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J. SMITH LANIER & CO. COMPLETES THE 5TH GENERATION MANAGEMENT TRANSITION OF THE 137 YEAR OLD FIRM

 
- WEST POINT, GA.-- At the 2005 annual shareholders meeting, J. Smith Lanier & Co. elected D. Gaines Lanier who has served as President and CEO since 2000 to Chairman and CEO; and Gary Ivey who has served as COO since 2000 to Vice Chairman, President and COO. Frank Plan who is the current CFO was also elected to the Board of Directors. J. Smith Lanier II & Bill Parr Jr. are now serving as Chairman and Vice-Chairman Emeritus respectively.

This announcement completes the full transition of J. Smith Lanier & Co. through five generations of leaders and continues the values that were established in 1868 at its founding.

J. Smith Lanier II commended the changes, "Gaines and Gary's collaborative leadership is evident in the company's growth ... It's merely the next step in our long formed-management continuation plan and will only enhance the strength of our company."

D. Gaines Lanier joined the company in 1975 as a producer and has served as President and COO from 1986 until 2000 when he was elected CEO. Mr. Ivey joined the company in 1980 and has been Executive Vice President since 1986 until he was elected COO in 2000.

J. Smith Lanier & Co. is an employee-owned company that was founded before the turn-of-the-century and has become one of the largest privately-owned insurance agencies in the United States. Since 1868, they have grown from a three-employee local agency to a major regional firm employing over 435 employees in eight divisions and 18 branch offices. They are currently ranked 32nd among the country’s Agents and Brokers by Business Insurance Magazine and 12th among privately held Agents and Brokers by the Hales Report. J. Smith Lanier & Co. offers commercial and personal lines insurance, employee benefits, third party plan administration (TPA), surety, risk control and personal lines. As an affiliate with RiskProNet, Globex and United Benefit Advisors, J. Smith Lanier & Co. continues to enhance their services and provide access and support worldwide.
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