A cross-disciplinary, innovative team that is committed to our clients. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging are imbedded in everything we do.
Our thorough, independent examination gives our clients the facts needed to have certainty in next steps.
When answering difficult questions, our team is committed to inclusive outreach and defensible research.
We leave no stone unturned to ensure confidence in our work.
Alex Keen’s driving goal throughout his careeris to help organizations do great things. As Principal, he believes that providing independent, credible and data-driven advice is crucial to inform decision makers and the public. Alex recognizes that every project, no matter the size, is meaningful and has an impact. He strives to make every process collaborative and targeted to solve the questions at hand. Alex believes that through strong quantitative and qualitative research, thoughtful project management, and open and public dialogue, every question can be answered.
University of Denver Adjunct Faculty in Graduate Arts and Culture Management Program
International Association of Venue Managers (Member – Venue Safety and Security Committee, Chair – University Safety and Security Subcommittee)
M.S., Security Management (Organizational Management), University of Denver, CO
Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (Theatre/Urban Planning),Arizona State University, AZ
Annette Humm Keen helps many different types of organizations know and serve their customers. She has a national practice spanning organizational assessment, strategic planning, program development and public engagement. Annette has led or participated in more than 80 equity and diversity assignments, as well as directed many water conservation and arts and culture studies. She is a frequent speaker and author on these subjects. Annette applies her knowledge of design principles when leading arts, recreation, museum, zoo and other projects.
Master in Landscape Architecture,
Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
B.A., Anthropology,
St. John’s University, NY
David Keen helps organizations better understand their markets and meet their missions. He has clients from Maine to California, including some of the largest businesses and public agencies in the country. He is a frequent speaker and author on topics concerning race and gender discrimination; health care; water; arts and culture; and small business development and entrepreneurship. A prominent researcher in the equity field, he has directed more than 100 disparity studies examining evidence of discrimination in public contracting. He has testified as an expert witness in federal court.
Master of City and Regional Planning, Harvard University, MA
B.S., Business Administration, University of Arizona, AZ
Janine Kyritsis believes that it is important to learn something new every day. She joined Keen Independent at its inception with expertise in higher education, quality assurance and quality control. She serves as the Chief Listening Officer, spearheading new Keen Independent technology-advancing initiatives, client relations, outreach and qualitative research. Janine has co-authored research reports for the Transportation Research Board (TRB) and leads webinars and podcasts on diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB). She has led qualitative research on 50+ disparity studies.
M.S., Counseling and College Student Development, Long Island University, NY
B.A., Anthropology and Sociology, St. John’s University, NY
Blanca Monter has helped create, strengthen and defend equity initiatives across the country. She has a background in public policy analysis, program evaluation and economic research. Blanca has more than 12 years of experience conducting equity studies concerning minority- and woman-owned business participation in public agency contracts. Blanca leads data collection and analysis and performs regression analyses, Monte Carlo simulations and statistical modeling. Speaking fluent Spanish and having lived in Mexico City and Spain, Blanca brings international experience to the firm.
M.A., Public Policy, University of Minnesota, MN
M.A., Public and Social Politics, Universitad Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
B.A., Economics, Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México, Mexico City
Heather Calvin has expertise in arts and culture administration, audience experience, market assessments and strategic planning. She has successfully integrated diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives into non-profit leadership. Most recently she was Vice President of Visitor Experience at the Museum of Science, Boston. Heather has more than a decade of service as a Trustee for Robbins Library in Arlington, Massachusetts. She came to Keen Independent as a trusted colleague whose commitment to using data to inform and solve complex challenges makes her a strong asset.
Transformational DEI, Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce/Diversity@Workplace Consulting
Executive Certificate in Management and Leadership, MIT Sloan School of Management
Jennifer Tuchband joined Keen Independent to help organizations thrive. Through research and stakeholder engagement, Jennifer finds solutions that guide client decision-making while building consensus. Her work strengthens organizations and focuses on social impact and equity. Jennifer recognizes that every community is unique and makes each project custom tailored to the client. Jennifer leads the data collection and analysis for arts and culture projects.
International Association of Venue Managers
(30 under 30, Member – Research Committee, Member – Region 7 Planning Committee, Member – Arizona Chapter Planning Committee)
M.F.A., Theatre (Arts Entrepreneurship and Management),Arizona State University, AZ
Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership and Management,Arizona State University, AZ
B.A., Theater Design and Production, Business Minor, Arizona State University, AZ
Joseph Broad brings his passion for quantitative methods, causal inference, and experimental survey design to the Keen Independent team. Joe is trained in both frequentist and Bayesian statistical inference and has applied advanced quantitative machine learning methods in his research. He has over a decade of research experience and is fluent in quantitative research methods and multiple programming languages. He has also worked in the U.S. Senate and is a passionate musician.
