Privacy Policy
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1. Introduction

Welcome to the Storyline Strategies website (storylinestrategies.com). Storyline Strategies (Storyline Strategies, LLC, “we,” “us,” or “our”) is a market research and strategic consulting firm committed to protecting the privacy and security of your personal information.

This Website Privacy Policy (“Policy”) describes how we collect, use, share, protect, and otherwise process the personal information of visitors to our website (storylinestrategies.com). It outlines your rights regarding your personal information and how you can contact us.

We are committed to conducting our business in accordance with high ethical standards, including adhering to the principles outlined in the ICC/ESOMAR International Code on Market, Opinion and Social Research and Data Analytics where applicable to our services.

This Policy applies only to information collected through this website. It does not apply to participation in specific research programs we manage, such as the Storyline Strategy Council, which are governed by separate privacy policies presented during enrollment for those programs.

2. Scope of this Policy

This Policy applies to personal information collected when you:

  • Visit and browse storylinestrategies.com.
  • Contact us through website forms or provided email addresses.
  • Subscribe to newsletters or other communications offered via the website.
  • Inquire about or apply for job opportunities via our website.
  • Interact with our website features that may involve data collection (e.g., cookies).

This Policy does not apply to:

  • Data collected from participants in the Storyline Strategy Council (see Section 15).
  • Data collected through offline means, unless explicitly referenced.
  • Data collected by third-party websites or applicant tracking systems linked from our site (which will have their own privacy notices).

3. Data Controller Information

The data controller responsible for the personal information collected through this website is:

Nancy Tavenner
PO Box 74
Union Hall, VA 24176
Tel: +1.703.328.5637

For any privacy-related questions or requests, please contact us via the methods outlined in Section 17.

4. Information We Collect

We collect information about you in the following ways:

  • Information You Provide Directly:
    • Contact Information: Such as your name, email address, phone number, company name, and job title when you fill out contact forms, request information, or subscribe to communications.
    • Communications: Records and copies of your correspondence if you contact us.
    • Employment and Employment or Job Recruitment Information: Information you provide when inquiring about or applying for job opportunities with Storyline Strategies via our website, such as your name, contact details, resume/CV, cover letter, employment history, education background, and any other information you choose to submit in connection with your application.
    • Other Information: Any other information you voluntarily provide through website forms or interactions.
  • Information Collected Automatically:
    • Log Data and Device Information: When you visit our website, our servers automatically record information (“Log Data”), including your Internet Protocol (IP) address, browser type and settings, device information, operating system, referring URLs, pages viewed, links clicked, time spent on pages, and crash data.
    • Cookie Data: We use cookies and similar tracking technologies (like web beacons and pixels) to collect information about your interaction with our website, personalize your experience, and analyze website traffic. Please see Section 7 (Cookies and Tracking Technologies) for more details.

5. How We Use Your Information

We use the personal information we collect for purposes including:

  • Operating and Improving Our Website: To present our website and its contents effectively, personalize your experience, monitor usage, and improve functionality.
  • Responding to Inquiries: To respond to your comments, questions, and requests submitted through contact forms or email.
  • Processing Job Applications: To consider and process applications for employment submitted through our website, communicate with applicants regarding their application status and potential opportunities, and manage our overall recruitment process.
  • Sending Communications: To send you newsletters, marketing communications, or other information you have requested or consented to receive. You can opt-out at any time.
  • Analytics and Performance: To understand how visitors use our website, analyze trends, measure the effectiveness of our content and marketing, and generate aggregated, anonymized insights.
  • Security and Fraud Prevention: To maintain the security and integrity of our website, prevent fraud, and enforce our terms.
  • Legal Compliance: To comply with applicable laws, regulations, legal processes, or governmental requests.

6. Legal Basis for Processing (for GDPR)

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), UK, or Switzerland, our legal basis for collecting and using the personal information described above will depend on the personal information concerned and the specific context in which we collect it:

  • Consent: We rely on your consent for activities like placing non-essential cookies or sending marketing communications (where required by law). You can withdraw your consent at any time.
  • Legitimate Interests: We process information for our legitimate interests, such as responding to your inquiries, processing initial job application inquiries, operating and improving our website, and ensuring its security, provided these interests are not overridden by your data protection interests or fundamental rights and freedoms.
  • Performance of a Contract (or Pre-contractual Steps): Processing applicant data further into the recruitment process may be necessary for steps taken at your request prior to potentially entering into an employment contract.
  • Legal Obligation: We may process information to comply with legal obligations.

7. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our website uses cookies and similar technologies. Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit a website.

  • Types of Cookies Used:
    • Strictly Necessary Cookies: Essential for the website to function properly (e.g., security, accessibility). These cannot be disabled.
    • Performance/Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how visitors interact with our website by collecting information anonymously (e.g., Google Analytics).
    • Functional Cookies: Enable enhanced functionality and personalization (e.g., remembering preferences).
    • Targeting/Advertising Cookies: May be set through our site by advertising partners to build a profile of your interests and show relevant ads elsewhere. We currently do not use any targeted advertising cooking technology, but may in the future. 
  • Your Choices: Upon your first visit, you will be presented with a cookie banner requesting your consent for non-essential cookies. You can manage your cookie preferences at any time through our website or via your browser settings. Please note that disabling certain cookies may affect website functionality.

