A Few Words About Us…
At ShapardResearch, we recognize that the success of any organization depends upon successful relationships with its customers, employees, members and with the community. Our research will help your company make the most of its relationships, so you can harness the power of every interaction, driving your company toward its goals and beyond.
Your research objectives are as unique as your company. ShapardResearch understands there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to research projects. We’ll custom-design our data collection, reporting and analysis to fit your project.
• attract new customers
• build a more loyal customer base
• reduce turnover and improve employee productivity
• discover how to better serve your members
• reduce the likelihood of litigation
• determine the best location for your business
Consumer product companies and membership-based service organizations can learn how the customer experience they deliver impacts their bottom line; thereby, developing ways to reduce attrition and build customer satisfaction and loyalty.
Employers benefit from ShapardResearch’s proven strategies to improve employee engagement and to create a better, safer work environment.
Law firms look to ShapardResearch to survey potential jurors and develop effective jury strategies. They depend upon us to help protect their clients against costly litigation.
Churches use our research to develop more effective outreach strategies. We can help church leaders see their organization through the eyes of its members, enabling them to better meet the needs of a diverse, multigenerational congregation.
ShapardResearch commands a broad range of survey tools, and our experts can determine which are most appropriate for your project. On-site kiosks, internet surveys, phone surveys and focus groups all bring different advantages to a research project. We’ll determine the tool (or combination of tools) that best suit your project’s needs, and we’ll carry out the study with meticulous attention to every detail.
Our standards for ensuring the most accurate data are miles above the industry norm. Other research firms outsource telephone surveys to external calling centers, leaving the most sensitive aspects of a data collection project in the hands of strangers. That’s a compromise ShapardResearch won’t make. We hire and train every caller at our on-site calling center, and we provide additional, project-specific training before we begin your survey. This gives us an edge our competitors simply can’t claim.
Accurate data is where your research project begins. Relevant interpretation and clear presentation complete the triad upon which a successful survey depends. At ShapardResearch, we know how to expose the insights behind the numbers. We’ll present the results of your study to you in a user-friendly format, enabling you to use your data to develop effective strategies for accomplishing your company’s objectives.
Put simply, our goal is to help you exceed yours. Whatever your company’s goal, ShapardResearch can help you develop a successful, research-based strategy to make it happen. Please contact us to learn more.
Company Overview…
ShapardResearch defines itself not only by what we do, but by how well we do it.
In the field of market research, ShapardResearch specializes, first and foremost, in data collection by using our own call center. In doing so, we are able to control the entire research process from start to finish, reduce errors and bias better than other firms, and produce a more reliable data sample. Unlike many of our competitors, we do not outsource any of our data collection. Every interviewer is chosen, trained and supervised by us. And we monitor every step of the research project to ensure that our high standards of accuracy and professionalism are maintained throughout. This high standard of data collection also extends to focus groups, intercept studies, mail surveys, as well as web-based research.
Because we take a personal view of each project, our clients can be confident that our research is more than just a ‘three ring binder’ on presentation day. They can be confident that what our staff has assembled in that ‘three ring binder’ is the culmination of closely watched and gathered information. Information can be vital to the growth and future decisions of clients. Our staff takes what we do very seriously. At ShapardResearch we know that it is important that we do our job right; that is why we do it and we are involved in every element of it and leave nothing to a disinterested third party.
At ShapardResearch we are not satisfied to merely be a member of the group, we prefer to lead the group.
Visit the Contact Us page to learn more about how to begin your working relationship with Shapard Research.
Who We Are…
Offering many research tools at our disposal to derive the best results for our clients requires employing the best research tool operators! ShapardResearch’s team provides ultimate flexibility because a full-service operation involves full-service personnel. ShapardResearch employees are cross-trained so that when clients call anyone can answer their questions. ShapardResearch works within a very functional and cohesive culture that acts as a unit instead of a series of departments.
This allows us to act fast and full-fledged. Beyond this core culture, however, ShapardResearch’s team provides years of research and individual specialty in ways that compliment each other to get the best results for our clients. We have a passion for giving the public a voice and allowing clients to lend an ear to such valuable customer insight.
