Congratulations to NAIFA member Maureen Kirschhofer who won the W. Harold Petersen Lifetime Achievement Award for this year at the International DI Society Conference.

Kirschhofer began her working career as an art teacher in Buffalo, NY, after completing her BFA at the University of Rochester and her MS in art education at the State University College at Buffalo. She began her insurance career as an agent for the Paul Revere Company in November 1981.  She became a NAIFA (then NALU) member in 1983 and she was selected as the Rookie of the Year by the Buffalo ALU (now NAIFA Buffalo). There she served as health committee chairman until her move to the Jacksonville area in 1985.

On a local level, she moved through the chairs of the Jacksonville Association of Life Underwriters (NAIFA Jacksonville) and as membership chairperson had the largest membership in Florida in 1989, placing second on the national level. With Kirschhofer serving as president, the organization achieved the 5 Star award, the first one ever received in Florida. She currently serves as the national committee person for NAIFA Jacksonville.

The W. Harold Petersen Lifetime Achievement Award is open to the individual who has demonstrated dedication to their field of expertise in Disability Insurance, exhibits leadership in her professional life, and most importantly has made a distinctive contribution to the Disability Insurance Industry, and has practiced their profession to the highest ethical standards attainable. Unselfish voluntary service is also a consideration in the Awards process. A commitment and dedication to the furthering of the mission of the International DI Society may also be a consideration in the selection of your candidate.

Kirschhofer has shown the exempt qualities required to be chosen for this award and it shows how well the International DI Society’s financial security alliance partnership with NAIFA is going. In fact, NAIFA Senior Vice President for Government Relations, Diane Boyle, gave an advocacy update at the International DI Society conference. NAIFA is making sure to be transparent and ensure quality change with its advocacy program and this update provided insight into the current events.

Congratulations to Kirschhofer for winning the International DI Society’s award, we are proud to call you one of our own.