Komatsu America Corporation Wins Prestigious Best of Show Award

PSCA celebrates the success of plan sponsors around the country

The Profit Sharing/401k Council of America is pleased to announce the winners of the 2006 Signature Awards competition. PSCA Signature Awards honor excellence in profit sharing and 401(k) plan communication and education. Winners of this year’s Signature Awards were announced at a special ceremony at PSCA’s 59th annual National Profit Sharing and 401(k) Conference and Exhibition at the Ritz-Carlton on Amelia Island, Florida.

This year, Komatsu America Corp. won the prestigious Best of Show award. Komatsu, a leading building company based in Rolling Meadows, Ill., and sponsored by Union Bank of California and Blue Communications, showed excellence in developing creative solutions to communication challenges and using innovative approaches to educate plan participants. Because of their efforts, Komatsu also achieved three Gold Medal placements in the categories of Complete Campaign – Small Company, Increasing Participation – Small Company, and Language Diversity.

PSCA also celebrates the continued success of the Signature Awards program. This year again more than 260 entries were submitted for the competition. PSCA also received immense support from its member volunteers. A distinguished judging panel of business leaders and employee benefit communication experts chose the 2006 winners based on how companies design, manage, and provide profit sharing and 401(k) plan communication and investment education to plan participants. Signature Awards judges carefully review how effective the campaign was at achieving its goals. PSCA’s generous volunteer base contributes significantly to the continued success of the Signature Awards program. 

PSCA Signature Awards also provide companies a unique learning opportunity through the annual Signature Awards magazine. Winners are listed in the magazine along with an article that describes the details of the companies’ campaigns and their specific results. Other member companies receive this magazine and can apply the winning techniques to their own defined contribution plans. Attendants of the National Conference, as well as PSCA members, received a copy of the Signature Awards Magazine.

The following is a complete list of the 2006 Signature Award winners:

Best of Show
Komatsu America Corp. – Sponsored by Union Bank of California; Blue Communications

Asset Allocation
Gold: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation – Sponsored by Charles Schwab
Silver: Weyerhaeuser Company – Sponsored by The Vanguard Group
Bronze: Archdiocese of Seattle – Sponsored by DWS Scudder
Honorable Mention: M. A. Mortenson Company – Sponsored by Wells Fargo Institutional Trust Services

Communication to Plan Sponsors
Gold: MassMutual Financial Group
Silver: MassMutual Financial Group
Bronze: DWS Scudder

Complete Campaign – Large Company
Gold: Illinois Tool Works Inc. – Sponsored by CitiStreet, LLC
Silver: Universal Orlando – Sponsored by Charles Schwab
Bronze: D.R. Horton, Inc. – Sponsored by Putnam Investments
Honorable Mention: Parkland Health & Hospital System – Sponsored by Milliman, Inc.

Complete Campaign – Small Company
Gold: Komatsu America Corp. – Sponsored by Union Bank of California; Blue Communications
Silver: CROSSMARK – Sponsored by MFS Retirement Services
Bronze: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation – Sponsored by Charles Schwab
Honorable Mention: Children’s Memorial Hospital – Sponsored by Financial Finesse

Plan Conversion – Large Company
Gold: Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. – Sponsored by JPMorgan Retirement Plan Services
Silver: Cooper Industries, Ltd. – Sponsored by Diversified Investment Advisors

Plan Conversion – Small Company
Gold: Fairchild Semiconductor International, Inc. – Sponsored by The Vanguard Group
Silver: Earthlink, Inc. – Sponsored by The 401(k) Company
Bronze: MTD Products, Inc. – Sponsored by MassMutual Financial Group

Financial Planning
Gold: Hy-Vee, Inc. – Sponsored by Principal Financial Group

Generic Participant Education
Gold: Multiple Plan Sponsors – Sponsored by Great-West Retirement Services
Silver: Children’s Memorial Hospital – Sponsored by Financial Finesse
Bronze: USA Mobility, Inc. – Sponsored by Wachovia Retirement Services

Increasing Deferrals
Gold: Health Care Service Corporation – Sponsored by Prudential Retirement
Silver: Ingalls Health System – Sponsored by MassMutual Financial Group
Bronze: Humana, Inc. – Sponsored by Charles Schwab
Bronze: Electronic Arts – Sponsored by Charles Schwab

Increasing Participation – Large Company
Gold: Universal Orlando – Sponsored by Charles Schwab
Silver: Phelps Dodge, Inc. – Sponsored by JPMorgan Retirement Plan Services
Bronze: Berry Plastics Corporation – Sponsored by Securian Retirement Services
Bronze: Science Applications International Corporation – Sponsored by The Vanguard Group

Increasing Participation – Small Company
Gold: Komatsu America Corp. – Sponsored by Union Bank of California; Blue Communications
Silver: American Skiing Company – Sponsored by MFS Retirement Services
Bronze: Kos Pharmaceuticals, Inc. – Sponsored by MassMutual Financial Group

Language Diversity
Gold: Komatsu America Corp. – Sponsored by Union Bank of California; Blue Communications
Silver: M. A. Mortenson Company – Sponsored by Wells Fargo Institutional Trust Services
Bronze: The Graham Companies – Sponsored by The Newport Group

Plan Design/Administrative Changes
Gold: Florida Public Utilities – Sponsored by MassMutual Financial Group
Silver: Furniture Brands International, Inc. – Sponsored by Mercer HR Services
Bronze: Gorton’s – Sponsored by MassMutual Financial Group

Targeted Communication
Gold: Merial LLC – Sponsored by Wells Fargo Institutional Trust Services
Silver: Staples, Inc. – Sponsored by New York Life Investment Management Retirement Plan Services
Bronze: Trinity Health – Sponsored by Diversified Investment Advisors
Bronze: Nordstrom – Sponsored by Mercer HR Services
Honorable Mention: Buckeye Partners, L.P. – Sponsored by JPMorgan Retirement Plan Services

401(k) Day
Gold: First Data Corporation – Sponsored by Hewitt Associates
Silver: Avaya, Inc. – Sponsored by Fidelity Investments
Bronze: Hyatt Corporation – Sponsored by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
Honorable Mention: Brookshire Grocery Company – Sponsored by CitiStreet, LLC