Irma Zandl Principal Principal of The Zandl Group, Irma Zandl has been acknowledged as one of America’s foremost experts on consumer behavior and trend forecasting.  She specializes in “what’s next” for business, helping companies stay on-trend, culturally relevant and consumer-centric. Irma is in demand as a guest speaker and television commentator, and she is frequently quoted in the business press for her insights on consumer behavior and market trending—including The Observer (UK), The New York Times, Business Week, CNN and The Economist.  A true citizen of the world, Irma grew up in Germany and Australia before landing in New York City. Her latest project is pioneering the up-and-coming neighborhood of Long Island City. She hosts a regular Sunday Nite Supper Club in her new loft, engaging a wide array of New York's artists, designers, stylists and eclectic professionals. Irma's never-ending cultural exploration continues on the weekends with long bike rides throughout Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan, camera always in hand.[back to top] Richard Leonard Senior Vice President With an MBA and a background in brand management, Richard helps companies identify the implications and opportunities that trends represent for their businesses.  In his off time, he can be found attending opera performances, checking out the latest art exhibits around the city, or running in the park every morning.  Thomas, the “office” dog, belongs to Richard – while Richard hails from Portland, OR, Thomas is from New York City. [back to top] Anna D'Agrosa Director, Consumer Insights/Trends/Hot Sheet Anna is our trend curator, analyzing both proprietary and secondary research to keep us consumer-centric and on the forefront of emerging trends.  Overseeing the Hot Sheet report and custom research projects, Anna is immersed in the world of the under-30 consumer—from pop culture and fashion to shifts in values and priorities.  Outside the office, Anna can be found singing karaoke or baking – her cookies were blue ribbon winners at the Iowa 4-H fairs and are still a hit with her co-workers.  She lives in Bushwick, an up-and-coming creative enclave in Brooklyn, and has local theater projects in the works. [back to top] Paige Newman Associate Editor, Hot Sheet As associate editor of the Hot Sheet report, our newest team member Paige is heavily immersed in the under-30 consumer’s world and oversees all the day-to-day Hot Sheet research, from recruiting to reading surveys and maintaining our database.  A Jersey girl at heart (Jovi rules!!), she graduated from Vassar with a BA in German Studies, is an internationally acclaimed quiche chef and self-proclaimed celeb gossip fetishist.  Catch her outside of the office rocking out on her bass in a Hole cover band called Cakefight. [back to top] Brandi Stansbury Lead Ethnographer Brandi guides our ethnographies, from scene infiltrations to in-home interviews, utilizing her background in contemporary theory and metropolitan studies to identify underlying trends and consumer insights from a cultural and social perspective.  She graduated from NYU’s prestigious Gallatin School of Individualized Studies.  Brandi hails from Playa del Rey, California and also claims the hills of Paso Robles as her hometown. She enjoys karaoke, wine (specifically Rhone varietals grown on the Central Coast of California), documentary film, music (everything from Waylon Jennings to Gang Starr to Tricky), pop culture trivia, and hiking with her German Shepard Sarge. [back to top] CREATIVE TEAM Jamie Dwyer Senior Creative Director Jamie heads up our creative team, bringing creative insight to our research and translating our findings into highly visual multimedia creations.  He’s the Zandl Group webmaster extraordinaire, official tech expert, writes the Tech Buzz column in the Hot Sheet and he’s our most active blogger on the Zandland blog (check for the jmd at the bottom of his posts).  Jamie has a digital arts degree from NYU’s Gallatin School of Individualized Studies and a masters degree in art and media from NYU.  Outside the office, he collaborates with other creatives, producing music videos, album art, and apparel for musicians and websites for visual and performing artists.  He loves live music and film, is a total tech junkie, and always has a great story to tell about his hometown, Torrington, CT. [back to top] Deborah Hilert Video/Creative Director: Research/Trends Deep diving into our consumer ethnographies and round table interviews, Deborah is our video guru, translating our consumer insights, trend forecasting and research into short videos that bring the topics to life.  She has a BFA from VCU with a concentration in painting and has a wide range of creative skills from fiberglass casting to embroidery.  In her off-hours, Deborah takes gymnastics classes at Chelsea Piers and does a mean round-off back handspring. [back to top] Nancy Bentley Creative Coordinator: Graphics/Video Nancy rounds out the creative team, creating graphic presentations and videos for our consumer insights and trends.  Originally from Utah, Nancy lived in Tucson, AZ and worked as a curator for the Museum of Contemporary Art there before moving to NYC.  She is an amazing seamstress and constantly wows in her personalized and reconstructed clothes.  A self-professed music geek, her tastes are wildly eclectic – but current faves include Quinn Walker, Archers of Loaf, Will Oldham and Black Mountain. [back to top] OUR NETWORK We maintain an extensive nationwide network of creative, talented people to work with us on an as-needed basis.  Our connections include cultural observers and insiders/experts with backgrounds in the arts, academia, blogging, tech, entertainment and nightlife (including chefs, bartenders, promoters, event planners and stylists) who we turn to for ideation, interviews, ethnographic research and videography. [back to top]