BBC Research & Consulting is one of the most respected privately-held economic research and consulting firms in the Rocky Mountain region. Named after our founding partners, BBC was originally part of a research division at the University of Denver specializing in local economic research. We have grown to provide market, policy, economic, financial, and statistical research to public and private sector clients across the country.
BBC’s core strengths are depth of experience, diversity of skills, and objective independence. We emphasize practical results and tailor each of our studies to meet individual client needs.
Diversity Research & Disparity Studies; Social, Market & Customer Research
Sameer directs BBC’s diversity research and disparity studies as well as market and customer research practice areas. He leads large-scale research projects to help clients meet various organizational objectives, including measuring outcomes for minority- and woman-owned businesses (disparity studies), understanding customer insights and satisfaction (satisfaction studies), identifying distinct customer and stakeholder segments (customer segmentation), and assessing public opinion about different community topics (community surveys). He’s taught 11 undergraduate courses at the Universities of Illinois and Virginia primarily related to survey research methods, data analysis, and technical writing. Despite all of the above, his mom still wishes he had chosen to become a “real” doctor.
Sameer works at BBC because it gives him the opportunity to work on important policy and organizational problems every day. What’s more, is that he gets to do it with some of the most talented people he’s ever been around. He considers it a joy and privilege to work with them and provide great value to BBC’s clients.
Sameer’s primary joy outside of the office is cooking. He’s been cooking since he was young and can lose himself for entire days cooking for family and friends (check out www.riasindian.com). He also enjoys running, biking, and staying as active as he can for someone who’s inherently lazy.
Water, Natural Resource, & Environmental Economics
Over the past 25 years at BBC, Doug has worked with wonderful clients and collaborators on water, natural resource, and environmental projects throughout the Western U.S. He’s also had the opportunity to work on important economic and environmental issues such as the withdrawal of a million acres of land near the Grand Canyon from uranium mining and demonstrating the economic benefits that California receives from its state parks and other outdoor recreation. He’s helped develop guidance for agencies like the Texas Water Development Board, South Coast Air Quality Management District, and the Western Regional Air Partnership on how to assess the economic implications of their plans and policies.
Serving in the Peace Corps in Haiti.
I try to help manage our stress level by planning well in advance and coordinating among fellow directors and staff. Since I’ve been here the longest, I think I also provide a bit of a link between today’s BBC and our founders from almost 50 years ago — some of whom were still here when I started!
Diversity Research & Disparity Studies; Social, Market & Customer Research
Iris’ experiences at BBC have been incredibly diverse. She started out as a data analyst, primarily contributing to disparity studies, but quickly became a contributor to a variety of projects for arts and culture organizations; national retailers; and a number of government organizations all across the country. During her time with BBC, Iris has conducted economic and fiscal impact analyses; designed research programs to collect consumer insights; and managed large disparity studies for various government organizations.
Iris has an obvious talent for making everyone else feel tall.
Diversity Research & Disparity Studies; Social, Market & Customer Research
Dr. Verdone joined BBC Research & Consulting in 2016 as an Associate in the water and natural resource practice. Since joining BBC, Dr. Verdone has led and supported several studies concerning the economics of natural resource use both in the United States and in developing countries. Prior to joining BBC, he worked for the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Global Economics Program and supported projects around the world with a number of partners including the World Bank, the United Nations REDD Program, and the U.S. Forest Service’s International Program. Dr. Verdone was also a Graduate Fellow at the Center for Collaborative Conservation and has published several peer-reviewed journal articles.
In the Flatirons above Boulder.
Diversity Research & Disparity Studies; Social, Market & Customer Research
For the past decade, Kevin has been instrumental in building BBC’s Diversity Research and Disparity Studies and Market and Customer Research practice areas, supporting a wide range of clients around the country. He brings a variety of quantitative and qualitative skills to his work, having been groomed as an engineer at CU Boulder and a solar start-up, then switching gears and becoming a nonprofit management consultant and policy nut after completing a Master’s degree from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin. He loves working with a team of dedicated, intelligent people to help clients solve problems related to economics and public policy.
Kevin’s favorite spot in Denver is Cheeseman Park at sunset.
Prior to joining BBC, Stephanie was a project manager for an international non-profit. She strongly believes in the application of research to drive evidence-based practice and brings her project management expertise, along with qualitative and quantitative research skills, to BBC’s Disparity Studies team.
Stephanie enjoys skiing and hiking the mountains of Colorado, and has a passion for international travel.
Leah has worked with BBC as a data visualist and graphic designer since she stumbled onto this job in 2011. After graduating summa cum laude from MSU with a degree in photojournalism, she worked as a photographer at the Denver Post and other local newspapers for several years, then as a freelance videographer and photographer. She also worked for the City and County of Denver, where she began to use ArcGIS to help assess appropriate storm drainage billing. Leah had always dabbled with graphic design projects throughout her life, but since joining BBC, Leah has become quite serious about information design, and is proficient at turning data into easily digestible visuals, infographics, maps, and other graphics for use in BBC’s reports and presentations.
Family, friends, good food, and music. The occasional art project.
Emma contributes to BBC’s Diversity and Disparity Studies. Prior to joining BBC, she worked in market research and public policy roles analyzing travel behavior and transportation planning. She completed her undergraduate degree in International Studies at the College of Wooster.
Outside of work Emma enjoys listening to podcasts and audiobooks, cooking, and exploring Denver.
Completing her bachelor’s degree in accounting as of December 2018, Chris joins the BBC team as our in-house accountant and HR specialist. Chris’ real-world experience has been in public accounting for the past several years where she practiced as a tax accountant and is licensed by the IRS as an enrolled agent. In addition, she has also worked in the non-profit sector that serves disadvantaged and low income families.
With a background in social science and environmental economics, Kel contributes to BBC’s diversity and disparity studies as well as the firm’s water and natural resource practice. Her skill in quantitative analysis is complemented by her enthusiasm for engaging with stakeholders to add a qualitative narrative to all types of research. Within the conservation sector, she has previously been a research fellow with the Wildlife Conservation Society in Rwanda, as well as with Denver Zoo’s Department of Conservation.
With close family and friends spread across four continents, Kel loves to spend as much time as possible with them all.
Sumaiya received her undergraduate degree in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics from Asian University for Women (AUW), Bangladesh. AUW is the first all-women liberal arts college in South Asia, with a diverse student body comprising women from 16 countries across Asia and the Middle East. During college, Sumaiya worked as an economic development intern at the Export-Import Bank of Korea in Seoul, South Korea and received the Andy Matsui Award for her academic achievements and co-curricular activities at AUW. She recently completed her graduate degree in Economics from the University of Denver, where she received the Edmund Barbour Award for Outstanding Achievement and Satish Raichur Award for Excellence of a Graduate Student in the Study of Political Economy. Throughout her academic journey, Sumaiya has researched on a wide range of topics including public health expenditure, female labor productivity, female entrepreneurship, and international trade. Her research has spanned various countries including Brazil, India, Bangladesh, South Korea, and Vietnam. Prior to joining BBC, Sumaiya served as the Women in Economics fellow at the Common Sense Policy Roundtable (CSPR), a think-tank dedicated to the economy of Colorado.
Outside of work, Sumaiya likes to pursue culinary skills and explore East and South Asian cuisine.
Prior to joining BBC, Betsy was an early childhood educator through the University of Denver. She completed her undergraduate work in Political Science and Public Policy at the University of Denver and recently completed her Master’s in Political Science Research at the Universitat de Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona, Spain. During her collegiate career, Betsy conducted specialized research related to educational policy and the voting behaviors of LGBTQ Americans.
Outside of work, Betsy is an avid crafter who is always looking for the next best crochet pattern.
Wittney received her undergraduate degree in Cognitive Science as well as her master’s degree in Public Policy from the University of Virginia before joining BBC. Wittney brings her background in economics, statistics, programming, and project management as well as a drive for a more equitable country to BBC’s work on diversity and disparity studies, including contributions to disparity studies for the State of Indiana, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the California Department of Transportation.
Wittney can usually be found in the mountains, skiing in winter or hiking in summer. She also enjoys spending time with her pup Dyno and her hedgehog Clementine.
Will provides research support and quantitative data analysis support in BBC’s Diversity and Disparity Studies and Market and Customer Research practice areas. Will received his Master’s degree in International Security at the Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver and has a passion for problem solving in social science research.
Jade provides support in quantitative analysis in BBC’s Disparity Studies and Economic Impact Assessments practice areas. Prior to joining BBC, she received her undergraduate degree in Economics and Mathematics from the University of Colorado, Boulder.
Outside of work, Jade enjoys climbing and can generally be found in the climbing gym or climbing outdoors. She also enjoys photography and sitting down with a good book.
Thank you for your interest in a career at BBC. We are always interested in resumes from talented researchers and policy analysts. If you think you might be a fit for our team, please e-mail a cover letter and resume to [email protected].