DMA in third round of layoffs this year

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October 20, 2008: DMA lays off nearly two dozen individuals.

The Direct Marketing Association on Nov. 14 started its third round of layoffs this year, downsizing the organization by at least 10 people. DMA president/CEO Bob Wientzen was unavailable for comment. Sources familiar with the situation, however, confirm that more than nine people but considerably fewer than the 19 workers laid off last month were being let go.

Among those laid off this time were vice president of corporate and marketing communications Scott Roberts. Prior to October’s layoffs, the DMA let go of staff this past May.

“This is a larger part of last summer’s reorganization,” says spokesperson Christina Duffney. “We’ve restructured some different areas, creating a strategic information unit and segment areas to address the different issues within the DMA and make it more efficient.” She adds that the timing of the layoffs specifically came just two weeks after DMA’s Annual Conference, its largest function. “We couldn’t have the layoffs until after the conference.”