<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