Our Staff…
Bill Shapard, Jr., Chief Executive Officer
Professional Researcher Certification
Bill is the founder of ShapardResearch and SoonerPoll.com. Bill began his career in polling after working on a major campaign in Oklahoma and has worked in nearly every election cycle in Oklahoma since 1996.
Oxford, Mississippi is where Bill began his career while writing an opinion column for the Oxford Eagle, he also co-hosted and produced a weekly political talk radio show. In 1996, the Shapard-Magann Show won two Excellence in Broadcasting Awards from the Mississippi Association of Broadcasters for the Best Public Service program in the state.
Bill served as the Campaign Press Secretary to Senator Jim Inhofe’s 1996 re-election and eventually moved to Washington, DC, becoming the Press Secretary to U.S. Rep. J.C. Watts, Jr. He also worked on the staff of the House Republican Conference. Bill has also served as the Finance Director of the Oklahoma Republican Party and as campaign manager for Corporation Commissioner Bob Anthony’s 2004 U.S. Senate campaign.
Bill holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from the University of Mississippi and is certified as a PRC, which is a professional researcher at the expert level by the Market Research Association (MRA). Bill is also an active member of the American Association of Public Opinion Research (AAPOR).
Bill has lectured at Oklahoma State University on developing polling methodologies, data collection processes, and advanced likely voter sampling techniques. Bill also serves as an on-air political commentator for Oklahoma television stations and is an active member of the Oklahoma City Rotary Club.
Under Bill’s leadership, SoonerPoll has become the leading public opinion polling company in the state of Oklahoma conducting more public opinion polls for Oklahoma news media than all other pollsters combined in both 2006 and 2008. Bill’s commitment to go above and beyond the AAPOR ethical guidelines of minimum disclosure ensures that SoonerPoll produces quality results every time.
Bill can be reached at bill@shapard.com/wp
Bill Shapard, Sr.,
Chief Operations Manager
Heading up the HR department and operations, Bill is the senior member of the SoonerPoll team. After 35 years in the restaurant business, Bill Sr., semi-retired and completed the family circle by coming to work with his son.
Bill Sr. is the co-owner and operator of an independent restaurant chain that at one time operated in five states and employed as many as 600 employees. As a member of the Oklahoma Restaurant Board of Directors for 25 years, Bill has also served as their Chairman in 2002, as well being on numerous board committees.
Bringing with him his management experience in the restaurant business is not lost in the SoonerPoll call centers and data collection projects. Bill Sr. is able to tailor the caller to the market research project; add to that his hospitality background and that ‘they can hear you smile’ attitude and you have the reason our participation rates are among the best in the industry. Under Bill’s tutelage, the training and experience that the callers, in our call center have, definitely gives SoonerPoll the edge in good data collection.
Bill can be reached at bigbill@shapard.com/wp
Veda Shapard
Chief Financial Officer
Veda manages the day to day office operations at SoonerPoll and coordinates all of those things that keep us ‘running like a business’. From the finances to the RFP’s as well as interacting with senior staff, Veda is involved and engaged on a daily basis.
With 25 years of experience as a commercial Real Estate Broker and five years in customer service, she brings a hands on approach to everything she does. In addition, Veda spent many years working with non-profits and art associations in the community so she is no stranger to organizing groups of individuals.
From the call center to the focus group room to the data center all located in the SoonerPoll offices; Veda is actively committed to all areas of the work performed at SoonerPoll. On any given day, you might find Veda conferring with Stephanie about an SPSS analysis presentation or with Jessica about an upcoming focus group. But that is true of all of the staff; a commitment to the quality of the work that is produced at our offices and begins with our CEO and filters through all of our employees.
Veda can be reached atveda@shapard.com/wp
Janeen McClure
Senior Research Analyst
At the beginning of each project, Janeen plays a key role in designing and identifying the appropriate sampling frame and sampling method. She also helps design and implement the data collection instrument to ensure that the client objectives are fully met. Accuracy of the results is vital in our research and Janeen’s primary role is to insure the accuracy of those results. Using advanced statistical analysis, Janeen translates the collected data into meaningful actionable results.
Before joining ShapardResearch, Janeen earned a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting with a Minor in Finance from SWOSU-Weatherford, OK, and worked as a staff accountant, accounting manager and controller with an emphasis on system conversions, process automation, complex analysis, staff training and report design/generation.
