she threw herself into the work. After that, referrals brought
her more interviewing work for surveys. During an interview with
a woman whose husband was a district sales manager for the A&P
grocery chain, she learned that A&P was looking for a surveyor in
the Midwest. A&P’s sales manager liked Tommie, but wouldn’t
hire anyone without a formal company, a field staff, and insurance.
Tommie founded Walker Marketing Research on October 20,
1939, and her business with A&P lasted 17 years