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Duane Dahl, President and CEO of MarketRange Inc. (PerfectMatch.com)

Duane Dahl is president and chief executive officer of MarketRange Inc., which owns and operates online dating service PerfectMatch.com. Dahl is responsible for the overall vision and direction of MarketRange, including PerfectMatch. Dahl, Jason McVey and Cindy Henry founded MarketRange, Inc., which creates and manages subscription-based online lifestyle and entertainment communities including PerfectMatch, in 2002. PerfectMatch was co-founded in 2003 by Dahl, McVey, and Henry. As CEO of Market Range Inc., Dahl also oversees operations for TalentMatch.com and Lab621.com (formerly DataDate).

Before PerfectMatch, Dahl was the chief executive officer for the original Kiss.com. Under his leadership the site garnered more than 200 million page views a month and claimed over 3.5 million members. During his reign as CEO of Kiss.com the site was named as one of the Top 10 Fastest Growing Companies in Washington State and was sleected by Washington CEO Magazine as one of Washington’s “Best companies to Work For” in June of 2001.

Dahl oversaw the sale of Kiss.com to Udate.com, Inc. in March of 2001, selling the service for $23 million. Once the sale was finalized, Dahl was retained by Udate.com and became chief executive officer of Internet dating for Kiss.com and Udate.com. He was a member of the company’s board until January 2002 and on April 4, 2003, Udate.com, Inc. was acquired by Match.com for $150 million.

In June of 2002, Dahl also acquired Dimensions Design Center, a mirror, fine art and custom framing business with locations in Washington. Dahl and his team developed Web-based tools and products for Design Studios to increase production and communication with designers, design studios, and vendors.

Quotes from Dahl

About PerfectMatch's Focus on Relationships vs. Casual Dating:
“Folks grow up. They want more than casual dating. They want relationships…We wanted to get away from the site being 80 percent dominated by men." (Puget Sound Business Journal August 27, 2004 article “Dating Site Snares Big Cash Infusion”)

"Relationship sites backed by psychological expertise and credible partners are attracting a great deal of attention from both women and men. Our experience tells us that women are always a little ahead of the curve when it comes to investing time and energy in building relationships. We're pleased to win the trust and attract a strong union of women who are committed to self-awareness and growth that leads to long, healthy and mutually beneficial relationships. We've accepted the challenge of finding more quality men… men who are prepared to learn more about themselves, and ultimately meet more well-balanced and self-assured women. Ultimately, this will enable them to enjoy life's sweetest reward, true love." (PR)

"Casual dating and social networking sites have historically battled the infiltration of pornographers and spammers. The opportunity for these hideous solicitors to sign up in three minutes and market to 15-20 million people instantly is an attractive proposition. Large scale niche sites, such as Christian-oriented eHarmony.com®, jdate.com® the Jewish singles network, and the leading mainstream relationship site PerfectMatch, all communities of like-minded people, don't suffer through these issues. The process of joining is more substantive, and in the case of PerfectMatch, technology and a hands-on approach severely limits access to those not serious about finding a relationship." (PR)

About Udate’s Acquisition of Kiss.com:
"A year ago, udate.com was just starting out in this sector. The phenomenal growth that has allowed udate.com to encircle the competition in just 12 months is a testimony to the strength of the company's management and its vaunted technology. Combining our experience as a privately-funded company with the vision that inspired udate.com's excellence is a very exciting opportunity for all. The entire Kiss.com team is enthusiastic about driving forward with udate.com to the top end of the sector." (PR)

About the Growth of Niche Dating Services:
“As online dating business has evolved, individuals who have participated [have] become a lot more savvy, a lot more demanding. I think we’re past the stage where the online dater will settle for being in a community of 20 million people.” (Red Herring August 19, 2005 article “Seeking: Niche Dating Site”)

About the Growth of the Senior Sector in Online Dating:
"The 50+ market has really begun to take off. As of June 2005, an estimated 33.2 million people between the ages of 50 and 64, were online just in the U.S. alone. It's not surprising to find divorced and widowed seniors are also turning to online relationship sites to find love and companionship…The 50+ demographic is an informed and educated group. At PerfectMatch, we are very excited to help provide the tools and resources for those willing to discover love at any age." (PR)

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