Florian Fessel, PhD

Managing Consultant

Florian specializes in market research for transit agencies with expertise in behavioral research of transit customers. He has conducted dozens of research projects related to attitudinal surveys, customer satisfaction studies, origin-destination studies, stated preference studies, focus groups, and qualitative research. In his role, he manages these projects from start to finish, including designing and developing methodologically sound surveys and experimental research, supervising the fielding effort, conducting statistical analyses, and communicating the results and implications. He has managed such projects for the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, NY MTA, Chicago's RTA, Chicago Transit Authority, Pace Bus, Utah Transit Authority, Triangle Transit Authority, and Charlotte Area Transit System.

Outside of RSG, Florian enjoys exploring cities, eating out, and brushing up on his rudimentary French. He lives with his husband, Luke, and English Bulldog, Fritzi, in Washington State.

PhD, Social Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

BA, Psychology, Hunter College

Lee, A., F. Fessel, G. Spitz, K. Braley, M. Bradley, C. Chesnut. Attitudinal Market Segmentation Applied to Transit Service Area: An Updated Approach. 11th International Conference on Transport Survey Methods, September 2017, Esterel, Quebec.

Fessel, F., G. Spitz, C. Campbell, and P. Fahrenwald. “A Successful Visitor Study for Understanding Transit Use.” Presented at the 95th Annual Transportation Research Board (TRB) Meeting, January 2016.

Fessel, F., and N.J. Roese. “Hindsight Bias, Visual Aids, and Legal Decision Making: Timing is Everything.” Social Psychology and Personality Compass, Volume 5, Issue 4, 180-193 (2011).

Dilich, M., F. Fessel, J. Goebelbecker, and N. Roese. “Computer Animation of Traffic Accidents: Hindsight Bias and Judgments of Blame.” Presented at the 3rd International Conference on Road Safety and Simulation, Indianapolis, IN, September 2011.

Roese, N., F. Fessel, A. Summerville, J. Kruger, and M. Dilich. “The Propensity Effect: When Foresight Trumps Hindsight.” Psychological Science, Volume 17, Issue 4, 305-310 (2006).