Jay Bradford Commissioner Arkansas Insurance Department
Jay Bradford was appointed Arkansas Insurance Commissioner on January 15, 2009, by Governor Mike Beebe. Bradford brings to the Department more than four decades of experience in the insurance industry, including thirty years as founder, chairman, and former shareholder of First Arkansas Insurance Group, a statewide network of independent property and casualty agencies. Customer service and consumer protection have been hallmarks of his career. Prior to his appointment, Commissioner Bradford served for two years as the Director of the Division of Behavioral Health Services within the Arkansas Department of Human Services. Commissioner Bradford served in the Arkansas Legislature for twenty-four years where he was chosen both Speaker Pro Tempore of the House and President Pro Tempore of the Senate. He also served as Chair of the Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee in both bodies. Some of the highlights of his service in the Arkansas Legislature include serving as chief sponsor of the Tobacco Settlement Funding Bill, legislation which resulted in Arkansas being the only state in the nation to mandate all the settlement monies be used for healthcare. He also served as lead Senate sponsor of breast care legislation which resulted in millions of dollars being made available for the prevention and treatment of breast cancer. He has achieved numerous honors and awards during his service to the citizens of Arkansas, including the 2006 Arkansas Business Executive of the Year and the 2005 Libertarian of the Year from the American Civil Liberties Union. He is active in various community and political affairs. A graduate of Subiaco Academy, Commissioner Bradford holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Psychology from Henderson State College and has also been recognized as a Distinguished Alumnus of that institution, now known as Henderson State University. He is a Certified Insurance Counselor (C.I.C.) and holds an Honorary Doctor of Science from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.
Karen Weldin Stewart Commissioner Delaware Department of Insurance
A native of Delaware, Karen Weldin Stewart’s roots in the state trace back to the 1600s. She was elected to a four-year term as Insurance Commissioner in 2008. After a successful career as a retail executive and entrepreneur, Commissioner Stewart first came to work for the Insurance Department as a Deputy Receiver in 1989. As the Deputy Receiver, Karen was responsible for 20 insurance receiverships as well as project manager and consultant on three additional receiverships. It is estimated that Karen saved the State of Delaware over 35 million dollars due to successful asset recoveries and claim settlements. In addition, Karen was responsible for the management of an estimated $7 billion in insurance company assets in claims reserves and for the settlement of tens of thousands of claims. Following her departure from the Insurance Department, Karen opened the Weldin Group, an insurance and reinsurance consulting company. In 1991, Commissioner Stewart co-founded International Association of Insurance Receivers (IAIR) and was elected three times as its president. She received the distinction of Certified Insurance Receiver – Multi Lines in 1995. Karen currently serves on IAIR’s Board of Directors. Formerly an Assistant to State Senator Harris B. McDowell, III, Karen was charged with preparing, editing, and securing sponsors for a number of pieces of legislation including the Single Payer Universal Health Care bill. Karen has held numerous other leadership positions. She sits on the Widener University advisory board. She previously served as President of the Claymont chapter of the Business and Professional Women Association and was the Chief of Staff to the majority whip of the Delaware State Senate. Karen remains active in her local community by serving on a number of boards including the board of the Peoples Settlement Association, which provides shelter, food, clothing, and daycare to low-income families, and the board of the Addictions Coalition of Delaware. She also serves on the Frank D. Vari Memorial and Scholarship fund and is a member of the A. Phillip Randolph Institute.
July 2009
Carol Cutter Commissioner Indiana Department of Insurance
Carol has spent more than 30 years in the insurance industry, with experience in both the Property/Casualty and Life/Health segments. She began her insurance career after attending Indiana University where she majored in English and Journalism. In the early years within the P&C segment, she worked for several agencies including Ramey-Mannan (now Rollins Burdick Hunter brokerage), the Daseke Agency, and the Fisk Landers agency, now a part of Gregory & Appel. Carol underwrote both personal and commercial lines of business and ultimately became an outside producer for the Cardinal Insurance Agency in Southport. Her experience in the Life and Health segment began as the marketing director for an MET product marketed in 10 states. Carol was then appointed as marketing director for Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Company (a UNUM company) to hire and train agents, and to manage a sales office for worksite products. She successfully served in this capacity for many years during which time her office received numerous awards on both an individual and agency basis. After leaving her manager position at Colonial, Carol began her own enrollment company providing benefit enrollment services for agents and brokers in employer groups for health, life, disability, and other supplemental plans. During that time she also sold and serviced her own block of small group and individual health customers. In 2005, following Governor Daniels’ appointment of Jim Atterholt as Commissioner of the Indiana Department of Insurance, Carol was asked to serve as Deputy Commissioner for Health Issues. In that role she oversaw the policy analysts that review and approve all accident & health product rate and form filings, and eliminated an 18 month backlog that existed when she accepted the position. In 2007, Commissioner Atterholt promoted Carol to Chief Deputy Commissioner for Health and Legislative Affairs. Her duties in this position include oversight of the policy analysts for all product lines including P&C, responsibility for the Indiana Long Term Care Partnership Program, supervision of the SHIP Director and that program that provides assistance to Medicare beneficiaries, served as the IDOI representative for Governor Daniels’ HIP plan, and for several other Committees where the Department has a seat. In addition, she represents the agency in all legislative affairs with the Indiana General Assembly.
