, non-profit, and government clients.
Kerry has extensive experience in questionnaire design, sampling, data analysis (including such advanced techniques as multiple regression and conjoint and factor analysis), field operations, in-person interviewing, focus group moderating, report preparation and presentations of findings to clients.
Kerry believes strongly in giving back to the community. For over two decades, he has been an active volunteer, especially for non-profit arts organizations. He is on the board of the Winnipeg Arts Council and was a long-time board member and then Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre (Royal MTC). He remains an active volunteer with MTC sitting on its Audience Development Committee. In addition, he is on the Board of Virtuosi Concerts Inc. and the Performing Arts Lodge (PAL Winnipeg), an organization dedicated to building affordable housing for artists.
Passionate about survey research, Lynn is committed to ethical, inclusive and respectful practices. Coordinating PRA's survey research centre, she is responsible for hiring, training motivating and supporting a staff of over 70. Lynn supports PRA's focus on excellence, beginning with engaging staff in pre-tests, briefings and conversations about the work we do and the insights they bring.
Over the years, Lynn has honed her organizational skills. She is well-versed in the strategic use of a variety of research methods, including telephone, paper and online surveys and panels, as well as both virtual and in-person focus groups.
Lynn constantly strives to be innovative and responsive to clients' requirements. That invariably involves attention to detail, creative solutions that stay within budgets and a sensitivity to deadlines infused with high standards.
When she is not juggling the demands of research assignments, Lynn volunteers with the most vulnerable members of our community and chairs a social justice committee.
Job Titles:
- SENIOR RESEARCH ASSOCIATE
Meagan is an experienced researcher well-versed in a wide variety of qualitative and quantitative methods and with substantial knowledge of evaluation. Over the past decade, Meagan has managed and contributed to numerous evaluations and other research studies for a range of clients.
With an interdisciplinary educational background in environmental studies and international development, Meagan has a genuine interest in just about any subject matter. Meticulous and thorough, Meagan offers clients high-quality analysis and clear, concise reporting.
Outside of the office, Meagan puts her music degree to good use by offering her services as a trumpeter whenever opportunities arise. A quiet person by nature, Meagan relishes the chance to be loud as she serenades classical audiences or rocks out with her brass quintet.
Nathan is a research assistant whose work at PRA covers a wide variety of projects and tasks. His work includes coordinating and scheduling of key informant interviews, survey data analysis, document and literature reviews, case study reporting, and exploratory research.
Nathan draws on his multi-disciplinary background in the humanities, social sciences, and agricultural policy to provide clear and comprehensive analysis and reporting in a range of fields. Nathan's flexibility and broad background make him a valuable team member. Nathan is also working to expand his expertise by pursing a Master of Public Administration.
Nicholas' background was steeped in quantitative research, but over the years he has grown to embrace qualitative research, serving as PRA's primary focus group moderator. Nicholas has moderated hundreds of focus groups with diverse populations across Canada, providing unique and strategic insights to clients across multiple sectors.
Although his love for qualitative research has grown, Nicholas remains well-versed in quantitative research techniques, managing all forms of survey research at PRA. Annually, Nicholas manages surveys involving over 100,000 respondents across Canada, with a strong focus in the post-secondary education and advertising sectors.
Nicholas is heavily involved in marketing research, having served on the board of the Marketing Research and Intelligence Association's (now, the Canadian Research and Insights Council) Prairie Chapter for 10 years and as the group's President from 2009 to 2011. He also shares his passion with future marketing researchers, teaching Market Research at the Asper School of Business (University of Manitoba) and the University of Winnipeg.
Outside of the office, Nicholas is busy serving as President of the parent council for his children's school and coaching soccer.
Paul has accumulated extensive experience in and knowledge of evaluation and performance measurement over the years. He came to work at PRA during his post-secondary studies and subsequently stayed with us, making a tremendous contribution to the firm. He also became a Credentialed Evaluator along the way.
Paul has managed a wide variety of evaluation and related assignments in various subject matter areas and for a range of clients, including municipal, provincial and federal government organizations as well as non-profit organizations.
Susanna is a Senior Research Manager at PRA as well as a Credentialed Evaluator (CE). Through her previous work in policy analysis for the federal government as well as through her current evaluation practice, she has honed her skills in a wide array of qualitative methods, and she has also had the opportunity to analyze, report on and present findings to a variety of stakeholders and decision-makers. While she focuses on program evaluation, she has also been involved in strategic planning exercises and related studies. She is regularly involved in assignments with federal and provincial government departments and agencies as well as not-for-profit organizations, and she has applied her research skills to a broad range of subject matter areas.
Susanna works in our Ottawa office. She works in both English and French. When she is not working as a researcher, Susanna is busy volunteering as an assistant coach for the Carleton University women's varsity rugby team and sharing her passion for the game.
Taylor is a research assistant and her contributions to PRA projects have a primary focus on market research, covering a wide array of topics and tasks, from SPSS programming for data cleaning and analysis to survey testing.
Most of Taylor's work involves quantitative data collection and analysis. Her background in statistics and programming has been an asset in performing these tasks. She also assists with data collection by performing mystery shops and in-person recruitment.
Taylor is an active volunteer outside of the office. She has volunteered at Camp Quality for the past six years, and dedicates time on the organizing committee to help bring a fun week of camp to children who have been affected by childhood cancer.
Job Titles:
- SENIOR RESEARCH ANALYST
- SENIOR RESEARCH ANALYST & PANEL MANAGER