Jo Ann Hairston

RIVA Market Research & Training Inst

Jo Ann Hairston, Master Moderator and Master Trainer, has been part of RIVA Market Research & Training Institute since its inception in June, 1981. She serves as a Master Moderator providing qualitative research services via focus groups and in-depth interviews with consumers about products, services and ideas. Since 1981, Jo Ann has conducted more than 3,200 focus groups and in-depth interviews with nearly 30,000 individuals from age seven to 90 across all walks of life.

In addition to serving as Master Moderator, Jo Ann is also a Master Trainer, and a co-founder of the RIVA Training Institute where she has written curriculum and trained many of the more than 6,000 students that have taken classes.

From 1988 to 2004 Jo Ann was Sole Proprietor of VARI Market Research and conducted qualitative research on behalf of Fortune 500 companies seeking insight into consumer attitudes and behavior. She continued teaching with the RIVA Training Institute and moderating with RIVA Market Research throughout this period.

She has a B.A. in Psychology from American University and has participated in training for group dynamics, as well as, The Creative Problem Solving Institute [CPSI]. In addition, she is a graduate of the Behavioral Coaching Institute, a credentialed Master Coach and certified to administer and analyze The Highland Assessment Battery [THAB], a test that distinguishes between skills (which are learned) and abilities (which are hardwired) and can greatly affect life choices in terms of career and work environments.