Market Research Consultants in Atlanta to Watch For in 2025

Spotlighting the insight leaders shaping consumer understanding in Georgia and beyond

Atlanta’s research landscape is bursting with sharp minds, methodological innovators, and strategic partners ready to decode the "why" behind consumer behavior. Whether you're a startup building your first customer profile or a Fortune 500 enterprise refining product-market fit, having the right research consultant by your side can make or break your strategy.

At Digital Reference, we believe in celebrating the people behind the data, and those translating surveys into stories, interviews into innovations, and analytics into action. Our mission is to spotlight professionals whose research transforms decision-making. This blog is designed not only to elevate leading consultants but also to help companies discover talent that aligns with their business goals.

Our curated selection for Atlanta is the result of an in-depth review of websites, LinkedIn profiles, project portfolios, and community contributions. Every person on this list brings something distinct to the table, whether it’s design thinking, culinary testing, emotional branding, or analytics-heavy segmentation.

👉 If you're curious about how we map talent, check out our deep-dive on market research ecosystems and our guide to hiring a market research consultant.

Why Atlanta’s Market Research Scene Deserves Attention

Atlanta is more than a business hub, it’s a melting pot of industries, consumers, and innovators. With global brands headquartered here, from Coca-Cola to Home Depot, the city demands constant insight into shifting consumer preferences. And behind that insight? A wave of researchers making it happen.

This list includes independent consultants, boutique firm founders, and seasoned strategists. They work across a variety of sectors including: food & beverage, healthcare, fintech, CPG, and more. Some use tech-forward tools; others rely on time-tested methodologies, but they all share one thing: a deep dedication to understanding people.

Let’s dive into the leaders redefining market research in Atlanta in 2025.

Tracey Howard

President & Owner, Talking Heads Studio

Tracey Howard brings a uniquely interdisciplinary background to qualitative market research, rooted in education, media, and participant engagement. After beginning her career as a public school teacher at just 20, she transitioned into educational media, and eventually found her niche in qualitative research. Since founding Talking Heads Studio in 2009, Tracey has led with empathy, creativity, and operational excellence.

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• 🎤 Full-spectrum qualitative expert, skilled as a moderator, facility director, and participant platform consultant across in-person and online methodologies.
• 🎓 Former educator and media consultant, blending storytelling and strategy to enhance research impact and respondent engagement.
• 🌍 Atlanta-rooted and nationally connected, known for sharp recruiting, flexible project management, and an unmatched ability to surface untapped respondent segments across B2C, B2B, and medical research.

Marisa Pope

Principal, Jackson Adept Research

With nearly three decades of experience, Marisa Pope is a cornerstone of Jackson Adept Research, where she has helped shape its growth into one of the most client-focused firms in the country. As a principal, she brings a deep commitment to quality, innovation, and a shared team vision that prioritizes both luxury and performance in research delivery.

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• 🏛️ Leader of a bi-coastal research powerhouse, offering full-service qualitative and quantitative capabilities across automotive, healthcare, food & beverage, and entertainment.
• 🧠 Committed to innovation, introducing proprietary tech platforms to elevate the respondent experience and streamline operations.
• 🤝 Client-first collaborator, partnering with design firms and ad agencies to deliver integrated insights with strategic precision.

Cari Pirello

President, Marketing Workshop

Cari Pirello leads Marketing Workshop with equal parts strategic vision and grounded marketing expertise. A former brand-side marketer turned research executive, she’s spent over a decade shaping the firm’s evolution, and championing a “marketing-minded” approach to research that speaks the language of business. Her passion lies in empowering clients with insights that fuel brand growth, product development, and purposeful decision-making.

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• 💡 Creator and advocate of researchWISE, a philosophy that blends Wisdom, Imagination, Science, and Enlightenment to uncover high-impact business opportunities.
• 🧭 Supports diverse, insight-led clients across B2B and B2C sectors in branding, positioning, ideation, targeting, packaging, and customer experience.
• 🚀 Guides a team of “research champions”, inspiring collaborative, on-purpose work with lasting impact across sectors like food & beverage, retail, healthcare, and entertainment.

