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GEICO Dedicates New Office in Lakeland; 2,000 Additional Jobs Expected

15 December 1999

GEICO Dedicates New Office in Lakeland; 2,000 Additional Jobs Expected

    LAKELAND, Fl., Dec. 14 -- GEICO, the sixth-largest private
auto insurer in the country, today officially dedicated its new $22.7 million
customer service center building in Lakeland, Fla. GEICO will add 2,000 new
jobs over the next several years to Central Florida's economy.
    The 297,000-square-foot building currently employs more than 1,200
associates and adds more than $25.6 million in annual payroll to the local and
state economy.
    "GEICO is expanding at an unprecedented rate, and Lakeland is an ideal
place for us to add the facilities we need to grow," said Tony Nicely,
president and CEO of GEICO. "This area has provided an abundance of good
associates and we are excited about hiring more people."
    The new facility handles sales, policy and claims service for new business
and policyholders in Florida.
    "As our number of policyholders grows beyond 4 million nationwide, we will
be hiring new associates to handle our telephone sales and service and support
our claims process," said Gary Brown, GEICO's assistant vice president of the
Lakeland office.
    Also attending the ceremony were Warren Buffett, chairman and CEO of
Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., the parent company of GEICO; Lakeland Mayor Buddy
Fletcher; and Florida State Senator Tom Lee.
    GEICO offers auto insurance coverage under GEICO and GEICO General for
preferred risk drivers; GEICO Indemnity for standard risk drivers; and GEICO
Casualty for non-standard risk drivers.
    GEICO uses television, radio, print media and direct mail to attract
customers to call its 1-800-841-3000 number, and keeps its rates low by
dealing directly with the customer. GEICO offers sales and claim services 24
hours a day, seven days a week, and is the largest direct marketer of auto
insurance. It insures more than 4 million policyholders and over 6 million
automobiles. For more information go to http://www.geico.com.
    GEICO (Government Employees Insurance Company) and its affiliates GEICO
General, GEICO Indemnity and GEICO Casualty companies insure private passenger
automobiles and provide homeowner and other types of insurance for qualified
applicants. The companies market collectively under the trademark GEICO
Direct.