Hard Hat Awards for
Membership, Grassroots, and IFAPAC

Q2 2024
Corrado Gugliotta, LUTCF, FSCP, CLTC, LACP
Jacksonville, FL
Loyal Member Since 2003

Q2 2024
Joseph Pearl, CFP
Upper Arlington, OH
Loyal Member Since 2020

Joe Pearl has been instrumental in the success of NAIFA-Ohio’s grassroots advocacy efforts and demonstrated his leadership during this year's 2024 Congressional Conference. Joe ensured that the large Ohio delegation was prepared for their Capitol Hill visits and took the lead during half a dozen meetings with lawmakers and staff, showing some of the newer members the ropes. This year Joe is serving as the NAIFA-Columbus Membership chair.

Q2 2024
Timothy Johnson, FSS, LACP
Bountiful, UT
Loyal Member Since 2005

This year's IFAPAC Madness campaign saw increased engagement with IFAPAC across the nation. Tim Johnson's dark horse state, Utah, remained competitive throughout the competition, achieving a well-deserved second place. Tim's efforts to keep NAIFA-Utah motivated and engaged with IFAPAC Madness while fending off states with more resources were extraordinary. He currently serves NAIFA-Utah as their IFAPAC Chair. Tim's other accolades include being President of the former NAIFA-Lakeview Utah local chapter and a 2012 LILI graduate.

Q1 2024
Rith Nou
Wakefield, MA
Loyal Member Since 2017

Lee Owen
Ridgeland, MS
Loyal Member Since 2012

Rith Nou has been holding agency presentations to invite her fellow New York Life agents to belong to NAIFA. As a member of the NAIFA-Massachusetts board, she has taken part in many of their membership drives held this year. Rith is a proud member of NAIFA's Triangle Team.

Lee Owen has been very active in referring members to NAIFA in Q1. In fact, he won the February contest for the most membership referrals bringing in 4 new members! Lee has held numerous roles in the state of Mississippi, including being president in 2020 and 2021. He not only has a passion for membership but also for advocacy...he's been to at least the last five Congressional Conferences!

Q1 2024
Mark Miller, IAR, LUTCF
Memphis, TN
Loyal Member Since 1991

Q1 2024
Thomas Henry
Lake Mary, FL
Loyal Member Since 1996

Q4 2023
Christopher Carothers, LUTCF
Las Vegas, NV
Loyal Member Since 1994

Chris Carothers is NAIFA-Nevada's 2024 President. He began his term in the summer of 2023 to honor his mother, who passed away halfway through her term as NAIFA-Nevada president. Chris came up with the concept of providing members with a certificate to thank them for their commitment to NAIFA.  He has been traveling all across the state to present these certificates to members while also recruiting new members. The Carothers Insurance Agency is a proud NAIFA 100% Agency.

Q4 2023
David Grooket, CLU, ChFC
Columbia, SC
Loyal Member Since 1982

Q4 2023
Winner To Be Announced

Q3 2023
Lynn Schreder
Johnston, IA
Loyal Member Since 2009

Lynn Schreder is NAIFA-Iowa’s Immediate Past President and current Membership Chair. Lynn and her business partner, Brenda Eckard (NAIFA-Iowa 2024 President) made the decision to put their money where their mouth is and become a 100% Agency. In addition to bringing more than 20 members to NAIFA, she has also referred multiple agencies to join the 100% Agency program.

Q3 2023
Dori Phillips
Layton, UT
Loyal Member Since 2004

Dori Phillips is a leader when it comes to NAIFA advocacy, working tirelessly to ensure that NAIFA-Utah is continuously engaging with their lawmakers at the state and federal level.  During August in-district, she organized an event with around 50-60 NAIFA-Utah members that had all members of Congress and their insurance commissioner.

Q3 2023
Betsy Pate, LACP, LUTCF
Fredericksburg, VA
Loyal Member Since 2004

Besty Pate, LACP, LUTCF, invited the entire pool of NAIFA-Virgina’s IFAPAC contributors to participate in the calls this year for the Candidate Selection Group. She hosted a couple of meetings to explain the process and answer questions as well as vote on who gets the support.  Through this effort, Virginia was able to gain a handful of new volunteers.

Q2 2023
Richard Coffin
Chino Hills, CA
Loyal Member Since 2006

Rich is an active volunteer whose engagement at an industry event resulted in 10 new members. He states, "I'm a NAIFA member today...[because] I'm in the position of my career to give back to this wonderful industry and advocate for my fellow agents/advisors and my community of clients."  Earlier this year, Rich was on the podcast, Insurance After Dark and explained to the listeners the importance of being a NAIFA member. "Our industry is constantly under attack and we need to be part of the only association that advocates on behalf of the agents/advisors and their clients." 

Q2 2023
Mike Herring, CLU, ChFC, LUTCF
Waverly, NE
Loyal Member Since 1985

Mike Herring led from the front, organizing meetings on Capitol Hill with all of the Nebraska delegation during Congressional Conference.  He ensured that all NAIFA-Nebraska members were assigned to their meetings as well as answering all questions that members may have prior to going on the Hill. 

Q2 2023
Andra Holmstrom
Anchorage, AK
Loyal Member Since 2020

Andra Holmstrom hosted NAIFA-Alaska’s first fundraiser AK and knocked it out of the park. This event featured a combination auction and wine tasting. We are #NAIFAproud of her creative and out-of-the-box thinking to execute a successful event! Andra has been a loyal NAIFA member since 2020 and started serving as the state IFAPAC Chair in 2021.

Q1 2023
Tim Westerman
Chesapeake, VA
Loyal Member Since 1997

Thanks to Tim's recruiting efforts, we added 24 new or reinstated members to NAIFA Nation! Like many members, Tim joined NAIFA in 1997 when his agency manager told him he needed to belong. As a Sales Leader for State Farm in Chesapeake, VA, Tim feels that "paying your NAIFA membership dues is paying for an insurance policy premium put in place to protect our livelihoods." Because of this mindset, he has strongly encouraged his team to belong to NAIFA.

Q1 2023
Fred Joyner
Clemmons, NC
Loyal Member Since 1985

Fred Joyner is a top advocate for NAIFA and has worked tirelessly to close federal gaps as well as state gaps in his home state of North Carolina.  He organized a Financial Security Advocate presentation for NAIFA-North Carolina members to earn their FSA badge. Fred played an instrumental role in planning their state legislative day.

Q1 2023
Elisha Aharon, LACP, LUTCF
Ashville, NC
Loyal Member Since 2007

Elie Aharon recruited 13 brand new contributors to IFAPAC in one day! He is a member of the Triangle Team, past president of the NAIFA-San Francisco Peninsula chapter, and served that local as a membership chair, grassroots chair, and IFAPAC chair. Elie has also served multiple terms on the National Government Relations Committee as well as in the role of North Carolina's IFAPAC chair.