CAMPOS Inc Online

HerStory: Debbie Fair, Director of Operations

2012-01-12T15:59:00.003-05:00

When did you join Campos Inc? 1997

What brought you to Campos Inc? I was ready for what was next for me professionally, and answered an ad for a position at Campos Inc. During my interview, the hiring consultant got a call for an excel report, and she asked me if I knew how to do it, because she did not! Jumping in on the spot whenever you’re needed got me the job. And I came to learn it’s something that’s key here, and that’s why we’re such a strong team.

Do you remember your earliest project? Not a project, exactly, but I sailed through 3 random audits in my first year!

Tell us a good story from your early days at Campos Inc. We were working on a beer slogan testing project within my first few weeks on the job, and everybody pitched in to go to local bars and ask customers to vote on slogans. I (the new girl!) ended up with more responses than anyone else due to my social butterfly nature, and despite not having free samples that everyone asked for all night! It was fun to see the results of our work turn up everywhere in the client’s new campaign later on. I also hired an assistant once who had the same last name as me (no, no nepotism!) causing a little confusion in the office for awhile.

How Campos Saved Christmas

2012-01-10T17:40:00.000-05:00

Campos Inc wishes you a very merry Christmas with our own holiday classic - How Campos Saved Christmas. Originally recorded in the 90s, our production features our research services team assisting Santa with a branding problem, starring a few in our current team: Yvonne Campos, Barb Theobald and Kelli Best.

HerStory: Kelli Best, Director, Field and Fulfillment

2011-12-09T16:08:00.001-05:00

When did you join Campos Inc? 1988

Kelli Best, in her early days with Campos Inc

What brought you to Campos Inc? A few months after the birth of my son, I was chatting with a longtime friend about my not really being ready to go back to work full-time just yet, and she mentioned a part-time call center job that she was currently working and suggested I give it a try. I called Campos Inc, had a brief telephone interview and attended the training session which believe it or not was scheduled for the very next evening! DESTINY, I guess.

Do you remember your earliest project? Although I worked with multiple clients during my “formative” years, my first MAJOR client who I worked with on many, many projects was a company that conducted market research among physicians. Recruiting for these projects was instrumental in the creation and development of our multi-specialty physicians database.

Got any good stories? We were hosting focus groups one afternoon and the client had ordered lasagna for lunch. Our caterer left heating instructions for our hosting staff, but, as the lasagna heated, the cheese overflowed and started to burn in the oven. The overhead vent was not enough to clear the smoke, which billowed out and set off the fire alarm. Once started, it could not be stopped. The fire department showed up in full gear, and staff, clients and respondents were marched down the stairwell to wait in the lobby until we were given the all-clear.

What are you thankful for?

2011-11-11T12:51:00.001-05:00

At Thanksgiving time, we tend to reflect on what we are most thankful for. Here are some thoughts on gratitude from our Campos Inc colleagues.

I am most thankful for my family’s health as there are people suffering all around me, including very good friends, and when I see what they are going through, I realize that I am very fortunate to not have such worries.

Amy Dubin, Executive Vice President

I am most thankful that my two grandchildren are healthy andfull of life. Keep me on my toes.

Marilyn Hicks, Office Assistant

My wonderful and beautiful wife Carlie, but I’m alsopretty pleased with my new Makita power drills :)

Rusty Stammer, Senior Research Manager

Iam thankful for the promotions I received from both of my jobs in the sameyear. I am also thankful for my supervisor position with Campos Inc, because I was never able to express my skills in that area until this companygave me a shot. I feel very blessed.

Savanna Russell, Call Center Supervisor

I am most thankful for the relationships I have with my friends and family.

Yvonne Campos, CEO and Founder

The opportunity to return to my hometown at this point in my life and spend time with my dad, my brother and his family, and the matriarch of our family, my 95-year-old great aunt, still driving 60mph in a 35 zone, and still open-sight shooting squirrels and racoons out in the country. To have learned that a meaningful life means to love and be loved.

Shelley Shaw, Marketing/Social Media/Online Community Mgr

My mom and my boyfriend. Many people go through life without anyone that truly has their back. I am lucky enough to have two people.

Victoria McCurdy, Call Center Supervisor

I am most thankful for the fact that I have figured out how to achieve balance in my life which affords me the opportunity to spend quality time with my 9 year old daughter....and that for now she actually thinks I am a "cool mom."

Jennifer Perkins, Qualitative Research Staff Consultant

HisStory: Dane Chamberlain, Call Center Interviewer

2011-11-11T11:58:00.005-05:00

Dane, a Duquesne grad and former radio announcer, helps recruit quality respondents for our focus groups.

When did you join Campos Inc? 1995

What brought you to Campos Inc? I had worked in radio doing interviews, and I thought I’d be good at this. When I arrived for my interview, I discovered the personnel director was the sister of a colleague at my other job. Small town!

Do you remember your earliest project? A New York State Tourism Board survey, asking people why they had visited the state and whether they would go back again.

How has recruiting changed over the time you've been with Campos Inc? It used to be a lot trickier, because sample would be from a variety of places, sometimes xeroxing a few pages of a phone book, and it could be a happy accident to get the job done. Now it’s better because today we use our VO!CE of the Region online community, customer lists and other sources of targeted sample.

