NEWS RELEASE Contact: Scott Smith 860-561.3600	FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
S. H. Smith & Co. Announces Partnership with the Vermont Insurance Agents Association
(West Hartford, CT - July 23, 2008) S. H Smith & Co., Inc. and the Vermont Insurance Agents Association (VIAA) are pleased to announce the development and launch of a new partnership. This partnership will bring a unique combination of experience, service, and markets to the members of the VIAA. VIAA member agents will receive "gold status" priority on all submissions, an additional 1% commission business written through the binding authority department at S. H. Smith, and access to a broad range of additional products and services offered by S. H. Smith. In addition, periodic agency visits to conduct staff training will be part of the partnership. According to Robert Coyle, executive director of the VIAA, "we are extremely excited about the potential benefit this will bring to VIAA members, and the additional products and capabilities our member agents will be able to offer their clients working through S. H Smith. The partnership will also bring together members of S.H. Smith's program development unit with members of the VIAA to develop programs specific to the VIAA." The Vermont Insurance Agents Association, founded in 1906, represents 112 insurance agencies with 163 offices throughout Vermont. S. H. Smith, a national, independently owned wholesale insurance broker, managing general agency and program administrator, has offices in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania. For more information, contact Robert K. Coyle, 802.229.5884, or by email RCoyle@VIAA.org or Scott H. Smith, President, S.H. Smith & Co., at 860.561.3600 or via email by clicking here.