2013 MetroDI Forum

Karen Gardner joined MetroDI as a brokerage manager in 1980 providing Massachusetts Casualty DI products to agents. Karen’s vision for a full-service disability Agency representing multiple companies began in 1999 when Massachusetts Casualty stopped writing DI.  Over the next few years, Karen has added many disability income products to the Metro DI family of providers and is excited that The Standard product is coming to the NY market. Karen has written many articles and has spoken at industry meetings on disability income related topics and has been featured on many insurance company advisory panels.  Looking toward the future, two of Karen’s three children make up the third generation of disability specialists at Metro DI.

A graduate of George Washington University, Karen lives on Long Island. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, cooking and entertaining.

Steve Brady's first insurance sale was disability to a dentist.  He’s continued in the business for thirty three years as an agent for Northwestern Mutual, brokerage representative and general manager for Paul Revere and currently 2^nd VP for Standard in Portland, Oregon.

Steve is responsible for the promotion and sale of The Standard’s Individual Disability Income products for the past 13 years. He was recently awarded the Harold Petersen award for his contributions to the disability insurance industry.

Mark Kinback has over 30 years of experience in both underwriting and individual disability income marketing.  Before joining Principal Financial Group, Mark was responsible for disability income sales at Trustmark Insurance and at Massachusetts Casualty.  Prior to Massachusetts Casualty, Mark was with Paul Revere Insurance for 17 years of holding numerous positions in the Sales and Marketing Division. While at Paul Revere, he headed the company's Case Design Center, which was responsible for the sales and service of multiple life individual disabiltiy cases ranging from 50 - 2,000 lives.  

Bob Herum joined Union Central, now Ameritas, in January 2008 and is responsible for managing all aspects of the Disability Income Sales, including DI Marketing and DI Competition, and is a member of the DI Product Management Department.

Bob has 26 years of experience in the insurance industry and has demonstrated success as a producer, a wholesaler and as a manager. Before joining Ameritas, Bob was a manager responsible for the Indiana sales territory at Colonial Life Insurance Company. Prior to that, Bob was the National Training Director and Field Vice President for Strategic Relationships for American United Life Insurance Company. He also was a successful brokerage consultant for Provident Life & Accident Insurance Company, in Columbus, Ohio. 

Doug Rodgers, National Sales Manager, MetLife Individual Disabilty Insurance (IDI), began his career as an independent insurance agent in 1993.  Doug joined MetLife in 2004 as the Channel Head for LTC Distribution and Sales.  Doug oversees all sales and distribution for MetLife IDI.  His distribution responsibilties include the GA, Bank, BD and Wire-house distributions.

Doug holds a Beachelor's Degree from the Unversity of Maryland and Master's Degree from North Carolina State University and is a candidate for a Post Graduate Diploma in Global Business from the University of Oxford, UK. 

Tom Petersen is Senior Partner to Petersen International Underwriters.  He is the Special Projects Director, Director of Public and Industry Relations as well as Senior Underwriter of the firm.  Among his many professional designations and certifications, Tom earned a Registered Heath Underwriters (RHU) from Northeastern University and The American College, Health Insurance Associate (HIA with honors) from the Health Insurance Association of America and is a Top of the Table Member of the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT).

A founding board member of the International DI Society, Tom is also the author of numerous articles and coauthored several books.  He is a speaker to numerous local, state and national organizations including the National Association of Health, Society of Financial Service Professionals and The American College.

Lawrence B. Keller is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and the founder of Physician Financial Services, a company dealing exclusively with the financial needs and concerns of members of the medical profession.

Mr. Keller has spent the last twenty two years providing insurance and investment products and services to resident, fellow and attending physicians. These include, but are not limited to, disability income insurance, life insurance, and investments.

Mr. Keller represents many well-respected companies in the financial services industry, which allows him the flexibility to provide unbiased advice and help recommend products that best suit each individual’s needs and concerns.

Dawn McMaster, is assistant vice president, Individual Disability Insurance, at Standard Insurance Company where she manages an organizaton of employees dedicated to helping people protect their income against disabling illness or injury.  She oversees Underwriting, Operations, Sales and Marketing and Actuarial.

Dawn joined Standard Insurance Company in 1995 in sales support. She’s since held a succession of positions with increased responsibility within IDI, including director of individual sales and marketing and director of operations. She was named an officer in 2007 as the 2nd VP, IDI Operations and Underwriting, before moving into her current position in 2009. During her tenure, McMaster led development of the company’s dedicated Guarantee Issue team and oversaw implementation of an electronic policy delivery system — the first of its kind in the industry. 

Lorraine Skoglund began her career at MetroDI in 1995 after working in sales and design for many years.  She has provided sales support and expertise to her brokers and the brokerage managers that she has trained.  Her creative background has helped her provide out of the box solutions to the many hundreds of agents that she’s guided through the disability maze over the years.  Her expertise in medical underwriting makes her a most valuable member of our team. She has helped her agents place millions of dollars of Disability Income premium.

When not working Lorraine travels the world, creates art, cooks, gardens and hangs with her two terriers, two cats, and her son Jacob.

If you are joining us from out of town, we recommend:

The Inn at Fox Hollow Hotel | 7755 Jericho Turnpike, Woodbury, NY 11797 | 800-291-8090 http://www.theinnatfoxhollow.com/

Hampton Inn Jericho | 120 Jericho Turnpike, Jericho, NY 11753| 516-997-2000  http://hamptoninn3.hilton.com/en/hotels/new-york/hampton-inn-jericho-westbury-NYCJEHX/index.html

Viana Hotel & Spa | 3998 Brush Hollow Road, Westbury, NY 11590 | 516-338-7777  http://www.vianahotelandspa.com

Delux Transportation Services for your airport pick-up.  Please contact them at 800-232-3358 or book your reservation online at http://www.deluxtransportation.com

MetroDI would like to acknowledge these sponsors:

Contact

Jane Altman| Metro DI | 516-364-5111 |   jane@metrodi.com