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  • Home
  • About Us
    • Team Members
    • Sustainability Practices
    • Spirit of Good
    • Case Studies
  • Industries Served
  • List Fulfillment Services
    • ListAssist
    • Eblast Services
    • Email & Phone Enhancement
    • Demographic Data Enhancement
    • List Hygiene
  • Data Processing
    • Merge Purge
    • Data Hygiene
    • Analytics
    • Congressional Data Append
    • Demographic Data Append
    • Email & Phone Append
  • Databyte Blog
  • Free Guides
    • Optimizing Merge Purge
    • Data Hygiene ROI

MMI News

Linda Gottzandt, Client Services Team Leader, smiling in a denim jacket. Celebrating her promotion with a vibrant, colorful background.
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Congratulations to Linda Gottzandt on your promotion to Client Services Team Leader

MMI Direct and the PMG Family are thrilled to announce the promotion of Linda Gottzandt to Client Services Team Leader for MMI Direct’s Merge Purge team!

Since joining MMI in 2017, Linda has become an invaluable leader—serving as the go-to expert and trusted advisor for both her team and our clients. Her ability to transform client goals into reality, while delivering best-in-class merge purge and data hygiene strategies, has set a high standard of excellence.

We are excited to see Linda continue to lead with dedication and innovation in her new role. Congratulations on this well-deserved promotion! 🎉

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Rachel Thompson, List Conversion Team Leader, smiling confidently in a professional portrait, celebrating her promotion and leadership role.
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Congratulations to Rachel Thompson on your promotion to List Conversion Team Leader

MMI Direct and the PMG Family are excited to share the news of the promotion of Rachel Thompson to List Conversion Team Leader for MMI Direct’s Merge Purge team!

Over the past 20 years, Rachel has developed into the team’s go-to resource responsible for the management and processing of incoming data files—a critical step in fulfilling MMI’s commitment to developing and executing top notch merge-purge strategies for our direct mail clients.

We are excited to see Rachel thrive in her new role and make an even greater impact.

Congratulations on this well-deserved promotion, Rachel! 🎉

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Aiza Ashraf, a skilled Data Engineer, joins MMI Direct, bringing expertise and innovation to the team in a vibrant setting.
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MMI Direct Welcomes Aiza Ashraf, Data Engineer!

Aiza Ashraf, a talented Data Engineer, smiles confidently in a vibrant sequined top, showcasing her enthusiasm for joining MMI Direct.The PMG Family is thrilled to announce that Aiza Ashraf has joined MMI Direct as Data Engineer! Aiza has an extensive background in data processing and automation, and is well-equipped to help make our data operations even more efficient and innovative. Her leadership experience and strong aptitude for problem-solving will be a valuable addition to one of the best teams in the business.

Aiza holds an MPS in Health Information Technology and a BA in Health Administration and Policy from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, where she graduated with honors. Prior to joining MMI Direct, she contributed to impactful data initiatives at UnitedHealth Group, building data pipelines, automating reporting, and ensuring data security.

Outside of work, Aiza is an avid sports fan—cheering for the Golden State Warriors and following MMA events. When she’s not analyzing data, you might find her on the tennis courts, baking pies, or enjoying outdoor adventures with her two-year-old daughter.

We are excited to have Aiza on board and look forward to the fresh perspective and expertise she brings. Please join us in welcoming her to the MMI Direct team!

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Congratulations to Zakk Becker, new Team Leader at MMI, smiling confidently in a stylish outfit with a megaphone graphic in the background.
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Congratulations Zakk Becker on your promotion to MMI Team Leader!

Head shot of new, male employee, Zakk BeckerMMI Direct and the PMG Family are thrilled to announce the promotion of Zakk Becker to Team Leader for MMI Direct’s PM Data team, which delivers best-in-class data processing and hygiene services for PMG’s direct mail clients. Since joining us in January 2021, Zakk has consistently fulfilled client data projects with precision and dedication. His exceptional ability to translate complex data problems into actionable information has made him an incredible asset to our team. Zakk has managed some of our largest client projects, showcasing his expertise and leadership while impressively doubling our coffee budget.

Outside of work, Zakk enjoys creating technical manuals for data projects, exploring music, and perfecting his Cajun Shrimp and Jalapeno Cheddar Grits recipe. Stay tuned for Zakk’s new music project expected to drop later this year or early next year–depending on the label and Spotify.

Congratulations, Zakk, on your well-deserved promotion!

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Welcome to the team, William Billy Christian, List Conversion Analyst, smiling and showcasing enthusiasm in a professional setting.
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Welcome to the Team, William “Billy” Christian!

