FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                             CONTACT: Ted Besesparis

October --, 2004                                                           PIA National (703) 518-1352

PIA and Learn.net to Offer Online Education to Insurance Professionals

WASHINGTON - The National Association of Professional Insurance Agents (PIA) is pleased to announce that it has teamed up with Learn.net, a leader in online education, to provide PIA state and regional affiliate associations the opportunity to offer continuing education (CE) and non-CE skills training courses through their association web sites.

Through the program, PIA affiliates will be able to offer up to 70 CE courses and over 2000 non-CE computer, business, and technical courses to both PIA members and non-members in their states.

"Participating PIA affiliates will be able to augment their existing educational programs, such as CIC and CISR, with top-flight online courses that are competitively priced," said PIA National President Terry Adams. "Utilizing this program, PIA affiliates can provide educational opportunities to additional segments of the insurance marketplace, expanding PIA's reputation as the education association."

"Learn.net and PIA National share the view that the insurance industry is a human-capital intensive business that must look for multiple ways to improve results and performance," said Larry Duckworth, President & CEO of Learn.net. "We are pleased that PIA National has chosen to work with us to take a powerful, high-ROI 'Train Smarter.Not Harder' message and solution to the insurance industry. It is consistent with PIA National's role as the education association for independent insurance agents."

Learn.net will provide integrated online Continuing Education (CE) courses and over 2000 on-line skills and agency procedures classes to participating PIA affiliates, members and non-members. Other PIA courses and documents will be added.

"For a variety of reasons, insurance professionals are increasingly turning to the Internet for their CE and other educational needs," added Duckworth. "Whether they're short on time or simply can't get out of the office to travel to physical training facilities when classes are held, online education enables them to get the education they need 24 hours a day, seven days a week, right at their desktop."

Learn.net offers PIA members a robust CE schedule of P&C and L&H classes, with new and topical classes added regularly. One low price of $35.95 for PIA members and $39.95 for non-members includes testing and fast CE filing, making this truly the most convenient and economical way for insurance professionals to satisfy their educational requirements while staying on top of their game.

"This strategic partnership with Learn.net is an exciting one for PIA National," said Len Brevik, executive vice president and CEO of PIA National. "We feel that improving the performance of insurance agencies' key asset - their people -- is a top priority. The quality of knowledge acquired by producers, CSR's and licensed employees in any agency is critical to the success of the agency. Learn.net provides knowledge that gives agencies 'the racer's edge' in today's highly competitive marketplace."

"Excellent results already being experienced by members of PIA of Georgia reflect the national potential of this strategic partnership," Brevik added. "Our analyses and the proven success in Georgia reflect the unique insurance industry knowledge leveraging capabilities of Learn.net."

Founded in 1931, PIA is a national trade association that represents member insurance agents and their employees who sell and service all kinds of insurance, but specialize in coverage of automobiles, homes and businesses. Visit PIA at www.PIANET.com.

Based in Atlanta, Learn.net provides the unique, proven "MAPLE" (Multi-Adaptive Performance Leveraging Environment) solution. The Java-based Web platform is based on workflow rules, and a meta-data architecture. This allows re-usability for all learning elements of the "Knowledge Life-cycle. It is the knowledge platform in multiple major corporations, including several major insurance carriers. Its benefits also apply to independent brokers and agencies that want to improve premiums and commissions, lower learning costs, and significantly improve management's control of results certainty. Numerous types of knowledge content are integrated and supplied, including Insurance CE content, over 2000 other on-line courses (e.g., Word, Excel, Diversity, Sexual Harassment and much more), and custom content. Learn.net can be contacted at 770-642-4400/4401 Fax, or at info@learn.net. The Web site is www.learn.net.