CHICAGO (September 21, 2006) - 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 |