Ph.D., Political Science, University of California, Davis, CA
B.A., Political Science and Philosophy, University of Nevada, Reno, NV
Dr. Monica García-Pérez is an economist with extensive experience conducting labor, immigration and health economics research. Monica performs quantitative analyses for disparity studies. She has taught economics at St. Cloud State University School of Public Affairs and is a Research Fellow at the Roy Wilkins Center in the Humphrey School of Public Affairs. She has published in Demography, American Economic Review, International Education Planning, Review of Black Political Economy, and Journal of Economics, Race, and Policy. She is fluent in Spanish.
Ph.D., Economics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
M.A., Economics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
M.Sc., Economics, University College London, London, UK
B.S., Economics, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela
Dr. Nicole Yates joined Keen Independent with expertise in equity, diversity and inclusion. Her experience includes quantitative and qualitative analyses supporting women of color in STEM careers. Her employment research has expanded opportunities for historically marginalized groups. Nicole directed membership where she collected and leveraged recruitment data to increase the membership pool for the National Society of Black Engineers. Nicole serves on the Executive Board of Conundrum Theatre Company in Burbank, CA.
Ph.D., Urban Education Policy, Educational Psychology concentration,
University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
M.A., Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
B.A., Drama Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Dr. Vivien Lattibeaudiere joined Keen Independent with 30-years of training and equity program experience. She has worked for state agencies, such as the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) and institutions of higher education. Vivien contributes valuable insights regarding the client-side of availability and disparity studies, and has influenced and reformed government agencies, colleges, universities and nonprofit organizations. She is the recipient of Harvard University John F. Kennedy Foundation and Western Association of Highway Officials Civil Rights innovation awards.
Ph.D., Higher Education Administration & Leadership, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
M.A., Community & Applied Psychology, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, NJ
B.A., Psychology, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, NJ
Amanda Embry adds her arts and culture expertise to Keen Independent’s venue management, performing arts, zoo and museum practice areas. Amanda is Residential Faculty, Director of Theatre Arts and Past Chair of the Scottsdale Community College School of Film and Theatre. She teaches theatrical design, production, history and management. Her professional performing arts experience includes design, management and technical assignments for hundreds of productions in New York City, Texas, Colorado and Arizona.
M.F.A., Theatre Set and Costume Design, Southern Methodist University, TX
B.F.A., Theater Design and Technology, University of Evansville, IN
Brandon Cunningham is an economic researcher with experience studying issues relating to labor, workforce and business ownership. He has previously authored policy reports for the North Carolina Justice Center on issues including minimum wage, paid leave and unemployment insurance. While working for the California State University system, Brandon conducted regression analyses to examine wage gaps based on gender and race, helping to drive policy change. At Keen Independent, Brandon performs collection and analysis of quantitative data for the firm's disparity, equity and workforce studies.
M.A., Economics, McGill University, Montreal, Québec
B.S., Economics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Dr. Carol Bunch Davis joins Keen Independent with over 20 years of experience in equity research. Leading program development in complex organizational settings, Carol has championed research-based initiatives aimed at fostering diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB). Her record of leading institution-wide initiatives includes incorporating equity-focused components into strategic plans and staff development and collaboration. As the Civic Literacy, Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Unit Lead at Texas A&M University, Galveston Campus, Carol successfully implemented an assessment tool to cultivate equity-minded culture and accountability.
Ph.D., English, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
B.A., Communication, Trinity University, San Antonio, TX
Haley Adams is one of the firm’s Geographic Information Systems (GIS) specialists with fluency in ArcGIS Pro, ArcMap, ArcGIS Online and other geospatial software. She conducts qualitative and quantitative research as part of Keen Independent’s equity and disparity studies. Her contribution to government projects has ranged from static and interactive mapping for city master plans in Arizona to qualitative analyses of stakeholder interviews and business ownership research nationwide. Haley has proficiency in Spanish and Russian, as well as an interest in linguistics.
M.S., in Geographic Information Systems, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
B.A., Geography, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
B.A., History, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
Jeremy Dueck joined Keen Independent as a subject matter expert in the sports and entertainment industry. As General Manager of the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium (The Aud), Jeremy oversees the day-to-day operations of one of the most prominent public assembly facilities in the Province of Ontario, Canada. His expertise in the sports and entertainment industry includes event planning, marketing and sponsorships, tenant management, vendor and stakeholder relations, budgeting and finance, capital projects, and human resources.
