Our clients are incredibly diverse. In order to meet their needs, we need to be experts in a variety of fields and communication styles. We are a small company with vast experience. Our team includes former Congressional Hill Staffers, Lawyers, Marketing and Public Relations Directors, and Television Producers. Together, we understand and can find the right messages to communicate the issues and frame the debate for our clients

Senior Staff
Michael Maslansky
Larry Moscow
Lee Carter
Maritza DiSciullo
Keith Yazmir
Frank I. Luntz

Luntz, Maslansky Team
Thayer Fox

Justin Altum
Mike Phifer
Patrick Buckley
Nathan Avant
Jenn Dahm
Clint Sievers

Michelle Dushi
James Rich
Jennifer Gilbert

Michael Maslansky:

Michael Maslansky is one of corporate America’s leading communications and research strategists.  As CEO of Luntz, Maslansky Strategic Research, he advises Fortune 500 corporations, industry associations, major litigation practices and non-profit organizations on what to say, how to say it and, most importantly, why it matters.

How CEOs, companies, and entire industries communicate – whether during crises, in advertising and public relations campaigns, or with investors, Congress or the American people – often means the difference between success and failure.  Clients from Pfizer to Bank of America to Microsoft to Starbucks turn to Michael to understand the public mood, challenge conventional wisdom and transform not just what they say to key audiences – but how they say it.

Michael shares with clients his in-depth understanding of hot-button issues in banking and financial services, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, corporate social responsibility and non-profits, technology and consumer products, and litigation and politics.  Over the years, he has helped Fortune 500 companies position and differentiate their brands and products during good times, and protect their reputations during crisis.  He has worked with industries to reframe the national debate over issues including Medicare, climate change, digital movie and music piracy, and, most recently, lead in Chinese imports.  And he has worked with a range of companies on corporate social responsibility efforts relating to the environment, public health and labor standards.

Michael’s strategic analysis builds on insights from his unique combination of expertise: battle-tested communications experience combined with a deep understanding of public opinion.  He has conducted hundreds of research projects in over 20 countries using his firm’s trademarked polling and focus group methodology, lauded by The New York Times, The Washington Post, The New Yorker, “60 Minutes,” “Nightline” and PBS’s “Frontline,” among others.

Additional clients that have sought Michael’s counsel include FedEx, Morgan Stanley, Procter & Gamble, UBS and The Walt Disney Company.  He has also worked with a wide range of industry associations including the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturer’s Association, the Personal Care Products Council, the Direct Marketing Association, and the New Orleans tourism industry.

Prior to being named CEO of LMSR, Michael founded MarketResearch.com, a leading market intelligence company where he served as president and remains on the Board.  Previously, he led a distinguished career as a corporate attorney with Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz.

Michael is a graduate of Columbia University Law School and the University of Pennsylvania.  He lives in New York City with his wife and two children.

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Larry Moscow

As Senior Vice President of Luntz, Maslansky Strategic Research, Larry manages all of the firm's operations in Washington. His experience and expertise span a range of communications disciplines, including strategic communications and media counsel, policy advocacy, employee communications and crisis communications. Larry has advised and worked with many industry-leading companies, trade associations, foundations and non-profits including  NBC Universal, Comcast, Anheuser-Busch, AARP, the Gates Foundation, the Motion Picture Association of America and the American Museum of Natural History .

A National Emmy award-winning television producer, Larry spent more than two decades as a television executive and news producer for CNBC, MSNBC, CNN and PBS prior to joining Luntz, Maslansky Strategic Research. Larry’s journalism career included a stint as Washington Bureau Chief for CNBC, directing coverage of Capitol Hill, the White House, and the regulatory agencies. As a business journalist, Larry has extensive experience covering topics ranging from corporate strategy, international trade, health care and the financial markets. While serving as part of the management team at CNBC, Larry led the redesign of the network’s financial news programming, including the creation of popular programs such as “Squawk Box” and “Power Lunch.”  Larry was also executive producer of PBS’s acclaimed “Wall Street Week with FORTUNE” and senior producer of MSNBC’s “The News with Brian Williams.”

