Partner of the Year Award
The DMAW Partner of the Year is presented each year to a service provider or vendor that has distinguished itself through its unwavering service and commitment to advancing the DMAW mission of expanding the direct marketing community in the Washington area and of promoting careers in direct and interactive marketing.
Congratulations to our 2024 Award Recipient:
Planet Direct
Previous Partner of the Year Award Recipients
2023
Harrington Agency
2022
RKD Group
2021
The Engage Group
2019: CP Direct
CP Direct opened it's doors in 2002 when Matt Trotta sold his interest in Craftsman Press and purchased the assets of a small printing company called Enterprise Graphics. In Matt's words, he just needed a company with a pulse that he could perform some triage on, and at the same time satisfy the print needs of his then current direct mail customer base. Since the, he has dedicated his efforts to producing high quality direct mail products, but more importantly developing long term relationships within our industry. Today, CP employs 110 people, and produces a wide variety of direct mail products such as continuous forms, letters, replies, inserts, brochures, newsletters and cards. Every day, they take pride in the work done for customers, and are thankful for the partnerships they have built inside the direct mail community. Most importantly, whether it's a DMAW sponsorship or printing for the Bridge to Integrated Marketing & Fundraising Conference, CP Direct is committed to giving back to those they serve. Matt Trotta and Al Stahl step up every time. We value our relationship with CP Direct and are proud to recognize them as our 2019 Partner of the Year.
2019
CP Direct
2018: L&E Meridian
2018
L&E Meridian
2017: Production Solutions
Production Solutions is one of the largest and most comprehensive direct response production management and digital marketing firms, serving the nonprofit community for nearly 30 years. PS provides clients and agency partners with a trusted extension of staff and a valuable strategic partner.
Production Solutions stands by the idea that the industry grows and continues through relationships. The long-standing relationships they worked to earn — with staff, suppliers, and clients alike — fuel the ability to evolve. PS consistently commits to their clients. They work to benefit and enhance every organization and agency they touch, while inevitably showing they truly care about the clients and their mission. This care for others is something PS strives to do better with every day.
In the spirit of partnership, giving back through volunteerism has continued to be a part of the PS culture. As a member of the DMAW for more than 25 years, PS has always valued the DMAW and its contributions to our industry and is proud to support the association in many ways. The Production Solutions staff have been involved by serving on the DMAW Board, various leadership positions for the Bridge to Integrated Marketing and Fundraising Conference Sponsorship and Marketing Committees, writing articles for Advents, speaking at various educational programs, and have served on DMAW educational committees in various capacities, including IFIT and the Production Strategies Seminar this year alone.
PS continually supports the DMAW in both sponsorship and attendance, as they regularly participate in Lunch and Learns and other programs. PS recognizes the value and educational content that the DMAW offers and are proud to consider themselves a partner of the DMAW!
We are proud to call Production Solutions our 2017 Partner of the Year.
2017
Production Solutions
2016: Lautman Maska Neill Co.
Lautman’s history dates back to the 1940s when legendary fundraiser Harold Oram hired Kay Lautman to work in the emerging field of direct response fundraising. Kay took control of the direct marketing branch of Oram Group Marketing in 1992. Soon, Lisa Maska and Tiffany Neill joined the company, and eventually became Kay’s partners. Lisa and Tiffany purchased the firm from Kay in 2007, and Lautman Maska Neill & Company was born.
One of the best things about Lautman is that when they get involved, the entire team gets 100% involved — from the leaders, to the account executives, to the creative people, to the administrative assistants — all have the enthusiasm and motivation to give back to the industry.
Tiffany and Lisa lead by example — understanding fully the value of “corporate citizenship” within DMAW. The Company they have built encourages each of their staff to grow professionally and personally through various volunteer opportunities such as speaking at educational sessions, to serving on committees. You will find Lautman staff on the DMAW board, leading the MAXIs Awards process, managing the Bridge Conference, writing articles and blogs, and designing for DMAW events. Additionally, Lautman supports DMAW financially by sponsoring events as well.
Whenever DMAW staff is in a pinch, it is a well-known fact that one call to Lautman Maska Neill & Company can usually solve the problem.
We are proud to call Lautman Maska Neill & Company our 2016 Partner of the Year.
2016
Lautman Maska Neill Co.
2015: Color Tree Group
Colortree Inc. of Virginia was founded in April of 1988 as a manufacturer of specialty and commercial envelopes. Since that time, Colortree has added sheet fed print and continuous forms to its production capabilities.
Located in Richmond, VA and now known as Colortree Group, CTG has become a leader in the Direct Mail industry for high-quality printed products, delivered ON TIME/EVERYTIME. CTG has been recognized as a G7 Master Printer assuring its customers they can expect the best litho quality print the industry can offer.
For over 15 years, Colortree was a proud exhibitor every year at the DMAW Annual Conference. Since the DMAW Annual Conference evolved into the Bridge to Integrated Marketing & Fundraising Conference, Colortree’s commitment and support has not waivered and CTG has been an exhibitor at all ten conferences and is already booked for the 11th in 2016!
