It is a reunion for Long Island-based Thomas Public Relations and the Texas-based 3D CAD vendor.

[Editor’s Note: See update at end.] Alibre Inc., the “affordability” 3D CAD vendor based in Texas, has selected a New York-based public relations firm as its “agency of record.”

Thomas Public Relations announced today it has added Alibre to its client list. The company says it will provide a full array of public relations and marketing functions for Alibre, including Alibre’s presence at the upcoming Maker Faire, May 22-23, in San Mateo, California.

The Final Analysis
There is a bit of history here. Alibre CEO and Chairman J. Paul Grayson hired Thomas twice before, when he was founder of Micrografx in the 1980’s and for Grayson’s other previous company, Axxis Software, which was acquired by News Corp. Thomas worked closely with Grayson to create what was at one time the largest single-day charity event in the software industry, the Micrografx Chili Cook-Off at COMDEX.

We take this hook-up as a sign that Alibre is ready to wake up from recession-induced hibernation and flex some marketing muscle. Grayson likes his marketing unconventional and at times flamboyant. With Maker Faire—an event for tinkerers and inventors—as their first activity, Thomas and Alibre are showing their sights are set on taking CAD outside usual industry gatherings. The next few months should be interesting.

UPDATE: Today (May 11) Thomas PR announced that Grayson will be appearing in the Alibre booth at Maker Faire.