Volunteer of the Year Award
The DMAW Volunteer of the Year Award recognizes individuals whose long-term involvement with the DMAW and unselfish contributions of time, thought, leadership, and action have significantly advanced the growth and development of the DMAW and its impact within the direct marketing community. Congratulations to our 2025 Awardee:
Nipa Eason
Digital Creative Director
RKD Group
2024
April Moore
Mark Gould
2023
Mark Gould
William Tighe
2023
William Tighe
Sara Coggins
2022
Sara Coggins
John Thompson
2021
John Thompson
Dennis Ashcraft
2019
Dennis Ashcraft
Stephen Godbout
2018
Stephen Godbout
Elise Buck
Elise Buck serves as Director of Client Services for MailSmart Logistics, with a focus on client relationship management as well as building brand awareness at industry conferences and events. She has over 35 years of experience in direct marketing with the last 22 years serving the nonprofit community, as a supplier partner and the most recent past 10 years in a client relationship management role for both agencies and production firms.
An active member of DMAW since 1984, Elise began volunteering in the early ‘90s with a specific interest and passion for the annual Holiday Party, first as a Santa’s Helper and then moving on to Co-Chair the Holiday Party on and off between 1994 and 2002. In 2004, Elise began volunteering for the Innovative Formats Innovative Techniques Seminar, better known as IFIT. Elise co-chaired IFIT for several years and was part of the process taking this event from a direct mail format showcase to the full integration of emarketing, web and virtual reality. Elise most recently Co-chaired IFIT in March 2017. In addition to IFIT, Elise has been an active volunteer with Bridge Conference for the past 12 years, serving as Co-Chair of Marketing and serving three times as Co-Chair of the Onsite Volunteer Committee. Elise also served on the DMAW Board of Directors for two terms and held the roles of both Volunteer and Programming Co-Chair.
She also serves on The PMG Family of Companies Community Outreach Team, which supports “below the radar” local nonprofits with the help of many of our Supplier Partners. Elise and the team at PMG coordinate numerous events to raise funds and to donate much needed goods to these organizations.
Elise also enjoys volunteering at her church, Oakdale, in Olney, MD. For three years, she served as Chair of Hospitality, working with the greeters and ushers as well as on marketing efforts for Christmas, Easter and other church related events.
In her down-time, you’ll find Elise hanging out with her husband Ron and their dog Murray. They love to cook, especially Italian, try new restaurants, work out and travel.
2017
Elise Buck
Eva Bowie
Eva's been in her direct marketing career in 1981 at Kiplinger Washington Editors and joined DMAW soon after. Her tenure at K.W.E provided the perfect grounds for learning all of the production aspects of DM. She used this knowledge t help direct marketers efficiently mail over 100 million pieces as a sales executive for premier Washington area direct mail production firms, including such as Kiplinger Computer & Mailing Services, The Mail Bag, and Merkle.
In 2003, she launched Cultural Direct Marketing Group, helping organizations such as CARE International, Defenders of Wildlife and Planned Parenthood raise funds to support their programs.
Eva Joined O'Brien Garrett in 2013 and was promoted to Vice President, Client Services in 2015. In addition to working hand in hand with some of O'Brien Garrett's most important clients at a senior level, she oversees staff development for the client services team.
Throughout her career, Eva has been an active volunteer for DMAW and other direct marketing professional associations. Her DMAW highlights include being a member of the task force that launched the Bridge Conference, serving on the Board of Directors, and most recently co-hosting the MAXI Awards and Best of Direct.
2016
Eva Bowie
Alan Rich
2015
Alan Rich
Kate Carr
Kate is celebrating her 18th year with Silver Marketing and her accomplishments include multiple MAXI, Marcom, Health-care Advertising Awards and Communicator Awards. Kate oversees all phases of client projects, from strategy to implementation. Her adherence to excellence, as well as her willingness to go the extra mile and provide superior service, is well recognized by clients, such as, AARP, AOPA, Endocrine Society, John Hopkins University, Lenovo, Smithsonian, The Washington Post – to name just a few! With her insightful strategies and superior analytical abilities, Kate has been able to significantly enhance performance for numerous marketing campaigns during her tenure at Silver Marketing.
Kate has served as co-chair of Marketing for the Bridge to Integrated Marketing & Fundraising Conference and prior to that served on the committee. In 2014, Kate and her marketing team helped the Bridge Conference achieve record attendance numbers! She also served on the board of directors of the DMAW Educational Foundation, serving at its Leadership Circle co-chair and, most recently, has been elected to serve on the DMAW Board for 2015-2016.
