Jude Olinger
The Olinger Group Founder and CEO Jude Olinger began his career in market research nearly 20 years ago. He now leads a research firm that’s on the cutting edge of technological innovations in the industry. Jude started administering surveys during his university studies as part-time job. He rose up the ranks to manage a call center while still in school. After graduating with a B.S. in Business Administration from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Jude continued his career path in market research, becoming Director of Corporate Accounts for a a regional market research firm. In 1994, he moved to New Orleans to found The Olinger Group. “I started the business to leverage what I saw was happening with technology and how it was changing the industry,’ says Jude.
The company began small, operating out of the first floor of an old Victorian mansion on an oak-lined boulevard. With just a handful of employees, the company started to grow by beginning relationships with some clients – some of whom are still doing business with The Olinger Group today. Jude says the early success of the company can be attributed to accurately interpreting the needs of clients. “We did a really good job of listening to the client and understanding their business problems,” says Olinger.
Quick growth allowed the company to move to more spacious offices in the Mid-City area of New Orleans. Unfortunately, their office was extensively flooded with four feet of water after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Within days, Jude and his employees set up temporary offices and the company continued normal operations and servicing clients. Despite the many difficulties caused by the disaster, The Olinger Group continued to meet all client deadlines. The firm moved into its current offices in an office tower on Poydras Street – in the heart of New Orleans’ Central Business District – after Katrina, determined to rebuild the city Jude calls home.
Due to this experience, Jude has become a sought-after speaker on disaster recovery efforts and business continuity. “Stay focused on the tasks that you have to accomplish to recover. Prioritize tasks and act upon them immediately. Time, or rather lack of time, is your enemy. ,” is the advice Jude gives on how to recover from any business emergency. He’s spoken at many national conferences on the topic.
Jude is active in re-building the entrepreneurial community in New Orleans. He has served as president of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) New Orleans chapter and currently serves as Global Director for its Accelerator Program. Jude is also a leader in the national market research industry. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Council of American Survey Research Organizations (CASRO) and is a member of the American Marketing Association (AMA), Council of Marketing and Opinion Research (CMOR), and Marketing Research Association (MRA). Jude also is a certified focus group moderator and stays active in The Olinger Group’s research projects.
Jude lives in New Orleans with his wife and young daughter. He’s passionate about life in New Orleans, especially enjoying the region’s famous cuisine. Jude enjoys meeting with clients face-to-face, and brings a positive energy to all of The Olinger Group’s operations. “I’m proud of our reputation with our clients and in our industry,” says Jude. “What we do has a greater good. We’re helping companies and organizations deliver what their customers want and I’m proud of that.”