Market Research Consultants in Seattle to Watch For in 2025

Celebrating innovation and insight in the Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue market research ecosystem

At Digital Reference, our passion is helping brands and insights leaders connect with exceptional talent and expertise, and in 2025, the Seattle region is brimming with brilliant market research consultants whose work is reshaping industries from consumer goods to technology. We’ve conducted rigorous research and a thoughtful evaluation, reviewing LinkedIn profiles, company pages, and client case studies to curate this shining spotlight.

With the region's innovation, sustainability, and strategic mindset woven into our own Digital Reference ethos, we’re honored to introduce these Seattle-area consultants whose recent achievements demonstrate what happens when research meets creativity. For more on talent and insight ecosystems, don’t miss our marketing professionals spotlight or our guide to hiring a market research consultant.

Let's meet the consultants making waves:

Joe Sullivan

CEO & Founder, Market Insights
🔗 LinkedIn | 🌐 Website

Joe Sullivan isn’t just a market research consultant, he’s a transformational force in the world of community-based financial institutions. As the CEO and founder of Market Insights, Joe blends data-driven research with strategic leadership and a bold vision to help banks and credit unions move beyond the status quo and into sustainable growth.

• 📊 Expert in market strategy, branding, and growth planning for financial services
• 🎤 A sought-after professional speaker known for dynamic, high-impact keynotes on innovation, leadership, and fintech
• 💡 Known for challenging conventional thinking and driving urgent, actionable change

David Bauer

Partner & Founder, Hemispheres
🔗 LinkedIn | 🌐 Website

David Bauer has spent over 25 years diving deep into the complexities of human perception and behavior, and how those insights translate into business strategy. In 2003, he founded Hemispheres, a Seattle-based customer insights agency focused on understanding consumers as complex, dynamic individuals with both rational and emotional motivations.

• 🔬 Expert in blending qualitative and quantitative research methods tailored to each client’s strategic needs
• 🌍 Extensive experience conducting qualitative research across North America, Europe, Latin America, and Asia-Pacific
• 🎯 Works across industries including technology, retail, consumer products, healthcare, transportation, and more

Chelsea Benning

Principal & Founder, Olympic Research & Strategy
🔗 LinkedIn | 🌐 Website

With over 25 years of marketing research experience, Chelsea Benning combines data science and marketing principles to solve complex business problems, uncover white space in crowded markets, and improve consumer experiences. As Principal and Founder of Olympic Research and Strategy, Chelsea leads a team dedicated to helping organizations become truly data-driven and strategically positioned for growth.

• ⚙️ Expert in research design, data analysis, and actionable insights
• 💡 Passionate about solving unique client challenges with creative, insightful approaches
• 🤝 Experience on both the client and vendor side giving her a well-rounded perspective that fuels meaningful results

Laurie Demeritt

CEO, The Hartman Group
🔗 LinkedIn | 🌐 Website

Laurie Demeritt brings over two decades of leadership to The Hartman Group, a premier consumer culture consultancy serving CPG companies, retailers, and organizations across food, beverage, personal care, pharmaceutical, and shopper marketing sectors. As CEO, she oversees the company’s market research, strategy, and subscription divisions, guiding their mission to understand how consumer attitudes, lifestyles, and behaviors shape purchasing decisions in real life.

• 📊 Expert in qualitative, quantitative, and trends research powering brand growth and innovation
• 🚀 Leads initiatives to help clients identify growth opportunities, reinvent brands, and develop new products
• 🌟 Known for blending consumer insights with strategic thinking to fuel competitive distinction

Nancy Hardwick

President, Hardwick Research & Strategy
🔗 LinkedIn | 🌐 Website

Nancy Hardwick has been a cornerstone of Seattle’s market research community since 1986. As founder and president of Hardwick Research, she combines deep expertise in both qualitative and quantitative research to deliver studies that generate actionable insights for a wide range of organizations.

• 🔎 Designs and manages single-method and hybrid research studies that uncover rich, meaningful data
• 🎤 Talented focus group moderator who employs innovative techniques like projective methods and group exercises
• 📊 Uses a broad spectrum of methodologies including focus groups, surveys, usability testing, and mobile research

Samir Saluja

Founder, DeriveOne
🔗 LinkedIn | 🌐 Website

Samir Saluja is a visionary leader in market research and behavioral analytics, co-founding DeriveOne, a Bellevue-based strategy consulting and insights firm that specializes in dual-system brand and behavior solutions. Samir’s work goes beyond traditional insights and analytics by combining advanced technology with deep behavioral understanding to optimize decision-making for clients.

• 🔍 Expert in applying quantitative and qualitative techniques to uncover deeper layers of consumer behavior
• 💼 Also founder and president of Ahrian LLC, a boutique management consulting and strategic advisory firm
• 🤝 DeriveOne leverages in-house and partner expertise to deliver comprehensive, data-driven strategies that enhance how clients consume and share insights

Caitlin Dorsey

Independent Market Research Consultant
🔗 LinkedIn

Caitlin Dorsey combines scientific insight with strategic thinking to craft tailored, data-driven solutions that drive sustainable growth. With a foundation in healthcare research and implementation science, Caitlin has led impactful health equity initiatives and translated complex data into actionable strategies affecting thousands of individuals.

• 🚀 Founder of Process Pioneers LLC, helping organizations leverage evidence-based marketing and data insights
• 📊 Experienced in data analysis, stakeholder engagement, and event coordination with a focus on community health outcomes
• 🎓 Skilled in implementation science and digital marketing, combining technical rigor with practical execution

Laura Troyani

Principal, PlanBeyond
🔗 LinkedIn | 🌐 Website

Laura Troyani brings over 15 years of experience crafting data-driven market research solutions that empower businesses to make smarter strategic decisions. Her entrepreneurial approach centers on delivering tailored insights that fuel business strategy, go-to-market planning, and customer acquisition.

• 📊 Expert in B2B and B2C research, customer segmentation, and persona development
• 💡 Skilled in competitive audits, pricing and product optimization, concept testing, and category attitude assessments
• 🚀 Focused on creating actionable insights that support go-to-market strategies and drive growth

Why Seattle’s Market Research Scene Is Thriving

Seattle is much more than a tech hub, it’s a dynamic center for consumer behavior, innovation, and sustainability. The market research professionals we spotlight here embody this spirit by:

• Bringing together quantitative and qualitative methods with interdisciplinary expertise
• Emphasizing human-centered approaches that prioritize users and consumers
• Aligning research strategies with macro trends and meaningful impact
• Offering scalable solutions that empower organizations of all sizes to grow and adapt

At Digital Reference, we connect organizations with exceptional market research talent. Whether you’re building out your team, searching for fresh insights, or driving innovation strategy, our talent-first, research-rooted approach delivers real results.

Ready to connect with your next great consultant? Let’s talk.