Our Team

Natalie Rettberg joined the team in early 2016, bringing over 13 years of experience in the marketing research industry. She previously led project management teams in Chicago and served as president of a top-rated marketing research facility in San Francisco. Natalie holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Arizona State University and a Master of Arts in International Relations from IBEI in Barcelona.

Known for her dedication to client service, Natalie is passionate about delivering exceptional experiences and building strong, lasting relationships. Her leadership has been instrumental in growing the firm while maintaining its family-oriented spirit. She has also enhanced operational efficiency by implementing streamlined internal systems that support the team’s success.

Outside of work, Natalie enjoys traveling the world, reading, and hiking. Whether in the office or outdoors, she brings curiosity, focus, and heart to everything she does, making her an invaluable part of the team.

Jonathan Skidmore brings deep cross-industry experience spanning politics, technology, and finance, with a career focused on improving core systems to enhance the customer experience. As Vice President of Nelson Recruiting, he now leads sales and operations, playing a key role in the company’s ongoing growth and innovation. Jonathan is passionate about evolving Nelson’s strong foundation in consumer research recruiting into a best-in-class market research service.

In 2019, he spearheaded the creation of Nelson’s data division, building a secure, centralized database and improving data collection systems. His leadership helped streamline recruiting, reducing both time and cost. Today, Nelson Recruiting maintains a safeguarded database of more than 1.5 million active users.

Jonathan resides in Savage, Minnesota. Outside of work, he enjoys nature walks with his dog, Carribou, and reading both fiction and nonfiction. He is a proud University of Wisconsin–Madison graduate, holding a B.A. in Economics and cheering on his fellow Badgers.

Melissa Webster serves as Director of Project Management, where she leads project operations, oversees Project Management training initiatives, and helps develop high-performing teams. She was instrumental in spearheading the growth of the Network Division, expanding the organization’s capabilities and strengthening operational excellence.

With extensive experience in market research, recruitment, customer service, project management, and data analysis, Melissa is known for her strong communication skills, exceptional organization, and collaborative leadership style. She excels at managing fast-paced, quick-turnaround studies while supporting clients with specialized recruitment needs and delivering high-quality project outcomes.

Melissa holds a Bachelor of Science in Education with an emphasis in Mathematics from Grand Canyon University. Her analytical mindset, adaptability, and dedication to client success have made her a trusted leader and valued resource for both clients and colleagues.

Outside of her professional accomplishments, Melissa is a proud military spouse of 18 years and devoted mother of two daughters. She enjoys traveling, reading, and spending quality time with her family. Her positivity, dedication, and genuine investment in the success of others continue to make a lasting impact on those around her.

Ashley Jones is the Director of Project Management at Nelson Recruiting, where she leads teams, drives successful project execution, and helps deliver exceptional results for clients. Her ability to build strong relationships, foster collaboration, and keep projects moving forward has made her a trusted leader within the organization.

Having grown within the company, Ashley brings a unique perspective shaped by experience across multiple roles, including recruiter, project manager, Assistant Director of Project Management, and Director of Recruiter Training. With more than 20 years of industry experience, she understands every stage of the recruiting and project management process, allowing her to effectively support both clients and team members.

Ashley is passionate about developing talent and creating opportunities for others to succeed. She is known for her approachable leadership style, commitment to continuous improvement, and dedication to building a positive, supportive culture where people can thrive.

A Los Angeles native, Ashley has lived in Hawaii, Florida, and Arkansas with her husband, a U.S. Coast Guard veteran, and their two sons. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her family, hiking, fishing, boating, and camping. She also loves gardening, caring for her animals, and creating a welcoming home filled with family, friends, and laughter.

Nicholas Nelson, a third-generation market researcher, has been with the company for nearly a decade. Immersed in the industry from a young age, Nicholas has developed expertise in data analysis, participant recruitment, project management, client relations, and business development. His strong work ethic, leadership mentality, and natural charisma have made him a driving force within the team.

Passionate about the future of market research, Nicholas is excited about how advancing technology and virtual experiences will continue to shape the industry. He’s committed to evolving alongside it, always seeking innovative ways to improve processes and deliver outstanding results.

When he’s not working, Nicholas enjoys exploring Los Angeles’ vibrant arts scene, regularly attending musical and theatrical performances. He also finds balance and relaxation surfing the local beaches of Malibu. Whether at his desk or on the waves, Nicholas brings energy, creativity, and vision to everything he does.

