DMEF Launches First Podcast

‘The Next Generation of Leaders Discuss the Next Generation of

Challenges for Direct Marketing’

New York, NY, April 29, 2008 — The Direct Marketing Educational Foundation (DMEF) today launched its first-ever podcast of a virtual roundtable entitled “The Next Generation of Leaders Discuss the Next Generation of Challenges for Direct Marketing.”

Moderated by DMEF President Terri L. Bartlett, the panelists were the five 2008 DMEF Rising Stars Award winners and the Corporate Commitment Award winner*:

· Janet Barker-Evans, Senior Vice President, Draftfcb

· Gary S. Laben, President and CEO, KnowledgeBase Marketing, Inc./Wunderman*

· 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.

· Jeff Yowell, Founder, President and CEO, Datacore Marketing

Please click here to listen, and find out what the experts had to say on these topics:

· Influence and impact of technology on direct/interactive marketing, both today and tomorrow

· Current advantages and challenges of direct marketing

· Blending “new-school” with “old-school” techniques for a whole new formula

· Customer Relationship Management (CRM), which is rapidly becoming “Customers Really Manage”

· Education on the real value of direct marketing — being business savvy makes the difference

· Direct marketing career paths — how to prepare yourself, your staff, and establish hiring criteria to identify leaders of tomorrow

· The future of direct marketing — the opportunities and potential drawbacks

The honors will be presented at DMEF’s Rising Stars Awards Dinner in New York City, which will be held on June 10, 2008, at the Marriott Marquis Times Square. The all-star networking event will be held in conjunction with DM Days New York Conference & Expo, which will take place June 10-12 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York, NY. To reserve a seat at the dinner table, click here.

For more information on the DMEF or the June 10 dinner, please contact Carmela Uzzi at cuzzi@the-dma.org.

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(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 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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