About Us

Bethany Rutledge, M.A.
Bethany Rutledge graduated with a Masters in Communications from the University of Arkansas. There, she specialized in Organizational Communication, researching companies’ organizational structures to help them better understand intercultural communication practices that promote unity within a multi-level company. After graduation Bethany joined a CPG company in Northwest Arkansas where she was an Account Specialist of Operations and Processes for the Walmart account. While there, she helped them lead the way for sustainable packaging in the Domestics Department at Walmart. Bethany is currently a project manager for qualitative and quantitative research at CORE4. Her responsibilities include designing projects, business development, and client management.

Erin Duvall
Erin Duvall manages CORE4's LiveBranch communities to provide insights to clients using online tools. Prior to joining CORE4, Erin worked to provide research, public relations, and communications services to a variety of organizations in the Midwest and Kansas City Metro areas. Erin holds a degree in Communications and Public Relations and is certified by the Burke Marketing Institute as a Qualitative Researcher. While at CORE4, she has led both qualitative and quantitative research and has over eight years of experience in the field.

Kim West, R.D.
As a trained and certified qualitative researcher, Kim West leads CORE4's qualitative research design. She creates and implements methodologies tailored to meet each client's needs. Kim has spent nearly 25 years working in corporate marketing and management. Fifteen of those years were with Procter & Gamble in Cincinnati, Ohio, seven years were in private practice, and for the last three years, she has served as a partner with CORE4 Research. Kim is also a frequently sought-out speaker and teacher for women's ministries, conferences, and retreats. Kim is certified by the Burke Marketing Institute as a Qualitative Researcher and is also a Registered Dietitian.

Natalie Costner
Natalie Costner was first exposed to retail marketing through her education from the Walton College of Business, with undergraduate degrees in Accounting and Marketing Management as well as an MBA. Following graduation, she began a career in shopper marketing, developing over eight years of experience in quantitative and qualitative research as well as promotional and strategic brand planning. Natalie is currently a project manager with CORE4 overseeing research projects from design through to execution. She also manages marketing and PR for CORE4.

Sommer Huff
Sommer Huff is CORE4’s qualitative project manager with over eight years of experience. After completing a degree in Marketing Management from the Walton College of Business, Sommer found her passion in consumer behavior working in Account Planning and Strategy. At CORE4 Research, Sommer seeks to dive deeper into the shopper’s mindset, dissecting potential purchase barriers, and ultimately identifying actionable insights for clients. Sommer’s experience varies from qualitative research design and execution, in-store shop-alongs, focus group facilitation, and quantitative methodologies. The many companies and brands Sommer has worked with include Procter & Gamble, Sam’s Club, Johnson & Johnson, Nestle, and Novartis.

Suzanne Clark
Suzanne Clark is the operations manager for our Livebranch communities. Suzanne graduated from the University of Arkansas with a degree in Interior Design. After graduation, Suzanne worked several years in project management. Suzanne specialized in organizing and managing store layouts and designing optimal merchandising spaces. Suzanne plans to pursue her MBA within the next few years.

Todd Shields, Ph. D.
Dr. Todd Shields is CORE4's quantitative research expert and is an accomplished professor and researcher. With over eighteen years of experience, Todd ensures that our research designs and quantitative analyses are statistically rigorous and scientifically accurate. Todd joined the faculty at the University of Arkansas in 1994 and became a full professor in 2005. He earned his Ph.D. in Political Science at the University of Kentucky in Lexington in 1994, with an emphasis in survey research methodology and applied statistics. In the summer of 2006, he completed the Management Development Program at Harvard University. He has extensive training in survey research methods, and he regularly teaches courses in basic statistical analysis, advanced regression models, limited dependent variable models, discrete choice, multilevel modeling, and structural equation modeling.

Whitney Linebaugh
Whitney Linebaugh is a research analyst for CORE4. Whitney currently attends the University of Arkansas and is pursuing degrees in Accounting and Human Resource Management with a minor in Marketing. After graduation, Whitney will join the CORE4 team full-time as a project manager working to design projects, as well as assist with business development and client management. Prior to joining CORE4, Whitney worked for two Fortune 500 companies generating job analyses, managing inventory costs, and participating in new product development.