For the last 11 years I have talked about how MTM is different from regular insurance companies. Yes, we are required to follow the insurance company rules. We have normal insurance company departments: claims, loss control, sales, accounting, underwriting. We have an outside rating agency grade of A-. So why do I continue to say, but MTM is different. I base my comment on over 50 years of which the last 45 have been in insurance company management. The difference is staff, focus and Board of Directors. Staff, MTM stability is well known. A few notable examples: Glenda, Premium Accounting over 40 years, Donna, Cindy, Marci, and Kimberly in MTM claims all over 20 years, Megan Sales/Marketing 18 years, Chris – CFO over 30 years, Loss Control Ruth and Chris over 15 years. Pretty amazing. When you have that type of stability, customer focus becomes second nature.

Then there is MTM member advice and direction from the top. The MTM Board of Directors, Finance/Investment Committee and Marketing/Underwriting Committee is made up of Michigan shop owners and managers. No outside investors, bankers, attorneys, only successful Michigan shop owners and managers. These 18 people make up the top of the MTM organization. Their job is single focus: provide stability, support for Michigan shops. This leads me to inform you of two changes in the MTM Board. Bobby Cox, after over 25 years on the MTM Board retired with his last Board meeting in October. In the last couple weeks, I received pictures from him at his Southern Florida home with sunny, 75 degree weather. He was a strong supporter/advisor and his retirement is well deserved.

We also lost a Board member and dear friend, Jack Accardo late November. Jack held many positions on the MTM Board serving as Vice Chairman, Chairman and Chair of the Board Finance Committee for over 30 years. Jack held many positions on the MTM Board serving as Vice Chairman, Chairman and Chair of the Board Finance Committee. His shop experience was as CFO. You could count on a cheerful smile, a history lesson and near wavering support of MTM. Jack and I would go to lunch at least every month and after he updated me on his adult children and pictures of his grandchildren, he was a personal advisor and my friend. I miss him.

About 6 years ago, the Board set up two Committees as a “farm team” to use a baseball analogy. A way to bring in new Board candidates and see how they work with the Board and bring value to MTM members. We presently have 7 policy holders on the committees. And over the last 5 years 3 committee members were “promoted” to the Board.

We thank Bobby and Jack and their families for their long term MTM support. They helped build the MTM we have today.