Valassis

So far in 2011, Valassis has been recognized by 17 different organizations for the way it manages its business and treats its employees. It was one of the Information Week 500 Top Technology Innovators for 2011, and this year Working Mother called it one of the 100 Best Companies for Women.

Right now, the company has 170 open positions, with 50 of them in Michigan. Besides sales and client services, there are several Michigan-based jobs available in information technology, marketing and accounting.

Despite the accolades, in the last couple of years the company has found it increasingly difficult to recruit

CHANHASSEN, MN—IWCO Direct, a national provider of direct marketing solutions, announced that Joseph Morrison, currently executive vice president and CFO, will take on an expanded role as president. Patrick Deck has been named executive vice president, chief marketing officer (CMO).

Valassis announced the planned retirement of Alan F. Schultz, on Dec. 31, after 27 years with the company. Schultz will retain his chairman of the board role and has entered into a consulting arrangement. Rob Mason, executive vice president of sales and marketing, has been named to succeed Schultz as CEO and president.

Valassis has been recognized by Advertising Age magazine as one of the “Best Places to Work in Marketing & Media.” The final list was determined by the results of two surveys—one detailing hiring practices, benefits and pay; and the other being an employee survey.

Valassis Rapid Response is a range of new capabilities offering promotional and advertising media solutions for businesses that are facing a crisis or undergoing a merger and acquisition. It is designed to help with maintaining and rebuilding customer confidence, reestablishing brand recognition and upholding public trust.

Randy Stover, Director of Client Services, Valassis - Client Services, Livonia, MI—I was staying at the Hyatt adjacent to McCormick Place and had just been seated for breakfast as I watched Good Morning America break into its programming to report that a plane had crashed into one of the Towers. As the story unfolded, panic began to set in with everyone, including the attendees at PRINT 01.

Alan F. Schultz, Valassis chairman, president and CEO, was the Michigan/Northwest Ohio winner in the Turnaround category of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year  program, which recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement.

Commercial printing industry news briefs, including items on Consolidated Graphics, RR Donnelley, Valassis, Grafix Systems, Southwest Offset, Mercury Print Productions, Rider Dickerson, Fort Orange Press and Printcrafters Group.

Valassis is calling on the public to join it in recognizing National Missing Children’s Day on May 25. Since 1985, Valassis’ Have You Seen Me? program has generated over 43,000 leads and directly led to the recovery of 150 children.

LIVONIA, MI—Valassis, a media and marketing services provider, and Alliance Marketing, an independent ad group representing more than $2 billion in annualized retail sales, announced an arrangement to develop and execute in-store marketing and media programs, starting in the  second quarter of 2011. Alliance Marketing and its affiliates represent independent supermarkets in 15 states.