ARLINGTON, VA – Food Marketing Institute (FMI) today announces the appointment of Steven Markenson, PRC, to lead its research efforts. Markenson is a market research executive with a progressive track record of conducting quantitative and qualitative market research in a range of industries for many respected, well-known clients through his tenures at Opinion Research Corporation, Snyder Communications and WBA Research.
Vice President of Communications and Consumer/Community Affairs at FMI, David Fikes, remarked that Markenson’s impressive track record of leadership and extensive experience in managing client relationships made him a perfect fit for this executive position. “Steve came to us from a full-service market research firm where he managed the entire scope of the research process; we fully support his vision in guiding the direction of FMI research and the many ways in which he will help deliver insights to our members and community stakeholders,” Fikes said.
Markenson was formerly the president of WBA Research, a national market research firm founded in 1987, where he oversaw more than 30 full-time professionals, along with a part-time staff of more than 100 telephone interviewers, field interviewers and support staff. Markenson’s WBA clients varied among industries including health care, transportation, travel and tourism, financial services, higher education, associations and non-profits; along with partnering with many advertising/marketing agencies and consulting firms. Earlier in his career, Markenson worked at Snyder Communications, where he directed all aspects of more than 90 annual market research studies for the company’s unique marketing programs. His clients included Dow Brands, General Mills, Gerber, Kellogg’s, Kraft, Mead Johnson, Nabisco, and SmithKline Beecham. Markenson began his career at Opinion Research Corporation where his work focused on the financial services industry for clients such as Merrill Lynch, Moody’s Investors Service, Chase Manhattan Bank, PNC Corporation and Discover Card.
In his new role at FMI, Markenson will oversee all areas of research at FMI, specifically the study design, survey fielding and efforts with outside knowledge partners and FMI subject matter experts. He’ll lead the discovery process on the latest industry trends and operational insights that champion FMI as a credible voice of the food retail industry.
Markenson is a noted presenter at events for the American Marketing Association (AMA), Insights Association, Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and the Mid-Atlantic Marketing Summit. He has previously served as an adjunct professor at American University’s Kogod School of Business and has guest lectured at numerous colleges and universities. Markenson earned a BA from University of Pittsburgh where he graduated Cum Laude with dual majors in economics and business and did graduate work at Rider University.
Food Marketing Institute proudly advocates on behalf of the food retail industry. FMI’s U.S. members operate nearly 40,000 retail food stores and 25,000 pharmacies, representing a combined annual sales volume of almost $770 billion. Through programs in public affairs, food safety, research, education and industry relations, FMI offers resources and provides valuable benefits to more than 1,225 food retail and wholesale member companies in the United States and around the world. FMI membership covers the spectrum of diverse venues where food is sold, including single owner grocery stores, large multi-store supermarket chains and mixed retail stores. For more information, visit www.fmi.org and for information regarding the FMI foundation, visit www.fmifoundation.org.
Source: Food Marketing Institute
