Putting the “public” in public policy.

The MassINC Polling Group is committed to elevating the public’s voice in discussions of politics and policy, in Massachusetts and beyond.

 

Since its founding in 2010, MPG has earned a reputation as a leader in measuring and interpreting public opinion in Massachusetts. Now, though our roots are in Massachusetts, we serve a nationwide client base. We offer a full range of public opinion research tools and services to clients in the public, private, and social-service sectors. For many years, MPG conducted polling for WBUR, Boston’s NPR news station, the longest and most productive media-polling partnership in the Commonwealth.

In addition to polling services, we also offer our clients communications and media services to help disseminate their poll results in a way that serves their interests. Our reputation for excellence and accuracy gives our research a high level of trust in the policy community, which many of our clients appreciate as they communicate their results.

MPG, MassINC, and CommonWealth

MPG is a for-profit subsidiary of MassINC, the Massachusetts Institute for the New Commonwealth, an independent, non-partisan policy think tank. MassINC also publishes CommonWealth magazine. MassINC’s mission is to stimulate nonpartisan debate, shape public policy and advance a public agenda that supports the growth of the middle class. In addition to serving its own client base, MPG conducts joint public opinion research projects with MassINC in support of its policy agenda. MPG’s choice of projects and clients, as well as findings and recommendations we give to our clients, do not necessarily reflect the opinions of MassINC.

Meet the Team

  • Steve Koczela

    PRESIDENT

    ​Steve Koczela is Founder and President of the MassINC Polling Group. He appears regularly in local, state, and national media outlets discussing polling, politics, and policy. His has written regularly for CNN, WBUR, NHPR, The Boston Globe, CommonWealth Magazine, and other outlets.

    ​He has grown MPG from its infancy to a nationally known and respected polling provider. MPG is committed to elevating the public’s voice in discussions of politics and policy. MPG’s reputation for excellence and accuracy ensures a high level of trust in the policy community.

    ​​Prior to founding The MassINC Polling Group, Steve led survey research programs for the U.S. Department of State in Iraq, in key states for President Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign, and conducted surveys and polls on behalf of many private corporations. His polling analysis is often cited in local, state, and national media outlets. He is past President of the New England Chapter of the American Association for Public Opinion Research (NEAAPOR) and served as Associate Editor of the Statistical Journal of the IAOS. He lives in Melrose, Massachusetts, and is a veteran of the war in Iraq.

  • Rich Parr

    VICE PRESIDENT

    Rich runs MPG’s day-to-day operations and contributes to all aspects of MPG’s quantitative and qualitative research. He has particular expertise in research on climate, clean energy, and transportation, and has led several of MPG’s largest projects with public-sector clients. He has contributed analysis, data visualization, and mapping for a variety of publications, including CommonWealth Beacon, WBUR, and NHPR. His election analysis has recevied mentions in the Boston Globe, the Atlantic, and the Washington Post.

    Rich is a past member of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council’s Legislative Committee and the Boston Bikes Advisory Group. He is a member of the American Association for Public Opinion Research and a past member of the executive council of its New England Chapter.

    Rich grew up in Wakefield, Massachusetts, and is a graduate of Harvard College. He now lives in Northampton, Massachusetts.

  • Olivia Wine

    RESEARCH DIRECTOR

    Olivia manages many of MPG's most complex multi-modal projects involving multiple stakeholders. She has worked with MPG’s largest public sector clients, including the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, and the MBTA. Her work at MPG touches all aspects of the research process, from work planning to overseeing final analysis.

    Prior to joining MPG in 2022, Olivia worked in criminal justice reform via restorative justice practices, and as an Operations Manager and Mentor in non-profit advocacy work with youth. She has a bachelor’s degree in Sociology with a minor in Criminal Justice from the University of Wisconsin, Madison and a master’s in Public Policy with a certificate in Policy Analysis from the University of Chicago. Olivia’s professional and educational background brings a wide variety of experiences and expertise to MPG.

    Olivia works remotely from Madison, Wisconsin.

  • Zayna Basma-Doyle

    RESEARCH DIRECTOR

    Zayna is engaged in all phases of the research process at MPG from design to analysis. Zayna leads focus group guide development and facilitation across topic areas, oversees in-person survey data collection projects, and manages client relationships. She has particular expertise in education polling and has overseen multiple waves of surveys and focus groups with Massachusetts K-12 parents. She also brings considerable statistical programming expertise.

    Previously, she worked for the Systems for Student Success Office at DESE and held previous roles in research analysis on foster care programming. Zayna completed a Segal Fellowship with MassINC producing research on digital equity in MA Gateway cities. She continues to work on education policy projects for MassINC.

    She received her BA in Political Science from UMass Lowell and a dual MBA and Master of Public Policy from The Heller School.

  • John Gee

    RESEARCH MANAGER

    John Gee works at the intersection of media, policy, and research. He joins MPG as Research Manager after a year working as podcast producer for The Horse Race and CommonWealth Beacon’s The Codcast. Prior to entering media and polling, John worked as a historian researching the use of social science in the public sphere.

    John received a PhD in History from Harvard University and a BA in History from the University of Pennsylvania. He has taught at Harvard University, the UMass Boston Labor Resource Center, Lesley University, and George Washington University. He lives in Dorchester.