Intelligence, Personality, & Talent.
You’ll be glad you’re working with a Linker.
Get to Know Us
Linkers are some of the brightest people you’ll ever meet.
They’re a group of smart, collaborative people who love a challenge and have the independence to meet client needs in ways big and small. After all, empowering people is the only means to smarter research and better service.
Amanda Johnson
Hometown
Boca Raton, FL
Education
University of Georgia (MMR)
University of Central Florida (BS in Psychology, Minor in Marketing)
Thinks
Gratitude is the best attitude
What you do
Distill insights, know the data
What makes you a good researcher
Incessant need to have Plan A, B, and C
Has been known to
Say “just kidding” before a joke can land
Amani Robinson
Hometown
Lawrenceville, GA
Education
Wake Forest University (BS in Business & Enterprise Management, Concentration in Marketing)
Passionate about
Travel, Cooking, TikToks, and True Crime Docs
What makes you a good researcher
I bring positivity to everything I do and always work hard to get the job done!
Favorite movie
The second half of Titanic…where all the drama happens!
What’s at the top of your bucket list?
Visit all 50 US states
Anna Morten
Hometown
Memphis, TN
Education
Wake Forest University (BA in Psychology, Minor in Journalism)
Thinks
Anything worth doing is worth doing right
Has been known to
Find pizza at any late-night gathering
Guilty pleasure
Arby’s curly fries
Most interesting/unique research topic
Creating a migraine “immersion experience” for clients to walk in the patient’s shoes – complete with drunk goggles, sirens, and nausea-inducing smelling salts
Brian Waters
Hometown
Jacksonville, FL
Education
Chattahoochee Tech
Passionate about
College football, cars, boats, camping, and hiking
Has been known to
Eat my weight in salsa
Favorite quote
“Those who think they can and those who think they can’t are both usually right.”
What’s at the top of your bucket list?
Stay in an overwater bungalow in Bora Bora
Cameron Baird
Hometown
Raleigh, NC
Education
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (BA in Economics and Public Policy, minor in Spanish)
Thinks
There is no such thing as too many throw pillows!
Has been known to
Order Mac & Cheese whenever it is on a menu
Guilty pleasure
Eating excessive amounts of raw cookie dough
Favorite vacation destination
Topsail Beach, NC
Caroline Alessandro
Hometown
Winter Park, FL
Education
University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill (BA in Business Journalism & Psychology)
Thinks
Online shopping is a form of therapy
What makes you a good researcher
Curiosity and attention to detail
Guilty pleasure
A $7 latte
Favorite thing about TLG
The collaborative environment, growth mindset, and people who genuninely want the best for each other
Celestine Imperial
Hometown
Tampa, FL
Education
University of South Florida (BS in Integrated Public Relations and Advertising)
Thinks
You are exactly where you should be at any given point in time
What makes you a good researcher
I love to understand people through connections and questions!
Top of your bucket list
Go to Cannes Film Festival
Favorite thing about TLG
Its emphasis on growth, inclusion, and always staying curious
Courtney Turner
Hometown
Stockbridge, GA
Education
University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill (BA in Global Health; MPH in Health Behavior)
Has been known to
Fall asleep before the plane takes off
Favorite book
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
Thinks
Most meals should include potatoes in some form
Top of your bucket list
Go to pastry school
Dalton Buckley
Hometown
Holly Springs, NC
Education
North Carolina State University (BS in Business Administration, Concentration in Marketing)
Has been known to
Listen exclusively to Zach Bryan on road trips
Favorite movie
Good Will Hunting
What makes you a good researcher?
I am never scared to ask questions and find the deeper meanings
Favorite Quote
“To me there are three things everyone should do every day. Number one is laugh. Number two is think — spend some time in thought. Number three, you should have your emotions move you to tears. If you laugh, think and cry, that’s a heck of a day.” – Jim Valvano
D.L. Burrell
Hometown
Hendersonville, NC
Education
North Carolina State University (BA)
Western Carolina University (MA)
What you do
Fabricate, aggregate, tabulate, evaluate, propogate
Has been known to
Play prog metal music a SMIDGE too loud. Or Broadway showtunes, either one.
