Contact: Marny Lochhead

Day: (512) 418-8869
Night: (512) 231-8548
Email: marny@thompson-group.com
December 15, 2000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Attention: Kathy Warbelow Austin American Statesman

"Thompson Group Expands Austin Staff; Opens Houston Office."

AUSTIN, TX - The Thompson Group, based in Austin, today announced the addition of several key senior employees to their Austin staff, and the opening of a Houston office. The Thompson Group, a marketing consulting firm specializing in developing and implementing marketplace strategies for business clients, has doubled their staff and client roster this year.

Kim Padgett has joined the firm as vice president and general manager of the Houston office. Kim has over 13 years of public relations and marketing experience in the Houston high tech community, and was most recently director of communications and public relations for Iconixx. Kim serves on the advisory boards for the Texas Electronic Commerce Association, the Houston Women in Technology Forum and the MIT Forum.

Debbie Strance has joined The Thompson Group as a director, working with the firm's high tech clients. Prior to joining the firm, Debbie was a marcomm manager with Dell in the Enterprise Systems group and an account manager with SicolaMartin. She has extensive experience in marketing, public relations and event/tradeshow management.

Denise Guillot has joined The Thompson Group as a director, bringing extensive international business experience. Prior to joining the firm, Denise worked for an international press agency in various countries around the globe, producing economic reports on developing countries. There she gained marketing, public relations and sales experience, conducting business with senior level government officials and executives.

Paige Manley, who has been with The Thompson Group since the fall of 1999, was also promoted into a client relations role, and will be serving as a manager of the firm's client services and strategic planning operations. Paige is actively involved in the Association for Corporate Growth, the Young Women's Alliance, and the KLRU Associate Producers program.

"We are excited about the growth of our firm during the past year," said Marny Lochhead, a partner with The Thompson Group, and an employee for six years. "Our growing base of clients and recent expansion of services has enabled us to add some very talented marketers to our firm. With the support of our new employees and our great clients, we expect to continue our growth and expand to additional markets in 2001."

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