At DMA07 in Chicago, DMEF's Educational Events, Awards Dinner and Auction to Focus on the Future

August 21, 2007 — Lester Wunderman, often referred to as the father of direct marketing, has stressed that, “staying intellectually young requires that one takes the future as your turn — not the past.” Taking Wunderman’s advice to heart, the Direct Marketing Educational Foundation (DMEF) will present new, forward-looking, innovative programs and events during the DMA07 Conference & Exhibition, which will be held October 13–18 at McCormick Place West in Chicago.

“The Foundation will offer a stellar lineup of educational and networking events during DMA07,” said DMEF President Terri L. Bartlett. “Marketing professionals and academia will have the chance to come together to discuss current — and future — activities in the corporate and academic arenas. Whether it’s the DMEF’s Annual Awards Dinner, the all-new Direct/Interactive Marketing Research Summit, College Day, visiting the DMEF Booth to gather information about our work, or bidding on some extraordinary goods and services at our Annual Auction for Education, Chicago is going to be the place to be in mid-October.”

DMEF Annual Awards Dinner

According to Bartlett, DMEF’s Annual Awards Dinner — to be held Saturday evening, October 13 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago — is one of the Foundation’s premier events of the year. At this year’s gala reception and dinner, DMEF will present Tim Litle, chairman and founder of Litle & Co., with its Edward N. Mayer Educational Leadership Award, and Draftfcb with its Corporate Leadership Award.

To access the Annual Awards Dinner online reservation form, please visit http://www.the-dma.org/dmef/DMEFRESERVEFORMver2.pdf. For additional information on table sponsorships and tickets to the DMEF Annual Awards Dinner, please contact Asha Roberts at 212.790.1512 or aroberts@the-dma.org.

DMEF Auction for Education — ‘Direct Marketers Gone Wild!’

Anyone who will have a winning bid during “Direct Marketers Gone Wild!” — the live and silent Auction for Education — will win big! Travel in style from Belgium to Switzerland with Viking River Cruises, dine for a year on Omaha Steaks, or sample delicacies from Harry & David.

“Best of all,” Bartlett pointed out, “proceeds from all participants — including donors and winning bidders alike — will help provide top-notch education for aspiring direct marketing professionals. So everybody comes out a winner.”

DMEF’s Annual Auction for Education will launch online on Thursday, September 6 and will heat up on Saturday evening, October 13 at its Annual Awards Dinner. Things will continue to simmer until the auction closes on Tuesday, October 16 at 6 p.m. (CT). To place a bid, just stop by the DMEF Booth at McCormick Place West or simply bid online at www.dmefauction.org.

The Direct/Interactive Marketing Research Summit

With a format reflecting a fresh new outlook, DMEF’s Annual Direct Marketing Educators’ Conference, which will be held Sunday, October 14, has been reborn with a brand-new name: the Direct/Interactive Marketing Research Summit.

Opening keynote speaker Dr. Robert C. Blattberg of Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management will enlighten attendees with his talk entitled “Why Science is Important in Database Marketing.”

In morning sessions, leading researchers will present their findings as part of the new format. Special topic research session speakers will include John Deighton of Harvard School of Business, Koen Pauwels of Dartmouth College, Venkatesh Shankar of Texas A&M University, and Jacquelyn Thomas of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.

During the summit’s luncheon, Sid Liebenson, executive vice president and director of marketing for Draftfcb, will address delegates on “Connecting with Today's Consumers: Can Research Keep Up with Reality?”

During the morning introduction, DMEF will present its 2007 Robert B. Clarke Outstanding Educator Award to Wharton School marketing professor Peter S. Fader, PhD.

DMEF College Day

On Sunday afternoon, DMEF and the Chicago Association of Direct Marketing Educational Foundation (CADMEF) will co-sponsor what one might call a college orientation for aspiring direct marketers. Here, students interested in exploring a direct marketing education will have the opportunity to meet with a rich array of direct marketing professionals before receiving a delegate’s pass to Monday’s DMA07 offerings.

Sunday’s “orientation” includes an interactive session on emerging media, a chance to meet with this year’s DMEF Direct Marketing Leadership Development Program residents and their corporate sponsors, and a visit to the DMA07 Exhibit Hall.

About DMA07 Conference & Exhibition

DMA07, the largest gathering of direct marketing professionals, is DMA’s annual conference and exhibition. DMA07 will feature more than 150 educational sessions, plus roundtables, case studies, white papers and research reports. DMA07’s exhibit hall will feature more than 500 exhibiting companies. For more information, or to register for the six-day multichannel marketing event of the year, please visit www.dma07.org or call 1.800.293.7279 or 330.425.9330.

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 by continuously improving the teaching of world-class 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(3)(c) 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 250 colleges and universities offer courses in direct/interactive marketing, 20 of which now offer specific direct marketing degrees and certificate programs. For additional information about the DMEF, its mission, and its programs, visit www.the-dmef.org.

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