DMEF is urging multichannel marketing professionals not just to observe these luminaries, but to recognize and honor the profession’s talented "Rising Stars," as well as the companies that find and nurture this talent. To this end, the Foundation is welcoming nominations for its 2008 Rising Star Awards and Corporate Commitment Award.

The deadline for nominations is Friday, February 22, 2008. A DMEF Awards Selection Committee, culled from DMEF Board Members, will review nominations and announce this year’s winners in March. Winners will be honored on June 10, at DMEF’s New York Annual Dinner, at the Marriott Marquis in the heart of New York City’s Times Square.

"DMEF’s mission is to attract, educate, and place top college students, thus expanding and enriching the talent pool of trained multichannel direct marketers," said DMEF Chairman and DMRA Chief Marketing Officer Allen W. Dyon. "However, we also want to recognize and celebrate those professionals who are relatively new to our field. Specifically, we want to honor the ‘Rising Stars’ who demonstrate creativity, team spirit, commitment to the greater marketing profession, as well as an indomitable will to succeed. In essence, we’re identifying tomorrow’s leaders."

"As in years past," Dyon continued, "DMEF will present its 2008 Corporate Commitment Award to a company that is an exemplary corporate citizen. Today, that means a company that is dedicated to ethical business practices in all facets of its operations, as well as to giving back to the greater direct/interactive marketing community, including those that help identify and nurture the talents of those who will be tomorrow’s business leaders."

The DMEF’s Rising Star Award is presented to professionals, aged 40 and under, who demonstrate superior leadership abilities, including a strong track record of outstanding results, and a stellar reputation for "giving back" through direct marketing education, as exemplified by such activities as teaching and mentoring.

Last year, at the first annual presentation of the award, DMEF honored four Rising Stars: Austin Bliss, co-founder and president, FreshAddress, Inc.; Kimberly Miller, marketing director, Time Consumer Marketing/Real Simple and InStyle; William Misloski, emarketing director, Orbitz; and Daniel Parzych, director of analytics, Alliant Cooperative Data Solutions.

DMEF's Corporate Commitment Award honors companies that regularly demonstrate a commitment to excellence in all areas of direct marketing education among new and upcoming talent, and that consistently participate in activities that foster and promote excellence — for today and tomorrow.

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

Additional information about DMEF’s June 10 awards dinner — including online reservations — will be available in February.

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, 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.

# # #