DMEF Completes FY2013 Board Slate

Las Vegas, NV, October 13, 2012 — The Direct Marketing Educational Foundation (DMEF) Board today announced its newest trustees, Lynn Edmonds, President, LW Robbins and Markus Wilhelm, CEO, Solar Strata LLC, approved by the Board of Trustees during its Board meeting. After a four- and five-year hiatus, respectively, Edmonds and Wilhelm rejoin the Board to complete the slate of professionals and academics committed to supporting the DMEF.

“The core strength of the DMEF relies heavily on the commitment and hard work of our Board members, which is why I am particularly excited to introduce our newest Trustees, Lynn Edmonds and Markus Wilhelm,” said Terri L. Bartlett president, DMEF. “A major focus of the DMEF’s 2011 Strategic Plan is to expand our reach to new industries and verticals where the fundamentals of direct marketing are used. These two individuals represent the very best in two important arenas, including Lynn’s outstanding record in nonprofit marketing and leadership, and Markus’s entrée into one of the hottest industries, renewable energy. We look forward to benefitting from their remarkable expertise and undying commitment to our mission as we continue to bring market-ready talent into the marketplace.”

Lynn S. Edmonds

Lynn Edmonds, President of LW Robbins, is a nationally recognized industry leader who has developed innovative fundraising programs for scores of nonprofit organizations during her career. She joined LW Robbins in 1999 as Executive Vice President and became President in 2001. Under her leadership, LW Robbins has provided results-driven strategic development and analysis, and creative and production services to more than 50 nonprofit clients. For more than three decades, Lynn and her teams have worked with organizations such as the American Cancer Society, Special Olympics, American Health Assistance Foundation, St. Labre Indian School, MAP International, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the Coast Guard Foundation, American Diabetes Association, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Catholic Relief Services, Consumers Union, Covenant House, National Audubon Society, Washington National Cathedral and more than 40 regional food banks. Lynn’s direction on behalf of many of these clients has yielded several Direct Marketing Association ECHO Awards, and nearly 100 national and local awards. Recent awards include 15 New England Direct Marketing Awards and four Direct Marketing Association Maxi Awards.

Markus Wilhelm

As CEO of Strata Solar, LLC, a newly founded solar energy company located in the Raleigh-Durham Research Triangle, Wilhelm is heading up this new North American organization to sell residential and commercial, photovoltaic and solar thermal systems. The company employs a complete team of engineers, architects and other professionals dedicated to the promotion of renewable energy. From 2001 to 2007 Wilhelm served as the CEO of Bookspan, a Bertelsmann-Time Warner partnership containing most of the major US Book Clubs. He was also the CEO of Doubleday Direct [1994-2001]. In the USA, he oversaw the management and growth strategy of more than 40 consumer and professional Book Clubs, the development of a newly-formed publishing business, and the launch of a service company for direct marketing. He was a member of several Boards, such as Barnes&Noble.com and Syskoplan AG and involved in several internet start-ups. Wilhelm was also a member of the board of Bertelsmann Direct for more than a decade, and responsible for all book direct-to-consumer businesses in the USA, Canada, UK, Australia/NZ, and Asia. For 10 years, he served as a member of the Board of the Direct Marketing Association, its Chairman in 2006 and 2007 and a member of its Executive Committee for six years. Prior to that time, he served as a Board Trustee of the Direct Marketing Educational Foundation, and was awarded with the DMEF’s prestigious Edward N. Mayer, Jr. Education Leadership Award in 2002 and the DMEF Vision Award in 2012.

About Direct Marketing Educational Foundation (DMEF)

Headquartered in New York City, the Direct Marketing Educational Foundation (DMEF) works to attract, educate and place college students in direct/interactive marketing careers, thereby expanding and enriching the talent pool of trained, market-ready marketers. Established in 1966 by members of the Direct Marketing Association (DMA) who wanted to give something back to the community, DMEF continues to be an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that is supported solely by tax-deductible contributions from individuals and companies. Tax-deductible contributions are the lifeblood of the DMEF; funds raised throughout the year support a broad range of world-class educational programs and scholarships. 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 marketing leaders, an indication of the Foundation’s success. In addition, more than 3,000 professors have participated in DMEF programs. For additional information about the DMEF, its mission, and its programs, visit www.directworks.org.

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