Press Release

THE SPI GROUP PASSES MID-YEAR MARK WITH EIGHT 2004 INDUSTRY AWARD WINS

New Jersey Agency Consistently Recognized for Communications Excellence

FAIRFIELD, N.J., August 3, 2004 - The SPI Group, a full-service business communications firm, announced that the company has been honored with eight industry awards for 2004 to date. The awards were presented during a six-month period in a variety of categories for outstanding work ranging from print communications to electronic mediums.

"We have a long history integrating technology and digital communications with more traditional communications mediums to meet clients' needs. As a business communications firm with our roots in public relations, it's gratifying that our work is being recognized by our peers for excellence in strategic communications in both electronic and print channels," said Steve Goodman, general manager, The SPI Group.

To date, the 2004 industry awards for The SPI Group include:

APEX Award for Publication Excellence in Web and Intranet Site Content and Writing for the Rahway Valley Sewerage Authority Web Site- www.rahwayvalleysa.com. The site is designed to educate the public on the importance of wastewater treatment, water quality and the vital role that RVSA plays within the member communities it serves.

Dalton Pen Award of Merit in Graphic Arts/Logos and The Communicator Awards Honorable Mention for an internal branding campaign for Novartis. At the heart of this campaign, The SPI Group designed a suite of brand icons used to represent the four key strategies of Novartis Technical Operations, the production and manufacturing division of the global pharmaceutical company. The icons have been used globally in a wide range of print and online vehicles to enhance the organization's internal communications efforts.

National Fuel Funds Network Awards First Place in Annual Report for NJ SHARES Annual Report (non-profit). The NJ SHARES annual report is an informational document used to raise awareness and solicit donations for the New Jersey Statewide Heating Assistance and Referral for Energy Services (NJ SHARES) program.

2004 Best of Show Pyramid Award (given by PRSA-NJ), 2004 Pyramid Award for Online/Interactive Technology and a The Communicator Awards Award of Distinction for Pfizer's Genome: The Secret of How Life Works. Sponsored by Pfizer, this educational Web site that explores the science of Genomics and helps to position Pfizer as a leader in medical research

2004 Pyramid Award for Internal Communications Campaign for Merck's EC2/MC2 Intranet- an electronic resource for employees/managers at Merck, a research-driven global pharmaceutical company. The EC2/MC2 (Employee Communication Connection/Manager Communication Connection) Intranet provides Merck employees and managers with the information they need to do their daily work in the most efficient manner.

About The SPI Group
Located in Fairfield, N.J., The SPI Group was founded in 1997 to offer clients traditional and online marketing and public relations solutions. The agency offers a full range of business communication services including communications strategy and planning, public relations, Web site content development and management and online marketing. The Agency's clients include Pfizer, KeyBank, GE Lighting, Merck, Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corporation and Novartis, among others.