Letter from the Chairman

 

The Direct Marketing Educational Foundation Board of Trustees is made up of more than 40 individuals who are entrusted with the responsibility of creating and implementing programs to deliver on the mission of this 40-year nonprofit organization. 

As a former Direct Marketing Association (DMA) Young Direct Marketer of the year, I know firsthand the impact of the DMEF and how our programs can dramatically impact the careers and lives of students as they launch their career.  I am deeply honored to serve as chairman, working alongside the highest caliber of professionals as we join together to significantly impact the future of this profession by placing the best and brightest, market-ready students in exciting positions within this field. 

The Foundation’s influence spans four decades and includes groundbreaking support for higher education under the guidance and direction of a host of professional visionaries in this field.  It's a legacy that has deepened as the field of direct marketing has mushroomed with the advent of the Internet. 

The DMEF is in a unique position to bridge direct /interactive marketing professionals with educators at the college and university levels, providing the world’s most dynamic resources in this rapidly evolving world of marketing direct.  Each of my predecessors has introduced new thinking that has shaped and enriched our approach to the challenges and opportunities so we continue to serve the evolving needs of the marketplace.  I welcome the opportunity to build on that record, to continue fostering an environment of creativity and innovation for our Board, the staff, and for the field-at-large to further our success as stated in our mission: 
to attract, educate, and place top college students in the business of direct/interactive marketing.

As we move forward, we will continue to reach out to our constituents … be it educators, practitioners, and students … to explore ways to impact the future of this great field.  Together, we will strengthen existing programs and identify new initiatives that will define the DMEF for current – and future – generations. 

I invite you to learn more about the DMEF, get involved and commit your support and resources so you are an intricate part of all that we are accomplishing.  Rest assured, you’ll be among the most talented, committed individuals, organizations and institutions whose outstanding work is ensuring the growth of marketing direct.

Sincerely,

Gary S. Laben