NORTHBROOK, IL – Gary Rappeport, CEO of Donlen Corporation, a North American fleet leasing and management company, was named a Finalist in the Executive of the Year - Services category in The 2009 American Business Awards.

The American Business Awards are the nation's premier business awards program. All organizations operating in the U.S.A. are eligible to submit entries to the ABAs - public and private, for-profit and non-profit, large and small. 

Rappeport was recognized as a finalist in the Executive of the Year - Services category for his numerous leadership achievements. Under his direction, Donlen has had exponential growth over the past five years. His focus on employee satisfaction, corporate social responsibility, and environmental consciousness has put Donlen in the forefront of workplace excellence earning them numerous recognitions including:

• Crain's Chicago Business 20 Best Places to Work for 2009.

• The International Association of Outsourcing Professional's (IAOP) Global Outsourcing 100 for 2009, 2008, 2007, and 2006.

• The National Association for Business Resources (NABR) 101 Best and Brightest Places to Work For in Chicago, 2008 and 2007.

• Finalist in the Most Innovative Company category in The 2007 American Business Awards as well as Finalist in the Best Corporate Social Responsibility Program category in The 2008 American Business Awards.

"While this award honors Gary, we recognize that much of what Donlen has accomplished is a result of the hard work and dedication of our employees," said Tom Callahan, Donlen president and COO. "It's the combination of their efforts and Gary's vision that makes Donlen successful."

In addition to workplace excellence, Gary is committed to driving change within the fleet industry by initiating environmentally conscious programs and partnering with organizations such as the EPA's Smart Way program and Sierra Club. Donlen GreenKey, a carbon reduction focused program, provides solutions to help companies understand and improve their fleet's impact on the environment, and coolfleets.com which helps commercial, government, and municipal fleets in modeling vehicle alternatives to gain a better understanding of both their carbon output and lifecycle costs, are two of his recent accomplishments.

Rappeport is a strong advocate for corporate responsibility, championing several social initiatives, including support of The Children's Oncology Services of Illinois' One Step at a Time program, a summer camp for children with cancer and Leukemia, and adoption of Chicago's Jenner Academy, whose students are living at or near the poverty level, helping with basic needs for the children's education and quality of living. Rappeport and Donlen's employees help with school supply drives, hosting a career day, raising funds for summer camps, and a yearly "Letters to Santa" program, providing gifts for each and every student.

Stevie Award winners will be announced during the annual gala on Monday, June 22 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City. Six-hundred executives from across the U.S.A. are expected to attend. The ceremonies will be broadcast on radio nationwide by the Business TalkRadio Network and hosted by Cheryl Casone of Fox Business Network.

About Donlen Corporation

Donlen Corporation, with headquarters in Northbrook, IL, and offices nationwide, is a global provider of innovative fleet management and leasing programs. Since 1965, Donlen has offered its clients highly personalized and responsive customer service. Donlen has been recognized as one of Crain's Chicago Business "List of 20 Best Places to Work in Chicago for 2009," National Association for Business Resources "101 Best and Brightest Places to Work For in Chicago" in 2007 and 2008, and as a "Top 100 Global Outsourcing Leader" by the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals (IAOP) each year from 2006-2009. For more information about Donlen Corporation, visit www.donlen.com.

About The Stevie Awards
Stevie Awards are conferred in four programs: The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, The Stevie Awards for Women in Business, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Honoring companies of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about The Stevie Awards at www.stevieawards.com.