Raffi DerSimonian

Raffi is Principal of DerSimonian and Vice President & Chief Strategy Officer for ERI, a marketing strategy firm that specializes in digital design and development. As a marketing and communications expert who guides organizations through the process of increasing engagement, response, and impact, he has extensive experience in leadership roles at various academic and cultural institutions. He excels at conducting immersive research, identifying key themes through stakeholder dialogue, and aligning goals and strategy. Over the past 20 years, Raffi has developed his signature ‘RDS Method’, a comprehensive process to inform research, discovery and strategy. Raffi has successfully led a range of creative and technical initiatives for many institutions including Lafayette, Muhlenberg, Harvard Business School, Trinity College, Maine College of Art & Design, Tufts University, Worcester State University, and others. When he's not busy at work, Raffi enjoys spending time with his one and a half year old daughter Tsoline (soul-een) and wife Caitlin, exploring the great outdoors, and being immersed in Portland's vibrant cultural arts scene. He is also a recording artist with three original albums to his name: Movin’ On (‘99), Mind the Gap (‘04), Leap (‘19).