JHG-Townsend Achieves Finalist Status in Stevie Awards Recognizing Women in Business
Successful marketing and public relations group acknowledged in both Fastest Growing Company and Best Overall Company categories

JHG-Townsend, a results-driven communications group that effectively combines traditional marketing and PR services with new digital media, today announced that it has been named a finalist in two categories for the 4th Annual Stevie® Awards for Women in Business. The Stevie Awards recognize and generate public awareness of excellence in business. Award winners will be announced during a gala event at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas on Monday, November 12.

JHG-Townsend, recently formed by the merger of a consumer-centric marketing group and a technology-focused public relations agency, will compete with other top national firms for two titles: "Fastest Growing Company" and "Best Overall Company."

"Digital marketing and technology are evolving at break-neck speeds and we’ve simply adapted to meet the new world our clients do business in," said Co-founder and Executive Vice President Jackie Townsend. "Jayne and I are passionate about helping our clients build successful marketing and communications programs and are pleased with the company’s success so far. We’re extremely grateful to receive this recognition from The Stevie Awards for Women which confirms we are definitely on the right track."

Jayne Hancock, chief executive officer for JHG-Townsend, adds, "To be recognized in not just one, but two categories for The Stevie Awards for Women in Business tells us we must be doing something right for our clients. We’ve seen the demand for an agency that can deliver comprehensive yet personalized service that combines digital and traditional marketing disciplines. It’s an exciting time to do what we do."

Since July 2007, when Jayne Hancock and Jackie Townsend merged their marketing and public relations practices into one entity, the newly formed company has achieved substantial growth in both revenue and personnel. The company, re-named JHG-Townsend, combines traditional communications with new media, such as Web-based services, digital public relations, interactive and mobile to create innovative marketing programs. Prior to the formation of the new company, the Jayne Hancock Group developed marketing strategies for clients in the entertainment and sports industry while Townsend Inc. combined traditional and digital public relations strategies for companies competing in the technology, health and life sciences industries.

"With nearly 50 employees and counting, JHG-Townsend will continue to grow to meet the business demand for innovative marketing in a technology-driven marketplace," added Elizabeth Estes-Cooper, JHG-Townsend executive vice president. "Our combined agency expertise is really effective for our clients and is now attracting national attention – we couldn’t be more excited."

The Stevie Awards for Women in Business honor women executives, entrepreneurs and the companies they run worldwide. More than 800 entries were submitted for consideration in more than 40 categories for this year’s award. Finalists were chosen by business professionals worldwide during preliminary judging. Members of the Awards’ Board of distinguished judges and advisors and their staffs select Stevie Award winners from among the finalists during final judging. The final judging is conducted online and judges rate finalists in their respective categories and then the overall scores determine the awards winners.

"JHG-Townsend has created a unique business model to address the challenges that come with a rapidly changing business landscape – and has been extremely successful in doing so," said Michael Gallagher, president of the Stevie Awards. "Despite fierce competition this year, JHG-Townsend stood out with its extraordinary client retention rate, employee growth and innovative business practices."

Details about The Stevie Awards for Women in Business and the list of finalists in all categories are available at www.stevieawards.com/women.

About JHG-Townsend
San Diego-based JHG-Townsend represents a new model of marketing and public relations agency in a digital world. JHG-Townsend empowers businesses with strategies that are reality-based, forward-looking, and both business-to-business and consumer-focused. The group combines traditional communications with new media, such as Web-based services, digital public relations, interactive and mobile to create breakthrough marketing programs. From strategy to execution, from marketing research to evaluation, and from creative brainstorming to creative campaigns, JHG-Townsend offers a complete set of communications and marketing services to business clients in the following industries: technology, health and life sciences, media and entertainment, sports, gaming, consumer goods, government and education. JHG-Townsend clients include QUALCOMM, MediaFLO USA and MediaFLO Technologies, National University, Toshiba, Vidacare, Comcast, Continuous Computing, Sequoia Communications, SEMDirector, Visual Sciences (NASDAQ: VSCN), and many more.

JHG-Townsend is here for business, here for their clients’ success. For more information, visit www.jhg.com or call 1.858.457.4888.

About The Stevie Awards
Stevie Awards are conferred in four programs: The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, The Stevie Awards for Women in Business, and the Selling Power Sales Excellence Awards. Honoring companies of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about The Stevie Awards at www.stevieawards.com.

Infiniti is the presenting sponsor of The 2007 Stevie Awards for Women in Business. Supporting sponsor is JetBlue. Media sponsor is Pink magazine. The Business TalkRadio Network will broadcast the ceremonies live nationwide.