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Jeff Henne, Founder and CEO
Founder and CEO
Jeff Henne is the visionary Founder and CEO of The Henne Group (THG) and Waller Hall Research (WHR), full-service market research and call center agencies committed to tackling the most complex challenges in healthcare, life sciences, public health, and policy. For over four decades, Jeff has been recognized as a respected leader in the industry and is renowned for his ethics, scientific rigor, and ability to deliver actionable insights to high-stakes, challenging projects. His approach is rooted in the belief that robust, human-centered data is essential for driving meaningful impact in both public and private sectors alike. Under Jeff’s leadership, THG has developed specialized expertise and infrastructure to successfully engage with hard-to-reach and low-incidence populations, including rare patients, people living with HIV (PLHIV), rural communities, and vulnerable populations to ensure that all voices are represented in critical decision-making processes.
My Story
“My passion for impactful research began long before THG. I started my journey in market research in the heart of San Francisco, where I quickly recognized a critical gap: traditional research methods often failed to capture the nuanced experiences of diverse, segmented, or small populations, often considered hard-to-reach. This realization fueled a dedication to developing innovative and inclusive methodologies, particularly in the realm of public health. From those early days, I was driven to not just collect data, but to give voice to those often overlooked. Founding THG was the culmination of that mission, to build a company capable of reaching any demographic, anywhere, with integrity and precision.
Over time, we extended our services to include call centers that enhance the efficiency and impact of our clients’ projects. This extension of THG’s capabilities ensures that clients receive end-to-end support, from data collection to direct engagement with the communities they serve. All our partners also benefit from direct, supportive communication with senior staff. In fact, everything we do underscores our longstanding commitment to transform critical operations into a clear, shared path to success."
Professional Recognitions and Affiliations
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​2024 & 2025 Insight250 Awards
Jeff was a recipient of both the 2024 and the 2025 Insight250 Awards, which annually celebrate global "pioneers, leaders and innovators in market research, data-driven marketing and insights. The award specifically recognized his significant efforts and work with "hard-to-reach and niche populations."
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Board of Directors, Health Equity Outcomes (HEO)
His expertise was formally acknowledged through his appointment to the Board of Directors for Health Equity Outcomes (HEO), a non-profit organization focused on advancing health equity through community-based research. This appointment recognizes Jeff's more than 40 years of experience in qualitative and quantitative research and his role as a champion for underrepresented populations.
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Member, American Association for Public Opinion Research
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Member, American Marketing Association
Publications
​McGraw, S. A., Smith-Hicks, C., Nutter, J., Henne, J. C., & Abler, V. (2023). Meaningful improvements in Rett syndrome: A qualitative study of caregivers. Journal of Child Neurology, 38(5), 270–282. https://doi.org/10.1177/08830738231172066
McKay, T., Henne, J., Gonzales, G., Gavulic, K. A., Quarles, R., & Gallegos, S. G. (2023). Sexual behavior change among gay and bisexual men during the first COVID-19 pandemic wave in the United States. Sexuality Research and Social Policy, 20(2), 438–452. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-021-00625-3
Henne, J. (2022). LGBTQ+ Affirming Care and Undetectable=Untransmittable: Evidence for Older Gay and Bisexual Men in the US South. Innovation in Aging. https://doi.org/10.1093/GERONI/IGAC059.166
McGraw, S. A., Henne, J. C., Nutter, J., Larkin, A. A., & Chen, E. (2022). Treatment goals for achondroplasia: A qualitative study with parents and adults. Advances in Therapy, 39(7), 3378–3391. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12325-022-02190-6
McKay, T., Henne, J., Gonzales, G., Quarles, R., Gavulic, K. A., & Gallegos, S. G. (2020, May 29). The COVID-19 pandemic and sexual behavior among gay and bisexual men in the United States. SSRN. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-021-00625-3
Henne, J. (2017). A qualitative study of perceptions of meaningful change in spinal muscular atrophy. BMC Neurology. https://doi.org/10.1186/S12883-017-0853-Y
Henne, J. (2016). HBV Testing and Vaccinations among Asian and Pacific Islander Patients. Californian Journal of Health Promotion. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-021-00625-3
Henne, J. (2015). Changing Attitudes towards Hepatitis B among Asian Americans. Californian Journal of Health Promotion. https://doi.org/10.32398/CJHP.V13I3.1833
Henne, J. (2012). Using Survey Results Regarding Hepatitis B Knowledge, Community Awareness, and Testing Behavior Among Asians to Improve the San Francisco Hep B Free Campaign. Journal of Community Health. https://doi.org/10.1007/S10900-011-9452-9
Henne, J. (2008). Impact of Peyronie's Disease on Sexual and Psychosocial Functioning: Qualitative Findings in Patients and Controls. Journal of Sexual Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1743-6109.2008.00883.X
Henne, J. (2008). Survey of U.S. Human Research Protection Organizations: Workload and Membership. Journal of Empirical Research on Human Research Ethics. https://doi.org/10.1525/JER.2008.3.4.57
Henne, J. (2008). Survey of U.S. Boards That Review Mental Health-Related Research. Journal of Empirical Research on Human Research Ethics. https://doi.org/10.1525/JER.2008.3.4.71
Catania, J. A., Osmond, D., Stall, R. D., Pollack, L., Paul, J. P., Blower, S., Binson, D., Canchola, J. A., Mills, T. C., Fisher, L., Choi, K. H., Porco, T., Turner, C., Blair, J., Henne, J., Bye, L. L., & Coates, T. J. (2001). The continuing HIV epidemic among men who have sex with men. American Journal of Public Health, 91(6), 907–914. https://doi.org/10.2105/ajph.91.6.907