NAIFA 2021 President Thomas O. Michel has announced the appointment of Christopher L. Gandy, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Midwest Legacy Group (OneAmerica) in Lisle, IL, to serve on the 2021 NAIFA Board of Trustees.

Gandy, who currently serves as the President of NAIFA’s Chicagoland chapter, has been a NAIFA member since 2003 and brings a wealth of experience to the Board. He entered the insurance and financial services industry in 1999 after playing professional basketball for the Chicago Bulls and the San Antonio Spurs as well as in L’Hermaine, France.

“I look forward to Chris joining our board,” said Michel. “He has been a leader in this industry for 20 years. To steal a line from his previous profession, he has been a success ‘on and off the court’ as he has contributed to his community in numerous ways as well as being an active NAIFA member and leader. Chris will bring a thinking-outside-the-box mentality to the Board, and you can’t help but be embraced by his passion.”

Gandy serves on NAIFA’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force and is a member of the NAIFA 2025 Strategic Planning Committee. He is a highly sought after speaker for industry events and has been featured in such publications as Advisors Magazine, GQ, and InsuranceNewsNet.

“Chris’s presence will help elevate our already stalwart board as we implement our new 2025 strategy and continue the growth that we have seen the last couple of years,” Michel added. “Chris knows what today’s advisor is looking for, and he can continue to help us build out our educational platforms. He has helped elevate numerous professionals in his agencies and this type of leadership is perfect for our national Board of Trustees. What I like about our NAIFA leadership and members is that sense of caring that is so evident in our industry, and Chris has exhibited that ‘care’ throughout his career.”

In addition to his professional success and NAIFA leadership, Gandy is an active volunteer in his community. He serves on the Board of the Chicago Concussion Coalition, which strives to make amateur sports safer for children, and on the Board of Directors of the Urban League. He is part of the United Way’s Young Community Leaders and volunteers for the Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization.