Hylant Group Announces the Addition of Jim Chapman, as Client Executive

CLEVELAND, Ohio - March 31, 2006 - Hylant Group announces the addition of Jim Chapman as a Client Executive/Vice President and Commercial and Contract Surety Practice Leader. Mr. Chapman has over 30 years experience in underwriting and agency production and over 30 years experience with contract and commercial bonds. He was most recently Director and Branch Manager for CNA Surety for the State of Ohio based in Columbus, Ohio and for the prior 2 years he worked for Marsh USA in Cleveland, Ohio where he was Vice President and Surety Practice Leader. Previous to Marsh he worked for Atlantic Mutual Companies where he was the Surety Branch Manager. In addition, he has multiple professional memberships with Surety Association of Virginia, Surety Association of Massachusetts, Surety Association of Ohio, and Ohio Contractors Association. Mr. Chapman received a BS in Marketing from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. He is presently working on an Associate in Fidelity and Surety Bonding designation. Jim is a veteran when it comes to competitive running. His dedication continues outside of work where he has run two full marathons with extraordinary times under 3 hours and 30 minutes.

Hylant Group is a 70-year old, privately held insurance agency serving businesses and individuals around the world. In addition to the corporate headquarters in Toledo, Ohio, the firm has offices in Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland, Ohio; Troy and Ann Arbor, Michigan; as well as Indianapolis, Bloomington and Fort Wayne, Indiana. Hylant is a member of the Worldwide Broker Network and is currently ranked by the Hales Report as the 6th largest privately held broker in the nation.