OFFICERS

David Rose, Immediate Past Chair
Assistant Vice President-State Government Relations
MetLife

As an accomplished government relations attorney and lobbyist, David has over 25 years experience navigating legislative and regulatory matters at all levels of government. Prior to joining MetLife in 2018, David was a Partner at Wilson Elser and oversaw the Firm's Government Relations practice in Connecticut for seven years, during which time he represented MetLife. David’s government service includes four years as an Assistant Counsel to three New York State Governors, as well as five years serving as Senior Counsel to two Speakers of the Connecticut House of Representatives. At MetLife, David works on the State Government Relations team where he is responsible for legislative and regulatory matters impacting MetLife's products in Texas, as well as Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Washington State, in addition to numerous other compliance jurisdictions.

Michael Hickey, Chair
Regional Director
Aflac

Michael Hickey is a Regional Director for Aflac.

Ted G. Kennedy, Vice Chair
Vice President & Co-Head, US State Government Affairs
AIG

Ted Kennedy has over 31 years of experience in the financial services arena. Having served a term with Citicorp N.A., Mr. Kennedy is in his 29th year with American International Group, Inc. His office is in Austin, Texas where he holds the position of Vice President & Co-Head, US State Government Affairs. Mr. Kennedy manages the company’s state level governmental affairs issues for the Western United States with a focus operationally on the company’s life insurance and annuities lines. He participates in the drafting of legislation, provides expert testimony before legislative and regulatory committees, plans internal strategy and manages ongoing activity. He frequently represents the company before national associations where he regularly conducts educational seminars.

Mr. Kennedy holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Texas at Austin and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from South Texas College of Law. He is a member of the Association of Life Insurance Counsel and board member of the Texas Association of Life and Health Insurers, the Association of California Life and Health Insurance Companies and the Hawaii Insurance Council. In addition, Mr. Kennedy manages the company’s guaranty association activity and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Texas, New York, Florida, Georgia and Washington guaranty funds.

Michael Hickey is the Regional Director for Aflac.

Brent Thompson, Secretary
Legal Counsel
Croy-Hall

Brent Thompson is Legal Counsel for Croy-Hall Management, Inc., near Fort Worth, Texas. Croy-Hall Management is a family-owned holding company that operates four small-size life and health insurance companies: Southwest Service Life Ins. Co. (stipulated premium); Regal Life of America Ins. Co. (legal reserve); Capitol Security Life Ins. Co. (stipulated premium); and United Assurance Life Ins. Co. (stipulated premium).

Brent graduated from Willamette University College of Law in Salem, Oregon, with a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree in 1992. After law school, he represented individuals and businesses in civil matters in his home town of Anchorage, helping make a nubbin of Alaska Supreme Court labor law precedent along the way. Desiring to live in a smaller land with more hot weather, Brent moved to Texas and was admitted to practice there in 1999. He joined Croy-Hall Management as its general counsel in 2013.

Kari King, Treasurer
Director of Government Relations
USAA

Kari King is the Director of Government Relations with USAA Insurance. Her previous experience as General Counsel for the Texas House of Representatives Judiciary Committee provides insights into the state and makes her well versed for this critical role. Kari graduated from Southern Methodist University with a B.A. in Political Science and holds her Master's and Juris Doctorate from St. Mary's University School of Law.

MEMBERS

Eric Dupont
Vice President, Government Affairs
The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America

Eric Dupont is the Vice President of Government Affairs at Guardian Life

Mohana Terry
Lead Director & Associate General Counsel, Law Department
Equitable

Mohana Terry is the Lead Director and Associate General Counsel in Equitable's Law Department.

Dwayne McGraw
Chief Actuary
FDLIC

Dwayne McGraw serves as Chief Actuary for FDLIC, which is based in Texas. He has over twenty years of actuarial experience in the insurance industry and as an actuarial consultant to insurance companies. In his current role, Dwayne provides actuarial leadership for pricing, product development, implementation, in-force management and compliance accountabilities related all insurance products for Funeral Directors Life.

Dwayne is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries and is member of the American Academy of Actuaries. He holds a B.S. in Mathematics from Virginia Tech, an M.S. in Mathematics from Northeastern University and returned to the Pamplin School for his MBA. Dwayne's research uses behavioral economics principles to examine how mortality salience influences  consumer purchases of insurance products and how grief influences expenditures on funeral services.

Skip Braziel
Vice President, Government Affairs
Prudential

Skip Braziel is the Vice President of Government Affairs for Prudential. He has over 20 years of experience advocating, coalition building and problem solving at the local, state and federal levels.

Before joining Prudential, Skip served as Vice President of State Regulation and Legislation for the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) in Washington, D.C. During his career, Skip has served as Assistant Vice President, State Government Relations for MetLife, Inc. in New York City and Washington, D.C., Vice President of State and Local Government Relations at LaSalle Bank Corporation in Chicago, Illinois, and Vice President & Community Relationship Officer at JPMorgan Chase in Chicago, Illinois.

Skip is a native of San Antonio, Texas and currently resides in Dallas, Texas with his wife, Erica Annise. He holds a B.A. in English from the University of Texas at Austin, an M.A. in History from the University of Texas at San Antonio, and a J.D. from Southern Methodist University School of Law.

April Beggs
Sr. Manager, Government Relations
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas

April Beggs is the Senior Manager of Government Relations at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas.

Suzanne Loomis
Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel

Primerica

Suzanne Loomis is Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel with Primerica Life.

Rachel Giani
Senior Vice President and General Counsel
Continental General

Rachel Giani joined Continental General 2021 as a Senior Vice President and General Counsel and has been practicing insurance regulatory and corporate law for over 15 years. She has an extensive background in insurance company M&A, investment issues, and corporate governance, with experience both in private practice and as a regulator. Prior to joining Continental General, she worked at Winstead PC and served as outside counsel to a diverse group of clients. Earlier in her career, she was the Director of Financial Counsel at the Texas Department of Insurance. For much of her time as an attorney, Ms. Giani has been involved in developing and implementing the legal framework that governs insurance companies. She holds a B.A. and a J.D from the University of Texas and was licensed to practice law in 2007.

Kyle McGregor, Ed.D.
President and CEO
National Farm Life

Dr. Kyle W. McGregor was named President and CEO of National Farm Life Insurance Company and its subsidiary, American Farm Life Insurance Company, on January 1, 2021. He began his employment on July 1, 2020 as President-Elect; however, his relationship with the company began in 2008 as a member of the board of directors. McGregor serves as a member of the Mutual President’s Association and in 2022 was elected to serve on the American Council of Life Insurers’ Forum 500 Board of Governors.

From 2002 through 2020, McGregor served Tarleton State University as a member of the faculty and in administrative roles as Chief of Staff to the Office of the President and Vice President for Institutional Advancement. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Tarleton State University, as-well-as master’s and doctoral degrees from Texas Tech University. His wife, Jennifer, is a member of the faculty at Tarleton State University; the couple has two daughters, Maggie and Meg.

Kaj Samsom
AVP Deputy Chief Auditor and Director of Government Relations
National Life Group

Kaj Samsom is the AVP Deputy Chief Auditor and Director of Government Relations at National Life Group.

Christine Galamb
Corporate Vice President of Governmental Affairs
New York Life

Christine Galamb is based out of Rutherford, New Jersey and works at New York Life Insurance Company as Corporate Vice President, Office of Governmental Affairs.