Horn Group Announces Washington DC Office and Chicago Satellite

Agency Enters New Markets with Impressive Team and Clients

May 16, 2005 - Washington DC - Horn Group, Inc. officially announced today its expansion into Washington DC and Chicago, Illinois. With four new clients, the agency has a solid portfolio in each region backed by both tenured and additional senior talent. The DC office is located at the TeqCorner building in Northern Virginia's Tyson's Corner area and is headed by Director Ben Farrell. The agency's Chicago satellite is led by Director Katey Stewart. Both Farrell and Stewart were formerly directors in Horn Group's San Francisco office.

"Our entry into DC and the Midwest continues our long history of organic growth. Increasingly there are innovative and successful technology companies in every corner of the country, not just the traditional technology hubs," said Sabrina Horn, founder and president of Horn Group, Inc. "We are grateful to our founding clients and growing network in the Washington and greater Midwest areas. We expect our deep roots in technology, our great mix of services and the strength of our people will make a major impact for companies in these regions."

Washington DC Ripe for Horn Group's Unique Value Proposition The Washington DC technology market is growing both in terms of venture capital investments in start-up companies and government and private sector sales opportunities for regional offices of established technology vendors. In addition, Horn Group's DC presence allows the agency to access other growth markets such as Atlanta and North Carolina's Research Triangle district. The location will also afford the agency to explore business opportunities in the public affairs arena over time.

"Technology markets in the greater-DC area are experiencing tremendous growth, but along with that opportunity comes a critical need for marketing communications programs that are creative, precisely-targeted and well-executed," said Scott Frederick, Partner at Valhalla Partners, a leading venture capital firm based in Tyson's Corner. "Enterprise technology companies need communications partners like Horn Group who understand the nuances of their markets and who bring the network of contacts necessary to influence market perceptions and change market dynamics."

Horn Group DC clients include Herndon, VA-based RealOps, Inc., a leading provider of Integrated Operations Automation solutions, and Atlanta-based Indus International (Nasdaq: IINT), an established provider of Service Delivery Management solutions to utility, energy and other markets. Clients serviced by the Horn Group DC office have access to an exceptional team of senior PR professionals, including:
  • Ben Farrell, a director with 12 years of high-technology public relations experience and an appetite for positioning and strategic program development
  • Caroline Hacker, Horn Group's media specialist with 12 years of enterprise and consumer technology PR behind her and expert business media skills and relationships
  • Kevin King, a supervisor with seven years of local DC marketing experience and excellent DC-area trade and government media contacts
Horn Group DC has officially opened its office at the TeqCorner building in Northern Virginia's Tyson's Corner area, a hot bed of technology innovation and venture capital activity. The address is 1616 Anderson Road, McLean, Virginia 22102. Horn Group DC's main number is 703.286.0828.

Agency Targets Midwest Through Chicago Satellite
Technology companies in the Midwest region are also increasingly tapping the Horn Group for its services. Horn Group clients run out of the Chicago satellite include Indianapolis-based Interactive Intelligence (Nasdaq: ININ), a global developer of business communications software, and Priva Technologies, an Internet security provider. The satellite is led by Katey Stewart, a director with 9 years of high-technology public relations experience with both emerging growth companies as well as established global leaders. Horn Group has a track record serving other successful companies in the central United States, from Paisley Consulting in Minnesota to Lombardi Software in Texas.

About Horn Group, Inc.
Horn Group, Inc. provides communications services to technology companies at every stage of growth - from start-ups that need visibility to large corporations striving to build market leadership. An established and independent firm, Horn Group offers integrated services that reach press, analysts, customers, partners, investors and employees. Services include public relations, web site and graphic design, and market research. Located in San Francisco, Boston, New York, and Washington DC, with a satellite in Chicago, Horn Group has earned national recognition for its excellence in client service and employment practices. More information can be obtained at www.horngroup.com.

Contact:
Ben Farrell, Director
Horn Group Washington DC
703.286.0828
bfarrell@horngroup.com