The American Academy of Actuaries recognized six outstanding members of the profession at its annual meeting in Washington, DC last week. The Academy also installed its new president and three regular directors, who were elected in October.
Ronald Gresch, senior health actuary at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, received the Academy’s Robert J. Myers Public Service Award in recognition of his contributions to the public good through his more than 30 years of public service. In addition to the work he does in support of the benefit programs upon which millions of public employees rely, Gresch has been widely acknowledged as a source of insight for colleagues working on a wide range of healthcare-related issues, including those associated with Social Security and the Affordable Care Act.
Stephen Kellison received the Academy’s Jarvis Farley Service Award. Kellison’s involvement with the Academy dates back to 1976, when he first served as an Executive Director. He has also served as chairperson of the Academy’s Actuarial Standards Board, vice chairperson for operations and finance, and on various practice councils covering pension, life, and risk management issues.
The Academy recognized four individuals with its Award for Outstanding Volunteerism:
- David Neve, chief actuary for Des Moines, IA-based Accordia Life and Annuity, was given his award in recognition for his leadership of the principle-based reserves initiative of the Academy’s Life Practice Council, which has led to PBR being actively considered by multiple state legislatures.
- Donna Novak, president and CEO of Sahuarita, AZ-based NovaRest Inc., was honored for her work as a leader of the Academy’s Health Practice Council—which has produced valuable work related to solvency and health risk-based capital, medical loss ratio requirements and risk-sharing mechanisms
- related to provisions in the Affordable Care Act, and the development of the new actuarial standard of practice No. 8.
- Bob Rietz, who recently joined Deloitte was recognized for his contributions to Academy publications on professionalism and discipline issues, including the newly expanded annual report of the Actuarial Board for Counseling and Discipline, where he serves as chairperson.
Stephen Strommen, who founded Glendale, WI-based software solutions provider Blufftop LLC after a 28-year actuarial career at Northwest Mutual, was honored for his work on the application of discount rates in insurance accounting—as well as for his history of service to the Academy, which includes his current leadership of the Insurance Accounting Standards Task Force.
The Academy installed Mary D. Miller, a consulting actuary with Farmington, CT-based Risk & Regulatory Consulting LLC, as president. Miller, the 2011 recipient of the Academy’s Robert J. Myers Award for Public Service, previously served as a regular director on the Academy’s Board, as vice president of the Casualty Practice Council, and as co-chairperson of the Financial Soundness and Risk Management Committee.
The three new regular directors of the Academy are:
- Rich Daillak, vice president and actuary of Swiss Re America Holding Corporation
- Joeff Williams, a consulting actuary for Actuarial Management Resources Inc. in Winston-Salem, N.C., for
- Mike Angelina, executive director of the Academy of Risk Management and Insurance within the Erivan K. Haub School of Business of Saint Joseph’s University
