FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sub-category award winners and finalists in DSA’s prestigious 2012 ETHOS Awards program were announced this week. Designed to identify and promote programs that serve as examples of direct selling at its best, DSA’s slate of awards recognizes programs that help define direct selling as a business that helps people live better lives.

This year’s sub-category award winners and category award finalists are:

• Marketing & Sales Campaigns
  • Launches: Morinda Bioactives
  • Promotions: Rodan + Fields Dermatologists
  • Social Media/Online: Rodan + Fields Dermatologists

• Product Innovation
  • Clothing/Accessories: Paperly
  • Education/Leisure/Other: Creative Memories
  • Home Décor/Durables/Home Care: Paperly
  • Personal Care: Rodan + Fields Dermatologists
  • Wellness: XANGO

• Salesforce Development
  • Business Tools: Signature HomeStyles
  • Business Training: Scentsy
  • Incentive Programs: 21Ten
  • Personal Development/Motivation: Initials, Inc.
  • Recognition: 4Life Research

• Technology Innovation
  • Back Office/Business Support: 21Ten
  • Customer/Sales Support: Team Beachbody
  • Mobile Technology: Mary Kay Inc.

• Vision for Tomorrow
  • Philanthropy: The Pampered Chef
  • Public Affairs: Mary Kay Inc.
  • Public Awareness: Mary Kay Inc.

• Rising Star finalists:
  • Simply Said
  • Viridian Energy
  • YOR Health

Each of the companies will be recognized for their accomplishments during the 2012 Annual Meeting on Tuesday morning, June 5, during the “Prescription for Success” general session. These winners now become finalists to receive the main category awards. Category awards and this year’s Partnership Award winner will be announced and presented during the Awards Gala, taking place June 5 at 7:30 p.m. at the conclusion of the Annual Meeting.

Many of the sub-category award winners will also provide a 10-minute presentation during the Best of the Best Award Winning Program Showcase on Tuesday, June 5, giving Annual Meeting attendees an inside look at the driving factors behind these award-winning programs.

DSA offers congratulations to all awards sub-category winners and finalists for their remarkable achievements and the stellar example they set for the rest of the sales channel.

DSA also recognizes its distinguished judging panel for this year’s ETHOS Awards. The 2012 judging panel included:

Tory Johnson (Founder and CEO, Women for Hire); Suzanne Fanning (President, WOMMA); Jon Phillips (Senior Editor, Wired.com); Nicole Marie Richardson (Executive Editor, Special Projects, Inc. Magazine Online); Joanna Pineda (CEO, Matrix Group); Judy Blatman (Senior Vice President, Communication, CRN); Jonathan Blum (Freelance Tech Writer); Linda Ferrell (Professor of Marketing, University of New Mexico); Brenda Cude (Professor of Housing and Consumer Economics, University of Georgia); Elizabeth Davis (Associate Professor and Program Director, Organizational Sciences, George Washington University); Greg Marshall (Professor of Marketing and Strategy, Crummer Graduate School of Business, Rollins College); Christie Phillips (Principal, BlueTree, LLC); Sabrina Kidwai (Senior PR Manager at ASAE and the Center for the Association of Leadership); Trey Campbell (Director, Communications, Southwestern Advantage); Sarah Baker Andrus (Director, External Relations and Academic Programs, CUTCO/Vector Marketing Corp.); Kimberly Cornwell (CEO, Celadon Road); Karen Eschebach (President, Clever Container); Angela Chrysler (President & CEO, Team National); Laurie Leopold (Editor, Product Girl); Pam Dean (President & CEO, Avalla); Dave Enders (President, YOR Health); Calvin Jolley (Vice President, Communications, 4Life Research); Mary Julich (Sr. Vice President, Business Development, Symmetry); Denise Needham (Senior Director, Network Marketing and Training, Beachbody); Cortney Carroll (Vice President of Meetings, Incentives & Communication, Vollara); Pam Henrickson (Recognition Manager, Tastefully Simple); Laura Bynum (Communications/Media Relations Manager, American Public Works Association); Marmie Edwards (VP, Communications, Operation Lifesaver); Aaron Ellis (Communications Director, American Association of Port Authorities); Olivia Tong, CFA (Equity Research Analyst); John Curtis (Vice President, Brand and Communication, Scentsy).

DSA is the national trade association of the leading firms that manufacture and distribute goods and services sold directly to consumers. Among its more than 240 active and pending members are companies selling both via a party-plan method and in the traditional person-to-person style. In 2010, U.S. direct sales were more than $28.5 billion with more than 16 million direct sellers nationwide. The vast majority are independent business people—micro-entrepreneurs—whose purpose is to sell the product/service of the company they voluntarily choose to represent. Approximately 90 percent of direct sellers operate their business part-time.

For more information on direct selling, DSA and its Code of Ethics, please visit the DSA website at www.dsa.org.