September 8, 2022

The DRG is proud to announce two team members are finalists in the 2022 Quirk’s Marketing Research and Insight Excellence Awards. The awards recognize marketing researchers adding value and impact within the industry.

The DRG’s Chief Customer Officer & Senior Vice President, Shelley Ahrens, is a finalist for the Fearless Leader award. It goes to a proven risk-taker making a significant difference in an organization. Other award criteria include the promotion and defense of research insights within and outside the organization, creating a path for other researchers to follow, and challenging the status quo. The DRG’s President and CEO, Lanie Johnson, supported the nomination saying, “Shelley is not only fearless, but fair. She helped us get to where we are the right way, never cutting corners, never compromising, never settling for ‘good enough.’  Some people might think ‘fearless’ means being hard-nosed or demanding. Shelley is a unique blend of charismatic, grounded, self-deprecating, and optimistic. Her teams feed off that energy, it’s infectious.”

The DRG’s Senior Director of Research Services and Advanced Analytics, Amanda Heer, is a finalist for the Researcher of the Year award on the supplier side. Amanda’s colleague recommended her saying, “Amanda is the type of researcher you trust wholeheartedly to provide the best possible option to meet research objectives, execute the project, and deliver insights to drive organizational change. She has a curious mind, so before clients have time to ask the next question, she has often already answered it. She pushes the team beyond what has been done historically. Her dedication makes a positive daily impact internally and externally.”

Award winners will be announced at The Marketing Research and Insight Excellence Awards Virtual Ceremony on November 7, 2022.