BARBARA BROOKS
Director, Research & Strategy

Barbara comes to Youthography with nine years of advertising agency experience under her belt. She is passionate about all elements of communications and has worked on a multitude of global mega brands such as Kraft, Campbell's, and Bayer. Her background in packaged goods makes her a research junky. And, she has broad category experience that covers food, confection, pharmaceuticals, and automotive (Toyota, General Motors and Mitsubishi are former Clients). Barbara is a Journalism school grad from Carleton University.

MIKE D'ABRAMO
Director, Research & Strategy

Mike's project management role combines his experience as a former high school and university educator with his longstanding technological savvy, which leads him to spearhead almost all quantitative projects that come through our shop. The results are groundbreaking projects like the Kellogg's Jacks Pack - a project that empowered youth and business to work together to reach business objectives. An accomplished public speaker, Mike has made numerous appearances in print, on radio and on television. He has a Political Science and History degree and a degree in Education, both from the University of Toronto.

CAROLYN PETERS
Supervisor, Quantitative Research

Carolyn Peters is the Quantitative Project Manager at Youthography. Carolyn has a background in quantitative research and data analysis. She has extensive experience working with databases, both large and small, surveys, data analysis and project coordination. She worked in health research and international development before moving into a career in market research, and remains committed to producing the best quantitative research for all clients. While Carolyn talks a lot about numbers, she can also help clients understand what those numbers mean and their relevance for youth culture. Carolyn has a BA in Political Science and International Development from McGill and a Masters in Community Health and Epidemiology from the University of Toronto.

NICOLE FAWCETTE
Manager, Research & Strategy

Nicole provides client service and research management to a number of youth brands across video games, beer, and media. In-shop, Nicole's work on Play List goes a long way to helping clients keep up with the fast paced world of music and youth tastes. Also, her contribution as Video Game Writer for Ping means shows off her love and passion for all things gaming we dare you to challenge her to a round of Dance Dance Revolution! Whether its broad strokes qualitative exploratory, or detailed quantitative brand tracking, Nicole always brings her strong writing, research and analytical abilities to bear and has a background in Sociology from the University of Toronto.

DEE DE LARA
Manager, Research & Strategy

Dee comes to Youthography with an agency background in research and strategic planning across categories that include pharmaceutical, automotive, technology and retail.  Her passion for youth culture and consumer behaviour and her experience with a range of research methodologies, including applied anthropological and academic research, has equipped her to effectively manage projects and translate motivating insights into actionable strategies for our clients.  A native of Staten Island, NY, Dee has an Honours BA in Fine Art History and History from the University of Toronto, a Post-Graduate Certificate in Advertising Account Management from Centennial College and an addiction to pop culture, music and shoes.

JACQUELYN SALNEK
Manager, Research & Strategy

Jacquelyn’s enthusiasm for behavioral psychology, macro-social trends and love for innovation made her recent move to Youthography a natural transition. She has spent her career in areas of market research specific to advertising, broadcast/audience research and strategy, and more recently, as a strategic planner at a full-service advertising agency. Jacquelyn has breadth of project management experience with brands in retail, consumer packaged goods, financial and media industries. She demonstrates a knack for picking up and understanding trends in popular culture, and describes them in a way that wide-ranging audiences find interesting and relevant. Jacquelyn has a BA in Psychology from Brock University and a Post-Graduate Certificate from Georgian College’s Research Analyst Program.

CAROLINE WILSON
Manager, Research & Strategy

Caroline has been working in research, business analysis and client services for over seven years. She has considerable qualitative and quantitative research experience with multinational clients across Canada, the United States and the UK. Her research has focused on, among other things, retail trends, branding, copyright and trademark issues, consumer insights and health. She has an M.A. in English Literature from the University of Glasgow as well as a diploma in Health and Social Studies. She loves the North and the city the same but different and the written word in all its myriad forms.

HEATHER SOBERMAN
Manager, Research & Strategy

Heather joins the research team with a strong background in experimental design and data analysis. Equipped with plenty of experience working in health research, she has recently made the transition to marketing research. With an enthusiasm for findings new ways to challenge herself, Heather has fruitfully applied her academic and experimental experience to designing research that can allow clients insight into youth culture. Heather also has a passion for travel, as she loves to explore new places and soak up her surroundings. Due to her not-so slight addiction to pop culture, in her free time, you can often find Heather browsing the grocery store magazine racks for the latest and juiciest Hollywood gossip. Heather has a BA in Psychological and Behavioural Science from McGill University and an MA in Experimental Psychology from Carleton University.

STEPHANIE HERZOG
Coordinator, Research & Strategy

Stephanie is back in Toronto after spending four blissful years living in la belle province. Her extensive background in cultural studies has given her the tools to dissect and analyze popular culture, giving her a solid understanding of what people like and why they like it. Stephanie has a particular interest in youth culture and spends lots of time watching teen movies and teen-oriented TV... for research purposes only, of course. Stephanie also brings with her a love for writing and a mission to rid the world of bad spelling and improper punctuation. Stephanie completed her BA at McGill University in English/Cultural Studies.

KATE ARCUS
Coordinator, Research & Strategy

Kate began her quest for knowledge and greater understanding of cultures, communications, and media at York University, where she received her Honours Bachelor of Arts. After an unforgettable break in Paris, Kate re-joined the York U department of Anthropology to complete a Master’s Degree. Kate’s thesis work includes a focus on the relationship between Tween girls, mediated messages and identity development. Meanwhile, several years at Gap, Inc has allowed her to “officially” become an expert on consumer service and kids’ fashion trends in particular. Her academic experience brings to Youthography essential research tools for both quantitative and qualitative analysis. She has experience working on such projects as MTV Canada, adidas, and Molson. Not to mention her own love for all things “youth” and an overall refusal to grow up!

LOUIS DE LUCA
Coordinator, Research & Strategy

Louis comes to Youthography from the advertising world of account services, focusing primarily on consumer electronics, packaged goods, and QSRs. His background in advertising and client management blended with his passion for big ideas, youth culture and research make him a great fit.  Before he was in an office, he was working on the sets of films, commercials and music videos.  Louis brings with him a BFA in Film Theory from Ryerson University, as well as a Diploma in Integrated Marketing Communications from Seneca College. When not working away on research projects, he can be found all over town on his bike.

JEN FAWCETTE
Coordinator, Research & Strategy

Fresh from the University of Toronto, with a B.A in International Development and Politics, Jen is an energetic research co-ordinator with a serious love for life. Specializing in international development has helped gain insight on social and political culture of youth; as well as provided her with a unique opportunity to complete a year of her degree in Ecuador (Ola!). Although since returning her Spanish has faded slightly, her love for a fine ceviche and tasty mojito has not. Her work and life experience in Toronto has been geared to understanding and contributing to the formation of community in the urban centre, by embracing local and organic foods, bicycles and the many festivities the city has to offer.

RIO PENABELLA
Coordinator, Quantitative Research

Rio is a high energy, number crunching analyst and recent grad from the DeGroote School of Business with a focus in Marketing and a minor in Sociology. He applies his knowledge of young Canadian consumers and retail and food merchandising from his previous marketing work at McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada to his work at Youthography on a wide range of projects and clients in technology, health, not-for-profit, government and education. When not at the office deciphering youth trends and behaviour, Rio is known to enjoy climbing