Guilty pleasure
Pro-wrestling/MMA podcasts
Favorite thing about TLG
Having experienced other work environments, I really appreciate the people, the culture, and how hard we work for each other
Erik McDonald
Education
University of Texas – Arlington (BS in Information Systems)
What you do
Make data more accessible and understandable.
Passionate about
Reef aquariums…large reef aquariums
What makes you good at your job
I build cutting edge automation into data tools which leads to cost savings over the long term.
Favorite Quote
“Look, it’s not in my nature to be mysterious. But I can’t talk about it and I can’t talk about why.” – Rusty Ryan, Ocean’s Twelve
Fantasia Williams
Hometown
Atlanta, GA
Education
University of Georgia (BBA Management Information Systems)
Guilty pleasure
The Real Housewives Franchise
Favorite thing about TLG
I love how divested the company is in traditional hierarchical structure. At TLG everyone is empowered to lead.
Life motto
What would Beyonce do?
Has been known to
Travel to a country just for the food
Gia Peeples
Hometown
Atlanta, GA
Education
Kennesaw State University (BA Communication)
Passionate about
Helping others by being a connector, live music, and traveling
Has been known to
Eat olives straight out of the jar
Favorite book
The Law of Divine Compensation by Marianne Williamson
Favorite thing about TLG
The culture! There is little ego here, everyone is intelligent, progressive, and truly values a learning environment. They want to see and help everyone around them grow.
Jase Bumgardner
Hometown
Laurinburg, NC
Education
University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill (BS in Journalism & Mass Communication)
Thinks
Be Kind, Be Brave, Be Yourself
What makes you a good researcher
Working backwards to create a decision advantage
Most interesting research topic
Anything involving the obesity epidemic – why it’s happening, how to drug it, how to beat it
Favorite thing about TLG
Everything
Jessica Metcalf
Hometown
Atlanta, GA
Education
Georgia State University (BS in Mathmatics, Minor in Theater)
Kennesaw State University (MBA)
Thinks
You should never be too proud to laugh at yourself; life’s too short to be so serious all the time
What you do
Simplify complex analyses / numerical insights
Has been known to
Take vacation when a video game I’ve been waiting to drop is first released
What’s your favorite Link Group memory?
Office-wide wine tastings in the Camrud wine cellar
Joi Freeman
Hometown
Wake Forest, NC
Education
Wake Forest University (BA in Economics, Minors in Psychology & Statistics)
Thinks
Vulnerabilty is the core of human connection
Has been known to
Wear a sweater when it’s 75 degrees
Favorite quote
“Be somebody who makes everybody feel like a somebody” – Kid President
Favorite thing about TLG
The culture is unbeatable. We are the definition of work hard, play hard.
Kathrine Soliman
Hometown
Charlotte, NC
Education
University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill (BSBA, BA in Economics)
What makes you a good researcher?
I’m a good mix of left- and right-brained. I love listening to/communicating with people, but also enjoy analyzing and finding patterns in data.
Guilty pleasure
Mindlessly eating kettle jalapeño chips or Ben & Jerry’s Cherry Garcia
Favorite quote
“Women belong in all places where decisions are being made.” – RBG
Favorite thing about TLG
The people and the culture! I’m encouraged to learn and grow with the support of Linkers every step of the way.
Katie Kennihan
Hometown
Chapel Hill, NC
Education
University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill (BSBA)
Passionate about
Dogs, traveling to new places, British reality TV
What makes you a good researcher
I never get tired of learning new things or meeting new people
Has been known to
FaceTime my family’s dogs regularly
Guilty pleasure
Pineapple on pizza
Lara Case
Hometown
Ashland City, TN
Education
Trinity University (BS Business Administration)
Wake Forest University (MS in Business Analytics)
Favorite book
Becoming by Michelle Obama
What’s at the top of your bucket list
Machu Picchu and Bora Bora
Favorite thing about TLG
Feeling supported and respected by all my colleagues!
Has been known to
Monogram too many items
Lynn Young
Hometown
Atlanta, GA
Education
Georgia State
Thinks
Travel is an investment in yourself
Guilty pleasure
FAIL videos (people falling, etc.)
Favorite quote
“Brevity is the soul of wit.” – Hamlet
Favorite movie
Anything Will Ferrell and Jaws
What’s at the top of your bucket list?
