Lincoln, Nebraska (November 9, 2005) – MetroGroup Corp. today announced it has appointed Thomas J. McAlister as Chief Information Officer of the company. McAlister assumes this newly created position with a focus on planning and management of the company’s information technology functions. He reports directly to Robert Logan, Chief Executive Officer. "I am delighted to welcome Tom to the MetroGroup team," said Logan. "Under Tom's experienced leadership we will be able to create and deliver more effective solutions to our customers." McAlister joins the company from GR Group, a Philadelphia-based accounting and consulting firm, where he played a key role in driving significant growth in its consulting division. Prior to joining GR Group, he was the Director of National Operations for the Investment Technology Services division at BankOne/JP Morgan in Chicago. “MetroGroup is uniquely positioned in the marketplace," McAlister said. "I am very excited about the role I can play in the company's growth. I look forward to working with the MetroGroup management team to continue providing the customer-focused services for which it is known, while utilizing technology as an enabler for growth.” MetroGroup is a leading direct mail solutions company in the United States, and is the publisher of the Cole Directories, the leader in cross-indexed marketing reference products. It is a privately held company owned by Sterling Capital Partners, L.P. and management. For more information on MetroGroup, visit the company's website at www.metrogroupcorp.com and for information on Cole, visit www.coleinformation.com Sterling Capital Partners is a leading private equity firm focusing on buyouts of middle market companies in a variety of industries. Since its founding in 1983, Sterling Partners has established a strong track record of making sound investments that have yielded excellent returns. Sterling Partners currently manages approximately $500 million of capital. Sterling Partners maintain offices in Baltimore and Chicago. For more information, visit the company's website at www.sterlingpartners.us