Corporate Responsibility and 9/11 Response Recognized in Annual Business Communications Awards; David Biegler Urges Responsible Behavior in Corporate America.

Business Editors

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 2, 2002

Professional communicators representing Mary Kay, Inc., 7- Eleven Corp., TXU Business Services, Verizon and Travelocity were among those receiving the coveted Bronze Quill Award today at ceremonies that also named Dallas' Communicator of the Year.

The Dallas Chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) presented the awards at its 2002 Dallas/IABC Bronze Quill Awards Ceremony. Dallas-based Centex Corp. was presenting sponsor of the event.

"I'm in awe of great communicators. Integrity is not enough. It takes empathy, a proactive voice and honesty," said David Biegler, retired vice chairman of TXU Corp. and chairman of numerous charities and community organizations, during a keynote address that focused on corporate responsibility. He urged the assembled audience of almost 200 communicators to "never forget the reality of the field you're in, don't take it personally, recognize it is the client's neck on the line, spend time getting to know your audience, and never forget someone kept Dukes of Hazzard on the air for six years."

Jodi Hodak, ABC, president of WriteAway Communications, was named Communicator of the Year, the organization's most prestigious honor. As Dallas/IABC 2002 Communicator of the Year, Jodi Hodak was recognized for the quality of her work samples, her service to IABC and related accomplishments. Hodak is currently serving as treasurer on the Dallas/IABC Board of Directors. She is an Accredited Business Communicator (ABC), a professional certification administered by IABC. She has been a recipient of Bronze Quill awards from Dallas/IABC and Addy Awards from the Ad League. She is a Cum Laude graduate of California State University at Northridge, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Writing. Hodak was also honored with the Pegasus Award, an award bestowed by the chapter president on the member who has gone above and beyond in helping the chapter during the year to reach its goals.

More than 40 of Dallas' professional communicators were recognized for communications excellence, receiving the Award of Merit. The coveted Award of Excellence, or Bronze Quill, went to seven:

-- Carol Barreyre, ABC, Carol Barreyre Communications, Inc., for "New CEO at Aurum"

-- Joan Hunter, TXU Business Services, for "Texas Market Open"

-- Heidi Jaquish, Verizon Information Services, for "Enlighten Me"

-- Patsy Miller, TXU Business Services, for "Powerline"

-- Janelle O'Haugherty and Al Comeaux Vollmer/Travelocity Travelocity 2001 Post-September 11 and Holiday Travel BQ Travelocity/Vollmer

-- Randall Oxford, Mary Kay Inc., for Velocity Product Launches

-- Ian Pierce, Dallas/IABC President, for "It's A Jungle Out There"

In addition, Cindy Beauregard, Towers Perrin, received the Diamond Award of Merit in the newly created Diamond Quill division for Overall Excellence in Corporate Responsibility for the "Earn. Learn. Grow." program created for 7-Eleven Corp.

Judges who determined the awards were senior-level communicators from the Dallas area, including business owners, representatives of top Dallas corporations and senior executives from Dallas-area advertising or public relations firms. Entries were judged purely on their own merits, against standard judging criteria and not against other entries. Highest range scores earned entrants either the Bronze Quill Award of Excellence or the Award of Merit. More than 85 entries were received and judged in total.

With more than 300 members, Dallas/IABC is the premier professional association for writers, editors, marketing and communication experts and entrepreneurs representing companies large and small. Dallas/IABC assists local communicators interested in expanding their knowledge base and in improving skill sets for business communication.

As a 13,700-member not-for-profit association, IABC is a learning community for professionals committed to improving the effectiveness of organizations through strategic communication. IABC members practice the disciplines of corporate communication, employee/internal communication, marketing communication, public relations/external communication, media relations, community relations, public affairs, investor relations and government relations. Dallas/IABC is one of 100 chapters in 58 countries.

For more chapter information, visit our Web site at www.dallasiabc.com.