John M. Huff Director Missouri Department of Insurance
Mr. Huff has 16 years of leadership experience in the insurance industry and in dispute resolution. For the past 10 years, he has worked in positions of increasing responsibility with global leaders in the insurance industry. Mr. Huff, 48, joined Swiss Re, one of the world's leading reinsurance companies, as a managing director and strategic claims officer in the United States in June 2006. In that position, he managed some of most challenging matters within the company's strategic and emerging claims portfolio. In July 2008, Mr. Huff was promoted to the position of global head of key case management and moved to the Swiss Re's global headquarters in Zurich, to oversee some of the company’s most complex issues in dispute. Prior to joining Swiss Re, Mr. Huff was a global claims leader for GE Insurance Solutions from 1998 to 2006. From 2002 to 2004, he led GE Frankona's property claims teams throughout the European and Asian markets. Mr. Huff began his career as an associate, and later as a partner, with Field, Gentry & Benjamin, P.C., an insurance practice in Kansas City, Mo., from 1992 to 1998. Mr. Huff earned his bachelor's in business administration at Southeast Missouri State University. In May 1987, he earned an MBA at St. Louis University, and he graduated from the Washington University School of Law with a juris doctorate in May 1990.
Monican Lindeen Commissioner Montana Department of Insurance
Monica Lindeen was elected Commissioner of Securities and Insurance, Montana State Auditor in November 2008. Whether it’s protecting consumers, advancing the Insure Montana program to help small businesses, promoting wellness and preventative health care, or harnessing technology to improve health care, Monica is working hard to make a difference in the lives of Montana families. In 1999, Monica was elected to serve the people of Montana in the State House of Representatives. Because of her hard work in the Montana legislature, she quickly became a leader and has served four terms (1999-2006). She developed a reputation as a common sense moderate who knows how to get things done for Montana. Monica is respected for her ability to put principles before politics and work together with her colleagues on key economic development policies, such as a successful workforce training program, an economic development trust fund, and other advancements that help Montana working families and businesses. Prior to public service, Monica helped build a highly successful internet business, Montana Communications Network (MCN), one of the first Montana-based, local internet providers in the high-tech industry. From 1994 to 1996, she was a part-time faculty member in the MSU-Billings English Department and taught simultaneously as a graduate assistant in the Department of Educational Foundations. Monica received a BSED in English/History and completed graduate coursework in the educational foundations field from MSU-Billings.
Scott J. Kipper Commissioner Nevada Department of Insurance
Nevada Department of Business & Industry Director Dianne Cornwall announced the appointment of Scott J. Kipper as the new Commissioner of the Division of Insurance on Dec. 29, 2008. He previously served as the Oregon Insurance Administrator from Dec. 2007 until his appointment. Prior to coming to Oregon, Kipper served as the deputy commissioner in charge of the Office of Health Insurance for the Louisiana Department of Insurance for over two years, where he led the development and implementation of emergency rules following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Kipper worked as the senior regional director for the Health Insurance Association of America and America’s Health Insurance Plans from January 2001 through August 2005, where he directed legislative and regulatory efforts in a number of states, including Oregon, California, Texas and Colorado. He spent two years on the staff of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in Washington, D.C. as a health analyst, working on senior health insurance issues. Kipper began his regulatory career at the Wyoming Department of Insurance, serving nearly five years as a life and health insurance standards consultant, including form filing review, consumer liaison and legislative duties. He started his insurance career as an independent life and health agent in Laramie, Wyoming, in 1985. Kipper graduated from the University of Wyoming with a degree in business administration. .
Neil Jasey Commissioner New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance
Governor Jon Corzine named Neil Jasey Commissioner, New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance on July 17, 2009. He was employed by Prudential Insurance Company of America for nearly 30 years, beginning in 1975, including service as Vice President and General Counsel for Prudential Property and Casualty Company from 1986 to 1990. He also served Prudential as Vice President Enterprise Planning, running the strategic planning process and conducting research for new business development. He completed his Prudential career as Vice President and Deputy General Counsel. His many accomplishments include leading the largest section of Prudential’s corporate law department with 280 employees and a total budget of $68 million. He was the co-leader of the insurance negotiating team on the Mutual Benefit Life workout. Jasey serves his community as President of the Board of Trustees for Family Connections, Inc., a mental health and social service organization that services lowincome families in Northern New Jersey. He is also the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Cristo Rey Model high school in Newark which is supported by various corporate sponsors, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Newark Archdiocese. The school, which opened in August 2007, serves low income and minority youth. His legal career began as an associate in private practice in New York. He was admitted to the practice of law in 1974 in New York and New Jersey. He earned a J.D. at Columbia University in 1973. Prior to that, he earned his A.B. in Political Science at Princeton University in 1970 where he graduated magna cum laude.
