Lorene Kennard, Neighbor

I help businesses make better decisions. I am the owner of Walnut Avenue Research, a provider of professional research and consulting services. I lived on Walnut Avenue in Downers Grove when I started my business. I have been a member of the Downers Grove Chamber of Commerce since 2008. I served on the Friends of the Downers Grove Library Board of Directors from 2003 to 2006. I also served on Boards of Directors in two Downers Grove condominium Associations.

Here is a sampling of types of recent Walnut Avenue Research projects.

I work with businesses to find and analyze information on competitors and potential clients to determine appropriate marketing plans.

I work with entrepreneurs and new business owners in the start-up phase to determine market opportunities and direction and what types of products their new companies will offer. <br> <br> I work with companies and non-profits to analyze where they are being mentioned in the media and how to increase the number and quality of media mentions. We also monitor where prospective clients and competitors are being mentioned in the media.

I work with organizations looking for vendors to provide or implement services by identifying appropriate vendors and providing a thorough review of each of their products and services.

After more than 20 years of experience in the financial services, insurance and information industries with MetLife and Morningstar, I opened Walnut Avenue Research to provide consulting and research services to a wider market. I am the 2011 President of the Illinois chapter of Special Libraries Association, having served on chapter committees and the Board of Directors for ten years. I am also the chair of Librarian Caucus of the Society for American Baseball Research. 

I have a master’s degree in Library and Information Science from the University of South Carolina. My undergraduate degree from Illinois Stateis in Communications and English.

You can find me on Twitter &#64;walnutresearch and Facebook under Walnut Avenue Research. You can also connect with me on LinkedIn.