Export Insurance Services of Augusta, Ga., is Named Ex-Im Bank's Regional Small Business Broker of the Year

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 12, 2005
Media Contact Name/Phone
Marianna Ohe (202-565-3206)

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Export Insurance Services, Inc. (EIS), Augusta, Ga., will receive the Regional Broker of the Year Award from the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) at Ex-Im Bank's 2005 annual conference in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, April 14.

Export
Export Insurance Services, Inc. (EIS) President, Gail Wilson, pictured second from right, receives congratulations from Ex-Im Bank's Vice Chair April Foley after being named Small Business Regional Broker of the Year during the 2005 Small Business Awards Ceremony held at the Ex-Im Bank's annual conference in Washington, D.C. EIS, an Augusta, Georgia family-owned business and Ex-Im Bank partner since the 1980s, is a strong promoter of the Bank's Small Business Insurance products in the Southeast and, increasingly, other parts of the country such as the Chicago area. Also pictured at the ceremony is Wilson's daughter Angela Johnson, left, and son, Jack Wilson.

A family-owned business and Ex-Im Bank partner since the 1980s, EIS is a strong promoter of Ex-Im Bank's Small Business Insurance products in the Southeast and, increasingly, other parts of the country such as the Chicago area. Its clients are mainly new-to-export small businesses, and EIS's growth has mirrored their growth.

The small companies that we work with appreciate and need Ex-Im Bank insurance, said EIS President Gail Wilson. We've seen them grow from small to medium to large over the years. Some accounts started with us in 1982 and stayed with us through the years. My son and daughter are now in the business with me, and we have agents in Chicago and Miami. Our business grew by 15 percent from 2003-2004 alone.

EIS is a valuable partner in introducing Ex-Im Bank's services to small businesses that may be just starting to sell their products and services in foreign markets, said Ex-Im Bank Chairman Philip Merrill. Small businesses hold the greatest potential for U.S. export growth, and EIS helps unlock this potential, while supporting U.S. job growth. EIS stands out in its long-term dedication to counseling small business exporters, and in the many success stories it can point to among its clients.

Ex-Im Bank's 30th annual conference on April 14 and 15, will be held at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. The award ceremony will take place during the April 14 luncheon program which begins at 12:30 p.m.

Ex-Im Bank, the official export credit agency of the United States, is in its 71st year of helping finance the sale of U.S. exports, primarily to emerging markets throughout the world, by providing loan guarantees, export credit insurance and direct loans. In fiscal year 2004, Ex-Im Bank authorized financing to support $17.8 billion of U.S. exports worldwide. For more information, visit www.exim.gov.