Question-and-Answer Session
Operator
Thank you, gentlemen. (Operator Instructions) And your first question will come from the line of Bob Labick from CJS. You may proceed, sir.
Bob Labick - CJS
Good morning. Congratulations on another strong quarter.
Jim Wilhelm
Hi, Bob.
Marc Baumann
Good morning, Bob.
Bob Labick - CJS
Hi. First question I wanted to ask, you highlighted very strong new contract growth, 79 net new contracts with organic growth in excess of 50, which, if I'm looking back at '07 correctly, it looks like your organic growth in Q1 exceeded your organic growth of new contract wins for all of '07. Could you just talk about the drivers of the new wins and what you're seeing out there? And you highlighted in the release you expect to write more business like this. What should we be looking for, and what's driving this success?
Jim Wilhelm
Well, I think certainly the maturity of the business development group. We put the sales force in place three, four years ago now, and its current leader, Marilyn Brooks, who runs that area for us, is now here a couple of years. And I think that they have a real fine fundamental understanding, Bob, of those opportunities in those core markets that we serve. Our pipeline information is extremely current. The relationships that those people have been able to develop over the past couple of years are solid. So, as decisions are made on whether to outsource municipal or institutional opportunities, or new construction, in those towns where we have a presence, where there is a parking opportunity. I talked a little bit this morning about Trump Towers here in Chicago, which is new construction. And economic cycles of new construction kind of go from residential condominiums in central business districts, now slowing down in that area, but revitalization of the office building market in some sectors. Just allows us ample opportunity out there to increase. And I think the people on the sales side of the business kind of supported by the folks that work on the operating side of the business everyday in contract renewals, have a much better fundamental understanding of those 19, 20 markets including airports. And we've talked about the expansion of the airport group over the last 12 months, where it's beginning to bear some fruit.
Bob Labick - CJS
Okay, great. And just following up on that, in terms of -- are there any major contracts out there that you have up for re-bid or new bids that you might be bidding for? According to the Denver Post you may have won that airport, which would be obviously a very nice new win. I understand there is, a lot of other things going on, but just according to their writing, that you guys have bid there and could be the winner.
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