Hylant Group Continues Growth with New Office in Grand Rapids

GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan - July 18, 2006 – Hylant Group announces its newest office opening in Grand Rapids, strengthening its services and expanding its presence in Michigan.

Hylant Group – Grand Rapids highlights its ability to provide national expertise with the responsiveness of a regional brokerage. The new office will be dedicated to providing insurance and employee benefit services to Grand Rapids and the surrounding areas.

Len Dyer, an insurance executive with over 18 years experience in the industry, will head the new office. Previously Dyer was Executive Vice President and West Michigan Branch Manager of A.J. Gallagher of Western Michigan, where he was responsible for building the Risk Management Division for Gallagher of Michigan statewide. Mark Miller, Regional Vice President – Michigan and the President of Hylant Group’s Ann Arbor office, said, “Grand Rapids has long been a marketplace Hylant Group has coveted to continue our aggressive growth strategy. We are very excited about the potential of the western Michigan marketplace and thrilled that Len will be leading our presence in Grand Rapids.”

The Hylant Group, founded in 1935, is the 21st largest insurance agency in the United States. With a team of over 625 insurance professionals, they are positioned to service their clients locally and around the globe. Hylant offers complete risk management services, employee benefits, loss control, 401(k) and financial services, health care management, and insurance for 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; Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids and Troy, 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.