since it sounds like the report is pretty simple...no dynamic suppressions, page breaks, groups, (which means that aren't any formulas to inspect) I would try the simplest solution...

 

create another report.

 

just bring in the associate table and the contacts, create a group for associates and place the contact fields into the detail section and see what is displayed.

 

If that displays like it should, either figure out what's gone wrong in the original report or build the report up from this base that works as desired.

 

Sorry I can't be of more help.