To have a hobby farm!
Mason Atwell
Hometown
Raleigh, NC
Education
University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill (BA in Business Journalism)
Passionate about
Oysters on the half shell
What makes you a good researcher?
Attention to detail and personability
Favorite quote
“Sometimes it is the people no one imagines anything of who do the things no one can imagine.” – Alan Turing
Favorite movie
Inception
Matt Kulasevig
Hometown
Boca Raton, FL
Education
Florida Atlantic University (BS in Business Management)
Passionate about
Animation, model kits, and my dog
What makes you good at your job
I cover a wide array of projects and take what I learn to the next project
Has been known to
Go out to buy lunch even though I packed one
What’s at the top of your bucket list?
Visit Japan to see the life-size Gundams
Michelle Lester
Hometown
Chattanooga, TN
Education
UGA (BBA, MMR)
Thinks
The only constant in life is change
Passionate about
Food, neuroscience, and fantasy football
Has been known to
Say what everyone else is thinking
What is your “at bat” song?
Short Skirt, Long Jacket by Cake
Natalie Camrud
Hometown
Atlanta, GA
Education
Scripps College (BA)
Passionate about
Reading, being outdoors, memorizing restaurant menus beforehand, and naps
Has been known to
Dance so hard that my silent disco headphones fly off
Favorite quote
“Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it” – Eckhart Tolle
What’s at the top of your bucket list?
Go canyoneering at Zion National Park
Nick Rowland
Hometown
Atlanta, GA
Education
Cornell University (BS)
Thinks
A lot about everything
What you do
Makes the improbable reality
Passionate about
My children
Favorite book
The Count of Monte Cristo, Othello, and The Brother Karamazov
Olivia Katsoudas
Hometown
Burlington, NC
Education
University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill (BS in Statistics and Analytics, BS in Psychology, Data Science Minor)
What you do (in 5 words or less)
Learn and grow every day
Favorite book
The Shining
Favorite quote
Everything that is meant for you is on its way
Top of your bucket list
Speak fluent Greek
Phereby Kersh
Hometown
Chapel Hill, NC
Education
Wake Forest University (BA in Psychology)
Passionate About
Spotify playlists, good food, bookstores, and walking fast
Guilty Pleasure
Love Island (but only the UK version)
Has been known to
Buy a new book at any chance even when I have a stack of unread ones on my nightstand
Favorite Quote
“Instructions for living a life. Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.” – Mary Oliver
Raja Gupta
Hometown
Birmingham, AL
Education
University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill (BSBA)
Duke University (MBA)
Thinks
Do what you love and success will follow
What you do
Support clients and colleagues in their growth
Has been known to
Be a little extra when it comes to making cocktails
What’s your superpower?
Ordering just the right amount of food at big a group dinner
Sara Smith
Hometown
Louisville, KY
Education
University of Kentucky (BA in Mathematics)
Wake Forest University (MSBA)
Thinks
Ice cream for breakfast is the best way to start your day
What makes you a good researcher
I am always very curious. I strive to constantly learn more and ask the why behind every answer.
What’s at the top of your bucket list?
Backpack through Asia
Favorite thing about TLG
The candy drawer. Oh, and the love, support, and laughter of Linkers that fills the TLG offices.
Saritha Venkataram
Hometown
Tampa, FL
Education
Wake Forest University (BA in Economics)
Guilty pleasure
Pixar short films
Favorite quote
“What we do is more important than what we say or what we believe” – Bell Hooks
What’s at the top of your bucket list?
Visiting all the national parks!
What makes you a good researcher?
Being a creative and curious problem solver!
Steve Barnard
Hometown
Deland, FL
Education
University of Florida (BS)
University of Tennessee (PhD)
Thinks
Life is your oyster!
What you do
Help build and implement best practices
Passionate about
Not getting too out of shape, building/fixing things, my family
Guilty pleasure
Candy Crush
Contact Us
Ready to talk to the right researcher?
We typically work directly with end-clients! Tell us more about you and the work you’re looking to do, and we’ll have the Linker with the right expertise reach out directly. There’s no sales team at The Link Group, so you’ll get direct & personal attention from a researcher right away, and you can see for yourself what smarter research and better service feels like.