Young Alumni Award
an entrepreneurial spirit
Since co-founding First Research in 1998, Robert "Bobby" Martin '92 has secured a leadership position in the industry intelligence field. The company evolved from a staff of five people in 1999 to a company of more than 40 today. It is headquartered in Raleigh, with satellite offices in Charlotte and Wilmington. First Research synthesizes data into information that a salesperson can use to better understand a prospect’s or client’s business issues. The company has attracted more than 75,000 users including ADP (Automatic Data Processing Inc.), Bank of America, Merrill Lynch, Microsoft, Sprint and Wachovia. Martin also has led strategic business development efforts at the company, resulting in relationships with Microsoft, Reuters, Sage Software, Salesforce.com and others. In March, First Research was acquired by Dun & Bradstreet and now is part of Hoover’s, a Dun & Bradstreet company. Martin maintains his position as president at First Research and is actively involved in the stand-alone product as well as the integrated product with Hoover’s.
Martin’s entrepreneurial spirit is not limited to selling a product. In 2006, he started a non-profit organization called On the Fly that promotes community involvement. He actively encourages First Research employees to use company time to volunteer at various organizations in the Raleigh area. First Research employees volunteer from one to five hours a week at organizations such as the Salvation Army, United Way, Hospice of Wake County, North Carolina Food Bank and Operation Christmas Child. First Research employees contributed 535 hours of community service in 2007.
“With all his success, he has never forgotten his alma mater, giving unselfishly of his time and resources to help better Appalachian,” wrote Brian Toney, director of the Center for Entrepreneurship at Appalachian. “Bobby has given of his time in a way that has made critical impact on the creation and evolution of our center.” Deanne R. Smith, director of the Martha Guy Summer Institute for Future Business Leaders, served as an Appalachian Student Ambassador with Martin. “Bobby has the same love for and commitment to Appalachian today as he did during our undergraduate years,” she wrote. “He is an outstanding representative and gracious volunteer for Appalachian.”
Bobby currently resides in Raleigh with his wife, Gloria, and their two children: Jayne Beth, 3, and Sanders, 5 months.
