FOR RELEASE: April 10, 2008

Media Contacts:
ISM Public Relations
Jean McHale
800/888-6276, extension 3143
jmchale@ism.ws

Lindsey Yentes
800/888-6276 extension 3087
lyentes@ism.ws

Supply management departments at 19 companies are finalists in awards for innovation and leadership.

(Tempe, Ariz.) April 10, 2008 — Supply management departments at 19 companies are among the finalists in Institute for Supply Management™'s (ISM) third annual ISM R. Gene Richter Awards for Leadership and Innovation in Supply Management. Winners will be announced on May 5, 2008 in St. Louis at ISM's 93rd Annual International Supply Management Conference and Educational Exhibit.

Named after supply management leader and innovator R. Gene Richter, the ISM R. Gene Richter Awards for Leadership and Innovation in Supply Management were established in 2004 to recognize innovative supply organizations that through strong leadership have dramatically increased their contribution to organizational success. Four entry categories include: Process; Technology; People; and Organization/Structure.

The 2008 Richter Corporate Award Finalists are:

• Ahold U.S.A., Inc. — Corporate Brands (People Category)
• Alltel Communications, LLC (Organization/Structure Category)
• The Auto Club Group (AAA) (Process Category)
• Boston Scientific Corporation (Process Category)
• BP p.l.c. (Process Category)
• Cessna Aircraft Company (Process Category)
• Delphi Corporation (Organization/Structure Category)
• The Dow Chemical Company (Process Category)
• FedEx Express (Process Category)
• Hewlett-Packard (Process Category)
• Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company (Process Category)
• Masco Corporation (Technology Category)
• MeadWestvaco Corporation (Process Category)
• MeadWestvaco Corporation (People Category)
• Merck & Co., Inc. (Organization/Structure Category)
• Merrill Lynch, Inc. (People Category)
• Pfizer Inc (Process Category)
• The Procter & Gamble Company (Organization/Structure Category)
• Raytheon IDS Integrated Supply Chain (Process Category)
• Royal KPN N.V. (Process Category)

Finalists in the 2008 competition were selected from applications received in an online submission process held July 2 to September 28, 2007. The fourth annual ISM R. Gene Richter Awards for Leadership and Innovation in Supply Management call for entries will open in July 2008. For more information or to sign up to receive e-mail updates, visit  www.ism.ws/RichterAwards.

Sponsors for the third annual ISM R. Gene Richter Awards for Leadership and Innovation in Supply Management are:

Gold:  A.T. Kearney Procurement Solutions (www.atkearney.com); Ariba, Inc. (www.ariba.com); HP (www.hp.com); McKinsey & Company (www.mckinsey.com)

Silver:  ADR International (www.adrna.com); BP (www.bp.com); eclaro international (www.eclaro.com); IBM (www.ibm.com); Tyco International (www.tyco.com).

About Institute for Supply Management™ (ISM) www.ism.ws
As the largest supply management institute in the world, the mission of Institute for Supply Management™ (ISM) is to lead supply management. By executing and extending its mission through education, research, standards of excellence, influence building and information dissemination — including the renowned monthly ISM Report On Business® — ISM continues to extend the global impact of supply management. ISM is proud to recognize professional excellence in supply management with awards such as the ISM R. Gene Richter Awards for Leadership and Innovation in Supply Management and the J. Shipman Gold Medal Award. ISM's membership base includes more than 40,000 supply management professionals in 75 countries. Supply management professionals are responsible for trillions of dollars in the purchases of products and services annually. ISM is a member of the International Federation of Purchasing and Supply Management (IFPSM).

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