Award-winning Author at Paramount Books

Pepper Miller, author of What's Black About It has been honored with the 2007 MAXX award as Research Executive of the Year by Target Market News.

MAXX stands for Marketing to African Americans with Excellence. The awards program annually recognizes the contributions, innovations and exceptional performance of African American professionals in the fields of marketing, advertising, media and consumer research. Her book, What's Black About It from Paramount Market Publishng and co-authored with Herb Kemp (2005), was the first in many years to explain why the importance of the African American market in the United States and how African American consumers differ from their white counterparts.

Miller, president of the Hunter-Miller Group, joins the select group that includes Eugene Morris, chairman and ceo of E. Morris Communications (Advertising Executive of the Year); Catherine L. Hughes and Alfred L. Liggins III, both of Radio One who were named media executives of the year, Gwen Kelly, senior marketing manager, African American Initiatives at Wal-Mart (marketing executive of the year); Michelle Flowers, president and ceo of Flowers Communications Group (public relations executive of the year), and Carol H. Williams, CEO and Chief Creative Officer of Carol H. Williams Advertising, who was given the Lifetime Achievement Award.

The honorees were selected by the editors, writers and contributors of Target Market News, and are considered on the basis of the longevity of their careers, their advocacy of American American marketing, and the professional accomplishments that distinguish them within the industry.

”We are especially honored to give well-deserved recognition to these professionals for being champions for the African American consumer market” said Target Market News president and publisher, Ken Smikle.

“Through their persistent pursuit of excellence, they have been influential in setting benchmarks for all those doing business with African American consumers,” said Smikle “We encourage the entire industry to join us in celebrating our honorees for their unique accomplishments in elevating the field of African American marketing and media.”

Candidates were considered for recognition on the basis of being African American executives with distinctive careers, and who, throughout the course of their professional careers, have endeavored to promote greater understanding of, growth of, and sensitivity toward, the African American consumer market.

The honorees for the second annual MAAX Awards will be feted on July 2, 2007 at an awards dinner during the Eighth Annual Black Consumer Research and Advertising Summit. The event, hosted by Target Market News at the Chicago Wyndham Hotel, is the nation’s largest annual gathering of African American marketing, media and research professionals.

Paramount congratulates Pepper Miller on her achievement and looks forward to publication of her next book in 2008.