Rich Wakefield has joined Crumbley & Alba/MRA as Creative Director. Wakefield was most recently Associate Creative Director with Goldberg, Moser, O'Neill of San Francisco, CA. While there, Wakefield's work included national campaigns for such companies as Edy's Ice Cream, KIA Automotive, and Dell Computers. Prior agency experience includes stints at BBDO/Vancouver and BBDO/Atlanta, and both the Atlanta and Tampa offices of Fahlgren, where he developed the highly successful "Return to Your Senses in Florida" campaign. He started his career in Atlanta with Aydlotte and Cartwright as an Art Director. Wakefield's creative work has been recognized in countless award programs including The One Show, Communication Arts, the New York Art Directors Show, the Atlanta Film Festival, and Show South.

Crumbley & Alba/MRA has been an agency on the rise for the past three years. After the merger of Crumbley & Associates and Alba Communications Associates in 1995, the agency doubled in size within 18 months from combined billings of $8 million in 1995 to billings of $16 million in 1997. In 1998, Crumbley & Alba won The Athlete's Foot account among a competitive filed of 11 agencies and four finalists, adding $7-8 million in billings to its bottom line. Crumbley & Alba's client roster also includes Dekalb Medical Center, the Georgia International Horse Park, BioLab, Inc. and Dekalb Convention & Visitors Bureau.

In November 1998, Crumbley & Alba became part of the MRA Group of Syracuse, NY. With this alliance, MRA Group now has combined billings of $80 million and 140 employees between its three subsidiaries of Crumbley & Alba/MRA, ComGroup/MRA, and Mark Russell and Associates. ComGroup/MRA, a distinctive agency specializing in the communications industry, has recently set up offices in Atlanta as well. Plans are for the two agencies to co-reside by the summer in newly secured office space.