The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) has presented its most prestigious individual award to Rosanne Mead, Assistant Iowa Insurance Commissioner, and Fred Nepple, General Counsel in the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance. The NAIC’s Robert Dineen Award winners were announced by NAIC President and Arkansas Insurance Commissioner Mike Pickens at the Opening Session of the NAIC Winter National Meeting in Anaheim last weekend.
“Every day insurance department staffers across the nation work diligently to keep state regulation functioning and flourishing – through advances in technology, consumer protection, financial solvency, and in so many other ways. These employees are the heart and soul of state regulation. It is this exemplary service across the board that makes it so difficult to narrow the field, and this year we have two recipients. On behalf of your fellow regulators, and the consumers across the country who have benefited from your work, I would like to thank you and congratulate you on this honor,” Pickens said.
“Rosanne Mead has been a tireless advocate for effective regulation in the 14 years that she has served the Iowa Insurance Department. She has played an important behind-the-scenes role in the modernization effort in her state and has been an ardent promoter of consumer education, making Iowa one of the most consumer-friendly insurance departments in the country,” Pickens continued. “The significance of her leadership, energy and commitment to furthering state regulation is impressive.”
Mead’s contributions to the NAIC have also reportedly been significant.
She helped pioneer the uniform appointment process, led the Suitability Working Group following her introduction of suitability standards in Iowa, helped to develop the Producer Licensing Model Act, and has actively participated in promoting interstate collaboration in market conduct efforts. Through these and so many other accomplishments, she has earned a reputation as a person who can be depended upon to get things done in a timely and progressive manner.
“The second recipient of the Robert Dineen award this year is Nepple of the Wisconsin Insurance Commissioner’s Office. Fred has been a pivotal force in both the Wisconsin Insurance department as well as the NAIC. Fred’s accomplishments have been recognized by current and former governors as well as legislators, his fellow lawyers, and the public,” Pickens commented.
“In his home state, Fred has become the nation’s leading expert on ERISA issues and at detecting, preventing, and completing enforcementing actions against Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangements (MEWAs), which has resulted in Wisconsin citizens experiencing only minor consumer harm from these arrangements and citizens of all states benefiting from his efforts,” Pickens continued. “Recently, Fred served as head legal counsel for the Wisconsin Blue Cross/Blue Shield conversion. His outstanding legal knowledge made it possible for all of the legal work required by this conversion to be done without outside legal assistance and, even as the decision was challenged in the courts, the documents stood as drafted. His abilities are impressive and his dedication is remarkable.”
During 2003, he played a pivotal role in the passage of the annuity sales suitability model regulation to protect senior citizens, not only leading the drafting effort, but also leading the final discussions with key parties. He was also vital to the drafting the NAIC’s model Interstate Compact for the Filing and Review of Insurance Policy Forms.
“For his exceptional contributions and the tremendous impact he has had on the state regulation of insurance at both a local and national level, I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this recognition,” said Jorge Gomez, Insurance Commissioner for the state of Wisconsin, said.
Named in honor of the founder of the NAIC’s Support and Services Office, the Robert Dineen Award is the highest individual honor given by the NAIC.
Established in 1989, the honor is normally awarded to an individual in recognition of outstanding achievement as a career regulator. This is only the fourth instance since the award was created that there have been two honorees.
Topics Legislation Wisconsin Iowa
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