Gabriel Group Named Winner of PCC PONY Award

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Pictured above: (Top Row) Anna Metzger, PCC Industry Co-Chair; Tim Suraud of Print Media Association; Younetter Hopgood, Kevin Brennan, Linda Potzman, Paul Hawkins, Nancy Crum, Steve Koch and Bruce Cannon of  Gabriel Group; Jeromy Fritz, former PCC Co-Chair; and Cathy Vaughn, PCC Postal Co-Chair and Postmaster of St. Louis (Bottom row) Jodi Beaman, Joyce Berra and Michelle Monroe of Gabriel Group

Gabriel Group is proud to announce that its Alphabet Postcard Campaign was voted as the Most Irresistible Mailpiece by the attendees of the 2016 Printers & Mailers Conference.  The event was hosted by the Greater St. Louis Postal Customer Council (PCC) on June 16, 2016.

The PONY Award was presented by the United States Postal Service to a mailing distinguished by clear messaging, an attention-grabbing call to action, exciting design and the tie-in of a creative promotion. Five finalists were selected after the submission process and were then judged throughout the day of the conference.

The Alphabet Postcard Campaign was rooted in a previous series that Gabriel Group had executed nearly 20 years prior that was also extremely successful. Gabriel Group’s marketing team and fundraising sales group, together with copywriter Mary Lou Frank and graphic designer Susan Klein-Shelton, created the alphabet postcards as a targeted marketing campaign in an effort to generate leads. Each postcard featured a letter of the alphabet along with one correlating word as well as copy and imagery with the goal to share with recipients who Gabriel Group is, what Gabriel Group does and how Gabriel Group can help them.

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The series was sent to approximately 850 nonprofit prospects, the majority being food banks. The twenty-seven total postcards were sent out weekly over a six-month period, and to date, have produced 20 highly qualified leads that have resulted in the acquisition of five new clients. The newly acquired business is expected to bill a combined $650,000 in the first year, which accounts for a return on investment of over 3,500%.

Gabriel Group Thanks Clients by Donating to a Cause Close to Associates’ Hearts

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For the past eight years, Gabriel Group has made a charitable donation in honor of its clients in lieu of a traditional gift. Gabriel Group selected St. Louis Ovarian Cancer Awareness as our 2015 Pay-It-Forward Recipient in loving memory of our dear friend and colleague of nearly seven years, Kim Marxkors.

St. Louis Ovarian Cancer Awareness is a small but mighty group of women and men who are determined to increase awareness of ovarian cancer, create a place where patients and survivors can find support and fund important research.

All associates participate in our Pay-It-Forward efforts year-round. From making a donation to dress down on Wednesdays to participating in monthly raffle basket drawings to giving a donation to bring their dog to work, associates raise money to make a significant donation to a worthy cause each year in honor of clients.

To date, Gabriel Group has funded a spring water aqueduct in the Dominican Republic to help provide children with safe drinking water; built four double-family homes for families in earthquake-ravaged Haiti; funded a new classroom at an early childhood education center in Zambia; provided food and clothing to an orphanage in Mozambique; supported relief efforts following the tornado in Joplin; provided farm animals, fruit trees and bicycles to poverty-stricken children and families through the company’s client, World Vision; and in most recent years, shifted its focus to help local St. Louis children suffering from abuse or neglect.

We miss Kim very much and are proud to have exceeded our $10,000 goal, raising $12,000 for an organization that is close to our hearts and meant so much to her!

Gabriel Group Welcomes Joyce Berra as Vice President of Information Systems

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Gabriel Group is proud to announce the addition of Joyce Berra as Vice President of Information Systems.

Joyce made the move to Gabriel Group after a 14-year career at World Marketing, a national direct marketing company with locations in Atlanta and Dallas as well as St. Louis. While there, she held the position of both Vice President and National Director of Information Services where she managed nationwide technical teams as they produced direct mail campaigns.

Chief Executive Officer Dave Hawkins said, “We as a company are so lucky to have Joyce join us in our efforts here at Gabriel Group.” He added, “She brings with her years of experience in the direct mail industry and has held various roles throughout her impressive career. She has already made an immediate impact by demonstrating her knowledge of the business inside and out, and that in itself is absolutely invaluable. We’re looking forward to a very successful future with Joyce in our corner.”

Joyce holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Tulsa where she was an NCAA swimmer. When she isn’t working, she enjoys staying active by running, skiing, traveling and spending time with her family.

Charlie Pitlyk Named Executive Vice President at Gabriel Group

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Gabriel Group announces the appointment of Charles (Charlie) Pitlyk as Executive Vice President.

Charlie comes to Gabriel Group from World Marketing, a national direct marketing company with locations in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas as well as St. Louis, where he managed a staff of over 500 working in Information Technology and Operations. He brings over 30 years of industry experience working in various senior management and technical capacities to deliver effective and on target solutions that benefit the organization and its clients.

“We are thrilled to be able to add Charlie to our team,” said Dave Hawkins, Chief Executive Officer of Gabriel Group. “In his short time with Gabriel Group, he is already proving himself as a valuable asset to our team. We are confident that his past experience and future vision will help us implement more effective and efficient ways of meeting our client-partners’ needs.”

