Evelyn Gellar, senior vice president at Empire Wealth Strategies, a Penn Mutual New York agency, was elected president of the Women in Insurance and Financial Services. WIFS is the only association within the insurance and financial services industry devoted to promoting the advancement of women.

“We’re honored to have someone like Evelyn as part of our Penn Mutual family,” says Eileen McDonnell, Chairman and CEO of Penn Mutual. “Her dedication to mentoring other women and encouraging the success of others is admirable and contagious. I’m excited for her new role as president of WIFS and believe this is a great opportunity for her and the organization as a whole.”

“The WIFS community is dedicated to attracting, developing and advancing women in our field,” says Gellar. “It’s an honor to have been elected president of this inspiring organization, and I can’t wait to witness not only the growth of our membership this year, but also the great things our members will accomplish in this industry.”

Penn Mutual has been a longtime advocate for women in business and is also part of the WIFS Partner for Excellence program. Gellar’s commitment to providing mentorship, resources and a network for females supports Penn Mutual’s overall goal for equality across the industry.

Headquartered in Albany, New York, WIFS serves more than 1,200 members and local chapters throughout the country. Members have access to programs and services that facilitate peer connection and professional development. The association recently formed a partnership with NAIFA to strengthen professional development, political advocacy and diversity programs.