Luce Performance Group International Officially Announces 2009 Sales and Marketing Awards. (Houston, Texas-February 8, 2010) Luce Performance Group announced its 10th annual awards for sales and marketing excellence from its group of media properties it consults which includes Internet, Radio and Print facilities. The LPG (Luce Performance Group) Sales Force of the Year went to Castanet.net in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. Castanet.net posted a 21% increase in annual sales for the fiscal 08/09 period. The "Sitting Bull" award-Executive of the Year- honor went to Tom Marhefka-owner and operator from the Ozark Network of Radio, Print and Online companies in Missouri and Arkansas. In March of 2009, Tom took over a property of 5 radio stations and revived them from near calamity/dark. They have exceeded their sales goals the past 11 months consecutively. Tom also overcame two personal tragedies on his staff during the course of the year and was able to keep his properties on track both in product and in sales. The "Gandy Dancer" award (what they called the person on the railroad who kept the tracks straight and true)-Sales Manager of the Year was awarded to Phyllis Papp. Phyllis is the Sales Manager for the Ozark Radio Network in Missouri/Arkansas. She led her team in spite of 100% staff turnover and truly leads by example. The "Spike Driver" award (honoring those who actually pound the spikes in the railroad ties-the ones who are on the street in sales daily) was awarded to Valerie Gladden from KOLA FM in Riverside, California. Valerie never missed a sales goal in calendar 2009 and has one of the greatest attitudes you will find. The LPG Rising Star-typically given to a sales rep with less than a year experience in media sales went to Stephanie Ostash from the Castanet.net sales force. Stephanie was hired on August 31, 2009 and has a promising career ahead of her. She has far exceeded expectations on a sales force considered the best in Canada by others and not strictly limited to LPG. LPG announced a new award for 2009 called the "Team MVP" award. This was given to Rod Landon from KCAL FM in Riverside, California-sister property to KOLA FM. Rod was a long time sales manager who came back to radio sales after starting his owner company. Many said it couldn't be done-coming back to day-to-day selling when you were once a manager. Rod not only does it-he does what he taught when he was a sales manager. Rod is the "Most Valuable Player" to his teammates and to his management and ownership at KCAL FM/Anaheim Broadcasting-San Diego. Inducted into the LPG Hall of Fame were Gary Bowers-owner and operator of WCLG in Morgantown, West Virginia-Home to the University of West Virginia Mountaineers. Gary overcame both a liver transplant and chemo treatments for cancer at different times in a 12 month period at the age of 70. During this time, Gary continued to successfully run his combo of radio stations and actively sold advertising while going through both life threatening circumstances. Gary truly puts in a "212" (212movie.com) effort every day and is an inspiration to all those around him. In most cases, Sean Luce personally awards his recipients during his market trip visits throughout the course of the year.
For more information, contact Sean Luce at www.luceperformancegroup.com.