Total Credits: 4 Advance Credits
QRCA Heartland Chapter Mini Conference
• Ready to take your qualitative practice from surviving to thriving? Join us for a powerhouse half-day event focused on the business behind our brilliance—the stuff they don’t teach in "moderator school." From smart pricing and strategic growth to business structures, client pipelines, and succession planning, this in-person mini conference covers it all.
• You’ll hear from four seasoned pros (see bios below):
🔹 Doug Keith on reframing “networking” to grow your business
🔹 Marilyn Haywood Paige on using LinkedIn and more to fill your client funnel
🔹 Brittany Stalsburg on pricing strategies and options
🔹 John E. Freiburger on building a smart business foundation, utilizing tax advantages, and planning for succession or selling the business
• Come for the insights, stay for the connections. And if you can’t make it to Chicago, we’re working on a virtual option too. Don't miss this practical look at the business behind the brilliance—real talk on client flow, cash flow, and your next move.
Doug Keith has 30+ years of experience in the research industry, doing both quantitative and qualitative work. Doug trained as a focus group moderator at the Burke Research Institute in Cincinnati, OH, and has conducted research for a variety of clients across industries, including CPG, food and beverage (alcohol and non-alcohol), retail, IT, telecom, broadcast and cable, and healthcare (pharmaceutical, medical device, hospital, health insurance). Doug has led qualitative research in all styles: in-depth interviews, ethnographies, dyads, small and large focus groups, online bulletin boards, and auditorium testing.
Doug has been a panelist and speaker at several conferences. He completed a degree in Journalism at the University of South Carolina and obtained his MA in mass media and communication from Temple University. He is currently a member of Insights Association and QRCA, serving as the co-chair of the speaker committee for the 2025 US conference, and is co-founder of the Insights Career Network, a networking group for job seekers and allies in the insights industry.
Marilyn Heywood Paige started marketing just so she could land more music gigs in Philadelphia. She learned how to promote herself better than any other vocalist at the time and, in doing so, discovered two things. First, she was a very average singer. And second, she was a great marketer. Eventually, she moved into marketing full-time for Fortune 1000 companies, and earned her Master’s in integrated marketing communications from West Virginia University. She founded two marketing agencies in Denver before moving into consulting, which she does now while she cares for her 88-year-old mother. She lives in Greeley, Colorado.
John is the founder and managing partner of Partners Wealth Management. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional (CFP®) with more than 20 years’ experience in wealth management, John’s commitment to excellence has served as the foundation for Partners Wealth Management’s culture of proactive client service. John is a Registered Representative and Investment Advisor Representative through Kestra Investment Services, LLC, and he holds Series 7: FINRA General Securities Representative and Series 63: FINRA Uniform Securities Agent & State Law Examination licenses. John is also licensed to advise on risk management issues for businesses and individuals.
John’s educational background includes a B.S. in Management/Marketing Information Systems, with honors, from St. Joseph’s College, and an MBA from DePaul University. John has also earned his Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) and Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) designations from The American College. He continued on at The American College to obtain his Masters of Science in Financial Services (MSFS). This advanced degree is one of the highest levels of professional education available in the insurance and financial services industry. John also earned his Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®) from fi360.
John is the co-author of a book entitled Strictly Business: Planning Strategies for Privately Owned Businesses. He frequently hosts educational seminars and speaks to a variety of groups on a national level on topics ranging from asset protection* to wealth transfer and investment management to financial independence. In an effort to share his knowledge with the business and banking community, and to further support his clientele’s financial services and private banking needs, John served as a founding member of the board of First Community Financial Bank of Naperville. The bank was acquired by Busey Bank. He continues to serve on the advisory board for Busey. He served as a member of St. Joseph’s College Board of Trustees, and lent his specialization in planned giving to the college for 17 years. John also serves on a number of other not-for-profit and corporate boards, including Ageology LLC, an age management firm and Alive Center, a center serving teens and adults focusing on empowering the youth of today to become confident, impassioned, resilient leaders of tomorrow. John is also the founder and chairperson of the board of Zero Matters, a non-profit which supports groundbreaking research on toxin-removal therapies.
*Asset protection plans should be developed and implemented well before problems arise. Due to the fraudulent transfer laws, asset transfers that occur close in proximity to the filing of a lawsuit or bankruptcy can be interpreted by the court as a fraudulent transfer. Proper structuring of these assets is imperative please seek proper legal and tax advice prior to engaging in re-titling/structuring of any assets. Please note that laws are subject to change and can have an impact on your asset protection strategy.
Securities offered through Kestra Investment Services, LLC (Kestra IS), member FINRA–SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Kestra Advisory Services, LLC (Kestra AS), an affiliate of
Kestra IS. Partners Wealth Management is a member firm of PartnersFinancial. Kestra IS and Kestra AS are not affiliated with Partners Wealth Management or PartnersFinancial or any entity referenced herein. Neither Kestra IS nor Kestra AS provide legal or tax advise and are not Certified Public Accounting Firms.
Brittany L. Stalsburg, PhD
BLS Research & Consulting LLC
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittany-stalsburg-a3664a50/
Brittany L. Stalsburg, PhD, founded BLS Research & Consulting in 2016 after several years directing market research and consulting engagements for two prominent national consulting firms (Lake Research Partners and Whitman Insight Strategies). She leads a diverse partnership of researchers and strategists who have experience consulting with all types of organizations, including brands, companies, political candidates, nonprofits, foundations, and government agencies. Brittany is a RIVA-trained moderator who has facilitated over 500 focus groups, in-depth interviews, and ethnographies.
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