Please direct your media and public relations inquiries to: mediarelations@cdw.com 800-800-4CDW CDW Wins Better Business Bureau Award for Marketplace Ethics Independent panel recognizes direct solutions provider for its superior ethical business practices VERNON HILLS, Ill. - December 2, 1998 - Recognized for demonstrating ethical practices toward customers, suppliers, coworkers and the community, CDW Computer Centers, Inc. (NASDAQ: CDWC), today received the 1998 Better Business Bureau Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics from the Bureau's Chicago and Northern Illinois chapter. An independent panel of judges from business and academia selected CDW®, a Fortune 1000 company and the country's leading direct solutions provider of brand name computer products, as the winner in the large company (1,000+ employees) category. CDW CEO Michael P. Krasny accepted the Better Business Bureau award at today's ceremony held at the Holiday Inn Mart Plaza in Chicago. Ron Magers, news anchor at local ABC-affiliate WLS-TV, presented the award, with more than 250 business leaders on hand to honor the winning companies. "This award recognizes businesses that have consistently demonstrated a high ethical level of business in their day-to-day operations," said James E. Baumhart, president and CEO of the local Better Business Bureau. "This year's winners exemplify what is right and ethical in business in Northern Illinois." For CDW, the winning edge was its "Circle of Service" business philosophy, which states "everything we do revolves around the customer." CDW integrates its customers' needs into all facets of the company and is committed to providing the best possible computing solutions by incorporating personalized and expert advise; comprehensive technical support; and competitive pricing. As a reminder to coworkers of the company's customer focus, all CDW paychecks are signed "from all our customers." "This award means more to me, and to our 1,400 coworkers, than any other achievement or award CDW has ever received," said CDW CEO Michael Krasny. "Winning this award shows what our customers and coworkers already know-that CDW is honest, fair and a good company to do business with." CDW's commitment to ethics goes beyond its four walls to include the community in which it operates. The company partners with several charitable organizations that benefit people in need. Some of the organizations CDW has supported include the Greater Chicago Food Depository, Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago and the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. Through these ongoing partnerships, CDW has donated more than $600,000 and countless hours of volunteer service through the years. The importance of building lasting relationships also extends to its coworkers and the company's employee-friendly policies have earned CDW a nomination to FORTUNE magazine's list of the "100 Best Companies to Work for in America." "I believe our success is a direct result of our deep and complete commitment to ethical business practices," Krasny said. "If you treat people honestly and fairly, you will always succeed." CDW, as well as the other local Better Business Bureau award recipients, will now receive a nomination to the national competition for the Bureau's Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics, to be presented in Washington, D.C. in March 1999. About CDW CDW® (NASDAQ: CDWC), a Fortune 1000 company, is the country's leading direct solutions provider, offering complete, customized computing solutions for business and consumers nationwide. With competitive prices on a selection of thousands of brand name computer products, CDW is the No. 1 authorized direct source of Compaq, Computer Associates, IBM, Microsoft, Toshiba and other top name brands. Founded in 1984 as a one-man, home-based business, CDW today employs more than 1,400 coworkers whose efforts generated net sales of $1.6 billion for the trailing twelve months ended September 30, 1998. CDW's pioneering direct model offers personalized expertise through one-on-one relationships with highly-trained, knowledgeable account managers; telephone and online purchasing; custom configured solutions; next day shipping; and lifetime phone and online technical support, with close to 60 factory-trained and A+ certified technicians on staff. More information About CDW is available on the company's award-winning e-commerce Web site at www.cdw.com or by calling 888-CDW-7040.