NAIFA’s Committee on Governance has nominated Douglas B. Massey, LUTCF, FSS, Owner of Doug Massey Financial Services in San Angelo, TX, to be the 2023 NAIFA Secretary. A current member of NAIFA’s Board of Trustees, Massey has been a loyal NAIFA member since 1987. As incoming Secretary, Massey will be in line to serve as President-Elect in 2024 and President in 2025.
The Committee has also nominated two members to serve two-year terms on the NAIFA Board of Trustees. The nominees are Brian J. Haney, CLTC, CFS, CIS, CFBS, LACP, CAE, Founder and CEO of the Haney Company in Silver Spring, MD, a loyal member since 2013, and Carina Hatfield, LUTCF, CLCS, LACP, Owner of Weigner Insurance & Financial Services Inc. in Pottstown, PA, a loyal member since 2005. Under the respective leadership of Haney and Hatfield, The Haney Company and Weigner Insurance & Financial Services are both participants in NAIFA’s 100% Agency program.
Two members of the 2022 Board whose terms are expiring have been nominated to serve additional one-year terms. They are Aprilyn Chavez Geissler, LACP, First Executive Vice President with Gateway Financial Advisors in Albuquerque, NM, a loyal member since 2005, and Dennis Cuccinelli, LACP, an Independent Financial Representative in Edison, NJ, a loyal member since 1986. Geissler has served the organization in a myriad of ways including being a past national Diversity Champion, and Cuccinelli has served the association for multiple years as national Membership Chair.
Bryon A. Holz, CLU, ChFC, LUTCF, CASL, LACP, President of Bryon Holz & Associates in Brandon, FL, and a loyal member since 1987, will serve as NAIFA’s 2023 President. Thomas M. Cothron, LUTCF, FSCP, Agency Manager at Southern Farm Bureau Insurance in Ocala, FL, a loyal member since 1981, will be the 2023 President-Elect. Both Holz and Cothron have served the association in multiple roles including national Trustee, state President, and specialty committee roles throughout their leadership tenure.
Brock T. Jolly, CFP, CLU, LACP, ChFC, CLTC, CASL, RICP, Partner at Veritas Financial LLC/MassMutual and Financial Group in McLean, VA, a loyal member since 2001, is nominated to continue to serve as NAIFA’s Treasurer. Lawrence J. Holzberg, LUTCF, LACP, Director of Insurance and Advance Sales, at Fortis Lux Financial, in Melville, NY, a loyal member since 1990, will serve as Immediate Past President.
Continuing their current terms as members of the Board of Trustees in 2023 are Mark Acre, LUTCF, CEO of OneSource Insurance Group in Ozark, MO, a loyal member since 2009; Christopher L. Gandy, LACP, Founder of Midwest Legacy Group (OneAmerica) in Lisle, IL, a loyal member since 2003; Evelyn Gellar, LUTCF, RICP, CLTC, FSCP, CDFA, Managing Director of Forest Hills Financial Group (Guardian Life) in Melville, NY, a loyal member since 1993; Winona Havir, CPCU, CLF, LUTCF, FSS, AIC, LACP, Executive Vice President of Business Development with Educators Insurance Resources Services, Inc. (Horace Mann) in Stillwater, MN, a loyal member since 1997; and Danny O’Connell, LACP, CEO of Next Level Insurance Agency in Addison, TX, a loyal member since 2008.
The nominees will stand for election during NAIFA’s annual business meeting at the National Leadership Conference (NLC). The NLC and Belong awards celebration will be held November 13-15 at the historic Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. Following the association’s business meeting, all Trustees and state presidents will be sworn into office with an awards dinner to follow.
The NAIFA Governance Committee consists of 12 NAIFA members and is chaired by NAIFA Past President Cammie Scott, MSIE, ChHC, CLTC, LUTCF, REBC, RHU, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, President of CK Harp & Associates in Springdale, AR, a loyal member since 1998.
“The Governance Committee considered a strong slate of applicants for the NAIFA Secretary and Board of Trustee positions, and we settled on a group of candidates who bring passion, energy, intelligence, and a dedication to service that will lead NAIFA to continued success as we enter year three of the NAIFA 2025 Strategic Plan,” Scott said. “This group, along with returning board members, incoming President Bryon Holz, and President-Elect Tom Cothron, will continue to lead NAIFA’s modernization and delivery of a high-quality membership experience.”
NAIFA members interested in serving as volunteer association leaders should contact their local or state chapters to explore leadership opportunities.