Our Team
MORE ABOUT PHILLIP DOWNS
Dr. Downs received his training in market research and opinion surveys while completing his Ph.D. at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1976). Since then, Dr. Downs has taught market research at the College of William & Mary and at Florida State University. He has received many awards including:
- American Marketing Association Teaching Award
- The Florida and Tallahassee Societies of Association Executives (FSAE and TSAE) Member of the Year
- Southern Marketing Association’s Steven J. Shaw Award (Best Research Project)
- Market Research Track Award (Best Research Methodology)
- Florida State University Outstanding Teaching Award
- The Panhellenic Council Teaching Award
He is a retired Professor of Marketing at Florida State University and has over 35 articles published in research publications. He was selected by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) as a faculty member for their Management Program.
As a founding partner of Downs & St. Germain Research, Dr. Downs has:
- Directed over 1,000 market research projects
- Published over a dozen market research articles in trade publications
- Presented over 600 presentations to corporate and non-profit clients
- Authored over 1,200 research reports
MORE ABOUT JOSEPH ST. GERMAIN
Joseph graduated with honors from the University of Minnesota – Duluth with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Psychology (2002) and received his Master of Science (2005) and Ph.D. (2009) in Educational Psychology from Florida State University.
Joseph joined the firm in 2007, then called Kerr & Downs Research, and is now President/Partner. Throughout his tenure, Joseph has been involved with all stages of the research process. He specializes in moderating focus groups and multivariate statistical techniques, such as structural equation modeling and conjoint analysis, which take survey data and translate it into easy to understand models that predict attitudes and behavior.
Joseph is a former professor at Flagler College – Tallahassee campus, a member of Leadership Tallahassee – Class 32, and is the Marketing Director of the Tallahassee Chapter of the Mediocre Golf Association (MGA).
Outside of the office, Joseph loves to golf, is a classically trained gamer, and you can occasionally hear him discussing fantasy football on the air. Joseph resides with his wife, Shanna, and two pets, Jimmer and Kemba.
MORE ABOUT ERIN DINKEL
Erin joined the Downs & St. Germain Research team with a background in Tourism, Recreation & Event Management as well as Economics. Prior to joining, Erin spent years working as an Event Manager with the University of Florida working with numerous stakeholders and destinations to facilitate academic conferences and events. She uses her Tourism and Event expertise to direct data collection in multiple destinations, evaluate and maintain data quality standards, as well as develop client reports with actionable and strategic recommendations. As part of the client management team, she also serves as one of the primary contacts for our clients and is a frequent presenter on behalf of our client’s research initiatives.
Erin holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in Tourism, Recreation & Sports Management as well as Economics from the University of Florida.
Outside of the office Erin continually looks for new and authentic experiences, whether it be local or while travelling. She seeks to find the best cuisine in every destination and vows never to return home without a full stomach and a good story.
MORE ABOUT ISIAH LEWIS
Born in Boston and raised in Tampa, Isiah moved to Tallahassee to attend school at Florida State University to pursue a degree in Marketing before joining the Downs & St. Germain Research team. As the Senior Project Director, Isiah oversees interviewing efforts across multiple destinations and spearheads numerous event economic impact studies. Employing his background in marketing, Isiah applies his knowledge to questionnaire development and report preparation to provide clients with concise results and effective recommendations.
When not in the office, Isiah can be found somewhere outdoors seeking a new adventure. Whether it’s kayaking down the nearest river, hiking up the nearest trail or any adventure in-between, he is always excited to take on a new challenge and test his limits.
MORE ABOUT JAMES BRENDLE
Born and raised in the St. Louis area, James joined the firm in 2021 shortly after graduating from Truman State University with a Bachelor of Sciences in Psychology and a minor in Statistical Methods. As a Project Director at the firm, Brendle primarily assists other team members with questionnaire development, survey programming, data analysis, and report preparation wherever necessary. James’ background in Psychology allows him to provide a fresh perspective to the team and he is excited to help the firm grow while also upholding its reputation for excellence in the tourism market research industry.
Soccer takes up the majority of James’ spare time, as he avidly watches each of the five major domestic leagues in Europe as well as the MLS. James is eagerly awaiting St. Louis City SC’s debut season in the MLS in 2023 and will likely be found in the supporter’s section at each home game. He roots for European teams Southampton FC, FC Barcelona, Bayer Leverkusen, Atalanta, and Paris Saint Germain.
When not watching soccer, you can find Brendle reading a good sci-fi/fantasy book, playing video games, or watching a new movie/TV series.
MORE ABOUT JOE WALTERS
Joe was born and raised in Tampa, Florida, then went to the University of Florida where he earned a degree in Business Management and a minor in Mass Communications. Before landing at Downs & St. Germain, he worked for various political campaigns and the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners. As a Project Director at the firm, Joe primarily assists other team members with questionnaire development, survey programming, data analysis, and report preparation wherever necessary. Joe’s local government experience, business background, and marketing mindset provide the team with a deeper understanding of the needs of our clients.
An explorer at heart, outside the office you might find Joe rambling down an exotic city street in a faraway place, scooting around Tampa Bay on a quest for the best café con leche, or exploring a new concept in a book on the couch with his wife and baby daughter.
MORE ABOUT JORDAN TURNER
Jordan was born and raised in Tallahassee and received both her master’s and Ph.D. in Psychology from Florida State University. She also taught both Psychology and Research Methods courses at FSU before joining the Downs & St. Germain team. As a Project Director at the firm, Jordan primarily assists other team members with questionnaire development, survey programming, data analysis, and report preparation wherever necessary.
Outside of the office, you can probably find Jordan on a trail—running, hiking, or backpacking. In addition to her own exploration, she leads hikes for 2 local organizations. When not outdoors, she spends her free time researching backpacking gear and planning her next adventure.
MORE ABOUT EKATERINA SOROKINA
Ekaterina’s passion for tourism and travel research has led her to pursue both master and Ph.D. degrees in the field. Ekaterina’s Ph.D. degree is from the prestigious Hospitality Management program at the Rosen College that is consistently recognized among the nation’s best. Her master’s degree is from the Department of Recreation, Parks, & Tourism at the University of Florida.
Prior to joining the premier team at DSG, Ekaterina worked alongside some of the most influential tourism researchers in the field. Ekaterina’s research focused on exploring major industry trends, forecasting hotel sales, understanding consumer behavior, experiences, and market segmentation. She has published her research in the top tourism journals, and has been extensively cited. With her skill set, Ekaterina contributes to survey programming, focus group research, economic data analysis, social listening projects, and report development at DSG.
Outside of work, she loves spending time with her husband and two daughters. She is also an enthusiast in the kitchen, and according to her older daughter, baking is her superpower. Ekaterina loves reading and will devour anything of interest from classical literature to the titles that are trending now. When it comes to travel, she is known in the family as a mastermind behind the trip planning. Ekaterina is an artist in her free time, who loves experimenting with different mediums and styles. She loves gardening, and growing something unexpected on her balcony. Overall, Ekaterina is always on a lookout for things to try and explore.
MORE ABOUT EMILY SMITH
Emily has a bachelor’s degree from Appalachian State University in Hospitality and Tourism Management and earned her master’s degree from North Carolina State University in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management. In addition to her education, she brings experience in project management, qualitative and quantitative research, and stakeholder engagement. As a Project Director at the firm, Emily primarily assists other team members with questionnaire development, survey programming, data analysis, and report preparation wherever necessary.
Outside of work, Emily enjoys thrift shopping where she loves uncovering unique items with a story to tell. She also finds joy in playing the flute in her local community concert band, where she gets to share her passion for music with others. In her downtime, she loves catching up on the latest TV shows, movies, and books, always eager to explore new stories and characters.
MORE ABOUT HOLLY ZHENG
When she’s not diving into data, Holly enjoys pursuing her fitness goals, exploring the outdoors, and traveling to experience new cultures. She’s always up for an adventure — especially if it involves nature trails or a passport stamp. And if you spot something cute in pink packaging, there’s a good chance Holly’s already added it to her cart.
MORE ABOUT LINSEY GIDDENS
Linsey was raised in New York City, but would spend summers and school breaks with her family in Tallahassee. When she was a sophomore in high school, she moved down to Tallahassee full-time. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Florida State University and leads the charge on hiring operations here at DSG, in addition to, administrative duties. Outside of the office, you can find Linsey cooking, redecorating her home, or spending time with her Husband, Andrew, and their two pets, Ceco and P. She also enjoys online shopping, the quiet, and spending time with her family and friends.