AHIA Elects New Board of Directors
For Immediate Release
Contact: Caitlin Kubler 703/770-8251, CKubler@naifa.org
September 6, 2006
FALLS CHURCH, VA—The Association of Health Insurance Advisors (AHIA), the official health conference of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) elected a new slate of officers August 28, 2006, during the 16th Annual AHIA meeting in San Francisco, California.
The following leaders were elected to the 2006-2007 AHIA Board of Directors: Lawrence E. Lounds, CLU, ChFC, LUTCF as President, Thomas J. Vander Wal as President-Elect, Sam J. Cunningham, CLU, ChFC, RHU as Treasurer, and Robelynn H. Abadie, LUTCF, CSA, RFC as Secretary.
Mr. Lounds began his employee benefits career in 1966. He has been a charter AHIA member. Mr. Lounds has held all offices at the Flint and Michigan Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors including the 1987-88 President. He is currently Principal of Security First Insurance Agency and President of Security First Benefits Corporation in Flint, Michigan.
Mr. Vander Wal has been a NAIFA member for 24 years and a charter member of AHIA. With more than 42 years in the industry, he has established his own consulting company, focusing on the health care delivery system as well as specializing in all aspects of employer benefits.
Celebrating 35 years in the benefits business, Mr. Cunningham was AHIA's 1993-1994 president. He also served as president of the NAIFA Orange County Association and NAIFA California. Mr. Cunningham, along with his wife and partner, Debbie, is the co-founder and chairman of Cunningham Gwynn Financial and Insurance Services, Inc. They instruct basic and advanced benefits administration courses throughout the country.
Mrs. Abadie is the owner of Abadie Financial Services (AFS), an insurance and financial services agency specializing in corporate employee benefit plans. She is a Life and Qualifying member of the prestigious Million Dollar Round Table qualifying for the 2002 Top of the Table. She also was a founding member of the Women Life Underwriters Conference (WLUC) in 1979.
“Being President of AHIA for the past year has been an honor that I take pride in being apart of. I am confident that the incoming Board of Directors are well suited to lead AHIA to another successful year, “boasts Immediate Past President, Debra C. Newman, CLU, ChFC, LTCP.
In addition to selecting the new officers, meeting attendees had the pleasure of hearing keynote speaker, Dr. Paul Nussbaum talk of “Unlocking their Brain Power.” Dr. Nussbaum, a clinical neurophysiologist, provided the audience with specific actions that could fight off or delay neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s---including eating walnuts in their served salads.
For more information about AHIA, the Board of Directors, and AHIA advocacy efforts, please visit us on the web at, www.ahia.net
AHIA’s mission is to provide leadership in sustaining and improving the business environment for NAIFA Federation members marketing a broad range of health related products and services. AHIA takes a lead advocacy role on issues, which impact members involved in the sale of group and individual health related products including major medical, disability, long-term care, critical illness and Medicare supplement insurance.
The National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors comprise 800 state and local associations representing the business interests of 225,000 members and their employees nationwide. Its mission is to advocate for a positive legislative and regulatory environment, enhance business and professional skills, and promote the ethical conduct of its member agents and advisors.
