iolo technologies, LLC
Company: iolo technologies, LLC
Company Description: Crowned the Fastest-Growing Company in the United States for 2009 by the American Business Awards, iolo technologies (www.iolo.com) produces award-winning software that repairs, optimizes, and protects Windows computers. A privately held firm founded in 1998 and headquartered in Los Angeles, iolo has presence in 14 countries and more than 23 million users worldwide.
Nomination Category: Individual Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Best Executive – Non-Services Businesses – up to 2,500 Employees
Nomination Title: Julia Zamorska, VP of Corporate Communications
Describe for the judges the activities and accomplishments of the nominated executive during the eligibility period (up to 500 words):
As VP of corporate communications, Julia Zamorska manages all internal and external communications of iolo technologies (www.iolo.com) a 13-year-old, privately-held PC tune-up software company with more than 38 million users and presence in 18,000 stores worldwide. This includes managing the five-person internal PR department and the activities of seven PR agencies and distributors across 40 countries.
Ms. Zamorska was named finalist for American Business Awards’ “PR Executive of the Year” in 2011, finalist for Stevies for Women’ “Executive of the Year” in 2010; and runner-up for PRWeek’s “Young PR Professional of the Year” in 2009. With her ability to strategically, creatively and consistently structure winning PR campaigns and flawlessly execute, delivering dramatic results, Ms. Zamorska has achieved the following successes since July 2010:
1) Prestigious award wins: Ms. Zamorska secured 56 awards for iolo technologies, with 28 in 2010 alone. This represented 667% increase when compared with average 1999-2008 numbers and more than two thirds of the company’s awards to date, including: International Business Awards and American Business Awards, Fastest-Growing Company of the Year (2011, 2010 and 2009); Los Angeles Business Journal, Best Places to Work in LA (2010 and 2009); PC Magazine Best of the Year and Editors’ Choice (2010); and Government Computer News, Product of the Year and Reviewer’s Choice (2010 and 2009).
2) Top-tier press coverage: 2010 press coverage represented a 12-fold increase when compared with the average 1999-2008 numbers and included articles in such top-tier outlets as Economist, FOX Business, Huffington Post, Inc., Laptop, New York Times, Popular Mechanics, Sacramento Bee, Wired and Woman’s Day.
3) Key internal communications: Ms. Zamorska fostered a happy working environment, with a revamped employee welcome process, mentorship program, regular company events and iolo insider, new monthly internal newsletter. The newsletter won PRSA-LA PRism award in Nov 2010 as the best Internal Publication in greater LA and Holmes Report’s 2010 Bronze SABRE award in Mar 2011 as the best Internal Publication in the U.S. Ms. Zamorska’s work also secured iolo’s inclusion in the Los Angeles Business Journal’s Best Places to Work list for three years in a row, producing third largest jump among winners, from #46 in 2009 to #30 in 2010.
4) Charity / environmental work: Actively advocated various environmentally conscientious campaigns and spearheaded the donation of iolo’s software to local non-profit materials reuse organizations, assisted living communities and housing projects.
As a result of Ms. Zamorska’s efforts, achieved with minimal growth in department size and budget, iolo secured and maintained its #1 best-selling position in eight countries last year, increased its market share to 85% in the US and 98% in Canada, grew its customer base from 30 to 38 million, and grew revenues 38% despite the economic climate. iolo’s sales team credited PR with “directly contributing to iolo's sales,” CEO commended “dramatic increase in the positive chatter surrounding iolo" that contributed to record-breaking numbers; and e-commerce data showed 38% of iolo’s customers decide to purchase because of press articles.
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 entry. 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]:
List of top coverage on iolo and its products, incl. many award-winning reviews:
http://www.iolo.com/company/news.aspx
List of top awards won by iolo in its 13-year history:
http://www.iolo.com/company/awards.aspx
LAPTOP magazine recommends System Mechanic, 5/5/11:
http://blog.laptopmag.com/fix-your-laptop-34-tips-apps-and-gear/3
iolo featured as an expert on KCAL-9 TV, 2/14/11:
http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2011/02/14/have-a-heart-this-is-also-clean-out-your-computer-day/
Windows IT Pro names System Mechanic Business one of the Editors’ Best Products
of 2010, 12/1/10:
http://www.windowsitpro.com/article/review/2010-Windows-IT-Pro-Editors-Best-and-Community-Choice-Awards/6.aspx
PC Magazine names System Mechanic 10 one of Best of the Year 2010 products,
11/19/10:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2372780,00.asp
PC Magazine awards System Mechanic 10 its Editors’ Choice award, 10/19/10:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2371043,00.asp
New York Times highly recommends System Mechanic as a painless way to keep
computers in shape, 9/14/10:
http://gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/14/an-easy-painless-way-to-keep-a-pc-in-shape/
Exec Digitial (UK) names iolo technologies one of the five fastest-growing
companies on Earth, 8/29/10:
http://www.execdigital.com/business/leader/fastest-growing-companies-earth
Government Computer News awards System Mechanic its Reviewer’s Choice award,
8/10/10:
http://gcn.com/Articles/2010/08/16/Review-System-Mechanic-9.5-Keeps-PCs-Running-At-Speed.aspx?Page=1
WIRED magazine praises System Mechanic’s speed improvements, 7/11/10:
http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2010/07/system-mechanic-nice-product-especially-for-younger-computer-users/
Fox Business recommends System Mechanic as a cost-saving solution for small
businesses, 7/2/10:
http://www.foxsmallbusinesscenter.com/entrepreneurs/2010/07/02/make-business-computers-run-faster/
Huffington Post praises System Mechanic as “definitely a keeper,” 2/8/10:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stephanie-vaughn-hapke/clean-out-your-computer-d_b_453126.html
Sacramento Bee recommends System Mechanic to “keep your computer in shape,” 2/7/10:
http://www.sacbee.com/135/story/2517323.html
Provide a brief biography of the nominated executive (up to 100 words):
As VP of corporate communications at iolo technologies, a 13-year-old PC performance software company with more than 38 million users worldwide, Julia Zamorska strategically plans and supervises all external and internal communications efforts, managing the internal department and seven PR agencies and distributors across 40 countries.
Ms. Zamorska was selected runner-up for PRWeek's “Young PR Professional of the Year 2009,” finalist for American Business Awards’ “PR Executive of the Year 2011," finalist for Stevie Awards for Women’ “Executive of the Year 2010."
Born and raised in Poland, Julia Zamorska worked at Ruder Finn and Antenna Group. She holds BA in Social Science (summa cum laude) from University College Utrecht, Netherlands and Masters in social anthropology from University of Oxford, England.