DIVTAG TEMPLATES - Key Persons
Don is the founder and President of the Industrial Research Center. Prior to starting the IRC in 1987, Don was Marketing Research Manager for commercial products at Scott Paper (now Kimberly-Clark). After extensive training in consumer marketing research, he progressed to commercial marketing research where he made significant contributions to the growth of their Commercial Products Division.
Don is a very creative market research moderator. In addition to many consumer focus groups, he has conducted many studies in the manufacturing, technology, communications, health care, insurance and food service industries. He is highly skilled in generating lively discussions and uncovering underlying motivations for purchase behavior. He has moderated over 950 consumer, industrial, health care and business-to-business focus groups, including in-house focus groups among employees or customers for DuPont, (former) Scott Paper, and Philadelphia Gas Works.
In addition to focus group research, the Industrial Research Center conducts many customer satisfaction and market understanding studies. Mr. Heilala has been a dinner speaker on customer satisfaction research for both the Philadelphia and Northern New Jersey chapters of the Business Marketing Association. In addition, Don is a consultant to other market research firms and ad agencies.
In his spare time, Don enjoys spending time with his family, fishing, boating, golfing, bowling, and promoting youth sports in his community.
Education:
B.S., Electrical Engineering - University of Michigan
M.B.A., Marketing - Widener University