Kate holds a B.A. in Finance and M.B.A. in Marketing, both from George Washington University, lives in Washington DC with her husband David, son Michael, and Chloe, their golden retriever.
2014
Kate Carr
Shannon Murphy
Shannon has over 20 years of experience in direct marketing, beginning her career in Production at the National Institute for Business Management as a print buyer. Later, she joined Malchow Adams + Hussey as a production manager and left there fascinated by the data side of things to become Director of Account Services at L&E Meridian. Her true interest was in production though and in June of 2006, she returned to Chapman Cubine Adams + Hussey.
As Principal & Senior VP of Production, Shannon is responsible for implementing annual cost savings reviews for all CCAH clients. Always finding a more cost-effective and efficient way, she has been able to show millions of dollars in savings to CCAH clients while ensuring that all packages CCAH produces follow all quality control checks before being approved to print, laser or insert.
Shannon is committed to the industry through her volunteer efforts, she has co-chaired and continues to volunteer for a variety of DMAW programs, including Innovative Formats and Integrated Campaigns, the Bridge Conference and the DMAW Sponsorship Committee.
Shannon lives in Springfield, with her husband, Dan and two daughters, Sarah and Madison. When Shannon is not at work she enjoys traveling.
2013
Shannon Murphy
Tracy Lea
Are you learning as fast as the world is changing?”
That’s Tracy Lea quoting Bill Taylor to remind us why the Direct Marketing Association of Washington is so important to us all. It also is a glimpse as to why there is no one more deserving of the 2012 DMAW Volunteer of the Year Award than she.
Tracy’s curiosity about the changes occurring in our industry has made her an early adapter of new technology and techniques throughout her career. She has worked as a fundraising consultant for non-profits since 1984, specializing in telemarketing fundraising and overall strategic planning and integration of direct response programs.
When she’s not volunteering for DMAW, Tracy is volunteering for other organizations such as Special Olympics International Cycling Committee, Cuban Paralympic Committee and Achilles International and assists USA Table Tennis and USA Rowing’s Paralympic programs for athletes with intellectual disabilities.
For her service co-chairing the 2012 “Harness the Winds of Change” Bridge Conference, her participation on the DMAW’s Maxi Award Committee, and her leadership as a past president of DMAW, Tracy was honored as the 2012 DMAW Volunteer of the Year.
2012
Tracy Lea
Vickie Norman
Vickie was born in Charleston, SC in a military family, so moving around frequently was part of her life! Finishing college at Old Dominion University, she married her high school sweetheart, Richard Norman. After teaching for five years Vickie decided to stay home to raise her two children, John David and Beth Anne. Once the children were older, Vickie returned to work full-time.
Being married to one of the most successful direct-mail fundraisers, it was quite natural for Vickie Norman to join Robertson Mailing List Company (RMLC) as Vice President and CEO in 2000. Since joining the RMLC, Vickie has been an active member of DMAW. Seeing the need for list professionals to get together on a regular basis. Vickie began organizing the Quarterly Greater Washington List Professionals Networking Luncheons in 2005. In 2007, she began managing and overseeing the DMAW Annual List Bazaar. DMAW invited Vickie, in 2009, to join the Board of Directors. During her tenure, she helped organize and strengthen the programs the DMAW provides, specifically the monthly luncheons.
Vickie says her ability to volunteer is made possible by the assistance of her very capable staff. Especially, with the help of Molly Rinaldi who assists her with all of the projects she takes on!
2011
Vickie Norman
Teri Carlson
Teri Carlson is originally from Altoona, PA. Teri majored in Business Management and Socialization at St. Francis University.
She is a diehard sports fan rooting on the Steelers / Pirates / Penguins / Penn State / DUKE. It is never a dull moment when talking sports with Teri and she is up for any challenge.
Teri began her career in direct marking over 20 years ago. With a background in the Food and Beverage industry, she jumped into direct marketing to test the waters. For the past 15 years, she has worked for Mail Bag as a Sales/Client Liaison. Teri will be starting a new aspect of direct marking working for L & Meridian in September 2015.
Teri, a very active volunteer for the DMAW, has been a member since 2000 and has served as Social/Volunteer chair and co-chair for the past 7 years, hands the food and beverage for the DMAW monthly luncheons, and handles the mailing process of the DMAW Marketing Advents.
2010
Teri Carlson