DART Direct Mail | About Us

Our story

How It All Began

DART’s parent company, Loyalty Marketing Solutions, was officially started in 2002 on a small screened-in patio in Marietta, Georgia by Dave Banko. With a background in TV and radio, his main focus was to help small businesses find and develop loyal customers in more targeted ways that would grow their businesses with new and innovative marketing tools.

In 2008, DART Direct Mail was launched at a time when most small businesses did not have a way to accurately track their marketing response in direct mail. DART stepped in with an innovative approach–call tracking–that allowed marketers to measure the effectiveness of their campaigns by how many people called in. DART is actually an acronym that stands for Digitally Accurate Response Tracking, and this technology is a hallmark of our service offerings.

Our Story

Meet Our Founder

Starting this company on my back patio in 2002 with only a computer, a fax machine, and a semi-good idea, I couldn’t have imagined the incredible roller coaster ride it would become. With more ups than downs, each twist and turn has been an adventure. Today, the exceptional team and the exciting projects we’re working on make every moment of this journey worth it. And what’s best, I’m looking forward to the ride ahead just as much as ever.

Our story

Where We Are Now

Since 2021, DART has grown to become one of the most innovative companies in the direct mail industry. We were early adopters of QR codes for direct mail. We built out our Call Tracking platform, giving our customers full control of their reporting suite. Our robust product line meets the needs of businesses large and small, from Fortune 100 conglomerates to the neighborhood small business.

Most importantly, though, is the DART Team. Every employee is empowered to make the client experience a positive one. We work together to bring our customers new ideas and creative ways to help them achieve their growth goals.

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Our talented team

DART is Defined by Our Team

Dave Banko

Founder and President

Starting this company on my back patio in 2002 with only a computer, a fax machine, and a semi-good idea, I couldn't have imagined the incredible roller coaster ride it would become. With more ups than downs, each twist and turn has been an adventure. Today, the exceptional team and the exciting projects we're working on make every moment of this journey worth it. And what's best, I'm looking forward to the ride ahead just as much as ever. I'm a proud Indiana University alum and a huge college basketball fan. With kids at both SEC and ACC schools, I've also grown to love college football. In my free time, you'll find me traveling, playing softball, racquetball, pickleball, or engaging in any other competitive sport. Additionally, I'm an amateur foodie on a quest for the world’s best burger. If you have a recommendation, please let me know!

Saga Terrell

Vice President of Operations

I started with DART in 2013 as a freelance designer fresh out of SCAD. My job now is to bring together creatives, data analysts, salespeople, and production teams to deliver results for our clients. I understand the big picture and recognize that success lies in the tiny details along the way. Outside of work, I am an enthusiastic cook, runner, SEC football fan, and traveler. I married my high school sweetheart and we have 2 grown kids who we spend too much time talking about.

Tim Wyman

Executive Vice President of Sales

After dedicating three decades to sales and sales leadership within a prominent corporation, I sought a fresh challenge that would allow me to make a more pronounced difference. My search led me to DART Direct Mail, where I discovered an ideal match for my expertise and ambitions. My tenure at DART has been gratifying, and I've enjoyed contributing to the growth of the company. Beyond work, I like to travel, enjoy boating, and attend college football games.

Cecilie Benefield

Senior Account Executive--Insurance

I joined the DART Direct Mail family in 2024 as a Senior Account Executive in the Insurance Division. I’ve spent the past 19 years recruiting and on-boarding Insurance Agent throughout the Southeast for two large industry leaders. Helping Insurance Agencies grow is a passion of mine. I’m originally from northwestern Pennsylvania and have lived in Georgia since 2000. I have a side hustle as a substitute Group Fitness Instructor and owned a local Food Tour business for 7 years. I enjoy traveling with my husband Brian, seeking out tasty restaurants and loving on my two fur babies. I have a spunky terrier, Miss Pickles and a feisty feline, Sassy.

Dave Shannon

Director of Sales

I am a sales and marketing leader, having worked in media, big box retail and consumer products for over 25 years. I am a consultative strategist and have developed best-in-class solutions for local, regional, and national businesses to help them achieve success by driving sales and revenue growth. When I’m not working, I’m a big sports and music enthusiast - I enjoy watching and attending live events, as well as playing golf.

Danielle Ray

Operations Administrator

Outside of work, my current obsessions are filling my home with plants, reading campy fiction on Kindle, and of course my husband's cooking. I also am mother to a wonderful daughter, but... think Morticia rather than June Cleaver.

Anais Calzadilla

Operations Coordinator

During the pandemic, I got laid off and thought it was the end of the world. And then, a DART job post. They needed a numbers nerd and Excel geek. Exactly like me! From the moment of the first interview, I felt at home. DART Direct Mail has become my family and I love every minute of it. I am where I want to be right now. I have a great work company to work with and I married the person who has been with me for the past 14 years. We have 3 lovely fur babies who are full of character. My husband and I spend most weekends exploring the Florida Panhandle from our home in Pensacola, cooking or just chilling with the doggies. Life is more than good, It’s amazing!

Molly Banko

Billing Coordinator

I've been riding the DART express since day one, wearing many hats along the way—from Chief Cheerleader and Supporter to Idea Generator, and now, Billing Guru. Fun fact: I spent most of my career as a Physical Therapist in the rehabilitation unit of a major hospital. Talk about a plot twist!

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testimonials

We're Not the Only Ones Who Think We're Awesome

Hear from some of our amazing customers.

I cannot say enough wonderful things about DART Direct and David Banko, our company has used his services for years. We have had wonderful customer service, support and products. No matter the time of year or day if we need postcards or any other mailers Dave Banko and and his team are on top of things. Thank you DART for all your years of customer service and support

Desiree Manzanares

Marketing Director

Gutter Helmet of Denver

David Banko at Dart Direct Mail is an industry leader and a pillar to the dental community. I have known him for several years, he is honest, friendly, ethical and easy to work with. He truly understands the marketing challenges our dentists face and has a proven track record in steadily improving key metrics in new patient attraction and retention. He also can provide quality collateral and printing that also can give the practice the brand and professional message they want to their patient base. Highly recommend without question.

I simply cannot keep up with the jobs created through the use of post cards designed and mailed by Dart. Every person I have dealt with there understands the media industry and how to effectively reach your target audience. Bullseye!! There are weeks I am doing 5-7 estimates a day 6 days a week! Most importantly is their overall support and guidance. They listen, then guide as needed. Make the best advertising decision you can make for your business: contact DART!

Simply the best direct mail marketing business in Atlanta. I've known and worked with Dave Banko and his team for several years. We've referred a ton of our clients to them. They've always done an amazing job. Extremely professional, great customer experience, phenomenal design work, and most importantly, their work generated a lot of business. This is the feedback we constantly hear back from our clients we refer to DART Direct Mail. So we continue to refer them to take care of our own wonderful clients.

have worked with Dave Banko at Dart Direct many times over the years, while at many different companies. Dart has been an exceptional partner for our direct mail campaign needs and working with Dave and Saga, has been an absolute pleasure. The company is dedicated to providing top-notch service and they always provide insightful suggestions for enhancing the effectiveness of our campaigns. Whether it's optimizing the design for better engagement or suggesting ways to track KPIs, Dart Direct consistently goes above and beyond to ensure our campaigns yield optimal results. I highly recommend them to anyone needing to add direct mail to their marketing efforts.

Direct Mail Marketing Experts Since 2002.