Texas Public Policy Specialist Buys, Plans Rapid Growth

Texas-based telephone data collection specialist ReconMR has acquired acquired Voter Consumer Research Houston (VCR Houston), boosting its strength in political and public policy research.

Recon, headquartered in San Marcos, was officially launched in 2012 as a full service market research firm but in the past year has focused in on its core activity of data collection. CEO Lyle Durbin describes the acquisition of VCR as 'truly a coming together of equals', explaining: 'VCR and ReconMR have a history of collaboration and excellent reputations for providing high-quality, accurate telephone surveying. This is a great opportunity to be able to combine resources to elevate ReconMR to an elite level of public opinion research companies.'

CMO Sanjay Vrudhula says the aim is 'to create an organization that can successfully service entities with large-scale survey research needs like Fortune 1000 companies, university systems and state and federal governments' - and adds that the combined company will 'more aggressively target institutions that expect scientific and accurate representation of public opinion on a national and international scale.'

Integration of the two operations is ongoing and will give ReconMR 300 US-based CATI stations. Combined revenue is projected as $7m in 2015 and approaching $9m in 2016. Plans for the next twelve months include hiring 300 more telephone interviewers for the San Marcos, Houston, and College Station locations, bringing headcount to more than 700; and the opening of an additional survey research center for the San Antonio market.

Web site: www.reconmr.com .

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.