All-Star lineup set for new products conference in New York.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 6, 1996--Faster! Cheaper!! Better!!! Tough Realities for New Product Development is the theme of the 28th annual New Products Conference, sponsored by the New York American Marketing Association, and scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 1 at the New York Hilton.

"The theme of this year's conference accurately reflects the new products environment as we approach the millennium," said Lou Moskowitz, co-chairperson of the event and president of Results Thru Research. "Attendees will hear how leading companies from a broad cross section of industries and disciplines are dealing with the tough realities of developing and bringing new products to market."

Offering the keynote address will be Herbert M. Baum, chairman/CEO of Quaker State, who is considered one of the nation's leading executives in the area of new product development and introduction. His speech, "Creating the Future," will focus on the 10 guiding principles for developing new products.

Baum, formerly with Campbell Soup, rising to the position of executive director, president - Campbell North and South America, has been honored for his contributions to marketing innovation. He is a winner of the American Marketing Association's Charles Coolidge Parlin Award and a recipient of the AMA's Edison Award for Lifetime Achievement, an honor bestowed upon such well-known business executives as H. John Greeniaus of Nabisco, Robert Woodruff of Coca-Cola, Bert Roberts Jr. of MCI Communications and Arthur Martinez of Sears-Roebuck.

The luncheon guest speaker will be Edward R. Erhardt, vice president and publisher of Advertising Age. Erhardt will discuss the top trends in advertising and marketing, with a special emphasis on branding.

William J. McDonough, Jr., senior vice president and group management director at FCB/Leber Katz Partners, will speak on why the idea behind a brand is critical to a new product's success. FCB/Leber Katz Partners is the 1996 winner of the prestigious Edison Award as "New Product Agency of the Year."

Among those also scheduled to speak are:

-- Steve Abrams, senior vice president, commercial products, MasterCard International, on the development of the purchasing card program, which is designed to reduce costs and obtain efficiencies.

-- Bruce Judson, general manager, Time Inc., New Media and author of NetMarketing: How Your Business Can Profit from the On-Line Revolution, on building a profitable business on the Internet.

-- Jay Silverstein, chief marketing officer, Oxford Health Plans, on redefining service and information in health care.

-- Joe Bierman, vice president, Global Fragrance and Personal Care, Avon, on the challenges and opportunities of building a global fragrance business given the diverse needs of developing and maturing markets.

-- Dale Hargadine, technical manager, 3M on the importance of being fast, fluid and flexible.

-- Joshua Taylor, president of Cloud Nine, the all-natural gourmet chocolate company, on socially responsible business and product branding.

The New Products Conference was created by the New York AMA to allow marketers -- from corporate and agency life, consultants and entrepreneurs -- to hear leading marketing executives share their stories and offer their advice on the development and marketing of new products.

Admission to the day-long conference is $375 for New York AMA members registration and $425 for non-members. For more information on the New Products Conference call 212/687-3280 or 800/792-9202, or visit the New York AMA's website at www.nyama.org.

CONTACT: New York American Marketing Association, New York

Steven Clark, 201/947-4133