PSCA ANNOUNCES ITS 2005 SIGNATURE AWARD WINNERS

CHICAGO (September 29, 2005) - The Profit Sharing/401(k) Council of America is pleased to announce the winners of the 2005 Signature Awards competition. For 10 years, Signature Awards have rewarded excellence in developing creative solutions to communication challenges and using innovative approaches to educate plan participants. Winners of this year’s Signature Awards are being honored at a special ceremony at PSCA’s 58th annual National Conference in San Diego, California. 

This year, the prestigious Best of Show award went to two companies. Best of Show – Large Company went to Publicis, and Karsten Manufacturing Corporation won for Best of Show – Small Company. 

The global advertising and marketing firm, Publicis’ “Creative Juices” campaign was successful because it reached its young, creative, and geographically-diverse workforce. In addition to using various print and electronic media, Publicis also provided full-size vending machines to its larger locations that were viewable in break rooms and cafeterias. At smaller locations, a full-sized vending machine poster was used. The vending machine was accompanied by a set of smaller poster inserts that HR personnel posted to communicate plan information. Overall participation in Publicis’ plan increased to 90 percent.

Karsten Manufacturing Corporation, the manufacturer of renowned Ping golf clubs and equipment, connected to its employees in several ways. They used a full slate of communication materials, including posters, postcard, newsletters, and CDs; an advocate training program, and a Web site that provided employees with information about meeting schedules, fund profiles, and other relevant information. Karsten’s campaign increased their participation rate to 84 percent.

Also, to PSCA’s delight, participation in the annual Signature Awards program continues to grow. This year PSCA received a record number of 268 entries! The entrants represent a wide range of companies and organizations from all sectors of U.S. businesses. 

A distinguished judging panel of business leaders and employee benefit communication experts chose the 2005 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. 

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 2005 Signature Awards winners:

Best of Show: 

• Large Company: Publicis – Sponsored by Fidelity Investments
• Small Company: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation – Sponsored by Charles Schwab Retirement Plan Services

Asset Allocation:

• Signature of Excellence: MGM MIRAGE – Sponsored by MFS Investment Management
• Signature of Honor: State of North Carolina, Department of Treasury – Sponsored by Prudential Retirement Services
• Signature of Honor: Lansing Board of Water and Light – Sponsored by Prudential Retirement Services
• Signature of Merit: International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers – Sponsored by The Vanguard Group of Investment Companies

Communication to Plan Sponsors:

• Signature of Excellence: MassMutual Life Insurance Company
• Signature of Merit: Federated Investors Management Company

Complete Campaign – Large Company:

• Signature of Excellence: Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc. – Sponsored by Principal Financial Group
  Signature of Excellence: Averitt Express – Sponsored by Wells Fargo Institutional Trust Services
  Signature of Honor: KPMG, LLP – Sponsored by Merrill Lynch
  Signature of Honor: Trinity Health – Sponsored by Diversified Investment Advisors

Complete Campaign – Small Company:

• Signature of Excellence: AM General LLC – Charles Schwab Retirement Plan Services
• Signature of Honor: National Geographic Society – Principal Financial Group
• Signature of Honor: CTG, Inc. – Sponsored by MFS Investment Management

Financial Planning:

• Signature of Excellence: World Wildlife Fund – Sponsored by Principal Financial Group
• Signature of Honor: Trinity Health – Sponsored by Diversified Investment Advisors
• Signature of Honor: United Services Automobile Association – Sponsored by Pricewaterhouse Coopers, LLP

Generic Participant Education: 

• Signature of Excellence: Schottenstein Stores Corporation – Sponsored by MFS Investment Management
• Signature of Honor: Tufts New England Medical Center – Sponsored by Fidelity Investments
• Signature of Honor: Children’s Health System – Financial Finesse, Inc.

