• Questionnaire design and script writing
• Project development
• Data analysis
• Sampling
• Focus group moderation
• Dial-testing using Perception Analyzer

Early in his career, John Nienstedt worked in local political campaigns, was an aide to a San Diego County Supervisor and managed a mammoth political phone center. He and a partner founded Competitive Edge Research & Communication, Inc. in 1987. John acquired sole ownership of the firm in 1991 and computerized the operation with predictive dialers in 1992. He expanded calling capacity in 1995 and again in 1998 when he purchased Competitive Edge’s current headquarters.

John earned his master’s degree in political science with an emphasis in social science research, writing a thesis entitled, “A Practical Strategy for Predicting Voter Turnout in Pre-Election Polling.” In 2003, he launched the KPBS/Competitive Edge Research San Diego County Opinion Assessment, which took the monthly pulse of local residents. In 2007, Competitive Edge partnered with the San Diego Institute for Policy Research to conduct regular surveys of county residents.

John is a featured speaker at campaign seminars and is frequently called on by the media and other organizations to shed light on political and polling issues. He has written articles for the U-T San Diego and Campaigns & Elections magazine. John is a member of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, American Association of Political Consultants and American Association for Public Opinion Research. He received the SBA’s Entrepreneurial Success Award for 2000. John and his wife married in 2000 and have a son. He is Mexican on his mother’s side, a native San Diegan and an avid baseball fan.

• Employee management
• CATI programming and sample management
• Project direction
• Client liaison
• Project scheduling
• Database development and administration

Chad started his phone center career in 1993, working as a low-level floor supervisor in his hometown of Louisville, KY. Since then, he has acquired a wealth of experience at various research firms (including GfK-NOP and Total Research Corp.) as a programmer, project manager, applications developer, assistant call center manager and call center manager.

Chad received his bachelor of science in police administration from the University of Louisville. In 2009, he completed the Principles of Market Research Course through the University of Georgia. Golfing and reading are some of Chad’s favorite interests.

• Administrative management
• Maintain supplies and vendor relations
• Manage personnel and employment issues
• Qualitative project management

Shari studied business at Miramar College and accounting at Palomar College. She, her husband, and their adult daughter are avid novel readers and especially fond of fantasy and science fiction stories, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that they’ve attended Comic Con every year since 2004. Shari is involved in volunteer committee work and singing at her congregation, and when time allows she creates jewelry.

• Interviewer scheduling
• Project management
• Supervision of support staff
• Focus group recruitment

Ronald Zavala began his phone center career as an interviewer in 1996. Since then, he’s acquired a wealth of interviewing, supervisorial and management skills, having worked in qualitative research, medical data, and quantitative research.

Ronald received his bachelor of arts in Classics (Greek and Latin emphasis) from San Diego State University. He was honored as the Outstanding Graduate in his class, Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa. Ronald also earned a teaching credential in the same subject from SDSU. He was raised in Central America, is fluent in Spanish, and served honorably for two enlistments in the U.S. Navy as a Quartermaster (navigator’s assistant). His interests include Christian theology and apologetics, Mexican history and music, Chihuahuas, and Bob Dylan bootleg recordings.

• Data quality management
• Data weighting
• Report production
• Internet survey programing and administration

Neil Salunga, Research Manager at Competitive Edge, is responsible for the data collected by the firm; the production of fast, flawless, and beautiful reports and charting; as well as web survey programming and panel management, an ever-expanding area for Competitive Edge.

Neil studied Business at San Diego State University and has held various roles in market research since 2007. He and his wife were married in 2009 and have two daughters. He is a native San Diegan and enjoys hiking, cooking, art and music.

· Managing Floor Support Personnel
· Interviewing applicants
· Training new interviewers
· Briefing and supervising projects

Lawrence has been a part of the CERC team since February, 2006. He started as an audio-visual technician and then began his career as an interviewer shortly thereafter. After two months he became a part-time Floor Support Team member, and in January, 2008, was promoted to full-time Floor Support. His success as an interviewer, excellence as Floor Support, and willingness to learn and help out provided him the opportunity to assist in an unofficial capacity which ultimately lead to his promotion as Assistant Call Center Manager in July, 2010.

Lawrence’s job includes interviewing and training all new interviewers, managing the Floor Support personnel, running nightly reports, loading sample, and all the various other aspects of running a successful call center.

Lawrence’s interests include playing video games and occasionally playing soccer. He is an avid sports enthusiast; enjoying sports of all types, particularly watching “his” Raiders.

Wronie Kimble began his management career in 1999 as a Store Manager for McDonalds. Wronie obtained a Basic Management Skills Certification at Hamburger University and holds a certificate in Appraisal Writing and Feedback Delivery. Wronie has also gained a lot of skills in interviewing, managing, project resolution and team building. He takes pride in motivating a staff to be better than they ever thought they could be. 

Wronie enjoys listening to slow jams and spending time with close friends and family. His hobby is watching the Discovery ID channel, but most of all he enjoys watching WWE wrestling and reminiscing about his days as an independent pro wrestling performer and commentator in the Carolinas.