Two Mississippi "Fast 40" Companies form Alliance

AmFed Companies, LLC and The CPI Group, Inc. join forces for marketing in North Mississippi

November 5, 2001: Two of Mississippi's "Fast 40" companies announced today their plans to join forces in Northern Mississippi.  AmFed Companies (of Jackson) and The CPI Group, Inc. (of Columbus) today announced a joint effort in which The CPI Group will market AmFed's Employer Services along with their own services in Northern Mississippi.

AmFed was recently recognized in The Mississippi Business Journal as the third fastest growing privately held business in the state, and is perhaps best known as the largest provider of worker's compensation insurance in Mississippi. However, AmFed has grown in recent times. Through its various divisions, AmFed Companies provides a comprehensive resource for managing and growing a business. The Insurance Services division is the largest provider of worker's compensation coverage and third party administration services in the state.

Now AmFed's Employer Services division provides outsourcing solutions that manage critical human resource responsibilities and employer risks more cost effectively through an integrated business services package that is customized to each businesses' needs. These services include payroll and tax administration, retirement plan administration, benefit management and other areas of human resource management. This comprehensive service allows small businesses in Mississippi to offer benefit plans to their employees that you normally expect to find only in a Fortune 500 type environment.

The CPI Group, Inc. was also recently recognized in The Mississippi Business Journal as the 29th fastest growing, privately held company in Mississippi. While the company's name may not be widely recognized across the state, it is quite well known in the Golden Triangle area of Mississippi. At the core of the business is Columbus Personnel (CPI), established in 1983 as a private employment service. Today, CPI provides a full spectrum of staffing services to employers in Lowndes, Oktibbeha, Clay and surrounding counties. In 1998, SmithAvery & Associates was established as another operating division to provide Executive Recruiting and Human Resource Management services.

AmFed was seeking to establish a stronger presence in the Northern counties of Mississippi and The CPI Group was seeking to become a full service provider to local clients by adding contracting, benefits management and other specific capabilities. The alliance was born as a means to help accomplish both companies' goals. Each company prides themselves on creating value for clients. Each approaches new opportunities with a sincere desire to help the client, and won't offer services unless there is a verifiable need to be met.

The CPI Group, Inc. will not be entering the insurance business, but will provide marketing and other services, primarily for the Employer Services division of AmFed. Insurance needs discovered will be referred to the standard agency outlets now representing AmFed.