DMA Insurance and Financial Services Council to Honor Four Award Winners During DMA2010 in San Francisco

NEW YORK, Oct. 8 -- The Direct Marketing Association issued the following news release:

The Direct Marketing Association's (http://www.the-dma.org/) (DMA) Insurance and Financial Services Council today announced that Karin Giffney, vice president at Discover Financial Services will receive its Financial Services Direct Marketer of the Year Award (http://www.the-dma.org/segment/finance/FSCmarketeroftheyear.shtml) and Jefferson National will receive its Financial Services Company of the Year Award (http://www.the-dma.org/segment/finance/FSCcompanyoftheyear.shtml). Rose Cahill, vice president/director of marketing, The Savings Bank Life Insurance of Massachusetts is Insurance Direct Marketer of the Year (http://www.the-dma.org/segment/finance/INSURANCEmarketeroftheyear.shtml) and SBLI of MA is the Insurance Company of the Year (http://www.the-dma.org/segment/finance/INSURANCEcompanyoftheyear.shtml). Honors will be presented during the October 11 DMA IFSC Awards Dinner (http://www.dma10.org/attendees/special-events/councils.php) at the Empress of China Restaurant during DMA2010 (http://www.dma10.org/) in San Francisco.

"Despite a very challenging year, we are pleased to see examples of excellence shine through by nomination of their peers," said Lisa Merizio Smith, director, DMA Segment Services. "We congratulate these award winners on their wonderful accomplishments."

The 2010 DMA Financial Services Direct Marketer of the Year Award

Karin Giffney, Vice President at Discover Financial Services

"We all know the financial services industry is one of the most exciting yet challenging business sectors today, and I am proud to be employed by Discover Financial Services, a consumer-centric company that is committed 100 percent to helping people spend smarter, manage debt better and save more so they can achieve a brighter financial future," said Karin Giffney.

Discover Financial Services is a direct banking and payment services company with one of the most recognized brands in US financial services.

The 2010 DMA Financial Services Company of the Year Award

Jefferson National

"It is a tremendous honor for Jefferson National to be named Financial Services Company of the Year -- and I am very proud of our talented team for continuing to earn such prestigious recognition for their innovative thinking and marketing creativity," said David Lau, chief operating officer of Jefferson National. "At Jefferson National we are committed to delivering excellence at every level, and that is only possible through the vision, commitment and hard work of our people."

Jefferson National Life Insurance Company is a leading innovator of retirement products for fee-based advisors and the clients they serve.

The 2010 DMA Insurance Direct Marketer of the Year Award

Rose Cahill, Vice President/Director of Marketing at The Savings Bank Life Insurance Company of Massachusetts

Rose Cahill has been responsible for building the multichannel B-to-C marketing platform for Savings Bank Life with limited resources and budgets. She directed the implementation of the company's first-ever marketing data base which has become the engine driving the company's multichannel campaigns from the marketer's desktop. She introduced successful SEO and SEM programs, email, the company's mobile website and, most recently, its social media programs through Facebook and Twitter. Cahill was recently featured on the cover of Chief Marketer magazine.

The 2010 DMA Insurance Company of the Year Award

The Savings Bank Life Insurance Company of Massachusetts

SBLI of Massachusetts has been described by its CMO as a company that consistently hits above its weight class. Although significantly smaller than a number of key life insurance competitors with 250 employees and a marketing department of five, the company began building its own marketing data base in 2008, which now serves as the repository of millions of customer and prospect records. The data base is the platform which powers the company's marketing campaigns from the desktops of those in the marketing department.

As the eCommerce manager at Savings Bank life insurance (SBLI), Phil Crampe is responsible for leading eCommerce activities. He is in charge of leveraging the web and other digital technologies to support SBLI's revenue and marketing goals, while ensuring efficient and effective use of email marketing, search engine optimization and pay-per click efforts. Prior to joining SBLI, Phil was a partner at Consolidated Marketing Services for over 21 years.

For more information, or to register for the Insurance and Financial Services Dinner, please visit http://www.dma10.org/attendees/special-events/councils.php.

In 2009, marketers - commercial and nonprofit - spent $149.3 billion on direct marketing, which accounted for 54.3% of all ad expenditures in the United States. Measured against total US sales, these advertising expenditures will generate approximately $1.783 trillion in incremental sales. In 2009, direct marketing accounted for 8.3% of total US gross domestic product. Also in 2009, there were 1.4 million direct marketing employees in the US. Their collective sales efforts directly support 8.4 million other jobs, accounting for a total of 9.9 million US jobs.

The Power of Direct: Relevance. Responsibility. Results.

TNS rd43-JF78 101009-3046995 StaffFurigay