Leaders Blog

The State of NAIFA is a quarterly update by NAIFA leaders for members, media, and other interested stakeholders. It provides information about NAIFA programs and events, progress toward meeting our strategic goals, and an advocacy update. If you missed the State of NAIFA or would like to share it with others, it is available in the on-demand archive.

NAIFA President Bryon Holz and CEO Kevin Mayeux discussed the latest on three iconic brands - NAIFA, Life Happens, and the Society of FSP - coming together to better serve our members, the industry, and consumers. NAIFA SVP of Government Relations Diane Boyle gave an update on the Department of Labor's latest fiduciary proposal and President-Elect Tom Cothron laid out NAIFA's plans for 2024.

NAIFA has announced the 2023 recipients of several national awards and will honor the recipients at the National Leadership Conference and Belong awards celebration in Washington, D.C., on December 4.

The State of NAIFA, our quarterly association update, provides information on NAIFA's progress toward achieving strategic goals, updates ongoing and upcoming programming, and an advocacy briefing. In short, it provides information NAIFA leaders need to keep themselves and the members in their chapters informed.

Every NAIFA leader should plan to attend the National Leadership Conference and Belong awards celebration, December 3-5, in Washington, D.C. The event recognizes our leaders and gives you a chance to share your ideas with your peers from around the country. You also want to be there to:

December 3-5, 2023 | Washington, D.C.

As a NAIFA leader, you don't want to miss the National Leadership Conference and Belong awards celebration. NLC/Belong not only gives back to our leaders by recognizing the great work you do, but it also gives every leader an opportunity to share ideas and learn more about what's going on within NAIFA.

December 3-5, 2023 | Washington, D.C.

Every NAIFA leader needs to have the National Leadership Conference and Belong awards celebration marked on their calendars. This is an important event every leader should attend. It not only gives back to our leaders by recognizing the great work they do, but it also gives leaders an opportunity to share ideas and learn more about what's going on within NAIFA.

NAIFA's National Leadership Conference (NLC) and Belong awards celebration will be December 3-5, 2023, at the Renaissance Downtown Hotel, Washington, D.C. Registration is now open. The NLC brings our chapter and national leaders together to ensure everyone is on the same page when it comes to growing membership, amplifying NAIFA’s brand, and building a stronger membership experience in 2024.

September is Life Insurance Awareness Month, and NAIFA will be going all out to promote this important campaign. But in addition to LIAM, the calendar for September contains a full slate of recognition days that honor worthy causes and people. NAIFA regularly posts commemorations of these days on our national social media channels and those of the chapters who have given us access to their accounts. This helps promote the NAIFA brand and honors some truly worthy causes. In September, watch for NAIFA social media posts on:

We would like to recognize the following leaders for their participation in April Grassroots regional meetings during the second quarter of 2023! Be sure that your state attends our leadership calls to obtain the most current information. In order to accommodate schedules, leaders have the option to participate in one of three calls each month. Thanks to the chapters who were active participants in Q2. #NAIFAproud

California: Peter Buechler
Colorado: Katelyn Dain, Randy Ball
Idaho: Guy Stubbs, Garth Hassel, Emmalee Robison 
Illinois: Dennis Dean 
Iowa: Barry Delp
Kansas: Mike Holmes
Michigan: Kay Harless
Mississippi: Lee Owen
Missouri: Craig Wright
Montana: Dan Rust 
Nebraska: Mike Struebring, Michael Herring
Nevada: Neal Waters
New Mexico: Lynda Turner 
North Dakota: Kim Albert 
Oklahoma: Charlie Potts
Oregon: Kym Housley
Texas: John Wheeler, Jason Talley
Virginia: Tim Westerman

We would like to recognize the following leaders for their participation in IFAPAC regional meetings during the second quarter of 2023! Be sure that your state attends our monthly calls to obtain the most current information. In order to accommodate schedules, leaders have the option to participate in one of three calls each month. Thanks to the chapters who were active participants in Q2. #NAIFAproud

Alabama: Jay Stubbs
Alaska: Andra Holmstrom
California: Michael Mares, John Nilmeier, Louis Brownstone, Alvin Parra
Delaware: Tony McDonald
Florida: Tom Henry, Scott Bunkers, Tom Ashley, Joseph Chalom, Scott Bunkers
Georgia: Debby Evans
Hawaii: Cynthia Takenaka
Idaho: Guy Stubbs
Illinois: Sara Decatoire, Dennis Dean
Indiana: Jim Hardee
Iowa: Barry Johnson, Wendy Speckerman, Craig Adamson, John Raley
Maine: Lisa Laliberte
Massachusetts: Mike Elcock, Mark Male, Connell Tarr, Joshua O'Gara
Michigan: Kay Harless
Minnesota: Corey Anderson
Mississippi: Priscilla King, Demetrius Bryant
Missouri: Benjamin LeCroy
Nebraska: Todd Gaswick, Joe Pittmann
Nevada: Jarod Morgan
New Jersey: Kris Dickson, Dan Irizarry, Dennis Cuccinelli
New Mexico: Edward Dunn, Lynda Turner
New York: David Schnall
North Carolina: Janice Stevens, Elie Aharon
Oklahoma: Dick Porter
Oregon: Paul Hagemann
South Dakota: Jennifer Soma
Texas: Bianca Alonso Weiss, John Wheeler, Joey Ussery
Utah: Tim Johnson
Virginia: Elizabeth Pate, Andrew Holt, Stephanie Sheridan, Cody Schoonover
Wisconsin: Laura DeGolier