H. Robert Wientzen, president/CEO of the Direct Marketing Association, New York, announced Aug. 20 that Connie LaMotta, the DMA’s senior vice president of public relations/communications, has resigned to become a strategic communications consultant specializing in issues such as privacy.
In her career at the DMA, LaMotta launched the consumer image campaign for the DMA’s Shop-At-Home Information Center in 1989, and a consumer Web site, www.shopthenet.com, in 1998. She also was responsible for all aspects of communication for the association including managing print and broadcast media, issues and crisis communication, and product and service publicity. She also managed magazine, newsletter and e-mail publishing, Web news and information, and editorial services. She directed two national public relations agencies and a staff of 12 communications and public relations specialists.
“Connie has been one of the DMA’s most valuable players and an important voice in designing communication strategies for the association over the decade,” said Weitzen.
LaMotta has also negotiated DMA policy positions with numerous environmental public officials and key industry adversaries, winning support and developing strategic partnerships with important influential groups including the U.S. Conference of Mayors.
A notable achievement for La Motta was a successful integrated communications campaign she orchestrated that overcame the perception that catalogers could not get merchandise delivered to their customers during the UPS strike of 1997. The campaign included ads in national newspapers and a publicity effort that was picked up in many major national newspapers as well.
Wientzen is currently meeting with candidates to replace LaMotta.
