Michael Vigeant
With nearly two decades of market research experience, CEO Michael Vigeant embodies the client-first mantra of GreatBlue Research. Vigeant began his career in market research at The Center for Research & Public Policy, rising to Executive Vice President before opening his own business in 2009 which was rebranded to GreatBlue in 2013. During his time with The Center for Research & Public Policy, Vigeant was an instrumental part of the team who managed the SHU Polling Institute which resided on the Sacred Heart Campus for nearly a decade.
A career forged in market research, Vigeant is a specialist in the design and implementation of a wide variety of quantitative and qualitative research methodologies including telephone, mail, digital, focus groups, and in-depth professional interviews.
As the organization’s lead researcher, Vigeant brings a depth of knowledge and experience to each client project engagement interpreting collected data into objective, actionable information permitting clients to make informed decisions. Vigeant has personally conducted over 500 focus groups within and across a diverse mix of industries including healthcare, utility, government, and consumer package goods. Vigeant is considered, nationally, to be one of the leading authorities on Natural Gas Pipeline Safety research which measures awareness levels among a variety of constituent groups on what steps are to be taken in the event of a natural gas leak and/or emergency. It is the work of Vigeant and GreatBlue which are leading the educational efforts of utilities across the United States.
A respected and engaging speaker, Vigeant is a regular speaker at annual utility conferences (including public power, water, and television) along with numerous private engagements about the use of market research to guide product development, commercialization strategies, customer and employee communications, how perceptions impact organizations, how to address the millennial generation, and much more.
Vigeant leads GreatBlue with a commitment to community by “granting wishes” (such as the one he received in 1988 as a Make-A-Wish kid) by serving as a board member for Make-A-Wish of Connecticut. He also serves on boards for the Connecticut Better Business Bureau and the Boy Scouts of America. Vigeant’s commitment to community and entrepreneurial spirit were acknowledged by the Hartford Business Journal where he was awarded the distinction of being named to the “40 Under Forty” class of 2012.
Vigeant is married, with two children and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in communications from Sacred Heart University, where he was awarded the College of Arts & Sciences Alumni Leadership Award in September of 2016.