CTG’s dedication to DMAW is rooted in giving back – they support the community that supports them. Through their associated years, their staff and company have been involved in the DMAW serving on the Board of Directors, working on the Bridge Conference Exhibitor Advisory Committee, Membership Committee, Mentor-for-a-Day, writing articles for AdVents, providing financial sponsorships or even providing printed goods and envelopes.
Colortree Group is steadfast in their commitment to DMAW.
2015
Color Tree Group
2014: Japs-Olson Company
Japs-Olson Company has been helping customers get their direct marketing campaigns produced with better targeting, faster in-home delivery and more formats resulting in lower costs to create a better return on their investment. The goal of their collaborative approach is to reduce the cycle time from concept to delivery and introduce formats that stand-out in the market.
Located in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, Japs-Olson is one of the nation’s 10 largest commercial print and direct mail production firms. They have been in the DMAW’s Presidents Circle for over 15 years. Their talented work force- Brian Beddor, Patrick Beddor, Cory Funk, Charlie Mullin, Kevin Nielsen, Debbie Roth and Chantell Rust- each contributes in some way to the organization such as, submitting articles for Marketing Advents, volunteering for the MAXI Awards ceremony, participating in the Innovative Formats and Integrated Techniques session, the Crash Course on Integrated Marketing, The Bridge to Integrated Marketing & Fundraising Conference, as well as other educational programs and networking events.
One of their goals is to exceed their customer’s expectations for every project, every time. As an important contributor and partner to DMAW, they achieve that goal for us every time.
2014
Japs-Olson Company
2013: ProList
ProList was founded nearly 25 years ago with two impact printers in a basement office printing Cheshire labels with barcodes on them. At that time the USPS was not yet offering barcode discounts and commercial barcode fonts did not exist but ProList pursued creating their own- because it “seemed like a good idea.” In the ensuing years they have acted on a lot of “good ideas” from creating/hosting web landing pages in the 1990’s to mail tracking in the 2000’s, to multi-channel marketing today. This spirit of innovation is really what has distinguished ProList as they have grown into one of the Washington area’s most trusted direct marketing institutions.
They still like to stuff a good envelope- and they stuff a lot of them these days- but innovation is where the heart is. In the last few years, ProList’s involvement with DMAW has grown from writing an occasional article in Advents to sponsoring and participating in a variety of events- if it’s got any connection to multi-channel, ProList is there - providing sponsorship, marketing assistance, production services - whatever the association needs to move forward - and their staff make ProList both innovative AND lovable!
2013
ProList
2012: PMG
The Production Management Group is a long-time partner of both the DMAW and the DMAWEF. Their value-driven collaboration with both organizations can be summed up in their “Spirit of Good” philosophy: “Cultivate trusting and meaningful relationships….and extraordinary good outcomes will follow”
For more than 15 years, PMG has been ensuring extraordinarily good outcomes for DMAW conferences, seminars and events by making the DMAW’s cause their own. From sponsoring conferences, seminars, and the MAXIs, to paid advertising in Marketing AdVents… from sending staff as speakers and students to DMAW Luncheons and the Bridge Conference, to encouraging staff to volunteer as Board members, MAXI Judges and events staff… PMG has consistently delivered the highest levels of participation in, and service to, the Direct Marketing Association of Washington.
The PMG leadership and staff give back to the nonprofit community by providing pro bono production and mailing services for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Mid-Atlantic, and by volunteering on company time for several local nonprofits. PMG embodies the spirit of partnership in the fullest way possible.
2012
PMG
2011: Make Me Social
Visit the AMi website and you quickly learn that the words by which they operate their business are quality, longevity and commitment. It is these vert sane attributes that resulted in their selection as the 2010 DMAW Vendor of the Year.
For over 5 years, Ken Gossett, president, has volunteered AMi services for the execution of DMAW’s membership renewal program. Obviously, any organizations membership renewal program is of paramount importance; requiring it to be executed on time and accurately - after all, it generates revenue for the organization. AMi has been outstanding in this effort on behalf of DMAW.
It would be so easy for a vendor to let a volunteer job slide and not take priority. Not, AMi. No matter when we send AMi our renewal information, the letters are executed quickly and flawlessly. They treat DMAW as a client and we believe the excellent service we receive is a reflection of the excellent service they provide their “real” clients.
2010
AMi
2009: DirectMail.com
With a 40-year history within the direct marketing industry, DirectMail.com has been a major player and supporter of DMAW and was selected as the 2009 Vendor of the Year. The firm is credited with numerous industry “firsts”, including sweepstakes campaigns, matching-check programs, and the use of the name label as a premium. With more than 250 employees and multiple operating facilities, partners Kirk Swain and Bob Salta have successfully adjusted their business model to meet the challenges of changing times.
2009
DirectMail.com