8. Data Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell your personal information collected through this website. We may share your information in the following circumstances:

  • Service Providers: We share information with third-party vendors and service providers who perform services on our behalf, such as website hosting, data analytics (e.g., Google Analytics), email delivery, IT services, recruitment support services, and customer support. These providers are contractually obligated to protect your data and use it only for the services requested.
  • Legal Requirements: We may disclose your information if required by law, subpoena, or other legal process, or if we have a good faith belief that disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, protect your safety or the safety of others, investigate fraud, or respond to a government request.
  • Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, reorganization, bankruptcy, or sale of some or all of our assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction, subject to standard confidentiality arrangements.
  • With Your Consent: We may share information for other purposes with your explicit consent.

9. International Data Transfers

Storyline Strategies is based in the United States. Information we collect may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States or other countries outside of your country of residence, where data protection laws may differ.

If we transfer personal information originating from the EEA, UK, or Switzerland to countries not deemed adequate by the European Commission, we rely on appropriate safeguards, such as the European Commission’s Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) or other lawful transfer mechanisms, to ensure your data is protected.

10. Data Security

We implement reasonable and appropriate technical and organizational measures designed to protect the personal information we collect via our website against accidental or unlawful destruction, loss, alteration, unauthorized disclosure, or access. However, no internet transmission or electronic storage method is 100% secure.

11. Data Retention

We retain personal information collected through the website for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law (e.g., for legal, accounting, or reporting requirements). Specifically for employment recruitment information submitted via the website, we typically retain applicant data for a period of 18 months to allow for processing the current application and for consideration for future roles unless you request deletion earlier, or if you consent to longer retention, or applicable law requires a different period. We will then securely delete or anonymize your information according to our data retention schedules.

12. Your Privacy Rights

Depending on your location and applicable law (such as GDPR or CCPA/CPRA), you may have certain rights regarding your personal information:

  • Rights under GDPR (Applicable to EEA/UK/Swiss residents):
    • Right to Access: Request access to the personal information we hold about you.
    • Right to Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate personal information.
    • Right to Erasure (‘Right to be Forgotten’): Request deletion of your personal information under certain conditions.
    • Right to Restrict Processing: Request restriction of processing under certain conditions.
    • Right to Data Portability: Request to receive your data in a structured, commonly used, machine-readable format.
    • Right to Object: Object to processing based on legitimate interests or for direct marketing.
    • Right Related to Automated Decision-Making: Rights regarding automated decision-making and profiling.
    • Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent at any time where consent is the legal basis.
    • Right to Lodge a Complaint: Lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority.
  • Rights under CCPA/CPRA (Applicable to California residents):
    • Right to Know/Access: Request information about the categories and specific pieces of personal information collected, sources, purposes, and categories of third parties shared with.
    • Right to Delete: Request deletion of your personal information, subject to certain exceptions.
    • Right to Correct: Request correction of inaccurate personal information.
    • Right to Opt-Out of Sale/Sharing: We do not “sell” or “share” (as defined under CCPA/CPRA) personal information collected solely through this website for cross-context behavioral advertising.
    • Right to Limit Use of Sensitive Personal Information: Request limitations on the use/disclosure of sensitive personal information (if collected and used for inferring characteristics).
    • Right to Non-Discrimination: Right not to be discriminated against for exercising your CCPA/CPRA rights.
  • Exercising Your Rights: To exercise any applicable rights, please contact us using the details in Section 17. We will respond to your request consistent with applicable law and may need to verify your identity before processing certain requests.

13. Children’s Privacy

Our website is not intended for children under the age of 16 (or a higher age threshold if required by applicable law). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under this age without parental consent. If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child without necessary consent, we will take steps to delete it.

14. Links to Other Websites

Our website may contain links to third-party websites not operated by us (including potentially applicant tracking systems or other recruitment tools). This Policy does not apply to third-party websites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party site you visit.

15. Storyline Strategy Council

Storyline Strategies operates the Storyline Strategy Council, an exclusive network for research participants. Participation in the Storyline Strategy Council, including the collection and processing of data submitted during enrollment and participation in research activities, is governed by a separate Storyline Strategy Council Privacy Policy and Storyline Strategy Council Terms & Conditions. These specific policies will be provided to individuals during the enrollment process for the Council. This Website Privacy Policy does not cover data processing activities related to the Storyline Strategy Council.

16. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. We will post any changes on this page and update the “Last Updated” date at the top. We encourage you to review this Policy periodically. For material changes, we may provide more prominent notice as required by law.

17. Contact Us

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, or if you wish to exercise your privacy rights, please contact us at:

Email:
info@storylinestrategies.com

Postal Mail:
Privacy Office Storyline Strategies
PO Box 74
Union Hall, VA 24176

Last Updated: May 2, 2025