 In 2004, Larry was appointed to the advisory board of INVESTOR EDUCATION, an organization designed to equip investors with the knowledge and skills necessary to make informed investment decisions. The non-profit entity was part of the "global settlement" between the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and 10 of the nation's top investment firms.

Larry and his wife Cindy live in Maryland with their children Brooke, Nikki and Jason.

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Lee Carter

Lee Carter is a Vice President at Luntz, Maslansky Strategic Research and brings with her more than ten years of experience in marketing, product development, business development, strategic communications and government relations. She has led projects that have won the Ogilvy Award, Webby Award, Financial Communications Society Portfolio Gold Award, and the Web Marketing Association Award. Before joining Luntz, Maslansky she was a Director of Marketing at MetLife and Vice President of Marketing for TD Waterhouse.

In her current role at LMSR she helps Fortune 500 corporations, industry associations, and non-profit organizations create messaging, decide what to say, how to say it and, most importantly, why it matters. She works with clients in the US, Europe, and Asia.

In 2008 Lee was nominated to be a National Committee on US-China Relations Young Leader. She has completed both her Series 6 and 63 licenses. A graduate of Furman University, Lee majored in History and Sociology. She also studied theater and architecture at the University of London. She lives in New York City and is working on her first book about communications.

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Maritza DiSciullo

Maritza DiSciullo is a Vice President at Luntz, Maslansky.  She has returned to research consulting after most recently serving as Vice President of Research at XM Radio.  In her position at XM Radio, Maritza had responsibility for all research conducted by XM, including brand development; ad effectiveness; new product concept testing; customer satisfaction; audience measurement; programming research and pricing/offer development. 

Maritza is a seasoned research professional with nearly 20 years experience on both the client and supplier sides of the research industry.   Prior to joining XM, Maritza spent time on both the client and supplier sides of the research industry, and has worked as a focus group moderator on both sides of the fence.  She is an experienced focus group moderator and was among the first generation of researchers to adapt/modify traditional qualitative techniques for the online and internet age.  In addition to traditional focus groups, she is an expert at employing online focus groups; online diaries; ethnography and internet bulletin boards. 

Quantitatively, Maritza has a thorough knowledge of advanced statistical techniques including those used for segmentation (K-means, factor analysis, etc); pricing & product development (conjoint, discrete choice, etc) customer satisfaction (regression, key driver analysis, etc) and brand/advertising testing (choice modeling; factor analysis; etc).   Maritza was one of the first to employ an advanced form of discrete choice modeling now commonly used in Europe, known as SIMALTO.   

She has been a frequent speaker at research industry conferences on these all of these topics and has been published in industry journals. Maritza’s educational background is in sociology, psychology and criminology.

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Keith Yazmir

Keith is a Vice President at Luntz, Maslansky Strategic Research. He brings nearly 20 years’ experience developing and implementing marketing and communications strategies in the corporate, governmental and non-profit arenas. Immediately before joining the company, he was in charge of a B-to-B communications campaign for the French Government. Prior to this, he ran the communications division of New York City’s official marketing agency, NYC &Company, where he played a key role in formulating crisis communications strategy following 9/11, served as official media spokesperson, oversaw the city’s television, print and radio ad campaigns and directed all public relations activities. Additionally, Keith has served in communications roles in the consumer magazine and international hospitality industries and worked in non-profit advocacy, public affairs and political campaigns. A native of New York City, he has traveled widely and lived in both Europe and Africa. He graduated from Oberlin College with a degree in government.