We are thrilled to introduce William “Billy” Christian as the newest member of the MMI Direct family! Billy joins us as a List Conversion Analyst, bringing with him an impressive 25 years of industry experience. Having honed his skills at an agency and lettershops, Billy is no stranger to the ins and outs of list management and conversion—he’s seen it all and done it all.

Billy lives just outside of Fredericksburg, VA, in a charming home by the lake. When he’s not converting lists, you’ll likely find him on the golf course, enjoying a day at the beach, or soaking in the energy of live music at concerts, local restaurants, and festivals. His zest for life and positivity earned him the nickname “Mr. Optimistic” from his previous co-workers, and we couldn’t be happier to have his upbeat energy on our team.

What drew Billy to MMI Direct? It was a combination of the meaningful work we do, our company culture, and the Spirit of Good that The PMG Family embodies. We’re excited to see the fresh perspectives and enthusiasm Billy will bring to our team.

Please join us in welcoming Billy to MMI Direct! We can’t wait to see all the great things we’ll accomplish together.

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Smiling man wearing a black sweater over a collared shirt, with short hair and a friendly expression against a gray background.
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Jeff Roberts Promoted to Director of MMI Direct

MMI Direct and The PMG Family are pleased to announce the promotion of Jeff Roberts to Director of MMI Direct effective January 1, 2024. Jeff takes on the senior leadership role at PMG’s data processing business unit with the retirement of long-time MMI colleague Larry Bettinger.

Jeff joins a strong senior leadership team at MMI that includes Marvin Dawson, Vice President of Operations, and John Bell, Vice President of Sales.

As Director, Jeff oversees the MMI Acquisition Data Merge/Purge Team led by Ross Fate and the MMI List Fulfillment Team led by Charlie Rice. Jeff will also continue to lead the data processing team which serves PMG’s direct mail production clients.

Last year, Jeff celebrated his 22nd anniversary with the company and throughout his time with us, he has helped to set the standard for our company culture with his tireless dedication to teamwork, leadership, expertise, and supporting both clients and colleagues.

Please join us in congratulating Jeff on his well-deserved promotion!

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Key takeaways from the 2023 DMAW List Bazaar, focusing on effective strategies for nonprofit fundraisers and list management insights.
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The Return of the DMAW List Bazaar: Key Takeaways for Nonprofit Fundraisers

The ever-popular DMAW List Bazaar returned as a standalone event on May 11th in Washington, DC. MMI Direct’s Charlie Rice along with Polly Papsadore and Jaime Grams from PMG were on hand to spend the day engaging with nearly 100 fellow industry leaders and acquisition list professionals, including list managers, brokers, agency strategists, co-operative database representatives and data scientists.

Here are some highlights from the program’s many informative sessions:

  • An emphasis on lifetime value vs. short-term results. Dan Sonners (Conrad Direct) shared fascinating campaign results data from an advocacy client showing response rate, average gift and 12-month subsequent revenue per donor. A multi-issue survey had a lower response rate and average gift, but had the highest 12-month subsequent revenue per donor compared to a single-issue survey package and a membership appeal.
  • Multichannel campaigns that build around direct mail are most effective. Per Dave Lewis (Snailworks), “At the heart of a direct marketing campaign, direct mail remains the essential channel. Coordinating it with other channels, measuring and refining the campaign are keys to its success.”
  • Britt Vatne (Adstra) and Kelly Leach (CELCO) advised looking closely at suppression strategy and files. Untapped opportunities lie within.
  • Margaret Romig and Melissa Lancaster (Lautman, Maska, Neil and Company) offered testing advice for market expansion: test new markets, test lists and test creative, and provided great perspective on the testing process: “Fail fast … learn fast!”
  • A top-notch panel of data scientists recommended:
    • The donor pool is not shrinking. Consumer behavior is changing and donor prospects can now be found in multiple channels. But focus on affinity to the cause first, not channel first.
    • Modelers should get into the head of the consumer (donor): immerse yourself in the client’s product, mission, fundraising materials … not just the data.
    • Brainstorming on completely new audiences when planning program or campaign strategies.
    • Understanding merge instructions as they can dramatically impact results.
    • Tailoring messaging, not just modeling to succeed with younger demographics (it’s the creative experience).

The program concluded with a lively town hall focused on evaluating and modernizing current industry-accepted list standards with respect to co-targeting, use of post-merge data and transparency among stakeholders. MMI Direct’s recently promoted Senior Team Leader, Ross Fate will be joining the volunteer panel of industry experts undertaking this critically important initiative. Stay tuned for future updates from MMI Direct and the PMG family!

