Document:

<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.2

                             EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
                             --------------------

     THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made as of this 31st day of
August, 2000, by and between ORC Consumer, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), Opinion Research Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("ORC") and
Gary M. Cotter (the "Executive").

                             W I T N E S S E T H:
                             - - - - - - - - - -

     WHEREAS, the Company believes that it would benefit from the application of
the Executive's particular and unique skill, experience and background, and
wishes to employ the Executive as an executive of the Company; and

     WHEREAS, the parties desire by this Agreement to set forth the terms and
conditions of the employment relationship between the Company, ORC and the
Executive.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants
in this Agreement, the Company, ORC and the Executive agree as follows:

1.   Employment and Duties.
     ---------------------

(a)       The Company hereby employs the Executive as an executive on the terms
and conditions provided in this Agreement, and the Executive agrees to accept
such employment subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement. The
Executive shall serve in such executive position with the Company or ORC as
shall from time to time be determined by the Board of Directors of the Company
(the "Board") or the Chief Executive Officer of ORC, as applicable. The
Executive shall have such executive duties and responsibilities as shall from
time to time be determined by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer of ORC,
as applicable.

(b)       The Executive agrees to devote his best efforts and substantially all
of his business time, attention, energy and skill to performing his duties
hereunder. Provided that such activities shall not violate any provision of this
Agreement or the Agreement Not To Compete of even date herewith among the
Executive, the Company and ORC (the "Non-Compete Agreement") or materially
interfere with the performance of his duties hereunder, nothing herein
<PAGE>

shall prohibit the Executive (i) from engaging in charitable, civic, fraternal,
or trade group activities, (ii) from writing academic, trade or mainstream
papers or other publishable books, or (iii) from investing his assets in other
entities or business ventures.

(c)            Without the Company's or ORC's prior consent, the Executive shall
not knowingly obtain goods or services or otherwise deal on behalf of the
Company or ORC with any business or entity in which the Executive or a member of
his family has a financial interest or from which the Executive or a member of
his immediate family may derive a financial benefit as a result of such
transaction, except that this prohibition shall not apply to any public company
in which the Executive or a member of his family owns less than three percent of
the outstanding stock.

2.   Term.  The term of this Agreement shall commence on the date hereof and
     ----
shall terminate three years from the date hereof (the "Term"), unless
extended by mutual agreement of the parties or earlier terminated in accordance
with the terms of this Agreement.

3.   Compensation.  As compensation for performing the services required by
     ------------
this Agreement, the Company shall pay to the Executive an annual salary ("Annual
Salary") of One Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($125,000), payable in
equal installments pursuant to the Company's customary payroll procedures in
effect for its executive personnel at the time of payment, but in no event less
frequently than monthly, subject to withholding for applicable federal, state,
and local taxes.

4.   Executive Benefits.  During the term of this Agreement the Executive and
     ------------------
his eligible dependents shall have the right to participate in any retirement
plans (qualified and non-qualified), pension or welfare, stock option or other
plans, life, health and disability insurance, cafeteria plans, or other benefit
plan or program that has been or is hereafter adopted by the Company (or in
which the Company participates), according to the terms of such plan or program;
provided, however, that, for a period of one year from the date hereof, such
Company
<PAGE>

benefit plans shall be provided to the Executive at a level no less than
the benefits he was otherwise receiving as an employee of C/J Research, Inc.
prior to the commencement of his employment hereunder.

5.   Vacation and Leaves of Absence.  The Executive shall be entitled to 20
     ------------------------------
vacation days during each calendar year.  Any vacation days that are not taken
in a given calendar year shall not accrue or carry over from year to year.  Upon
any termination of this Agreement for any reason whatsoever, accrued and unused
vacation for the year in which this Agreement terminates will be paid to the
Executive within 10 days of such termination based on his Annual Salary in
effect on the date of such termination.  In addition, the Executive may be
granted leaves of absence with or without pay for such reasons as the Board in
its sole and absolute discretion may determine, and shall be entitled to the
same sick leave and holidays provided to other senior executives of the Company.

6.   Expenses.  The Executive shall be promptly reimbursed against presentation
     --------
of vouchers or receipts for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred by
him in connection with the performance of business-related duties.

