NEW YORK, March 2, 2006 -- The Partnership for a Drug-Free America is pleased to announce the election of Mary Lou Quinlan to its board of directors. Quinlan is founder & CEO of “Just Ask a Woman,” a New York-based marketing consultancy.

“Mary Lou is a remarkable marketing and communications professional and we are very fortunate to have her join our organization,” said Roy Bostock, chairman of the Partnership. “Quinlan’s innovative approach has transformed the way companies conduct market research and she brings her extraordinary accomplishments and marketing talents to the Partnership.”

A graduate of St. Joseph’s University, Quinlan is a renowned consumer strategist and founder of the top women’s marketing company in the U.S. In the last several years she has advised numerous organizations in the consumer and retail industries, such as Clairol, Kellogg’s Special K, Tums, Estee Lauder, Wal-Mart, Bloomingdales, KFC, Johnson & Johnson and Yahoo.

"I look forward to bringing my brand-building skills to an organization that has such a tremendous track record for solving real-world problems," said Quinlan.

Quinlan was formerly CEO of NW Ayer & Partners, a major branding/advertising agency, where she worked with clients such as Procter & Gamble, General Motors and Continental Airlines. She was also director of advertising at Avon, public relations director for her alma mater, Saint Josephs’ University, and is on the board of directors of 1-800-FLOWERS. Her best selling marketing book Just Ask a Woman, Cracking the Code of What Women Want and How They Buy is considered ground-breaking within the industry; her second book Time Off for Good Behavior, How Hardworking Women Can Take a Break and Change Their Lives, was featured in The New York Times, USA Today, People, and on CBS’ "The Early Show." She is a public speaker, a monthly columnist for More magazine and is co-starring in the new ABC primetime show, "American Inventor." Quinlan hails from Philadelphia, PA, and lives in New York City with her husband Joe.