George A. Wachtel | President
Mr. Wachtel was educated at Syracuse, Columbia and Cornell Universities with degrees in psychology (BA) and finance (MBA), and doctoral studies in applied economics and public policy. He served as Director of Research for The League of American Theatres and Producers for 18 years, where he was the first to calculate and popularize the notion that more people attend Broadway than all New York sports teams combined. He also spearheaded economic impact research for the Broadway Theatre industry resulting in public awareness of its role – through cultural tourism – as an economic engine for New York City. In 1996, he formed Audience Research & Analysis.
An arts advocate, George contributed research for the President’s (Clinton) Committee on Arts and Humanities, and has testified in both Houses of Congress. A frequent speaker at industry conferences, he led or participated on panels at the 2009 Council of Jewish Museums Conference, 2008 American Association of Museums conference, 2007 National Arts Marketing Conference, and 2006 National Arts Reach Marketing Conference. George has guest lectured at Brooklyn College, City College of New York, Columbia University Graduate School of the Arts and Teacher’s College, and New York University Graduate Arts Program. He is a member of the American Association of Museums and Government Affairs Professionals.
Aline Chatmajian | Principal
Ms. Chatmajian brings experience as an economic analyst and market segmentation specialist to ARA. She holds a BA from Fordham University and a master’s degree in economics from NYU. Prior to joining ARA, Ms. Chatmajian was a consultant at Monitor Company, a strategic management-consulting firm for Fortune 200 companies. At ARA, Ms. Chatmajian has worked extensively on several museum expansion projects including The Museum of Modern Art, The Newark Museum Signature Project, Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth. She has been extensively involved in the redevelopment of Lower Manhattan through our relationship with the Alliance for Downtown New York on residential, retail, and commercial tenants and hotel studies. Ms. Chatmajian is conversant in French, Armenian, and Arabic.
Thomas J. Spitznas | Chief Economist
An expert in micro, regional, industry, fiscal, and economic impact analysis, Mr. Spitznas was a member of the Economic Advisory Board of the New York City Council Finance Division, Advisory Committee to the Regional Economic Forecast of the Port Authority of NY & NJ, the Economists’ Forum of the NYU Real Estate Institute, and the Board of the New York Area Data Council. He was also a member of the American Economic Association, and the New York State Network for Economic Research. Mr. Spitznas headed Chemical Bank’s (now JP Morgan Chase) Regional Economics Unit. For ARA, he has conducted economic impact analyses for the Museum of Modern Art, the New York Nightlife Association, Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone, New Haven Arts Council, Tribeca Film Festival, Newark Museum, and Wildlife Conservation Society (Bronx Zoo).
Barbara O’Connor | Qualitative Specialist
Ms. O’Connor is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania with an M.B.A from Northeastern University. She conducted ARA’s focus groups for the Guggenheim, MoMA, The Newark Museum, Kimbell Art Museum, The Museum of Jewish Heritage, Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History, Intrepid Sea Air Museum, Rubin Museum of Art, Manhattan Theatre Club and the 92nd Street Y. Barbara has also conducted focus groups and IDIs (individual depth interviews) for ARA’s tourism clients such as the Empire State Building Observatory and Disney Theatrical Productions. Barbara is Chairperson of the Northeast Chapter of the Qualitative Research Consultants Association.
Elizabeth Maas | Data Processing
Ms. Maas holds a BS degree from Polytechnic University in Life Sciences and has completed graduate work in statistics. She worked with Mr. Wachtel at the League of American Theatres and Producers before joining him at ARA. Ms. Maas is responsible for all data entry and programming for online surveys.