Got any good stories? We were recruiting women for a study, and I called a number and a man answered. I asked if the lady of the house was available, and the man said, “No. She ran away with the neighbor last week.”

My 25 Business Lessons Learned

2011-11-11T11:50:00.001-05:00

As we mark our 25th year, we'll be sharing some special things with you each month. This month, Yvonne Campos has jotted down 25 of the most valuable lessons she's learned over time starting and running a business.

Yvonne in Campos Inc's earlier days

Trust your gut.
Have a clear yet flexible vision.
Client retention is one of thebest strategies a company can have.
People like to do business withpeople they know and like.
Help others. Share your time, yourknowledge and your connections to help others, and watch them go toextraordinary lengths to help you.
Hire people who have differentsmarts than you who can help fill any existing gaps in talent.
Pay attention to your industry –the changes, the future. Be thinking ahead and quick to move.
Give your employees theopportunity to fail in an environment that rewards effort and lessons learnedfrom mistakes.
Know the financial implicationsof business decisions.. You need to understand the numbers.
You can grow yourself right outof business.
Always be on the lookout fortalent that can help foster new and different ways of thinking, regardless ofheadcount constraints.
Do what you say you are going todo when you said you would do it.
As you grow, you need processesand systems – the sooner the better.
Business never gets easier.
Keep clients in the loop ifissues arise. Don’t surprise them with problems at the deadline date.
Transparency is great; share newsand numbers – both good and not-so-good – in an objective way that willmotivate the team.
Run your company like the companyyou want it to be, not necessarily the company it is. I chose to run Campos Inc like a much largercompany, versus a “mom & pop” model.
Not all clients are a good fitfor your organization.
As president/CEO, always be awareof the impact that you have on your company’s working environment. You can – andwill – set the tone in what you say and do, and how you say and do it.
It’s all about being visible inthe community and making connections. This is the role of the CEO.
Make a decision. If it’s wrong,you can always come back and change it.
Use consultants wisely to helpfill the gaps in talent you may need. Besure they know how to work with small businesses.
When hiring, be sure to hire theperson who has the potential for bigger things, not just the position you arehiring for.
Establish good relationships withyour accountant, lawyer and banker early on.
As employers, we are sometimesquick to hire, but slow in making tough decisions.

Celebrating 25 years!

2011-10-14T19:42:00.003-04:00

Dear Clients, Colleagues and Friends,

Welcome to the 25^th Anniversary celebration of Campos Inc!

As our 25^th year in business was approaching, we spent some time thinking about our past, present and future, and look forward to sharing some of our thoughts with you over the next 12 months. Join us during our birthday year, in our newsletter and our new blog, for some of our favorite memories and stories, plus a closer look at who we are now and what we see ahead, in our business and in research. We will be recognizing our team, our clients, and members of the VO!CE of the Region community who have helped to make us who we are.

It’s amazing when I stop to think about how many of you have been instrumental in establishing and growing our business. Some have been with us since our very first year. Thank you for your confidence in us and for your continued support. You’ve played a big part in the success of Campos Inc.

Since the beginning, we have always practiced the same philosophy: helping our clients make smarter and better business decisions by delivering best in class work, keeping our eye on the ball and an eye on the horizon. We’ll be holding firmly to this philosophy as we create the next chapters of the Campos Inc story.

We started with a team of three in October of 1986, and today we boast a fantastic team of 16 professionals and 25 part-time individuals. What makes them so great is they love the work that they do and servicing our clients.

My sincere personal thanks and gratitude to all of you who have been and are a part of the Campos Inc family. We’re going to have a great time celebrating our 25^th Anniversary and invite you to think back with us, laugh with us, and look forward to what's yet to come.

Let's all pat ourselves on the back for a job well done.

Here’s to another 25 years!

HerStory: Barb Theobald, EVP Research Services

2011-10-14T19:39:00.000-04:00

Barb (middle, left), Yvonne (c) and Kelli Best (bottom, right) circa '92

When did you join Campos Inc? 1988

What brought you to Campos Inc? Iwas working in the market research industry in Cincinnati when my husband wasoffered a position in Pittsburgh. As I started my job search (no websites backthen!), everyone I spoke to said that if I wanted to work in research, CamposInc was the place to be. I sent in my resume and the rest is history.

Do you remember your earliest project? All I remember is juggling lots of projects in the Call Center.

Got any good stories? One of the first projects that I worked on was to profilevisitors to the Pittsburgh Zoo. I was amazed that so many people had come from,where I thought, the state of Indiana. I quickly learned that there was a placecalled Indiana PA. Since then, I have been there numerous times to work withour clients in that area.

Yvonne Remembers: Our first client

2011-10-14T14:22:00.001-04:00

We opened our doors on October 16, 1986, to ourfirst client and first set of focus groups. That client was Robert Appleby, Research Manager of KetchumCommunications.

To set the scene, the furniture we needed for the focus groupwas delivered 3 hours before the respondents arrived, we were running around tothe very last minute making nametags, finding supplies and crossing our fingersthat the respondents would show up – and we pulled it off!

The groups were agreat success, and Bob Appleby continued as our client until he retired fromKetchum Communications. I can remember after the groups were over and ourclients were gone sitting with two staff members (we three were the whole team at the time), kicking off our shoes,laughing and relaxing after the craziness of our first day.