7.   Termination.
     -----------

(a)       Termination by the Company For Cause.  The Company may terminate this
          ------------------------------------
Agreement prior to its expiration date for "Cause". In such event, the Executive
shall be paid for his services hereunder only his Annual Salary up to the
effective date of such termination. For purposes of this Section 7, Cause shall
mean (i) an act of dishonesty by the Executive constituting a felony or
resulting or intended to result in gain to, or personal enrichment of, the
Executive at the Company's expense, (ii) the engaging by the Executive in
misconduct which is demonstrably injurious to the Company, (iii) the refusal of
the Executive substantially to perform his duties hereunder (other than as a
result of disability), (iv) the violation of any reasonable express direction of
the Board or of any reasonable rule, regulation, policy or plan established by
<PAGE>

the Company from time to time which governs the Executive in the performance of
his work (other than an isolated, insubstantial, and inadvertent action that is
not taken in bad faith and is remedied by the Executive after receipt of notice
thereof from the Company), (v) the use by the Executive of any illegal
substance, or the use by the Executive of alcohol or any controlled substance to
an extent that it interferes with the performance of the Executive's duties
under this Agreement, and (vi) the substantial breach by the Executive of his
obligations in this Agreement or in the Non-Compete Agreement.

(b)       Termination by the Executive for Good Reason.  The Executive may
          --------------------------------------------
terminate this Agreement prior to the expiration of the Term for "Good Reason."
For purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason"means (1) the assignment to the
Executive of any duties materially inconsistent with Paragraph 1(a) of this
Agreement, or any other action by the Company that results in a diminution of
the Executive's position, duties, authority or responsibility, other than an
isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent action that is not taken in bad faith
and is remedied by the Company after receipt of notice thereof from Executive,
(2) any requirement by the Company that the Executive's services be rendered
primarily at a location or locations other than the greater Chicago metropolitan
area and for other than a de minimis period of time; (3) the failure of the
Company to pay the Executive's Annual Salary or other material breach by the
Company that is not remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice
thereof from the Executive (and in any event, within 30 calendar days after
receipt of such written notice). A termination of employment by the Executive
for Good Reason shall be effectuated by giving the Company written notice of the
termination within 30 days of the event constituting Good Reason, setting forth
in reasonable detail the specific conduct of the Company constituting Good
Reason.

(c)       Termination by the Executive (Other than Good Reason).  The Executive
          -----------------------------------------------------
may terminate this Agreement (other than for Good Reason) upon 60 days written
notice to the
<PAGE>

Company (during which period the Executive shall, if requested in writing by the
Company, continue to perform his duties as specified under this Agreement). In
such event, the Executive shall be paid only his Annual Salary (and accrued
vacation under Paragraph 5) for his services hereunder up to the effective date
of such termination.

(d)       Disability.  The Company may terminate this Agreement due to the
          ----------
Executive's illness, physical or mental disability, or other incapacity, in
accordance with the Company's disability practices and policies in effect from
time to time; provided, however, that no such termination may occur unless and
until the Executive has not performed such Executive's duties under this
Agreement due to such illness, disability or other incapacity for at least six
months. However, prior to such a termination of this Agreement, the Executive
shall not be entitled to his Annual Salary during any period during which the
Executive is receiving sick pay or short-term disability payments from the
Company, or long-term disability insurance payments under the Company's long
term disability insurance plan.

(e)       Death.  This Agreement shall terminate on the date of the Executive's
          -----
death. In such event the Executive's estate shall be paid his Annual Salary for
the remainder of the month in which such termination occurs.

(f)       Severance Obligations.  If (1) the Company terminates the Executive's
          ---------------------
employment (other than pursuant to Paragraph 7(a), 7(d) or 7(e), or (2) the
Executive terminates his employment pursuant to Paragraph 7(b), the Executive
shall be entitled to the continuation of his Annual Salary for the greater of
(i) one year from the date of such termination or (ii) the remainder of the
Term, payable in equal installments in accordance with the Company's payroll
policy from time to time in effect.

8.        Prior Agreements, Conflicts of Interest.  The Executive represents
          ---------------------------------------
to the Company that (a) there are no restrictions, agreements or understandings,
oral or written, to which the Executive is a party or by which the Executive is
bound that prevent or make unlawful the
<PAGE>

Executive's execution or performance of this Agreement; (b) none of the
information supplied by the Executive to the Company or any representative of
the Company in connection with the Executive's employment by the Company
misstated a material fact or omitted information necessary to make the
information supplied not materially misleading; and (c) the Executive does not
have any business or other relationship that creates a conflict between the
interests of the Executive and the Company.