Elodie Barnes has been with Nelson Recruiting since 2020, bringing extensive experience in business, marketing, and media research. A proud alumna of California State University, Northridge, Elodie holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electronic Media Management, which set the foundation for her dynamic career.

In her current role, Elodie leads comprehensive market research initiatives, overseeing data collection, maintaining rigorous quality control, and delivering actionable insights to clients. She has a particular passion for political focus groups and a keen eye for identifying emerging trends in current events and politics.

A Los Angeles native with deep French roots, Elodie balances her professional accomplishments with a strong commitment to her family and community. She is married to a Navy veteran and is a proud mother of three children. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling the world and actively volunteers in her local community, frequently chairing events and supporting various causes.

Sarah Peralta made a career shift after COVID, moving into market research as a recruiter. Prior to that, she worked in ABA therapy for children on the autism spectrum and earned a Bachelor of Science in Public Health from Brigham Young University–Idaho. Now, she is excited to take on the next challenge as a project manager on our team. Her background in client-facing, detail-oriented work has prepared her well for the fast pace and complexity of research operations.

Born and raised in the San Fernando Valley, where she still resides, Sarah is a proud wife and mother of three. Her family is the center of her life, and she balances her career with being fully present for them. In her free time, she loves watching English Premier League soccer and is a lifelong Liverpool fan.

Whether managing projects or cheering from the sidelines, Sarah brings dedication, focus, and heart to everything she does — and we’re excited to have her energy on board.

Cindy Freed holds a Bachelor of Arts in Art from California State University, Northridge (CSUN). With over 15 years of experience managing teams in high-volume, multi-million dollar restaurants and special events, she brings exceptional organizational and leadership skills to every role she takes on. Cindy joined Nelson Recruiting in May 2017, initially serving as a recruiter before transitioning to a project manager role in August 2024.

Her background in fast-paced, customer-focused environments has given her a strong foundation for overseeing complex market research projects and delivering outstanding client service. Cindy’s attention to detail, creative problem-solving, and collaborative spirit make her a valuable asset to the Nelson team.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Cindy enjoys spending her free time exploring the outdoors. She has a passion for photography and gardening and loves hiking with her dog, Kanan, finding inspiration and balance in nature.

Lisa Kahl joined Nelson Recruiting in 2020 as a Recruiter and quickly distinguished herself through her strong organizational and communication skills. She now serves as a Project Manager, where she plays an important role in coordinating projects and supporting both clients and internal teams.

Prior to joining Nelson Recruiting, Lisa built a successful career in the mortgage industry, gaining extensive experience in client relations, compliance, operations, and team leadership. Her background across multiple industries allows her to approach projects with both analytical precision and a people-centered mindset.

Lisa studied Business Management and Psychology in college, giving her valuable insight into both organizational strategy and human behavior.

Outside of work, Lisa is a proud mother of three sons. She enjoys spending time with her family, traveling to the Colorado River, cheering on her kids at sporting events, and camping.

Kelly Roy serves as the Billing Manager at Nelson Recruiting, overseeing all aspects of billing, invoicing, incentive advances, and incentive payments. With over three years of experience at the company, Kelly brings exceptional organization, attention to detail, and a strong problem-solving mindset to her role. Known for her determination and work ethic, she is committed to delivering accurate, efficient results while proactively addressing any challenges that arise.

Based in Oklahoma, Kelly lives with her husband and their two children. When they’re not busy traveling between wrestling tournaments, gymnastics meets, and softball games, the family enjoys spending quality time together — cooking, swimming at the lake, and embracing the outdoors. They value their time together deeply and prioritize maintaining a strong, close-knit family bond. Whether at work or at home, Kelly’s dedication, focus, and positive spirit make her a valued and trusted member of the Nelson Recruiting team.

Danielle Smith brings more than 15 years of marketing and operations leadership to Nelson Recruiting, with a career spanning gaming, real estate, blockchain, and publishing. She has owned paid acquisition across Meta, Google, TikTok, and LinkedIn, cutting customer acquisition costs by 40% and growing qualified audiences by 250% in just 30 days.

She has hired and developed marketing teams, built training programs for organizations of 1,000+ employees, and created the infrastructure that lets growing companies scale with confidence. At her core, Danielle is a builder. Whatever a team needs to move faster and work smarter, she figures out how to build it, then puts the systems in place to keep it running long after she’s moved on.

