Rising Stars Award Winners Announced by the Direct Marketing Educational Foundation

April 11, 2007 — The Direct Marketing Educational Foundation (DMEF) is thrilled to announce the four winners of its Rising Stars Award, to pay tribute to professionals in the field of direct marketing who demonstrate superior leadership abilities, which include a strong track record of outstanding results and a stellar reputation for “giving back” through direct marketing education.  The inaugural winners of this prestigious award include: 

These awards, and the Foundation’s Corporate Commitment Award presented to Time Consumer Marketing, Inc., a division of Time Inc., will be presented at the annual DMEF New York Awards Dinner on June 19 at The Boathouse Central Park, held in conjunction with the Direct Marketing Association’s (DMA) 2007 DM Days. 

“This award honors a vital category for the DMEF and the community, as we look to perpetuate the field of direct marketing.  When tasked with the challenge to select the winners to represent the face of tomorrow’s leaders in direct marketing, members of the Selection Committee were delighted to see the quality – and quantity – of candidates nominated for this first-time award,” said Allen Dyon, chairman of the DMEF Board of Trustees and chief marketing officer of DMRA.  “Our June Awards Dinner is a great opportunity for those throughout the direct marketing community to celebrate this new generation of stars in our field, and to pay tribute to Time Consumer Marketing, to demonstrate the role companies play in the development and nurturing of our future leaders.” 

To reserve a table / ticket at the June 19 New York Awards Dinner, to be held at The Boathouse Central Park, visit:  http://www.the-dma.org/dmef/RSVPForm.pdf

DMEF’s Rising Stars

Austin Bliss is co-founder and President of FreshAddress, Inc., a privately held company founded in 1999 and based in Newton, MA., and is the inventor of a patented system that provides e-mail change of address (ECOA) services for consumers and businesses.  Previously, Bliss managed programs for both the United Nations and the Carnegie Foundation.  Bliss speaks at many events, including the DMA Annual Conference, Annual Catalog Conference, DMDays, and National Center for Database Marketing.  Bliss sits on the DMA Committee on Social Responsibility, and is a roundtable chair for the E-mail Experience Council.

Kimberly Miller is a 12-year direct marketing veteran who started in the business right after graduation, and for the past seven years, Miller has worked at Time Consumer Marketing, the Time Inc.  She joined the customer retention team of the Business and Finance group in 2000 and moved quickly through the ranks from associate marketing manager to marketing director, ultimately gaining responsibility for retention marketing across three titles and four channels of sale. 

Miller moved to the position of marketing director for REAL SIMPLE and InSTYLE in 2005 where her responsibilities expanded to include retention marketing, acquisition, online audience development, and consumer research.  Miller is a respected manager, not only for her direct marketing expertise and acumen, but for her commitment to the training and development of staff.  She proactively develops staff preparing them to take on greater roles with more than half of her direct reports having moved on to bigger jobs.  She has been tapped to chair internal knowledge sharing groups and is a “faculty” teacher in Time Consumer Marketing’s internal training program.  Miller is a frequent contributor at direct marketing conferences including DMA Circulation Day. 

William Misloski is an executive level marketer with nearly 15 years of business experience and an expertise in direct and interactive marketing.  Since joining Orbitz, in addition to two promotions within his first year of employment, he has received one of the company’s highest honors for his extraordinary online marketing and integration efforts.  As he launched his career, his ground level direct marketing experience and thirst for interactive knowledge enabled him to accomplish his first career goal, which was to get involved with what was then the fastest area of interactive – e-mail. 

Misloski was at the forefront of the e-mail era with DoubleClick where he introduced dozens of Fortune 1000 companies to the power of interactive marketing.  He participated in Northwestern’s Interactive Marketing Communications Program, graduating in 2003 at the top of his class, with highest honors.  Misloski regularly gives back by sharing his developments and online expertise with area start-up organizations, his alma mater, and marketing organizations.  Will’s continued goal for both career and “giving back” is based in education.  He mentors young marketers and lends his knowledge of how interactive media can be used for direct marketing purposes, to direct marketing events. 

Daniel Parzych is an energetic leader on a mission to make sophisticated analytics an integral part of the business process for every direct marketing organization.  Described as a natural teacher, Parzch has a unique ability to translate statistical findings into concrete business benefits, allowing marketers to identify opportunities that may not have been readily apparent. 

In 2002, Parzych became an advisor to the founders of Alliant Cooperative Data Solutions as they undertook development of a comprehensive Cooperative Consumer Performance database.  Parzych then signed on as Alliant’s director of analytics, undertaking the task of designing a massive, analytics-oriented database.  Within the company, it is acknowledged that Parzhch’s skills as a mentor, technical leader, and business strategist led directly to Alliant’s success and earned him respect of colleagues and clients alike. 

Today, Parzych sits on Alliant’s executive management team, responsible for overseeing the expansion of its production and data operations as VP of Data Solutions and Services.  He has been a frequent speaker at DMEF educational conferences and other DMA-sponsored presentations and events.  He is an active member of DMA’s Analytics Council, and sponsors participation by his entire team in their activities. 

DMEF’s Corporate Commitment Award Winner

Recognized for its commitment to nurture the development of tomorrow’s industry leaders, Time Consumer Marketing, Inc. (TCM,) the consumer marketing division of Time Inc., is a marketing organization that consistently demonstrates their claim:  “our people are our greatest asset.  Identifying and nurturing talent is a true business imperative and a high priority for TCM.”  The training and development opportunities they afford their young staff have helped them to become strong contributors as is evidenced by the year over year profit growth that the division has delivered.  In short, they provide future leaders to the company and the industry.  

Most of their programs have been in place well over a decade and have served as a model for other divisions and companies, including such initiatives as the TCM Internship Program designed to identify and nurture high potential talent at the undergraduate and business school level; the TCM Training Program, a comprehensive training program that provides entry level and junior level staff with experiences that can enhance their current performance as well as their future development. 

A mentoring program that provides new staff with peer mentors to smooth their entry to the company and staff with one year of tenure may participate in the developmental mentorship program -- pairing them with senior staff from the division’s ranks.  In addition to developing future direct marketing leaders, Time Consumer Marketing contributes to the direct marketing community in a myriad of ways.  TCM is a strong supporter of DMA.  Beyond financial support, they provide active leadership on the DMA Board, the DMA Circulation Council, the DMA Circulation Council Operating Committee and several other special interest councils.  Staff members are frequent participants at DMA-sponsored conferences and panels including the Circulation Council’s Young Professional program.  They are a long-time supporter of the DMEF’s activities through internship programs, the John Yeck Center programs and other ad hoc activities.

Direct Marketing Educational Foundation (DMEF)

DMEF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational foundation supported entirely by tax-deductible contributions from business leaders and direct marketing companies.  Solely committed to fostering and enhancing direct marketing courses and curricula on college campuses and graduate business schools across America, DMEF provides a range of results-driven educational programs in direct and interactive marketing, helps students discover exciting career opportunities, and disseminates information about the economic value of the direct marketing field.  The Foundation also provides teaching and research resources to educators.  For additional information, please visit www.the-dmef.org.

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