<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE COMPANY'S 10-Q REPORT FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 DEC-31-1996 <CASH> 2,459 39,555 <SECURITIES> 1,193 880 <RECEIVABLES> 31,548 17,678 <ALLOWANCES> 772 617 <INVENTORY> 0 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 37,351 59,246 <PP&E> 13,612 8,181 <DEPRECIATION> 4,590 2,834 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 112,160 77,559 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 24,477 5,026 <BONDS> 0 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 249 242 <OTHER-SE> 82,578 71,042 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 112,160 77,559 <SALES> 0 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 120,507 94,210 <CGS> 0 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 71,905 53,839 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (1,374) (350) <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 78 <INCOME-PRETAX> 12,452 9,946 <INCOME-TAX> 4,905 3,965 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 7,547 5,981 <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 7,547 5,981 <EPS-PRIMARY> .29 .25 <EPS-DILUTED> .29 .25