Charlie has a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Lindenwood University. He and his wife, Debbie, have four children and five grandchildren with one on the way. In his free time, Charlie enjoys fishing and golfing.

Traci Basden Has Been Awarded the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) Designation

CFRE International has named Traci Basden as a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE). Traci Basden, Associate Vice President of Fundraising Services at Gabriel Group joins over 5,300 professionals around the world who hold the CFRE designation.

Individuals granted the CFRE credential have met a series of standards set by CFRE International which include tenure in the profession, education, demonstrated fundraising achievement and a commitment to service to not-for-profit organizations. They have also passed a rigorous written examination testing the knowledge, skills, and abilities required of a fundraising executive, and have agreed to uphold Accountability Standards and the Donor Bill of Rights.

“The CFRE credential was created to identify for the public and employers those individuals who possess the knowledge, skills and commitment to perform fundraising duties in an effective and ethical manner,” states Jim Caldarola, CFRE, Immediate Past Chair of CFRE International. “As the certification is a voluntary achievement, the CFRE credential demonstrates a high level of commitment on the part of Traci Basden to herself, the fundraising profession, and, the donors who are served.”

CFRE recipients are awarded certification for a three-year period. In order to maintain certification status, certificants must demonstrate on-going fundraising employment and fundraising results, and continue with their professional education. Employers and donors who work with CFRE’s know they are getting a professional who is committed to the best outcomes for their organization and has the requisite knowledge and skills.

 

Gabriel Group Makes Donation in Honor of Clients

In the true spirit of the season, Gabriel Group is celebrating its sixth year of meaningful gift giving by making a donation to Our Little Haven.

Each year for the past six years, Gabriel Group has made a donation in honor of its clients in lieu of a traditional gift. This year, Gabriel decided to let its clients and friends help choose a deserving St. Louis children’s organization to be its 2013 pay it forward recipient. With an overwhelming majority of the votes, Our Little Haven was selected as the organization for which Gabriel Group associates would raise money.

Our Little Haven is relentlessly committed to providing a safe, secure and healing environment for children suffering from the tragedy of abuse or neglect. Its dedicated and compassionate community of caregivers make the hurting stop, the healing begin and the love last, one child at a time.

“We can’t think of a better way to thank our clients for their business and to ‘pay it forward’ as we wish them a Happy Holidays and Joyous New Year,” said Art Kerckhoff, Principal.

All associates participate in this pay it forward effort year-round. From making a donation to dress down on Wednesdays to participating in monthly raffle basket drawings to pieing our Executive and Sales team members, associates raise money to make a significant donation to a worthy cause each year in honor of clients.
To date, Gabriel Group has funded a spring water aqueduct in the Dominican Republic to help provide children with safe drinking water; built four double-family homes for families in earthquake-ravaged Haiti; funded a new classroom at an early childhood education center in Zambia; provided food and clothing to an orphanage in Mozambique and supported relief efforts following the devastating tornado in Joplin; and provided farm animals, fruit trees and bicycles to poverty-stricken children and families through the company’s client, World Vision.

Gabriel Group Continues to Grow as it Acquires Assets and Client Servicing from Wilkes Group

Gabriel Group  announces that it has acquired some assets of Wilkes Group, including equipment and systems, and has begun servicing a number of Wilkes Group direct marketing clients effective immediately. In addition, Gabriel has hired 10 former Wilkes associates who will continue to service the accounts.

Three of these new hires have joined Gabriel Group’s sales team: Jim Poneta as Vice President, and Larry Keatts and Steve Koch as Sales Executives.

Prior to joining Gabriel Group, Jim Poneta successfully led a direct marketing team as President, C.S. at Wilkes Group. With his sales and executive background in the printing and direct mail field, he brings a wealth of direct marketing knowledge and experience.

Poneta has served in leadership positions for various organizations, most recently as a current member of the Board of Trustees at McKendree University.  He and his wife, Jan, have three children, Elisabeth, John and Katherine, and five grandchildren, Benjamin, May, Sadie, Owen and James. In his free time, Poneta enjoys hunting, golfing and writing.

Based in Denver, Colorado, Larry Keatts comes to Gabriel Group after being with Wilkes for two years. Working in the direct marketing industry for the past 26 years, he has vast experience working with clients nationwide to develop solutions for their specific marketing needs.

Keatts graduated from The University of Texas at Arlington with a BA in Business Administration, with a concentration on Marketing. He is an active member and previous Board Member of the Rocky Mountain Direct Marketing Association. Keatts has a passion for music and enjoys hiking and biking on the trails near his home in Denver.

Steve Koch will be focusing on sales and new business acquisition. Since 2006, he has held a lead position in the Casino Marketing Team at Wilkes. Prior to that, he served in Account Executive roles at various St. Louis direct marketing organizations.

Koch graduated from Southwest Missouri State University, in Springfield, Missouri, with a BS in Marketing. He has two children: Sarah, a nurse at Missouri Baptist, and Sam, a chef at Denali National Park in Alaska. Koch is a tri-athlete and completed his first half ironman in Boulder, Colorado last year. He also enjoys reading, movies and entertaining friends.

“We are very excited to welcome all of our newest team members and clients,” said Michael Peterson, CEO. “We have been diligently working on the integration of these Wilkes accounts over the past several weeks to ensure a smooth transition, and anticipate a seamless transfer of these relationships.”