First Research Recognizes Hub International Limited and Jack Hubbard of St. Meyer & Hubbard for Excellence in 2007

RALEIGH, NC – February 11, 2008 – First Research, a division of Hoover’s, today announced the winners of the First Research 2007 Customer Awards. The awards recognize outstanding use and advocacy of First Research Industry Intelligence in successful customer prospecting, communication and retention.

“We are pleased to honor Hub International Limited and Jack Hubbard of St. Meyer & Hubbard for the successes they have had in 2007,” said Bobby Martin, co-founder and president, First Research. “Their dedicated involvement with First Research has helped us enhance our product and continue to provide cutting edge service to our customers.”

First Research was acquired by Dun & Bradstreet in March of 2007, and operates as part of the parent company’s Hoover’s subsidiary. In addition to creating scores of new Industry Profiles in 2007, First Research experienced significant revenue growth and increased its number of users by more than 25%. To celebrate the year, First Research is presenting two distinct 2007 Customer Awards:

First Research Customer of the Year
Awarded to Hub International (HUB), the 2007 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. HUB, a leading insurance brokerage, incorporated First Research into its training and education programs in 2006. The company regularly includes Industry Intelligence in pre-call planning, client meetings, proposals and communications.

“First Research delivers a highly accurate and professional product for our sales force and regularly provides us with value-added suggestions on how to leverage the product across the organization,” said Julie Zimmer, Hub International vice-president of sales. “Ultimately, First Research provides an excellent resource for our training and research department and empowers our sales team to go out and win more business.”

First Research Advocate Award
The 2007 First Research Advocate Award honors an individual 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 Jack Hubbard, Chief Experience Officer and Chairman of St. Meyer & Hubbard, Inc. St. Meyer & Hubbard helps financial services industry clients achieve breakout performance through sales and sales management education and personal coaching. In addition, Hubbard is the co-author of the Performance Culture Series, a compilation of 10 books targeting sales in banking. He has been a champion of First Research and has participated in numerous webinars, speaking engagements and testimonials in 2007.

“At St. Meyer & Hubbard we have found Industry Intelligence provides a value-added touch at every point of the cycle so you can be targeted and show tangible value with customers and prospects alike,” said Hubbard. “First Research offers a powerful product for any sales process. It is the tool banks of all sizes can use to articulate true intrinsic value. Every bank in America should be employing First Research as part of its sales strategy.”

About First Research
First Research, a division of Hoover’s (a D&B company), 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 to 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 83,000 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.

About Hub International Limited
Headquartered in Chicago, IL, Hub International Limited is a leading North American insurance brokerage that provides a broad array of property and casualty, reinsurance, life and health, employee benefits, investment and risk management products and services through offices located in the United States and Canada. For more information, visit www.hubinternational.com.


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Media Contact:
Lindsey Underwood
919.861.0854
lunderwood@firstresearch.com