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The Council of Better Business Bureaus Selects CRT/tanaka Team for National Branding Campaign--Agency to Partner with Capstrat on Web Site Design Element

ARLINGTON, VA (May 26, 2006) - The Council of Better Business Bureaus (CBBB) today announced that it has retained CRT/tanaka, headquartered in Richmond, Va. and New York, to create and implement a comprehensive branding initiative for the Better Business Bureau (BBB) system. CRT/tanaka is partnering with Raleigh, N.C.-based Capstrat to provide the BBB with an enhanced online presence and greater user accessibility.

The CBBB is the umbrella organization for the Better Business Bureau system, which is dedicated to fostering a trustworthy marketplace. The first BBB was founded in 1912; today, a network of BBBs in the U.S. and Canada provide 90 million instances of service a year, including BBB reports on businesses and charities, information on how to shop wisely, investigations into questionable business practices, assistance to resolve marketplace disputes and efforts to encourage advertisers to modify or eliminate deceptive claims.

"The Better Business Bureau is one of the oldest, most respected brands in North America. However, too many consumers and businesses don't know the depth and breadth of services our organization offers in support of marketplace integrity. We wanted to find a PR and marketing partner to help increase understanding of the BBB, unify our grassroots image into a transcendent brand, and build our leadership role in advancing marketplace trust," said Steven Cole, president and CEO of the CBBB.

The CBBB selected the CRT/tanaka team after a national agency search that culminated in a number of agencies (well-known national firms, mid-sized regional businesses and small firms) submitting proposals for consideration.

"Our Selection Committee was impressed by CRT/tanaka's ability to deliver brand strategies to its clients in creative and effective ways. And, we value the extensive interactive design and Web development services that Capstrat brings to the partnership," Cole said.

"We're excited to help the CBBB position the BBB brand by leveraging its rich heritage. We intend to design a branding initiative that will enable the BBB to trumpet its unique ability to encourage, support and showcase marketplace integrity, business reliability and best practices," said Mark Raper, CRT/tanaka chairman and CEO.

Because the CBBB is committed to advancing marketplace trust in both the traditional and online marketplaces, the interactive design and Web development services that Capstrat provides are extremely important to the branding initiative.

"We are excited to work with such a respected institution as the Better Business Bureau. This branding project also allows us to work closely with our friends at CRT/tanaka. There is a great deal of mutual admiration between the two agencies," said Ken Eudy, Capstrat CEO.

About CRT/tanaka
CRT/tanaka is an award-winning public relations and marketing firm, known for creative solutions and workplace culture. The agency was formed in 2005, when Richmond, Va.-based Carter Ryley Thomas Public Relations & Marketing Counsel acquired New York consumer specialist Patrice Tanaka & Company, Inc. to create one of the top independent agencies in the country. Headquartered in Richmond, Va., and New York, with offices in Los Angeles, Charlotte, N.C. and Norfolk, Va., CRT/tanaka specializes in three practice areas - Consumer, Health and Corporate. The agency's Consumer Practice is renowned for its specialty in brand marketing PR, cause-related marketing, sponsorship and event marketing and marketing to women. Through its legacy agencies, CRT/tanaka has been recognized with more than 250 national and regional awards for its strategic counsel, creativity and workplace culture. Clients include Target Stores, Sprint Nextel, Capital One, Charles Schwab & Co., Altec Lansing, Atkins Nutritionals, HoMedics, Girl Scouts of the USA, Wines from Rioja (Spain), All-Clad Metalcrafters, Mont Blanc, VHA Inc., Performance Food Group and ITT Night Vision. For more information, contact CRT/tanaka.

About Capstrat
Capstrat is a strategic communications firm based in Raleigh, N.C. The company's services include marketing communications, public relations, public affairs, marketing communications and design. Capstrat was recognized in 2003 by PRWeek, the public relations industry's leading trade publication, as one of the nation's best Mid-Sized Agencies. For more information about Capstrat, visit www.capstrat.com.

About the Better Business Bureau
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) system (www.bbb.org) is dedicated to fostering fair and honest relationships between businesses and consumers, instilling consumer confidence and contributing to an ethical business environment, in both the traditional and online marketplaces. The first BBB was founded in 1912, and the network of BBBs and the Council of Better Business Bureaus have grown to become the most recognized advocate for promoting ethical business and advertising practices, providing more than 90 million instances of service to consumers and businesses in 2005. BBBs in the U.S. and Canada are supported by 375,000 business members throughout North America.