James D. Hebert, is the President, Senior Research Director and Founder of Hebert Research, which employs nearly 80 researchers and serves more than 2,000 organizations in the US, Canada and Europe. Mr. Hebert is also an adjunct Professor of business at the University of Washington and specializes in teaching new product development and retail management. In addition, he is the Director of Research for Price Costco, a $22 billion wholesale membership club. Prior to founding Hebert Research at the age of 29, Mr. Hebert was an assistant vice president and manager of retail banking for First Interstate Bank. Mr. Hebert grew up at Mt. Rainier National Park, where he learned the importance of preserving the quality of the environment. His formal education was obtained from the University of Washington and Seattle University.