These two co-founders of the Boomer Project collaborated on Boomer Consumer: Ten New Rules for Marketing to America's Largest, Wealthiest and Most Influential Group. Both Thornhill and Martin felt their work could help marketers gain a better understanding of today's older Boomers, and more importantly, what to do to more effectively sell, market and advertise to them.

Thornhill is the president of the Boomer Project, which is housed within SIR Research, where Martin is the CEO and president.

Togther, they manage a team of researchers and project managers at the Boomer Project who help clients gain real insights into Boomer Consumers.

Both Matt and John are available for media inquiries and can provide expert commentary on understanding today's Boomer Consumer.

Let us tell you a little more about their backgrounds:

Matt Thornhill, Founder & President, The Boomer Project

After a 23-year career in advertising, Matt, 47, has quickly established himself as a leading national authority on Boomers. His opinions and insights are sought by reporters for national magazines like BusinessWeek and Money, newspapers like The Washington Post and Minneapolis Star-Tribune, National Public Radio's "All Things Considered" and NBC Nightly News.

His background on the agency side with Ogilvy & Mather and Ted Bates in New York, the Martin Agency in Richmond, and running his own interactive agency in Atlanta during the dot com boom, means that Matt understands both consumer behavior and trends.

Over the years Matt has worked on brands like Coca-Cola, Mercedes-Benz, AT&T, Kraft General Foods, Colgate, Marriott, Seiko and others.

He is responsible for overseeing the work for clients by the Boomer Project, as well as editing the national research reports and the monthly newsletter.

Matt can be reached at 804.690.4837 or "matt [at symbol] boomerproject dot com."

John Martin -- President & CEO of SIR Research

John Martin, 47, runs SIR Research. SIR helps companies and organizations accomplish their goals through strategic marketing consultation based on custom marketing research. For 40 years, they have been helping Fortune 500 companies identify and manage competitive threats, test new product concepts, launch new initiatives, and track the overall effectiveness of their marketing programs. Their experience comes from their work on AARP, AT&T, Electrolux, Goodyear, GE, Polaroid, Reynolds Metals Company, Rubbermaid, Owens & Minor, Verizon, and many other blue chip organizations.

Prior to joining the firm, John directed the marketing efforts of PBM Products, a $100 million consumer products company. While at PBM, John orchestrated new product launches and promotional programs with leading retailers including Wal-Mart, Target, Kroger, Albertson's, CVS, and dozens of other regional chains.

John began his career at Siddall, a Richmond-based agency, where as President he was responsible for client programs and new business development. John led the agency's work in healthcare, consumer products and transportation demand management. Many of John's initiatives earned the firm American Marketing Association's (AMA) Effie Awards, for the most effective marketing campaigns in the country.

John is often a featured speaker at marketing workshops around the country and has lectured on transportation demand management and consumer products marketing in Europe and Russia.

John can be reached at 804.358.8981 or "jwm [at symbol] sirresearch dot com."