Get to Know Us
As President and CEO of Linkage Research and Consulting, Michele DeKinder-Smith helps her clients leverage powerful analytic tools and state of the art research to better understand their target customers, to grow their brands, and to boost their bottom line. Michele’s clients include Starbucks, Frito Lay, Tropicana, Texas Instruments, Hoover Vacuums and Verizon Wireless. A seasoned researcher, she holds a Masters in Marketing Research from the prestigious program at the Terry College of Business, University of Georgia, and has consulted to corporate America for over eighteen years.
Drawing on her successful entrepreneurial experience at Linkage, Michele created “Jane Out of the Box,” to provide female entrepreneurs with powerful resources, such as educational blogs, teleclasses, newsletters, and books. Michele authored her first book for this market, “See Jane Succeed: Five Types of Female Entrepreneurs Reveal what it Takes to Win in Business and in Life,” under the Jane Out of the Box Media imprint, which plans publication of three more books in 2010. Through research, publications, consulting, and training, Jane Out of the Box is now helping over 4000 female entrepreneurs achieve their personal and professional goals.
Because of Michele’s comprehensive knowledge of female entrepreneurs, large and mid-size corporations, retailers, associations and government agencies are consulting with her to win the business of this lucrative target market. This pertinent marketing acumen, driven by Michele’s groundbreaking research, is only available through Jane Out of the Box.
Michele achieved an expert-designation, Professional Researcher Certification (PRC), and she currently sits on the Governance Committee of the American Marketing Association. She is a Past President of the AMA’s Professional Chapters Council, which provides all training and program development for the 74 local AMA boards serving 24,000 professional marketers. Michele was recently named tothe National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) national board of directors for a two-year term. She is a sought-after speaker at university and association events and a frequent guest on broadcast media targeting entrepreneurs.
Bonnie Schroeder is a professional moderator & marketing strategist who partners with her clients to reach their target market with the right message, at the right time. Her expertise lies in product/concept optimization and fit, strategy & positioning, brand equity & image management as well as advertising, packaging & communications development.
She has conducted hundreds of focus groups, in-depth interviews, in-home ethnographic interviews and online/electronic research discussion over her 15+ year career, with extensive practical qualitative research experience. This broad category and target experience allows her to explore business issues from any angle with skill and ease, providing insights and recommendations that reflect a deep understanding of corporate and customer decision-making.
Bonnie’s client base is composed largely of Fortune 500 clients including Hallmark Cards, Playtex Products, Maybelline, Quaker Foods, ConAgra Foods, American Century Investments, H&R Block, Coca-Cola, Pepsi-Cola, Procter and Gamble, Sears, Whirlpool, GTE, General Mills, and Sprint.
Her background also extends into the corporate board room, with a broad range of experience facilitating internal meetings and brainstorming/ideation sessions. Her high energy and creative thinking helps maximize ideation and drive brand and category innovations.
Bonnie is often praised by clients who cite her enthusiasm, dedication to her work, and preparation and industry knowledge as instrumental in achieving success in their research endeavors.
She received her Bachelors of Arts degree in Speech Communications with an emphasis in Business from Augustana College. She is an active member of the American Marketing Association.