2008 NCDM Database Excellence Awards Presented in Orlando

December 10, 2008 — The Direct Marketing Association (DMA) and DIRECT magazine yesterday announced the 2008 NCDM Database Excellence Awards winners.

The awards, which honor organizations that have demonstrated ingenuity and creativity in leveraging their marketing databases, were presented during a luncheon ceremony held at the Gaylord Palms Resort in Orlando. Comedian Chris Blackmore served as master of ceremonies for the event and announced each of this year’s winners.

“These companies have achieved dramatic, measurable results by applying statistical techniques, leveraging system capabilities, or reorganizing to become more customer-focused,” said Angela Eastin, group show director, Penton Media.

“Every year our competition draws the best of the best, and this year is was no different. Congratulations to all 2008 NCDM Database Excellence Awards winners,” said Yasmin Melendez, DMA’s group show director.

Presented in four categories — Analytics & Modeling Applications, Business-to-Business Marketing, Multichannel Marketing, and Technological Applications — the 2008 NCDM Database Excellence Awards winners are:

· Platinum Award: National Australia Bank (marketer) and Teradata (agency)

Analytics and Modeling Applications Category

· Gold Award: Cisco Systems

· Silver Award: Valvoline Instant Oil Change (marketer) and Catalyst Direct, Inc. (agency)

· Bronze Award: Charter Communications, Inc. (marketer) and The Allant Group (agency)

Business-to-Business Category

· Gold Award: Michelin (marketer) and DATACORE Marketing (agency)

· Bronze Award: Alvion and Sybase

Multichannel Marketing Category

· Gold and Platinum Award: National Australia Bank (marketer) and Teradata (agency)

· Silver Award: Merchants Bonding Company (marketer) and Relationship Marketing Inc. (agency)

· Bronze Award: Alltel Wireless (marketer) and Acxiom Corporation (agency)

Technological Applications Category

· Gold Award: The Marketing Store

· Silver Award: Progressive Enterprises Ltd. (marketer) and Proximity iD Ltd. (agency)

Preceding this year’s awards was author Thomas Davenport’s morning keynote presentation, entitled “Competing on Analytics.” Davenport offered guidelines for companies to effectively compete based on their analytical prowess and discussed tactics companies are adopting to remain successful during these tumultuous times.

About NCDM

Co-produced by DIRECT magazine and the Direct Marketing Association, the National Center for Database Marketing (NCDM) conference is dedicated exclusively to the database marketing industry. NCDM is held once a year and brings marketing and technology decision-makers together to find practical approaches to today’s direct marketing challenges using customer data and technology.

About DIRECT

DIRECT provides strategic and tactical information for direct marketers that is timely, inspirational and on the cutting-edge of innovation. DIRECT’s franchises of print, online, and interactive information products connect today’s direct marketers to the information, resources and suppliers they need to reach their business goals. DIRECT’s award-winning editorial staff delivers detailed coverage on cross-channel integration, ROI/analytics, CRM/database marketing, direct mail, email marketing, search/web marketing, print/production, DRTV/radio, insert media, telemarketing, and legal/regulatory issues.

DIRECT’s franchise of information products includes: DIRECT magazine; www.directmag.com; DIRECT Newsline, DIRECT Listline and Magilla Marketing enewsletters; the online Buyer’s Guide; the National Center for Database Marketing (NCDM) conference; Webinars; E-Special Reports; ListFinder; and original research. DIRECT is part of Penton Media’s Chief Marketer Network, which includes Chief Marketer, PROMO, and Multichannel Merchant.

About Direct Marketing Association (DMA)

The Direct Marketing Association (www.the-dma.org) is the leading global trade association of businesses and nonprofit organizations using and supporting multichannel direct marketing tools and techniques. DMA advocates standards for responsible marketing, promotes relevance as the key to reaching consumers with desirable offers, and provides cutting-edge research, education, and networking opportunities to improve results throughout the end-to-end direct marketing process. Founded in 1917, DMA today represents more than 3,400 companies from dozens of vertical industries in the US and 48 other nations, including half of the Fortune 100 companies, as well as nonprofit organizations.

# # #