Senior Survey Methodologist
B.A., political science, Brooklyn College, CUNY; M.A., political science, University of Michigan
Ed Schneider is using his experience in data visualization to design a Web site for Altarum’s ongoing TRICARE Outpatient Satisfaction Survey (TROSS). Admiral Hunter, Deputy Director of the TRICARE Management Activity, directed our client to “do more than just tell people how they’re doing—help them improve.” Mr. Schneider has worked closely with TRICARE’s Health Program Analysis and Evaluation group to create a Web site to fulfill the Admiral’s vision. The TROSS Web site gives each Military Treatment Facility their latest outpatient survey results in easy-to-understand charts and tables, allows them to test the impact of quality improvement strategies, and directs them to resources to deliver on those strategies.
At several points in his career, Mr. Schneider has created new research infrastructures and staffs. He is using that experience to help Altarum Institute extend its survey research capabilities. He is working closely with Altarum’s Health Financial Services Practice Area to implement new survey and statistical software, develop new standards, and establish deeper ties with the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research and the Joint Program in Survey Methodology.
Mr. Schneider’s career, which spans several decades, has long focused on finding new ways to use advanced technology to address pressing research questions. Prior to joining Altarum, he provided consulting to polling firms working for Obama for America and developed spatial models of the 2008 election. He has designed major customer satisfaction measurement programs for both McDonald’s and MBNA (now Bank of America). As Senior Vice President at MBNA, he served as Director of Customer Insights and Director of Database Marketing. To enhance MBNA’s extensive targeted marketing efforts, he developed one of the world’s largest customer and prospect databases with a staff of developers and modelers that grew from 20 to more than 70. Mr. Schneider was asked to develop MBNA’s strategic Product Development Laboratory and responded by creating one of the first online monitors of financial services and launching an annual set of focus groups for senior management: the “Listen to the Customer” tour.
Developing new products and research services has been a continuing focus of Mr. Schneider’s work. As Vice President at two major market research companies, C&R Research in Chicago and Market Opinion Research in Detroit, his mandate was to work with the leading clients and develop new ways to help them succeed. McDonald’s, for example, needed a way to quickly test monthly promotions. Mr. Schneider created an on-line interviewing system before the Web was an option. State legislatures and political parties needed a way to develop and assess the impact of potential redistricting plans. Mr. Schneider developed an interactive graphical information system overlaying on political precincts the latest Census data and election returns.
Mr. Schneider has worked in government, academic, nonprofit, and for-profit corporations. He served as Director of Information Systems for the Michigan State Senate. He was recruited there to build the “preeminent legislative information system” and responded by developing the first fully PC networked legislative chamber and chaired the National Conference on State Legislature’s Task Force on Redistricting. As a Research Associate at the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research, Mr. Schneider taught dimensional analysis, and developed statistical software and new techniques for data archiving. He is co-author of The Political Trends Sourcebook.
Mr. Schneider completed all course work for the Ph.D. in political behavior and was admitted to candidacy at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where he also obtained his master’s degree in political science. He began his longstanding interest in applying computers to research questions as an undergraduate at Brooklyn College in New York, NY, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in political science.
Areas of Expertise
Technical Assistance