DMEF Calls for Nominations for 2009 'Rising Stars' and 'Corporate Commitment' Awards; Nominations Deadline Extended to March 2

February 19, 2009 — The Direct Marketing Educational Foundation (DMEF) has announced it is welcoming nominations for its 2009 Rising Stars and Corporate Commitment Awards. The deadline for nominations has been extended to March 2, 2009.

Individual and corporate award recipients will be honored for their commitment to excellence in the field of direct/interactive marketing education, specifically highlighting service which nurtures and supports the development of young leaders in this field. Without question, these honorees set the standard to show how leadership, generosity, and giving back both support and nurture the younger generations of talent in this field.

A DMEF Awards Selection Committee, consisting of both current and former DMEF Board Members, will review the nominations, paying close attention to the candidates’ results and activities as they relate to the award criteria, included in the award submissions. Winners will be announced in March, and honored at DMEF’s Rising Stars Awards Dinner which will take place in New York City on June 16, 2009.

“The Rising Stars Awards Dinner offers those of us in the field a unique opportunity to pay tribute to the individuals and corporations committed to future generations through education, scholarships, career placement, and mentoring,” said Gary S. Laben, Chairman of DMEF and chief executive officer, KnowledgeBase Marketing Inc., winners of last year’s Corporate Commitment Award.

“DMEF is all about identifying, supporting, and honoring the best and brightest talent of tomorrow,” added DMEF President Terri L. Bartlett. “Since its inception two years ago, the Rising Stars Awards Dinner is the event where leaders throughout direct/interactive marketing gather to honor those identified as the true ‘rising stars’ in this field.”

DMEF Rising Stars Honorees

DMEF’s Rising Star Award is presented to individuals recognized as up-and-coming leaders in the field who not only demonstrate outstanding achievements throughout their careers, but who are known for their commitment to give back, furthering education and growth throughout the field. The individual must also have a demonstrated record of outstanding achievements including educational and/or charitable activities above and beyond professional ambitions, be recognized for their commitment to support or mentor young professionals, as well as have demonstrated professional achievements in the online/offline space.

Last year, DMEF honored five Rising Stars: Janet Barker-Evans, senior vice president, Draftfcb; Todd Leiser, vice president of Database Marketing, Rodale Direct, Rodale, Inc.; Joseph Pak, sales operations senior analyst, Google Inc.; Joe Pych, founder and president, NextMark, Inc.; and Jeff Yowell, founder, president and chief executive officer, Datacore Marketing.

DMEF Corporate Commitment Award

DMEF’s Corporate Commitment Award honors companies that exemplify the unique and significant areas of a leader and consistently demonstrate a commitment to excellence in the areas of direct/interactive marketing education among new and upcoming talent. The corporate honoree must also be renowned for its culture of nurturing new and upcoming talent, as well as active support and consistent participation in DMEF programs and activities which foster and promote excellence — for today and tomorrow.

Last year, DMEF presented its Corporate Commitment Award to KnowledgeBase Marketing, Inc. The honor, formerly known as the DMEF Corporate Leadership Award, has previously been earned by Time Consumer Marketing, Inc. (2007), Bookspan (2006), Kraft (2005), and America Online (2004).

Additional Information

For additional information regarding DMEF’s Rising Stars Awards nominations, including nomination criteria and forms, please click here.

For additional information regarding DMEF’s Corporate Commitment Awards nominations, including nomination criteria and forms, please click here.

Additional information about DMEF’s June 16 Rising Stars Awards dinner, including online reservations, will be available on their homepage, www.directworks.org, in February.

About Direct Marketing Educational Foundation (DMEF)

Headquartered in New York City, the Direct Marketing Educational Foundation (DMEF) works to attract, educate, and place top college students in the business of direct/interactive marketing and, thereby, expanding and enriching the talent pool of trained, market-ready direct marketers. Established in 1966 by members of the Direct Marketing Association (DMA) who wanted to give something back to the community, DMEF is today a separate, 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that is supported solely by tax-deductible contributions from individuals, companies, and regional clubs and associations. Funds raised go toward a broad range of world-class educational programs.

Since its founding, thousands of students have taken advantage of DMEF’s educational programs, entering the field with the competitive edge of being “workplace-ready.” Many have gone on to become today’s direct marketing leaders, an indication of the Foundation’s success. In addition, more than 1,800 professors have participated in DMEF programs. Thanks in significant part to the Foundation’s four decades of work, today approximately 255 colleges and universities offer courses in direct/interactive marketing, 31 of which now offer specific direct marketing degrees and certificate programs. For additional information about the DMEF, its mission, and its programs, visit www.directworks.org.

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