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Frank I. Luntz: Chairman Emeritus

Frank Luntz is one of the most honored communication professionals in America today. "Time Magazine" named him one of “50 of America’s most promising leaders aged 40 and under” and he is the “hottest pollster” in America according to the "Boston Globe." Frank was named one of the four “Top Research Minds” by Business Week and was the winner of the coveted Washington Post “Crystal Ball” award for being the most accurate pundit in 1992.Public Television's Bill Moyers had this to say about Frank: "He's a magician with a gift for the politics of words and what words best connect with the hearts and minds of the public." Said comedian Al Franken: "Asking Frank Luntz if he understands public opinion is like asking Julia Childs if she knows how to make a soufflé."

Dr. Luntz has written, supervised, and conducted more than 1,500 surveys, focus groups and dial sessions in more than two dozen countries and four continents over the past decade. Frank has become the go-to consultant when Fortune 100 companies need communication and language guidance: from General Motors to Federal Express; Disney to American Express; from AT&T to Pfizer; from Kroger supermarkets to McDonalds; and the entire soft drink and motion picture industry; as well as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; the National Association of Manufacturers and the Business Roundtable.

The Instant Response focus group technique pioneered by Frank was profiled on “60 Minutes.” He has also been a guest on “Meet the Press,” “Nightline,” “The Today Show,” The News Hour with Jim Lehrer,” “Good Morning America,” “Hannity and Colmes,” “Crossfire,” “Capital Gang,” “Montel Williams,” “Charlie Rose,” “Real Time with Bill Maher" and “Hardball with Chris Matthews.” He also served as a consultant to the award-winning NBC hit show “The West Wing”. More media outlets have turned to Dr. Luntz to understand the hopes and fears of Americans than to any other political pollster.

In the 2000 election cycle, Frank conducted almost two dozen focus groups for MSNBC and CNBC, including live sessions following each night of both party conventions and presidential debates. His reoccurring segments on MSNBC/CNBC, “100 Days, and 1000 Voices” won a coveted Emmy Award in 2001.  He was a primary night and election night commentator for “The News with Brian Williams” on MSNBC in 2000 and for “Hardball” in 2004. Frank was the first and most vociferous public opinion expert to predict the GOP's demise in the 2006 congressional elections. Frank has conducted focus group sessions for all three major television networks, two of the three cable news channels, "PBS" and the "BBC". He also conducted focus groups for the "Wall Street Journal," "Newsweek," "The New Yorker," and "U.S. News & World Report."

Frank is the author of the much acclaimed Words that Work: It's Not What You Say it's What People Hear.

The book delves deeply into the art and science of language creation, examining how the simple choice of words can change the course of history. It's one of those rare publishing crossover success stories-- owning space on top best seller list for political as well as business books.

When he is not consulting, Dr. Luntz can usually be found in front of a classroom. From 1989 until 1996, he was an Adjunct Professor at the University of Pennsylvania. He has also taught at Harvard and George Washington. Frank lectured at two dozen colleges and universities. An accomplished author, he has written op-eds for “The Wall Street Journal,” “The New York Times,” “The Los Angeles Times,” “The Financial Times,” and “The Washington Post.”

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Thayer Fox

Thayer Fox is a senior project director in LMSR’s New York office.  Focusing mainly on consumer behavior and attitudes, Thayer leads major projects on subjects ranging from energy, transportation, insurance, and healthcare, to entertainment, media, and technology consumption. He moderates groups, writes speeches and analyses, as well as conducts presentations and training seminars for various clients.  Before coming to LMSR in 2004, Thayer was a Legislative Correspondent in the United States House of Representatives in Washington, D.C.  Thayer graduated from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut with an honors degree in philosophy.  He also holds a Master Degree in Public Relations and Corporate Communications from NYU.  A native of Philadelphia, Thayer hopes very much that one day the Eagles will win the Super Bowl.

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Justin Altum

Justin Altum is a senior project director at Luntz, Maslansky Strategic Research. During his time at LMSR, he has completed projects and built messaging strategies for numerous Fortune 500 companies, professional sports franchises, as well as a range of non-profits and associations. Prior to joining LMSR, Justin was with the Corporate Executive Board, a leading best practice research firm in Washington, DC, where he worked with leading global companies. Justin is a graduate of the College of Charleston with a degree in political science. A native of Indianapolis, Justin currently lives in Alexandria, VA with his wife, Kate, and their golden retriever, Cooper.

