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Team

About Us

Our Team

We work to provide clear recommendations in the face of complexity. We believe critical knowledge is the fruit of rigorous analysis through research industry standards. We want to be your place of choice for faith community understanding. Together we can innovate your mission forward.

Barna Agency Team

We are a collective of researchers and creative problem-solvers who are curious by nature and passionate about helping organizations grow. Meet the Barna Agency Team:

Daniel Copeland

Director of Research

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Matt Randerson

Director of Business Development

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Savannah Kimberlin

Director of Published Research

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Pam Jacob

Senior Research Manager

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David Kinnaman

President

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Brooke Hempell

Senior Vice President of Research

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Savannah Kimberlin oversees the research and development of a wide array of published products and client-commissioned work, including Barna monographs and digital resources. As a certified data miner and predictive modeler, Savannah specializes in advanced analytics.

Pam Jacob is Barna Group’s longest-tenured employee. With over 25 years of experience researching the intersection of faith and culture, she lends her market knowledge to the growth, development and future of nonprofits and churches around the globe. 

Matthew Randerson serves as the Director of Business Development for Barna Group and works with our clients to identify their most important business opportunities. He has extensive experience working at Thrivent Financial applying research to inform product development using human-centered design for purposes of reaching Christian audiences. 

Daniel Copeland serves as the Director of Research for Barna Group. Trained in social and market research techniques, he helps with strategic growth and development efforts in both nonprofit and for-profit settings. Daniel works closely with organizations across the globe to help them critically consider best practices in navigating this cultural moment

Dr. Stephanie Shackleford is a Doctor of Education and Barna Group Senior Fellow. She is an expert researcher in vocational development among young adults. Stephanie has conducted qualitative research for a variety of Barna projects.

Susan Mettes has been studying people and their decisions for over a decade, having worked as a behavioral scientist at Dan Ariely’s Duke University behavioral economics lab, Thrivent Financial, Barna Group, and more. Before her role as a researcher, Susan was an editor at Christianity Today magazine. She wrote the forthcoming Brazos Press book, The Loneliness Epidemic. Her family alternates between living in East Africa and Washington, DC.

Mark Matlock is a facilitator of innovation and impact, helping organizations adapt to changing times through turning research based insights into action. The founder of WisdomWorks LLC, a consultancy helping churches and faith-based organizations leverage their collective wisdom and insight to innovate and adapt in changing times, Mark is also the author of more than 20 books for teens and parents. He is a certified LifePlanner, LEGO Serious Play facilitator and MCORE trainer and coach. He and his wife Jade have been married for 27 years and have two adult children.

David Kinnaman is the author of the bestselling books Faith For Exiles, Good Faith, You Lost Me and unChristian. He is president of Barna Group, a leading research and communications company that works with churches, nonprofits and businesses ranging from film studios to financial services. Since 1995, David has directed interviews with more than two million individuals and overseen thousands of U.S. and global research studies. He lives in California with his three children.

Brooke Hempell has been a market research advisor for over 15 years, previously serving Fortune 100 companies in the financial services and healthcare sectors prior to joining Barna. Brooke is an expert in designing both qualitative and quantitative research to guide clients in new product development and positioning, brand portfolio strategy, communications planning and sales & marketing effectiveness. Brooke often advises on Barna’s research studies and tracking data.

Barna Fellows

We frequently work with experts and leaders from various sectors and industries to sharpen our thinking and the outcomes of your research. Meet the Barna Fellows:

Mark Matlock

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Dr. Stephanie Shackleford

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Susan Mettes

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A Rich Legacy

Barna Group + Barna Agency

Barna Group is a visionary company located in Ventura, California. Started in 1984, the firm is widely considered to be a leading research organization focused on the intersection of faith and culture.

Along with the resources and thought leadership of Barna Group, Barna Agency’s research-driven data and strategies can help you clearly see the opportunities ahead of you.