Wheels' Account Service Team Named Finalist in 2003 Sales & Marketing Awards Competition

Sales & Marketing Management Magazine's Annual Program Recognizes 'Best of the Best' in Profession

DES PLAINES, Ill., Mar. 1 -- Wheels, Inc., a leader in the multi-billion-dollar fleet-leasing industry, today announced that it is a finalist in the 2003 National Sales & Marketing Awards program, sponsored by Accenture and Sales & Marketing Management magazine.

Now in their second year, the awards recognize individuals and teams who excel in the sales and marketing profession. Wheels' 72-member Account Service Team was named among the top four in the "Customer Service Team of the Year" category. Comprised of account executives, who handle client's day-to-day needs, and account managers, who provide high-level client consultation, Wheels' Account Service Team launched an aggressive internal training, communications and relationship-building campaign in early 2003 to clarify responsibilities and expectations, decrease duplication of efforts, strengthen reporting, reduce turnover and strengthen channels of communication among team members and customers.

In addition to boosting the level of cooperation and partnership among account executives and account managers, the initiatives also increased customer satisfaction. In a recent survey, 100 percent of customers polled said they would refer Wheels to other companies in need of corporate vehicle leasing and management services.

"Wheels' approach to account management is unique in the industry," said Maggie Hopkins, Wheels' director of account management. "We asked our clients what they wanted from their key contacts and took on the ambitious project of exceeding those expectations."

Hopkins and a fellow director of account management, Joe McDonald, oversaw the process, along with Jayne Davis and Kim Kumpf, who manage the account executives.

Winners and finalists in the 2003 National Sales & Marketing Awards were announced in December, and winners were featured in the February issue of Sales & Marketing Management.

About Wheels, Inc.

Wheels, Inc., which pioneered the concept of auto leasing in 1939, provides a full range of specialized services to help corporations manage their vehicle fleets. Wheels has 550 employees, leases more than 195,000 vehicles and manages more than 250,000 vehicles. Wheels' holding company, Frank Consolidated Enterprises, currently ranks as one of the largest private companies in the United States, with nearly $2 billion in annual sales. For more information, visit www.wheels.com .