Therese McLain is a research methodologist specializing in strategic relations, competitive positioning, and client intelligence. She is also a certified facilitator. With expertise in mixed-methods research and flexible survey design, she combines qualitative and quantitative methods to produce actionable insights that improve organizational decision-making.

Therese has extensive experience in community-based participatory research (CBPR), focus groups, listening sessions, and survey research. She is known for fostering inclusive dialogue, translating complex data into clear strategies, and developing initiatives that deliver measurable impact across government, nonprofit, and corporate sectors.

Consulting Expertise

• Strategic Relations & Competitive Positioning – Enhancing credibility and market influence through data-driven engagement.
• Facilitation & Engagement – Designing and leading focus groups, listening sessions, and participatory processes that promote diverse perspectives.
• Survey & Data Analysis – Precise, flexible survey design; descriptive, comparative, and inferential analysis; thematic coding; combining qualitative and quantitative insights into decision frameworks.
• Client Intelligence – Using NPS, CRM, and stakeholder mapping to guide business growth and gain a competitive edge.

Leadership Experience

• Over 25 years of experience in senior corporate and nonprofit executive roles.
• Skilled in policy development, stakeholder engagement, and strategic business planning that promotes sustained growth and expands market presence.
• Former Managing Partner at a consultancy specializing in public policy and community outreach.
• Previous leadership roles include Municipal Relationship Manager at a Fortune 500 environmental company; Director of Contracts & Government Relations at a major Oregon nonprofit; and management positions in health services and banking.

Community Engagement & Board Service

• Executive Committee Member, Disability Rights Oregon (DRO).
• Governance Advisor, Philippine-American Chamber of Commerce of Oregon (PACCO).
• Active volunteer with Lions in Sight (international vision care) and the Oregon Humane Society (foster and transitional animal care).
• Previous leadership roles include: 
  •  Commissioner for the Portland Commission on Disability
  •  Advisory Council Member for the OHSU Office on Health & Disability
  •  Board Member of Ride Connection
  •  Board Member of Portland Taiko
  •  Chair and Founder of the Connecting Communities Coalition and CCC Leadership Academy.

Education & Certifications

• Communications, Maryknoll College (Manila, Philippines).
• Certified in Technology of Participation (ToP) Facilitation Methods.
• University of Amsterdam – Qualitative Research Methodologies.
• Harvard University – CitiesX: The Past, Present, and Future of Urban Life.
• Active member, AAPOR (American Association of Public Opinion Research).
• Continuing Education:
  • Demystifying the Automated Analysis of Open-Ended Survey Responses - Instructor: Matthias Schonlau, PhD, University of Waterloo, Dept. of Statistics and Actuarial Science
  • Generative AI for Survey Research: Principles and Applications - Joshua Lerner, Sr. Research Methodologist, NORC at the University of Chicago; Soubhik Barari, Research Methodologist, NORC at the University of Chicago; Yamil Velez, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Columbia University
  • Integrating Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) Principles - Joy Thomas, PhD, specializing in community-engaged research with a strong focus on CBPR; Rodney Terry, PhD in Psychology and social science analyst at the US Census Bureau's Center for Behavioral Science Methods
  • AI for Survey Research: Data, Insights, and Policy Impact - Arundati Dandapani, MLitt, CAIP, CIPP/C, CIPM, and Founder and CEO of Generation1.ca. Recognized as a Top CEO of 2025 and among the world's top 75 data and insights scientists. Professor, Humber Polytechnic, Vice Chair of Algonquin College's Marketing Research and Analysis Program.