2005

WHAT's NEW: 2005

Support for Victims of Hurricane Katrina

POSTED: September 08, 2005

All of us at City Square Associates are deeply saddened by the tragic series of events that have befallen the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Though we are miles away from the devastation, we cannot help but be moved by the images and stories emanating from those hit hardest. Share Our Strength, a national nonprofit combating hunger for over 20 years, is providing relief assistance to the victims of the South Asia tsunami and Katrina. If you have not already, please take a moment to support the effort by clicking here.

We also recommend supporting the Red Cross. Either of these organizations will put your donation directly to work in providing the food, shelter, and medical attention so desperately needed right now, and for many months to come.

What’s Happening – Summer 2005

POSTED: June 16, 2005

Chris Schiavone, President of City Square Associates, begins a six-month sabbatical from the daily business of practice on July 1. In a June 1 letter to clients and supplier partners, Schiavone explained: “For me personally this is a chance to rededicate myself to the contemplation, scholarship, and leisure which are essential to good living and enrich the quality of the work I do for you. . . For City Square, this creates room for the team to fly on its own.” (See complete text of announcement letter.) Since January, the CSA Team has been working intensively with a very talented consultant and coach (Judy Tso of Aha Solutions) to prepare for the transition. Among the elements of that transition are the following:

First, CSA established a strategic alliance with Anne Hooper of 4C Research & Consulting. With over ten years in marketing research, Anne has worked extensively on qualitative studies serving clients in a variety of industries including communications, sports, media and entertainment, consumer products, healthcare/pharma-ceuticals, and the financial and professional services industry.

Second, Karen Barone (who distinguished herself as a superior facilitator and analyst) is back from graduate school for the summer months and available for moderating, interviewing, and group facilitation.

Third, KJ Ward and Josh Conway are taking on additional managerial responsibilities. KJ will serve as Chief of Staff. In this role, he will be responsible for monitoring and guiding the overall workflow of our practice and be available to our clients and supplier partners for issues which might lie beyond the sphere of an individual staff member to address or resolve. Josh will serve as Business Manager. In this role, he will be responsible for both accounts payable and receivable and be the go-to person for questions about project costs and bill payment.

“I’m very grateful to both Josh and KJ for their willingness to serve in my absence,” said Schiavone. “And I am also pleased that Caroline and Josh are beginning to add moderating and interviewing to their practice.”

New Face on the Square

POSTED: May 16, 2005

On Monday, May 16, City Square Associates announced a strategic alliance with Anne Hooper, the principal of 4C Research & Consulting. Under the terms of the agreement between CSA and 4C, Anne will be available to the clients of City Square as a focus group moderator, executive-level interviewer, senior project designer, and research analyst.

"We are thrilled to have Anne as part of our team," said CSA Founder and President Chris Schiavone. "Anne and I were colleagues at the Taylor Group nearly ten years ago, and I've monitored her professional development closely ever since. Having her available to our clients not only augments our capacity but adds another contributor to our City Square community of learners."

Anne Hooper is a highly experienced market researcher whose clients have included major organizations in the media and entertainment field, the healthcare and pharmaceuticals industries, as well as in the technology and financial services sectors. With an academic background in journalism and communications and ten years of moderating and analytic experience at The Taylor Research & Consulting Group, Anne established an independent research practice last year.

"When Anne established her private practice last year," explains Schiavone, "she identified four principles—consistent quality, creative design, compelling analysis, and concise reporting—as central to her work. Josh, Caroline, KJ, and I see these as a perfect fit with the values of City Square. We’re thrilled to have her as a collaborator."