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 panels at the 2011 and 2008 American Association of Museum Conferences, 2009 Council of Jewish 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.
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, National Museum of American Jewish History, 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.