IRES Awards & Recognitions

In 1998, the IRES Board of Directors established the Al Greer Achievement Award in honor of Al Greer. Mr. Greer was one of the original state insurance examiners who had the vision to establish the Insurance Regulatory Examiners Society in the late 1980s. As a founding father of IRES, Mr. Greer helped fashion the mission of IRES, namely, to raise insurance regulation to a highly respected profession marked by technical proficiency and ethical behavior. He went on to serve on its Board of Directors and was later elected treasurer and was always willing to help wherever he was needed. The Al Greer Achievement Award is presented annually to an insurance regulator and IRES member who not only embodies the dedication, knowledge, and tenacity of a professional regulator but who exceeds those standards. Mr. Greer himself was the first recipient of this award in 1997.

Candidates for the Al Greer Award must be insurance regulators who not only embody the dedication, knowledge and tenacity of a professional regulator, but also exceed those standards.

In addition, a nominee must:

Have at least ten years of regulatory experience
Have at least five years as an IRES general member
Be a current general member of IRES and
Is not currently serving on the IRES Board of Directors

All submissions must be received by May 26 of current year.

Past Award Recipients

Jim Mealer, 2024
Tanya Sherman, 2023
Randy Helder, 2022
Sam Binnun, 2021
Chlora Lindley-Myers, 2020
John Haworth, 2019
Mary Mealer, 2018
Andrea Baytop, 2017
Anne Marie Narcini, 2016
Sue Ezalarab, 2015
Jo LeDuc, 2014
William (Bill) McCune, 2013
Don Carbone, 2012
Eric Nordman, 2011

Nomination Form

Candidates for the Al Greer Achievement Award must be insurance regulators who not only embody the dedication, knowledge and tenacity of a professional regulator, but also exceed those standards. In addition, a nominee must:

Have at least ten years of regulatory experience
Have at least five years as an IRES general member
Be a current General member of IRES and
Is not currently serving on the IRES Board of Directors

Nomination Letter

Provide a brief letter of nomination and upload the document below.

Cynthia Amann, 2010
Luther Ellis, 2009
Ron Musser, 2008
Bruce Ramge, 2007
Lynette A. Baker, 2006
Dale Emerson, 2005
Michael D. Gibbons, 2004
R. Weldon Hazlewood, 2003
Shirley Robertson, 2002
John Hartley, 2001
Charles Elgin, 1999
Mary Lou Clack, 1998
Al Greer, 1997

In 1994, the IRES Board of Directors established an award for the most significant contributions to IRES publications over the previous year. The Schrader-Nelson Publications Award honors the most outstanding original contribution to the Society’s newsletter, The Regulator®. The award is named in honor of the first chair of the Publications Committee, Tony Schrader, and the first recipient of the award, Ben Nelson. Mr. Schrader is one of the Society’s founding members, the first chair of the Publications Committee, and a former editor of The Regulator®. Mr. Nelson was the first recipient of this award and received it for his feature article in the March 1994 edition of The Regulator® dealing with workers' compensation reform in Nebraska.

Past Award Recipients

Marc Springer, 2024
Brett Bache and Tim Mullen, 2023
Phil Talerico and John Romano, 2022
Barry Wells, 2021
Michael Morrissey, 2020
C.J. Rathbun, 2019
Dr. Uma S. Dua, 2018
Kathy Donovan, 2017
Kate Morgan, 2016
Thomas E. Hampton, 2015
Anne Marie Narcini, 2014
Kara Baysinger and Keith Woodeshick, 2013
Joe Bieniek, 2012
Douglas Freeman, 2011
Thomas Hampton, 2010
Lauren E. Willis, 2009
Mark Rukavina, 2008
J. Robert Hunter, 2007
Rebecca Westmore, 2006
Mark Gardner, 2005
California Department of Insurance Rate Regulation Staff, 2004
Gerald A. Milsky, CIE, 2003
Bob Hunter, 2002
Vincent Laurenzano, 2001
George Nichols, 2000
William Creel, 1999
Kathy A. Steadman, 1998
Dick Rogers, CIE, 1997
Wade Harrell, 1996
Robert Willis and Howard Spence, CIE, 1995
Tony Schrader & Ben Nelson, 1994

For more than 20 years, David Chartrand and his incredible associates Susan Morrison, Elaine Bickel, Joy Moore, and Art Chartrand were at the helm of IRES. Without the dedication and devotion of these diligent individuals, IRES would not be the organization that it is today. To honor the legacy and work Chartrand Communications did for IRES, the Executive Committee and Board of Directors created the Chartrand and Associates Award.

This award is to recognize those that have made a difference to IRES through their actions. Who has really strived to keep IRES moving toward the future? Who has helped increase membership and promoted us outside the conference and in the Insurance Community? Who continually tries to make a difference in IRES? We know these unsung heroes deserve to be recognized.

Nominations are open to all. All submissions must be received by May 26 of current year.

Past Award Recipients

Sarah Cahn and Brant Lyons, 2024
Ken Allen, 2023
Towanda David, 2022
Ron Kotowski, 2021
Martha Long, 2020
Fred Karlinsky, 2019
Jo A. LeDuc, 2018
Pieter Williams, 2017
Tracy Biehn, 2016
Cristi Owen, 2015
Tanya Sherman, 2014
Erin Mirza, 2013
Joe Bieniek, 2012
Holly Blanchard, 2011

Nomination Form

The President’s Award is presented annually by the Society’s president to a person of his or her choice who has made a significant contribution to the Society and the regulatory profession.

Past Award Recipients

Tim Clement, 2024
LeAnn Crow, 2023
Erica Weyhenmeyer, 2022
Mary Nugent, Tom McIntyre, and Randy Helder, 2021
Shelly Schuman, Sheri Marston, and Barry Wells, 2020
Shelly Schuman, 2019
Holly Blanchard, Lisa Brandt, and Nancy Thomas, 2018
Ken Allen and Jim Mealer, 2017
Tracy Biehn and Jo LeDuc, 2016
Robin Clover and LeAnn Crow, 2015
Katie Johnson and Tanya Sherman, 2014
Lynette Baker, Tom Ballard, Joe Bieniek, Doug Freeman and Leslie Krier, 2013
Mark Hooker, 2012
Wanda LaPrath, 2011
Gary Kimball, 2010
Weldon Hazlewood, 2009
Karen Dyke, 2008
Stephen Martuscello, 2007
Jo A. LeDuc, 2006
Douglas A. Freeman, 2005
Gary L. Domer, 2004
Jann Goodpaster, 2003
Susan Morrison, 2002
Paul Bicica, 2001
Christel Szczesniak and Wayne Cotter, 2000
Paul A. Synnott, 1999
Angela Ford, 1998
Frank Seidel, 1997
Paula Kitt, 1996
Stephen King and Gerald Milsky, 1995
W. Bradford Connor, 1994
Tom Reents, 1993
John Reiersen and Jorge Sandoval, 1992
Lewis Melahn, Arthur J. Chartrand and Robin Campaniano, 1991
Earl Pomeroy, William McCartney and James Long, 1990

In Recognition of Excellence in Insurance Education

The Paul L. DeAngelo Memorial Teaching Award in Recognition of Excellence in Insurance Education was created by the IRES Foundation and presented to the family of Mr. DeAngelo in 2001. The IRES Foundation bestows this award annually in memory of Mr. DeAngelo to honor an insurance regulator or former regulator who has distinguished himself/herself in the field of insurance education and training. Many of the recipients of this award are members of the IRES.

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