Zach Pousman

CEO & Head of Research, Helpfully LLC

Zach Pousman blends philosophy, human-computer interaction, and agile design into a singular research practice that helps organizations figure out what to build next. As CEO and Head of Research at Helpfully LLC, an Atlanta-based innovation consultancy, Zach partners with clients to surface behavioral insights, prototype bold ideas, and map clear strategies forward. His work is grounded in the humanities and inspired by lived human complexity.

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• 🧠 Leads fieldwork-driven research sprints, combining user interviews, behavioral mapping, and design thinking to guide product and service innovation.
• 🌍 Trusted by global brands like Google, Anthem, and the United Nations to bring clarity to complex human problems through technology and systems design.
• 🎓 Expert in applying ethnographic and anthropologically-inspired research methods to uncover deep human motivations, combining rigorous academic training with practical experience leading user research for major brands and complex products.

Stephanie Husk

President, Deep Blue Insight Group

Stephanie Husk is a relationship-driven research leader with over 25 years of experience. As founder and CEO of Deep Blue Insight, she’s built a reputation for delivering insightful, high-quality research that fuels business growth. Stephanie’s passion for client success shines through her collaborative approach and deep commitment to strategic impact.

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• 🤝 Built enduring client partnerships, many spanning decades, grounded in trust and collaborative problem-solving across multiple industries and markets.
• 🌍 Moderated thousands of qualitative interviews in 11 countries, expertly blending global perspective with local nuance.
• 📊 Experienced in both qualitative and quantitative research, including complex study design and strategic planning influenced by business strategy thought leaders.

Scott Baynton

Partner & Account and Project Manager, Summit Market Research

With over 25 years in market research, Scott Baynton is a seasoned professional known for his strategic insight and innovative research designs. As a partner at Summit Research, he has led complex quantitative and qualitative projects that deliver actionable intelligence for top-tier clients. His unique ability to blend methodologies makes him a trusted resource for understanding brand health, shopper behavior, and creative effectiveness.

LinkedIn | Website

• 📊 Expert in designing and managing quantitative projects, including ad hoc online studies, A&Us, in-store research, and shelf testing.
• 🎯 Proven strategic thinker, delivering custom solutions in messaging, packaging, naming, claims testing, and shopper insights.
• 🎤 Experienced qualitative moderator, skilled in focus groups and shop-alongs to deepen contextual understanding.

Alisa Hamilton

Founder & Moderator, Harvest Insights

Trading the corporate grind for entrepreneurial freedom, Alisa Hamilton launched Harvest Insights to deliver rigorous yet humane market research. With over 20 years of experience as a moderator and researcher, Alisa combines deep expertise with a flexible approach that adapts to client needs, whether qualitative, quantitative, or hybrid projects. Her knack for connecting with respondents and translating complex data into actionable stories has made her a trusted partner for Fortune 500s, startups, and nonprofits alike.

LinkedIn | Website

• 🌱 Leads a nimble team balancing deep industry expertise with a human-centered approach across brand, product, customer experience, and usability research.
• 🤝 Known for empathetic moderation, blending strategy and insight to build rapport and extract meaningful responses.
• 💻 Skilled in quantitative tools and tech, including Qualtrics, Decipher, PowerBI, and qualitative platforms like QualBoard and FocusVision, ensuring seamless project execution from end to end.

Final Thoughts: The Future of Market Research in Atlanta

Atlanta's market research talent is as diverse as the city itself, home to experimental thinkers, tech adopters, and classic research rigor. Whether you're looking for someone to lead a design sprint, uncover emotional truths, or deploy advanced analytics, this list includes someone who can elevate your understanding of your audience in 2025 and beyond.

At Digital Reference, we’re proud to celebrate consultants who lead with intelligence, empathy, and innovation. We believe that the future of research is personal, and we’re here to help you find the talent that fits your vision.

👉 Looking to connect further? Explore more insights and research strategy resources at Digital Reference.