For Immediate Release

October 27, 2006

LANSING—Michigan Retailers Association (MRA) Board of Directors recently elected officers for the 2006-07 fiscal year.

Peter Sobelton, of Sundries Plus in Troy, was elected chair of the MRA Board of Directors Executive Committee. Sobelton succeeds Larry Mullins, of Brandon Tire and Battery in Ortonville, who served two years in the leadership post.

Joe Swanson, of Troy, Mid-Michigan District Team Leader for Target Corporation, was voted chair-elect of the Executive Committee.

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

The board also elected a new member, John C. Smythe, president of the Great Lakes Region of Capitol Bancorp and CEO of Capitol National Bank in Lansing. Smythe fills the seat vacated by Joe Reid, of Capitol Bancorp, who chose not to run for re-election.

Sobelton, Mullins and Joseph McCurry, of West Bloomfield, vice president of High Point Group and retired Detroit district manager for Sears, were re-elected to three-year terms on the MRA Board of Directors at the Association's Annual Meeting.

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 5,800 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.