Market Research Consultants in Boston to Watch for in 2025

Boston Area Market Research Experts to Know in 2025

Boston has always been a city of ideas. From Kendall Square startups to Back Bay think tanks, the greater Boston area is a place where innovation and research are embedded into the cultural fabric. That ethos extends directly into the market research field. Whether it’s informing biotech decisions, steering product development, or uncovering healthcare insights, Boston’s market research consultants are quietly shaping the strategies behind the region’s most impactful companies.

At Digital Reference, we believe in spotlighting the professionals who build the scaffolding behind business success. Our curated list of Boston-area market research consultants was compiled with care and precision. It involved a thorough review of company websites, client testimonials, published work, and industry contributions. We focused on consultants who bring distinct approaches to research design, data storytelling, and strategy.

Some of these experts work independently. Others lead teams inside research firms. But each one of them plays a pivotal role in helping companies understand people, behavior, and markets.

For readers who want more frameworks and thought leadership on this space, we recommend two foundational pieces from our site: "Marketing Professionals: What are they and What do they do?" and "List and Responsibilities of Marketing Consultants & Experts". Now, let’s meet the consultants putting Boston on the market research map.

📌 Reese Tisdale

Bluefield Research | LinkedIn

Few people bridge utility infrastructure and data-driven analysis quite like Reese Tisdale. As the president and CEO of Bluefield Research, Reese has built one of the most respected advisory firms focused on water, energy, and infrastructure markets. His ability to translate complex engineering realities into actionable market intelligence has made him a go-to voice for both investors and policymakers.

• Over two decades of industry experience across energy and water sectors
• Known for building proprietary data platforms that inform clients on global infrastructure trends
• Brings a rare combination of financial acumen and policy fluency to research deliverables

📌 Allyson Grey

KOLgroups | LinkedIn

Allyson Grey is a powerhouse in healthcare and life sciences research. As Senior Life Science Market Research Consultant and Managing Director at KOLgroups, she leads engagements that bring precision, empathy, and strategy into perfect alignment. Allyson’s work helps pharmaceutical and biotech companies connect more authentically with key opinion leaders (KOLs) and healthcare professionals.

• Oversees high-impact research studies, including advisory boards and longitudinal interviews with HCPs and KOLs
• Deep expertise in therapeutic areas like oncology and immunology, helping brands define nuanced messaging strategies
• Known for translating feedback into C-suite-ready insights that shape strategic decisions

📌 Pal Marton Afzelius

Protobrand | LinkedIn

As CEO and co-founder of Protobrand, Pal Marton Afzelius utilizes his wide-ranging experience and knowledge of sales and management to lead a team of marketing enthusiasts. At Protobrand, he leads a team redefining how companies understand unconscious consumer behavior. Their System 1 approach (think fast, emotional responses) is baked into a proprietary methodology that sets them apart.

• Developed Meta4 Insight™, a technique grounded in metaphor elicitation
• Works with global clients across FMCG, tech, and healthcare
• Advocate for blending behavioral science with brand strategy

📌 Chris Schiavone

City Square Associates | LinkedIn

Chris Schiavone is a name you’ll hear often in higher ed, public media, and philanthropy circles. As founder and president of City Square Associates, he’s spent more than 25 years helping mission-driven organizations make data-informed decisions.

• Specialized expertise in educational media, nonprofits, and foundations
• Renowned for survey design and hybrid qual/quant studies
• Emphasizes clarity, storytelling, and utility in every deliverable

📌Justin Abrams

Aryo Consulting | LinkedIn

For companies navigating market expansion, Justin Abrams is the consultant you want in the room. As founder and CEO of Aryo Consulting, he guides businesses through pricing research, go-to-market strategy, and customer segmentation with surgical precision.

• Special focus on value-based pricing in B2B environments
• Known for iterative testing and rapid feedback loops
• Combines market research with business operations insights

📌 Brad Kates

Opinion Dynamics | LinkedIn

Brad Kates has been a force in the energy efficiency and utility policy space for over two decades. As CEO of Opinion Dynamics, he leads one of the most respected firms focused on energy program evaluation.

• Deep roots in energy market research and policy analysis
• Publishes regularly on energy impact evaluation and customer behavior
• Builds bridges between utilities, regulators, and consumers

📌 Tamara Altman

LinkedIn

Tamara Altman is an insights professional with a strong foundation in both brand and UX research. While she has held senior roles at some of the country’s most recognizable companies, including Forrester and Aetna, Tamara now works as an independent consultant helping teams bring empathy into their decision-making.

• Expertise in customer journey mapping and persona development
• Cross-industry experience in tech, finance, and healthcare
• Combines qualitative depth with quantitative rigor

📌 Holly Brown

Boston Research Services | LinkedIn

As CEO of Boston Research Services, Holly Brown brings over two decades of leadership in quantitative research execution and B2B panel development. Based in Boston, her firm is known for its global reach, with millions of respondents across 105 countries and specialized panels in sectors like Finance, IT, and Manufacturing.

• Deep expertise in survey design and execution
• Combines global reach with boutique-style attention
• Provides end-to-end support, from study design to in-depth analysis

📌 Danielle Drayton

REACH Market Research | LinkedIn

As CEO and Principal, Dr. Danielle Drayton leads REACH Market Research with the precision of an academic and the agility of a strategist. With a PhD in immunobiology, she brings an ethnographic lens to corporate research that reveals what surveys often miss.

• Deep background in product and market opportunity assessments and portfolio analysis
• Specializes in in-depth analysis and evaluation of top biotech companies
• Focus on product valuation and sales forecasting as well as pre-launch planning

📌 Allan Steinmetz

Inward Strategic Consulting | LinkedIn

Allan Steinmetz is a veteran strategist who helped pioneer the employee branding movement in corporate America. As CEO and founder of Inward Strategic Consulting, he’s advised Fortune 100s on aligning internal culture with external brand promise.

• Emphasizes alignment between employee behavior and customer experience
• Strong foundation in change management and leadership buy-in
• Helps companies connect strategy with daily employee engagement

Shaping Boston’s Future, One Insight at a Time

From public media to private equity, and from healthcare to energy policy, Boston’s market research consultants are driving smarter decisions at every level. These professionals don’t just deliver data; they offer perspective, empathy, and structure to the uncertainty that leaders face every day.

At Digital Reference, we’re proud to spotlight consultants who exemplify what research can really do: guide bold ideas into reality. If you’re looking for more information on nearby Market Research Consultants, check out our spotlight on experts to watch in the New York City area for guidance.

Digital Reference is here to help you navigate that journey. Let’s build the future, together.