IT Panels Combine

In the US Authentic Response, the MR division of Return Path, Inc., has announced a partnership with publisher TechTarget, pooling global panelists to give researchers access to a total of more than 3 million IT professionals. In addition, online MR specialist Mike Billingsley has joined Authentic Response as VP of Sales.

Authentic Response, formerly known as Survey Direct, was founded in 1998 and offers online sample services including the Authentic Recruitment™ and Authentic Validation™ techniques. The firm says its own panel includes 'more than four million highly qualified respondents' from various professions. Its new partner TechTarget provides specialized online content bringing together buyers and sellers of corporate IT products in 35 specific sub-sectors of the industry – for example storage, security or networking - each via a separate web site.

According to Jeff Mattes, VP and General Manager of Authentic Response: 'As projects require reach in multiple countries, and as lower incidence levels challenge feasibility, we recognized the ongoing market need for larger and more in-depth panels.'

Don Hawk, Co-Founder and President of TechTarget, says his company 'recognizes the importance of IT Research to the business world as well as the consumer' and that its members are 'extremely responsive when asked to share their insights on industry and technology trends'.


Billingsley has a 20 year background in MR, and has spent the last 3 as MD of Sales and Panels at Global Market Insite in Dallas. He was previously Senior Director of Operations for the SPSS MR Online team, and beforehand managed research and sales for companies such as AOL/DMS, Survey Tabulations, America Online and Research Systems Inc.

Jeff Mattes, VP and General Manager of Authentic Response says he's thrilled to have such a seasoned survey professional on the team, and commented: 'With Mike's help, we'll be able to increase our already-fast growth rate, getting us to the next level more quickly.'

A native of the Dallas/Fort Worth area, Billingsley lists basketball, backpacking and bull riding among his activities.

The research firm's web site is at www.authenticresponse.net . Parent company Return Path is an email performance management company and is online at www.returnpath.net .

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.