Kermitt Brooks Acting Superintendent New York State Insurance Department
Kermitt J. Brooks became Acting Superintendent of the New York State Insurance Department on July 4, 2009. Previously he served as First Deputy Superintendent of the Department. As First Deputy, Brooks was the second in command of the Department, overseeing the functions handled by the Deputy Superintendents of the Department as well as the operations of the agency. In addition, he directly supervised the Life Insurance Bureau. Mr. Brooks served for almost eight years in the office of the New York State Attorney General, joining as Chief of the Claims Bureau in 1999. From 2002 until January 2007, Mr. Brooks served as Deputy Attorney General for Operations, with responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the 2,000-employee agency, which has a $220 million budget and 33 offices across the state. In addition to administering the Attorney General’s office, Mr. Brooks led the investigation into employee benefit insurance, which resulted in settlements with the nation’s largest group disability and insurance carriers and forced a major group insurance broker to refund to clients undisclosed payment made to brokers. Before joining the Attorney General’s Office, Mr. Brooks served as Counsel in the law department at Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in 1998, and as an Associate in the commercial litigation group at Nixon, Peabody LLP from 1989 to 1998. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in international relations from the James Madison College at Michigan State University in 1986. He earned his law degree in 1989 from the University of Michigan, School of Law, where he was a contributing editor to the Michigan Law Review.
July 2009
Wayne Goodwin Commissioner North Carolina Department of Insurance
Wayne Goodwin was first elected as North Carolina’s Insurance Commissioner in 2008. He previously served as the Assistant Insurance Commissioner for four years. As Insurance Commissioner, Goodwin will focus on consumer advocacy through fair rate making, injury prevention efforts and close regulation of insurance company solvency and industry practices. Goodwin is the newest member to the Council of State, made up of the 10 statewide elected officials. Goodwin also serves as the State Fire Marshal. He serves as the state chair of the Safe Kids North Carolina, the Arson Awareness Council and is a member of numerous commissions and boards. Goodwin is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with honors in Political Science. He went on to graduate from the UNC School of Law and practiced law in Richmond County for 13 years. He is a native of Hamlet, N.C., where his family was active in agriculture and banking.
July 2009
Teresa Miller Administrator Oregon Insurance Division
Teresa Miller, an attorney and former legislative director for Oregon’s governor, became administrator of the Oregon Insurance Division on July 1, 2009. Her background combines consumer protection and legislative experience. A graduate of Willamette University College of Law in Salem, Teresa spent the first seven years of her career as a lobbyist for clients that included Portland General Electric. She then worked two years as Governor Ted Kulongoski’s legislative director, playing a key role in developing his legislative agenda and working with legislators and stakeholders. In that role, she also became familiar with the Insurance Division and its parent agency, the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services. After handling consumer protection cases for the Oregon Department of Justice, Teresa came to the Insurance Division as deputy administrator in July 2008 and was appointed acting administrator November 1. Her hobbies include running, hiking, bicycling, and she brings this energy to her job at the Insurance Division.
Ramón Cruz-Colón, CPCU, ARe, AU Commissioner Puerto Rico Department of Insurance
Mr. Ramón Cruz-Colón, CPCU, ARe, AU, holds a Bachelor’s Degree, in Education, with a major in Mathematics and Physics from the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras campus, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. During the years 1980 until 1984, Mr. Cruz-Colón worked as Director of the Planning, Evaluation, and Research Division of the Institute for the Development of Personnel in the Public Sector, developing annual plans for employee training, and evaluations to measure the effectiveness of the various training programs. From 1984 to 1989, Mr. Cruz-Colón worked at the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance, under the administration of Mr. Juan Antonio García, former Insurance Commissioner, where he held many positions, beginning as an Actuary and shortly becoming the Director of the Consumer Services Division, Aide to the Commissioner, and Chief Deputy Commissioner. During the years 1989 to 1996, he worked as Operations Manager, Human Resources Manager and Allied Lines Department Manager at Federal Insurance Company. Moreover, from 1997 to 2001, Mr. Cruz-Colón returned to the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance of Puerto Rico, where he worked as Deputy Commissioner of Insurance, substituting the Commissioner whenever he was out of the office in official matters, analyzing new insurance legislation, and coordinating a series of internal projects, including the office’s budget, claims management, internal and external consultations, among other internal issues. In addition, in 1999, he participated at the NAIC Advanced Commissioners Education Program. In 2001, Mr. Cruz-Colón joined National Insurance Company as Senior Vicepresident of Internal Operations. Shortly after, he became Corporate Secretary, Executive Vicepresident, President, and CEO of said company, also working as President of National Life. In 2008, he worked as president of Carlos M. Benítez, Inc., general agent. Furthermore, Mr. Cruz-Colón possesses three insurance designations which are the following: “Associate in Resinsurance” (ARe), “Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter” (CPCU), and “Associate in Underwriting” (AU). He has also served as a coach for the courses of the American Institute for Property and Casualty Underwriters and of the Insurance Institute of America, and as a lecturer and consultant for numerous courses and conferences. He has also received several awards including Teacher of the year in 1979 and Outstanding Employee of the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance, in 1986. In January of 2009, Mr. Cruz-Colón was appointed Commissioner of Insurance by Governor Luis Fortuño.