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Celebrate Ross Fate's promotion to Senior Team Leader with a vibrant image showcasing his smiling face and congratulatory message.
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Help Us Celebrate Ross Fate’s Promotion to Senior Team Leader!

Today, we are delighted to announce the promotion of Ross Fate to the position of Senior Team Leader.

With over 21 years of dedicated service at MMI Direct, Ross has consistently demonstrated unwavering commitment and expertise in the field of merge-purge. As the go-to person for onboarding new clients, he has served as the face of the department, ensuring a seamless transition and building strong foundations for success. Ross’s efforts have not only helped us expand our client base but have also fostered enduring relationships with some of our longest-running clients.

With his promotion, Ross will now assume the leadership role, overseeing the entire merge-purge team. His experience, combined with his track record for delivering top-notch data processing solutions, makes him the perfect fit for this leadership position. Under Ross’s guidance, we anticipate continued strides toward greater efficiency, collaboration, and innovation within the merge-purge team.

His impact extends beyond the boundaries of our company. Ross has been actively involved with industry initiatives that have not only empowered professionals in the field but have also elevated the industry as a whole.

Congratulations, Ross, on a well-deserved promotion!

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Jeanna Erickson smiles beside her fluffy white cat, highlighting a warm moment as she returns to MMI Direct.
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Jeanna Erickson Returns to MMI Direct

Jeanna EricksonLook who’s back! We’re happy to have this familiar face return to MMI Direct. Jeanna Erickson joins our team as a List Coordinator, and she’s so excited to be working with family again. By the way, did you know she’s a disabled Navy Veteran?

When she’s not busy organizing lists for client mailings, she serves on the Daughters of the American Revolution Board, and she volunteers for a lot of nonprofits locally, too. (We knew we loved her for a reason!) See the photo of her volunteering for the Historical Society’s Murder Mystery at Kearney Mansion. How fun!

She calls Clovis, CA home (just north of Fresno if geography’s not your thing.) She absolutely loves to refinish furniture and enjoys shooting photos in her spare time.

Fun fact! She’s allergic to most fruits and vegetables, and she has 3 boys ages 15, 26, and 29. She also has an adorable cat named Kelly (pictured here.)Jeanna Erickson

We’re happy you’re back among family, Jeanna!

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Colorful graphic featuring a speech bubble that reads Data Processing 101, highlighting concepts from MMI Direct's marketing training sessions.
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Three Key Takeaways from MMI Direct’s Direct Marketing 101 Training Sessions

The MMI Direct team is on the road and online presenting DM101 Data Processing trainings to nonprofit fundraising groups throughout the year. Here are a few highlights from these popular sessions!

Data Processing 101
  1. Understanding Data Hygiene and Merge Purge processing will help you make better business decisions about your process and your overall direct marketing program. It’s time to get empowered!
  2. Data hygiene cost-saving tactics are more critical than ever! A quality data hygiene program: 
    • Reduces your postage rates
    • Reduces printing and mailing costs
    • Improves your campaign and program performance
    • Also improves mail deliverability and gets your mail delivered faster
  3. Tailor your Merge Purge Un-duplication Strategies to the different file types in your acquisition data set and your unique program requirements.
    • Which record should be retained when duplicates are identified? Consider these criteria when assigning data set priorities: List ownership, list cost/exchange agreement, and list type: test list, retest list or continuation list
    • Customize and test your un-duplication and match criteria strategies for different list groups. A tight match allows for very few variations on a record, medium allows for moderate variations, loose allows for many variations of each data element on the record. 
    • Learn how to analyze your data hygiene and merge purge processing reports so you can identify any red flags or opportunities to improve your process.

Want to learn more? View our fun and informative on-demand trainings on YouTube:
Data Hygiene: The Basics
Acquisition Data Merge/Purge: The Basics
Extra Credit! Demystifying Acquisition Data Merge/Purge Reports

Tags: data hygiene, data processing, merge purge
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MMI Direct

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Phone: 410-561-1500
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Recent Posts

  • Linda Gottzandt, Client Services Team Leader, smiling in a denim jacket. Celebrating her promotion with a vibrant, colorful background.
    Congratulations to Linda Gottzandt on your promotion to Client Services Team Leader
    February 27, 2025
  • Rachel Thompson, List Conversion Team Leader, smiling confidently in a professional portrait, celebrating her promotion and leadership role.
    Congratulations to Rachel Thompson on your promotion to List Conversion Team Leader
    February 24, 2025

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