NSSTA Announces New Board of Directors
The National Structured Settlements Trade Association announced today that five long-time industry members have been elected to the association's Board of Directors. They were elected to the Board at the 2010 NSSTA Annual in Washington, D.C. and their three-year terms begin immediately.
The four new Board members are:
- Len Blonder (EPS Settlements)
- Randy Dyer (Ringler Associates)
- James Ebel (Selective Settlements Intl.)
- John Machir (Ringler Associates)
Additionally, Joe Barnet (Prudential Life Insurance Company of America) was reelected to a second three-year term.
NSSTA Members: Check out photos from the Annual. Click here.
"All our new Board members have remarkably keen insights into how structured settlement annuities can meet the financial needs of accident survivors," said NSSTA president Mike Kelly, who began his one-year term this month. "Their experience will be a tremendous help during the coming year as NSSTA continues to promote structured settlements' financial security and tax-free income."
These new Board members won election under the NSSTA's new "one member, one vote" system. Under the new rules, all members attending the Annual vote for Board candidates, not just a single company voting member.
The four new Board members take the places of Doug Brand (Medivest), Joe Shannon (New York Life), Jim Early (Ringler Associates) and Chris Diamantis (Millennium Settlements) whose terms expired.
What follows is more information about each of the new Board members:
Joseph Barnet
Joe has been with Prudential Life Insurance Company of America during his 20-year professional career. He is currently Vice President in Prudential Retirement serving as Product Manager of Prudential's structured settlement annuity product.
Joe joined Prudential's structured settlements department in 2000, assuming responsibility for sales and operations areas. He earned his CSSC in 2003 and as a Board member for the past three years, he has served as liaison to the Technology and Education Committees.
Len Blonder
Len Blonder's structured settlement experience dates back to the inception of the structured settlements industry in 1978. During his career, he has worked on more than 10,000 cases, settling for billions of dollars. He has also served an unprecedented eleven years on the trade association's Board of Directors and is the only person to be elected by the industry to two terms as President.
Len has served as chairman of NSSTA's Legislation and Regulations Committee, focusing on key issues to protect the safety and security of plaintiff's future periodic payments. His efforts in leading the Integrity Casualty Company bankruptcy task force assured that structured settlement payments would not be diverted to creditors, but remain in the hands of beneficiaries.
Randy Dyer
Randy served as NSSTA's executive director from 1985 to 2008. In that capacity, he was responsible for member education at every level. In addition, he managed all NSSTA Boards and policy committees, developing a network of industry and professional associations with an interest in structured settlements.
Randy served on creditor's committee during the bankruptcy of First Executive Corporation and its subsidiary companies, Executive Life of California and Executive Life of New York. At the time, it was the largest insolvency in North American history. Randy also served on creditor's committee of Confederation Life Insurance Company.
James Ebel
After graduating from the University of Nebraska, Jim spent the first 20 years of his insurance career with Wausau Insurance Co. Jim left Wausau in 1986 to join Toplis & Harding as Midwest Regional Manager. In 1990 he became President of T & H North America. In 1994 he facilitated a joint venture with McLarens International Group out of London, thereby establishing one of the top four independent loss adjusting firms in the world. The combined group became known as McLarens Toplis, with 350 offices in 81 countries. He took over as Chairman of McLarens Toplis North America in 1999.
In 2001 Jim left McLarens Toplis North America to acquire Selective Settlements International from its founder. He joined the Governmental Benefits Committee and for the last two years has co-chaired that committee."
John Machir
A past president of the NSSTA, John is the senior vice president and national marketing director for Ringler Associates. He joined Ringler in 1988 and is a frequent lecturer on topics related to structured settlements. He has spoken before the National Association of Attorneys General, the Public Risk and Insurance Management Association and the Association of American Railroad Claims Conference and lectured at the Judge Advocate General's School at the University of Virginia. He is a graduate of Georgetown University with a degree in business.
John is also one of the founders of the NSSTA and served on its Board from 1985 to 1991. He was president from 1989 to 1990.
About structured settlements and the NSSTA:
Recognized and encouraged by the federal tax code since 1983, structured settlements provide strong financial security to victims of physical injuries and their families. Using a tailored stream of payments, a structured settlement provides a long-term payment stream that is completely exempt from state and federal income taxes.
A structured settlement's future payment stream is funded through a highly secure life insurance annuity. For a free handout that describes some of the consumer protection regulations that bolster the security of a structured settlement annuity, please click HERE.
The National Structured Settlements Trade Association (NSSTA) represents nearly 1,200 licensed consultant, brokers, insurance companies, and other professionals involved in establishing and administering structured settlements.
