Chartrand Communications Award
2024 Recipients
Sarah Cahn – New Hampshire Insurance Department;
Brant Lyons – Virginia State Corporation Commission’s Bureau of Insurance
Background on the Award:
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 Communications Award.
The purpose of 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.
This year, there are two recipients of this award. Both of them have been nominated for their hard work and diligence in creating and testing the quizzes and tests for the BHPA program. Their attention to detail and hard work has significantly improved the quality of the program and we would be lost without their efforts. IRES membership is truly enhanced by the hard work of volunteers.
Sarah Cahn
Ms. Cahn is always striving to make a difference. She has a passion for her work as a regulator and is always motivated to learn more. Sarah came to the New Hampshire Insurance Department in February of 2020 as an Insurance Examiner II in the Life and Health Division. Although relatively new to insurance regulation, she is a rising star. Her hard work and dedication has allowed her to become a leading expert in many insurance areas including mental health parity. She currently holds several designations including the NAIC Professional in Insurance Regulation (PIR), IRES Accredited Insurance Examiner (AIE), IRES Market Conduct Management (MCM), and AHIP’s Fellow, Academy for Healthcare Management. She was also the recipient of the IRES Rookie of the year scholarship.
Sarah has been instrumental in strengthening New Hampshire’s mental health parity efforts. She is also dedicated to promoting knowledge and collaboration throughout the industry. She is currently the Commissioner’s designee for the NAIC’s Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) (B) Working Group. She has been a regular participant at IRES events and is currently assisting in developing the course work for the Behavioral Health Parity Auditor Designation.
Brant Lyons
Mr. Lyons joined the Virginia State Corporation Commission’s Bureau of Insurance on January 16, 2008, as an Associate Insurance Market Examiner in the Life and Health Market Conduct section. He took on roles of increasing responsibility over the years, and was promoted to Principal Insurance Market Examiner on July 25, 2020. He leads a team of examiners that specialize in the research and review of Mental Health Parity issues and associated inquiries and examinations. His peers in Virginia, in other states, and at other agencies frequently seek his Mental Health Parity expertise, and he serves as a subject matter expert on legislation involving MHPAEA and mental health services proposed in VA. He is also a member of the MHPAEA Working Group at the NAIC. Prior to joining the Bureau, Brant graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University and worked in the financial sector.
Al Greer Achievement Award
2024 Recipient
Jim Mealer, Managing Partner, Insurance Compliance Analytics
Background on the Award:
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.
Jim Mealer
Mr. Mealer has been involved in everything “insurance”. He worked as a regulator for over 35 years and is affiliated with IRES for 20 years. Jim was an IRES board member from 2015 to 2019 and the Continuing Education Seminar Chair from 2012 to 2018. Jim has presented at many events, such as the IRES, AICP, the NAIC at E-Reg, and at the IRES Foundation. He has vast experience chairing or being an active member on various NAIC working groups, including, but not limited to the NAIC Market Conduct Examination Standards Working Group (Vice Chair), Annuity Suitability Working Group, Market Analysis Procedures Working Group, Market Regulation Certification Working Group, ERISA Working Group, Advisory Organization Working Group and Antifraud Task Force.
Jim retired from the great state of Missouri (after 29 years) but is still enforcing state regulation as a contractor. He does not hesitate to help those who reach out for opinions, ideas or methodology. Jim Mealer exudes regulatory compliance.
Al Gross/Jim Long Rookie of the Year Scholarship
2024 Recipients
Tolanda Coker – Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions
Donna Shafer– Pennsylvania Insurance Department
Tia Taylor – Georgia Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner
Landon Turner– Missouri Department of Commerce & Insurance
Background on the Award:
The Al Gross/Jim Long Rookie of the Year Scholarship is named after two long-serving insurance commissioners who passed away shortly after retiring from their positions: North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Jim Long and Virginia Commissioner of Insurance Al Gross. Both commissioners were dedicated to serving their constituents and were known for being dedicated leaders, innovators, and mentors. Neither were afraid to get involved in difficult issues and find solutions that look outside the box. Both men were recognized and touted as exceptional leaders by their peers and those who worked for them.
The scholarship is awarded annually to up to four (4) state regulators.
Tolanda Coker
Ms. Coker joined the Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions (“Department”) in June 2022 as the Market Conduct Manager. Her responsibilities include overseeing the Department’s Market Conduct Examinations and Market Analysis Sections.
Tolanda brings with her a wealth of experience from her time in the insurance industry, and is knowledgeable on many of the insurance laws and regulations where we see the most areas of concern and she has the skills necessary to research the applicable law in new issue areas as they arise. Tolanda is professional, courteous, and comprehensive in her dealings with internal and external stakeholders. She imparts a strong enforcement message in a quiet but forceful manner.
Donna Shafer
Photograph and bio not available.
Tia Taylor
Photograph and bio not available.
Landon Turner
Mr. Turner joined the Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance’s Market Regulation Division (the “DCI”) on July 18, 2022. Before joining DCI, he worked in the private insurance sector as a customer service representative and a life underwriter.