9.   Company Property.  All materials or data of any kind furnished to the
     ----------------
Executive by the Company, or developed by the Executive on behalf of the
Company, or at the direction of the Company, or for the use of the Company, or
otherwise in connection with the Executive's employment hereunder, are and shall
remain the sole and confidential property of the Company, whichever applicable;
if the Company requests the return of such materials at any time during, at or
after the termination of the Executive's employment, the Executive shall
immediately deliver the same to the Company.

10.  ORC as Surety.  It is hereby agreed that ORC shall guarantee the
     -------------
obligations of the Company to the Executive as surety.

11.  Miscellaneous.
     -------------

(a)       Integration; Amendment.  This Agreement, together with the Non-Compete
          ----------------------
Agreement, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with
respect to the employment matters set forth herein. No amendments or additions
to this Agreement shall be binding unless in writing and signed by all parties
hereto.

(b)       Assignability.  The Company may assign its rights and obligations
          -------------
under this Agreement to ORC, in which event ORC shall be the Executive's
employer.

(c)       Severability.  If any part of this Agreement is contrary to,
          ------------
prohibited by, or deemed invalid under applicable law or regulations, such
provision shall be inapplicable and
<PAGE>

deemed omitted to the extent so contrary, prohibited, or invalid, but the
remainder of this Agreement shall not be invalid and shall be given full force
and effect so far as possible.

(d)       Waivers.  The failure or delay of any party at any time to require
          -------
performance by the other party of any provision of this Agreement, even if
known, shall not affect the right of such party to require performance of that
provision or to exercise any right, power, or remedy hereunder, and any waiver
by any party of any breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not be
construed as a waiver of any continuing or succeeding breach of such provision,
a waiver of the provision itself, or a waiver of any right, power, or remedy
under this Agreement. No notice to or demand on any party in any case shall, of
itself, entitle such party to the other or further notice or demand in similar
or other circumstances.

(e)       Burden and Benefit.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure
          ------------------
to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and
assigns.

(f)       Arbitration.  Any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or
          -----------
related to this Agreement or breach thereof, or its interpretation, shall be
settled by binding arbitration before three arbitrators pursuant to the rules of
the American Arbitration Association in Chicago, Illinois, or such other
location agreed to by the parties, and judgment upon the award rendered by the
arbitrator or arbitrators may be entered in any court having jurisdiction
thereof. The arbitrators shall be selected by a joint agreement of the parties,
provided that if they do not so agree within 10 days of the date of the request
for arbitration, the selection shall be made pursuant to the rules of the
American Arbitration Association. Such disputes, controversies or claims shall
be subject to arbitration upon written demand of either party. Arbitration shall
be commenced immediately upon presentation of such written demand to all
interested parties. Notice of demand for arbitration shall be filed in writing
with the other party to the Agreement and with the American Arbitration
Association. The non-prevailing party shall pay all of the expenses of each
party to the arbitration, including the expenses of the arbitrators and
reasonable
<PAGE>

attorney's fees. Nothing in this agreement shall prevent the parties hereto from
settling any dispute by mutual agreement at any time.

(g)       Governing Law; Headings.  This Agreement and its construction,
          -----------------------
performance, and enforceability shall be governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the laws of the State of Illinois. Headings and titles herein
are included solely for convenience and shall not affect, or be used in
connection with, the interpretation of this Agreement.

(h)       Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications
          -------
required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be
deemed to have been duly given, made and received only when delivered
(personally, by courier service such as Federal Express, or by other messenger
or by facsimile transmission and followed promptly by mail) or four days
following the day when deposited in the United States mails, registered or
certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, addressed as set
forth below:

(i)         If to the Executive:
            Gary M. Cotter
            3150 Salt Creek Lane
            Arlington Heights, IL 60005
            Telephone: 847-253-1100
            Telecopier: 847-253-1587

            If to the Company or ORC:

            23 Orchard Road
            Skillman, NJ 08558
            Attention: John F. Short
            Telephone: 908-281-5100
            Telecopier: 908-281-5105

            With a copy to:

            David Gitlin, Esquire
            Wolf, Block, Schorr and Solis-Cohen LLP
            1650 Arch Street - 22nd Floor
            Philadelphia, PA 19103
            Telephone: 215-977-2284
<PAGE>

            Telecopier: 215-977-2740

     Any party may alter the address to which communications or copies are to be
sent by giving notice of  such change of address in conformity with the
provisions of this paragraph for the giving of notice.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed this Agreement as of the
date first above written.
                              ORC CONSUMER, INC.

