IDEAlliance of Alexandria, VA recognized at the 2007 National Postal Forum Awards Program

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United States Postal Service (USPS) today recognized IDEAlliance of Alexandria, VA with its “Corporate Business Achievement” award for using postal products and services to strengthen and expand its business. A series of awards recognizing local business-Postal Service partnerships were announced at the National Postal Forum by USPS Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President Anita Bizzotto and Deputy Postmaster General and Chief Operating Officer Pat Donahoe.

The “Corporate Business Achievement” is one of three Best-in-Class award categories. At each National Postal Forum, the Postal Service recognizes a select group of its customers for their contributions to the continued success of the mailing industry.

IDEAlliance is an established industry organization that has been developing, educating, and validating best practices in publishing and information technology for over forty years. They have consistently demonstrated a firm commitment to enabling technology solutions for mailers to collaborate electronically with the Postal Service. IDEAlliance has been a key communications channel to promote standardized electronic mailing documentation and payment strategies. The standards have enabled an electronic workflow and contributed to important gains in efficiency, economy, and strategy enhancement for both the USPS and the mailing industry.

“We appreciate the employees at IDEAlliance for their confidence in recognizing that Postal Service products and services can strengthen and expand their business,” said Michael S. Furey, District Manager, USPS Northern Virginia Performance Cluster. "They have truly demonstrated that they know the value and the power of the U.S. Mail in conducting business."

More than 6,800 industry professionals are attending the four-day conference which runs through March 28 at the Washington Convention Center. Participants of the National Postal Forum attend the event to obtain a complete education in the "Business of the Mail." The Forum’s goal is to transform the world of mail by featuring four days of business and career opportunities. It offers 150 workshops; three, day-long symposiums; special sessions, and 13 professional certificate programs. The National Postal Forum showcases a future filled with opportunities for the mailing industry.

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An independent federal agency, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that visits every address in the nation, 146 million homes and businesses, six days a week. It has 37,000 retail locations and relies on the sale of postage, products, and services to pay for operating expenses, not tax dollars. The Postal Service has annual revenues of $73 billion and delivers nearly half the world’s mail.