Calling All Graduates

Largo, FL, March 26, 2008 --(PR.com)-- Many college seniors take those glorious steps to receive their diploma having no idea what that next step will be. Thankfully, answers for the ones with entrepreneurial aspirations have arrived in a little blue envelope bursting with opportunities.

Valpak, the most recognized direct mail brand in the United States and one of 2008’s best entry-level jobs according to the Princeton Review, has recently launched its Entrepreneurship Award program. The program is geared toward college seniors enrolled in accredited entrepreneurship programs at colleges and universities across the nation or those that have completed such a program within the past 12 months who want to pursue a career in business ownership.

“We feel this program will bring in a different quality of sales representatives into the system because they will have gone through an entrepreneurship-centric program and possess the skills necessary to achieve that goal,” said Mark Liston, Valpak’s director of sales recruiting. “The Entrepreneurship Award program will entice college seniors and recent grads with parallel ideals to explore what Valpak has to offer.”

Through the Entrepreneurship Award program and other national, regional and local recruiting initiatives, Valpak hopes to employ approximately 700 individuals this year to become sales representatives at both company-owned and franchised locations. After three years and $1,170,894 in sales, the individual will be eligible for one of three things: 1. $10,000 toward the franchise fee of an International Franchise Association member company; 2. $50,000 toward the franchise fee of a dormant Valpak territory; or 3. $10,000 to put towards an MBA or another advanced degree for those wishing to remain in sales. Because of the wealth of experience recent graduates will gain in such a short time, Valpak has dubbed those who complete the program Valpak MBAs.

“While not to be confused with a real MBA from an educational institution, Valpak’s account executives receive ongoing training while working very closely with the owners of small- and medium-sized businesses to help them grow their businesses with directly measurable advertising programs. Successful Valpak account executives have the opportunity to learn a lot of what it takes to own and operate a business by working closely with those entrepreneurs at the same time as they build a successful selling career for themselves,” said Valpak president Joe Bourdow. “At Valpak, we believe that this ‘earn and learn’ three-year program gives a college grad the classroom and practical experience that can lead to increasing earnings in Valpak advertising sales and, if they wish, eventual Valpak franchise ownership opportunities of ownership of another franchised company.”

Each year, Valpak, with its familiar blue envelope, mails more than 500 million envelopes filled with approximately 21 billion ads to some 45 million unique addresses in the United States and Canada. Valpak is owned and operated by Cox Target Media, a subsidiary of Cox Newspapers and is one of the leading direct-marketing companies in North America. The Valpak franchise network currently has franchise opportunities available in more than 65 non-major metropolitan areas in 24 states. A minimum of nine Valpak franchise opportunities are expected to be awarded in 2008. For entrepreneurship students and professors seeking more information on the Valpak Entrepreneurship Award program, call 1-800-237-6266 and speak to Mark Liston (ext. 3568) or Linda Finn (ext. 3177) or e-mail Mark at valpakmark@valpak.com.

###