Leaders Blog

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

Recognizing the best in the insurance and financial services industry, the NAIFA Quality Award is now accepting applications through August 31, 2023.

The NAIFA Quality Award recognizes the best of the best in our industry. It celebrates outstanding advisors and agents who provide quality care, adhere to ethical standards, and is not solely based on annual production numbers. The NQA is open to all agents and advisors to apply, however, only active NAIFA members are eligible to be recognized.

Join Talent Development Center partner, Advisorist, for their Virtual Standout Summit this Thursday, March 30, from 9 am to 5 pm eastern. This all-day, live event will feature some of the industry's top names—including several from NAIFA Nation—to help you learn industry tips, secrets, and techniques to help you get more clients, more leads, and more income.

"It is with deeply saddened hearts that we say goodbye to our Father and Husband, Terry K. Headley in Melbourne Beach, Florida on March 18, 2023. Terry's passion was IFAPAC, and Terry would want any memorials directed to IFAPAC. Terry and I treasured all the support and friendships over the years. Thank You. There will be a Private Family Remembrance of Terry in Florida."

-- Wynetta Headley and Family

NAIFA is sad to inform our members, partners, and friends that NAIFA Past President Terry K. Headley, LUTCF, FSS, LIC, passed away March 18, in Melbourne Beach, Florida. A loyal NAIFA member since 1974, Terry was a legend in the insurance and financial services industry. He was the Founder and President of Headley Financial Group in LaVista, Nebraska.

Did you know? NAIFA has press release templates you can customize to send to your local news media outlet. As an example, see the great work by NAIFA-IL placing a press release announcing new chapter President Dennis M. Dean, CLU, LUTCF, in Chicago's Daily Herald last week. We encourage all NAIFA chapters to use these templates to announce new chapter leadership, award winners, your legislative day, and more. 

Many NAIFA leaders already know NAIFA 2023 President Bryon Holz, CLU, ChFC, LUTCF, CASL, LACP, President of Bryon Holz & Associates in Brandon, FL. He's been a loyal NAIFA member since 1987 and an active leader for nearly as long. He served on NAIFA’s national Board of Trustees from 2015 to 2019 and was a member of the NAIFA 2025 Strategic Planning Committee. He has served on NAIFA's Executive Committee since his selection as Secretary in 2021. He's spoken at numerous NAIFA national and chapter events around the country.