In his time at the DCI, he has put those skills to use to help Missouri insurance consumers in the Market Conduct Section performing market analysis, investigations, and examinations. Landon has also shown a serious commitment to growing his insurance knowledge base. He has taken six NAIC courses including, but not limited to NAIC MC 148 Market Conduct Examinations, NAIC EDU 330-158: Market Analysis Techniques, NAIC IP 181 Regulation of Insurance Products, and NAIC GR 132 Ethical Considerations of State Insurance Regulators. Landon has also begun his journey to attain his AIE and recently completed AHIP Fundamentals of Health Insurance, Part B. Landon’s current examiner-in-charge speaks openly about Landon’s attention to detail in his examination work and his tenacity; he believes he is the future of insurance regulation.
Thomas L. Reents Memorial Scholarship
2024 Recipient
Theresa M. Finnemore, CFE, MCM, PIR, ACS®, ALMI, ARA– New Hampshire Insurance Department
Background on the Award:
The Thomas L. Reents Memorial Scholarship honors the first President of the Insurance Regulatory Examiners Society (IRES). This award was established in 2016 by IRES and the IRES Foundation. The inaugural scholarship was presented in 2017.
Mr. Reents had a long, successful and well-respected career in insurance, primarily in a regulatory capacity. He was with the Nebraska Department of Insurance from 1974 to 1997, during which time he performed market conduct examinations, investigated consumer complaints and developed an insurance counseling program for seniors. Prior to joining the department, he worked in the private insurance industry in both personal and commercial lines. After leaving the Nebraska Department of Insurance, Mr. Reents continued his insurance career as a compliance consultant. Mr. Reents earned his Certified Insurance Examiner (CIE) designation in 1988.
In addition to being the first IRES President, Mr. Reents also served IRES as Treasurer. He was a board member of not only IRES, but also the IRES Foundation. In 1993, Mr. Reents received the President’s Award for his outstanding service to IRES and the industry. Mr. Reents was highly regarded by his colleagues, and his knowledge, warmth and wit will be missed.
This scholarship recognizes Mr. Reents’ many contributions to IRES and the IRES Foundation, and the level of respect in which he was held.
Theresa Finnemore
An Insurance Company Examiner is the position I have been working towards my whole career. I am currently working on my very first examination. It's so exciting!
Job Responsibilities
9/8/2023 to Current: My responsibilities are to perform senior-level desk audits and, with a team, on-site market conduct examinations. The functions include investigations along with other continuum actions. My focus is on domestic and foreign life, accident and health insurance companies, health plans, health maintenance organizations, third-party administrators, insurance agencies, premium trust account examinations and examinations of other insurance and insurance related entities.
12/3/2021 to 9/7/2023: While in the Financial Regulations Unit, my responsibilities were to analyze annual and quarterly financial statements of eight New Hampshire domestic companies. With the New Hampshire 2023 Financial re-accreditation, the Accreditation Team pulled three of my domestic companies to examine the 2022A /2023Q analysis within two reviews (one review consisted of two companies).
The Journey of My Lifelong Learning
LOMA was the start of my insurance education. I’ve accomplished three designations while working for Chubb Life America and Lincoln Financial.
Prior to the New Hampshire Insurance Department, while a Financial Analyst for the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office, I studied for and passed all four courses to achieve my Certified Fraud Examiner designation.
During my first few months in the New Hampshire Insurance Department, Market Conduct position, I capitalized on the opportunity to obtain the MCM certification obtained through IRES and Professional in Insurance Regulation (PIR), obtained through the NAIC.
One of my favorite professional mottos is, “you just don't know what you don't know!”
Life Events Which Have Brought Me Here Today
Chubb Life America launched my career. I started in the mail room, moved to reinsurance, customer service yet spent the bulk of my 9+ years in the Corporate Finance Department. It was here that I started the LOMA series. Customer service with United HealthCare and Lincoln Financial continued to round my experience in the back office of life insurance.
During my 5 years as a Property Manager, I explored and provided employee benefits, directors & officer’s, workers compensation, marine and other liability insurances. When life brought me a slight bump in the road, I decided to sell life and health insurances along with ancillaries.
Coming from a Financial Analyst position with the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office, I was given the opportunity to be a Financial Analyst in 2021 with the New Hampshire Department of Insurance. Last summer I was chosen for the role of Senior Insurance Company Examiner. During my first 6-months at the New Hampshire Insurance Department I’ve achieved my MCM, PIR.
Interesting Fun Fact
I once again live on the land I grew up on. As my mother’s home was in rough shape, I tore it down and built her a new one. Many of my friends helped with the major components as I did the internal finish work.
We are always looking for great candidates for the scholarships. The award for winners has been increased to $1,500. If you applied and did not receive the award, please try again! We have had some incredible applicants these past few years. For you seasoned regulators, please keep an eye out for individuals from the new upcoming generation who should be considered.