                              By: /s/ Kevin P. Croke
                                  -----------------------------
                                      Name:  Kevin P. Croke
                                      Title: Secretary

                              /s/ Gary M. Cotter  (SEAL)
                              ---------------------------------
                              Gary M. Cotter

                              OPINION RESEARCH CORPORATION

                              By: /s/ Douglas L. Cox
                                  -----------------------------
                                    Name: Douglas L. Cox
                                    Title: Chief Executive Officer
                                    Name:
                                    Title:<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.3

                           AGREEMENT NOT TO COMPETE
                           ------------------------

     THIS AGREEMENT is made as of the 31/st/ day of August, 2000, among Opinion
Research Corporation, a Delaware Corporation ("ORC"), ORC Consumer, Inc., a
Delaware Corporation (the "Corporation") and Terence W. Cotter ("Executive").

                             W I T N E S S E T H:
                             - - - - - - - - - -

     WHEREAS, the Corporation, ORC, C/J Research, Inc. ("C/J Research"), Gary M.
Cotter and Executive have entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement of even date
herewith providing for the purchase of certain of the assets and the assumption
of certain of the liabilities of C/J Research by Corporation (the "Asset
Purchase Agreement"); and

     WHEREAS, the Corporation and Executive have entered into an Employment
Agreement of even date herewith (the "Employment Agreement" and, collectively
with the Asset Purchase Agreement, the "Acquisition Agreements"); and

     WHEREAS, the Corporation wishes to employ Executive for his knowledge and
expertise; and

     WHEREAS, as a material and significant inducement to the Corporation and
ORC to enter into and consummate the transactions set forth in the Acquisition
Agreements, Executive has agreed not to compete with the Corporation or ORC or
use or divulge certain information with respect to the business of the
Corporation or ORC pursuant to the following terms and conditions:

     NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which
is hereby acknowledged, and as a condition to the obligations of the Corporation
and ORC to consummate the transactions contemplated in the Acquisition
Agreements, the parties, each intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

1.   Non-Competition, Non-Disclosure of Trade Secrets.

(a)       Executive agrees that, except as set forth herein, for a period of
forty-two months from the date hereof, he shall not, directly or indirectly:

(i)       solicit, induce or encourage any employee of the Corporation or ORC,
to terminate his or her relationship with the Corporation or ORC; or
(ii)      employ or establish a business relationship with, or encourage or
assist any individual or entity to employ or establish a business relationship
with, any individual who was employed by the Corporation or ORC during the
preceding twelve month period; or
<PAGE>

(iii)     solicit, induce or encourage any Clients (as hereinafter defined) or
Prospective Clients (as hereinafter defined) to terminate or reduce in scope
their relationship with the Corporation or ORC; or

(iv)      solicit or assist any individual or entity in the solicitation of any
Clients or Prospective Clients of the Corporation or ORC for the purpose of
providing any products and/or services that are the same or substantially
similar to the products and services provided by the Corporation or ORC as of
the date hereof or at anytime during the period in which the Executive is
employed by the Corporation or ORC.

(b)     For purposes of this Paragraph 1,

(i)       "Clients" shall mean those clients for whom the Corporation or ORC
performed services during the preceding twelve months, and

(ii)      "Prospective Clients" shall mean persons or entities whose business
was solicited by the Corporation or ORC during the preceding twelve months, and

(iii)     "preceding twelve" months shall mean the twelve months immediately
preceding the date the allegedly proscribed act took place.

(c)     Executive shall not use for his personal benefit, or disclose,
communicate or divulge to, or use for the direct or indirect benefit of any
person, firm, association or company (other than ORC, the Corporation or their
subsidiaries), (i) any information regarding the business methods, business
policies, business strategies, marketing plans, survey procedures, statistical
techniques, research or development projects or results, trade secrets or
confidential data or processes of, or developed by, the Corporation or ORC, or
(ii) any confidential data on or relating to Clients or Prospective Clients of
the Corporation or ORC, or (iii) budgets, forecasts, pricing information or
unpublished financial information or other confidential information or data
relating to or dealing with the business operations or activities of the
Corporation or ORC. The obligations of Executive under this Agreement Not to
Compete shall not relate to information or data: (x) that is now or hereafter
becomes known to the public through sources independent of Executive and neither
directly nor indirectly through any fault of Executive; or (y) which must be
disclosed pursuant to a court order or otherwise as required by law provided,
however, that Executive shall give prior written notice of such anticipated
disclosure to the Corporation and reasonably cooperate with the Corporation in
seeking to obtain a protective order, at no cost to the Executive.

