GiftCertificates.com Appoints Executive Vice President of Marketing and Vice President of Human Resources; Local Marketing and Human Resource Veterans Join Company

Business Wire, Sept 18, 2002

Business Editors & Technology Writers

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 18, 2002

GiftCertificates.com(TM), a leading provider of gift certificates products and services for corporations and consumers, announced today it has named Bill Bassett as executive vice president of marketing, and Monica Bristow as vice president of human resources.

Bill Bassett, Executive Vice President of Marketing

An award-winning marketer, Bassett joins GiftCertificates.com with more than 15 years of strategic marketing experience, working with consumer products giant, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Bellevue-based Optiva Corporation. Bassett is responsible for developing integrated marketing strategies and programs to increase utilization of the company's gift certificate products and services, using traditional, direct, retail and online strategies.

Most recently, Bassett was vice president of marketing for HitHive, Inc., where he launched the world's first wireless music network for Sprint PCS, and created national promotions for this enterprise software company serving the telecommunications industry. In addition, he served as director of marketing at Network Commerce, Inc., where he headed up the marketing teams for both consumer and business divisions. Bassett also managed the retail, consumer and direct marketing functions at Opitva Corporation, helping to create a world-recognized brand for the Sonicare Sonic Toothbrush.

In 1997, Advertising Age recognized Bassett as one of the Top 100 Marketers in the country. He has also won top honors for his work in retail and direct response advertising. Bill received his bachelor's degree in international marketing from George Washington University.

Monica Bristow, Vice President of Human Resources

Bristow brings a 20-year track record of practical and leadership experience in human resource management to GiftCertificates.com. In this position, Bristow is responsible for organizational development, recruiting, employee relations, compensation, benefits and staff training across the company's two locations (Seattle and Omaha).

Previously, Bristow served as vice president of human resources for four years at Metawave Communications Corporation in Redmond, where she had national and international human resource responsibilities. She also served in senior staffing and human resources management positions at Washington Mutual at the vice president level.

"Demand for our products and services is growing, and we're pleased to attract such veterans to head up our marketing and human resource departments with the experience to take our company to the next level," said Michael Ahern, GiftCertificates.com chief executive officer.

About GiftCertificates.com

Established in 1997, Seattle-based GiftCertificates.com(TM) is a recognized provider of gift certificates products and services to corporations and consumers. The Company's sales organization works with more than 14,000 corporate customers in all major industries to implement customer and employee acquisition, sales incentives, loyalty, reward and retention programs. The Company's best-selling SuperCertificate(R) enables recipients to redeem online or by phone for original gift certificates from hundreds of popular merchants, including airlines, hotels, national and regional retailers, theaters, restaurants, and other services. For more information, visit www.GiftCertificates.com.

GiftCertificates.com and SuperCertificate are trademarks of GiftCertificates.com, Inc.