<ARTICLE> 5
       
                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997             SEP-30-1996
<CASH>                                          63,034                       0
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                               49,769,017                       0
<ALLOWANCES>                                 1,553,232                       0
<INVENTORY>                                          0                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            51,731,616                       0
<PP&E>                                      20,159,918                       0
<DEPRECIATION>                               4,366,507                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             104,319,871                       0
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       29,057,644                       0
<BONDS>                                     87,171,034                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                         5,449                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                 (8,358,891)                       0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               104,319,871                       0
<SALES>                                              0                       0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                           315,173,329             193,802,220
<CGS>                                                0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                              268,762,184             167,068,460
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           6,013,289               1,416,330
<INCOME-PRETAX>                            (1,729,560)               1,881,480
<INCOME-TAX>                                 (682,493)                       0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                        (1,047,067)               1,881,480
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                               (1,047,067)               1,881,480
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   (0.20)                    0.18
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (0.20)                    0.18