<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>            5
<LEGEND>
This  schedule  contains  summary  financial   information  extracted  from  the
consolidated balance sheets,  consolidated statements of income and consolidated
statements of cash flows  included in the Company's Form 10-Q for the nine month
period ended  September 30, 1996,  and is qualified in its entirety by reference
to such financial statements and the notes thereto.
</LEGEND>
<CURRENCY>                                             U.S. DOLLARS
       
<S>                                                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                          9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                      DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                         JAN-1-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                           SEP-30-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                                        1
<CASH>                                                         5,183,000

<SECURITIES>                                                           0

<RECEIVABLES>                                                 42,038,000
<ALLOWANCES>                                                   1,162,000

<INVENTORY>                                                            0

<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                              51,112,000
<PP&E>                                                        48,067,000
<DEPRECIATION>                                                26,545,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                               100,642,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                         15,634,000
<BONDS>                                                                0

<COMMON>                                                      42,064,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                  0
<PREFERRED>                                                            0

<OTHER-SE>                                                             0

<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                 100,642,000
<SALES>                                                       86,709,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                              86,709,000
<CGS>                                                         37,613,000

<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                 37,613,000

<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                              47,094,000
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                 204,000
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                               786,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                1,012,000
<INCOME-TAX>                                                     354,000

<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                              658,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                                         0

<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                        0

<CHANGES>                                                              0

<NET-INCOME>                                                     658,000

<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                      $0.08
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                      $0.08