Getting What They Deserve

July 14, 2006      Admin

Today two long-time friends Jerry Huntsinger and George Lizama will receive the highest awards given by the Direct Marketing Association of Washington, D.C. and the DMAW's Education Foundation.

Jerry, often referred to as the “Dean of Direct Mail Fundraising”, will receive the 2006 Sisk Award for Direct Marketing Vision. He joins the ranks of distinguished recipients including Lester Wunderman, Morris Dees, Bob Stone and Lillian Vernon.

I've both competed with Jerry and his agency Huntsinger & Jeffer, and after he sold H&J, worked along side him while he served as senior creative consultant for Craver, Mathews, Smith & Company.

Few people have done more to professionalize direct mail fundraising…to teach generations of talented copywriters…and to offer constructive criticism delivered with a gentle sense of humor on the non-profit sector. He continues his tradition as teacher, critic and provocateur as one of our Guest Agitators.

When the history of direct response fundraising is written there should certainly be a chapter devoted to George Lizama. A veteran of Craver, Mathews, Smith & Company, he went on to launch Production Solutions, a pioneering direct mail production and management firm.

A tireless volunteer, teacher and innovator George has given back to our craft far more than he's received. And he's done it with a degree of intensity, skill and enthusiasm that does us all proud.

That's why today he will receive the DMAW's 2006 Distinguished Achievement in Direct Marketing award. Previous recipients include Richard Viguerie, Hal Malchow, Guy Yolton, Kate Petranech, Roland Kuniholm, Ed and Clyde Sisk, Stephen Winchell, Liz Murphy and Patricia Silver.

With gratitude and congratulations to Jerry and George.

For more informantion on the Awards ceremony and the bios of George and Jerry visit the AFP/DMAW Conference website.