(d)     Executive, the Corporation and ORC acknowledge and agree that (i) the
covenants set forth herein are essential elements of the transactions
contemplated by the Acquisition Agreements, that Executive is receiving adequate
consideration thereunder, and that such covenants are reasonable and necessary
in order to protect the legitimate interests of the Corporation and ORC; (ii)
the Corporation and ORC will not have any adequate remedy at law if Executive
violates the terms hereof or fails to perform any of his obligations hereunder;
and (iii)
<PAGE>

the Corporation and ORC shall have the right, in addition to any other rights
either may have under applicable law, to obtain from any court of competent
jurisdiction preliminary and permanent injunctive relief to restrain any breach
or threatened breach of, or otherwise to specifically enforce any such covenant
or any other obligations of Executive under this Agreement, as well as to obtain
damages and an equitable accounting of all earnings, profits and other benefits
arising from such violation, which rights shall be cumulative and in addition to
any other rights or remedies to which ORC or the Corporation may be entitled.

(e)       If the period of time or scope of any restriction set forth on
Paragraph 1(a) should be adjudged unreasonable in any proceeding, then the
period of time shall be reduced by such number of months or the territory shall
be reduced by the elimination of such unreasonable portion thereof, or both, so
that such restrictions may be enforceable for such time and in the manner
adjudged to be reasonable. If Executive violates any of the restrictions
contained in Paragraph 1(a), then the restrictive period shall not run in favor
of Executive from the time of the commencement of any such violation until such
time as such violation shall be cured by Executive.

               2.   Miscellaneous.

                    (a)  Indulgences, Etc. Neither the failure nor any delay on
the part of the Executive, the Corporation or ORC to exercise any right, remedy,
power or privilege under this Agreement (a "Right") shall operate as a waiver
thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any Right preclude any
other or further exercise of the same or of any other Right, nor shall any
waiver of any Right with respect to any occurrence be construed as a waiver of
such Right with respect to any other occurrence. No waiver shall be effective
against the Executive, the Corporation or ORC unless it is in writing and is
signed by the Executive, the Corporation or ORC, as the case may be.

                    (b)  Notices.  All notices, requests, demands and other
communications required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing
and shall be deemed to have been duly given, made and received only when
delivered (personally, by courier service such as Federal Express, or by other
messenger or by facsimile transmission and followed promptly by mail) or four
days following the day when deposited in the United States mails, registered or
certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, addressed as set
forth below:

               If to Executive:

                    Terence W. Cotter
                    3150 Salt Creek Lane
                    Arlington Heights, IL 60005
                    Telephone: 847-253-1100
                    Telecopier: 847-253-1587

<PAGE>

                    with a copy, given in the manner prescribed above, to:

                    Stewart Dolin, Esquire
                    Sachnoff & Weaver, Ltd.
                    30 South Wacker Drive, Suite 2900
                    Chicago, IL 60606
                    Telephone: 312-207-1000
                    Telecopier: 312-207-6400

                    If to ORC or Corporation:

                    23 Orchard Road
                    Skillman, NJ  08558
                    Attention: John F. Short
                    Telephone: 908-281-5100
                    Telecopier:  908-281-5105

                    with a copy, given in the manner prescribed
                    above, to:

                    David Gitlin, Esquire
                    Wolf, Block, Schorr and Solis-Cohen LLP
                    1650 Arch Street
                    Philadelphia, PA 19103
                    Telephone: 215-977-2284
                    Telecopier: 215-977-2740

     Any party may alter the address to which communications or copies are to be
sent by giving notice of  such change of address in conformity with the
provisions of this paragraph for the giving of notice.

          (c)  Headings.  The headings contained in this Agreement are for
reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.

          (d)  Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois.

          (e)  Binding Nature of Agreement. This Agreement shall be binding upon
and inure to the benefit of the Corporation, ORC, Executive and their respective
successors, assigns, heirs and legal representatives.
<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Agreement as of the
date first above written.

                                   OPINION RESEARCH CORPORATION

                                   By:  /s/ Douglas L. Cox
                                      ----------------------------
                                        Name:  Douglas L. Cox
                                        Title:Chief Financial Officer

                                   ORC CONSUMER, INC.

                                   By:  /s/ Kevin P. Croke
                                      ----------------------------
                                        Name:  Kevin P. Croke
                                        Title: Secretary

                                   /s/ Terence W. Cotter       (SEAL)
                                   ----------------------------
                                   Terence W. Cotter

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00015-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00015-of-00352.parquet"}]]