300 Attendees Focus on Solutions to Challenges Facing Independent Agencies

Wellesley, MA, October 28, 2005 -- Renaissance Alliance hosted its second annual meeting yesterday at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA. More than 300 representatives from New England agencies, insurers, and vendors attended the event.

The purpose of the event was celebrate the phenomenal success to date of Renaissance Alliance and to provide a team environment for agencies, partner insurers, Renaissance staff, service providers, and guests to discuss challenges and opportunities facing independent agents. The day’s events included presentations, seminars, panel discussions, awards, tours of the Stadium, lunch, and a cocktail reception. Topics under discussion ranged from threats to agent profitability in a changing environment and the impact of natural catastrophes on insurance to the essentials of certificate issuance and the role of emerging technologies.

Speakers and presenters included:

• J. Bruce Cochrane, CEO and founder, Renaissance Group;
  
• Ronald Mariano, State Representative and Chairman of the Joint Committee on Insurance Services;
  
• Steve Nelson, Athletic Director and Head Football Coach of Curry College and Former New England Patriot;
  
• Brian H. Burke, President of B.H. Burke & Co.;
  
• Craig F. Stanovich, Principal of Austin & Stanovich Risk Managers, LLC;
  
• Frances A. Mancini, Esq., President and CEO of Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents;
  
• Paul Little, Managing Director at Guy Carpenter; and
  
• John J. DiMartini, Senior Vice President Principal and Catastrophe Risk Management and Practice Leader, Towers Perrin Reinsurance

"The meeting was a testimony to the power of teamwork," states CEO Bruce Cochrane. "The Alliance has grown from a single member to what it is today in 5 short years. Nothing demonstrates the success of our collaborative efforts more than the fact that the members' aggregate loss ratio for three years is 44.5%. This is good for our members and partner carriers and demonstrates our commitment to the clients we serve."

Renaissance Alliance is a coalition of independent agencies, insurers, and service providers who work together to deliver "Best in Business" insurance services and products to personal and commercial insureds throughout New England. The Alliance is currently comprised of 46 member agencies with 61 locations in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, and 24 national and regional insurers. Aggregate premium under management is $235 million, representing more than 185,000 policies for 112,000 personal and commercial accounts. Member agencies insure 2.6 percent of the total vehicles registered in Massachusetts. Renaissance Alliance is one of a family of companies in the Renaissance Group, which also encompasses more than $25 million in premium under management in The Renaissance Plan for Workers Compensation.