For Immediate Release

September 14, 2005

LANSING — Michigan Retailers Association (MRA) Board of Directors recently elected officers for the 2005-06 fiscal year.

Larry Mullins, owner of Brandon Tire and Battery in Ortonville, was reelected chair of the MRA Board of Directors Executive Committee. Mullins was first elected to the board in 1996; this is his second year as chair.

Peter Sobelton, of Sundries Plus in Troy, was re-elected chair-elect of the Executive Committee.

D. Larry Sherman, retired president of Sherman Shoes, Inc. in Birmingham was re-elected treasurer.

Also re-elected as officers were Larry Meyer, chairman of the board and CEO, and James P. Hallan, president and chief operating officer.

In addition, the following directors were re-elected to three-year terms on the MRA Board of Directors at the Association’s Annual Meeting:

Bruce Johnson, president and co-founder of Gazelle Sports, an athletic specialty footwear and apparel retailer with stores in Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids and Holland.

Jean Sarasin, MRA senior vice president of finance and customer service.

Mark Schrag , past chair of the Executive Committee and owner of Seasons, a specialty store offering unique gifts, furniture, jewelry and gourmet foods in Okemos.

Winfrey Smith, eastern Michigan district manager for Sears.

Sherman was also re-elected to the board. He has served since 1982.

The Michigan Retailers Association is the unified voice of retailing in Michigan and the nation’s largest state trade association of general merchandise retailers. MRA’s more than 5,500 retail business members operate more than 13,000 stores across the state.

Note: Photos of board members are available in electronic format by e-mailing Amy Buttery at abuttery@retailers.com.