For Immediate Release, January 15, 2002 Contacts: Jana Muntsinger

615.376.9442

jana@mmpublicrelations.com

PARABLE’S CONWAY EARNS CERTIFICATION AS
PROFESSIONAL IN HUMAN RESOURCES

Parable Member Stores to Benefit From Conway’s Expertise

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA–-The Parable Group is pleased to announce that Frankie L. Conway, Human Resource Manager, recently earned certification as a Professional in Human Resources (PHR). The certification, awarded by the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI), signifies that Conway possesses the theoretical knowledge and practical experience in human resource management necessary to pass a rigorous examination demonstrating a mastery of the body of knowledge in the field. Conway’s expertise will not only benefit The Parable Group as a corporation, but her counsel is available for member stores needing information and assistance regarding Human Resource issues.

“One of Parable’s initiatives this year is to mature the organization, and as Frankie achieves this milestone in her professional life, she becomes a role model for us all,” explains Steve Potratz, founder and President of The Parable Group. “Frankie began educating herself on HR policy and law when we asked her to manage that department. Since then she has attended conferences and seminars, studied diligently, and ultimately reached this major educational milestone. She is truly a professional, and we are proud to have her on our team.”

Conway hopes her expertise will benefit both The Parable Group and Parable member stores. “Parable's mission is to ‘Help Stores Grow.’ It is my desire that this professional certification provide yet another resource to Parable stores. I would be honored to assist with stores’ Human Resource issues—or at least to serve as the first stop for finding answers to HR questions.”

To receive PHR certification, an applicant must pass a comprehensive examination and demonstrate a strong background of professional human resource experience. The exam is administered by the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI). HRCI is the credentialing body for human resource professionals and is affiliated with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the world's largest organization dedicated exclusively to the human resource profession. PHR certification is received by achieving a passing grade on the exam in seven areas: Management Practices, General Employment Practices, Staffing, Human Resource Development, Compensation and Benefits, Employee and Labor Relations and Health, Safety and Security. The national pass rate for the national exam in 2001 was just over 65%.

Parable Christian Stores is an association of nearly 300 independently owned Christian retail outlets located in the U.S. The Parable Group provides diverse marketing tools for its member stores such as e-commerce sites, in-store merchandising kits, exclusive products, weekly bestseller lists and catalogs. In 2000, Parable shipped more than 29.7 million catalogs, newspaper inserts, and other promotional mailings in 25 marketing campaigns.

# # #

January 15, 2002