MRII is dedicated to advancing leadership, practice and industry knowledge in market research and insights worldwide. We provide a wide range of valuable and accessible educational resources covering core knowledge, best practices and industry trends. Our learning materials, delivered through various channels, aim to enhance the expertise of insights professionals and anyone looking to better understand practice of market research.
MRII provides expert-led webinars, podcasts, short-form video learning, global and regional awards programs, original research on key industry topics, and more. Our market-leading educational courses from industry experts, offered in partnership with the University of Georgia, are continually updated and endorsed by leading national and international organizations.
MRII has had a long and distinguished history, which dates back to 1994 when the Board of Directors of the Marketing Research Association (MRA), a predecessor of today’s Insights Association, appointed a task force to determine the feasibility of creating a separate non-profit organization to create educational and training materials for the marketing and opinion research industry.
This was fueled by a desire to create an independent study program based on the Market Research Core Body of Knowledge (MRCBOK™). Approval was given and funds allocated in 1995 to establish the Marketing Research Association Institute (MRAI).
In 1996, the MRAI was incorporated as a nonprofit educational institute, with the following mission:
To offer global, market-leading continuing education programs for the understanding, practice, or consumption of market research, insights, and data science.
The organization’s first order of business was to develop the Principles of Marketing Research (PoMR), a self-study program to be offered in partnership with the University of Georgia. The purpose of PoMR was to provide a common base of knowledge for current and aspiring market research professionals featuring the concepts of the MRCBOK.
In 1998, we partnered with ESOMAR to market the PoMR course globally. To emphasize our global reach and independence, the organization was renamed the Marketing Research Institute International (MRII) in 1999.
PoMR is to this day offered in partnership with the University of Georgia’s Center for Continuing Education. The PoMR curriculum is continuously updated and new courses are added to keep up with the evolving needs of the market research industry. One of the evolving needs led to the 2018 introduction of Principles Express, a line of on-demand courses designed to meet the learning needs of people who wish to focus on a single or small handful of courses rather than participate in a comprehensive curriculum.
More than 10,000 learners from 114 countries have benefitted from the PoMR and Principles Express courses.
As learning styles have evolved so has MRII, expanding our reach to offer educational and learning resources in a variety of formats. Valuable content and programs include not only the original courses, but also a highly popular webinar series, award programs, short-form video content, podcasts, a blog, and more.
2021: Stephanie C. Harris
2020: Michael Mermelstein, Nichols Research
2019: Dan Coates, Ypulse, Inc.
2018: Jeffrey Henning, Researchscape International
2017: Jon Last, Sports & Leisure Research Group
2016: Lisa Courtade, Merck & Co
2015: Wayne McCullough, University of Michigan
2014: Barry Watson, Environics
2013: Charlotte E. Sibley, Sibley Associates
2012: John Lewington, Ph.D., Maryville University, Retired
2011: Charles “Chuck” Dodson, WILD Flavors, Inc., Retired
2010: Pat Crane, Eastman Kodak Company, Retired
2009: David Ashley, Department of Homeland Security
2008: Julie Williams, MaritzCX, Retired
2007: John Kelly, Ceallaigh Associates, Retired
2006: Susan Adelman, Survey Service, Inc.
2005: Terry Grapentine, Grapentine Co., LLC
2002-2004: Al Paison, The Customer Loyalty Research Center, Retired
2001: Joe Ottavani, Bellomy Research
2000: Don Marek, AT&T, Retired
1999: Bill Neal, SDR, Inc., Retired
1998: Ron Kornokovich, OPINIONation, Retired
1997: Howard Gershowitz, Mktg., Inc. (USA)
1996: Linda Tessar, Walker Research, Retired
2001-2004: Mike Naples
2004-2005: Terry Grapentine
2005-2014: Don Marek
2014-2018: Reg Baker, Ph.D.
2019-2021: Jeffrey Henning
2021 -2022: Stephen Kraus, Ph.D.