Cary, N.C. - Doug Cowles, President and CEO of HMI, announced that Teed Insurance Services (TIS) has expanded coverage options for HMI's Authorized Members (AMs) who are providing the treeShield^® Warranty to their clients. treeShield^® provides the professional tree care companies in HMI's AM network with a low-cost way to warranty their clients' trees against storm damage. treeShield^® was designed to cover an AM's cost to remove or repair any of their client's trees if they are damaged or destroyed by a severe weather event. TIS has developed an insurance policy that reimburses all of the AM's costs associated with treeShield^® claims. It represents the first insurance-backed warranty of its kind in the industry and an important new level of service for the industry's market leaders.

"We couldn't be more pleased that TIS was able to expand the size and types of properties our AMs can warranty, as well as the amount of the warranty they can offer," said Cowles. "From the first day we launched treeShield^®, our AMs have been asking for enhanced coverage options so they can offer the warranty to their best clients, who often have a large number of trees. Being able to extend the Warranty on properties with up to 600 large trees and with increased warranty levels represents a tremendous market opportunity for our Members. Just as important is the fact that TIS now offers the same coverage on all property types, including residential, commercial and municipal."

"I don't take anything for granted in this market, certainly not when it comes to my best clients," said Mike Gaines, President of CW Arborists, a premier tree care company serving the eastern end of Long Island. "The moment I heard about the treeShield^® Warranty I knew that it was something I could provide to my customers that would solidify my company's relationship with them. With these new options I will be able to now extend the warranty to some of my largest residential and commercial clients. It's a substantial improvement to an already valuable new offering."

Through its AM Network HMI represents the only national provider of comprehensive tree and landscaping services for the insurance industry. The company's services include emergency tree removals, standardized health inspections and average replacement cost analysis of trees. HMI currently receives insurance referrals from over 40 large insurance companies and independent adjusters. All referrals are qualified by HMI and provided to Network members. In addition, the treeShield^® Warranty program is only available through AMs in HMI's Network. For more information, please visit HMI's web site www.HMIadvantage.com or call (866) 937-6468.

CW Arborists, Ltd., based in Sagaponack, NY, is a highly specialized tree care provider. Our services include health care and diagnostics, maintenance and corrective pruning, and arboricultural consulting. Our passion for the environment is matched only by our commitment to superior customer service. Our mission is to provide the maintenance and preventative measures your trees need to have healthy, long-lasting lives. For more information, please visit the CW Arborists web site at www.CWArborists.com.

Teed Insurance Services, LLC began operations on Arbor Day 2010 to develop insurance solutions that support innovative new tree programs like HMI's treeShield® warranty. Owner, David J Teed CIC, a 26 year Insurance professional, is a pioneer in the area of insuring living plant material. Teed worked closely with HMI and its Authorized Members to develop insurance coverage to match the treeShield® warranty language. For more information, please visit the Teed Insurance Services web site at www.TeedInsurance.com.

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