Janeen can be reached at janeen@shapard.com/wp
Wesley Burt
Director of Communications
Wesley graduated from Oklahoma State University in 2009, with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism and Political Science. Before joining the staff of ShapardResearch, Wesley worked for the Communications Department at Oklahoma State University for a year.
Wesley helps develop stories from the results of the polls and is responsible for writing press releases and all other content disseminated through the website and other new media applications including facebook and twitter.
In addition to his responsibilities as Director of Communications, Wesley often assists ShapardResearch’s analysts with analysis and other field research tasks.
Wesley can be reached at wes@shapard.com/wp
Alice Sellers
Customer Loyalty Manager
Customer Service is the strength that Alice brings to ShapardResearch in her vital role as the Customer Loyalty Manager (CLM). With 30 years of experience in customer service, she is exactly what the job calls for.
Before joining our staff two years ago, Alice managed and co-owned an electrical business for 17 years and worked in the medical field for eight years, as well as having nine years of call center experience.
Working for the City of Claremore with the Senior Center, gave her an excellent background for the listening skills that are so important in her current position. As our Customer Loyalty Manager, she is responsible for the nationwide calling that can span all of the time zones in any given day. She and her staff of trained CLM callers work with national clients and can talk to as many as 950 customers in a single week. Being that voice on the phone that can listen and understand, as well help expedite problems is the goal of Alice and her team at ShapardResearch.
Alice can be reached at alice@shapard.com/wp
Jan Stanley
Call Center Manager
Jan manages the call center that collects all of the data for our quantitative research. The research that the call center might conduct can be anything from public opinion polling to proprietary studies for a national client.
Her background includes eight years of experience in the hospitality industry. Her attention to detail is an invaluable asset for ShapardResearch. Jan also worked in management for ten years and so she understands the necessity of how to work with people, how to be consistent in every call, and how each call is a new opportunity to collect valuable data.
Training is a constant for Jan and her team, as a result they are a strong unit that produces exceptional results. Our call center is the backbone of much of our research and so we value its daily endeavor and Jan’s commitment to its excellence.
Jan can be reached at jan@shapard.com/wp
Keith Gaddie, Ph.D.
Vice President of Research
Keith Gaddie received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science from the Florida State University in 1987. He earned his M.A. (1989) and Ph.D. (1993) in Political Science from the University of Georgia.
He is currently Professor of Political Science at the University of Oklahoma, where he has served on faculty since 1996. Keith also works as a litigation consultant in voting rights and redistricting cases, and has counted among his clients the Oklahoma legislature, the Speaker of the Wisconsin Assembly, the Attorney General of Texas and the Attorney General of Virginia, the Governor of New Mexico, the Texas Congressional Republicans, and the Georgia Republican Party.
Keith is the author or co-author of eight books, including three volumes of the Almanac of Oklahoma Politics (with Gary Copeland and Craig Williams), and also of several scholarly studies and papers, including a recent study of the problems of congressional continuity of government proposals for the Cato Institute.
Over the years he has offered commentary, interviews and/or served as a guest broadcaster for several media outlets, such as The Daily Oklahoman, the Tulsa World, KTOK, KGOU/KROU, MSNBC, BBC International, Voice of America Radio, USAToday, The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, New Orleans Times- Picayune, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Gannett Syndicate, and the Associated Press.
Keith is also the editor of SoonerPolitics.com as an independent, non-partisan source for political information. The site was originally designed to support Keith’s commentary work in the media, especially for KTOK radio in Oklahoma City. Soonerpolitics.com is affiliated with no political party and makes no political endorsements.
Keith can be reached at keith@shapard.com/wp
Stephanie Jones
Manager of Data Systems
Stephanie received two degrees from Oklahoma State University in 1997, one is a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and the other is a Bachelor of Science in Management.
Before coming to SoonerPoll, Stephanie worked in customer service for five years, as well as in data collection for three years.
Stephanie currently oversees the data analysis department of SoonerPoll. She also works closely with our Customer Loyalty Management Program and produces the advanced analysis that is broadcast weekly to our national clients.
As well as being a liaison with national clients, she is vital in instrument drafting, SPSS analysis and a FileMaker specialist on all of our research projects. Stephanie plays an integral role in assembling all of the elements for the final customer presentation.
Stephanie can be reached at stephanie@shapard.com/wp