Alison Bramer, MSW

As a senior consultant on the Research and Insights team, Alison Bramer leverages her extensive experience and knowledge to lead McKinley’s research efforts. Her work is concentrated on talent management and developing solutions to streamline processes and systems with the ultimate goal of enhancing the quality of work for our clients. Since joining McKinley in 2013, she has helped the research department grow from a two-person team to a fully-developed research operation.

In addition to her operations focus, Alison leads the design and implementation of research projects and manages the qualitative research process to facilitate communication between interviewers and project leads. Her background in association management and governance enables her to bring a keen understanding of current issues and trends in the association industry to her work with McKinley’s clientele. Her involvement in associations as a member, an employee, a volunteer leader and outside consultant gives her a broader perspective and fuels an all-encompassing approach while developing and implementing research projects.

Prior to joining McKinley, Alison assisted in the start-up of a consulting firm where she was instrumental in developing the business model and structure of the firm. Before that, she interned at the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) where she worked with the membership and marketing, chapter services and professional development departments while cultivating her interest in the association industry. Alison expanded her involvement by serving on the NASW National Board of Directors and the NASW DC Chapter Board of Directors. She also served on the Board of Directors for the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the Insights Association (formerly the Marketing Research Association).

Alison holds a Master of Social Work degree from The University of Alabama and is a firm believer that facilitating a focus group requires the same skills as running a group therapy session. She credits the holistic approach of social work for her ability to visualize the big picture. This vantage point empowers her empathy and gives her a deeper understanding of the perceptions of research participants, McKinley’s clients and her team members. When she’s not in the office, Alison frequently partakes in DC’s incredible live music scene and can most often be found front-and-center at her favorite venues.