Las Vegas — The Newspaper Association of America has presented several awards for outstanding achievement in the fields of newspaper circulation, marketing and classified advertising. The presentations were made during opening night receptions at NAA's annual Marketing Conference held at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, Jan. 28-31.

This award is given to a circulation sales executive who has successfully created and implemented innovative programs and strategies to improve circulation or readership during the last two to five years. Submissions are separated into two circulation sizes, as well as an award for overall best. The 2007 winner for newspapers 75,000 circulation and under is Denise Zernechel.

Denise started her newspaper career when she was in Junior High School, working as an inserter in the mailroom at The Free Press. Eventually she did telemarketing for the newspaper and later became their Mailroom Director.

Denise has worked at several properties including The New Bedford Standard-Times, MA; The Oneonta Daily Star, NY; The Amsterdam Recorder, NY; The Rome Sentinel, NY, and she circled back to The Free Press, Mankato, MN, all in the capacity of Circulation Director.

Denise is married to Tom and they have three children, Tj who is in the US Army currently serving in Germany; Cody who is married and living in No. Mankato, MN, and Tezary who is a senior in high school this year.

(CNHI Note: Denise was nominated by more than one person for this award, and among the credentials she carried into the judging was the fact that she kept her newspaper on the plus side for 24 straight months, with the bulk of the gains coming in home delivery and single copy.)