Meet the Clarion Team

Diane Traiger – President & CEO

Diane has over 32 years of research experience on the supplier side, and founded Clarion Research in 1995. A quantitative research specialist, Diane is the senior officer in charge of all of Clarion’s quantitative work. However, over the years she has conducted a considerable amount of qualitative research as well, conducting focus groups on projects which have both quantitative and qualitative components.  

Diane started her career at Oxtoby-Smith. She was responsible for project design, implementation and analysis on several major accounts including TWA (On Board Surveys),  ITT Continental Baking (Copy testing), American Motors-Jeep Division (ongoing customer satisfaction tracking, car clinics for new models and ad-hoc projects), and Block Drug (customer satisfaction, new product development, copy testing and ad-hoc projects.)  Diane was one of the first to note the potential for Jeeps, traditionally viewed as truck-like utility vehicles, to greatly expand their potential market by moving to a sports-recreational positioning. 

She then moved to Directions for Decisions (Vice President, 1982-83), where she supervised a group of project directors and was responsible for researching several new product issues for General Foods, Pepsi and American Express.  Most notably, she did considerable work helping Pepsi to introduce the new Slice line of beverages, and helping American Express better understand how to create a card line targeted at college students. 

Diane next moved to Decisions Center-Research International (1984-1991). She started as Group Head, with a staff of 4.  She was later promoted to Division Head, with a Staff of 12.  Her group worked predominantly on Lever Brothers, AT&T, Range Rover and Mennen accounts.  She pioneered the development of an extensive copy testing program for AT&T, and conducted the first research on the introduction to the US of Range Rover’s Discovery model.  Over her tenure at Decision Center-Research International She successfully grew the group to over five times its initial volume. 

She then moved to WAC Research (1992-1995), where she was brought in to assist this largely qualitative company to develop their quantitative research business.  She won new business for the company from several key clients including AT&T, Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising, AC&R Advertising, Ogilvy & Mather Advertising, and London Fog. 

Diane is a member of AMA and ESOMAR.   

Diane graduated in 1976 with a Bachelors Degree in Psychology from Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. 

Steve Crane – Executive Vice President 

Steve has over 23 years of market research experience. At Clarion, Steve is the senior officer in-charge of managing Clarion’s qualitative research services.  A well-seasoned focus group moderator and executive interviewer, Steve has conducted hundreds of focus group sessions of various topics from packaged goods to technology to pharmaceuticals.  Steve is responsible for the “hands-on” leadership of Clarion’s research services for major clients – including client counseling, study design, questionnaire development, sample management, operations supervision, data collection management, data analysis, report writing and results presentation. 

Steve began his career at AT&T, where he served in several marketing research capacities for their Business Communications Systems division. Steve also served time in AT&T’s Consumer Advertising group, and as AT&T’s Public Relations Market Research manager for Asia-Pacific & China, providing valuable insights into Eastern research capabilities and resources. 

Selected by AT&T executive management to create and lead the Global Communications Research organization for Lucent Technologies, a $23 Billion spin-off company of AT&T, Steve was promoted to a multi-functional position, accountable for multiple aspects of Lucent’s marketing communications, website, advertising, brand strategy/positioning and measurements.   

Steve has been a frequent speaker at Marketing and Research conferences.  He has spoken before the American Marketing Association, The Conference Board, The Lawrence Ragan Communications Group, the Advanced Learning Institute, The International Quality and Performance Center, and the Advertising Research Foundation.

Steve graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Computer Science/Mathematics from Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ. 
 

Beverly Escario – Senior Research Director

Beverly has been with Clarion Research since 2003 when she joined the company as an Assistant Project Director.  Having successfully managed several large-scale domestic and international studies across various industries, Beverly was promoted and is now a Senior Project Director reporting directly to the President of the company. Beverly’s main focus at Clarion is managing projects that are quantitative in nature - including online, telephone and mixed methodologies, from project launch to report writing and presentation.  

In addition to her expertise in quantitative work, she has considerable experience managing and implementing qualitative studies as well.  Beverly responsibilities include recruitment strategy and supervision, moderating focus groups/bulletin boards and conducting in-depth interviews.  

Beverly joined Clarion Research shortly after graduating from New York University with a Bachelors Degree in Psychology and Economics.  

Jamie Stenziano – Project Director & Street Sessions ® Moderator 

Jamie has been with Clarion Research full-time since June, 2007. Jamie’s primary involvement is on the qualitative side, where he moderates focus groups, conducts IDI’s, and manages day-to-day aspects of Clarion’s qualitative research projects. While focusing on qualitative studies, Jamie often works on quantitative projects as well – designing questionnaires, monitoring fieldwork, processing data, and contributing to final reports.

Jamie’s research specialties include teenage/young adult respondents, Social Networking, Healthcare IT, and Higher Education.

Jamie is a Burke Institute trained Focus Group Moderator, and a member of the Qualitative Research Consultants Association.

Before joining the Clarion Research team full-time, Jamie completed a college internship at Clarion during the summer of 2006, before being hired full-time after graduation.

Jamie graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelors Degree in Communication from Rutgers University, New Brunswick, where he was a member of the Communications Honors Society.

Maggie Cocca – Assistant Project Director 

Maggie joined the Clarion Research team as an Assistant Project Director in January 2009. Before being hired full time at Clarion Research, Maggie first completed an Internship with the company at the end of 2008. 

Maggie is an active member of the Clarion team – supporting both qualitative and quantitative research projects. Maggie’s work involves the day-to-day management and execution of client projects – including questionnaire design, respondent recruitment, management of fieldwork, and report writing support.  

Maggie has a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Pennsylvania where she won a student research grant and graduated with Honors in Anthropology for her published original research. Maggie also holds a Master's Degree in Forensic Anthropology from New York University. At NYU, Maggie performed original research for the completion of her thesis and participated in a research project for the OCME of New York City.