Big Changes for 10-Year-Old Agency

AUSTIN, TX - June 25, 2002

mc2 Creative Design celebrates a decade of growth with a name change to Cartis Group, expansion into new markets, purchase of a new corporate headquarters and several new clients.

Cartis Group, a full-service marketing design agency, is experiencing some big changes. In January, the 10-year-old design firm changed its name from mc2 Creative Design to Cartis Group. In third quarter of 2001, it opened a regional office in Houston. A Dallas office is in the works for later this year. They will move into their newly purchased and remodeled offices at 3011 North Lamar later this summer.

“2001 and the first half of 2002 have been great for us,” says Shannon Carter, company President. “We realize these are tough economic times. Our clients rely on us to strengthen their market position. That’s exactly what we’re doing for ourselves.” Cartis Group reinvented itself last year to better reflect its core competencies – branding strategy, marketing collateral design and Web site design. A shrewd growth strategy, financial responsibility and sound marketing practices fueled the steady success and expansion of the company since its opening in 1992. “We’ve been fortunate to be in a position to take advantage of talent and resources. We have the most talented team of individuals I’ve ever worked with,” said Carter.

Cartis Group opened its Houston office in late 2001 and has already captured such clients as Schlumberger (NYSE: SLB), an international oilfield services and technology company, and Texas Pain Institute, a Houston-based multi-site pain management facility. Its sights are now set on north Texas as they plan to open a Dallas office later this year. The Austin office continues to grow with the addition of clients such as SuperCircuits and Silicon Labs (NASDAQ NM: SLAB).

Consistent with its pledge to bring strategy into everything it does, the firm also experienced its proprietary branding process, “BrandSmart,” which resulted in the name change from mc2 Creative Design to Cartis Group. The new name, derived from three Latin words meaning “life, business and art,” represents the company’s business philosophy of breathing life into business through art. “Our old name and marketing plan did not adhere to the standards to which we hold our clients. We needed to practice what we were preaching,” said Carter. The name change also prompted Cartis Group to update their Web site and marketing materials, another reason for their expansion success.

Cartis Group will move its headquarters into their new building at 3011 North Lamar early this summer. Carter says, “We needed more space and a building that represents our philosophy of smart design. We want a building that is beautiful and environmentally sound.”