ProFile: Kory Christianson

"I was surprised. I had no idea I was nominated," Christianson says. "To receive an award named for Max Hart and to receive an award previously given to so many excellent direct-marketing professionals was very humbling indeed. It really is a tremendous honor for our entire organization."

The award was established in 1990 as the Nonprofit Achievement Award and renamed in 2005 after DMA Hall of Fame honoree Max L. Hart of Disabled American Veterans. It recognizes outstanding achievement by an individual within the nonprofit community, though as Christianson points out, his success is the organization's success.