M.P.S., Sports Industry Management, Georgetown University, Washington D.C
Graduate Certificate in Corporate Communications, Sheridan College, Ontario, Canada
B.A. Communications and Business Administration, Wilfrid Laurier University
John Kyritsis offers 15+ years of experience in library and museum administration to Keen Independent, where he contributes to equity and cultural assessments including qualitative analysis, focus groups and strategic planning. John holds certifications in grant writing, disaster preparedness and archival management, and is a member of the American Library Association and American Alliance of Museums. He performed on a selection committee for Mediators Foundation promoting diversity in the arts. He also serves as the Collections Manager and Registrar for the Desert Caballeros Western Museum and was a board member of an Arizona town library commission.
M.A., Library and Information Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
MPS, Environmental Management, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
B.A., History & Political Science, Long Island University, Brookville, NY
Katherine DeVane is a versatile member of the Keen Independent Research team, with a dual background in economics and the arts. She contributes to the firm's disparity studies, arts and culture assignments and diversity, equity and inclusion assessments. Katherine excels in the collection, analysis and management of both quantitative data and qualitative information and has analyzed interviews with hundreds of business owners for Keen Independent disparity studies across the country. Her background includes arts production and coordination of high-profile events and performances nationwide.
M.M., Vocal Performance, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL
Artist Diploma, Opera, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL
B.A., Economics, Southwestern University, Georgetown, TX
B.A., Music, Southwestern University, Georgetown, TX
Kristen Bethune brings a strong background in education and social science research to the Keen Independent team. She has designed and taught courses including social inequalities, legal theory and data analysis and research methods. Her experience spans economic, gender and racial inequalities to workplace policies and culture. Kristen is trained in complex statistical analyses. She was a W.K. Kellogg Research Fellow and a professional-track faculty member in the Sociology department at the University of North Carolina Greensboro.
M.A., Sociology (Criminology), University of North Carolina Greensboro, Greensboro, NC
B.A., Sociology, minor in Human Development and Family Studies, University of North Carolina Greensboro, Greensboro, NC
Malena Grosz joined Keen Independent to support marketing strategy, arts and cultural planning and community engagement. Her experience includes event production, graphic design, website management and program management. Malena has worked music festivals, corporate events and conferences across the country and has produced several boutique festivals in Arizona. Through her experience as a performing and installation artist, she understands the challenges that artists face, particularly at the grassroots level. Malena believes that the arts are our most powerful tool for uniting people and impacting positive change.
M.F.A., Theatre (Arts Entrepreneurship and Management), Arizona State University, AZ
Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership and Management,
Arizona State University, AZ
B.F.A., Visual Communication (Graphic Design), Northern Arizona University, AZ
Manuel Perez applies his cross-disciplinary skills to help our clients better understand communities, businesses, and economic and cultural systems across the country. He is fluent in Spanish and engages with Spanish-speaking clients and others. He has experience in data collection and management, regression and other statistical analysis and revenue forecasting. He has led data collection and management efforts for many disparity studies, other equity studies and arts market research assignments. Manuel is a competitive dancer and performer.
M.S., Economics from Purdue University, IN
B.S., Economics, Arizona State University, AZ
Dr. Roksana Filipowska brings an extensive background and multiple publications in education and the arts to Keen Independent. Her academic experience ranges from curriculum development, teaching and advocacy for the arts at Yale University and University of Pennsylvania to curating arts exhibitions and programming. Recently, Roksana directed the development of the Wurtele Study Center at Yale. Her initiatives cultivate diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility and belonging. Roksana is a founding member of the Yale West Campus Anti-Racism Working Group. She is fluent in Polish.
Undoing Racism Training, People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond
Ph.D., History of Art, Certification in Education, University of Pennsylvania,
School of Arts and Sciences, Philadelphia, PA
B.A., Art History and English, minor in Philosophy, Fordham University, New York, NY
Dr. Sarah Huisman joins Keen Independent from academia with over 15 years of experience in qualitative and quantitative research methods, data analysis and project management. With a background in educational leadership and research, Sarah has directed projects, authored scholarly articles and presented on a broad range of topics at national conferences, including SXSW. Sarah has a record of building strong partnerships, developing innovative programs and utilizing data analytics and data visualization to clearly convey study outcomes.
