Advertising Veteran to Lead New Automotive Group

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., March 26 /PRNewswire-- In an effort to strengthen its automotive advertising practice, Alternate Marketing Network has established a Detroit-area office and hired a veteran newspaper advertising executive to lead its automotive sales group.

The Grand Rapids, Mich.-based national marketing services company said Detroit native Karen Askew will serve as National Automotive Manager for the Company's newspaper advertising subsidiary, U.S. Suburban Press, Inc. (USSPI). In her new role, Askew will handle advertising sales to automotive clients such as General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co., DaimlerChrysler AG and their major dealer groups to USSPI's network of 1,300 newspapers in more than 50 markets.

The Detroit-area office, which is located at 5622 Lowe in Warren, (586) 978-8702, is slated to open Monday, April 1.

``Karen is a knowledgeable and dedicated professional who brings more than two decades of automotive experience and contacts to her new position,'' said Frank O'Connell, vice president of sales for USSPI. ``Her expertise will ensure a successful launch to our new Detroit office and allow us to strengthen our efforts in this key market.

``Last year, automakers and dealers spent $14.3 billion on advertising, and newspapers were their preferred medium. Karen's addition will help us expand our visibility on the Detroit automotive scene and create additional revenue opportunities for newspapers represented by USSPI. She brings the kinds of insights that the automotive industry needs in today's economy.''

Prior to joining USSPI, Askew spent 23 years as Automotive Director with Sawyer, Ferguson & Walker, Inc., a New York-based newspaper-advertising firm with offices in 11 cities across the country. Askew, who was based in Detroit, handled media buys and placements for all General Motors brands. At Sawyer Ferguson, she worked with large- and medium-sized daily newspapers ranging from ``The Washington Post'' to ``The Baton Rouge (La.) Advocate.'' Previously, Askew also worked for Riverside Press Enterprise, a Los Angeles-based newspaper advertising group.

Askew is active in the Detroit community and in the advertising industry. She is a long-time member and past president of the Newspaper Advertising Sales Association, as well as a member of the Detroit Chamber of Commerce.

``USSPI enjoys a strong -- and growing -- presence in the newspaper industry, and I am extremely pleased to join the team,'' she said. ``GM and other automakers have begun to combine their advertising dollars with those of their key dealer groups. That gives USSPI an extremely attractive opportunity to serve the automakers in the more than 50 markets we serve.''

About USSPI:

U.S. Suburban Press, or USSPI, is a newspaper advertising sales organization that represents more than 1,300 newspapers in more than 50 markets. USSPI also operates a Hispanic newspaper network that caters to a specific ethnic niche. For more information, visit the company's Web site at http://www.usspi.com.

About Alternate Marketing Networks:

Alternate Marketing Networks (http://www.altmarknet.com) is a single-source provider of marketing services offering a broad range of products and services. Building on its entrepreneurial heritage, the Company has developed and launched several new specialty newspaper initiatives that provide complementary products to its current marketing programs. Alternate Marketing Networks offers comprehensive services in two primary areas: advertising and marketing, and logistics and marketing. The Company serves the newspaper, consumer package goods, telecommunications, automotive, tourism and e-commerce industries.