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Mike Phifer

Mike Phifer is a Senior Project Director at Luntz, Maslansky Strategic Research.  Since joining LMSR in 2005, he has worked on various topic areas, including energy exploration, healthcare, education, Social Security and Medicare, as well as trade and manufacturing.  He has written or assisted on speeches for numerous US Senators and Congressmen as well as foreign Heads of State.  On the corporate side of the business, he has worked with industries ranging from technology and fast food, to financial services, credit cards, and alternative energy.  He has conducted survey and focus group work throughout the United States, well as in the UK, the Netherlands, Germany, and China.  

Mike’s primary interests are in language development and speech writing. Before LMSR, Mike was an analyst at the Corporate Executive Board, a "best practice" research and executive education firm in Washington, DC. A cum laude graduate of Vanderbilt University, he majored in political science and communication studies. Mike is a native of Paris, Tennessee, which is home of the World's Biggest Fish Fry.  Currently a resident of New York City, Mike recently spent a year living in the Middle East where he did freelance writing for a former Prime Minister and learned how to spot a good hummus.

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Patrick Buckley

Patrick is a Senior Project Director at Luntz, Maslansky.  Before joining the team, he worked as a writer and researcher at a New York-based non-profit organization.  Previous to that, he worked in the communications department of Gen. Wesley Clark’s presidential campaign and as a press aide for a production company in New York City.  Patrick has also worked as a freelance writer and editor.  He holds a fine arts degree in writing from Emerson College in Boston, MA.

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Nathan Avant

Nathan Avant is a Media Tech Associate at Luntz, Maslansky Strategic Research. He was born in Oklahoma City before being transplanted to the Baltimore area, where he received his Bachelors Degree in Electronic Media and Film from Towson Univeristy. In his spare time Nathan makes movies and wonders who would win in a fight between a ninja and a grizzly bear.

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Jenn Dahm

Jenn is an Senior Project Director on the LMSR team. Jenn has previously served as an intern, staff assistant, and Associate Project Director with LMSR. Born and raised in Belleville, Illinois, Jenn left the Midwest after completing her dual B.A. in English and Speech Communications from the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana in May 2007.

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Clint Sievers

Clint, an Associate Project Director at LMSR, graduated from Northwestern University in 2004 with a BS in Communication Studies and Political Science. Not knowing how to apply such a degree, he spent the next few years wandering various US cities, before finally settling down to get married and complete an MA in International Relations and Religion at Boston University in 2007. He now lives in Alexandria with his wife Jana and their hyper-active cat.

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Michelle Dushi

Michelle Dushi is an Associate Project Director at LMSR. Growing up in Brooklyn, attending Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, and now living in Manhattan, Michelle has always been a New York girl. After graduating from Vassar in May 2007 with a BA in Psychology and Jewish Studies, Michelle joins the Luntz, Maslansky team to put her social psych focus to good use. Her passions outside of market research include cooking, singing, and being a member of Funsized Studios.

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James Rich

James Rich is the Director of Recruiting and Logistics at LMSR. Originally from Salt Lake City, he got his BA in advertising from Brigham Young University then traveled the world. He loves creative problem solving and figuring out why people do what they do, and so, loves his job in research. His passions are studying people, any sport not involving skating, voice overs, and taking care of his wife, DesRae and two children.

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Jennifer Gilbert

Jennifer is an Senior Project Director in Luntz, Maslansky’s New York office. She brings with her six years of experience in marketing, human resources, and corporate communications in the travel and telecom industries.  Before joining Luntz, Maslanksy she was a Director of Human Resources for a hospitality company in Nashville, Tennessee.  Jennifer holds a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership and a Bachelor’s in Media Business from Vanderbilt University, and is a proud fan of their perennially disappointing football team.

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