The Edge: Competitive Edge Blog

You want to win. We all want to win. But unless your client is a popular saint running unopposed or a brand that has cured COVID-19, you’ll have to change, or at least maintain, public opinion in order to win. “Moving the needle” requires communicating a series of persuasive messages to the electorate. Read more ►

Very much alive and kicking at the age of 89, Frank Nienstedt – CERC’s longest-serving employee and John’s dad — dutifully sat for The Edgy Interview. Born in and raised in Riverside, Illinois, during the Great Depression, he remembers the iceman coming around, burning coal in the furnace, hearing the news about Pearl Harbor and the dropping of the A-bomb. Frank has witnessed lots of changes. He gets into his faith, his deep love of classical music (and broccoli!) and more in this interview, but somehow neglected to touch on his biggest highlight: serving as John’s Best Man. Read more ►

Cynthia Bryant, Executive Director of the California Republican Party, is all about the Golden State.  As you’ll see in this installment of the Edgy Interview, she’s been involved in California politics, at all levels, basically forever. But Cynthia’s love for the state clearly ventures well beyond the bounds of politics, stretching into the arts, food, sports and even a certain property she has her eye on. Glad we ask questions on a wide variety of topics.  Read more ►

Innovation should not be for big corporations alone. Competitive Edge has been at the forefront of many polling and research innovations over the years, including blended sampling, employing emailed surveys and our patent-pending MPower message-testing system. We know that our industry faces technologically-induced challenges, and we are up for tackling those challenges in smart ways. Read more ►

Aimee Faucett, San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer’s Chief of Staff, has long been a behind-the-scenes political dynamo making things hum in America’s Finest City. Although it seems she’s been a constant in politics, Aimee took a turn as Executive Vice President of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce before returning to city hall in 2017. As she’ll explain, she got her start more than 20 years ago before rising through the ranks. Aimee is one of the big reasons Mayors like Jerry Sanders and Faulconer get things done. Read more ►