Counsel Grows Opinion Research Team
Counsel continues to strengthen its Opinion Research practice with senior leadership growth and new strategic capacity — strengthening our position as a premier, full-service opinion research and insights partner for clients across sectors.
With the promotion of Merriah Michel to Vice President and the addition of Stephanie Coulter as Senior Consultant, Counsel’s in-house Opinion Research team now delivers end-to-end research and insights services, including stakeholder audits and member surveys, brand and message testing, and public opinion research — helping our clients make smart, data-driven decisions and design public affairs campaigns that truly move the needle.
Both team members hold Certified Analytics and Insights Professionals (CAIP) credentials, reflecting their technical excellence and commitment to the highest professional standard.
Merriah Michel — promoted to Vice President
Merriah is a seasoned research strategist with over a decade of experience leading public opinion and market research across government, nonprofit, and private sectors.
With a background in mathematics and a deep curiosity about people and policy, she specializes in transforming complex data into clear, compelling insights that drive strategic decisions.
Merriah’s career has spanned roles at leading research and public affairs firms, where she has designed and spearheaded major studies for Crown corporations, government departments, regulatory bodies, and national and provincial associations. Her technical expertise includes advanced analytics and segmentation, along with qualitative research and facilitation.
“Since joining Counsel, Merriah has expanded the depth and sophistication of our opinion research work, bringing a high level of analytical strength to each file,” said Logan Ross, Senior Vice President. “Her expertise and ability to translate data into pivotal, actionable insights continue to strengthen the value we deliver to clients.”
As a Certified Analytics and Insights Professional (CAIP) and a board member of CAIP Canada, Merriah is committed to upholding the highest standards of ethical and high-quality research practice.
Stephanie Coulter – joins as Senior Consultant
Stephanie Coulter, CAIP, is an experienced public opinion researcher with a deep skillset that includes traditional quantitative survey research, advanced data analytics, qualitative research, and media intelligence.
Stephanie’s experience includes reputation and brand studies, creative testing, member and stakeholder research, and public engagement using a broad array of methods like surveys, focus groups, online platforms, and secondary data analysis. Counted among Stephanie’s past clients are many federal and provincial government departments and agencies, advocacy groups, labour unions, and private sector organizations across a range of sectors and subject matter areas.
“Stephanie’s record of delivering high-quality research for clients across governments, advocacy organizations, labour unions, and the private sector speaks to the depth of her expertise,” said Logan Ross, Senior Vice President. “Her analytical approach and commitment to the highest professional standards ensure our research delivers insights clients can confidently act on.”
With a work history that includes some of Canada’s most respected opinion research firms, Stephanie is passionate about designing research methodologies that truly engage target groups of interest, and she is an expert at interpreting research findings into rich, actionable insights for clients.
Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Arts, Highest Honours in Political Science from Carleton University, and she is a Certified Analytics and Insights Professional (CAIP).
Find out more about Counsel’s integrated communications, government relations, and opinion research offerings here.