CPS Publishing of Ventura, publishers of Homes & Land magazines covering West Ventura County, San Fernando, Conejo & Simi and Santa Clarita Valleys, has received the National Associate Publisher of the Year Award from the Homes & Land network which has more than 200 magazines and prints 60 million copies in 15,000 communities nationwide. Don Wilkinson, president of CPS Publishing, accepted the award recently during a reception in Newport Beach from Francine Lowe, CEO of Homes & Land magazine, a national franchise based in Tallahassee, Fla. which has been in business for 30 years. The National Publisher of the Year Award recognizes local and regional publishers who have "demonstrated creative marketing and innovative production initiatives" to boost circulation in their respective areas. "We are genuinely proud to be honored with the national award by a publishing organization that is a pacesetter in the branding and marketing of top producing residential real estate agents and their listings," Wilkinson said. Homes & Land magazine, according to its web site, "revolutionized real estate marketing by introducing the first full color pictorial magazines in the United States" devoted to marketing homes and agents.  The magazines acccordingto Wilkinson, are distinguished by a catalog format homes in color aimed at prospective buyers and sellers, as well as being advertising source for real estate companies, agents and developers. Homes & Land also is set apart by its targeted dense distribution via high traffic locations, such as grocery stores, street racks, and direct mail to professionals and corporate relocation executives.

Additionally, the publication receives broad internet exposure, Wilkinson said, through the homesandland.com web site and toll-free 800 number for nationwide outreach.   The National Publisher of the Year Award recognizes local and regional publishers who have demonstrated creative marketing and innovative production initiatives to boost circulation ...... A Veteran of 19 years in the real estate advertising and marketing profession, Wilkinson has owned the West Ventura County Homes & Land since 1989. Previously, he served as sales manager for the San Fernando, Conejo and Simi Valleys publication. In 2000 Wilkinson acquired theSanFernando/Conejo/Simi publication, and launched the Santa Clarita version in 2002 with the largest initial page count of any Homes & Land . Currently, says Wilkinson, the magazine enjoys its highest page count ever. During 2002, Wilkinson was honored with induction into the Presidents Club for Homes & Land, an exclusive group composed of the top 20 associate publishers in the Homes & Land system based on annual printed pages.