ST. LOUIS — August 27, 2007 — Strengthening its position as the country’s leading agricultural and rural marketing agency, Osborn & Barr today announced the formation of its new Executive Management Team. The team, which reports to Joe Osborn, president, and Steve Barr, chief executive officer, is comprised of five of the agency’s key leaders, including returning strategist Michael Turley.

“For nearly 20 years, Osborn & Barr has been successful by building trust and loyalty in the agricultural and rural marketing industry, with its clients, with its target audiences and with its employees,” says Steve Barr. “By forming the new Executive Management Team, we are putting our best talent on our most important task – continuing that tradition by improving the excellence of our product and customer experience and helping foster the relationships that keep secure long-term clients.”

The new Executive Management Team will take over functional management of the agency on a day-to-day basis. In addition, the team will assist Osborn and Barr as they focus efforts on developing more strategic and long-term growth opportunities for the agency.

The Executive Management Team includes: Cheryl Bergeron, Steve Kunkel, Rhonda Ries-Aguilar, Michael Turley and Hugh Whaley.

Cheryl Bergeron has been promoted to Chief Creative Officer.  In almost 11 years of service to O&B, Bergeron has increased her responsibilities beginning with her initial position as copywriter. Under her direction, creative at O&B has always been about exceeding expectations and proving its effectiveness in the marketplace. On the management side, Cheryl successfully orchestrates a diverse and talented group of people who are among the very best at their crafts.

In her new role, she will supervise the entire agency’s creative output, growing digital services division and production groups. Her charge will be to continue to improve our product in every way.

Rhonda Ries-Aguilar, a 15-year O&B veteran, serves as the agency’s Chief Financial Officer. She has facilitated much of the agency’s growth and financial practices under her supervision. She is not only responsible for running the financial, legal and technology side of O&B for the agency, but also serves as oversight on our client’s financial matters.  She is recognized throughout the industry for her skills and leadership. She serves on the: Advantage Board of directors as Vice President; AAAA Financial Committee; St. Louis Ad Club Board; and as a member of the National Association of Purchasing Management. Ries-Aguilar will continue to use her critical business analysis, management and judgment skills in fueling the agency’s continued financial success.

Michael Turley rejoins Osborn & Barr as Executive Vice President. As a 16-year veteran at O&B, Michael has made many contributions including securing new business and recommending new arenas beyond traditional advertising media. He initiated and staffed our Public Relations group more than five years ago and was instrumental in the agency’s decision to form its Interactive/Digital Marketing group two years ago. O&B now features industry-leading capabilities in this area with strong management and many success stories. In his new role, Turley will be responsible for client relationships, networking alliances and new product and service development.

Hugh Whaley, who has been with the agency for 11 years, has been promoted to president of the O&B Association and Government business Unit. It is due in large part to Whaley’s strength, leadership and expertise that he has been able to grow the agency’s business in these two important sectors, which includes an impressive client roster. As these two sectors become increasingly important to O&B, the industry can look for more exciting things to come out of the company in this regard.

“Steve and I are excited about these changes and look forward to strong growth in the short- and long-term future,” says Joe Osborn. “Most importantly, we recognize the strength and leadership of the individuals on the Executive Management Team. It’s because of their accomplishments and skills, that we can be confident in a strong future for the agency.”

Osborn & Barr Communications concentrates on relationship-driven branding communications for agriculture, rural lifestyle, government, association and business-to-business markets to maximize the image and profitability of its clients. Its staff of more than 140 professionals provides brand management, strategic planning, event planning, creative services, public relations, media services, digital marketing and channel marketing. The 19-year-old agency has $125 million in capitalized annual billings divided among six United States and Canada offices located in St. Louis, Kansas City, Des Moines, Washington, DC, Guelph and Winnipeg. Osborn & Barr can be contacted via phone at 1-888-235-4332 or 314-726-5511, or at http://www.osborn-barr.com/.