Delia Associates, a second-generation branding and communications firm, was honored at the 15th Annual New Jersey Family Business of the Year Awards, held in Livingston, New Jersey on October 2, 2007

Accepting the award along with Ed Delia, president of the firm, was his wife Lori Schiraldi Delia, vice president & general counsel, his sister Carol Hollingsworth, director of financing, and members of the company's staff.

The award program recognizes the significant contributions that family-owned businesses make to the economy of New Jersey, and honors those family businesses whose innovative strategies and business practices have had the greatest impact on society in general, as well as on the state and local economy.

The principal sponsors of the award program are The Rothman Insititute of Entrepreneurial Studies at Fairleigh Dickenson University, PNC Bank, and New Jersey Magazine. Proceeds from the program help fund a scholarship program for students wishing to pursue entrepreneurial studies at Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Delia Associates was honored as a semifinalist in the category of businesses with annual sales up to $10 million. "We were surprised and grateful to be among the honorees' of this year's awards," says Ed Delia. "This recognition is a tribute to the hard working and creative professionals of Delia Associates and to the many family members that have supported the company over the past 43 years."

Delia Associates was founded by Michael A. Delia in 1964, and has continually extended the influence of its New Jersey clients well beyond U.S. markets, helping many to become global market leaders over the last four decades.

Ed Delia, who also serves on the board of the New Jersey chapter of the Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO), attributes his company's success to an ongoing philosophy of staying ahead of the curve in terms of marketing techniques, technologies and best practices. According to Delia, the company strongly believes in continuing education, and its employees seek out learning opportunities to further their capabilities as individuals and as a company.

Frequently called on to speak on topics of branding and technology-driven marketing methods, Ed Delia recently became only the ninth professional in New Jersey to earn the Professional Certified Marketer (PCM) designation from the American Marketing Association (AMA). In doing so, Delia joined an elite group of only 250 marketing professionals in the U.S. who hold the designation after passing a five-hour exam, and committing to continuing professional marketing education and growth. The PCM program was created by the AMA to establish professional standards and encourage best practices in the industry.

Now in its 43rd year, Delia Associates has positioned itself as the "Brand Leadership Company" of New Jersey, and specializes in identifying and creating a distinctive brand identity for its clients through a unique blend of traditional and online media. In recent years, Delia Associates has integrated a number of web-based branding tactics to help many niche businesses achieve market leadership, in addition to consistent business growth.

Additional information about Delia Associates can be found at www.delianet.com. For more information about The New Jersey Family Business of the Year Awards, please visit www.fdu.edu/rothman.