DMEF's Next Generation Leaders Program Goes National

Brierley+Partners, DIRECTV, Goodman&Company, Guthy-Renker, hawkeye, KnowledgeBase Marketing, Kraft Foods, and Time Consumer Marketing

to Host Recent Grads in New York, Dallas, and Los Angeles

New York, NY, September 15, 2009 — The Direct Marketing Educational Foundation (DMEF) today announced the kick off of its third year Next Generation Leaders program (formerly known as the Direct Marketing Leadership Development Program or DMLDP). For the first time this year, the innovative, rotational program designed to provide carefully selected and highly qualified recent graduates (program associates) with valuable employment experience through a unique combination of work settings is going cross country.

After two successful years in New York City, with 100 percent placement for participating associates, the program has expanded nation-wide to include both Dallas, Texas, and Los Angeles, California.

“In only one short year Next Generation program associates gain several years worth of real-life and marketplace experience,” said Gary S. Laben, DMEF chairman and chief executive officer, KnowledgeBase Marketing. “As one of the corporate sponsors for the Dallas program, we know first-hand that this also is a win-win for the participating companies as well as the larger direct/interactive marketing community. Being able to draw upon the raw talent, marketing acumen, analytical skills, and entrepreneurial spirit of recent graduates drives the creativity that makes these brands tick. DMEF’s drive to expand the host cities to include Dallas and Los Angeles strengthens the learning experience for program associates, and expand the support for direct/interactive marketing education at all levels.”

Through a restricted grant to DMEF, sponsor companies pay all salaries, benefits, and program costs. Alumni of the program are employed at direct/interactive marketing companies such as Wunderman, Publishers Clearing House, Worth Linen Associates, Radical Media, and Barnes & Noble.

2009-2010 Next Generation Associates:

· Jon-Paul Barcenas, University of Southern California

· Cristina Celis, Brown University

· Ashley Homsher, Texas Christian University

· Jena Hui, Loyola Marymount University

· Roxanna Larizadeh, Georgetown University

· Jennie Liang, Tulane University

· Allison Watson, Brown University

· Alice Yang, Columbia University

2009-2010 Next Generation Sponsor Companies:

· Brierley+Partners

· DIRECTV

· Goodman&Company

· Guthy-Renker, LLC

· hawkeye

· KnowledgeBase Marketing

· Kraft Foods

· Time Inc.

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.

About Brierley+Partners

Founded in 1985 by Hal Brierley, Brierley+Partners (www.ecoa.org) has a history of creating proven, prominent customer loyalty programs. A true pioneer in the industry, Brierley entered the customer Relationship Management® arena nearly a decade before the competition – trademarking the term long before it was in vogue. Over the years, they have created, managed and supported some of the world's most successful loyalty programs – including Hilton HHonors®, Hertz #1 Club Gold®, the My Sony™ program, BLOCKBUSTER® Rewards, United Airlines' Mileage Plus®, the UPS Preferred Customer Program and many others. Brierley+Partners is a 20%-owned affiliate of WPP, P.L.C., one of the world's largest advertising and communications services companies.

About DIRECTV

The DIRECTV Group (DTV) (www.directv.com) is a world-leading provider of digital television entertainment services. Through its subsidiaries and affiliated companies in the United States, Brazil, Mexico and other countries in Latin America, the DIRECTV Group provides digital television service to more than 18 million customers in the United States and about 5.8 million customers in Latin America. The DIRECTV Group reported revenues of $4.90 billion in the first quarter of 2009. The DIRECTV Group is composed of two main operating units - DIRECTV U.S., and Latin America.

About Goodman&Company

Goodman&Company (www.goodmancompany.com) creates unique value by bridging the gap between management consultants and marketing agencies. Their collaborative approach, informed by expertise spanning the major marketing disciplines and channels, successfully aligns marketing investments with the best opportunities for growth and increased profitability. Goodman&Company has built a track record of success with Global 2000 clients by partnering with senior marketers and line of business executives to create measurable return by optimizing customer-facing channels to drive acquisition and retention, leveraging the power of insights to increase customer lifetime value, and accelerating the marketing organization's ability to innovate.

About Guthy-Renker, LLC

Established in 1988, Guthy-Renker, LLC (www.guthy-renker.com) is today one of the world's largest direct response television companies with sales of more than $1.8 Billion per year and an average annual growth rate of 25% over the last 10 years. Originally launched as a television direct marketer by Co-CEOs Bill Guthy and Greg Renker, the independently-owned, vertically-integrated company has since broadened its focus into every area of electronic retailing, making quality products available to U.S. and international consumers through broadcast television, cable and satellite, as well as internet, telemarketing, direct mail, and retail channels.

About hawkeye

hawkeye (www.hawkeyeww.com) uses insight and data intelligence to quickly solve complex challenges for world-class marketers and build trust in their brands using Interactive, Direct, Channel, Banding, B2B, B2C, Merger, Experiential Marketing and Sports & Entertainment. Recognized globally as a leading full-service marketing agency, hawkeye provides the best in interactive media, retention marketing, data analytics, branding, promotion and direct marketing. Using targeted strategies, programs and campaigns, hawkeye works with a long roster of companies including Microsoft, American Airlines, Optimum Lightpath, Agilent Technologies, Capital One, Travelocity, HP, and WellPoint.

About KnowledgeBase Marketing

KnowledgeBase Marketing (www.kbm1.com) was formed in 1997 from the merger of three premier direct marketing companies, each with decades of service to the industry. Three subsequent mergers further expanded the company’s capabilities. Each original company brought a rich legacy of expertise in a direct marketing discipline: data compilation, list processing, database marketing, advanced analytics, and program management. All brought deep expertise in strategic consulting. KnowledgeBase Marketing is part of the WPP Group, one of the world’s most comprehensive communication services organizations serving clients, including more than 300 of the Fortune Global 500, through 2,000 offices in 106 countries. Within the WPP Group, KnowledgeBase Marketing is a key part of Young and Rubicam Brands’ Wunderman group, one of the largest integrated marketing solutions companies in the world. KnowledgeBase Marketing works together with other WPP companies in different disciplines by combining expertise and solution sets to provide clients comprehensive and integrated solutions coordinated through a single point of contact and accountability.

About Kraft Foods

Kraft Foods (www.kraft.com) is one of the world’s largest food and beverage companies, with 2008 net revenues of $42 billion. For more than 100 years, Kraft has offered consumers delicious and wholesome foods that fit the way they live. Kraft markets a broad portfolio of iconic brands in more than 150 countries, including nine brands with revenues exceeding $1 billion: Kraft cheeses, dinners and dressings; Oscar Mayer meats; Philadelphia cream cheese, Maxwell House coffee; Nabisco cookies and crackers and its Oreo brand; Jacobs coffees, Milka chocolates and LU biscuits. Kraft is listed in the Standard & Poor’s 100 and 500 indexes. The company is a member of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index and the Ethibel Sustainability Index.

About Time Inc.

Time Inc. (www.timeinc.com), a Time Warner company, is one of the largest content companies in the world. With a portfolio of 23 U.S. magazines and 40 Web sites, including some of the world's most popular, powerful and trusted brands, it is the largest magazine publisher in the U.S., and a leading publisher in the U.K. and Mexico. Time Inc.'s popular brands and successful franchises extend to online, television, cable VOD, satellite radio, mobile devices, events and branded products. Each month, one out of every two American adults reads a Time Inc. magazine, and one out of every seven who are online visits a company Web site.

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