(Durham, NC, June 16, 2015)—innovation Research & Training (iRT), a leading behavior science research organization, today announced the addition of three new team members to its growing staff roster.
Samantha Bender, Hannah McCormick, and Shiesha McNeil fill key support roles in the organization’s business and research arms. Over the coming months, iRT will look to steadily expand its team in an effort to provide further value and support to both prospective and current clients.
iRT founder and president, Dr. Janis Kupersmidt said Bender, McCormack, and McNeil fill important needs within the firm and further iRT’s commitment to serving its global networks. “At iRT, our goal is to create and deliver value to our communities and their members. “Samantha, Hannah and Shiesha help us further that mission and we’re excited to have them on our team.”
Bender, office assistant at iRT, is responsible for maintaining the organization’s office operations. A recent graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a B.A. in Interpersonal Communication Studies and Psychology, Bender also work’s with Kupersmidt on special projects. “Samantha’s incredible organizational skills keep the iRT team running smoothly,” said Kupersmidt.
McCormick joins iRT as an assistant bookkeeper, handling many of the organization’s financial transactions. Hannah received a B.A. in Communication Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is a member of the Tau Sigma National Honors Society at UNC and is a volunteer at the Duke Lemur Center in Durham. Kupersmidt said, “Hannah brings a sharp attention to detail that is critical to the success of our company.”
As a research assistant, McNeil will focus on the organization’s mentoring research and product development projects. Specifically, she will aid iRT researchers in evaluating new mentoring program practice enhancements designed to serve the needs of youth whose parents are incarcerated. McNeil, too, is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a B.A. in psychology. “Shiesha’s passion for children and adolescents is a great fit with our mentoring team,” said Kupersmidt.
“These three hires are part of the ongoing expansion of our company and reflect iRT’s commitment to building a global behavior science research organization. Strengthening our team of highly skilled personnel and our remarkable capabilities allows us to deliver our innovative technological solutions to clients, while providing them with seamless, high quality, customer service. I am thrilled to have Samantha, Hannah, and Shiesha join our growing team.”
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About innovation Research & Training
innovation Research & Training (iRT) is a behavioral sciences research company committed to identifying and solving significant real-world problems facing children, families, communities, and organizations. By using evidence-based and culturally sensitive methods, iRT researchers investigate, develop, and evaluate behavioral, educational, psychological, social, and community assessment, prevention and treatment programs and services. iRT’s staff includes experts in basic and applied research in a variety of areas, including substance abuse prevention and treatment, youth mentoring, social and emotional development, mindfulness education, media literacy education, pregnancy prevention and sexual health, child and adolescent mental health, adult and juvenile justice programs, drug courts, drugged driving, tobacco use and underage drinking. For more information about iRT, visit www.irtinc.us.
Media Contact:
Yvette Ruffin, APR
Director, Marketing and Communications
Innovative Research & Training
919-493-7700
yruffin@irtinc.us
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