For Immediate Release

March 13, 2006

John Leahy has joined the Michigan Retailers Association (MRA) as a regional marketing representative providing service to retailers in northern Michigan.

Leahy, a resident of Traverse City, is a former underwriter for Lake State Insurance . He also has experience as an independent insurance agent and in retail sales and service.

Leahy’s MRA territory includes the entire Upper Peninsula and the northern Lower Peninsula counties of Emmet, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Presque Isle, Antrim, Otsego, Montmorency, Alpena, Leelanau, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Crawford, Oscoda, Alcona, Roscommon, Ogemaw and Iosco.

MRA provides a comprehensive menu of cost-saving services to retailers, including credit card processing, workers’ compensation insurance, health and dental benefits, property and casualty insurance, discounts on shipping and electric energy, and legislative advocacy and support.

Retailers who would like more information about MRA’s services can contact Leahy at 800.366.3699.

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 12,000 stores across the state.