PSCA Announces the 2009 Signature Awards Winners

CHICAGO (September 30, 2009) – The Profit Sharing/401k Council of America (PSCA) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2009 Signature Awards competition. PSCA Signature Awards honor excellence in profit sharing and 401(k) plan communication and education. Winners of this year’s Signature Awards were announced at a special ceremony at PSCA’s 62nd Annual National Profit Sharing and 401(k) Conference and Exhibition on September 22, 2009 in Scottsdale, Arizona.

This year, Forest Laboratories, Inc. won the prestigious Best of Show award. Forest, sponsored by JPMorgan Retirement Plan Services, received the award for their innovative “Decision 401(k)” campaign, which coincided with the 2008 Presidential campaign. Part of this program included an annual week long 401(k) education event called Financial Health Week. As a result of this highly successful program, 17 percent of Forest plan participants changed their investment choices, 12 percent increased their contribution rate, and 44 percent logged on to the plan Web site to learn more about their plan.

MassMutual Financial Group received the 2009 President’s Award, an award new to the Signature Awards program this year. This award was presented to MassMutual for going above and beyond in educating not only potential participants but also the general public on the principles of 401(k)s and retirement planning. Their campaign included the national sponsorship of the PBS documentary, Retirement Revolution. This program about retirement savings in America offered information about challenges facing Americans, insight from industry experts, ways for individuals to better prepare for the future, and the value of seeking help from a financial professional.

PSCA celebrates the continued success of the Signature Awards program. This year, 50 of the 211 entries were awarded recognition in 17 categories. PSCA also received immense support from its member volunteers. A distinguished judging panel of business leaders and employee benefit communication experts chose the 2009 winners based on how companies design, manage, and provide profit sharing and 401(k) plan communication and investment education to plan participants. Signature Awards judges carefully review how effective the campaign was at achieving its goals. PSCA’s generous volunteer base contributes significantly to the continued success of the Signature Awards program.

PSCA Signature Awards also provide companies a unique learning opportunity through the annual Signature Awards Magazine. Winners are listed in the magazine along with an article that describes the details of the companies’ campaigns and their specific results. Other member companies receive this magazine and can apply the winning techniques to their own defined contribution plans. Attendants of the National Conference, as well as PSCA members, received a copy of the Signature Awards Magazine.

The following is a complete list of the 2009 Signature Award winners:

Best of Show
Forest Laboratories, Inc.
Sponsored by: JPMorgan Retirement Plan Services

President’s Award
MassMutual Financial Group

Asset Allocation
Gold: The Timken Company
Sponsored by: JPMorgan Retirement Plan Services

Silver: Data Device Corporation
Sponsored by: The Hartford

Bronze: Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc.
Sponsored by: JPMorgan Retirement Plan Services

Communication to Plan Sponsors
Gold: Fidelity Investments
Silver: MassMutual Financial Group   
Bronze: Gallagher Retirement Services
Honorable Mention: MassMutual Financial Group
Honorable Mention: Wachovia Retirement Services, A Wells Fargo Company

Complete Campaign – Small Company
Gold: Forest Laboratories, Inc.
Sponsored by: JPMorgan Retirement Plan Services

Silver: Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.
Sponsored by: The Principal Financial Group

Bronze: Merial
Sponsored by: Wells Fargo Institutional Trust Services


Complete Campaign – Large Company
Gold: Nestlé USA, Inc.
Sponsored by: ING Institutional Plan Services

Silver: Continuum Health Partners, Inc.
Sponsored by: Fidelity Investments

Bronze: Parsons Corporation
Sponsored by: Wells Fargo Institutional Trust Services

Generic Participant Education – Focused
Gold: Transamerica Retirement Services
Silver: Wells Fargo Institutional Trust Services
Bronze: The Principal Financial Group
Honorable Mention: Fidelity Investments
Honorable Mention: Findley Davies, Inc.

Generic Participant Education – Comprehensive
Gold: MassMutual Financial Group
Silver: Wachovia Retirement Services, a Wells Fargo Company
Bronze: The Principal Financial Group

Increasing Deferrals
Gold: Reed Elsevier
Sponsored by: ING Institutional Plan Services

Silver: Bemis Company, Inc.
Sponsored by: JPMorgan Retirement Plan Services

Bronze: Nestlé USA, Inc.
Sponsored by: ING Institutional Plan Services

Bronze: Corinthian Colleges, Inc.
Sponsored by: Prudential Retirement

Increasing Participation – Small Company
Gold: EmCare
Sponsored by: Charles Schwab

Silver: National Wildlife Federation
Sponsored by: The Hartford

Bronze: M. A. Mortenson Company
Sponsored by: Ampersand Communication

Honorable Mention: M. A. Mortenson Company
Sponsored by: Wells Fargo Institutional Trust Services

Increasing Participation – Large Company
Gold: MGM MIRAGE
Sponsored by: The Hartford

Silver: The Talbots, Inc.
Sponsored by: Wachovia Retirement Services, A Wells Fargo Company

Bronze: Genzyme Corporation
Sponsored by: Prudential Retirement

Language and Cultural Diversity
Gold: Express Scripts, Inc.
Sponsored by: New York Life Retirement Plan Services

Silver: National Oilwell Varco
Sponsored by: Wachovia Retirement Services, A Wells Fargo Company

Plan Conversion
Gold: The Metropolitan Opera
Sponsored by: Diversified Investment Advisors

Silver: Honda of America Manufacturing, Inc.
Sponsored by: T. Rowe Price

Bronze: Safeway
Sponsored by: JPMorgan Retirement Plan Services

Plan Design Changes
Gold: Ascension Health
Sponsored by: Diversified Investment Advisors

Silver: Navistar, Inc.
Sponsored by: JPMorgan Retirement Plan Services

Bronze: Carolinas HealthCare System
Sponsored by: Wachovia Retirement Services, A Wells Fargo Company

Retirement Readiness
Gold: Forest Laboratories, Inc.
Sponsored by: JPMorgan Retirement Plan Services
 
Silver: Aetna Inc.
Sponsored by: Financial Finesse, Inc.

Bronze: Bailey Nurseries, Inc.
Sponsored by: The Principal Financial Group

Bronze: Silgan Containers
Sponsored by: Mercer

Train-the-Trainer/Advocacy Programs
Gold: Community Health Systems
Sponsored by: The Principal Financial Group

Silver: Resorts International
Sponsored by: New York Life Retirement Plan Services

401(k) Day
Gold: Advantage Sales and Marketing
Sponsored by: The Principal Financial Group

Silver: Universal Orlando
Sponsored by: Charles Schwab

Bronze: Zachry Holdings, Inc.
Sponsored by: Fidelity Investments

The Profit Sharing/401k Council of America (PSCA), a national non-profit association of 1,200 companies and their 6 million employees, advocates increased retirement security through profit sharing, 401(k) and related defined contribution programs to federal policymakers and makes practical assistance with profit sharing and 401(k) plan design, administration, investment, compliance and communication available to its members. PSCA, established in 1947, is based on the principle that “defined contribution partnership in the workplace fits today’s reality.” PSCA's services are tailored to meet the needs of both large and small companies with members ranging in size from Fortune 100 firms to small, entrepreneurial businesses.