Tony Blass has moderated well over 1000 focus groups in his decades-long career, including hundreds of online groups and depth interviews via ZOOM and other platforms. Called the "best moderator on 5 continents" by Ali Abbas, International Brand Director at Nestlé Waters, Tony is skilled at drawing out the most reticent respondents on sensitive topics (e.g., radical orchiectomy patients) and eliciting deep emotional responses using a variety of advanced projective techniques. Tony’s qualitative insights have been used to evaluate and shape major advertising efforts such as Ray-Ban’s “Never Hide” campaigns, Disaronno’s “Ice Cube” commercial series and Lens Crafters international “I heart eyes” iconographic communications efforts covering 5 continents and many different languages.Tony has vast experience as a qualitative researcher, analyst and consultant for major international conglomerates and corporations, as well as smaller boutique companies. For example, he has advised Adidas on sportswear customization programs, Barilla and Mario Batali on establishing retail spaces in the US, Fashion brands such as Loro Piana and Porsche Design in developing ultra-luxury portfolios, Medical equipment suppliers such as GE Healthcare and Siemens with evaluating hospital technology and security systems, Food and beverage manufacturers such as Nestlé, Morinaga, Onisi Foods, Tangent Foods, Mulino Bianco, Corvo Wines, Martini Bacardi, Disaronno and many others on introducing new products and establishing go-to-market plans in the US, as well as extensive collaborative research with multiple automotive and motorcycle manufacturers on design, usability and driver experience. Tony has been elected twice to serve as President for the Southern California Marketing Research Association, been a finalist for the Roy W. Dean LA Film Grant and co-produced a Feature length documentary selected for competition in the 2009 Rome Film Festival, nominated for a 2010 Donatello Award for best documentary film, chosen as the opening night selection for the 2010 DKTR Film Festival in Los Angeles and an audience favorite at the Florida Film Festival in April, 2011. His interviewing skills have been employed in documentary filmmaking for both corporate and commercial clients.