Washington, DC and Pittsburgh, PA (September 9, 2007) -- FOCUS, a national middle market investment banking firm providing merger, acquisition and corporate finance services, which is a member of the Business Growth Alliance, LLC (www.bgallc.net), announces Fred Rock has joined FOCUS as a Managing Director in Pittsburgh, PA. Mr. Rock has more than three decades of M&A and business advisory experience with a concentration in the manufacturing, energy, franchising and distribution industries.

“We are delighted with Fred’s decision to join our firm as he brings years of experience in many different industries to FOCUS.  In addition, as Managing Director in Pittsburgh, PA, Fred expands our geographic reach, a continuing goal of FOCUS,” said Douglas Rodgers, Chief Executive Officer of FOCUS.

Prior to joining FOCUS, Mr. Rock was a Managing Director of Source Growth Capital, LLC, an affiliate of Source Companies, LLC (Source), a growth advisory and investment banking firm, which is also a member of the Business Growth Alliance, LLC (BGA). While with Source, Mr. Rock served clients as their strategic business advisor and investment banker, advising clients on matters relating to strategic and operations planning, including evaluating, financing and structuring new or growing business ventures, as well as executing acquisitions and sales of businesses.

Mr. Rock’s transition from Source to FOCUS is a part of the planned expansion of each company as part of BGA’s ongoing national expansion and professional team realignments, which are designed to better service various segments of the middle market. “The transition of Fred Rock from Source to Focus underscores both the growth and success of BGA and, also, the collaboration among BGA firms to deliver effectively aligned teams to provide support for middle market companies”, said James Bly, the Co-Chairman of BGA and CEO of Source.

Prior to affiliating with Source, Mr. Rock was a Shareholder with Alpern Rosenthal in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the largest independent accounting firm in Western Pennsylvania. Mr. Rock also served as a member of the executive committee of the firm and was the director of the firm's manufacturing services, and merger and acquisitions services groups.

During his 15 year tenure there, he helped build the firm from 40 to 170 people. Prior to 1989, Mr. Rock was a partner of Touche Ross (now Deloitte & Touche), a national CPA firm, where he directed its Pittsburgh Office's Privately Held Business Group and was a national service director for mergers and acquisitions, and a member of its National Enterprise Board.

Mr. Rock has a BS in Accounting from Syracuse University and he has completed the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania, Advanced Management Training curriculum. Mr. Rock is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and is a member of the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, where has served on the National Small Business Advisory Committee. Mr. Rock also serves on the board of directors of several charitable and civic organizations and was an advisor to the U.S. Senate Coal Caucus. He resides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

About Business Growth Alliance, LLC

Business Growth Alliance, LLC (BGA) (www.bgallc.net) believes that family-owned and middle market businesses are materially important contributors to the betterment of regional economies and the social fabric within communities. BGA has carefully selected and organized a National Affiliate Network of seasoned, professional services firms, which are dedicated to providing growth advisory and investment banking services to middle market and family-owned companies and their principals. In addition to their core growth advisory and investment banking services, BGA Member Firms collaborate to address the Three Cornerstones that are needed by most successful middle market companies: Growing Business Value, Managing Capital and Liquidity, and Perfecting Governance and Control. The ten current Affiliate Members of BGA include: de Visscher & Co., Source Companies, LLC, FOCUS, yet2.com, The Pursuit Group, Tenzing Consulting, Alliance Cost Containment, Value Defined Middle Market, LLC, Asher Training, and US China Business Solutions Inc.

About FOCUS, LLC

FOCUS, LLC provides a range of middle market investment banking services across the U.S. with an emphasis on mergers, acquisitions, divestitures and corporate finance. FOCUS is headquartered in Washington, D.C. with regional offices in Atlanta, Chicago and San Francisco.   FOCUS specializes in business units with transactions or revenues in the $5-300 million range, serving entrepreneurs, corporate owners and various types of investors across a broad range of industries, throughout the US and worldwide.  FOCUS bankers are seasoned operating and financial executives with extensive transaction experience. Securities transactions are conducted by affiliated FINRA broker dealer, Wm H. Murphy Co. For more information on FOCUS, visit www.focusbankers.com.

About Source Companies, LLC

Source Companies LLC (Source) is a leading multi-disciplinary professional practice that provides services related to the strategic growth, capital formation, owner liquidity, and business transition needs of larger privately owned businesses and their controlling owners. Source specializes in providing such services to family-owned and other closely held, medium sized businesses. Source, which is headquartered in Sewickley, PA, has regional offices in Allentown, PA; Cincinnati, OH; New York, NY; Toledo, OH; and Washington, DC.  For more information on Source, visit www.sourcecos.com. Source is a founding member of Business Growth Alliance, LLC.