Michael Echols has joined Omega Group, Haverford, Pa., as executive vice president, consulting services. Nancy Kauzor Cave has joined as vice president, client services. Both Echols and Cave will be involved in the consulting and research activities at the firm.
Palace Brands Co., Farmington, Conn., has appointed Michael Ginley marketing manager for Finlandia Vodka
Edwin Slaughter has been named director of ParkwoodResearch Associates, Allentown, Pa., an independent subsidiary of Lieberman-Appalucci. In his new post, Slaughter will be responsible for the design, implementation and evaluation of research studies, and will provide analysis and marketing recommendations.
Louis Turner has joined Minneapolis-based Custom Research Inc., as account manager. He will be handling new products research business.
Jerry Ohlsten has been appointed director of marketing at Simmons Market Research Bureau, New York. He will be responsible for all marketing and public relations for Simmons.
Stephanie Bendel has joined Seattle-based Marketing Advertising Communications Specialists as qualitative research manager. She is responsible for the day-to-day supervision and management of qualitative research projects, including booking and recruiting and the supervision of the facility coordinator and recruiting supervisor. Kris Lau has been promoted to communications manager. In her new post, she is in charge of all marketing and public relations efforts for the firm.
George Garrick has been named president and CEO of IRI North America, a business unit of Chicago-based Information Resources Inc. 's various information services. Garrick has been president and CEO of Nielsen Marketing Research North America, a unit of the Dun & Bradstreet Corp.
Howard Bendet has been appointed director of market research at Western Union Financial Services Inc., Upper Saddle River, N.J.
Ryan Wahlstrom, a marketing research consultant and anthropologist with Omaha-based Three Cedars, Inc. has been named co-winner of the 1993 Praxis Award, a national competition recognizing excellence in anthropology. Wahlstrom is being recognized for his outstanding contribution to a three-year project that combined anthropology and marketing. The project helped increase the incomes of Native American craftmakers in the Southwest by generating sales and developing new markets for their craft items. Wahlstrom conducted the marketing analysis for the project, and made recommendations.
Joseph Erchul has been named data processing supervisor at Rockwood Research Corp., St. Paul, Minn. His responsibilities include supervising Rockwood' s staff of research spec writers and data entry personnel.
David Freed has been appointed senior vice president, division manager, and Marie Low has been named vice president, business development, for R.L. Polk & Co.'s Polk Direct Group, Taylor, Mich. Freed is responsible for the group's database services, list services and software services businesses. Low is responsible for new business development, focusing on production services, fundraising, political and home-improvement vertical markets. She also will be creating marketing strategy for new clients and prospects, developing new marketing initiatives for existing clients, coaching new sales associates and investigating new markets.
Randall Richardson has been appointed executive vice president of sales/marketing at Customer Insight Co. Inc., Englewood, Colo. Richardson is a founder of the firm, and the original designer of the Customer Insight System. His primary responsibilities in his new position are leading the sales/marketing department.