VIRGINIA BEACH, VA. (Sept. 14, 2005) – Meridian Group-Marketing Communications, one of the fastest growing agencies in the mid-Atlantic region, has expanded its team with the addition of four industry professionals. New hires include:

Ayla Meredith Tezel, public relations counselor, public relations team – An experienced travel and luxury communications professional, Tezel comes to Meridian from Laura Davidson Public Relations (LDPR) in New York City. Tezel began her career with the LDPR, most recently serving as an account supervisor for travel and hospitality clients such as Tourism Australia, Peter Island Resort in the British Virgin Islands, The National and Palms Hotel in South Beach, American Classic Voyages, and Sofitel and Novotel Hotels. She attended Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Penn. where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science.

Liz Woodall, public relations counselor, public relations team – Woodall joins Meridian Group from Hambright, Calcagno & Downing (HCD) in Virginia Beach, Va. where she served as a public relations associate for a broad portfolio of clients including AmeriGroup, Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits, the City of Portsmouth, Cox Communications, TowneBank, Troy Univeristy, Virginia Beach Hotel Motel Association and the Virginia Beach Forum. Prior to HCD, Woodall worked as a national marketing coordinator for Trader Publishing Company. She is an active member of PRSA and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and Public Relations from Virginia Tech.

Mike Carosi, director of production and logistics, consumer team – Carosi joins the agency from Decipher, Inc. in Norfolk, Va. where he oversaw purchasing, procurement, and manufacturing of printed materials as manufacturing director. Prior to Decipher, he worked as operations manager for Colormark Printing, Inc. in Richmond, Va. Carosi received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Medieval History from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond.

David Watson, associate art director/production manager, corporate team – Most recently a production manager at Decipher, Inc. in Norfolk, Va. Watson offers a breadth of production and design experience form his work on games, magazines and marketing collateral for licensed products including The Lord of the Rings, Star Trek, dotHack and How to Host a Murder. Watson is currently studying graphic design at the Tidewater Community College Visual Arts Center.

About Meridian Group

Meridian Group-Marketing Communications, one of the fastest growing agencies in the mid-Atlantic region with offices in Virginia Beach, Va., Fort Lauderdale, Fla., St. Augustine, Fla. and New York, N.Y., specializes in consumer and business-to-business accounts in the financial services, travel and tourism, multi-outlet retail, real estate and industrial/corporate sectors. Providing comprehensive marketing solutions to more than 60 clients in North America and the Caribbean, the agency operates under "The Why? Philosophy," an exclusive six-step process designed to uncover the core issues of communications problems. Meridian Group is a member of TAAN (Transworld Advertising Agency Network).

For more information, visit www.themeridiangroup.com or www.tmg3.com.