Oct. 6 Show: Debra da Costa, Direct Marketing Partners and Susan Finch, Binky Patrol, Inc.

Debra da Costa, CEO Direct Marketing Partners Debra da Costa is the founder and CEO of one of the leading sales lead management service providers, Direct Marketing Partners. Debra is a pioneer in the sales lead field. Debra da Costa founded Direct Marketing Partners in 1991 with the goal of creating a company truly responsive to the individual needs of clients. To this end, she structured DMP so that the company would be large enough to have the depth of expertise required by corporations with worldwide interests, but of a size that would permit close project participation by all the firm's senior staff, as well as flexibility and agility. From the beginning, and under Debra's leadership, DMP has provided clients with marketing campaigns, which generate sales leads of superior quality. Over the years, the company’s offerings have expanded to include call center/ telemarketing, hosted database, list research and acquisition, direct mail, e-mail marketing, search engine marketing, professional services consulting, fulfillment and event support services. Before creating DMP, Debra was the President of Debra da Costa Consulting where she was responsible for high-tech industry marketing campaigns. In her career, Debra has held several design and technical positions with public agencies in both Canada and the U.S. and was responsible for the marketing efforts of Lawrence Moss and Associates. It is through these experiences that she discovered that all roads lead to marketing. Debra will be answering question and sharing insights on the importance of lead qualification. Susan Finch, Founder/CEO Binky Patrol, Inc. - a 501c3 In 1996 Susan Finch was immersed in a high-end art gallery in Laguna Beach, but knew she needed to do something to help her community and children in need.  The idea for Binky Patrol Comforting Covers for Kids came to her one afternoon and she immediately contacted local media to help her get this idea rolling.  One of the first partnerships she developed was with Wahoo's Fish Taco headquartered in Santa Ana, California.  She learned the value of mutually beneficial partnerships with regards to sponsors and events.  She was carried along in the beginning by Wahoo's Founder, Wing Lam who showed her how everyone can win and all brands can benefit from the criss-cross marketing and publicity.  This was before Social Media and the Internet was truly getting its legs at that point.  Now, 15 years later, the organization has enjoyed publicity at the local level with chapters finding their own corporate partners.  The companies are able to utilize the list of the charity and gain exposure, goodwill and a sense of community without a lot of effort.  The charity benefits from the added volunteer force, exposure to the sponsors clients, newsgroups and social media reach.  All benefit.   Susan will answer questions about ways B2B and B2C can help expand their reach while helping a charity, without putting a strain on their budgets.