First Research Announces First Annual Customer Award Winners

Industry Intelligence leader honors BB&T, ADP and Sally Glick; Celebrates growth in 2006

RALEIGH, NC – January 10, 2007 – First Research Inc., the leading provider of Industry Intelligence, today announced the winners of the First Research 2006 Customer Awards. This is the company’s first annual award series to recognize outstanding use and advocacy of First Research Industry Intelligence in successful customer prospecting, communication and retention.

“Everyday we hear about new and innovative uses of First Research Industry Intelligence and how its application is truly revolutionizing our customers’ sales and marketing efforts,” said Bobby Martin, co-founder and president, First Research. “Our customers’ success stories are a true testament to the value of First Research and we are excited to cap a year of growth and success of our own by honoring BB&T, ADP and Sally Glick of Sobel & Co.”

First Research experienced a 28% increase in revenue in 2006 in addition to a 27% increase in total employees. At year’s end, the company recognized more than 65,000 unique users and a 30% increase in subscription customers. Further, the company was recognized by Triangle Business Journal’s Fast 50 program, which acknowledges private companies in the Research Triangle Park area of North Carolina with the greatest revenue growth over a three-year period. As the company’s success is driven by its users, First Research is presenting three distinct 2006 Customer Awards:

First Research Customer of the Year
Awarded to BB&T, the 2006 First Research Customer of the Year Award recognizes a customer who has demonstrated excellence in adoption and usage, participated in First Research-sponsored events or pilot programs and has driven superior sales and marketing success using First Research Industry Intelligence. BB&T, the 11th largest financial holding company in the United States, incorporated First Research into both its small business and commercial banking processes in 2000. Since then, First Research has become the bank’s primary sales readiness industry knowledge tool. Further, the bank regularly includes First Research in ongoing sales training, quarterly sales conferences, and is currently in the process of integrating First Research into its proprietary CRM system. As a result, last year BB&T’s visitor sessions increased 38% and their sales force has a much deeper understanding of the strategic business issues driving their customers’ financial needs.

“BB&T values its relationship with First Research so highly because it supports our mission to help our employees learn, grow and be fulfilled in their work while helping our clients achieve economic success and financial security,” said Robert Fentress, executive vice president and senior loan administrator, Commercial Banking, BB&T. “Not only does First Research provide the best industry information available in the market, it also provides excellent client support, training and ideas to help us gain more business.”

First Research Innovator of the Year
The 2006 First Research Innovator of the Year Award was presented to ADP, one of the largest providers of a broad range of premier, mission-critical, cost-effective transaction processing and information-based business solutions and a First Research customer since 2001. This award recognizes the customer who has pioneered innovative use(s) of First Research Industry Intelligence via integration with other technology, campaigns, etc.

“ADP recently integrated First Research directly into SalesForce.com, providing our employees with a side-by-side view of clients and prospects with industry-specific information that enables us to provide the insight and services to win business and maintain relationships,” said Ken Powell, sales operations manager at ADP. “Over the years we have experienced tremendous success as a direct result of using First Research, saving us time and increasing our competitive edge.”

First Research Advocate Award
The 2006 First Research Advocate Award honors the individual or company that has encouraged the use and adoption of First Research Industry Intelligence at events, with the media and/or the public-at-large. This year’s winner is Sally Glick, chief marketing officer of Sobel & Co., a professional services firm dedicated to helping its clients improve profitability, raise performance levels, achieve goals and attain unparalleled results. Glick is a staunch believer in the success First Research can bring any program’s sales and marketing efforts and has participated in numerous webinars, speaking engagements and interviews on behalf of First Research.

“First Research offers Sobel & Co. a sound understanding of the issues its customers face and how they are affected by the changes and opportunities their industry is experiencing,” said Glick. “Incorporating Industry Intelligence into our processes has increased our ability to provide invaluable insight, advice and the appropriate products and services that will lead our clients to success. We are more than happy to share best practices with others in an attempt to help them replicate the success we have experienced.”

About First Research
First Research is the leading provider of Industry Intelligence Tools that help sales and marketing teams perform faster and smarter, open doors and close more deals. First Research performs the “heavy lifting” by analyzing hundreds of sources to create insightful and easy to digest Industry Intelligence that can be consumed very quickly to better understand a prospect’s or client’s business issues. Customers include leading companies in banking, accounting, insurance, technology, telecommunications, business process outsourcing and professional services such as ADP, Bank of America, Merrill Lynch and Sprint. Used by more than 60,000 sales professionals, First Research can benefit any organization which has prospects in multiple industries. First Research is headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina. For more information, visit www.firstresearch.com.


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Media Contacts:
Shawn Ramsey
Crossroads Public Relations (on behalf of First Research)
(919) 782-3262 (office)
(919) 621-0737 (mobile)
sramsey@crossroadspr.com

Kristin W. Bear
Crossroads Public Relations (on behalf of First Research)
(919) 784-0445 (office)
(919) 349-1856 (mobile)
kbear@crossroadspr.com