Cathy Allin
Throughout her extraordinary career leading media, production, and technology enterprises, Cathy has been a successful trailblazer integrating cutting-edge technologies into mainstream businesses.
As President and CEO of Decision Insight Cathy was instrumental in developing their award-winning suite of ShopperIQ™ research solutions. She pioneered online virtual shopping research with the development of their proprietary SimuShop® platform in 2002. In 2014, Cathy led the development of DigitalIQ™, a dedicated eCommerce testing platform to test clients’ online shopper marketing and digital strategies for the emerging online eTail channel. By measuring shopper behavior in the context of a virtual retail environment (whether brick & mortar or digital) DI can test the impact of shopper marketing programs and predict how marketing strategies perform in store and online. Under Cathy’s leadership, DI has become a leader in the market research industry and works with Fortune 500 clients such as PepsiCo, Frito-Lay, Nestlé, Kimberly-Clarke, Johnson & Johnson, Verizon, Samsung, Molson Coors, and Anheuser-Busch/InBev. DI was acquired by TABS Group, Inc, a data analytics firm in May of 2019. Cathy continued in her role as President till TABS Group was sold to Blacksmith Applications, a data science and predictive analytics firm in December 2020.
Prior to joining DI, Cathy was Managing Partner of LYNQS Newmedia, a web design, program application, and hosting firm. Directing the company from 1995 until it was acquired by Harte-Hanks (HHS-NYSE) in June 1999, Cathy led clients in successfully integrating the Internet as an additional communications and marketing channel.
Cathy has earned several national awards for her entrepreneurial and technological successes and is committed to helping others succeed in her role as speaker and guest lecturer at Rockhurst University, UMKC Entrepreneurial Growth and Resource Center, and the Path to Purchase Institute, where she contributed her time and knowledge to continuing education and professional development.
A graduate of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Cathy served on the board of directors for Enterprise Bank and the YMCA of Greater Kansas City, and was an active member and advisor to the Association Marketing Association (AMA), Council of American Survey Research Organizations (CASRO), ESOMAR, and the Path to Purchase Institute.
Community Involvement & Philanthropy
• Envision Kenya – FOSA
• YMCA of Greater Kansas City
• United Way
• MTH – Musical Theatre Heritage
• Operation Breakthrough
• The Children’s Place
• St. Therese Little Flower Church
• Deb’s House Romanian Orphanage
• United Aid Foundation
Awards & Recognition
• Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation’s Fast Track I & II
• Helzberg Entrepreneurial Mentoring Program (HEMP) Mentee Graduate
• Ingram’s Top 100 Fastest-Growing Companies
• Path to Purchase Institute Faculty Member/Speaker
• AMA EXPLOR Award – 2008
• IBM LEADer Award – 2008
• Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year – 2009 Finalist
• KCBJ Champions of Business Award – 2015
• KCBJ Women Who Mean Business Award (WWMB) – 2015
• TechWeek 100 Kansas City- 2015
• Path to Purchase Institute – Women of Excellence Innovation Award – 2018
