Zogby People

Leann Atkinson is the lead Project Manager at Zogby International. She is responsible for managing relationships with Zogby International's clients, ensuring the Zogby team truly accomplishes clients' goals. She previously served as Assistant Director of Marketing for the Utica, N.Y.-based polling and market research firm.

With a background in survey research and the insurance industry, Atkinson brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the polling outfit. Much of her undergraduate college education was focused on survey research and project design, as well as statistics and theory related to the opinion research field.

Atkinson has managed dozens of major projects at Zogby International, but considers her successful partnering with Rock the Vote for a first-of-its-kind mobile phone text-message political survey during the 2004 presidential election to be her most fun-and innovative-experience at Zogby International.

Atkinson managed a major multi-year study for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, where she oversaw multi-phase survey research designed to determine key messages essential to winning the battle for the public's hearts and minds as the quasi-governmental body moved to increase tolls on its roadways, bridges and tunnels. The project also determined immediate transportation needs as well as public familiarity and sentiment toward the Port Authority's services and infrastructure.

The Hamilton College alumna has managed Zogby International's survey work on behalf of her alma mater's annual Hamilton College Poll, a series of polls on the racial attitudes of American youth, their views on the equality of the sexes and feelings towards the gay and lesbian community, the role of Americans in the larger world, and the impact of the Upstate New York business climate and true level of hunger locally.

A pioneer in Zogby International's newest opinion research offering-the mock jury-Atkinson has assembled focus groups designed to help law firms maximize the effectiveness of their cases. Her most recent mock jury work led to a multi-million dollar out-of-court settlement in a case involving patent infringement pitting a major global corporation against academic researchers in a top university system.

Prior to joining Zogby International, Atkinson was assistant project director for Lieberman Research Worldwide in Los Angeles, Calif. She also worked as a commercial underwriter for The Hartford Financial Group in New Hartford, N.Y.

A Central New York native, Atkinson holds a bachelor's degree from Hamilton College, where she studied sociology and psychology. She lives in Utica, N.Y.

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