text: Meanwhile,  in midtown Manhattan, The 
  
  Hartford’s negotiations for permanent offices—a 
  
  process that normally takes 12 to 15 months—were 
  
  complete. 
  
  The feverish pace was in some ways therapeutic. 
  
  It helped take people’s minds off the tragedy and the 
  
  monumental loss of life, including the lives of many 
  
  good friends and business colleagues at Aon, Marsh & 
  
  McLennan, Bank of America and Morgan Stanley—major 
  
  partners of The Hartford with ofﬁces in the Twin Towers. 
  
  Like many Americans watching the heroism of 
  
  ﬁreﬁghters, police and emergency crews, thousands of 
  
  our employees asked, “How can we help?” Fortunately, 
  
  they found ways. Lots of them. Employees crowded 
  
  into bloodmobiles  and dropped  food  and 
  
  supplies into overﬂowing bins. With the company’s 
  
  match, employees also donated more than $700,000 to 
  
  relief efforts, and The Hartford provided a special tele- 
  
  phone hotline for employees who needed counseling. 
  
  “Focused resolve” is how New York-based 
  
  Regional Vice President Brandon Hickey characterizes 
  
  The Hartford’s response. “It solidiﬁed in my mind how 