Business Services Industry

Cox Target Media, Valpak Announces Retirement of Diane Elmer; 20-Year Valpak Veteran Influenced U.S. and Canada Postal Legislation for More Than 15 Years

Business Wire, Jan 13, 2005

LARGO, Fla. -- Cox Target Media (CTM), provider of Valpak network products, announced today the retirement of Diane Elmer, Vice President of Delivery Logistics and Postal Affairs, effective January 14. She will, however, remain with the company as a consultant, continuing her work with the United States Postal Service (U.S.P.S.) and Canada Post Corporation. Whitney Rocek, Director of Customer Service, will succeed responsibility for day-to-day address lists, postal preparation and delivery logistics of Valpak products for the company and Valpak Direct Marketing Systems franchise offices throughout North America.

As Vice President of Delivery Logistics and Postal Affairs for CTM, Elmer brought more than 15 years of experience influencing postal preparation and serving as the liaison with the U.S.P.S. and the government agencies affecting postal legislation in the U.S. as well as the Canada Post. She has worked with the legislative branches of government campaigning postal regulation changes, influencing rate cases and legislation. She has led the company's internal postal preparation of the Valpak products to comply with U.S.P.S. and Canada Post regulations and standards, optimizing postal discounts for one of the postal services' largest customers.

Elmer joined Valpak in 1985 as a Payroll Clerk and over two decades, rose through the ranks to her current position of Vice President over seeing Delivery Logistics and Postal Affairs for CTM and Valpak Direct Marketing Systems. Her titles have included assistant to Valpak founder Terry Loebel, Director of Franchise Administration and President of Valpak of Canada among several other positions. She has contributed to many advancements of the company, the Valpak franchisee organization and to the Valpak brand. Elmer has motivated many individuals and influenced others, in the company and the more than 200 Valpak franchise owners, as well as government officials concerned with postal legislation.

Bill Disbrow, CEO of Cox Target Media and Valpak Direct Marketing Systems, Inc., said, "Diane has brought to Valpak the personal and professional qualities that we hold highest. She has made a valuable impression on so many - to postal legislative officials, Valpak franchise owners, the teams and departments she has led. Although we will miss her day-to-day contributions, we are fortunate to have her continue her role representing Valpak as postal liaison."

Headquartered in Largo, Fla., Cox Target Media (CTM) is a leading direct marketing company of North America with more than 200 franchise offices, as well as company-operated sales offices in Tampa Bay, Boston, Houston, Minneapolis, Los Angeles, New Orleans, North Central California, Western Michigan and Jacksonville, Fla. CTM's flagship brand Valpak(R) delivers savings each month to more than 40 million households throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Launched in 1998, http://www.Valpak.com is the online extension of the envelope and ranked as the largest local coupon content provider on the Internet. Annually, Valpak reaches an estimated 1.2 billion individuals with 20 billion offers inserted in 500 million envelopes. CTM is owned by Atlanta-based Cox Newspapers, a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, Inc., the sixth largest media company by revenue in the United States.

Photo Attached: Diane Elmer, Sr. Vice President of Delivery Logistics (266 DPI; 5x7")

Note: For more information regarding Cox Target Media, please contact Meg Forehand at 727-399-3082 or visit the News Center at Cox Target Media's Web site http://www.coxtarget.com/news.>