ASCEND MARKETING ANNOUNCES SECOND ROUND OF EXPANSION
Fort Worth Firm Opens Sales Office In Orlando;
Former Marriott Exec to Head Florida Effort
Fort Worth Firm Cites Rapid Growth in Outsourcing of Marketing Functions

GRAPEVINE, TX - March 20, 2007 - Citing dramatic growth in the outsourcing of sales and marketing functions, Ascend Marketing, a Dallas-Fort Worth firm specializing in marketing, sales and employee communications support programs, marked its on-going growth with the opening of another new office in Orlando, FL. In January the company christened a new facility in Grapevine, making the Florida opening the second expansion in less than two months.

Heading the Orlando office is Ken Countess, a former executive with Marriott Vacation Club International. During his 25-year career, Countess has held several senior level management positions spanning consumer, service and high technology sectors. His award-winning campaigns include the conception and implementation of culture-shifting employee communications programs to engage, educate and motivate employees at all levels of the organization. His other successes include the building of brand awareness for one organization by 700% and increasing online sales by 300% for another. Countess has worked for Motorola, Marriott, Caremark and Global Travel International. As a Partner for Ascend, Countess will be responsible for business development and client accounts in Florida and elsewhere.

“Our growth is being driven by the trend toward outsourced marketing programs and sales support functions,” Countess explains. “Today, companies of all sizes need to be extremely flexible and responsive to rapidly changing market conditions. Outsourcing gives them the ability to bring in top talent on an ‘as-needed’ basis.”

The Orlando office will allow Ascend Marketing to better serve its existing clients in Florida and build a larger base beyond the Dallas-Fort Worth region. The firm also has a facility in Fort Worth that serves as the operational hub for its sales incentive, reward, and promotional fulfillment programs.

“Ken brings senior level experience and a unique understanding of outsourcing to the Ascend team. He’s someone who has been on both the client side and the consulting side of the business. And he is well established in the Central Florida area. We know Ken can do a great job for our clients in his new role,” says co-founder and Managing Partner Rich Herbst.

Since its launch in 2004, Ascend Marketing has grown from five people to a staff of nearly 20, creating the need for additional operating space. The company currently has more than 30 active clients, including multiple Fortune 500 names, in fields such as telecommunications, manufacturing and hospitality.

About Ascend Marketing

Ascend Marketing’s unique business model delivers results-focused marketing and sales support programs and internal employee communications programs via a comprehensive suite of marketing services designed to support clients’ internal marketing, sales and human resources efforts. The Ascend team brings expertise from telecom, technology, travel and hospitality, B2B services, consumer packaged goods, retail, restaurant, and health care. For more information, contact Ascend Marketing, 1450 Hughes Rd., Ste. 106 Grapevine, TX 76051-7356; Phone: (817) 416-3800. Orlando Office: (407) 965-2100. Or visit the company’s website at: www.ascend-marketing.com.

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