Outside of work, Danielle spends her time cheering on her daughter’s FFA goat projects, reading, and playing video games. Having grown up on the California coast, she never turns down a chance to get back to the beach.

As Database Administrator at Nelson Recruiting, M.E. Johnson oversees the data team and leads the integration and optimization of core systems, including the CRM and phone system. She also manages weekly strategy meetings with the data team and oversees staff training. One of her key achievements has been automating the data cleaning process, reducing processing time by 96% and significantly boosting team efficiency.

Before stepping into her current leadership role, she advanced through positions in data entry and associate data administration, gaining deep, hands-on experience in data lifecycle management. Prior to joining Nelson Recruiting, she worked in leadership consulting, specializing in identifying and resolving communication breakdowns to build highly efficient, solution-driven systems.

Outside of work, she enjoys experimenting with new cooking and baking recipes and spending time outdoors with her dog, Juniper. M.E.’s drive for efficiency, innovation, and collaboration makes her an essential part of the Nelson team.

Gina Farrow joined Nelson Recruiting in 2025, bringing a diverse professional background and a strong foundation in business, organization, and client service. She is originally from Massachusetts and now living in Oklahoma, holding degrees in Criminal Justice and Medical Billing and Coding.

Before joining Nelson, leading her own business, she developed strong business practices and gained hands-on experience managing clients, schedules, operations, and day-to-day responsibilities. Running her own company taught her the importance of communication, accountability, attention to detail, and building lasting client relationships. Since joining Nelson, she’s continued to build on those skills through her work in market research and recruiting. As a Project Manager, she is passionate about keeping projects organized, communicating effectively, solving problems, and making sure every detail is handled from start to finish. She will continue growing with Nelson while bringing her entrepreneurial mindset, work ethic, and commitment to delivering quality results to every project.

Outside of work, Gina enjoys hiking, traveling, and spending time with her husband and two children.

Kolby joined Nelson Recruiting in 2025 and works on the data team, helping keep participant information accurate and organized across studies. He reviews and updates records, ensures project data is entered correctly, and helps maintain a reliable system so recruitment runs smoothly.

In addition to supporting database operations, Kolby assists with targeted outreach by identifying and contacting specific groups needed for upcoming studies. His work helps projects stay on track and meet their recruitment goals efficiently.

Kolby earned his B.A. in Economics from Bucknell University, where he competed as a Division I wrestler. He is currently pursuing his MBA with a concentration in Data Analytics.
Outside of work, Kolby enjoys staying active, listening to music, and spending time with his dog Tobey. His background in collegiate wrestling continues to shape his discipline, consistency, and work ethic.

Max Demou, a marketing major by background, discovered a passion for data and analytics early in his career. This interest led him to join the company, where he has spent the past two years as a key member of the team, serving as the Data Team Specialist. In this role, Max applies his analytical skills to help drive insights, support project goals, and maintain the quality and accuracy of critical data.

Max is known for his attention to detail, problem-solving mindset, and dedication to continuously improving processes. His marketing foundation gives him a unique perspective, blending creativity with analytical rigor to support the team’s success.

Based in Minnesota, Max embraces the outdoors year-round. In his free time, he enjoys fishing, exploring nature, and taking advantage of any opportunity to spend time outside. His love for learning and strong work ethic make him a valued member of the team.

Janet brings over a decade of experience in digital marketing, brand strategy, and growth consulting. As the founder of Gaianovo Digital, she has helped more than 85 brands refine their messaging, strengthen their online presence, and generate measurable results through strategic content, paid media, and data-driven campaigns.

At Nelson Recruiting, Janet leads marketing strategy and brand development, ensuring the company’s 40+ year legacy is communicated with clarity, authority, and purpose. She works closely with leadership to align positioning, content, and outreach efforts in ways that build trust with clients and reinforce Nelson Recruiting’s reputation for precision and integrity in research recruiting. Known for her strategic insight and execution-focused approach, Janet combines creativity with analytics to support sustainable growth. Her work bridges traditional relationship-driven business with modern digital visibility.

Outside of work, Janet is an avid traveler who enjoys exploring new cultures and cuisines. She practices yoga regularly, loves discovering great food, and spends her free time hiking and being outdoors whenever possible.