Increasing Deferrals: 

• Signature of Excellence: CTG, Inc. – Sponsored by MFS Investment Management
• Signature of Honor: Navmar Applied Sciences Corporation – Sponsored by KDB Resources, Inc.
• Signature of Honor: Basic American Foods – Sponsored by Charles Schwab Retirement Plan Services
• Signature of Merit: Wolohan Lumber – Sponsored by ABN AMRO (now Principal Financial Group)
• Signature of Merit: Zurich – Sponsored by the Vanguard Group of Investment Companies

Increasing Participation – Large Company:

• Signature of Excellence: International Truck and Engine – Sponsored by JP Morgan Retirement Plan Services
• Signature of Honor: T-Mobile USA, Inc. – Sponsored by T. Rowe Price Associates
• Signature of Merit: Williams Sonoma, Inc. – Sponsored by Charles Schwab Retirement Plan Services
• Signature of Merit: Medco Health Solutions, Inc. – Sponsored by Fidelity Investments

Increasing Participation – Small Company

• Signature of Excellence: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation – Sponsored by Charles Schwab Retirement Plan Services
• Signature of Honor: AM General, LLC – Sponsored by Charles Schwab Retirement Plan Services
• Signature of Honor: Maidenform – Sponsored by MassMutual Retirement Services Division
• Signature of Honor: Toray – Sponsored by MassMutual Retirement Services Division
• Signature of Merit: Aker Kvaerner Business Partners, Inc. – Sponsored by The 401(k) Company
• Signature of Merit: CoBank – Sponsored by Merrill Lynch

Language Diversity:

• Signature of Excellence: Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc. – Sponsored by Principal Financial Group
• Signature of Honor: CEMEX, Inc. – Sponsored by The 401(k) Company
• Signature of Honor: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation – Sponsored by Charles Schwab Retirement Plan Services
• Signature of Merit: J&J Snack Foods – Sponsored by MFS Investment Management

Plan Conversion – Large Company:

• Signature of Excellence: Publicis – Sponsored by Fidelity Investments
• Signature of Honor: Energy East Corporation – Sponsored by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
• Signature of Honor: Rite Aid – Sponsored by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.

Plan Conversion – Small Company

• Signature of Excellence: Mittal Steel USA – Sponsored by MassMutual Retirement Services Division
• Signature of Honor: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation – Sponsored by Charles Schwab Retirement Plan Services
• Signature of Honor: CTG, Inc. – Sponsored by MFS Investment Management
• Signature of Honor: The Toro Company – Sponsored by JP Morgan Retirement Plan Services
• Signature of Merit: Stillwater Mining Company – Sponsored by MassMutual Retirement Services Division

Plan Design/Administrative Changes:

• Signature of Excellence: Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex – Sponsored by The Vanguard Group of Investment Companies
• Signature of Honor: Publicis – Sponsored by Fidelity Investments
• Signature of Honor: Reuters America, LLC – Sponsored by Mercer Human Resource Consulting
• Signature of Merit: Mittal Steel USA – Sponsored by MassMutual Retirement Services Division

Targeted Communication:

• Signature of Excellence: Parsons Corporation & Subsidiaries – Sponsored by Wells Fargo Institutional Trust Services
• Signature of Honor: Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. – Sponsored by CitiStreet
• Signature of Honor: Mittal Steel USA – Sponsored by MassMutual Retirement Services Division

401(k) Day:

• Signature of Excellence: Avaya, Inc. – Sponsored by Fidelity Investments
• Signature of Honor: Denso Manufacturing Tennessee, Inc. – Sponsored by Herod Mattis Group
• Signature of Honor: Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation – Sponsored by Strong Retirement Services (now Wells Fargo)
• Signature of Merit: Principal Financial Group – Sponsored by Principal Financial Group

The Profit Sharing/401(k) Council of America (PSCA), a national non-profit association of 1,200 companies and their 6 million employees, advocates increased retirement security through profit sharing, 401(k) and related defined contribution programs to federal policymakers and makes practical assistance with profit sharing and 401(k) plan design, administration, investment, compliance and communication available to its members. PSCA, established in 1947, is based on the principle that “defined contribution partnership in the workplace fits today’s reality.” PSCA's services are tailored to meet the needs of both large and small companies with members ranging in size from Fortune 100 firms to small, entrepreneurial businesses.