Laura Smith
October 27, 1964 – April 5, 2008

It is with our deepest sorrow that we inform you about the loss of our dear friend and colleague, Laura Smith, who died suddenly on Saturday, April 5, 2008. Laura was a devoted daughter, sister, fiancé, friend and colleague who greatly impacted the hundreds of people who knew her, and the direct marketing industry as a whole.

As Vice President; Director of Management, Laura was a beacon of optimism at RMI, known for her lively personality, integrity, intelligence and wit, contagious smile, superior professionalism, and even her practical jokes.

Laura first entered into the direct marketing industry at the age of 17 when she joined AZ Marketing Services, Inc. In 1988, she accepted a position at RMI Direct Marketing. She was soon promoted to Director of Management where she remained as a cornerstone in the company’s growth and development.

Laura was passionate about her job, her clients and the success of RMI. She carried her devotion with her outside of the office volunteering for many industry organizations including the New England Mail Order Association, the Direct Marketing Club of NY, and the DMA Catalog Council. Laura was Past President and Advisor of the Hudson Valley Direct Marketing Association and most recently served on their Steering Committee. She also served on the Board of Directors for the Fulfillment Management Association (FMA), and was a trained instructor
for the DMA List Leaders Basic Training Class.

The RMI staff and her industry friends will always remember her for her cherry red Harley Davidson, her ever present cup of Dunkin’ Donuts coffee, her many pet birds, her padding around the office either barefoot or in her Doctor Scholl’s, her inventive home-made Halloween costumes, and above all her infamous April Fools Day pranks.

She will be dearly missed.

In lieu of flowers, her family has requested that donations be made in her memory to the Arbor Day Foundation at www.arborday.org/laurasmith.