Redwood City, CA - February 21, 2001. Connect Direct, a full-service agency specializing in direct marketing for high-tech companies, has filled five key positions in its expanding management team. The firm, recently named one of the "Top 100 Fastest Growing Private Companies in Silicon Valley" by the San Jose Business Journal for the third year in a row, attributed the appointments to continued strong growth and the need to carefully manage a widening range of online and offline direct marketing services.

Kathy Phelan joined the company on September 11, 2000 as Client Services Director. She brings more than 15 years marketing experience to her new responsibilities, which include supervising production and traffic as well as client services. Before joining Connect Direct, Phelan served as Director of Marketing for the San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team, and Manager of Marketing Communications, PR and Community Relations for the San Jose Mercury News.

Douglas Smith, with Connect Direct since 1997, has been named Creative Services Director, assuming responsibilities for all concept development, copywriting, and design. Previously the firms's copy chief, Smith has over twenty-five years experience in technical marketing, product management, and IT at Apple Computer, Stanford University, ADP, and Micropro International.

Tracy Tamura, who joined the company in 2000, was promoted in October to Account Manager. She'll draw on over ten years experience in customer service management, sales and marketing, account management, and vendor relations to oversee one of two teams of Account Executives.

Alyson Wilcoxen joined the firm in January as Traffic Manager. Wilcoxen brings over five years experience in project management, marketing and sales - plus more than three years as traffic manager and budget coordinator at the San Jose Mercury News - to her new position, where she'll work to simplify processes, improve workflows, and streamline project scheduling.

Mark Wilson joined Connect Direct in 2000 and was named Media Services Director in November. Wilson, with more than five years in high-tech business and marketing at The Learning Company, MindSteps, and eProNet, supervises the development and deployment of print and online media strategies for the firm's rapidly expanding client base.

Connect Direct (http://www.connectdirect.com/) was founded in 1990 by company president Howard J. Sewell, formerly a marketing manager at Oracle Corporation. The company saw its billings grow by over 75 percent in 2000 and expects continued, strong growth in 2001.