I like the themes you are going with, my only concern is the logo is going to be pretty small on the page, 180x70, so I think it may be tough to read the smaller print. I hadn't pictured CARL as being hip like you have him in #17 and #18, so I am thinking that over. It is growing on me.
Hello - Thanks for the quick updates! Thought on the goatee and hat - the region and audience we are in is more rural and western, think Sam Elliott, more cowboy than urban. It might fit better?
Thanks for the new entries - They are well done but not sure if they are friendly enough. We want CARL to be someone who would be easy to talk to, and he looks like he might kick my a** if I look at him wrong. :-)