Company: VerticalResponse, San Francisco, CA
Company Description: VerticalResponse is a self-service web-based solution enabling small businesses to get up and running quickly and affordably with email marketing, surveys and direct mail campaigns. Founded in 2001 by Janine Popick, VerticalResponse employs 65 people and has been named to Inc.'s 5000 list as well as San Francisco Business Times Fastest Growing Company list four years running.
Nomination Category: Individual Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Best Entrepreneur – Service Businesses - Up to 100 Employees

Nomination Title: Janine Popick, CEO of VerticalResponse – Marketing Mastermind behind the Leading Provider of Self-Service Email and Direct Mail Solutions

   1. Describe for the judges the activities and accomplishments of the nominated entrepreneur during the eligibility period (up to 500 words):

          This year has been quite busy for Janine, as VerticalResponse continues to
          develop products, events, programs and services that are establishing
          VerticalResponse as a one-stop marketing resource for small business.  She is a
          hands-on leader for her entire dedicated team, who are committed to the same
          ends - from the Customer Service reps taking requests through online and phone
          support, to the engineering and product teams who develop new offerings – the
          entire VerticalResponse team works constantly to upgrade and improve.

          In addition to a new User Interface, updated sign-up processes, and other features,
          the company has launched a series of major updates, highlights of which include:

          • A recent Summer Release featuring dozens of product upgrades that
          make optimizing email marketing even easier, including the addition of 60 new
          themed layouts and other upgrades in Content/Design tools, Best Practices
          features and Account Management tools
          • VerticalResponse for AppExchange 3.0, which included better query
          tools, SalesForce.com-specific mail templates and other upgrades to the most
          popular partner application on Force.com
          • List Segmentation, which allows users to divide lists based on any
          information they collect as well as campaign response data, helping achieve
          higher response rates
          • Google Analytics Integration, Click-to-Conversion Tracking and an ROI
          Calculator to better measure campaign success
          • The Email Canvas and Media Library, which provides a WYSIWYG
          Editor and several pre-built layouts and 25 MB of free hosting for images
          respectively
          • The VerticalResponse Application Programming Interface (API), which
          allows the award-winning self-service email marketing software to be extended
          and integrated into other platforms and sites at the core of many partnerships
          • Interactive Marketing Calendar (IMC), to break down the tasks to be
          accomplished prior to an email campaign launch date, keeping business owners
          on task and helps them capitalize on opportunities presented by holidays and
          other key dates

          VerticalResponse’s rapid growth, attention to development and commitment to
          customers and communication has led to a series of prestigious awards,
          including:

          • Named Finalist in the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards
          in the “Emerging Growth” category
          • Stevie® Award for Women for Fastest Growing Company of the Year
          • Ranked 21 on the Silicon Valley Technology Fast 50, which is a
          ranking of the 50 fastest growing technology firms in the Bay Area
          • Number 254 Fastest Growing Company in North America on Deloitte’s
          2007 Technology Fast 500
          • Ranked 22 on San Francisco Business Times’ “Top 100 Fastest-
          Growing Private Companies”
          • Dreamforce Best-in-Show at salesforce.com’s 2nd Annual Appy Awards
          • Best Overall Company at the American Business Awards and
          nominations as a finalist in five additional categories
          • San Francisco Business Times’ list of Best Places to Work in the Bay
          Area
          • Inc. 5000 List of Fastest Growing Companies
          • Web Marketing Award for Outstanding Achievement in Website
          Development

          Part of VerticalResponse’s continued success can be credited to Popick’s
          commitment to staying ahead of new media. Among new initiatives launched in
          2007 to keep her and the rest of the team in close contact with new and
          prospective customers, VerticalResponse:

          • Created the VR Lounge, its own social networking site, allowing
          customers to connect with each other and with VerticalResponse partners and
          staff, in an open, customizable experience self-tailored to fit their needs
          • Continued work with the award-winning Email Marketing Blog
          • Launched the VerticalResponse for AppExchange Blog
          • Regularly released Podcasts relating to email marketing
          • Launched a FaceBook group to solicit participation in live webinars,
          feedback on new and projected product updates and otherwise link to the small
          business community
          • Released its second viral video around salesforce.com’s annual
          conference, spurring thousands of YouTube views and site visits
          • All in addition to Janine’s monthly “Women in Business” column for
          Inc.com.
            Here’s the most recent on how Janine welcomes employees to and
          maintains positive moral at her successfully growing business:
            http://www.inc.com/resources/women/articles/20080101/jpopick.html
            http://www.inc.com/resources/women/articles/20070901/jpopick.html

   2. List the URLs (web addresses) of any online news stories, press releases, or other documents that you would like the judges to see that support your nomination. IMPORTANT: List each URL on a separate line, begin each URL with http://, and enclose each URL in square brackets. For example, [http://www.yourcompany.com/pressrelease.html]:

          News stories: http://www.verticalresponse.com/about/news_archive.html

          Press releases: http://www.verticalresponse.com/about/press/

   3. Provide a brief biography of the nominated entrepreneur (up to 100 words):

          Janine Popick is CEO of VerticalResponse (#402, 2006 Inc. 500), a leading self-
          service direct marketing provider to 40,000+ small businesses worldwide.
          Pre-VR, Janine lead direct and Internet marketing programs for some of the
          biggest brands in technology and entertainment, including NBC Internet and
          XOOM.com, Claris Corp. a wholly owned subsidiary of Apple Inc., Insignia
          Solutions and Symantec Corporation.

          Janine is VerticalResponse's Chief Executive Blogger (won 2006 ClickZ Best
          Marketing Blog Award 2007 Stevie Award for Best Blog); is a columnist for
          Inc.com “Women in Business,” has been published in DMNews, and featured in
          Entrepreneur Magazine, ClickZ, and B2B Magazine.