Contact: Susan Carrier, Outreach Coordinator
(626) 568-8412 scarrier@geltzcomm.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Pasadena, Calif. – December 12, 2003: Geltz Communications, a marketing communications company specializing in the energy industry, has won the Innovative Marketing Award from the Association of Energy Services Professionals International (AESP) for the second year in a row.   Susan Carrier of Geltz Communications accepted the honors at the 14 th Annual National Energy Services Conference in New Orleans , Louisiana , on December 8.

The award recognizes the innovative program marketing that Geltz Communications provided to South Bay Energy Rewards, a program that promotes energy efficiency and conservation in the South Bay area of Southern California .

Sponsored by the South Bay Cities Council of Governments, under the auspices of the Public Utilities Commission, the SBER program reduced energy use by combining education with financial incentives for purchasing energy-efficient Energy Star â labeled appliances and products and upgrading the common area lighting of multi-family dwellings in the South Bay .

Brad Kates, an AESP board member and vice president of Opinion Dynamics, said that the innovative SBER program rose to the top of the 30 entries because of its “ability to successfully integrate education into every aspect of the program.”

The program was also the first in California to offer instant savings at the cash register for energy-efficient appliances and products at nine South Bay retailers. Rita Norton of Rita Norton & Associates, LLC, program manager for the program said, “This aspect of the program made it simple and rewarding for both the retailers and the consumers to participate.”

Geltz Communications, a certified woman-owned small business, developed the marketing and community outreach plans for the program and forged partnerships with local government, community-based organizations and corporations.

###