William Stewart
William Stewart is the President & Founder of Povaddo. He has built a firm that helps clients develop better strategies and stronger communications to address complex issues and challenges facing their businesses. William has over 25 years of research consulting experience that spans political campaigns, public affairs initiatives, and a wide range of corporate matters – from issues management to corporate reputation. Prior to launching Povaddo in 2009, William was the global head of research for FleishmanHillard, one the largest PR firms in the world. He started his research career doing political polling in Washington, DC.
President
Brooke Hayes
Brooke Hayes specializes in harnessing research and insights to guide the creation of business and communications strategies. In her six years at Povaddo, she has honed in-depth subject matter expertise on issues of harm reduction and public health, and she excels at translating data into actionable insights. Brooke has experience with both domestic and international quantitative and qualitative research and has managed projects in 60+ countries around the globe to date. She is laser-focused on maintaining a high level of quality control throughout every phase of a project and is skilled in managing a highly productive and efficient team of researchers. Brooke holds bachelor's degrees in psychology and dance from Missouri State University.
Senior Vice President
Simone Gianetto
Simone Gianetto is a Research Director at Povaddo. He specializes in global research projects that support Povaddo’s Fortune 500 clients in navigating challenging regulatory environments around the world. Born and raised in Turin, Italy, Simone completed his bachelor’s degree in business administration at the University of Turin before moving to the United States where he completed a Master of Marketing Research degree at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Prior to joining Povaddo, Simone interned at Emerson for two years where he honed his skills in concept testing and need prioritization research. At Povaddo, Simone is highly involved in both quantitative and qualitative research projects, especially European projects where he is able to leverage his international cultural and multilingual skills.
Research Director
Nonah Olesen
Nonah Olesen is a Senior Research Associate at Povaddo. She specializes in finding answers to difficult questions through qualitative and quantitative research methods and analysis. Prior to her work at Povaddo, Nonah completed a Ph.D. in experimental psychology at the University of Louisville, where she was a Graduate Research Fellow and Teaching Assistant, and a master’s degree in experimental psychology at Missouri State University. With 9+ years of experience in academic and industry research, including project design, development, management, analysis, and execution, as well as her background in teaching and behavioral science, Nonah brings depth and breadth to all research projects. She truly enjoys helping clients at all levels of the research process and offers a unique perspective to any project.
Research Director
Max Seippel
Max Seippel combines nearly a decade of professional and academic experience into helping clients navigate the murky waters of audience behavior and communication research to achieve their research objectives. Having previously done research for some of the world’s leading brands – including Amazon, Coca-Cola, and Johnson & Johnson – Max brings a unique perspective to both qualitative and quantitative methods of analysis. At Povaddo, he specializes in focus group and in-depth interview moderation as well as the application of theoretical frameworks to analysis. Max received his bachelor’s in marketing from the University of Missouri—Kansas City and his master’s degree in communication studies from the University of North Dakota.
Research Director
Hyung Kyu Choi is a Senior Research Associate at Povaddo who is adept in planning and conducting research projects around the world with the goal of providing strategic insights to clients. He was born in Seoul, but has also lived in Bangkok where he gained early exposure to the world of international business and relations. With a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Korea University in Seoul, Hyung Kyu has worked at Gallup Korea and GfK Korea with major automotive and electronics clients on global projects before branching out as a freelance research manager. He loves to leverage his multicultural background and experience in different industries to bring a fresh perspective in all levels of research and strategy development.
Hyung Kyu Choi
Senior Research Associate
Albert Li is a market research specialist with expertise in quantitative fieldwork management and data processing. Passionate about data analysis and visualization, he is committed to delivering accurate and impactful insights for his clients, always striving to exceed their expectations. He has previously collaborated with professionals in the public health, technology, and non-profit sectors to provide insightful and impactful results. Albert holds both a Master of Business Administration degree as well as a Master of Marketing Research degree from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. In his free time, Albert enjoys exploring new technologies and spending time with his family. He is excited to continue making an impact in the market research industry and beyond.
Albert Li
Senior Research Associate
Maria Gomez
Maria Gomez is a Research Associate at Povaddo. Maria obtained her bachelor’s in marketing and a minor in advertising from Lindenwood University, where she developed her skills in data analysis and consumer behavior. Following her passion for research, she earned a Master of Marketing Research degree from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, where she built expertise in quantitative and qualitative research methodologies. Originally from Caracas, Venezuela, Maria brings a unique perspective to her work, with a deep understanding of different cultures and languages. As a Research Associate, Maria has honed her skills in survey design, data analysis, and interpretation of results, being driven by the desire to help clients make informed decisions based on data-driven insights.
Senior Research Associate
Katie Schrik
Katie manages office and administrative operations at Povaddo and serves as executive assistant to the firm’s President & Founder. In this multi-dimensional role, she is responsible for recruiting, training and onboarding, and human resource matters; she is also continually helping to identify and implement operational efficiencies and organizational improvements to support Povaddo’s growth. Before moving to this role in 2020, Katie served as a Vice President at Povaddo and managed key client relationships and a wide variety of research projects. She continues to leverage her in-depth expertise and institutional knowledge to support select clients’ research. Katie holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Urban Affairs and a certificate in Business Administration from Saint Louis University.
Office & Administrative Operations
Riley Clark
Riley Clark is a Research Associate at Povaddo with a specialization in data processing and analysis. Prior to starting work at Povaddo in 2023, Riley worked for a decade in political research and executed quality data processing across the 2016, 2018, and 2020 election seasons. She’s worked alongside several notable political consulting firms, excelling in communication and problem solving. Riley holds a bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University in English. In her free time, she enjoys cooking and spending time with family and friends. She is excited to continue expanding her skill set into all areas of project work and help turn data into impactful results.
Research Associate
Nick Schroeder
Research Associate
& Povaddo Panel Manager
Nick Schroeder is a Research Associate and the Manager of the Povaddo Panel. He is from San Francisco originally and has also lived in New York City, Florence, and Washington D.C. Nick studied at the George Washington University and obtained a bachelor’s degree in international affairs, a concentration in international economics, a minor in Italian, and a master’s degree in interdisciplinary business studies. Prior to Povaddo Nick interned in business development at Prolegis and 98Strong where he was able to gain marketing experience. At Povaddo Nick works extensively with the Povaddo Panel, managing both quantitative and qualitative research projects around the world.