Forrest Anderson is an independent consultant who has spent years applying business disciplines, such as strategic planning and market research, to communications. He combines an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management with 30 years in public relations and 20 years doing research to develop strategic insights for communications. In addition to independent consulting, he has worked in corporate positions (The Institute of Gas Technology and Information Resources, Inc.) and public relations agencies (Burson-Marsteller, Golin/Harris International, Applied Communications, Text 100). His communications experience includes:

  • Internal communications
  • Public information
  • Publicity and media relations
  • Business-to-business communications
  • Technical and scientific communications
  • Hi-Tech
  • Consumer
  • Corporate
  • Investor relations

He has designed and managed research projects including quantitative surveys, focus groups, depth interviews, Delphic surveys and manipulation of market research databases. He has used these and other tools to help businesses achieve their goals through better understanding client needs, target audiences and business issues and through evaluating communications programs.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

  • Independent Consultant, Moraga, CA, 2005-Present
  • VP, SVP, Managing Director Applied Communications Research/Text 100’s Context Analytics, San Francisco, CA, 2003-2004
  • Independent Consultant, Chicago, IL, 2001-2002
  • Director Strategic Insight, Burson-Marsteller, Chicago, IL, 1999-2000
  • Director of Research and Account Planning (SVP), Golin/Harris International, 1990-1999
  • Account Group Supervisor, Golin/Harris International (1988-1990)
  • Director, Marketing Communications, Information Resources, Inc., Chicago, IL, 1987-1988
  • Technical Account Specialist; Account Executive; Manager, Secondary Research, Burson-Marsteller, Chicago, IL, 1983-1987
  • Technical Writer; Public Information Specialist; Manager, Communications, Institute of Gas Technology, Chicago, IL, 1978-1983

EDUCATION

Master of Business Administration
Kellogg Graduate School of Management
Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 1983.
Majors in marketing and management policy.

Bachelor of Science, with Distinction
University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 1973.
Majors in English and biology

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Member of the Commission on PR Measurement & Evaluation, Institute for Public Relations, Gainesville, FL. One of two primary authors of paper on setting objectives in PR. Contributed to white paper on evaluation. Serve on Long-Range Planning and Strategy Committee.

Served on the Board of Directors of the Chicago Chapter of Public Relations Society of America 1999-2002 and was a member of 1995-1997 PRSA Research Committee. Conducted member satisfaction and usage survey twice for Chicago chapter of PRSA and once for San Francisco Chapter..

Served on the advisory board of the Elon University School of Communications, Elon, North Carolina. Member, Committee on Long-Range Planning.