Ph.D., Education, University of Missouri, St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
M.Ed., Multicultural Education, National University, San Diego, CA
B.S., Psychology, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ
Leigh Ann Mesiti Caulfield brings experience in museum evaluation, user experience and accessible design to the Keen Independent team. She is a former Teaching Fellow at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and is a Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies by the International Association of Accessibility Professionals. Leigh Ann champions data-driven and human-centered design through mixed methods research. She contributes to Keen Independent arts and culture and equity and accessibility assignments.
M.Ed., Curriculum & Instruction, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA
B.A., Art History Concentration, Minor in Sociology, Simmons University, Boston, MA
Tiffany Couch has a background in conflict resolution, public policy and client development. Her experience includes experimental design and research, as well as stakeholder engagement. She is trained in recruiting and conducting interviews and analyzing complex data. Tiffany is responsible for supporting qualitative and quantitative research tasks including interviews, database management and data visualization for the firm’s equity studies. She served as a Fellow at United Kingdom’s Oxford Consortium for Human Rights and worked for Healthy Democracy in Oregon.
State of Oregon Certified Mediator, 2020
M.S., Conflict and Dispute Resolution, University of Oregon School of Law, Eugene, OR
B.A., Political Science, University of Oregon Clark Honors College, Eugene, OR
Study Abroad, University of Oxford, Keble College, Oxford, United Kingdom
Adrian Gervassi-Saga joined Keen Independent with a background in law, economics and public policy. His experience includes performing legal research and research on responsible land governance and land tenure, as well as facilitating community engagement. Adrian’s study abroad in Edinburgh, Scotland included related consulting opportunities. At Keen Independent, Adrian assists with analysis of in-depth interviews and other qualitative research in support of the firm’s disparity studies and equity-related assignments. Adrian is fluent in Spanish.
B.A., Law, Economics and Public Policy, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
Study Abroad Exchange Program, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
Katelyn Snyder brings additional background to the Keen Independent team in political science, psychology and education. Her experience includes research regarding caregivers and youth that influenced related programs. A former Teach for America Fellow, Katelyn used culturally responsive methods to achieve measurable improvements in student outcomes. At Keen Independent, Katelyn primarily performs qualitative analysis for the firm's equity studies by synthesizing in-depth interviews and other qualitative information.
B.A., Political Science, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
B.S., Psychology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
Reeka Edwards joined Keen Independent with a background in public policy and administration. Her experience includes community outreach and engagement as well as internal and external communications. Reeka’s work has furthered the equity initiatives of non-profit, municipal and educational entities in multiple states. She conducts qualitative research as part of the firm’s equity studies and related assignments. Reeka is an advocate for marginalized groups and the founder of a holistic lifestyle blog designed to empower women. She is fluent in Creole.
M.A., Political Science, concentration in Public Policy and Public Administration,
Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL
B.A., Communication, Minor in Psychology, Defiance College, Defiance, OH
Tedy Isaacks joined Keen Independent after many years of technical theatre experience Off Broadway and at the Mesa Arts Center in Arizona. In the most recent position Tedy held, coordination between several key stakeholders was critical, as well as management of complex day-to-day scheduling. Tedy’s technical and administrative expertise, combined with her strong people skills, ensure that coordination of client-focused scheduling and communications is effortless at Keen Independent.
B.A., Theatre, Design and Production concentration, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
With a background in teaching equity and social justice at the University of North Carolina Greensboro, Aneliese Dar joins Keen Independent with advanced skills in oral and written communications and research methods. Aneliese has published research regarding the graffiti subculture, conducted seminars in environmental justice and social movements and presented at the national conference for the American Society of Criminology and the Southern Sociological Society. The bulk of her work has focused on sensitive issues regarding equity and social identities.
Masters in Sociology, Criminology concentration, University of North Carolina, Greensboro, NC
B.A., Psychology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO
This is a dream audit, a dream project for me. I was moved to tears … I loved to see the list of recommendations, so many of them are so simple …. your work is so valuable to our community ….
Keen has worked to establish safe and courageous spaces for internal and external participants to share sensitive information while also giving feedback in a way that is respectful, productive, and thoughtful.
We’ve been really impressed with what Keen has brought to the table in terms of energy and leadership.
The Keen Independent Research team created a market analysis that helped us better understand our community demographics and provided real information that will lead to more informed decisions.
Their work has synthesized a significant amount of research data, interviews and surveys to provide an actionable plan with detailed recommendations.
The commitment from a public perspective … this team’s done a really outstanding job … to be available and meet with stakeholders and develop the process.
Research supporting diverse communities and advancing creative solutions
