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Award
Winners
1998
BUSINESS
AWARD
The ASA Business of
the Year Awards, one for large companies and one for medium/small companies,
recognize exemplary company programs that meet the needs of older people
and their families, expand public awareness of the private sector's increasing
involvement with older people and create performance models for other
companies to emulate.
LARGE
COMPANY
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company
- Mature Market Group
Westport, CT
 The
winner of ASA's 1997 Business of the Year Award for a large companies
is Metropolitan Life Insurance Company and its Mature Market Group.
MetLife's contributions encompass the establishment of the new Mature
Market Group to create company-wide awareness and responsiveness to
the 50-plus population, plus the undertaking of new initiatives and
research to address the needs of America's older adults and their family
members, including the development of new long-term care insurance products.
In November of 1995,
MetLife formed the Mature Market Group. The group has corporate responsibility
for understanding and effectively responding to the specific needs and
values of the mature market. Its mission is to provide innovative solutions,
education and training that enable older consumers to better comprehend
and plan for retirement and long-term care needs and to ensure financially
secure and productive retirements. Among the activities of the Mature
Market Group since its formation are the establishment of a gerontological
training and resource center--the Mature Market Institute -- charged
with sensitizing MetLife's employees and corporate customers to the
needs of older adults; the launching of the new state-of-the art AARP
Long-Term Care Plan, which was developed with the blessing of AARP and
with extensive focus group input from AARP members and, includes an
Eldercare Consultation Services; the creation of Life Advice brochures
that provide information to help consumers better manage and prepare
for major life events; and the MetLife Solutions Forum on SeniorNet,
an online forum for adults 55 and older. The group is headed by Vice
President James Weil and other key management staff who are professionals
well known in the field of aging.
In 1995, MetLife
prepared a report with the Washington Business Group on Health entitled
"The MetLife Study of Employer Costs of Working Caregivers."
In 1997, MetLife updated this report with new information from the National
Alliance for Caregiving's national Survey on Family Caregiving in the
U.S. The MetLife study revealed that productivity lost as a result of
employee caregiving responsibilities cost U.S. businesses up to $29
billion per year. The report has been distributed to over 500 individuals
and companies and has been covered in 135 articles in publications based
in 35 states, in Washington, DC, and in Canada. In addition, through
its foundation, MetLife has awarded millions of dollars in grants for
Alzheimer's research, caregiver support programs and fitness programs
for older adults.
HONORABLE MENTION
The Riese Organization
New York, NY
Nominated by the
New York City Department for the Aging, the Riese Organization receives
an Honorable Mention for a small company. The Riese Organization is
a long-time supporter of the Senior Employment Unit of the Department
for the Aging and has given much support to the Ability is Ageless employment
fair for older adults. In 1995, The Riese Organization and the New York
City Department for the Aging jointly developed the Riese Restaurant
Training Center, the first of its kind in the restaurant industry. The
center, which opened in September 1995, features a fast food service
counter with cash registers, soda fountains and menu boards and, as
well as a classroom, computer room and room with fax and phones for
use by students during their job searches. The goal of the center is
to provide job training using new high technology cash registers and
experience in customer service through a combination of classroom teaching
and role-playing. The center has recently completed its tenth ten-week
program and has trained over 150 older adults. Trainees are given assistance
with job searches, and over 75% have been placed in employment following
training.
SMALL
COMPANY
Age Wave LLC
Emeryville, CA
 The
winner of ASA's 1997 Business of the Year Award for a small companies
is Age Wave LLC. Since its founding in 1986, Age Wave has established
itself as a leader in understanding and responding to the needs and
opportunities of the mature market. The company's mission is to replace
gerontophobic marketing with a new, more positive image of aging while
helping business leaders respond to the needs of older adults in a constructive
and profitable fashion.
Over the past three
years, Age Wave LLC has transformed its business focus from consulting
to business development enabling it to have a greater impact on the
way American business, media and society address the aging population.
It has garnered significant national media attention in pursuit of its
mission. Age Wave's initial portfolio of ventures incudes Age Wave Communications
Corporation, the leading provider of marketing communications solutions
for companies targeting the mature market. The company has three business
units. Its Mature News Magazine division
has developed the
nation's largest network of newspapers for the mature market. The Target
Marketing division creates and develops client-sponsored publications.
The Expo 5-0 division has launched a series of expositions serving the
needs of this mature market: one such exposition, held in Portland,
OR, was attended by more than 10,000 people.
Another Age Wave
LLC enterprise, Age Wave Health Services, Inc., provides a wide range
of database direct marketing and communications services to healthcare
organizations. The company's client list includes such organizations
as Empire Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of
Georgia, the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, Columbia/HCA, CIGNA
Health Plans, MedPartners and G.D. Searle Co.
Yet another Age
Wave LLC initiative, MedMax, Inc., is developing a national chain of
high-quality, high-service retail home-health stores. The company's
philosophy, "Helping you make the best of life," is demostrated
throughout the stores, with associates who are healthcare professionals,
more than 20,000 products to meet all home-healthcare needs, and a store
design that is accommodating to mature consumers.
HONORABLE MENTION
Mature Mart, Inc.
Atlanta, GA
An Honorable Mention
for a small company is given to Mature Mart of Atlanta, GA. Mature Mart
was created to respond to the growing older population's need for specialized
products and services.
The company distributes
more than 20,000 products created for older adults and provides a wide
range of services designed to help mature individuals live more independent
lives. Products to promote independence and safety are distributed through
a product catalog and a toll-free number, via a Web site and through
retail locations in drug, grocery and mass merchandise outlets. The
company's Web site also promotes inventions produced by older adults
or their caregivers to meet specific needs. These efforts are supplemented
by educational seminars and workshops.
Mature Mart also
offers consulting services and evaluates commercial and residential
environments for ease of accessibility for seniors and people with disabilities.
Mature Mart demonstrates that an effective business serving the needs
of older consumers can be developed and maintained on a small scale.
Alexis Abramson, President, holds a master's degree in gerontology and
is an active member of several professional organizations in the field
of aging.
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