For Immediate Release

January 12, 2006

LANSING — Thomas Ungrodt, President and CEO of Ideation, Inc., Ann Arbor, a leading producer of marketing solutions for independent gift retailers, serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the new Retailers Mutual Insurance Company.

The board oversees the activities of the new company, which was established by conversion of Retailers Fund, Michigan Retailers Association’s highly successful group self-insurance workers’ compensation program.

Ungrodt, a former chair of the Retailers Fund Board of Trustees, rejoined the board in 2005. When Retailers Fund was converted to Retailers Mutual, its board of directors was established from the former Retailers Fund board.
Ungrodt also owns three Michigan gift stores and serves on the board of the Michigan Theater Foundation.

Retailers Mutual Insurance Company provides cost-saving workers’ compensation insurance to a wide array of businesses, non-retail and retail. Headquartered in Lansing, it was established by in January 2006.

Note: Photo is available in electronic format by contacting MRA’s Retha Lachance at 800.366.3699 or rlachance@retailers.com.