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Kim Michel

CEO

\nA native Californian, Kimberly, her husband Tom and young sons T.J. and Marcus live in Pacific Palisades. The financial services business has been the only industry Kim has been affiliated with since her graduation from University of California, Berkeley in 1980. Kim is a General Agent for Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual). Founded in 1851, MassMutual is a mutually owned financial protection, accumulation, and income management company headquartered in Springfield, MA. The company has over $363 billion assets under management at year-end 20081. Michel runs the Century City based firm with over 90 sales associates and 15 employees. A recipient of many awards and honors within her industry, Kim broke gender barriers becoming one of only three female General Agents in the country for her company. New thresholds were also reached when Kim was elected the first female President of the General Agent and Manager’s Association in 1995 and again as the first female President for the Los Angeles Insurance & Financial Advisors Association in 1999. In 2002, NAWBO, Los Angeles Chapter, elected Kim as a Hall of Fame Honoree, indicating successful female business leadership. In 2003 Kim was highlighted in the Los Angeles Business Journal under their Profiles of Excellence edition. Kim was a nominee for LA Business Journal’s “Women Making A Difference.” in 2005. The Century City Chamber of Commerce and Women’s Business Council bestowed the 2005 Woman of Achievement Award to Kim in 2005. The Santa Monica\/Westside YWCA honored Kim as their Woman of the Year in 2009. In 2010, Kim was the Honoree for the Lorraine Jackson Foundation Gala, “Pearls of Hope”. Active in many organizations, Kim enjoys being part of the Women’s Leadership Forum; Los Angeles Donor Circle; BTW – Big Thinking Women; EveryChild Foundation; Southern California Easter Seals Board of Directors; The Lorraine Jackson Foundation; YWCA Blue Ribbon Committee; MFG Women’s Advisory Board; MassMutual Mastermind Group; General Agents Advisory Committee. Her local firm, Michel Financial Group, has over 10,000 clients. A very significant philanthropic program her firm supports is LifeBridgesm , offered by MassMutual. This program provides free life insurance to qualifying parents or legal guardians to help provide a safety net if parent or guardian should die before eligible children complete their education. She has promoted this program to various Boys & Girls Clubs as well as Habitat for Humanity across Los Angeles. Her company currently has given away $ 2 billion in life insurance benefits. Michel’s corporate parent, MassMutual has given nearly $7 million in donations to the community. They are ranked among America’s “Most Admired Companies” in its industry category by Fortune magazine (March 16, 2009). Kim has been a perennial winner of MassMutual awards including, Highest Life Production in Brokerage years 1993, 1994, 1995; Frontline Manager of the Year 1996, 1997; MassMutual Bowl Winners 2001, 2002, 2003; Highest Overall Premium 2001, 2002, 2003Kim regards her recent diagnosis of malignant breast cancer and subsequent double mastectomy a private journey that should be made public. It is only with education, reinforcement and donations that breast cancer might be eradicated from our life. Throughout Kim’s chemotherapy, she believed in the phrase “live optimistically”. Her current diagnosis is excellent and she intends to actively promote awareness through continued support of organizations that support her common goals.(1 Assets under management include assets and certain external investment funds managed by our subsidiaries. All financial information is as of and for the year ended December 31, 2008.)