People

David K. Weaver
President

David Weaver joined The Survey Group in 1996. He leads the member services, survey management and consulting functions for the organization. He specializes in designing compensation and incentive plans, developing performance management systems, conducting customized salary surveys and employee climate surveys, and advising companies on executive compensation program design. His clients have ranged from large companies with more than 20,000 employees, to very small companies with fewer than 20 employees.

During 15 years as a corporate human resources professional working in diverse industries Weaver gained extensive hands-on experience developing new programs, selling those programs to management and communicating them to employees. Before joining The Survey Group, he was Corporate Compensation Manager at Liberty Mutual Insurance, held a human resources management position at Hewlett-Packard Company, and had various HR positions at Honeywell.

A graduate of The University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Weaver is an adjunct faculty member for Northeastern University and Newbury College where he teaches courses in Compensation Management and Human Resources Management. He is active in WorldatWork, the Northeast Human Resources Association and the Society for Human Resource Management. He is a frequent presenter for various professional associations and Chamber of Commerce organizations.

Kara J. McLaughlin
CEO

Kara J. McLaughlin joined The Survey Group in September of 1995. She focuses primarily on business development and representing the company to the public and the human resources community. McLaughlin serves on the company's Board of Directors and participates in TSG's consulting practice providing customized human resources to client organizations in a variety of industries.

Until 2001, McLaughlin served as TSG's President, overseeing the organization's member services and survey management practice. Prior to joining The Survey Group, McLaughlin held professional compensation and human resources positions in the insurance and high technology industries. She has fifteen years of hands on experience in areas such as base pay, sales, executive and international compensation; survey design and analysis; compensation systems; compensation management training and affirmative action plans.

A graduate of Wellesley College and Northeastern University's Executive MBA Program, she is a participant in the American Compensation Association's certification program and Cornell University's Affirmative Action certificate program. McLaughlin co-authored an article on custom-designed computer systems for compensation in the May 1996 edition of HR Magazine.

James H. Gray
Vice President Consulting Services

Jim Gray has been a Senior Consultant for The Survey Group since joining the firm in 1999. As the Vice President Consulting Services he heads the human resources consulting practice, providing customized human resources consulting to client organizations. Since joining The Survey Group, he has had the opportunity to work with companies in a variety of industries on a wide range of projects such as the design of compensation programs and incentive plans, performance appraisal system development and training, and executive compensation program design.

Gray has more than 20 years of hands-on experience as a corporate HR professional working in diverse industries. Prior to joining The Survey Group, Gray was Manager, Compensation and Benefits at Lockheed Martin IR Imaging Systems (formerly Honeywell and Loral). In this capacity, he had total responsibility for the design and implementation of compensation and benefit programs, health services (including worker's compensation) and the company's employee assistance program. Before joining Lockheed Martin, he held various management positions at Itek Corporation, Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Continental Can Company.

With an MBA from the University of Bridgeport, Gray is an adjunct faculty member for Southern New Hampshire University and Rivier College where he teaches graduate level courses in Compensation and Benefits Management and Organizational Behavior. He is the author of a compensation management workbook, Compensation Management in a Knowledge-Based World, and is an active member of the WorldatWork and the Northeast Human Resources Association.

Maryann O'Keefe
Survey Manager

Maryann B. O’Keefe joined The Survey Group in 1998. As Survey Manager she plans, directs and coordinates the activities for the TSG member surveys from questionnaire design through delivery of final results.

O’Keefe has over eighteen years experience in Compensation and other aspects of Human Resources. Prior to becoming Survey Manager, she spent eight year’s as a Senior Consultant for TSG and has expertise in salary administration, competitive market analysis, job analysis, survey design, total compensation analysis, employee climate survey design and affirmative action plans.

Before joining The Survey Group, O’Keefe spent ten years with Converse Inc. where she held a variety of human resources positions. As a Senior Compensation Specialist, her responsibilities included development and administration of all compensation policies and practices, as well as managing the human resources information system and addressing employee relations issues. She also has training experience in job description writing, job evaluation, performance review, sexual harassment awareness and affirmative action plans.

O’Keefe holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Merrimack College. She is a member of WorldatWork and is currently working towards an EEO Studies Certificate from Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations.

Terri Dignan
Resource Consulting Manager

Terri Dignan has over fifteen years of compensation experience in consulting and corporate organizations. She leads the Member Services Team providing TSG members compensation, benefits and general human resources research and analysis. Prior to 2006, she managed the Member Survey function, directing and coordinating all TSG member survey activities.

Dignan has held several compensation positions in the financial services and consulting industry. She is experienced in the design, implementation and administration of compensation, benefits and variable pay programs. Prior to joining TSG in 2000, Terri held compensation positions at Eastern Bank, BankBoston and Watson Wyatt Worldwide.

Dignan has a Bachelors Degree in Marketing from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. She is a Certified Compensation Professional (CCP) through WorldatWork. She is also a member of the New England Compensation Consortium and the Society for Human Resource Management.

Debbie Blackwood
Prevailing Wage Consultant

Debbie Blackwood has been a Consultant in the Prevailing Wage and Resource Consulting areas since joining The Survey Group in 1998. She is responsible for providing wage research services for specialty occupation positions for immigration purposes – H1B and PERM/Labor Certification purposes.

Blackwood has more than 20 years of experience as a Compensation Professional. Prior to joining The Survey Group she worked at The New England and Blue Cross/Blue Shield of New Jersey as a Compensation Consultant. Responsibilities included job evaluation, market research, HRIS, development and administration of various pay programs.

Blackwood attended Northeastern University majoring in Human Resources and Labor Relations. She is a Certified Compensation Professional through WorldatWork.