Gardner & White and Unified Group Services, Inc. Form Alliance

Indianapolis, IN -August 20, 2003 - Gardner & White of Indianapolis and Unified Group Services, Inc. of Pendleton, Ind., announced a strategic marketing alliance today.  

This alliance positions Gardner & White, a leading employee benefits consulting and brokerage firm, as a strategic marketing partner for Unified Group Services, Inc., a Third Party Administrator (TPA) for self-insured group health plans.  Each company has the opportunity to focus on areas of distinct competence while leveraging the capabilities of the other.

According to Gardner & White CEO, Larry Laswell, “Our companies are uniquely matched philosophically based on our passion for service and delivery of value above and beyond mere best practices.  Unified Group Services will now have high quality national distribution and Gardner & White will be able to offer clients benefit administration services that are second to none.”  

“This agreement was reached after extensive due diligence that clearly showed us Unified Group Services, Inc. is a top echelon company that has never lost a client due to value or service during the past seven years,” said Gardner & White’s Vice President of Client Services, Holly Irwin. She also noted that, “Unified Group Services possesses technology and systems that rank them in the top one-percent of all TPA’s.”

Unified Group Services, Inc. has 98 percent-plus client retention and over 25,000 covered lives. The company is committed to delivering value-added health care administration services to ensure long-term customer satisfaction.  Unified Group Services, Inc. was ranked as a Growth 100 Company for 2000-2001 and 2001-2002 by the Indiana University Kelley School of Business, based on outstanding financial achievements, as well as overall vision and business practices. 

Gardner & White has national reach with 15 regional offices and clients in 38 states. This year, 2003, the company celebrated its 40^th Anniversary and announced a new and unique service, BenefitSynergy^TM. Gardner & White remains a leader in the benefits industry by continuing to evolve as a complete source of benefit services to a wider range of customers.

For more information please contact Vice President of Client Services Holly Irwin, at Gardner & White (800) 347.5737 or Unified Group Services President Richard Mousty at (800) 291.5837.

Media Contact: Heather Walters Phone: (800) 347.5737 ext. 260 Email: [email protected]